BN Family FAQs Updated 10 MAR 16

8/19/2019 BN Family FAQs Updated 10 MAR 16

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2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment

Basic Training Family Member

Frequently Asked QuestionsUpdated as of 10 March 2016

1. MAIL

Your strongest source of communication with your Soldiers will be through mail. We realize that in today’s age of

instant communication that this will be a big change to adapt to. Remember your Soldier is very busy and may not be

able to write back as often as they would like. Mail is a HUGE morale booster – keep sending letters!

I don’t know my Soldier’s Company or Platoon number – what do I do?

By now you should have heard from your Soldier within his or her first 24 hours of arriving to the unit to provide you withtheir company, platoon and address information. While we allow each Soldier one phone call to inform loved ones of theirarrival, we do not dictate who they call. In the event you have not heard from your Soldier within a few days of their arrival,you may call the Fort Jackson Installation Operations Center at 803-751-7511 (Post Locator) with your Soldier’s Name, Date

of Birth and SSN (if possible).

Mailing Address Format

RANK Last Name, First Name MI

(A, D, E or F) Co, 2-13 IN

4380 Magruder Ave

Ft. Jackson, SC 29207

We recommend you add the Soldier’s PLATOON NUMBER (1, 2, 3 or 4) to the BACK of the envelope. Adding a fifth line on thefront to include the platoon information confuses the readers at the post office and slows down the time in the mail getting toyour Soldier. ONLY YOUR SOLDIER can give you this information. If you do not have it initially, that is fine – mail without theplatoon number will still get through!

I have seen building addresses for each company that are different from the one listed here (4380 Magruder

Ave), which one is correct, and will my mail still go through?

4380 Magruder Ave is the mailing address for the battalion headquarters and the mail room. All mail designated for Soldiersin 2-13 IN goes here before it is distributed to each company. Your Soldier will not receive their mail any faster or slower ifyou put the company street address on the envelope.

I don't have my Soldier ’ s platoon information, can I still write?

Absolutely!! Envelopes without platoon numbers will still be distributed accordingly. Adding the platoon number to the backof the envelope will decrease sort time by the Drill Sergeants once the mail is received at company level.

Why isn’t my Soldier getting their mail?

Fort Jackson is a large military installation and it takes time to get mail to your Solider in training. It is a five step process forroughly 13,000 pieces of daily mail; arrival at the Fort Jackson post office, to our brigade, to each of the five battalions, andthen to one of six companies in our battalion, and then sorted one more time to each of the four platoons. This entire process



Basic Training Family Member Frequently Asked Questions, as of 10 March 2016

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takes approximately five days beyond the time to get from your house to Columbia, South Carolina, giving new meaning to thephrase “snail mail”! Additionally, the last five steps are all HAND sorted. Mail may take as long as two weeks (10 businessdays) to get to your Soldier. Do not let this discourage you, your Soldier is briefed on this process as well.

**You will get mail from your Soldier quicker than your Soldier will get mail from you.**

Is mail EVER withheld as punishment?

Absolutely not. It is a federal crime to withhold mail. Mail is distributed daily, time permitting. Please keep in mind thatalthough mail is delivered to the company Monday through Friday, some days Soldiers do not return to the barracks due totraining and may not get the mail until the following day.

Do the Drill Sergeants go through the mail before it gets to the Soldiers?

They do not. Packages and large envelopes are required to be opened in front of Drill Sergeants to ensure no contraband itemsare inside.

Care Package Dos and Don’ ts

CANNOT SEND CAN SEND

Tobacco Products Religious medallions

Cosmetics (All) Chapstick

Newspaper Clippings Cough Drops (sugar-free menthol)

Alcohol (drinking) hygiene items

Cologne/Perfume/Body Spray paper

Knives blister pads (i.e. moleskin)

Civilian Clothing Self addressed/stamped envelopes and paper

Curling Irons Personal Photos (tasteful, no nudity!)

Nude and/or Sexually Suggestive Photos Cash under $50

Jewelry (exception is wedding ring/band) Bible and/or other religious reading material

Civilian reading material Pens

Finger and toe nail clippers Address book

No electronics to include but not limited to Cameras,MP3's, CD or DVD players

Stamps

Food Items (All)

Weapons of any type

Wrist or Ankle Braces

Contact Lenses

Cash over $50

Straight Edge Razors

Civilian Glasses

Health Supplements

Scissors

Over the counter medication

Brass and ammunition

Aerosol items

**Tip from previous families— send self addressed/stamped envelopes to your Soldier; it is easier for them to write back.

