2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment

Basic Training Family Member

Frequently Asked Questions
Updated as of 10 March 2016

1. MAIL
Your strongest source of communication with your Soldiers will be through mail. We realize that in todays 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 dont know my Soldiers 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 with
their company, platoon and address information. While we allow each Soldier one phone call to inform loved ones of their
arrival, 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 Soldiers 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 Soldiers PLATOON NUMBER (1, 2, 3 or 4) to the BACK of the envelope. Adding a fifth line on the
front to include the platoon information confuses the readers at the post office and slows down the time in the mail getting to
your Soldier. ONLY YOUR SOLDIER can give you this information. If you do not have it initially, that is fine mail without the
platoon 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 Soldiers
in 2-13 IN goes here before it is distributed to each company. Your Soldier will not receive their mail any faster or slower if
you put the company street address on the envelope.

I don't have my Soldiers platoon information, can I still write?

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

Why isnt 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 for
roughly 13,000 pieces of daily mail; arrival at the Fort Jackson post office, to our brigade, to each of the five battalions, and
then 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

takes approximately five days beyond the time to get from your house to Columbia, South Carolina, giving new meaning to the
phrase snail mail! Additionally, the last five steps are all HAND sorted. Mail may take as long as two weeks (10 business
days) 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 that
although mail is delivered to the company Monday through Friday, some days Soldiers do not return to the barracks due to
training 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 items
are inside.

Care Package Dos and Donts

CANNOT SEND
Tobacco Products
Cosmetics (All)
Newspaper Clippings
Alcohol (drinking)
Cologne/Perfume/Body Spray
Knives
Civilian Clothing
Curling Irons
Nude and/or Sexually Suggestive Photos
Jewelry (exception is wedding ring/band)
Civilian reading material
Finger and toe nail clippers
No electronics to include but not limited to Cameras,
MP3's, CD or DVD players
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

CAN SEND
Religious medallions
Chapstick
Cough Drops (sugar-free menthol)
hygiene items
paper
blister pads (i.e. moleskin)
Self addressed/stamped envelopes and paper
Personal Photos (tasteful, no nudity!)
Cash under $50
Bible and/or other religious reading material
Pens
Address book
Stamps

**Tip from previous familiessend 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 to
send your mail through the USPS, sending mail via UPS or FedEx will not get a package to your Soldier any faster, as all
incoming mail to Ft. Jackson is delivered to the Army Post Office and distributed with the general USPS mail.

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

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 mailing
date 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 have
graduated, only to have the mail returned to sender.

2. PHONE CALLS / INTERNET ACCESS

When will I receive phone calls?
Throughout your Soldiers 10 weeks of BCT he or she will be guaranteed two phone calls, one during the first 72 hours to
inform immediate family members of their safe arrival and unit of assignment, and one after all graduation requirements have
been completed, for the purpose of informing family members about their graduation status. Any additional phone calls are a
unit 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 to
who 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 or
her choice and we do not influence them regarding who to call. We recommend you be uplifting and encouraging if and when
you receive a call.
Typically, your Soldiers Drill Sergeants will allow access to their personal cell phones when phone privileges are granted. If
this 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 the
others. 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 receive
them!

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 keep
you 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 within
7-10 days of their arrival, you may call the Fort Jackson Reception Battalion 24 hours a day at (803) 751-7713 for assistance in
determining their location. You will need your Soldiers full name and social security number.

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

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 our
Facebook 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 you
to park and find a seat. You may arrive as early as youd 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 wish
but it is not required. Family day is usually more casual, and the Soldiers will wear their Army Combat Uniform. For
graduation, 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 have
all 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 the
Facebook page the morning of Family Day or Graduation if there is inclement weather. The weather call is normally made by
5:00 am. Soldiers generally have access to their cell phones for Family Day and Graduation and will also keep their families
updated.

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 the
bleachers there are wheelchair access points into the stands. Fort Jackson does not provide wheelchairs. If you or a family
member require a wheel chair please bring your own or consider renting one. If you are in need of a wheelchair we suggest
researching 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 front
row 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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Basic Training Family Member Frequently Asked Questions, as of 10 March 2016

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 Readiness
Group (FRG) volunteers will be at our 2-13 FRG tent wearing gray 2-13 tee shirts on early on Wednesday and Thursday
mornings to say hello! We will have breakfast treats, coffee and water as well as CDs full of pictures that our FRG
photographers 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 Soldiers
are 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 arrive
at 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 Soldier
must 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 will
not 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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Basic Training Family Member Frequently Asked Questions, as of 10 March 2016

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 Pulaski

St 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 the
individual driver when making arrangements; we have no visibility on who is approved

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