Boot Camp: Letter Writing

Congratulations! You are now dating/married to a Marine Recruit! OORAH! Listed below are some helpful hints that will aid you when writing your new Recruit. Enjoy!

Wait to send letters until you receive the form letter

○ Yes, you can get his address from his recruiter, but I would highly recommend waiting until you receive the form letter.  

        

○ The form letter should arrive anywhere from 10-14 days after his arrival at MCRD.

        

○ The SDI's (Senior Drill Instructor) email and phone number will be in the form letter. DO NOT contact him. This will bring unwanted attention to your recruit.

○ Make sure you write the address exactly like it shows on the form letter.

This is usually the format:

RCT Last name, First name

X BN, X Co., PLT XXXX

36001 Midway Ave

San Diego, CA 92140-[platoon number]

Write every day

                

○ Send your recruit funny jokes and tell him about your day

○ Send news clippings or sports updates! They love to know what’s going on in the world and at home

                

○ Stay positive and save the bad news for when he gets home. This will keep him motivated

○ Your letters are the only escape he will have, so keep him motivated, strong and give him something to fight for and look forward to when he gets home

○ Understand that recruit will be very busy and won’t have much time to write, but you keep writing him. Your letters mean more to him than you realize.

○ Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get very many letters, like I said before, he will be very busy. I promise that you’re on his mind and he writes as often as he can

○ Be as creative as possible, but follow all of the rules (they are stated below)! Pinterest will become your best friend!

Dos and Don’ts

○ Don’t write a rank or refer to your man as a Marine on the envelope. He will be a recruit until he earns the title of “Marine”.

○ Use white paper and a white envelope when writing to your recruit.

○ Don’t spray perfume on the letter or envelope. This may attract unwanted attention from the DI’s

○ Don’t send a picture until your recruit asks for a picture

○ When sending pictures, I recommend printing on computer paper and writing your letter on it. Wallet size is also acceptable, but I still used computer paper just to be safe.

○ When sending pictures, make sure they are appropriate. Don’t send him anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see

○ Only send a care package if your recruit asks and only include what he asks for. In my experience Clif Bars and Beef Jerky are acceptable and usually the only thing they should ask you to send.

Good luck as you begin this journey with your boyfriend/husband! It's a wild ride, but a fun one!!!