Mail Call

Sorry for my ignorance, but what did you use to send letters? Regular white printer paper in a plain letter or legal size envelope? Or did you use little/simple note cards? Can you send "thinking of you" cards? Just trying to get some ideas on how to communicate with my DD at BCT. Also can I send her with a stack of SASE postcards to I-day? Thanks again for all the help!

I love the "question or multiple choice" type letters for the kids. I was kidding my DD about the same thing because she hates to write! Now if only thy could text you their letters I think I would hear more from her :biggrin:
 
shellsea said:
Sorry for my ignorance, but what did you use to send letters? Regular white printer paper in a plain letter or legal size envelope? Or did you use little/simple note cards? Can you send "thinking of you" cards? Just trying to get some ideas on how to communicate with my DD at BCT. Also can I send her with a stack of SASE postcards to I-day? Thanks again for all the help!

I love the "question or multiple choice" type letters for the kids. I was kidding my DD about the same thing because she hates to write! Now if only thy could text you their letters I think I would hear more from her :biggrin:
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My daughter is usually a great communicator, but the letter writing was really hard for her because she was so exhausted every day. I know alot of parents who got short messages frequently; I think I only got 3 letters (1 was one of those funny fill in the blanks inspired by Wing77) but they were long and detailed and the fill in the blank one was annotated and really hilarious! But she didn't have the time nor the energy to write what she wanted to write any more than a few times.
My point is that as parents we should be there to support them with our letters but not expect them to help assuage our anxieties with frequent letters back. I know some parents whose anxieties were elevated because the basics use the letters to vent which is absolutely normal but are not necessarily indicative that they are thinking of quitting; they're just tired and overwhelmed and those moments passed.
So I relied on Webguy to look at her face every day to make sure she was doing okay. I loved the letters I got, but just be aware that they may not write as often as you might like (and don't pressure them to do so!).
 
Thanks!

Although I had looked over the website I didn't appreciate that it worked this way. I appreciate the explanation:smile: I think I can manage to write the letters on my own.

Christcorp said:
I don't know how this program can "get through and delivered more frequently" than an individual writing a letter. The advantage of the program is that you can do it on the road, on your android, etc... and you don't have to actually mail a letter or anything. But the write2them service has to actually mail a letter. (It still has to go through the USPS to get to your basic trainee).

In other words; the write2them program is intended to make it easier on YOU the letter writer. It makes it more convenient to write a letter. But it doesn't really do anything as far as delivering the letter. That's going to take about the same amount of time. Nothing wrong with the program. Just saying that I don't believe it offers any advantage with your basic receiving mail from home. It just makes it easier for you to send a letter.
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Does someone actually ready the letters before they are given to you? If something private needs to be in the letter, is there a chance that the cadre will read it first? Just curious about how much should be written or complained about.
 
Christcorp said:
I don't know how this program can "get through and delivered more frequently" than an individual writing a letter. The advantage of the program is that you can do it on the road, on your android, etc... and you don't have to actually mail a letter or anything. But the write2them service has to actually mail a letter. (It still has to go through the USPS to get to your basic trainee).

In other words; the write2them program is intended to make it easier on YOU the letter writer. It makes it more convenient to write a letter. But it doesn't really do anything as far as delivering the letter. That's going to take about the same amount of time. Nothing wrong with the program. Just saying that I don't believe it offers any advantage with your basic receiving mail from home. It just makes it easier for you to send a letter.
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We had letters sent from home from various family members, and according to when they were sent (actual dates) they didn't always get through as quickly - and the Write2them email is sent immediately (hence the use of email for everyone nowadays). The Write2them is centered in Colorado Springs and they run these emails out to the Academy daily, except weekends. These often went more easily out to the cadets...just communicating what my son's experience was last summer, he was able to get more timely communication. I rarely post and was only trying to help :smile: not be contentious! :smile: As a mom who wanted to offer support to my son, it was nice knowing he had this luxury amidst a tough few weeks.
 
never ever alone said:
Does someone actually ready the letters before they are given to you? If something private needs to be in the letter, is there a chance that the cadre will read it first? Just curious about how much should be written or complained about.
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No one is reading the letter before you get it. That's a crime. You get your own mail. Now, once it's opened, "IF", the cadre thinks that there's something not allowed, then they may request the letter from you and return it after BCT. But they aren't opening the letter prior to you getting it. If someone here says they are, I would argue that I'd have to see proof of that. And then, that would definitely be measure for a legal complaint.
 
