Writing:
Many will put an addressed and stamped letter into their recruit’s bag so that they
can find it while they are the hotel the night before they leave
HIS Love:
Hope, Inspiration,
Support & Love - Letters will get your Trainee through the toughest days!
Besides the authorized (or possible earned) calls, the letters from home are the only
"outside contact" they will have until graduation. Support will always be needed & it
is encouraged to write daily! Letters from home with HIS Love will keep them going on
those days that they have to reach deep and push harder than they thought possible.
Enclosures:
Trainees are allowed to
receive the following:
Letters:
Please write daily! The
letters from home are
motivational and keeps their
moral up! Keep full of
Hope,
Inspiration, Support & Love
(HIS Love)!
Pictures:
Photos may be glanced over by the MTI to ensure that they are "G" rated and in good
taste, i.e., no nudity, no pornography, no gang signs, no alcohol or drug-related, or profanity.
- Actual Photos: We suggest that you send copies instead of original to avoid heartache should the photo get misplaced or damaged. Space is very limited,
so keep the photos to no larger than 4x6.
- Embedding a Photo: Many also embed photos into letters they create on the computer and either type or write their letters around the photos. This is
an easy way to save space and include lots of photos through their BMT journey.
- Choose a picture that is very special to you and send it to your Trainee in a letter expressing why that picture is so special to you.
Stamps, envelopes
and paper:
Whenever writing, it is ok to occasionally include a self-addressed stamped envelope
and a few sheets of paper. Print out some pre-printed address labels with those of your
family and a few friends so they can place it on the envelope quickly. Remember, they are exhausted!
So, anything that we may be able to help them with is greatly appreciated. As part of the Backpack
Initiative, they will receive writing supplies, envelopes, and stamps so you don’t need to send much.
Banner Letter:Letter Idea: So once you get your banner,
are you keeping it a surprise or are you going to show your Airman what it
looks like? Based on a group suggestion, I took a picture and mailed it to
my son, so that he could more quickly and easily spot us during the run.
Turned out, we didn't have a run (it was too cold that week) but I still
liked the idea of showing it to them so they know what to look for. And, it
solves a letter writing theme for a day!
HANDS:
One of my favorites was the handprints. So, consider using some construction paper, your favorite
crayon color(s) and do some outlines of your hands, and of those in the house. Make several hands if
you like! Write a favorite story, your letter, a verse, a joke, a word search, whatever your heart
desires. Now with a hole punch, make at least two holes on the opposite side of the hand so that you
can put either some string, yarn, or ribbon through the holes to connect hand to hand, side by side.
You can number them 1 through however many you made. On the last one, add a very special note.
Have fun...
Clippings from magazines,
newspapers or print outs
from the internet.
However, trainees are
NOT allowed
to have any FOOD,
CANDY, GUM inside the
dormitory and absolutely NO
PORNOGRAPHY. Please
do not send your trainee any
of these items or they will
be confiscated and can easily negatively impact them.
We have
Jokes
that you can send them to
make them laugh and share
with their wingmen.
We have a
30 Day Writing Challenge
to give ideas for letters.
We have
Word Searches you
can print out and send.
Holidays AND each WOT (Week of Training).
We have
questionnaires you can
print and send out as well.
Learned
Knowledge: Oh the worry about the color of the envelope! THERE IS NO RULE OR REGULATION
THAT SAYS IT HAS TO BE WHITE. If you have been told that, run don't walk away from them. It's a scare
tactic and an urban legend. We can share some learned knowledge that may help YOU make the decision.
Do not send the following for obvious reasons:
- Musical Cards
- Anything with
glitter
- Pop Ups
Reality Check:The MTI's duty is to make sure your
AB is qualified and can pass all the required components of BMT including
the final Physical Training Test and learning to work together seamlessly!
They can get creative and will find things that warrant the flight or an
individual does extra PT if they need it to either build strength or
refocus their attention
Do Not Send Care Packages!They have access to what they need. The items you send may be
confiscated, and it does create a lot of unwanted attention for your Trainee.
Overnight
delivery:
You'll pay A Lot Of Money and this only guarantees that the letter gets to the base overnight, not to the
trainee. Never send anything with signature request as delivery services cannot access the training squadrons
and must make all deliveries to the designated postal service centers on base.
Please Pay It Forward
Here is another reality check. Not everyone is getting support from home or has loved ones who will be able to attend
graduation. For whatever the circumstances may be, our heart goes out to them. So, ask your Trainee:
- Is there someone who can use an extra letter or two?
- Has a Wingman already said that their family are not able to come to graduation? Would it be ok to "Tap them Out"?
- Let your trainee know that you have extra room in the car for one person (a few extra). Would they like to join you?
- And clarify with your trainee if any additional airmen joining you at graduation will be your treat or if you need them to pitch in and share expenses. Be honest.
- We’ve also had situations where their wingman was a newlywed, and the spouse was not able to rent a car. They may not want to hang out with everyone but would welcome a ride to and from the hotel or town. Is that something you can offer?
- This is a once in a lifetime experience and these small or large gestures can make such an ultimate memory that you will never regret.
Writing your trainee’s wingman
This question often comes up....my trainee says there is someone not getting mail, or I have a group
(church, girl/boy scouts, club) that would like to write to someone who is not getting mail can I do this?
Or can I just send a letter to anyone there at BMT?
That's a wonderful idea! But there is a way to do it. All mail must be addressed to a trainee. General
“any trainee” type of letters will be returned to sender.
If you want to send a letter to someone not getting mail, you may send letters to your trainee to share
with those not receiving mail in their flight. Should that Trainee decide to write back, you can then write
directly to them.
If your group is sending mail, let them know that personal time is extremely limited and there may not
be an answer. You may also consider enclosing a fun Questionnaire for the new pen pal to fill out along
with a pre stamped & addressed envelope for them to send it letter back. These too must follow the same
rules & regulations the following are the only things allowed.: Letters, "G" rated photos, and cards.
