“There’s nothing that means more than a handwritten note”.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard a military person tell me this. Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coasties all like to receive handwritten notes from their loved ones.
Yes, they use text, email, FaceTime, or Skype to communicate with their loved ones. But when someone takes the time to find an appropriate card and write a personal message they create a treasure.
What are the best times to send a personal message? Anytime really, but there’s no better time to start than when recruits are at boot camp.
US Air Force enlisted recruits at Lackland Air Force base boot camp would love the Airmen specific cards in the An Airman Now mixed pack of 6. The pack includes 1 – Boot Camp graduation card, 3 – Encouragement cards, 1 – USAF specific Happy Birthday card, and 1 – Thank You for their MTI (Military Training Instructor), which you’ll want to be sure to wait until the end of boot camp to send! If their birthday is another time of year, just keep the Happy Birthday military greeting card on hand for when it’s needed.
US Army enlisted recruits in basic combat training at Fort Benning, Fort Jackson, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Sill, or Fort Knox would love the Soldier specific cards in the A Soldier Now mixed pack of 6 military greeting cards and envelopes. The pack includes 1 – Boot Camp graduation card, 3 – Encouragement cards, 1 – US Army specific Happy Birthday card, and 1 – Thank You for their Drill Sergeant. Be sure to wait until the end of BCT to send the Drill Sergeant Thank You.
US Marine Corps enlisted recruits at MCRD San Diego or MCRD Parris Island 12 week long boot camp would love the Marine specific cards in the A Marine Now mixed pack of 6 greeting cards and envelopes.
12 weeks is the longest boot camp of all the branches and is grueling on many levels. Encouragement from home goes a long way in helping recruits make it through. The pack includes 1 – Boot Camp graduation card, 3 – Encouragement cards, 1 – USMC specific Happy Birthday card, and 1 – Thank You for their Drill Instructor, which you’ll want to be sure to wait until the end of boot camp to send!
US Navy enlisted recruits in basic combat training at Fort Benning, Fort Jackson, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Sill, or Fort Knox would love the Soldier specific cards in the A Sailor Now mixed pack of 6. The pack includes 1 – Boot Camp graduation card, 3 – Encouragement cards, 1 – USN specific Happy Birthday card, and 1 – Thank You for their RDC. Be sure to wait until the end of boot camp to send the RDC Thank You!
US Coast Guard families – there are 2MyHero military greeting cards just for you to send to your USCG enlisted recruits in basic combat training at Cape May. Your Coastie would love the variety of USCG specific cards in the A Coastie Now mixed pack of 6. The pack includes 1 – Boot Camp graduation card, 3 – Encouragement cards, 1 – USCG specific Happy Birthday card, and 1 – Thank You for their CC (Company Commander). Be sure to wait until the end of the boot camp to send!
A handwritten message person communicates on so many levels.
- VISUAL: They know your handwriting. Whether it’s beautiful or chicken scratch, the actual visual elements of a spouse, parent, or grandparent’s handwriting are familiar. They know who wrote it as soon as they see it. There is probably a dopamine hit that comes when we see the handwriting of someone we love regardless of the exact words written.*
- MESSAGE: Words are powerful. They have the power to build up and to tear down. We all know the “sticks and stones” rhyme from our childhood, but we also know that while words don’t physically break our bones they certainly can break our spirit. In the same way, encouraging words can give us a physical boost to persevere in a tough situation, make us smile, laugh, or even cry. The physiological effects of positive words impact us deeply.
- CONSTANT: The written word can be tucked in a safe place and pulled out to read again, and again, and again, and again as often as that emotional boost is needed. It affects us on a deep level and is not dependent on the time zone, time of day, schedule, or general availability of our loved one.
- TREASURED: When I lived overseas and again when I first moved away from home, my father wrote to me often. I have saved those letters and they are such a treasure to me. His kind tone, thoughtfulness, and interest in my pursuits jump off the pages of his letters. He was also really good about sprinkling in a few details of what was going on back home.
It’s so fun to go back and reread each of them. I miss him terribly even though it is now 30 years since he passed away. I’m so glad I kept the letters as they are a comfort to me when I’m really missing him. I pull them out and reread them. I picture his loving hands writing the sentiments contained on paper. Sometimes I cry too, and I think that’s a good thing.
Military life can be very lonely for military members. Let your Airman, Coastie, Marine, Sailor or Soldier know that they are not forgotten with regular handwritten words of encouragement.
If you’ve purchased 2MyHero military greeting cards please comment below and let me know how your military member responded.
2MyHero® is licensed with all 5 branches of the military, bringing you personal, humorous, and encouraging sentiments for all military members. Please feel free to ask questions or leave feedback through the Contact page.
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*Disclaimer: I did not research dopamine in this regard.