The day has finally come when you get to see your Candidate walk across the parade deck at Marine Officer Candidate School Graduation! It’s been a long 10 weeks as they have been away in Quantico.

Here are our tips for getting the most out of the Family Day and Marine Officer Candidate School Graduation.

• Most importantly, check out our insiders’ guide to family day and graduation.  It has a thorough rundown of the events and considerations.
• You will spend several hours outside. Dress warmly in the winter and stay hydrated. I can’t overstress this. Bring snacks to Marine Officer Candidate School Graduation.
• Make meal reservations. The surrounding area gets overwhelmed with families around OCS graduation.

• Take pictures and video. Ask your candidate if they would like pictures with their platoon staff.

The location of graduation and commissioning change based on the season and availability of base buildings. The OCS Training Command Website is also a great resource for up to date information on Marine Officer Candidate School Graduation. Marines will be briefed by their platoon staff with pertinent information.

Who gives the first salute?

The first salute lives on as a tradition to honor the enlisted service member who has had the most impact on you. Many candidates choose a Sergeant Instructor they were particularly impressed with or ask a family member or mentor who has served for this honor. For PLC candidates, it is common to have your OSA render the first salute. There aren’t many restrictions on who can give the first salute, so long as they served on the enlisted side. Many NROTC Midshipman or prior service Marines choose someone from their unit for this honor.

Customs and courtesies

• The enlisted member of choice renders the first salute to the new 2ndLt.
• The 2ndLt returns the first salute and cuts (drops) the salute first.
• The 2ndLt shakes hands with the enlisted servicemember, passing them a silver dollar (with the other hand) as they do. This provides an opportunity to pass a word of thanks or advice from either party.

Where do I get A silver dollar? (Yes, quality matters).

While silver dollars are easy to come by,

you should buy a high-quality silver dollar to give to this service member. Ideally, the silver dollar will come with a display case.

A silver dollar minted 100 years before the commissioning year or minted in another significant year add a nice touch to the custom.

Wondering about the worth of a silver dollar? Use Coinflation to calculate it’s worth and metal composition.

You can find some good silver dollar choices at JM Bullion or at Amazon.

This post originally appeared on the Sandboxx Blog: A Marine Mom’s Guide to Boot Camp. Sandboxx is a military communications app that makes it easy to send mail to your recruit or candidate in their basic training. Family members, this is solid information and a great Mom’s guide to boot camp.

From the moment that your son/ daughter signs their enlistment contract for Marine Boot Camp it is normal to experience a host of emotions during this time. Intense pride, anxiety, and fear of the unknown are common feelings for parents, family and friends of  service members.  Understanding what to expect when he/she leaves for boot camp will, hopefully, alleviate some of your fear and soothe your anxiety. Here is one moms guide to boot camp.

I never thought I’d be a Marine mom. I expected our son to follow in our Air Force footsteps, but he had a different idea. Now 12 years and five deployments later, I can say with pride that I am an official Devil Dog momma. Whether your son or daughter surprised you or they had been planning this from birth, the prospect of watching your child become a Marine can be daunting.

You know that boot camp is going to be tough because that is what it takes to make a Marine. Oorah, Leathernecks, First to Fight, Jarhead, and most importantly Semper Fi–these terms are going to be part of your world… once your recruit has earned the right to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor of the United States Marine Corps. But they–and you–must get through recruit training and the Crucible first.

There are lots of great resources that explain the weeks of training. Some of it sounds downright scary, and contemplating what happens after boot camp (Marine Recruit Training, to be exact) is almost too much to bear.

Your son or daughter has followed a call to serve. They want to be their best and serve our nation. You should be very proud of that. But what now? How will you manage? Don’t worry about them. Their drill instructors will get them ready. I want to help you get ready with some emotional armor to prepare you to be a Marine Corps mom.

Let’s look at some principles of the Corps as you try to understand the process of turning civilians into Marines. I know they may still seem like your babies, but that all ends when they stand on the yellow footprints and start one of the most grueling challenges of their young lives.

