Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by freckles1218 on July 6, 2015 at 7:09am

My son reported Sunday too Alex's Girl! Maybe they will get to know one another. Anyone else out here in class 17-15? I already liked the Newport Facebook page and am guessing it will be a couple of weeks before we see anything from our class. This is all new to me and my son is quite excited about the whole thing. Can't wait to see him in uniform! Yesterday we sang all patriotic songs in church and I cried through every one of them! I am happy for my son though as this is what he wants. Best to you all and grateful for those who choose to serve this great nation.

Permalink Reply by eeyoresmom on July 7, 2015 at 10:06am

freckles 1218: My son reported Sunday and is in class 17-15 as well. Such a bittersweet day for me as he is my oldest but I know he prepared himself well. I too found the FB page yesterday and saw the few pictures they posted. Did you see your son in any of the pictures? Sadly our guy wasn't in any of them but hoping to see more soon. Any glimpse will be cherished. So happy to have found this website with a wealth of knowledge for all us moms, etc. Good luck to your son. I think today is a PT test day for them which we know they've already passed a few times so here's hoping their numbers are even better than ever with all the adrenaline and testosterone over there. God bless.

Permalink Reply by bellaspecial on July 13, 2015 at 6:56pm

My SO is in class 17-15. I was able to catch a glimpse of him in one of the shots. Good luck to your sons, eeyoresmom and freckles1218!

Permalink Reply by M's mom on July 6, 2015 at 8:48am

freckles1218:   Alex's Girl posted this a year ago in June 2014.  But, there is some good info for you here in this discussion about rules of letters to OCS.   Make sure everyone you give your son's address to knows this, so they don't send "contraband" and get him in trouble with the DI.   After nine weeks, when they are Candidate Officers (Candios) you can then send goody boxes, but not before.

Permalink Reply by Go Aweigh on July 30, 2018 at 7:27pm

My son just graduated from OCS, and I had a mail system that worked really well for us. 

Once he texted me his official address, I used the Avery Label website to print out two sheets of address labels and stuck them on about 40 business sized white envelopes. I put clear packing tape over the labels, because humidity caused them to come off.  I wanted him to have something positive in each letter, so in each envelope I put in some sudoku puzzle pages (his favorite), some tri-bond game cards (a family favorite), and  a quote from "Crazy things Drill Instructors Say" (from multiple websites).  I stamped/return addressed all the envelopes and left them unsealed in a box by the door. 

Several times a week, I would take an envelope, add a letter and a newspaper clipping or comic, then drop it in the mail. I would also hand the prepared envelopes out to family and friends, who were more likely to jot a quick note if they didn't have to deal with the logistics of addresses, stamps, etc.

Based on some other parent suggestions, I made it a point to send a 10 day weather report once a week.  I also sent NFL draft pick info and other sports related milestones.  My son doesn't care about sports, but I figured that he probably had buddies that were going through sports withdrawal.

I  sent printouts from websites describing what to expect at OCS week by week, with tips and hacks on how to survive and excel.

Worth mentioning: I sent him chapter 7 (Numbers and More. Amaze Yourself) from Harry Lorayne's book Super Memory, Super Student.  He was familiar with these memory techniques from college (This chapter teaches how to quickly remember up to 100 concepts or numbers in sequence and detail),He had a lot to memorize during a state of sleep deprivation.  Every little bit helps.  The benefits of memory tricks are much greater if you familiarize yourself with these technique before OCS,

I only got my son in trouble once with mail. On a whim, after several successful weeks of mailing letters,  I sent an entire Monday Edition of the newspaper.  Apparently all hell broke loose because it was in a thick envelope and that much news is contraband. He had to toss it.  What probably saved him was that one of his classmates also received a package, but it contained (ahem...) a sex toy. Don't send those either.

Keep in mind, once they get email and phone privileges, it is still nice to get an actual letter at mail call.  I continued to send letters several times a week, up until I was due to arrive for graduation.

I had to alter the labels when he was rolled into holding class, and then re-printed his new class number when he left holding. Easy enough.

In sum: send mail. It is worth "assembly line" letter preparation up front, with the intention of adding personalized messages before mailing. I aimed for about 3 letters per week and planned to mail them on specific days (T, Th, Sa). I also mixed in some postcards.  I gave out pre-printed labels (and letter rules)  to his wife and various family members. Mail call is a highlight. My son enjoyed his letters and shared puzzles with his friends.

Permalink Reply by redheadlass on August 16, 2018 at 9:54am

My son is now in his 7th week of OCS. They can start receiving regular mail envelopes as soon as they arrive. Just place the letters in plain envelopes, do not decorate them or anything. I even sent my son one so it would arrive for his first day there and they held it for him till he got there! They all love getting mail! It is their only contact with the outside world!

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