Addressing letters during Basic

C

cookbook94

5-Year Member
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Jul 31, 2014
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Could someone please clarify how to address a letter to my DS during Basic? His Post Office Box assignment reads:
Cadet XXXXX XXXX

I seem to recall in a post that people advised against writing "Cadet." Rather it should read something else. Unfortunately, I can neither find nor recall the exact terminology to use. I don't want to cause my DS any problems during Basic by addressing him incorrectly. Please help! Thank you!
 
Just an appointee here but in our paperwork it says to address letters to us as...

Basic Cadet John Doe
PO Box ####
USAF Academy, CO 80841

If you ever forget while he is away, ask him to leave his appointee hand book with you, it is in there. His specific PO box will be on his portal. I printed out labels for my mum so all she has to do is stick it to the envelope. If you have never printed labels, it is really easy to do with microsoft word.
 
Thank you very much! Great information and helpful tips! Congratulations on your Appointment and may your years at AFA be filled with good health, happiness and continued success! Best of Luck!
 
They'll tell you that to avoid "attention" make sure you send your letters in white business envelopes with no "funny business" (stickers, hearts, etc) on them. Well, fencersmother is all for rules, but not THAT rule. My sons may have (had) a different opinion. :p
 
RogersCO'19 said:
Just an appointee here but in our paperwork it says to address letters to us as...

Basic Cadet John Doe
PO Box ####
USAF Academy, CO 80841

If you ever forget while he is away, ask him to leave his appointee hand book with you, it is in there. His specific PO box will be on his portal. I printed out labels for my mum so all she has to do is stick it to the envelope. If you have never printed labels, it is really easy to do with microsoft word.
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Rogers is absolutely correct. Always refer to them as "Basic Cadet". Before DS left for I-Day last year, I made a point to let everyone (relatives, friends, etc.) know to address him as "Basic" also. DS let us know he definitely did not want that kind of attention from the cadre.
Fencersmother: that's brave........and hilarious ! Never thought I'd ever hear you bend a rule. Haha. But if your going to, that's a good one to bend. I would love to have seen the reactions to those letters!

While the subject has come up, It may be worth while to mention Write2them. This organization is amazing. They convert your emails into letters and they arrive at your Basic's PO Box. This was a real blessing for me and my wife during basic last year. The folks there are very helpful and passionate about connecting military families through email/letters.
 
Fencersmother is right about sending any letters that are attention getting. Cadre can and do take letters to read out loud from the basics. The basics are also not allowed to have pictures, so if one is sent, it will be taken away until BCT is completed. My son recalled a memorable moment when another cadet's letter from his girlfriend was read out loud. If the letter stands out in any way (size, color, perfume, stickers, etc.) the cadre may notice and then have it read out loud to the rest of the squadron.

I told my son he best write, or I would send him letters in pink envelopes reeking of perfume and decorated with flowers, hearts, rainbows, unicorns etc. . I also pointed out how there are musical cards that would be a guaranteed huge hit when he opened them. He did send some letters home :shake:

Be sure to address all letters to Basic Cadet John Doe during Basic Training. After acceptance, then address letters to Cadet John Doe.
 
MombaBomba said:
I also pointed out how there are musical cards that would be a guaranteed huge hit when he opened them.
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Oh man thank you sooooo much for this one! I would never have thought of it. I like to mess with my DS and I already planned on sending him a letter so obnoxious that it will get read. Now it's going to be a musical card. In fact I'm going to get his sisters to send him one too!!!
 
Oh, I sent something to DD (embedded cartoon) during BCT and the cadre really rode her on that. They confiscated the letter. She wrote back and said if I did anything like that again, she'll never open another of my letters. Just something to keep in mind.
 