Point of the spear

Your child is being trained to be a warfighter. Marines are the point of the spear. Since their inception, they have carried out over 300 landings on foreign shores. Every part of boot camp is designed to give them the skills to do their job and do it well.

While your role has been to protect them, and raise them to adulthood, now the Marines will take over. This can be a very difficult transition for a mom. You may find yourself questioning why it must be so hard. It all has a purpose.

Boot camp is going to challenge them in every way. They may be completely miserable. Keep reminding them that they can do it and why they chose to become a Marine. That drill instructor is not the enemy. He or she is teaching them so they can overcome our real enemies. You want them to be tested and tried so they learn to protect themselves and each other. Don’t get in the way by questioning or telling your son or daughter that boot camp is just too hard. You want it to be tough so they will be prepared. We do not know where or when they will be sent, but I can guarantee you they will be deployed somewhere. Having confidence in their training makes all the difference.

The few, the proud

The Marine Corps prides itself on a high caliber of Marines. They seek excellence. Your child chose this path because he or she wants to be one of the best. Honor that. Encourage them and don’t hold them back by telling them how sad you are that they are gone.

Of course, you miss them. Those first weeks of boot camp will feel like a black hole. But you need to learn to get by without communication for extended periods of time because that is what the future will hold for you and your child.

Support their training by following the rules. Your recruit is being taught discipline and integrity and to follow orders. You need to do the same by not sending contraband or criticizing their training. Look at this as an opportunity for the Marines to finish what you started by raising a young person of value.

Semper Fidelis

This motto represents the dedication Marines have to the Corps, the country, and to their Marines. They are not only being taught skills, but they are learning the value of integrity, honor, and being a team. Nothing demonstrates this process better than the Crucible, something that can give moms nightmares.

Recruits are tested, physically, mentally, and morally over a 54-hour period. They experience sleep and food deprivation while overcoming multiple challenges. It is the culmination of all their efforts. But it will be a long couple of days for you as you wait to hear from them.

How do you cope? The same way your recruits do–through teamwork with other parents. As the weeks of boot camp drag on, you will connect with other parents. Your fellow Marine mom battle buddies will get you through this and bigger obstacles ahead.

The time will come when their skills may be tested on a real battlefield. You all will be ready. You have learned to have confidence in their abilities, can handle lack of communication, and to be proud of their service. That pride will get you through the difficult times because you raised a United States Marine.

Oorah!

Sandboxx is a mobile app focused on connecting our military community.

Before OCS

Remember to get the Sandboxx app to send support and get the best information and connections!

During OCS

At the End of OCS

Keep an open mind, go crazy with your support, and don’t be surprised if your candidate falls asleep standing up!

Welcome Marine OCS Family and Friends! This is your definitive guide (updated for 2017) to navigating OCS Family Day and Graduation from those who have done it before. Think of it as your free travel guide to OCS.

The day has finally come after long weeks of separation and it’s time to see your candidate walk across the parade deck at Brown Field. They appreciate all your support and mail more than you know. Here are some tips to help streamline your visit:

Vehicle Transportation

It is highly recommended to rent a vehicle while in Quantico. There is no readily-available public transportation on base and no hotels within walking distance.

PLC Juniors vs PLC Seniors?

There are two basic differences between a candidate completing the 6-week Juniors course and a candidate completing the Seniors or 10-week course. Candidates completing Platoon Leaders Class Juniors will return for another six weeks and are not yet considered Marines. The completion ceremony is relatively short (usually about 30 minutes). Candidates completing the Seniors Increment or 10-week (Platoon Leaders Class-Combined or Officer Candidate Course) have earned the title. That ceremony is longer. The graduation events are split into two sections below.

OCS family and friends can read about the training and evaluation process your candidate has gone through.

Key Terms/Locations

Brown Field: The physical location of OCS. Alternatively used as a name for OCS. Get driving directions to Brown Field here.

The Bridge (Bobo Chow Hall Bridge): This is the bridge directly before Brown Field (OCS). OCS family and friends will not be allowed past the bridge until family day and graduation. All other visitors and vehicles are not allowed past the bridge except on graduation day.

