STAY IN TOUCH
STAY IN TOUCH
With no phones or email, recruits only link to the outside world is writing letters, mailed by the US Postal Service.
MAIL CALL
Known as "Snail Mail," the only way Recruits communicate with their families after arriving at San Diego or Parris Island is old-fashioned handwritten letters. Family members can send Care Packages with items to help with training or morale, much like the ones we have curated for you in Our Shop.
This may sound silly at first, but we'll explain why Recruit Training is structured this way.
TRADITION
Marine Corps Recruit Training has remained largely unchanged since World War Two. The training has been proven to produce Marines who can fight and win our nation's battles, so the Marine Corps is not changing its ways.
Marines have been writing letters to keep in contact with their families since the 19th Century. Recruits keep this tradition alive at both coasts' recruit depots.
INSULATION
Recruits are being stripped of their personal identities and becoming Marines. Snail mail keeps recruits insulated from what's going on in the world. Rather than small-talk phone calls or texts, Recruits have time daily to write letters. This helps them to focus on the important points they want to communicate to their loved ones.
MAIL CALL PROCEDURES
Recruits will have mail call every day that mail is received. During Mail Call, Recruits will sit on the floor at the top of the platoon's squad bay, will be called up by name, and handed their mail. Drill Instructors will not open a Recruit's mail, but will watch them open packages to ensure there is no contraband.
What is allowed to be mailed to recruits?
Recruits are not allowed to receive any of the contraband Recruits are not allowed to ship to recruit training with (see our What Can I Bring? page). The items we have seen most commonly arrive in the squad bays that is immediately confiscated is tobacco, pornography, and medications.
What should I send?
We recommend sending hygiene items like razor blades, fresh boot socks, and nutrition bars (Power Bars, etc). Although some food items may, like protein bars, may be shipped, all food items must be factory sealed and individually wrapped. No home-baked goods or other loose food may be sent to recruit training. To ensure your recruit is receiving items or approved care packages, check out our curated care packages in the Shop.
BTC Pro Tip: mail your recruit pre-addressed and stamped envelopes! This gives them more time to write letters every day and makes their life just a little bit easier.
WHAT IS ABOUT EMERGENCIES?
In the event there is a recruit emergency, either the recruit or the recruit's Series Commander will call the emergency contact or Next of Kin. This ranges from a Recruit being dropped from his or her training to another training company, injury, hospitalization, or anything else.
In the event there is a family emergency with a recruit's close or immediate family, legal guardian, etc., a hospital can send a Red Cross message to the Recruit. The Chain of Command will work to accommodate excusing the Recruit from training.
Generally speaking, Recruits will only be excused from training to attend to a family member's hospitalization or funeral.
WHAT DO I SEND MAIL AND CARE PACKAGES?
Recruits will mail a letter or postcard home to their families within the first days of arriving at Boot Camp. It is common for these letters to be short, confusing, and sound fearful or confused. It is indicative of recruits' feelings during pickup of their platoons and familiarizing themselves with the training environment.
These postcards or letters will indicate a recruits current address where you can reach them. Below are sample addresses that you may find useful:
MCRD PARRIS ISLAND ADDRESSES
1st BATTALION
Alpha Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Alpha 1st RTBN Platoon______
Box 16125
Parris Island SC 29905-6125
Bravo Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Bravo 1st RTBN Platoon______
Box 16135
Parris Island SC 29905-6135
Charlie Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Charlie 1st RTBN Platoon______
Box 16145
Parris Island SC 29905-6145
Delta Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Delta Co 1st RTBN Platoon_____
Box 16155
Parris Island SC 29905-6155
2nd BATTALION
Echo Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Echo 2nd RTBN Platoon_____
Box 16225
Parris Island SC 29905-6225
Fox Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Fox 2nd RTBN Platoon______
Box 16235
Parris Island SC 29905-6235
Golf Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Golf 2nd RTBN Platoon______
Box 16245
Parris Island SC 29905-6245
Hotel Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Hotel Co 2nd RTBN Platoon___
Box 16255
Parris Island SC 29905-6255
3rd BATTALION
India Company
Recruit (First and last name)
India1st RTBN Platoon_______
Box 16325
Parris Island SC 29905-6325
Kilo Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Kilo 1st RTBN Platoon_______
Box 16335
Parris Island SC 29905-6335
Lima Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Lima1st RTBN Platoon_______
Box 16345
Parris Island SC 29905-6345
Mike Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Mike Co 3rd RTBN Platoon____
Box 16355
Parris Island SC 29905-6355
4th BATTALION
November Company
Recruit (First and last name)
November 2nd RTBN Platoon__
Box 16425
Parris Island SC 29905-6425
Oscar Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Oscar 2nd RTBN Platoon_____
Box 16435
Parris Island SC 29905-6435
Papa Company
Recruit (First and last name)
Papa 2nd RTBN Platoon______
Box 16445
Parris Island SC 29905-6445
MCRD SAN DIEGO
1st BATTALION
Alpha Company
Recruit (First and last name)
1st Battalion Alpha Company Office
Platoon # ______
40004 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5670
Bravo Company
Recruit (First and last name)
1st Battalion Bravo Company Office
Platoon # ______
39011 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5640
Charlie Company
Recruit (First and last name)
1st Battalion Charlie Company Office
Platoon # ______
40002 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5680
Delta Company
Recruit (First and last name)
1st Battalion Delta Company Office
Platoon # ______
40000 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5660
2nd BATTALION
Echo Company
Recruit (First and last name)
2nd Battalion Echo Company Office
Platoon # ______
38001 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5550
Fox Company
Recruit (First and last name)
2nd Battalion Fox Company Office
Platoon # ______
36001 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5530
Golf Company
Recruit (First and last name)
2nd Battalion Golf Company Office
Platoon # ______
35051 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5520
Hotel Company
Recruit (First and last name)
2nd Battalion Hotel Company Office
Platoon # ______
37003 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5540
3rd BATTALION
India Company
Recruit (First and last name)
3rd Battalion India Company Office
Platoon # ______
39003 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5650
Kilo Company
Recruit (First and last name)
3rd Battalion Kilo Company Office
Platoon # ______
38990 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5560
Lima Company
Recruit (First and last name)
3rd Battalion Charlie Company Office
Platoon # ______
39000 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5620
Mike Company
Recruit (First and last name)
3rd Battalion Delta Company Office
Platoon # ______
39001 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140-5630
