Transitioning from military to civilian life isn’t easy, and sometimes it’s the smallest things that can trip you up. Like: What do you list as your address if you’re living on base? How do you explain where you were stationed to a civilian recruiter? And do you even need to list a military address on your resume?

The good news is, the answer to that last question is “no.” Typically, the only address you need to list on your resume is your own — the addresses of your references or previous employer don’t need to be included.

We’ll go into the details of when you should and shouldn’t include addresses on your resume in a bit, but first: Here are the details you’ll need if you do decide to list a U.S. military address on your resume.

U.S. military addresses for your resume

Let’s start with the basics: What are the addresses for the different U.S. military branches? In case you need them, here are the contact details for the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Army

U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Attn: AHRC-PDR-VIB
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue Dept 420
Fort Knox, KY 40122-5402
Telephone: 1-888-276-9472

Navy

Navy Personnel Command
(PERS-312E)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-3120
Telephone: 901-874-4885

Marine Corps

Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps
Personnel Management Support Branch
(MMSB-10)
2008 Elliot Road
Quantico, VA 22134-5030
Telephone: 1-800-268-3710

Air Force

Air Force Personnel Center
AFPC/DP1OR
550 C Street West
JBSA-Randolph, TX 78150-4721
Telephone: 1-800-525-0102

Coast Guard

Commander CG PSC-bobs-mr
Attn: PSC-BOPS-C-MR
US Coast Guard Stop 7200
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20593-7200
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 202-372-8440

How to list a military address on your resume

Now that you have the correct contact details, how do you actually list them on your resume? Here are a few places you might want to include a military address.

DO: List your contact information in your resume header

If you’re currently residing on a military base, you can use the base address as your own in your resume header. You should only do this if you’ll be living on base for the foreseeable future — if you plan on moving soon, it’s better to list a more permanent address instead (such as the address of a close family member).

For example:

John Doe
PSC 123 Box 4567
APO, AE 09123
Phone: (123) 456-7890
Email: [email protected]

Essential acronyms to note:

• PSC stands for Postal Service Center.
• APO stands for Army Post Office.
• FPO stands for Fleet Post Office and is used in the Navy.
• AE is the area code for Armed Forces in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Canada. AP is for Armed Forces Pacific and AA is for Armed Forces Americas.

MAYBE: Highlight notable experience in your summary or work experience

In general, it’s not standard operating practice to list an employer’s address in your work experience. The military can be an exception to this, where listing a general location may help provide relevant context.

For example:

Dedicated Intelligence Officer with 4 years of experience in naval intelligence operations. Stationed at Naval Station Norfolk with a 6-month deployment in the Persian Gulf. Proficient in Farsi and Arabic, with a focus on regional geopolitical analysis.

DON’T: Put referee addresses anywhere on your resume

Modern resumes don’t need a References section. If a company likes you and wants to move forward, they’ll ask for your references when they need them. Including references on your resume itself only takes up space that you could use for other things, like essential skills or notable accomplishments.

If you're unsure about what information, such as a military address, should or should not be included on your resume, upload it to the tool below — it’ll scan your resume and give you detailed feedback on what to remove or add into your resume.

Listing a U.S. military address on your resume: Pros and cons

Not sure if the “maybe” above applies to you? Here’s when you should — and shouldn’t — list a military address in your Work Experience section or resume summary.

Pros

• If you have military experience, mentioning your location can add helpful context, especially if the location is well-known.
• Certain bases have a reputation for specific operations or training programs. Listing one of these locations allows you to implicitly communicate the nature of your experience without having to divulge classified information.
• Listing an overseas address highlights international experience.
• Mentioning that you were stationed in a remote or hostile location shows your commitment and ability to succeed in challenging environments.
• Providing contact information (like the addresses and phone numbers listed above) can make it easier for potential employers to verify your military service.

Cons

• More information isn’t always better when it comes to resumes. Focus on the things employers care about the most — your previous roles, skills, and accomplishments. Anything else risks adding unnecessary clutter.
• It’s relatively easy for companies to look up the information they need, including military addresses.
• A military address isn’t typically going to be relevant to the position you’re applying for now — especially if it’s a civilian job. Unless you can articulate why your situation is an exception to this rule, leave it off.