Platoon: About 45 candidates. Four platoons make up a company. A platoon lives in the same squad bay and has the same Sergeant Instructors and Platoon Commander.

Company: About 200 Candidates. This is the group your candidate has been training and living with for the time they have been at OCS. Each company lives on a different floor of the barracks. Candidates have little contact with other companies during training.

OCS Family Day (Day Before Graduation)

Here’s a sample schedule with notes. Information provided by U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School Facebook Page

Juniors Increment(s)

0630 Commanding Officer’s Motivational Run

• See the run route and popular viewing areas here
• Family(s) will find a spot along the run route and wait for their candidate to pass.
• Each platoon will have their own shirt. Ask your candidate about the color and design of their platoon shirt. Knowing this makes it easier to find them.
• Bring camping chairs if you have older family or someone with mobility issues.

0800 Family Day Orientation Brief

• An informal, hour-long presentation led by the OCS Commanding Officer (CO), and provides an overview of officer candidate training and an opportunity to ask questions to the CO.
• Candidates will return to the barracks after the motto run to prepare for the completion ceremony.

0950 Traffic Secured on Brown Field Until After the Completion Ceremony

• Vehicle access is restricted.

1000 Completion Ceremony Begins

• See the assembled platoons as they reach the conclusion of the first 6 weeks of OCS.

1030 Completion Ceremony Ends. Juniors Depart OCS.

Note: Juniors will have a motivational run and completion ceremony on the same day. This is different from families attending the Seniors graduation.

For more information check out our OCS Families section.

Seniors/10-Week Program

Here’s a sample schedule with notes. Information provided by U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School Facebook Page

0800 Commanding Officer’s Motivational Run

• See the run route and popular viewing areas here
• Family(s) will find a spot along the run route and wait for their candidate to pass.
• Each platoon will have their own shirt. Ask your candidate about the color and design of their platoon shirt. Knowing this makes it easier to find them.
• Bring chairs if you have older family or someone with mobility issues

0930 Family Day Orientation Brief

• An informal, hour-long presentation led by the OCS Commanding Officer (CO) and provides an overview of officer candidate training and an opportunity to ask questions to the CO.
• Candidates will return to the barracks after the motto run to shower and spend time together with each other and the Sergeant Instructors. This time as Marines.

1030 Liberty Begins

• After the Orientation, candidates are granted liberty where they may show their guests around Marine Corps Base Quantico, or otherwise spend time with their guests in the local area.
• Candidates will be released for several hours of liberty (time with family). Each Training company (i.e. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta) will be released at a different time. The time on liberty will be the same, but the start and end times are staggered to alleviate traffic.  Please allow plenty of time for the candidates to be aboard Brown Field early.
• Make dinner reservations or plan on getting takeout so you don’t have to wait in line for hours. Stafford and Potomac Mills have a variety of food options.

1800 Liberty Secures

• All candidates will be back in the barracks and will not be released until after graduation the next day.

For more information check out our Families section

Graduation Ceremony

Sample Schedule with Notes:

0600 Brown Field Opens for Parking

• Get there early to get a good spot. In the military, on time is late.
• Ask your candidate where their platoon will be during graduation. Sit in a bleacher facing them.
• Not sure what to buy your candidate for graduation? Find some inspiration.

0800 Graduation Parade begins

0900 Graduation Parade Ends

1030 Commissioning begins

• Commissioning ceremonies will begin at a location designated by the Commanding Officer.
• It is recommended to attend commissioning even if you are not a direct commission candidate. Watch how it happens so your own goes smoothly.

Read more about family day, graduation and commissioning here.

Don’t forget a Silver dollar coin for your new Lieutenant’s first salute!

TBS-Bound Lieutenants

Direct commission Lieutenants will need to check into TBS on the day of graduation. Candidates Platoon staff will have more information on this as they near graduation. Don’t forget to get your new Lieutenant a helpful gift for TBS.

