PI034: How To Keep In Touch With Your Recruit

Mike’s postcard to his parents

During Marine Corps recruit training recruits remain isolated from their home environment for most of their 13 weeks on Parris Island.   The only link they have with their previous lives arrives in the mail.

Recruits Way Back…

When my husband went through boot camp we did not have cell phones or the Internet, (can you imagine such a time?), the recruiter received word that Mike arrived on Parris Island safely and relayed the message to Mike’s parents.  Later Mike’s parents received a post card with a short message and a simple request, “Dear Mom, Have arrived safely.  Will write soon.   Please send iron.”  A return address in the corner showed where they could send him an iron and any correspondence.  Like all recruits, Mike looked forward to mail call.  Each letter contained snippets of “everyday life” from friends and family.  Letters provided much needed respite from the rigors of training.   These vignettes are just as important today as they were years ago, perhaps even more so.  In her book Parris Island, A Woman’s Memoir of Marine Corps Boot Camp, Lisa Cordeiro describes her letters  as “…an escape into a different world for a few minutes, the world that I came from.”

Front of the postcard Mike sent to his mom and dad during boot camp

Modern Day Recuits

It may be harder for today’s men and women to adjust to “snail mail” because during their civilian lives they have so many additional areas of communication open to them. In addition to telephone and radio, they can text, Tweet, write on Facebook, e-mail, and video.  In boot camp all of these communication roads are taken away; life’s pace changes from an 8 lane freeway to an old dirt road in the countryside.  The importance of correspondence from home becomes a bridge between what their lives were and what they are now.  Why is it so important to receive mail?  I think it’s because a recruit’s physical needs will be met in boot camp, but their emotional needs are strengthened by positive reinforcement from friends and family through letters.  In this post I’ll go over important questions like when can you start writing?  What should you write about?  How often should you write?  What to do and what not to do.  So read on for some great ideas for your letters.

Staff Sgt. Jamison Randolph, the senior drill instructor of Platoon 2080, Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, inspects a package for Rct. Cole Jones, also with Platoon 2080, during mail call Aug. 11, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. Drill instructors must inspect the contents of parcels to ensure recruits receive no contraband while in training. Most recruits’ only connection to the outside world during their 13 weeks on Parris Island is through letters from friends and family. Randolph, 29, is from Marion, N.C. Jones, 18, is from Jacksonville, N.C., and is scheduled to graduate Oct. 24, 2014. (Photo by Cpl. David Bessey)

When Can You Write To Your Recruit?

Recruits send home a letter containing their address but don’t wait that long to begin writing.  Lots of things can happen before you hear from them so go ahead and start writing as soon as he or she leaves for boot camp.  Then date the letters and get them ready to send.  Once you have the address you can group several days together in the same envelope or send them in separate envelopes so you don’t go over the acceptable amount of postage.

Things You Should and Should Not Do To Your Letters

Put the letters in plain white envelopes and do not decorate them or do anything to make them stick out.  Drill Instructors will take an interest in anything flashy.  Don’t send cards that play music or sounds.  Keep cards with glitter, confetti, and perfume for after boot camp.  Decorated letters may result in more physical activity such as pushups for your recruit.   Mike fondly (wink, wink) remembers this extra attention as “incentive training.”

Rct. Joshua West, a 19-year-old from Carrollton, Ga., receives mail from his senior drill instructor Feb. 8 during mail call. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Francisco Abundes)

Newsy Letters from Home

You can write about all kinds of things starting with normal activities like walking the dogs or something funny the cat did.  Then add things that are happening in your home town.

For example, Sgt R. E. Cruit, (not even close to a real name), said when he arrived back home after boot camp, he missed many things that happened during his time away.  Friends married, sports teams won and lost games, people moved away, businesses closed, new business sprung up and he felt disconnected.

Keep your recruit from feeling disconnected by writing about local high school basketball, baseball or other sports.  Find out how the teams are doing and write a paragraph or two about them.  Mike especially loved getting his high school football scores from his dad.

Recruits of Platoon 4038, Oscar Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, enjoy their hour of free time Sept. 17, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Vaniah Temple)

Local news will keep your recruit in the know so home life doesn’t pass him or her by.  Don’t miss the opportunity to make your letter meaningful by adding home town tidbits.  Add articles from the newspaper about fairs or funny happenings around town.  Send tasteful pictures of family and friends.

Maybe your loved one worked at a local store or diner before going into the Corps.  If so, find out who continues to work there.  Did anyone leave for a better job?   Is the business doing well?  Maybe they have new competitors down the street.

Does your recruit like a certain television show?  If so write a paragraph or two about what is going on with the characters this week.  Mention new movies that came out and what they are about.

Keep your letters positive and supportive.  Recruits go through a lot of stress during training.  You can minimize that stress by giving words of encouragement throughout the process.  Tell them you miss them but you honor their decision and support them.  You can even put inspirational quotes in your letters.

Take a look at the training matrix and ask questions about the scheduled training.  Ask about the other recruits.  Ask your recruit to describe a typical day.  Do your best to keep letters positive, but if something bad happens that can’t wait contact your local Red Cross and they will get the message to your recruit.

Follow these tips and write letters your recruit will treasure for years to come.