How to Address a Basic Training Letter : Ultimate Guide to Writing a Basic Training Letter Address
Basic Training

How to Address a Basic Training Letter

 

Anyone who has waited for their soldier’s return from Basic Training will tell you that the letters are absolutely the best part of the wait.

 

And any soldier will probably agree!

 

Writing them might come pretty easily, but making sure they arrive at their destination is another thing.  Even after receiving a few letters from your soldier, it can still be tough to know just how your Basic Training letter address should look.  Here are seven steps you can take to ensure a smooth delivery of your letter:

 

 

 

Step One: Start with a Clean White Envelope and a Black Pen

 

Sounds boring, I know.  But if you read my last Basic Training Letter post (5 myths busted) then you’ll know that it’s sometimes a big deal to the Drill Sergeants if you spice up the envelopes.  And it’s a big deal in a bad way.    To spare your soldier the risk of punishment, don’t put anything on the envelope except a stamp and two addresses (yours and theirs).  Bright pink envelopes, stickers, and perfume aromas are only risks that could get your soldier in trouble.  While some Drill Sergeants don’t care about that kind of stuff, some do–and they use it as an opportunity to give your soldier grief.  Don’t feed the Drill Sergeants.

 

 

 

Step Two: His Name and Number

 

His name is important, but maybe even more so–his roster number.  To the Drill Sergeants, he is known by his roster number.  The first digit in the number designates which platoon the soldier belongs to.  And the other two digits indicate which soldier he is.  Ex: Roster Number 101 means he is soldier number 01 (they go alphabetically by last name) and in 1st Platoon.  Failing to include that number on the envelope is a big deal.  They go by roster numbers more than names when it comes to mail!

 

Some bootcamps use the last 4 digits of the soldier’s social security number as their roster number.  This makes it easier for you!  (As long as you know their social security…and as long as you know that their addressing system uses socials instead of roster numbers.)  Often, the addresses that require the social security number will also require a class number and platoon number combination (since the social security number says nothing about their location in the company).

 

Example: Your soldier might be in the 3rd platoon, and his class is the 22nd cycle of trainees going through Basic that year (2017).  So his address line would include something like this: “PLT #3 CLASS 22-17.”  And that part of the address would be really important.  It doesn’t denote the individual soldier.  You would still need to include his name and rank, or social security (all three is ideal).

 

 

 

Step Three: His Unit

 

This matters because your soldier is not in the only training unit on post.  It’s just as important to write as his/her name and roster number.  Write it exactly how it is specified in the Commander’s letter (see Step Seven).  Exactly.  You can also write it the way your soldier does on his return address labels (as long as you include the roster number or whatever combination of social security/platoon/class information is required).

 

I chose to just copy my soldier’s address the way he wrote it, even though it was slightly different than the Commander’s Letter.  I got my husband’s letter before the Commander’s and I didn’t want to wait!  You can do that too.  But don’t make up your own variation– either do it exactly like the commander or exactly like your soldier.  Either one will get your letter to the right place!

 

 

 

Step Four: The Training Site Address

 

It’s the usual building number, street address, etc.  This is just important because the US mail requires it.  After all, this is still “regular” mail in the end.  🙂

 

 

 

Step Five: A Stamp and Your Return Address

 

See Step Four above.  *Note:*  Letters that go undelivered to the soldier (because you didn’t include his/her roster number or unit, or because he/she graduated) will not be returned to you.  I know I said it’s US mail…but nobody is going to take the time to return your letter to you if your soldier doesn’t receive it.

 

 

 

Step Six: End with a Clean White envelope

 

Like I said in Step One…don’t decorate the envelope after you seal it.  Clear plastic tape is fine if your envelopes have a hard time staying shut (for some reason, mine always did).  But otherwise, leave the envelope plain and inconspicuous.  You never want your mail to be the subject of unwanted attention for your soldier.  The point of your letters are to bring him/her relief and comfort!  And I know there are exceptions–some people get away with all kinds of decorations on their letters.  But since there is a chance that this will cause problems for your soldier, I recommend erring on the side of caution.  If you want some fun stationary supply ideas, see this post for my recommendations!

 

 

 

Step Seven: Wait for the Commander’s Letter

 

This one is the hardest, but most important, of all the steps if you are in doubt as to how to address it (meaning you didn’t get a letter from your soldier).  The Company Commander sends out a letter to all the soldiers’ points of contact on the first day of Basic Training (it arrives 2.5 weeks after your soldier left home).  It specifies the unit and address of your soldier, as well as some guidelines and general information.