Also include addressed envelopes to other family members and friends.**

Soldiers have access to the troop store frequently, so please do not send items in bulk as their space is limited. We suggest tosend your mail through the USPS, sending mail via UPS or FedEx will not get a package to your Soldier any faster, as allincoming mail to Ft. Jackson is delivered to the Army Post Office and distributed with the general USPS mail.




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Is there a stop mailing date?

Yes! The stop mailing date for this class is May 5th, 2016. Because of the slow mail delivery process, having a stop mailingdate will allow time for those final letters to get caught up and delivered to your Soldiers. Mail is NOT forwarded to your

Soldier in AIT. This prevents the battalion mail room from getting inundated with mail long after your Soldiers havegraduated, only to have the mail returned to sender.

2.

PHONE CALLS / INTERNET ACCESS

When will I receive phone calls?

Throughout your Soldier’s 10 weeks of BCT he or she will be guaranteed two phone calls, one during the first 72 hours toinform immediate family members of their safe arrival and unit of assignment, and one after all graduation requirements havebeen completed, for the purpose of informing family members about their graduation status. Any additional phone calls are aunit privilege and may be granted or taken away at any time by the discretion of the respective company chain of command.

The initial call giving you the address counts as one phone call. We know it seems like only 10 seconds long, but it still counts!

The Family Readiness Group volunteers who run the Facebook page do not know when phone calls will occur and cannot

answer any specific questions or confirm rumors.

When phone calls are permitted there will be a time limit, usually no more than 5-10 minutes, and it is up to the Soldier as towho they will call. We recommend having a pen and paper handy in case the Soldier has to relay information to you.

While we provide the opportunity, there is no guarantee you will hear from your Soldier. Who your Soldier contacts is his orher choice and we do not influence them regarding who to call. We recommend you be uplifting and encouraging if and whenyou receive a call.

Typically, your Soldier’s Drill Sergeants will allow access to their personal cell phones when p hone privileges are granted. Ifthis occurs, your Soldier will have to turn their phone back in to be locked up at the end of the phone privilege period.

In the event your Soldier does not own a personal cell phone, he or she will still be able to call; be aware the area code for Ft.

Jackson/Columbia is 803, but the call may come from a different area code.

Can we send them cell phones?

No. Cell phones are collected at the beginning of BCT and stored away. Any cell phones mailed will be locked away with theothers. Soldiers will normally receive their phones back on the evening before Family Day.

Do our Soldiers have access to the internet while in BCT?

No. If you choose to post personal messages to your Soldiers on the main Facebook page, be aware that they will not receivethem!

Can I call the company or battalion to get updates on my Soldier?

No. You will need to keep in contact with your Soldier through letters and phone calls (when permitted). Soldiers should keepyou abreast of their training in these letters.

Generally you should hear from your Soldier within 72 hours of arriving to their unit to provide you with their company,platoon and address information. Again this is not always the case, in the event you have not heard from your Soldier within7-10 days of their arrival, you may call the Fort Jackson Reception Battalion 24 hours a day at (803) 751-7713 for assistance indetermining their location. You will need your Soldier’s full name and social security number.




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3. FAMILY DAY AND GRADUATION

Who can attend Family Day and graduation?

EVERYONE is invited to attend both Family Day and Graduation, there is no limit and there are no tickets needed to attend.There are also no formal invitations sent or RSVPs required.

What is required to access post and how do I obtain a vehicle pass?

Security is tightening on Fort Jackson and therefore entrance requirements have changed. We will post information on ourFacebook page on how to register for a vehicle pass closer to the end of the cycle, so as to minimize confusion.

How early can we arrive?

We recommend you try to arrive about an hour prior to the ceremony, this will allow for traffic delays at the gate and for youto park and find a seat. You may arrive as early as you’d like, Ft. Jackson Gate 2 is open 24 hours a day.

What is the proper dress for Family Day and Graduation?

Most will dress casually to dressy casual. If you are in the military or retired you are welcome to wear your uniform if you wishbut it is not required. Family day is usually more casual, and the Soldiers will wear their Army Combat Uniform. Forgraduation, your Soldiers will wear their Army Dress Uniform.

Please remember this is a Family event on a military post - dress appropriately. There is no dress code, but you should haveall your personal parts covered and not be wearing any clothing with offensive language.

What happens in the event of inclement weather?

Ceremonies will be held at the Solomon Center in the event of inclement weather. An announcement will be made on theFacebook page the morning of Family Day or Graduation if there is inclement weather. The weather call is normally made by5:00 am. Soldiers generally have access to their cell phones for Family Day and Graduation and will also keep their familiesupdated.

Is there handicap parking and access at Hilton Field?

