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Events

**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

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RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED.  Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021

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Has anyone used the sandboxx app and if you have what are your thoughts on it? I still haven't gotten my recruits address yet, but when I do get it I couldn't decide if I should try using the app. I am going to be writing more hand written letters because I feel as though those are more personal, but what is everyone elses opinion on it? Worth using it?

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I have sent both, more Sandboxx than regular because he said he gets them a lot faster. He also said they are easier to ready since they read them in the evening without much light sometimes 

I have heard alot of the moms use sandbox I don't think it could hurt. Heard good things.

I use it a few times a week and hand write one letter a week. It's nice because you can attach a picture from your phone, so each letter comes with a picture. It only takes a couple days to get to him with Sandboxx,  instead of almost a week through regular mail from Arizona.

I didnt use the sandboxx app i just hand wrote my letters to my son because like you said it felt more personal. It was so much fun writing to him because i got a little creative and drew on his letters(not the envelopes)got my markers & color pencils out :) I also was able to add pictures to the background of my letters, I wrote him bible verses, and included a small picture with his letters of the family. Fun times :) He loved reading my letters and asked for the family to write and send him drawings He said it really helped him a lot in BC. 

Hi !  I've used Sandboxx the whole time my SR has been in BC.  I really like it.  The letters get there very quickly and have return envelops inside.  The address is easy for them to read and sort as well.  Tip:  Instead of trying to type a letter into my phone, I would write out my letter in an email, email it to myself, then open the email in my phone, copy and paste. DONE !!  So much easier. And you can add a picture to every letter you send.  Hope this helps

I hand wrote letters. Haven’t done that for years and it was difficult but I wanted my sailor to get something personal in my own handwriting. I still have the letters he wrote - very precious to me since I haven’t gotten any since and probably never will - haha!

I have used Sandboxx twice and my Son was super excited receiving a letter so quick. He could even track the time I wrote the letter and sent it. I send a Sandboxx letter once a week since there is a fee. But I actually hand write him letters everyday. But I try to surprise him with a sandboxx letter once a week since it arrives so quickly.

I use sandboxx and handwritten letters as well as cards.  If you are sending cards then sandboxx is about the same cost. My recruit got my first sandboxx letters a whole week before the standard mail even though the standard letters were mailed almost a week earlier. I usually send 2 sandboxx a week and then a couple handwritten letters and then a card or 2 a week.  I like adding the photo. We have made posters for him and took pictures of ourselves in front of the posters. 

I sent a couple of snail mail letters in the begining and then my daughter told me about sandbox....IT IS SO WORTH IT!! Thats how i send all my letters to my daughter now and will be doing the same for my son. No more stamps or envelopes and if you post your letters early in the day, you may get lucky and it gets delivered as soon as the same day! My daughter likes it cause she can get letters more often and stay up to date with everything. Its worth the few extra dollars.

Hello katiegirl123,

Sandboxx is an awesome app! It basically works as a "twitter for the military" if that makes sense. you can connect with people, post pictures and updates, and so on. The best feature is the letters! I believe that you can buy 3 letters for $8, and you get 3000 characters as well as a picture. What makes it so amazing is that they can receive the letter in two days!! My boyfriend and I talked about if this is the way we wanted to communicate, and we both agreed that although it is awesome, there is something incredibly special about a hand written letter. Another thing to note is that if you are sending your future sailor letters on sandboxx and hand written ones, they may not have the time to write back to all of them on top of all of the other letters they are receiving. I plan on going back and forth between sandboxx and handwritten, but not sending too many to the point that he can't respond to his mom, sister, and other relatives. Also, you can get free letters through sandboxx by inviting other people to join the app. 

Overall its definitely worth using! The difference between a letter being opened in two days vs. six days is HUGE. It definitely improves communication and is better than writing letters in many ways. if you wish to stay in contact, I can update you on my experience with sandboxx through bootcamp! Best wishes to you! (: 

Annie

I've sent two letters using the Sandboxx App and I'm loving it! I hesitated at first, too. It's great how quickly the mail is received, you can include a picture,  and you can track the letter. According to my SR Grandson it seems to be a pretty popular app in his Division. 

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