 

WAIT FOR THIS LETTER IF YOU ARE IN ANY KIND OF DOUBT.

 

Your soldier gets the chance to write his/her roster number on the outside of the envelope, or to include the platoon and class information.  That unique information is necessary (see Step Two).  Do not send your letters before you get this roster number or unit information.

 

It is possible that your soldier will have written you before the Commander’s letter arrives.  And you of course want to write back! If your soldier has filled out their address fully, then go for it.  But if  your soldier only included a name and a street address, with no unit information, roster numbers, or platoon and class details, then you need to wait.

 

I know.  (BEEN THERE).  The wait is a killer.  But be patient– do not send your responses until you receive the Commander’s letter and the information you are waiting for!  Your letters won’t even be given to your soldier until about 3 weeks into training anyways.  Red Phase.  Sending your letters early won’t do any good.  🙁  And you even run the risk of not addressing them properly if you send them too early!

 

**Special Note for Girlfriends, Boyfriends, Fiancees, and close friends**

 

 Your soldier is given an envelope on the first day of Basic Training to fill out, and that envelope is the one that the Commander uses to send the Commander’s letter in.  If your soldier uses his parent’s address, or a roommates, then the Commander’s letter will go to them. If you’ve been waiting around, wondering why you haven’t gotten the Commander’s letter, this could be the reason. (The Commander’s letter only goes to one address).

 

 

How to Address a Basic Training Letter : Ultimate Guide to Writing a Basic Training Letter Address

 

 

The Finished Product

 

When it’s time to mail your letter, an envelope heading to Fort Benning should read something like this:

 

  • Soldier’s Rank, Full Name, Roster #
  • __ Company, __ IN REGT
  • Street Address
  • Fort Benning, GA 31905

A letter heading to Fort Sill will look similar to this:

 

  • Soldier’s Rank, Full Name, Last 4 social security digits
  • __ Btry, __Field Artillery, PLT # __ Class ___
  • Street Address
  • Fort Sill, OK 73503

Letters going to Fort Leonard Wood might look like this:

 

  • Soldier’s Rank, Full Name, Class # __
  • __ Co, ___ Battalion
  • Street Address
  • Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473

And letters sent to Fort Jackson will probably look close to this:

 

  • Soldier’s Rank, Full Name
  • ___ IN Bde
  • ___ Battalion, ___ IN REGT
  • ___Co, __ Platoon
  • Street Address
  • Fort Jackson, SC 29207

 

And don’t worry if your envelope looks a little different from that– as long as it matches either your soldier’s letter or the Commander’s letter you’ll be fine!  And if you choose to wait for the Commander’s letter, the only problem you’ll have to deal with is patience.

 

That’s the hardest part.

 

But wait for it, and in the meantime, just write the letters and hold onto them.  By the time I could finally send a letter to my soldier with the right address, I had written 18 of them. haha But at least they all arrived!

 

I wish you and your soldier (and letters) all the success in the world!  If you have any specific questions about sending a Basic Training Letter (or otherwise) that I didn’t cover here, leave a comment below.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Links below contain affiliate links. That means at no additional cost to you, I will make a commission if you click through and purchase. Thanks for supporting!

 

**Shop here for the ultimate envelope-addressing stencil.  It’s a one-of-a-kind tool!  Or, visit this post to see ALL my stationary supply favorites!**

 

 

Read next–Troubleshooting: My Soldier Hasn’t Gotten My Letters at Basic

 

 

54 Comments

  • Clayton

    Very helpful information, but is my daughter the only female in the Army ? The letters I have read all are from women missing sons or boy friends, I miss my daughter is the information you give the same for females?
    Thanks it’s good to know I’m not alone.

    • Melissa Adams

      I don’t know if you received any replies, but here I am today reading this website, and I have the same question. I’m sure there are more of us than we know and those with husbands, boyfriends etc are just more the blogger type. Hope all went well for your daughter. My daughter is a BCT Ft Sill and just left Monday–I’m gathering info to be ready for when we get to have contact. (hugs)

  • Christy

    My friend is at fort bennings for basic training and he gave me everything but the roster #
    Can I still send letters without it or is it really important
    Thanks!!