Yes. The Parking Lot Detail Soldiers will direct you to the handicap parking area. On both the far right and far left of thebleachers there are wheelchair access points into the stands. Fort Jackson does not provide wheelchairs. If you or a familymember require a wheel chair please bring your own or consider renting one. If you are in need of a wheelchair we suggestresearching companies in the Columbia area that rent medical equipment before making the trip.

Can we bring strollers?

Yes. You can bring strollers, but remember seating is on a first come first serve basis, so if you arrive late and do not get a frontrow seat, you will be asked to park the stroller under the bleachers until the ceremony is over.

Can we bring signs to the ceremonies?

Yes, however we will ask you to sit at the top of the bleachers so as not to obstruct the view of others.

Can we bring pets?

Pets ARE allowed on Fort Jackson, but ARE NOT allowed at Hilton Field (except service dogs). The weather may be quite warm,so please plan accordingly. If you do bring your pet please do not leave pets in the car.




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Can my Soldier visit Weston Lake on Family Day?

Yes. Soldiers must remain on post at all times on Family Day, but are allowed to access Weston Lake.

What address do I type in the GPS to get to Fort Jackson?

10000 Lee Road Columbia, South Carolina 29207. Once you get onto Ft. Jackson follow the BLUE line painted on the roads. The

BLUE line will lead you directly to Hilton Field.

Will there be vendors at Family Day and Graduation?

Yes. There will be vendors selling all kinds of Army memorabilia at the tents adjacent to the bleachers. Your Family ReadinessGroup (FRG) volunteers will be at our 2-13 FRG tent wearing gray 2-13 tee shirts on early on Wednesday and Thursdaymornings to say hello! We will have breakfast treats, coffee and water as well as CDs full of pictures that our FRGphotographers take throughout the cycle that were not posted on the Facebook page.

If I choose to drive my Soldier to AIT when can they leave?

Your Soldier can leave right after graduation. You will just need to sign them out from their company first. Typically Soldiersare given just enough time to travel to the location. This only applies to Soldiers’ whose AIT is on the approved driving list.

When will my Soldier have to report to AIT?

Your Soldier will get a final set of orders just before graduation that will tell them when they must arrive at AIT. Typically,they are only allotted the required travel time from Ft. Jackson to the AIT location.

Will my Soldier get a weekend pass after signing in at AIT?

We cannot answer for other commands. It is up to each AIT and your Soldier will not find this information out until they arriveat AIT.

What if I am not driving my Soldier to AIT?

If you are not driving your Soldier to AIT, you may sign him or her out for an OFF post pass on graduation day. Your Soldiermust be back to the company area no later than 8:00 pm to prepare for their travel to AIT the following day.

4. TRAVEL AND ACOMMODATIONS

HOTELS

We STRONGLY encourage you to make travel arrangements that are refundable. Approximately 10% of arriving Soldiers willnot graduate for various reasons.

There is an abundance of hotels in the Columbia area. There are many sites out there to help you with your bookings (i.e.Hotels.com, Expedia.com, orbitz.com just to name a few).

You can also contact Victory Travel on-post here at Ft. Jackson http://fortjacksonmwr.com/travel/ and at 1-800-221-3503.They can assist you in finding a hotel at discounted rates.

There are a couple of options for on-post lodging here at Ft. Jackson. On-post lodging will fill up fast, so be sure to book early.You may contact them at 1-877-711-8326 or 803-782-9802 or www.ihg.com.

Here is the website for Weston Lake Cabins, RV sites, camper and tent sites. For reservations contact:http://fortjacksonmwr.com/weston/




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AIRPORTS

Columbia Metropolitan (CAE) http://www.columbiaairport.com/ 30 min to post

Augusta Regional Airport, GA (AGS) http://www.flyags.com/ 1 hour to post

Charlotte International, NC http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Airport/Pages/default.aspx 1hr45min to post

The above three are the commonly used airports, though you may find better rates with:

Greeneville International, SC http://www.gspairport.com/ 1 hr 50 min to post

Charleston International, SC http://www.chs-airport.com/ 1 hr 50 min to post

BUS

Columbia Greyhound http://www.greyhound.com/. The address is 2015 GERVAIS ST Columbia, SC 29204

TRAIN

Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage. The address is 850 PulaskiSt Columbia, SC 29204

CABS

Blue Ribbon Taxi Cab - 803-754-8163

Yellow Checker Cab 803-799-3311

Uber – some Uber drivers in the Columbia area have access to Ft. Jackson – you will have to confirm this with theindividual driver when making arrangements; we have no visibility on who is approved

Documents

BN Family FAQs Updated 10 MAR 16