vls said:
We had letters sent from home from various family members, and according to when they were sent (actual dates) they didn't always get through as quickly - and the Write2them email is sent immediately (hence the use of email for everyone nowadays). The Write2them is centered in Colorado Springs and they run these emails out to the Academy daily, except weekends. These often went more easily out to the cadets...just communicating what my son's experience was last summer, he was able to get more timely communication. I rarely post and was only trying to help :smile: not be contentious! :smile: As a mom who wanted to offer support to my son, it was nice knowing he had this luxury amidst a tough few weeks.
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If they are simply printing an email from you and hand carrying it in an envelope and having it delievered to your son's mail, then I can see how it could be faster. But in our case, with 4 individuals writing a letter at least twice a week, my son never went a day of checking the mail box where he didn't have something in there. I do remember him saying however that they didn't get to check mail "Every Day". Especially the 2nd half of BCT when they were at Jacks. But every time he actually checked mail, there was always a letter or two or three waiting for him.

But if an individual wants to send an email and have someone deliver it, then that's cool. I prefer the privacy. Plus; as modern and progressive as we want to believe we are with emails and text, there is something about letters. Especially if they are hand written. Much more personal. I.e. I NEVER, EVER, EVER, leave a voice mail on a personal phone call. Sometimes if I'm calling a business. But not a personal call. And I'm a 110% PURE Techno-Geek. I've been doing computers and modern technology since the 70's. Before al gore even invented the internet. And I still think some things are better than modern. Anyway; that's just me ranting.
 
Christcorp said:
If they are simply printing an email from you and hand carrying it in an envelope and having it delievered to your son's mail, then I can see how it could be faster. But in our case, with 4 individuals writing a letter at least twice a week, my son never went a day of checking the mail box where he didn't have something in there. I do remember him saying however that they didn't get to check mail "Every Day". Especially the 2nd half of BCT when they were at Jacks. But every time he actually checked mail, there was always a letter or two or three waiting for him.

But if an individual wants to send an email and have someone deliver it, then that's cool. I prefer the privacy. Plus; as modern and progressive as we want to believe we are with emails and text, there is something about letters. Especially if they are hand written. Much more personal. I.e. I NEVER, EVER, EVER, leave a voice mail on a personal phone call. Sometimes if I'm calling a business. But not a personal call. And I'm a 110% PURE Techno-Geek. I've been doing computers and modern technology since the 70's. Before al gore even invented the internet. And I still think some things are better than modern. Anyway; that's just me ranting.
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Ouch. Former English teacher/current writer here and whole-heatedly agree about the hand-written letter. The Write2them staff has former SA affiliation, so I doubt I have to worry about privacy. Just saying, again, that my son RECEIVED correspondence (which is also sometimes more important than whether it is hand-written or not) in greater amounts and more frequently via Write2them - and in addition to hand-written letters. I could write an email late and he'd get it the next day. Several testimonials on the site reiterate this. Last post for me on this thread - and I know why I don't post as often, I guess. I assume others will do what is best fitting for them and will not judge the value of someone's communication (support) based on whether it is sent via email or snail mail (hand-written). My intention was to communicate my son's experience, not start a comment board argument. :smile:
 
Your suggestion is well received. I'm sure that there are plenty who could use the service and it would be quite beneficial. I'm not knocking the suggestion. I was simply saying that wrote to him every day, so its not likey son didn't receive enough letters.
 
After my son had received no mail in his first two weeks at USAFA, and we mailed one every day, I switched to write2them, I had his friends write to this email address as well and all were compiled in to letters he received the next day. He never had another empty handed mail call. He got both hand written (from home) and write2them emails. Some were duplicates, but mail is mail. I was able to verify his receipt of this mail as his sister was a C2C at the time and would occasionally be able to confirm the receipt of mail. I know it seems wrong that they can get the letters there quicker than USPS, but trust me it works and is worth the price for the peace of mind.
 
Keep then upbeat! Keep them coming daily! Keep them encouraging! Send them anyway you think is best, but keep sending them. They don't get to their mailboxes everyday, so some days there will be 2 or 3 of them in the box. Although postmarks will show which ones come first, we always "numbered" ours in the corner so he knew which ones were recent. They're very busy there; don't expect them to have much energy to write as often as YOU do.
 
Is the mailing address the same as the P.O. box that has already been assigned? We heard that there is a separate mailing address for BCT
 
It shouldn't be any different.
I still get mail from the same place I did in Basic.
 
addressed Cadet not Basic Cadet

Well, I cut and pasted the address given to us on his portal and did not know about the difference when we printed and passed out SASE to family and friends and in his graduation announcement. I really hope he doesn't get in trouble by cadre for my mistake.
 
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