Though your recruit may move from one location for training to another during bootcamp, you will always use the same mailing address for him/her (see the text box below and to the right for exceptions).
The first letter you receive from your recruit will be a form letter. This letter should arrive in your mail box in approximately 10-14 days after they leave. The form letter should include your recruit's mailing address.
MCRD San Diego Museum display, the "rack" in recruit barracks
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For security reasons, we do not publish MCRD addresses online. However, the Marine Corps publication "Survival Guide" includes sample addresses on page 3 of the guide (see the link on the left). The published addresses are subject to change and are intended as a guide only. Please use the address that your recruit will send to you!
If you do not get the "form letter" in 10-14 days of your recruit's departure, contact his/her recruiter who should be able to provide you with your recruit's mailing address and platoon number. If you have to contact the recruiter, ask him to pull up your recruit on the MOL Locator.
NOTE: Recruits can ask that mailing addresses not be given out, including to family members. Though this is rare, the recruiter, as your son or daughter's employer, MUST honor the request.
NO CARE PACKAGES
Please, resist sending anything but letters. I know, it's a mom's nature, but your Recruit will thank you for NOT sending anything.
MCRD San Diego Museum display, the "rack" and "foot lockers" in recruit barracks
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Unless you are specifically asked to send something to your Recruit, don't do it.
Addressing your Letters
Address your letters to Rct Lastname, Firstname. DO NOT put any other rank other than Rct which means "Recruit". Your son or daughter is NOT a Marine yet—refer to him/her as such when you address the envelope. Doing otherwise will cause unnecessary attention at mail call and you don't want to do that. Do NOT put your recruit's social security number on the envelope.
Mail from Your Recruit
You may be a lucky parent and receive a lot of mail from your recruit. Many are not so lucky; your son or daughter is very busy and is likely using every moment they can spare to study and catch-up on work they need to do to become a Marine. They are given time to write, however you recruit will be free to choose what s/he needs to do at that time.
Don't be surprised and try not to worry if your recruit sends letters that express a feeling of being overwhelmed, sad, homesick. About the 4th week or so of bootcamp, your recruit may write a letter home telling you that s/he's made a mistake and doesn't want to finish bootcamp. This is a turning point for most recruits; don't despair. Continue to write and encourage your recruit and let him/her know how proud you are. This is a normal reaction from many recruits; this phase will finish almost as quickly as it started.
Mail Delivery
Mail arrives at the Depot (MCRD) Monday through Saturday. Depending on the training schedule, there may be a few days delay getting the mail into you recruit's hand and posssibly a further delay having an opportunity to open mail to read the letters from home. Don't despair; training comes first. Your recruit's mail would never be held for disciplinary reasons.
Write Motivational Letters to Your Recruit
Your Recruit is homesick. Very, very homesick. Write lots of letters and then write some more. Keep them upbeat. Send a small photo or two. DO NOT decorate the outside of the envelope with drawings, stickers, or write any text other than the address and your return address (and no spritz of perfume either). This will cause unnecessary attention from the DI and your Recruit does not want to draw the attention of the DI during mail call.