  • Danielle

    Hi, my husband is at Fort Sill for basic training and I was finally able to send him the letters I had been writing. However, after I had already mailed my letters in one envelope, I realized I made the mistake of writing his name out in the address as “First Name then Last Name” instead of “Last Name, First Name.” Will this be an issue if everything else is correct? Thank you so much.

  • Alex Perez

    I was freaking out because my best friend left today and I didn’t know where I could send my letter. He didn’t know the address yet and I didn’t either. After seeing this and seeing that a commander sends a letter to his point of contact I felt a sigh of relief. I’m patient and so is he, thank you for writing this and giving me a calm set of mind. I would’ve been so scared if I couldn’t send him a letter.

  • Brooke

    My boyfriend is leaving for army basic training in exactly one week. i’m super proud of him but at the same time i’m going to miss him so much. i’m planning on writing letters as much as i can. he’s going to Fort Leonard Wood. Can anyone help me on how to address the letter correctly so he doesn’t get into any trouble?

    • Jennifer

      Thanks for visiting! Best of luck to you and your soldier on this incredible journey! And good idea to look ahead at the mail situation. The guidance as provided online for the Fort Leonard Wood address is:
      Soldier’s Rank, Full Name,
      Class # ____ Co, ___ Battalion
      Street Address
      Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473
      When he in-processes, he will be able to write you letters, but he won’t be able to include his new address until he gets to actual bootcamp (7-10 days after he leaves you). Once he gets to bootcamp, he will know all his unit information and will be able to write you with a return address. It’s probably best to wait until he writes you (or if his unit sends a letter to your home), but it never “hurts” to try sending at least one letter if it’s killing you. 🙂 Soldiers don’t get in trouble for mail mistakes, mis-addresses, or anything like that. The only time they would get in trouble would be if you mailed contraband and your soldier hid it (flat candy, prohibited items, etc). Please stop by again and drop more questions if you need any help!
      P.S. Try to find his unit on facebook, there are often updates and pictures!

    • Jasmine Garcia

      Hi, so i had a question i hope you can answer, so i sent a letter to someone in basic training but they left to Ait before they could get the letter, in a different state, does the letter get sent to them in Ait or will I receive the letter back in the mail???

      • Jennifer

        Forwarding mail is tricky. It honestly depends on the school. In Ranger school, letters get forwarded to the soldiers even after they have left camp for the next one. In other schools, like OCS, the letters get sent back to family members when they have graduated.
        I don’t have a definite answer, but I would guess the mail is returned to sender, not forwarded. The good news is, the letters are not just thrown in the trash. I have had letters sent back to me from Army schools…one time I even had a package sent back to me, months after I sent it (including valentine treats haha).
        I hope the letter gets forwarded to your soldier! But rest assured, if it doesn’t, it should definitely one day make it back to you!

  • Jackie

    Hi! Your blog has been so helpful! I just received letters from my boyfriend however I realized that when I mailed him letter initially, that I used the wrong roster # and also I put his middle name and last name on the letter. Instead of his full name. Will my letters get to him? Will he get in trouble because of my mistakes? Wondering if I should reach out on his company’s facebook page, but I don’t want to make matters worse. Thanks for your help!!

    • Jennifer

      Even though the roster number mix up could be tricky, at the end of the day the last name is the very, very, very most important piece of soldier identification. It’s on their headgear, their bags, their uniform– everything. Even more so than their roster number. If you got the right last name, rest assured that the drill sergeants will know who you intended.
      I know I’m not a drill sergeant, but personally I doubt there would be any trouble caused. The drill sergeants know that loved ones are trying our best and they honestly appreciate the letters because it gives the soldiers a morale boost. Even if you made a few errors, that wouldn’t be a big deal to them.
      You probably don’t need to reach out to the facebook page, but if you do, it won’t cause any trouble for your soldier. The fb page is there to help family and loved ones–so if you ever need to use it, go for it!
      I wish you and your soldier all the best in this amazing journey! Best of luck!

  • Megan

    Jennifer,

    Thanks for this post and your kind words to those following in your footsteps. My fiancee is currently at Basic at Fort Benning – A Co 2-47. I’m wondering on average how much time from when you mailed a letter to when your husband got it. Also, did you ever try Sandboxx?

    Thanks!

