Real paper. Real pen. Addressed right.
Send mail
to basic training.
Military mail addresses are their own language: platoons, ships, flights, battalions. Pick their branch and training location and we'll get the format right, then write your note out and mail it. No account needed. Starting at $5.
No subscription. No account. Stamp included.
Simple by design
From your words to their mail call
Pick branch & location
Their branch and training site. We fill in the installation address.
Choose your format
A letter or a real greeting card, written in ink. Starting at $5.
Write your message
A quick hello, some encouragement, or just thinking of you.
We write & mail it
written out, sealed, and in the mail within 1 to 2 business days.
Plan on 8 to 10 business days from your order date. We mail within 1 to 2 business days; the rest is up to the USPS and the training command's own mailroom, and first-class mail has no tracking.
Send Mail to BasicWhy it matters
Something to hold
on a hard week.
Basic training runs on very little contact with home. No phone, limited packages, and a schedule that leaves little time to write back. A real letter, addressed correctly the first time, gets through when almost nothing else does.
Every piece is written out, with a pen on paper. Real strokes, not another font on a screen. Because the recruit you're writing to deserves something they can actually hold.
Often the only thing that gets through
Most training commands restrict packages, especially early on. Letters are almost always allowed, which makes real mail one of the few connections home a recruit actually has.
It feels like home
Recruits have no phone for most of basic. Words carry weight a text never could, precisely because a text isn't an option.
You do nothing
You type, we write. No trip to the store, no stamps to buy, no puzzling out platoon numbers and battalion codes. Done in a few minutes.
Straightforward pricing
Simple pricing. Everything included.
Letter
- Your message, written out
- Crisp white paper
- Plain envelope
- First-class US postage
- Mailed within 1 to 2 business days
Greeting Card
- Your message, written inside
- Real card, your choice of style
- Matching envelope
- First-class US postage
- Mailed within 1 to 2 business days
Upgrade to premium paper on eligible formats for +$2. No account needed. Secure checkout via Stripe.
Every envelope is mailed with your return address included, so it can find its way back to you if a unit assignment changes mid-flight.
Free address guides
Not sure how to address it?
Every installation formats mail its own way. Here is the exact format for each one, what every field means, and a builder that assembles the address for you. Free, whether or not you ever send anything through us.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do you know the mailing address?
Pick their branch and training location and we fill in the installation's name, city, state, and ZIP, and the street address too where it's fixed for the whole base. You only add what's specific to your recruit, like their platoon, company, ship, or flight number, and we assemble the address the way that base's own mail guidance formats it.
What if I don't know their platoon or unit numbers yet?
Wait until your recruit calls or writes with those details, usually after they leave reception and reach their training unit. Mail sent before that can be delayed or returned, so it's worth the short wait to get the unit line right the first time.
What if their unit changes during training?
It happens. We show you a live preview of exactly how the address will read before you check out, so double-check it against the most recent details your recruit has sent you.
How is my mail sent?
First-class through the United States Postal Service. Once it's in the mail, delivery is in the hands of the USPS and then the training command's own mailroom, and first-class mail does not include tracking.
When will it arrive?
Plan on 8 to 10 business days from your order date. We write and mail your letter within 1 to 2 business days, and USPS takes it from there. It'll often arrive sooner, but the postal service is run by people, not servers: about one in five pieces of mail takes longer than USPS's own estimate, and first-class mail has no tracking. If it still hasn't arrived after 10 business days, email us at help@mailedwords.com and we'll rewrite it and drop a fresh copy in the mail at no charge. We can't refund mail that nobody can track, but we'll gladly send it again.
Is it really pen and ink?
Yes. Each piece is written out with a pen on paper, not a printed font. It's a genuine, physical note a recruit can hold onto.
What can I send?
Letters and greeting cards, written out. You can upgrade to premium paper on eligible formats.
Can you include a photo?
Not yet. Everything is written out, so photos and printed inserts aren't part of the product today. If that matters to you, tell us at help@mailedwords.com.
Do I need an account?
No account, no subscription. You write your message, we put it on paper and mail it, and you are done in a few minutes.
Can I get tracking or delivery confirmation?
No, and it is not something we can add for a fee. First-class mail carries no tracking number and no delivery confirmation, so nobody can confirm that a specific letter arrived: not us, not you, and not the USPS. If tracking or proof of delivery is a requirement for what you are sending, this is not the right service for it.
Why was my order refused?
Every order is screened automatically before payment, and one that does not pass is stopped at checkout with nothing charged. We do not publish what the screening looks for, and we will not say which part of an order caused it, because naming it would tell the people it exists for exactly what to change. Screening is not perfect. If you were sending an ordinary letter and it was refused, write to us and we will review it ourselves.
Which recruit are you thinking about right now?
Send them mail. It takes a few minutes. It'll mean a lot more than that.
Send Mail to Basic