Army Guys -- OCS Mailing Ettiquette?

GoSox

5-Year Member
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Aug 20, 2011
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Hello, fellow warriors. I've got a HS buddy in OCS at Benning and I want to drop him a line. I've got a street mailing address for him but would like to know what salutation to use for him: "Officer Candidate Doe, John"? "Officer Candidate John Doe"? "Officer Cadet etc." I'd prefer not to get him dropped for pushups (won't be mailing in a USMC envelope, for example) by screwing up the envelope etiquette and I don't have a good way to get in touch with his folks to find out.

Sorry for clogging up the "off topic" thread -- it was my hope somebody might know.
 
Found this with a quick Google search. I have no knowledge on this - just trying to help. Someone who knows better than I can confirm...

Q: What address can I use to send packages and letters to OCS candidate?

(CANDIDATES NAME)
3-11TH INFANTRY
6510 BENJAMIN AVE, BLDG 2749
(COMPANY, IF KNOWN)
FORT BENNING, GA 31905

copied from: http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/ocs/faq.htm
 
He had to work at that salute. It does not come natural. I hurt myself just now trying it. But thanks for posting as it lead me back to the infamous "Ox" Oxberger clip. :shake:
 
Its 'Candidate Last Name, First Name' but if you just put his name on there he won't get in trouble, they don't do the push-ups for mail thing at OCS. I wouldn't even bother writing him honestly. Phones aren't taken away at OCS so they just store them in their rooms and check them every night, you'll probably have better luck just texting him.

Also even though they have a mailing address their cadre practically never checked the mail because they know the candidates have their phones on them. I was at LDAC while my husband was at OCS so I wrote him a couple times and all of them mysteriously got 'lost.'
 
Phones aren't taken away at OCS so they just store them in their rooms and check them every night, you'll probably have better luck just texting him.

Jebus. Sounds like the buffoonery I'd expect from TRADOC.
 
Thanks to all, including for the humor.

Good to know re: the phones -- will help if we try to organize getting together, I'm sure. I have such a good memory of getting "actual letters" at various stages of training that I am going to initially make sure I send a letter. Plus I found some old photos of him when we were in HS, visiting the DC area and trying to stand at attention at the U.S. Marine Corps Museum (and other funny pics from the same field trip), so I want to get those into the letter and "do them justice."

@sancontoa, good to know that mail might not make it through or will be delayed -- thanks. He'd be surprised to get a letter from me so if he doesn't get it he'll never miss it!

Re: the pushups for mail thing, I had so many jackass friends write inappropriate (but funny as hell) stuff on their mail to me during Plebe Summer that I have always vowed not to do it, no matter the temptation.
 
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