A RIF is the actual form. The "5 recs" are simply letters of support from alumnae, and not a form.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how we defined it for our girls at our Alumnae Panhellenic Roundtable in Texas. Many of our girls attend school in TX/LA/AK/GA and this is what we advised them.
ETA: Here's the packet we give to area HS Seniors, which includes info about recs/rifs.... 5 letters of support sounds like a bit much (1-3 will suffice at the very competitive SEC schools), so I think the person who told you "5 recs" may not have the right information. Here's that link:
http://houston-panhellenic.org/rush/2006%20Recruit%20Info%20Guide%20for%20Website.pdf