    • Jennifer

      Congratulations on your fiancé’s service!
      I’m so sorry that I am responding to this late. Hopefully it’s not too irrelevant at this point!
      I remember the letter delay (from VA to GA) was about 4-6 days. I got his letters faster, more like a 3-4 day delay. His took longer simply because of the sorting delays in the mailroom, as well as the fact that sometimes they would be busy training in the field and wouldn’t get mail call that night.
      I never tried Sandboxx, since they didn’t have awesome apps like that at the time. I haven’t had to use it since, but it does look pretty great. I’m not sure how much of it is allowed at Basic, since we didn’t use it back then. In fact, I’m pretty sure either my husband or I had a flip-phone for the first month of Basic Training. hahaha oh gosh.
      Thanks for your message and I wish you and your soldier all the very best on your Army journey together!

  • Amy Parker

    My son arrived in Fort Benning Cavalry OSUT on Nov 23. I know his roster number and he’s in Alpha Troop 2-15. I know the platoon number. How on earth do I put all of this together in order to send him letters. I haven’t received the official “welcome letter” fro the Company Commander nor an address from my son. Any help will be greatly appreciated

    • Jennifer

      Congratulations on your son’s service! On behalf of the Army family, his time and sacrifice is so appreciated!
      You know all the important information to send him a letter. That’s awesome! Here is the format for the 2-15 CAV OSUT:

      Soldier’s Full Name
      A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment
      ___ Platoon
      Fort Benning, GA 31905

      If you know your son’s rank, you can include it with his full name (but it’s not necessary if you don’t know it). If you want to include his roster number, include it after his full name on the same line (PVT John Doe, Roster Number 202) but you don’t have to include the roster number in this case. Every basic training unit has a different rule, and according to 2-15 CAV, it is not completely necessary but it won’t hurt anything.

      One last thing, some mail handlers might have an issue with there being a lack of a street address. 2-15 CAV did offer an alternative format (if your mail handler rejects the first format) and that would look like this:

      Soldier’s Full Name
      A Troop 7040 Old Cusseta Highway, Building 4210
      ___ Platoon
      Fort Benning, GA 31905

      Either of these two formats will get your letter to your son. The more information you provide on the address, the faster it gets sorted. You can choose whichever format makes you most comfortable.

      It is amazing that you are already looking to send him mail. I have heard from countless sources that those letters make all the difference in the world. A favorite military saying is that the Army is as strong as it’s families — and that is so true!
      Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions!! Thank you for stopping by.

      One last thing: here is a link to the Alpha Troop 2-15 CAV OSUT (194th Armor Brigade) facebook link. They post pictures of the soldiers training from time to time and it’s really fun to find your soldier and see them inaction!

  • Daisy

    Hello, this question is in regards to stickers in the letters. Is it just having stickers on the envelope itself that can get the soldier in trouble or also in the letter itself? Or is that okay?

    • Jennifer

      Thank you for visiting!
      There’s no official documentation on whether or not you can send them. The thing is, your soldier isn’t NOT allowed to have them, so it’s probably a safe thing to try sending! Stickers are definitely flat and won’t cause an issue in the envelope. You can always ask your soldier how strict the Drill Sergeants have been about things like magazine article clippings, bible passage bookmarks, stickers, etc. and see what your soldier says. But generally, paper material that is G-rated (family photos, a postcard with a cute design, an inspirational bookmark) are not things that will get your soldier in trouble if they are found in his/her locker.
      Personally, I would think that it’s an okay thing to send and there should be no negative repercussions.
      I hope this helps. Again, thanks for stopping by!

  • Mackenzie Ackley

    For Fort Leonard Wood you wrote that the address needs the class #. What is the difference between the class # and the roster #?

    • Jennifer

      Thanks for stopping in!
      The class number designates which class it is out of the training year (each year has a certain number of classes). The roster number is the personal number assigned to each soldier in each platoon.
      Take care and thanks for reading!!

  • Ariana Lingerfeldt

    Thank you for taking the time to write this! Do you have to put a return address on the envelope for the recruit to receive your letter? Or is it optional like normal mail?

    • Jennifer

      It’s regular mail, so it’s optional! It just ensures that IF for some reason the letter didn’t get delivered (like if it arrived after the soldier graduated) then the letter would make it back to you.
      Thanks for stopping by!!

  • Molly Armstrong

    Hi! My friend sent me a letter from fort jackson but the postal service stamped over parts of the return address so I can’t read it! The parts I can read are 1st platoon echo company (then something I can’t read) INF REGT 165th (then something that looks like DDE over MDE) any ideas of what those missing parts should be, or what the template is??

