Field Problem: Basic Training Mail Call

Some soldiers we know that are in basic training are getting mail from families and friends upwards of two weeks from origination. They don’t receive mail for over a week or more, and then they suddenly receive almost a dozen letters in one day. There is not a lag of process, but more like a buildup. Imagine what a soldier goes through wondering why their spouse hasn’t written—it can make a soldier crazy while trying to train. I hope that you can help.

I got scripted excuses, and I understand that because of the questions. However, I prefer a solution rather than something we are supposed to live with. It’s important that our new recruits focus on training and morale rather than the stress of wondering why a simple letter of support cannot get through. I hope you can pass this along or help to solve the problem! 

Molly; Castle Rock, CO; Army family of more than 20 years

Dear Molly,

Thanks so much for trusting us with your question. We are saddened to hear that there is a problem with the basic training soldiers getting their mail in a timely manner. We do understand the importance of letters to our loved ones and the support and love that they bring to these recruits. Unfortunately, this does not sound like a problem we can fix, but we do have some resources that might be able to help you.

There are some things that can be done locally to bring light to this issue. The first one would be the Interactive Customer Evaluation system. Complaints can be made through ICE about the mail and the amount of time it is taking for soldiers to receive their mail. You can check out the ICE website here. The Post Office is under “Communication” once you “drill down” to the specific installation of concern.  You could also try contacting the local Post Office directly and see what guidance they may be able to offer.

We also found some questions under the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Fort Benning website—one of a few basic training locations—and some of them pertain to mail and the volume of mail they receive. You can view that information here.

You could also speak with the Inspector General’s office at the particular installation. They are able to help with issues where soldiers may not be getting the treatment they deserve. Most points of contact can be found by visiting the official installation sites, which include “.army.mil” in their URL.

As far as outside the local area, we do know of other sites that may be able to give you additional guidance and possible courses of action besides those we have listed:

• BootCamp4Me: This site has forums where you can post your questions and see if someone has perhaps gone through something similar or knows exactly what can be done.
• Ultimate Basic Training: This link directs you straight to their contact form. You can ask your question and see if they can give you additional advice on how to solve the issue.
• SGT STAR: This is the Army’s virtual guide available to answer any question you may have about the Army. Whether he’s your first or last resort, he claims to be very helpful and fast.

We are sorry we cannot fix this directly ourselves, but we do hope we have provided you with some solid resources to help you remedy this unfortunate situation. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Keep us updated on the situation!

Good luck, and thanks again for contacting us.