How to Write Letters to a U.S. Soldier as a Pen Pal

Sending letters to a soldier in the military makes the service member feel connected to someone back home.

When U.S. soldiers are deployed around the world, they may feel lonely or homesick. One simple way to give back to soldiers protecting the nation's freedom is to write and send letters as pen pals. Soldiers enjoy getting mail, because it often shows them that they are not forgotten so many miles from home. Writing letters is simple, so you can have many pen pals to send letters to and give them a piece of home while they are away from loved ones and family.

Instructions

1. Register with an organization such as Any Soldier, Letters to a Soldier or Adopt a US Soldier to be assigned a soldier. Each organization will have different regulations, so read through the contract thoroughly before signing up. An organization may request you write your pen pal at least once a month to provide support to soldiers signed up with the program.

2. Write a letter to your pen pal, and if you wish, send care packages filled with approved items for his use, such as dried snacks, goodies, personal hygiene items or miscellaneous items, like stationery.

3. Send off your letter or care package to your pen pal using the contact information provided to you after registering. If you are sending care packages overseas, use a flat rate box from the United States Post Office to keep costs down. The flat rate boxes allow you to fill them up for one inexpensive fee and send them to any military address (APO/FPO) across the world for the same low rate.

Tips & Warnings

• Write your letter as though you would write a friend, since your pen pal is looking for friendship while he is overseas. Get to know your pen pal, asking him what his favorite activity is, favorite movies or what his favorite foods are so you can see what you have in common. Refrain from asking your soldier insensitive questions about his time overseas---especially if he is in a war zone. Soldiers may use pen pals as a way to escape the stress of active duty, so allow them to open up to you if they wish.

References

• Adopt a US Soldier: How to Send
• Any Soldier: Where to Send
• Letters to Soldiers: Send a Letter to a Soldier in Iraq