Writing Letters

Here's how your address should be written SR, Last Name, First Name, Middle initial

Ship ##, Divison ###

Recruit Training Command

#### Something Drive or Avenue

Great Lakes IL 60088-####

SR= Seaman Recruit

**(The Recruit Training Command line is sometimes omitted. BUT if your recruit writes and asks you to include it then do so.)

The recruits LIVE for mail…even the ones who say “don’t bother”…some of those end up writing home the most! Write often…every day if you can…and write about ANYTHING. Just tell them about your day and the goings on, info about friends, family, gossip, news, sports…keep them up on their favorite teams and TV shows. Tell them about the funny things their pets do…or write them a letter from them! Some of those have been very creative! They just want to hear about home.

Send funny jokes or pictures. It’s best to photocopy jokes and such onto the back of the letters you write. Actual newspaper clippings may get thrown away. Photographs may be sent but they will be inspected for content…and also remember they do not have a lot of room in their compartment for storage. Please use good judgment on content when sending cartoons and such…you don’t need to get you or your SR in trouble.

Cards are fine…plain white envelopes are best…but colored envelopes are really fine (sometimes we hear that some of the RDC’s don’t like them, “to each their own")just don’t decorate the outside with stickers and drawings (lipstick kisses…or maybe hubby’s will think the IT is worth that one wifeys!)

Glitter is a big no-no as the stuff is invasive! So hard to get rid of…and they have inspections of their racks and compartment. They’ll take “hits” for it.

Musical cards are a no-no as well.

Recruits receive mail Monday through Friday. They begin getting mail as soon as an MRPO Mail Recruit Petty Officer (the recruit assigned to collect and distribute mail), is trained. The mail is controlled by federal law and the MRPO must complete a federal training course before he/she can handle the mail. Sometimes this takes a couple of weeks but not more than three.

With all of the above…always bear in mind that your recruit may write home with specific instructions, “please make sure you include the Ship name (or the RTC line) when addressing your letter”, “don’t use colored envelopes”, “it’s okay to send colored envelopes” ”Don’t copy FB posts and send”, etc…whatever it is…always follow their lead in that instance.

Jokes and Fun Stuff to include in your letters

http://www.jokesclean.com/ChristianJokes/

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Word searches

http://www.armoredpenguin.com/wordsearch/

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about.com military humor

(this particular link is on “10 Ways to Make Basic Training Harder )

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/miljokes/bltoughbasic.htm

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Gocomics

Your favorite comic strips!

http://www.gocomics.com/explore/comics

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Military humor-but has all kinds. Poke around.

This was one of my favorites!

http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/MilJoke.htm

CONTACT LENSES AND MAKE-UP

Recruits may receive Contact lenses (1 pair)/solution (travel size) and light Makeup for Pictures (taken about the fourth training week in their Dress Blues) and PIR.

You may send this at any time in a clearly marked package. Padded envelope or small priority mail boxes are good. It's a good idea to put the liquid items in a Ziploc baggie. It will be opened in front of an RDC for inspection of contents and then the recruit may store them.

Here is the "official" info from the RTC FB FAQ page:

WHAT CAN I SEND OR NOT SEND MY RECRUIT:

"..Recruits may receive one pair of contacts and one week's worth of solution to wear for photos and/or graduation. Female recruits are permitted to receive minimal makeup items to wear for photos and/or graduation..."

Recruits may NOT receive any other type of care packages or food items. All food items are discarded.