One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give to someone whose significant other is going into bootcamp, is to write. Young, old, new relationship, old one, tons of family, or only child with one parent, WRITE LETTERS.

These men and women are taken from home, a lot of them for the first time ever, and put into a place that not only do they know the area and/or ANY of the local people, they're screamed at nearly 24/7. The only thing they have to remind them of life outside of the military is your letters. Write about everything and nothing, that's quite all right to do. Tell him how you took three showers the first day and sang military related songs because taking a shower was the last thing you did together and it makes you feel like you're with him and supporting him at the same time. Tell her how you brushed your teeth like always.

It doesn't matter what you say or how much you write, just write. I know my DH confessed later on that he didn't have NEARLY enough time to read all of the letters I wrote (:blush, I'm a little free with the pen) but I wrote letters every day, and my siblings wrote letters and drew pictures, and DH said that the minute he was allowed to sit down, he grabbed a new letter and just soaked up the familiar handwriting, and the everyday, mundane details of life he would have missed out on otherwise. Plus, when he went on to tech school after bootcamp, he still had letters left over to read when he got lonely.

I know a lot of (wo)men keep those letters. Phone calls will be few and far between, so don't count on them, and don't kill yourself if you miss one, either. (S)He'll understand.

Just please.. keep the cards and letters coming.

Andrew LOVES my letters. He said he's read each one at least three times a piece.

SOOOOOOOO true. :yes They really need that.

i completely agree! my ex still has all my letters from basic and i have his because it was a time in my life where i went through something with my still ebst friend :D

I would write him if I had his address!! :grumpy

(but he's only been in basic training- Army for a week and a half... I look in the mailbox every day).
I still write him every day before I go to sleep though, and when I do get his address, he's going to get A LOT of mail! *grins*

Soooooooo soooooo very true! I wrote my boyfriend at least every day, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, and it helped us both. He definitely said there were points when the letters he got from me and his family were the only things that got him through. We both kept all the letters we'd written each other too. Even though he's out of boot now and only lives 2.5 hours away, I love reading them when I get lonely.

I wish there was a way to get addresses for ALL of the lonely people in boot camps, I would write every single one of them! :sigh

This is SO true. When Dh was at Bootcamp he said that my letters is what motivated him to work harder. He said it didnt matter if I wrote about me stomping my toe and how I cut my finger fixing dinner. He said that was his way of being home away from home. I wrote everyday...a few times a day. When I finally got to see all the letters I wrote him...I was amazed. They really do feel loved with these letters.

But also, I have a brother deployed and letters, care packages, emails, and im chats mean the world to him as well. At times, we are the only support system they have.

:yes :agree DH loved my letters...and even if you don't know the address yet...start writing..so as soon as you know the address you can mail them out...

Me and DB were talking about that the other day. I confessed I had no idea what I should write when he goes away. I'm glad I saw this thread... :-D

I couldn't agree more. DB told me the last time he called that he loved getting my letters. I also send him pictures and he says he loves those too.

:yes I sent DB so many letters! I would also include the latest sports scores and espn updates, important current events, and even the extended weather forecast for Ft Sill. He was so appreciative! When he came home I was surprised because he is not a very sentimental guy, but he kept every single letter I had written him :lovestruck

That is very true. I was scared at first because I didnt want him to get in trouble but I did it anyways. Every day that he got more than one letter he had to do 10 pushups for every letter over 1, but he said it was so worth it! It really helps them a lot!

Me and DB were talking about that the other day. I confessed I had no idea what I should write when he goes away. I'm glad I saw this thread... :-D

I'm glad it helped! Seriously, it matters jack-NONE what you write in the letters, just ramble on and be yourself. There's nobody to impress with them, just a man who misses you exactly the way you were when he saw you last.

Right. I would just "talk" to him in my letters like I would talk to him in person. Tell him about your day, what's going on with you, your friends, family, life.... They appreciate feeling like they are still a part of what's going on at home.

My hubby loves getting my letters... he says the worst days are the ones he gets no mail even though I write and mail a letter every day sometimes he doesn't get one... he says they get him through even though I write like I am talking to him and since it is a letter with nobody responding I just sound crazy!