<p>Aside from meals, the one thing that we all looked forward to last year in basic was the trip to the mail room. Getting letters and comic strips and newspaper clippings and photos and singing cards… it’s a huge encouragement to know that someone is thinking about you. My flight got to check mail every single day during first beast. Some people had stuffed mailboxes every time (one girl literally had at least 10 letters every day, thanks to her mom recruiting a bunch of people to write) and some people had absolutely nothing. One guy in my squad didn’t get a single thing the entire 6 weeks. Mail is so important! Parents, I know you’re all going to be missing your kids, but really the only thing you can do for them in basic is write to them. And believe me, that will be HUGE. It doesn’t have to be a novel (their time is limited too), but just a reminder that you’re thinking about them is enough. If you can write daily, please do! It’s horrible to get your hopes up and then have nothing waiting for you when you go check your mail. If you send something today or tomorrow, it will be waiting for your cadet the very first time they check the mail. hornetguy sent me a letter before basic even started and it was waiting for me the day after we inprocessed… you have no idea how happy I was! 
Be creative if you can, but if you can only drop a few lines and stick it in the mail, that is fine too!</p>
<p>Are we allowed to get stuff like photos and singing cards? I thought that was the type of stuff that we would get everyone in trouble if we got.</p>
<p>Mail was amazing in BCT. Made me happy to send the 2011ers some mail last year. And some even got stories out of it like redhead! :)</p>
<p>I'm sure the Red and others can comment on what can happen with mail received depending on what it is/was.</p>
<p>As a sender over the past 10 years...I can tell you that:</p>
<ol>
<li> Basics LOVE/WANT/NEED mail and daily is not enough for them.</li>
<li> Newpaper sports scores, comics are appreciated and shared.</li>
<li> Different Cadre will respond differently to "contraband" and how "illegal" it is. Some will allow candy and others won't. some will save it for after beast and return it to the Basic now Cadet others will eat it and never let on. It all depends.<br>
4.I think many parents were successful in sending "fruit roll ups" because they are flat like letters and thus usually not suspicious.</li>
<li>As I told a few, some parents/friends/senders will get creative (depending on what their basic may want) with the envelopes and stickers on the envelopes to see if the basic gets extra attention. When I sent I ALWAYS asked the BAsic BEFORE as to how he/she wanted mail to come...whether plain white or "creative" I always got the "creative" response and no one ever complained of any training received as a result. It's been a few years...and things may have changed...but sometimes BCT can be fun. I've heard stories of some pretty outragoues conspiracies between parents and cadre over a basic...I would never be that elaborate...but something a LITTLE different was fun. And the Basic ALWAYS had to option of telling me to revert back to plain white envelopes.</li>
<li> Did I mention DAILY mail...yes...start sending stuff 2-3 days before IP day so that they have something already the following day.</li>
</ol>
<p>I sent redhead a pink, scented envelope with a LOT of princess stickers on it. :) It's a good story to this day! :)</p>
<p>How long are you allowed to check/write mail?</p>
<p>You don't need very long to check your mail. We would just grab ours and take it back to our rooms. There'd be time to read it later that night.</p>
<p>You aren't really given any time specifically to write letters. You'll have an hour or so on Sunday if you don't go to church, and sometimes an hour on Friday to yourself, I believe. Other than that, you've got to go with the old flashlight-under-the-covers method!</p>
<p>That being said, if any of you would like someone else to write to, I'd be more than happy to PM you with my box number. Nothing beats mail during BCT. :)</p>
<p>I second that! PM me with your PO Box number if you want me to write you during basic. Promise I will!</p>
<p>I will always remember hornet's mail. My whole flight got to do pushups to earn me my mail one time... 15 pushups per sticker kind of adds up. 50 pushups for a pink envelope. 50 pushups for fragrance... kind of adds up. :)</p>
<p>I'm up for writing you all (though I've never met you all in person), my dad sucks at writing letters and I rarely got anything :(. Maybe we can get the basics to penpal too. I just don't have my PO Box yet since I'm a turnback.</p>
<p>I've got a quick question. One of my best friends is starting basic and I told him I'd write him. I even told him that I'd put things in the letters to the cadre, stickers, etc. </p>
<p>But, I don't want his entire flight to have to do pushups (wow, sorry redhead) so only he can get mail. I'm trying to get him through basic, not get him killed. </p>
<p>So, what can I do to make it funny and enjoyable for him but not painful for both him, his element, or his flight?</p>
<p>CranoOrden,
There are no definitive answers to that question. It all depends on his flight, and even the particular cadre that may be on duty the day he gets his mail.</p>
<p>Along with the few others who have offered, I too will write to any of you who'd like an extra letter. Just PM me with your name & PO Box. It's been 6 years (wow I feel old!) since I inprocessed, but I still remember how nice it was to get mail in BCT.</p>
<p>When I was cadre, one of my basics was not getting any mail, so I got his PO Box and gave it to my dad, who shared it with a few other parents (none of whom my basic had ever met). As far as I know, he still writes to one of the mothers, 3 years later! With that being said, if you notice a fellow basic cadet who is not getting any mail, it might be worth asking if they would mind you sharing their PO Box with a couple people. Some might be opposed to this idea, but most will not; basic is bad enough on its own...let alone with no mail!</p>
<p>Any other takers for Petko's mailing list? I've got 4 on the roster so far...</p>
<p>pssgiraffe08 were you a 2011 turnback? What Sq?</p>
<p>Yep, I'm turned back from 2011. I was in Jaguars.</p>
<p>Petko, can you send me the "roster"? I'd like to help add a little joy to a basic's life too once I get back from leave (near the end of 1st beast).</p>
<p>Yeah. I'm sitting at Gov School in Virginia with some extra time. If there is a roster that gets made. Let me know. I brought extra letters, so I have pleanty.</p>
<p>Same offer here. I'm sure most have left already, but I will be able to write (and I'll be around to stick it in the box). Maybe stick it in your sleeping bag? ;) Either way, I'll see all of you soon.</p>