—- Envelope or address block on letter or email, Official:
—- —- (Full rank) (full name), USA/USAF/USMC, Retired
—- —- (Address)
—- —- —- or
——– —- (Full rank) (full name), USA/USAF/USMC, Ret.
——– —- (Address)
—- —- —-
—- —- (Full rank) (full name), USN/USCG, Retired
—- —- (Address)
—- —- —- or
—- ——– (Full rank) (full name), USN/USCG, Ret.
——– —- (Address)
——– —- Which looks like ….
—- ——– —- Captain Robert W. Thompson, USN, Retired
——– —- —- (Address)
——– —- ——— or
——– —- —- Captain Robert W. Thompson, USN, Ret.
—- —- —- —- (Address)
—- Envelope, Social:
—- —- (Full rank) (full name)
—- —- (Address)
—- —- Which looks like …. How To Address Retired US Military
—- —- —- Captain Robert W. Thompson
—- —- —- (Address)
—- Letter salutation both official and social: How To Address Retired US Military
–— —- Dear (basic rank) (surname):
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
—- #1) The branch of service designation – USA, USMC, USN, USAF or USCG – and “Retired” or “Ret.” are used on official correspondence and in official situations when it is important to specify the person is retired and not on active duty.
—- #2) The service designation and retired are not used/included on social correspondence or in social situations. They are not pertinent. Fully retired personnel are orally addressed by rank at their preference in (1) social situations and (2) official situations when their participation is related to their service in the military.
—- #3) In every case the service-specific abbreviation for the (full rank) can be used. These service-specific abbreviations are standard usage within the armed services.
—- #4) Follow this link for how to socially address a military couple.