How Often Can Cadets Write Home?

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leftiesharpshooter27

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Best friend is going through Beast as we speak. I’ve sent him a letter everyday this week. When should I expect a response from him? How often do cadets typically write home?

Is writing everyday too much?

Also, felt that I should post this question to help ease some anxious parents’ nerves. XD
 
Any and all mail received by a new cadet will be appreciated. They won’t be able to check mail every day depending on training, and that’s why some folks will number their letters so they can be read in order, but overall, coming to more mail is always a better feeling than none.

In regards to responses, that’s on your NC friend but I really wouldn’t expect much. NCs are kept busy and any letter writing is written often time after lights are out when they should be sleeping.
 
Casey said:
Any and all mail received by a new cadet will be appreciated. They won’t be able to check mail every day depending on training, and that’s why some folks will number their letters so they can be read in order, but overall, coming to more mail is always a better feeling than none.

In regards to responses, that’s on your NC friend but I really wouldn’t expect much. NCs are kept busy and any letter writing is written often time after lights are out when they should be sleeping.
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Great to hear.

I did read somewhere that it’s best to include their company on your letter to them, otherwise it might be returned to you.

I haven’t been doing this for my NC friend, as the address he provided didn’t have his company. Will he still receive my letters?

I’ll start adding his company in the address from now on.
 
Last summer we wrote to our new cadet nearly every day. We received two letters from him.
Don’t expect a lot! The new cadets have almost no time to sleep, so writing a letter in their “free time” is a big sacrifice for them.
 
Don’t expect mail back. Your friend may prioritize writing to his parents. However after Beast, he or she can easily text or email or even call. You are so kind to write so often.
 
There isn't a much better morale booster than going to the mailbox knowing a note from home is awaiting. Agree with DrMom; don't expect much in return. DW sent a small note 5-7 times a week. (price of stamps kept rising) and the card shop always had a pile of cards ready to go. No need to be long winded. What a surprise when in July DD (KP) gave DW an album containing all those cards. It began raining everywhere.
 
DD couldn’t get enough letters! The more full her box was, the happier she was! We received a lot from her because she used it as therapy. Kind of like writing down her thoughts. Very emotional. DD number two is at Beast right now and I’m checking the mailbox every day with high hopes! We make sure someone in the house writes to her everyday. I’ve also included pictures of her hamster!
 
Mere2033 said:
DD couldn’t get enough letters! The more full her box was, the happier she was! We received a lot from her because she used it as therapy. Kind of like writing down her thoughts. Very emotional. DD number two is at Beast right now and I’m checking the mailbox every day with high hopes! We make sure someone in the house writes to her everyday. I’ve also included pictures of her hamster!
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I hope the hamster writes letters about goings-on at home.

Just the return address with Hamster Name Your Surname on the outside of the envelope would make me smile.
 
Agreed about the pet pictures—
If you have a dog, include photos of the dog.
I sent a bunch of photos of our dog, and our son liked them a lot.
I also sent comics.
 
We have heard too many letters = pushups. We have managed to send some notes on R Day at WP. Targeting one letter weekly for him ( as a family) + friends will be writing him too. Was fortunate to see him in many photos posted by WP and video by parents.
 
Mere2033 said:
DD couldn’t get enough letters! The more full her box was, the happier she was! We received a lot from her because she used it as therapy. Kind of like writing down her thoughts. Very emotional. DD number two is at Beast right now and I’m checking the mailbox every day with high hopes! We make sure someone in the house writes to her everyday. I’ve also included pictures of her hamster!
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I’ll send some pictures, too!

When did you start receiving your first few letters from DD number one?
 
USMA*DAD*2026 said:
We have heard too many letters = pushups. We have managed to send some notes on R Day at WP. Targeting one letter weekly for him ( as a family) + friends will be writing him too. Was fortunate to see him in many photos posted by WP and video by parents.
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We’ve been lucky with that too. My 2021 grad has a friend working with the new cadets and has been keeping us informed with how she’s doing. Without a smile in the photos it’s hard to know!
 
leftiesharpshooter27 said:
Best friend is going through Beast as we speak. I’ve sent him a letter everyday this week. When should I expect a response from him? How often do cadets typically write home?

Is writing everyday too much?

Also, felt that I should post this question to help ease some anxious parents’ nerves. XD
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I wrote my son most every day. We recieved 2-3 letters in return. They are so tired and the times demands are such that there may be few responses. However, KNOW THAT YOUR LETTERS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. Here are some suggestions.
1. Make sure to address the letter correctly. You are dealing with a bureaucracy and in my experience, anything out of the ordinary slows things down.
2. Send him some pre addressed and pre stamped envelopes. This will make it much easier for your friend to write back.
3. What to say? Well, I am not profound, I would keep a legal tablet by my breakfast table and compose a one page letter with my coffee. Usually started out with the kind of day it was, but then it seemed to flow into what I was doing that day. My letters were never profound and I never offered advice. I just wanted him to know that he was in my thoughts.
 
leftiesharpshooter27 said:
Best friend is going through Beast as we speak. I’ve sent him a letter everyday this week. When should I expect a response from him? How often do cadets typically write home?

Is writing everyday too much?

Also, felt that I should post this question to help ease some anxious parents’ nerves. XD
Click to expand...
What a great friend you are!!! Good for you for supporting your friend like this!
I've heard of NC's sending mail not being received by parents... Still haven't received mail from our NC. Thank you for the post. I'm one of those anxious parents. 😆
Don't be discouraged, keep up your end. I'm sure it's truly appreciated, not only by your friend, but by his/her family!! Your letter may be just the thing he/she needed to get through that day!
 
USMA*DAD*2026 said:
We have heard too many letters = pushups. We have managed to send some notes on R Day at WP. Targeting one letter weekly for him ( as a family) + friends will be writing him too. Was fortunate to see him in many photos posted by WP and video by parents.
Click to expand...
Getting smoked for too much mail is a rumor that pops up every year. If that is the case though. Very much frowned upon by higher. I certainly hope that is not happening.
 
We sent our son letters from home several times a week. However, we got very, very few from him.
Fast forward a couple years and he was beast cadre. He did require his new cadets to write at least one letter home. :)
 
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