    • Jennifer

      Sorry that happened! Hopefully you will get another letter that is unmarked! You got the important parts, however. The only part you are missing is the battalion! 165th is a big brigade (it is abbreviated BDE which is probably what was on the envelope), with quite a few battalions in it, but there are a lot of addresses shared in the facebook pages. There are helpful links in the 165 training brigade facebook page that has links to the battalions and their company addresses. There are also some great pictures so hopefully you will spot some pics of your friend!! Best of luck to you!

  • Amy P.

    Hello! My boyfriend just went away for basic training and I just received my first letter from him! My only problem is that there is no address for me to write him back or any of his information and it is really concerning me. I am so new to this I need all the help I can get!

    • Jennifer

      Congratulations on your boyfriend’s service!! Getting letters really is the best. 🙂 It’s really nice that you’ve already gotten one! The reason the first few letters don’t have a return address on them is because the soldiers in training spend 7-10 days “in-processesing.” During that time, they are allowed to write. But they can’t actually share a return address because there won’t be any mail call during their few days at the in-processesing quarters. Once they move on to their actual bootcamp unit at the end of in-processesing, they will be able to send letters with their return address!! So yours should be coming soon. 🙂 As long as you write the return address exactly like your boyfriend does, you’ll be good to go!
      Thanks for stopping by!!

  • Aerial Segard

    I am so lost on this. I received my Commander’s letter with a return address on it but I don’t have any information regarding my husband’s Roster #. I know he is going Cav Scout (19D) and that he’s an E-4 but I don’t know what that makes him. Nothing within the Commander’s letter says anything about it but I don’t know if I should just address my husband’s letter to the return address with his name? I’m so lost and feel helpless. Any thoughts?

    • Jennifer

      Thanks for commenting!!
      Yes, definitely go ahead and mimic the Commander’s letter! Not every training battalion goes by roster number, though generally the OSUT camps usually do (which 19D would use). However, if neither your husband nor the commander mentioned roster numbers, then you should go by the information they have given you. As long as you know your husband’s name (I’m sure you do haha), and the return address as specified by the commander’s letter, then your letters should safely arrive. Even though there are always “address specifics” for each camp, at the end of the day we can only use the information that we are given! One of the main purposes of the commander’s letter is getting addresses out to all the families, so it’s safe to say that now that you’ve received it, you can start sending letters.
      Thanks again for stopping by. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything else. And welcome to the Army family!!

  • Jazmyne

    Hi! Sorry to bother you on this post but my boyfriend sent me a letter with no return address but in the letter he gave me his line number and roster number. Is he line number the same as his class number ? He is at Fort Leonard Wood.

    • Jennifer

      Hi! Thanks for popping in! Congratulations on your soldier’s service. What a really exciting time for you both!
      When my soldier sent me letters without his return address, it meant that he was in the Reception still (the processing course that takes place before bootcamp begins). Reception doesn’t last long, so he should be able to send you his full address in his next letter, since he’ll be out of Reception by then!
      But in the meantime, his line number could either be his class number or his unit number. If it’s his unit number, it will simply be a one or two-digit number. If the line number he sent you is longer than 2 digits, then it’s safe to assume it’s his class number!

    • Jennifer

      Thanks for stopping by and commenting! The SITs are any rank between E-1 and E-4: so they could be PVT2, PVT, PFC, and SPC. If you aren’t sure which one he is, just leave off the rank when you address the envelope. It will still get to him!

  • Maria R.

    Hi I literally just got off the phone with my boyfriend who just got to basic in fort benning, I was outside watering my grass when he called so when he told me to quickly get a pen and paper I ran inside my house, it was so hard understanding him. I wasn’t able to write down all his information and the worst part is I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. I’m a total wreck right now, is there a way I will be able to get his information ?

