The Complete Guide To Listing a U.S. Military Address on Your Resume

Whether you’re actively serving or transitioning into civilian life, your resume is your first impression. Including your address may seem straightforward, but it comes with its rules for U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. Military addresses (APO, FPO, or DPO) don’t follow traditional state and ZIP code formats.

When formatted incorrectly, your resume could be flagged by applicant tracking systems (ATS) or misinterpreted by civilian hiring managers unfamiliar with military designations. Taking a few extra minutes to format your military address properly can make a real difference in your job search.

Understanding Military Mailing Address Basics

A standard U.S. military mailing address contains these elements:

• Full name (as shown on official records)
• Unit and box number (if applicable)
• Type of address (APO, FPO, or DPO)
• Region code (AA, AE, or AP)
• ZIP code (military ZIP)

Here’s what the acronyms stand for:

• APO: Army Post Office
• FPO: Fleet Post Office
• DPO: Diplomatic Post Office

The regional codes are used instead of U.S. states:

• AA: Armed Forces Americas
• AE: Armed Forces Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Canada
• AP: Armed Forces Pacific

How To Correctly List a U.S. Military Address

Clarity and consistency are key when including a military address on a resume. Use standard abbreviations and avoid unnecessary formatting that might confuse ATS or employers.

Example of a military address on a resume

Here’s a simple, clear example of how to include a military address in your contact information:

This format is acceptable and professionally presented if you’re currently stationed overseas and don’t have a U.S. home address.

Military address formatting tips

• Use APO/FPO/DPO in place of the city name
• Use AA/AE/AP in place of the state
• Always include the full nine-digit ZIP if available, especially for secure delivery
• Avoid slang or abbreviations like “Kandahar Airfield” or “Camp Casey” unless relevant to your experience section

For more help with resume formatting, you can explore basic resume examples for structure inspiration.

What To Do If You’re Transitioning or Relocating

Using a permanent stateside address

If you’re within six months of relocating or separating from the military, it’s appropriate to list a U.S.-based address — especially if you have a place lined up. This signals to employers that you’ll be local soon, easing any concerns about relocation or scheduling interviews.

If you’re in transition, you might also note this in your resume profile, such as:

This kind of clarity shows foresight and professionalism.

Tips for Military-to-Civilian Resumes

When transitioning from active duty to the civilian workforce, your address is only one part of the story. Many veterans struggle to translate military experience into terms hiring managers understand. Use plain language, avoid jargon, and highlight relevant civilian-equivalent skills.

Consider:

• Swapping titles like “Platoon Leader” with terms like “Team Supervisor”
• Explaining acronyms like “MOS” or “AFSC”
• Quantifying your impact: “Managed supply chain operations for 300+ personnel across three countries”

Reviewing professional resume examples can help spark ideas for layout, tone, and experience descriptions tailored to civilian recruiters.

How To Handle Location in Remote Applications

If you’re applying for fully remote roles while stationed overseas, you have a few options regarding the address line on your resume. You can:

• List your current military address with a note about remote work eligibility
• Omit your address altogether and list only city/state availability
• Include a U.S. address if you’ll soon relocate

In these cases, recruiters mostly want to verify whether you’re authorized to work in the U.S. and whether your working hours align with their business operations. If your current deployment time zone differs significantly, clarify that you can work U.S.-based hours.

Example resume contact section for remote applications:

If you’d like to explore more resume formatting variations for remote and hybrid roles, review our modern resume examples designed for flexibility and digital-first careers.

What Not To Do When Listing a Military Address

Let’s walk through some common mistakes to avoid:

• Using informal location names: Instead of writing “Kuwait base” or “Camp Humphreys,” use the official APO/FPO/DPO designation.
• Omitting ZIP codes: Even though it’s not a standard ZIP, the five-digit or nine-digit military ZIP is essential for location recognition.
• Mixing formats: Choose one consistent approach. Don’t list a stateside city alongside APO AE.
• Overloading with detail: Your resume isn’t the place for a full military unit breakdown unless it adds value to your experience section.

If your address looks confusing or inconsistent, recruiters may be unsure about where you’re located or even whether you’re based in the U.S.. When in doubt, keep it simple and by the book.

Don’t Forget Your Cover Letter

While your resume handles logistics like address and work history, your cover letter is where you can tell your story.

For example, if you’re deployed now but returning stateside soon, the cover letter is the perfect place to say:

Need help writing it? Our cover letter examples include role-specific templates that make this process easy.

Consider Adding a Resume Objective

If you’re leaving the military and entering civilian work, adding a short objective at the top of your resume can help hiring managers understand your intentions.

Resume objectives like this are especially useful when your job titles don’t align directly with civilian roles. Use the resume objective examples to guide your phrasing.

When Location Isn’t Required

More and more employers no longer require an address on resumes, especially in digital-forward industries like tech, marketing, and IT.

But if you’re applying to federal jobs, defense contractors, or government agencies, they often still expect full addresses and may verify them for clearance or background check reasons. In those cases, using your military mailing address is standard and respected.

Still unsure whether to include your military address? If you’re applying to civilian and federal roles, consider creating two tailored versions of your resume.

Listing a U.S. military address on your resume doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about being accurate, transparent, and professional. You’re already bringing a unique background and valuable experience to the civilian workforce — don’t let formatting questions trip you up.

Whether you’re active duty, transitioning, or applying from overseas, this guide gives you the clarity and confidence to format your resume correctly. When you’re ready to start, browse our resume templates that are easy to edit and built to impress.

More Resume Resources

Here are some helpful pages to continue building your resume:

• Job Title Examples for Your Resume
• Resume Objective Examples
• Skills To Put on a Resume