What is an Army “I Love Me” Book?

An “I Love Me” book is an important part of a soldier’s career. How many times have you been told at the last minute that your unit lost your certificate of some kind? That copy of your drivers licenses? How about your marriage license and now they refuse to pay you BAH? Yeah, this stuff happens all the time. Then you have to run home frantically and dig through boxes and files and folders just to find the stuff you need.

An “I Love Me” book is where you are going to keep all of your documents, certifications, licenses, and any other piece of paper you could possibly need to hand in to your orderly room or S-1. You should keep your paperwork in a 3-ring binder with protective sleeves.

Army “I Love Me” Book Layout

Your “I Love Me” book needs to be organized. That’s the whole point of having one right? They are there to make your life easier and quicker when you need something. You should divide your book into 6 different sections that will be based on the Army Promotion Point System in a way.

Personal Information Military Training Awards & Decorations Military Education Civilian Education Other

Personal Information

The first section of your “I Love Me” book should include all of your personal information. These should never be the originals; only copies. These are typically things that are going to have an effect on your pay.

Some document examples include:

Birth Certificate.

Marriage License.

Children’s Birth Certificates.

Drivers License.

Rent/Lease Agreement

Loan Paperwork for Allotments.

Life Insurance.

Vehicle Registration.

Vehicle Insurance.

Military Training

This is the section of your book that needs to include any supporting documentation for things that are worth military training promotion points.

Some document examples include:

Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) Card.

Weapons Qualification Card.

Orders for Deployments.

Awards & Decorations

This is the section of your book that needs to include any supporting documentation for things that fall into the category of Awards & Decorations.

Some document examples include:

Orders/Certificates for any Awards you Have Earned.

Orders/Certificates for any Badges you Have Earned.

Orders/Certificates for any Metals you Have Earned.

Military Education

This is the section of your book that needs to include any supporting documentation for things that are worth military education promotion points.

Some document examples include:

Certificates of Completion for Resident Courses Completed. (eg. Combatives, CLS, etc.)

Certificates of Completion for any Online Courses Completed. (eg. SSD, Skillport, ALMS, etc.)

Certificates of Completion for any Non-commissioned Officer Education Courses Completed. (eg. WLC, ALC, etc.)

Civilian Education

This is the section of your book that needs to include any supporting documentation for things that are worth civilian education promotion points.

Some document examples include:

College Transcripts.

CLEP Test Results.

DANTES Test Results.

DLPT Results.

Civilian Certifications Completed.

Civilian Degrees or Program Completions.

Other

This section should contain any other documents that you think might be important in your military career.

Some document examples include:

Enlistment Contracts.

Re-enlistment Paperwork.

Bonus Paperwork Submitted.

Leave Paperwork Submitted.

Basically anything you submit to S1 (They lose things a lot).

Army “I Love Me” Book Cover Sheet Examples

One example of a cover sheet that would be quick and easy is a copy of your DA Form 3355, Promotion Point Worksheet. Here is a blank PPW for you to fill in if you want: DA Form 3355.