    • Jennifer

      Hi! Thank you for stopping by and welcome! I am so sorry that all happened so fast. I remember when I got my first “30-second phone call” and I couldn’t even talk because I was so choked up. Not helpful when you only have 30 seconds! Ha.
      I don’t know the exact unit your boyfriend is assigned to, but I do know if he just got to Ft. Benning, then his unit will be 30th AG for the next 7-10 days as he processes into bootcamp. During that time, he can write you, but he won’t have a return address or anything like that (because its so temporary). When he leaves 30th AG in the next 7-10 days, he will be assigned to an Infantry unit for official boot camp, and he will get a roster number, as well as have unit information to share. He will be able to write you then as well, and so within 2 weeks you should be able to receive mail from him with that information.
      I highly, highly recommend that you join the Facebook group for whichever unit he is assigned to. They put out helpful information about graduation and the family day pass. I wrote about family day here if you want more information on it. Since I don’t know your boyfriend’s unit, I can’t give you a link to the Facebook page. But here is the 30th AG link, and they recently posted a video of the new soldiers. Maybe he is in it!
      Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any more help! My husband went to Basic at Ft. Benning not too long ago, so I would be happy to pass along anything I learned. Best of luck and congrats on your soldier’s service!!

  • Daniela Rodriguez

    I sent a letter to my soldier and a month later it came back RTS Attempted – Not Known. But I addressed it exactly as it is supposed to be addressed. The envelope was green with some leaves, and at the time I didn’t know their rank, and I sent it without the rank. Is that enough reason for them to deny mail and RTS? I’m just worried that all my mail will be sent back. I feel horrible because a month later, the first letter I sent is back in my hands, and my soldier hasn’t heard from me. Has this happened to anyone? Please help 🙁

    • Jennifer

      Hi! That’s such a bummer. 🙁 I hate mail delays–they are the worst. I totally understand how frustrating it is to go more than a month without contact! Based on what you said, I definitely don’t think the design on the envelope would have affected it. They won’t reject mail based on decorations, only content inside the letter (like if it was packed with gum or the envelope rattled). So that doesn’t sound like the issue.
      I don’t think missing his rank was a factor either. Once a letter makes it to Basic, it stays in the mail room and gets to your soldier eventually, even if there are delays. And the most important information on the address is the soldier’s last name, and his unit information (his company, platoon, etc). His rank is not an essential piece of information for them to sort the mail, since the barracks are mixed ranks between E-1 thru E-4 anyways. As long as your letter GETS to the Basic mail room, with his last name and or his roster number, he will definitely receive it at some point or another.
      So to be honest, it sounds to me like the postal service themselves made the error, and the letter never reach Basic camp. The mail sorters at Basic Training camps are fellow soldiers, so they don’t usually reject mail, unless its containing contraband (in which case the Drill Sergeants usually encounter it). The postal service wouldn’t pay attention to rank, or to the decorations on the envelope, so that wouldn’t have affected delivery for them. The fact that it was RTS seems to me like the postal carrier never delivered it to Basic Training camp. Which is super frustrating. But if you are 100% sure that you addressed it correctly, then I think your best bet would be to try mailing it again. I had something similar happen to me. My letter was left back with me twice, and so I finally popped it in a new envelope and sent it. The third time it went through. I know postal carriers rarely make mistakes, but it can sometimes happen. And it really sounds like you did everything right! So while it’s really disappointing that it happened, I would recommend verifying the address with a source (the commander’s letter, your soldier’s unit’s Facebook page, his unit training page, etc) and then put it back in the mail with a new envelope (so the RTS mark doesn’t confuse the carrier). I hope the second time around is better for you! I wish you and your soldier the best of luck. Congrats on his accomplishment!

  • Caitlyn

    My boyfriend is in basic training in Fort Sill, OK. I want to mail him and I have everything but I have to put his rank on the envelope, and the problem is I dont know his rank. Any suggestions or anything at all may help, thanks.

    • Jennifer

      Hi! Thanks for reading! It’s so great you’ve got mail for him. Definitely the most important parts the heading is his last name, so if you have that on the letter (and hopefully the last four of his social) then you’ll be good to go. Also, having his unit information is important for an ensured delivery (the platoon number, class number etc). But bottom line is, while his rank is good to include, your letter’s delivery isn’t dependent upon including it. The drill sergeants call out mail by last name or by soldier number (roster, social, etc), so that’s why those are more important than the rank on letters. Again, thanks for reading and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions! Best of luck to you and your soldier!

  • Kathryn S.

    I am attempting to discover how to address my child’s letter on the first line. I received the commander’s letter as well as one from my child but neither say what his rank is, if he has one. He is in his 14 weeks of basic training. Should I address it to Trainee John Doe RN?

    • Jennifer

      While the rank is useful, it’s definitely not crucial the way that his last name is, or the unit information provided by the commander’s letter. As long as you mimic the commander’s address, or your soldier’s, it should get to him!

