NOT RECIEVING MY MAIL! PLEASEEE HELP

[Ariel thompson]

 MY FIANCE HAS BEEN IN BOOT CAMP SINCE JULY 11TH AND I SEND MAIL EVERY OTHER DAY TO HIM. I RECIEVED A PHONE CALL FROM HIM THIS WEEKEND AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HASNT RECIEVED ANY OF MY MAIL AND ITS BEEN 2 WEEKS SINCE I HAVE BEEN SENDING THEM. I HAVE THE CORRECT ADDRESS AND CORRECT POSTAGE SO WHAT CAN BE THE PROBLEM??? HE SAYS EVERYONE AROUND HIM HAS BEEN RECIEVING THEIR MAIL SO ITS MAKING ME VERY SAD. IS THERE ANY NAVY BASE MAILING SYSTEM THAT I CAN CONTACT? PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE IM SENDING ALL THIS MAIL AND HE IS NOT RECIEVING IT.

[Mamma D]

Are you using the address from the form letter or did you get it from the recruiter?

[CryptoDad]

And.... Any mail sent in the first weeks just piles up in the mail room because no one in the division has been trained to handle it.

RTC "REQUESTS" THAT NO MAIL BE SENT TO RECRUITS UNTIL THE FORM LETTER HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

Disregard that request at your own peril.

[Ariel thompson]

I did receive the form letter and im using the same address from the form letter, the address he gave me over the phone when we spoke, and the address recruiter gave me. I even spoke to the mail people on base and they said they would keep and eye out but I have also heard that it will take weeks to train someone to pass out mail and he could possibly have a pile up and get it all at once. but when they said they checked the mail room yesterday nothing was there for him. what should I do?

[amberosia19]

If I may ask, why does the recruiter give us an address right away if we're not supposed to use it? And if RTC doesn't want us to send mail until the form letter has been received, then why isn't that the rule? 

[Mamma D]

It is stated to not send mail until you receive address in form letter.  This can be found in the Family Guide on the Recruit Training Command home page

[amberosia19]

I don't know any more about the girl who started this topic than you do or what her situation is. I was just wondering why the information I'm reading here contradicts what my son's recruiter is telling me. The day after he left, his recruiter volunteered the address and encouraged us to write as soon as possible and often. In fact when I met with the chief at his recruitment office for his seven day, he said the same thing. They told me my kid would need the comfort and encouragement that news from home would bring. Keep it all positive and lighthearted. I've had an established and trusting relationship with these men for a year, so I find it difficult to believe they would knowingly give me misinformation.

[BunkerQB]

They did not knowingly gave you misinformation. Things change. Recruiter often don't have the latest info on RTC policies. The recommendation of waiting to mail letters until you receive the form letter is "newish" - suggestion incorporated in the last 12 to 18 months (I think). Prior to that, there was no mention of WHEN/WHERE to writ. Recruiter try to get addresses to the families as soon as possible but often these are superseded.  The mail will get to your recruit but may in fact be later, than sooner (they are not thrown away ever).  The Family Guide from the RTC is your official handbook. NOT Navy For Moms.  Here is the link to the pdf file. Print it out for quick reference.
http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/pdfs/FamilyGuide.pdf

Your recruiters soon like decent guys. The recruiter normally don't get any special training - some are assigned to recruiting jobs (as part of their shore duty). Good luck to you and your son.

[BunkerQB]

I would like to say something in defense of the recruiters.  A family friend was head of entire recruiting district here in Northern CA. He said often, young men and women join the military to get away from home. They specifically request that no information be given out. I was shocked. He said it's hard to believe but the Navy treats the recruits, then sailors as adults. They are encouraged to writ home but they are not forced to writ home.  Recruiters are placed in a position that they have not been marginally trained for, or not at all; however, the volume of information (misinformation) is huge.  Just think about all the "waivers" that a recruit may get for various medical issues besides the procedural stuff with education, physical requirements, test scores. There are parents asking questions. There are recruits asking questions. Then there are kids who are dying to join but can't qualify because of one thing or another on their records. Then of course, you have parents who are so incensed if their son/daughters are separated (for whatever reason) and they call up the recruiter screaming and yelling because the recruiter SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!  It's actually a very stressful job.

Our friend told us the incidences of suicide was the highest among sailors who were recruiters than any other group.  I had always thought it was a cushy job until he opened my eyes.

[BCR0095]

Very eye opening thanks for sharing BunkerQB!