What does "endorsement" signify in correspondence?

The term "endorsement" in correspondence refers to the act of indicating approval, providing comments, or issuing additional instructions regarding a previous document or piece of correspondence. When someone endorses a piece of correspondence, they are effectively expressing their agreement with the content or adding their insights to further enhance the communication. This can serve multiple purposes, such as clarifying a position, directing action, or formalizing support for the ideas presented in the original correspondence.

In practice, endorsements often follow standard procedures and may appear on documents to ensure that the recipient clearly understands the approval or guidance provided by the endorsing individual or authority. This process is essential in military communications, as it maintains clarity and accountability throughout the chain of command, establishing a documented flow of communication and decisions.