  • Hollie Philbin

    Hello! How long did it take for you get your first letter from him? My boyfriend left for basic at Fort Benning last week and I am not sure how long he will be in reception before you actually starts, or before he will be able to send me a letter?

    I haven’t written one a day so far and Im excited to send them out. Thanks

    • Jennifer

      Hi there! Thanks for stopping by and reading. 🙂
      The Reception battalion phase lasts 7-10 days. My husband went to Benning for Basic too! He was allowed to write me at Reception, but he didn’t ever include a return address because it was so temporary. They didn’t really want the soldiers giving it out because they don’t do mail call for the soldiers at Reception. Anyways, while he was at Reception, I got three letters from him. (I know it can be different for every class though, depending on how often the cadre give them time to write). The first letter I got was postmarked 5 days after he reported to Reception. The next two were a day apart from that.
      When he got to Basic Camp itself, the first letter he sent me with his actual mailing address was postmarked about 10 days after his report date (11 days after we said goodbye). I was living in Virginia, so there was a three day delay between GA and VA with our letters. So basically, I got his real official address about 14 days after we said goodbye. I think 2 weeks is pretty normal for when to expect his address, though it can vary a little bit. The first time I was able to send out mail, I had like 14-18 letters to send! lol
      Again, thanks for stopping by and don’t hesitate to comment any more questions you might have! Best of luck to you and your boyfriend!

  • Cheyanne

    I’ve written my boyfriend a letter everyday since he’s been gone. I put about 6 or 7 letters in one envelope and I’ve sent 3 sets of letters. He wrote back saying he had only gotten 1 set of my letters. From what I understand, they can receive multiple envelopes at a time. Why wouldn’t he get all my letters?

    • Jennifer

      Welcome! How sweet of you to send him a letter everyday! You’re definitely right that they can receive multiple envelopes at a time. It’s good to hear that he received at least one of your sets, because it shows you’ve got the right address and everything! Getting the wrong address or missing parts of it can cause a big delay in delivery. From what it sounds to me, there is simply an overload in the mail room. They only have one mailroom at Basic camps, and it receives all the letters from all the companies. Unfortunately the mailroom just gets overwhelmed with mail and the sorting takes longer than it does for other US mail deliveries. My husband would often get my letters in clumps. 🙁 I hoped that one would trickle through the mail everyday to give him something to read, but it didn’t end up like that every week. The good news is, the letters will definitely eventually get to your soldier! The part that stinks is that it can just take a few extra days for the letters to be sorted through and delivered to the soldiers. The best news is that you are continuing to write him, so he will definitely be getting mail and that’s really important! I wrote a post about troubleshooting why your soldier isn’t getting your mail, if you want a bit more info on it! Thanks again for stopping by and commenting!

        • Jennifer

          No, the thickness or heaviness won’t affect the delivery! It’s purely just a matter of how busy the mailroom gets and how quickly the mail is sorted through.
          Even if for some reason the drill sergeants wondered why the letter was heavy and thought maybe there was something unauthorized inside, they still wouldn’t confiscate the letters. They would deliver them just as regularly as they would deliver anything else, but they would possibly ask your soldier to open it in front of them. (They wouldn’t read it or anything, they would just make sure a bunch of unauthorized things didn’t tumble out of the envelope). I doubt that will be an issue for you, but just in case you’re worried, the thickness definitely wouldn’t make the letters “undeliverable” or contribute to mailroom delays! It’s all up to the mailroom as to how quickly or how slowly the letters are sorted and delivered.

  • Marly z

    I sent my solder a letter on an expidated service but when I tracked it they delivered it to the mail room not the address given to me by my solder. Is that a bad thing will my solder get this letter? I tried calling the mailroom at Fort Benning but of course they don’t answer the phone. I’m worried he won’t get the letters.

    • Jennifer

      As long as you addressed it according to your soldier’s directions, it will get to the right place! Don’t be alarmed if the tracking service says it was delivered to the mailroom. It’s supposed to go to the mailroom first. The mailroom is shared by all the companies, and it is the duty of the personnel to then further sort it according to how it was addressed (to whom it was addressed to). It can sometimes take a while for the mailroom to sort through the letters, but rest assured that if it made it to the mailroom, it will make it to your soldier! Thanks for reading. 🙂

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