Our letter writing experience to my DD was an unhappy one. Although we would receive every one of het letters sent to us, letters begging us to write, she would not get any of the letters sent by us. It was heartbreaking. I reached out to Rose as well as tried write2them with no avail. Finally, she would get 3--4 at a time so I numbered them in order to make reading them in sequence easier. It ceased to become an issue after Jacks; I chalked it up to one of those things, just unlucky...
 
USAFA83GradWife said:
Oh, I sent something to DD (embedded cartoon) during BCT and the cadre really rode her on that. They confiscated the letter. She wrote back and said if I did anything like that again, she'll never open another of my letters. Just something to keep in mind.
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DS and I like to give each other a hard time about things (in good fun). He's gone through PREP so he knows what it feels like to have that focus so I know when the attention moves on he'll swear his revenge!

Wishful said:
Our letter writing experience to my DD was an unhappy one. Although we would receive every one of her letters sent to us, letters begging us to write, she would not get any of the letters sent by us. It was heartbreaking. I reached out to Rose as well as tried write2them with no avail. Finally, she would get 3--4 at a time so I numbered them in order to make reading them in sequence easier. It ceased to become an issue after Jacks; I chalked it up to one of those things, just unlucky...
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Wow that would be heartbreaking and de-motivating as it could get especially that she reached out in her letters for you to write. That would be very frustrating.
 
Just a glitch in the Post Office, I guess.
 
Wishful said:
Our letter writing experience to my DD was an unhappy one. Although we would receive every one of het letters sent to us, letters begging us to write, she would not get any of the letters sent by us. It was heartbreaking. I reached out to Rose as well as tried write2them with no avail. Finally, she would get 3--4 at a time so I numbered them in order to make reading them in sequence easier. It ceased to become an issue after Jacks; I chalked it up to one of those things, just unlucky...
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Unfortunately, I have heard of similar experiences from others. One parent reached out to the academy post office directly and another to their kid's coach. This past BCT there was a problem in the mail room, and several parents voiced the same problem with their basic cadet receiving letters. We used write2them, and fortunately, my son did not have a problem with receiving mail. Also, during BCT, they don't get a chance to check their mail daily. They would stop by every few days or so.

So let your kid know ahead of time that there can be snafus with mail during BCT, and that even if they don't receive any right away, you will be sending them, and it may take some time for the letters to catch up to them.
 
Boozebin said:
DS and I like to give each other a hard time about things (in good fun). He's gone through PREP so he knows what it feels like to have that focus so I know when the attention moves on he'll swear his revenge!
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Oh, don't get me wrong. My DD and I tease each other all the time. This was just a very rough time in her life & getting yelled at because I decided to send a goofy comic did not put her in a good mood. Her cadre (squadron specific) were VERY straight laced & seemed to have no sense of humor. They didn't let up about this stupid comic throughout the entire BCT.

... either that or they really hate Doctor Who.
 
Wishful said:
Although we would receive every one of het letters sent to us, letters begging us to write, she would not get any of the letters sent by us. Finally, she would get 3--4 at a time so I numbered them in order to make reading them in sequence easier.
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I like the idea about numbering the letters -- that way, if they get held up for whatever reason, they can be sorted out to make more sense.
 
+1000 for Write2Them. Amazing organization and the best cheap money you will ever spend. Just do it.... seriously.

As for the occasional "special" handwritten letters designed to get your Basic extra attention... I consider it payback for all the gray hairs they've given us. :)
 
I have to jump on the write2them bandwagon as well. We used it last year and not only did DS get his letters timely but his friends used it as well. We could see when he was getting mail sent and if there was a few days without anyone writing we would make sure to send him more from us. It is an awesome service.
 
It really doesn't matter what the letters look like. Oh and pro tip, if you include a picture in your letter (ie in a word document) they can't take it away ). Also, send a cadet calendar with dates like when you go to jacks, and things like that
 
I don't think anyone mentioned it, but the PO box should also follow in the zip code, such as 80841-1234, if their PO box was 1234, of course. You never know what throws off the United States Postal Service.
 
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