These are usually OCC graduates, versus PLC.

Times and locations for graduations are subject to change. The Official OCS page will have the most up to date information on times, maps, and parking.

Reverse Culture Shock

Your Candidate has undergone a life-changing experience while at OCS. Being at OCS is much like going on a foreign exchange trip and you should be aware that there may be some reverse culture shock and a “re-entry” period of re-adjustment. This is particularly true for candidates who are not going directly to TBS.

I remember on the day I graduated, we left Brown Field, had lunch and then everyone else took a nap. I just sat there. Unsure what to do with so much free time. Time I hadn’t had for 10 weeks.

Be aware that your candidate is hyper focused and on edge about the rules they had to follow as a candidate. It will take some time to adjust back to civilian life. Friends of mine told me that they would get annoyed by little things like a misaligned belt or the “slow” pace that their family was walking at. Having food choices is almost like a new experience. It’s also common for recent candidates to wake up and think they are back at OCS. Or they might start walking in a formation with you, without realizing it. Even speaking in first person rather than, “This candidate” or “The candidate” will be a transition. Using normal non-nautical terms may take time as well. Be prepared for a lot of OCS “War stories.”

So there I was! Knife hands flying everywhere…It was just like Full Metal Jacket.

Be patient with your candidate/Marine and be aware that they will be mentally processing a lot as they leave OCS.

Marine Corps Museum

History is like religion for Marines. To learn more about what your candidates have been learning at OCS, I would recommend a trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Admission is free.

Note: In the past, commissioning was done in the museum. This is no longer the case and commissioning location is determined by the Commanding Officer.

OCS family and friends, what other questions do you have about graduation or traveling to OCS?

What Mail at OCS Means to Your Candidate

Mail at OCS is often the highlight of the day. Many candidates enjoy receiving sports scores, newsletters, newspaper clippings, etc.: anything they would have normally kept up with at home. Family and friends are encouraged to share fun stories, summer adventures, or jokes as this keeps candidates grounded and affords a moment of escape from the stress of OCS.

Additionally, each candidate is given a folder with paper, envelopes, pens and stamps at the beginning of training.

Mail Procedures

Mail call is conducted at the end of the day. The platoon is gathered in the squad bay and mail is passed out. Each candidate will be called to the front for their mail. Here are some guidelines for sending mail to candidates at OCS.

Packages

Any packages/large envelopes received will be opened in front of the Sergeant Instructors. Contraband items (food in particular) will be stored in the contraband locker and candidates will have access to these items on weekend liberty. It is advised to not send food to candidates. Failing to disclose the contents of a package or contraband to a Sergeant Instructor is an integrity violation. So, if you send anything to a candidate, make a packing slip of what is in the package. Candidates are allowed to receive religious material at any point in training.    

Resupply

You’ll have one PX call (the equivalent of a convenience store) during the week. When I was in week two of the 10-week course, the Juniors/Seniors (1st increment) were at week three and heading into their major evaluations. Many important items were bought out at the PX because the Juniors/Seniors were buying extra. My platoon staff allowed Amazon Prime resupply during the week. I would recommend having your family set up an order for the second week of training. A few candidates needed new notebooks, socks, cough drops, etc. and had no way of getting it. This will also be true for the second increment Juniors/Seniors as the 10-week candidates will be at their major evaluations when the new candidates arrive. Because of this, many important resources were completely bought out at the OCS PX. Once you have weekend liberty and a better idea of the training cycle, this becomes less necessary. Family members, don’t send anything you don’t want the staff to see.    

Sandboxx Letters Save Your Candidate Time

Sending letters to OCS via a mobile app is one component of the veteran-run company Sandboxx. Using Sandboxx to send your candidate letters (with photos) saves them time, as the letters come with pre-stamped and addressed return envelopes.

Check out Sandboxx here

Mail at OCS Address Format

Please note the following format. Failing to include all the correct identification could result in the letter being hung up in transit or returned.

Last, First, M., 8525
B Company, 1st Platoon OCS
2189 Elrod Avenue
QUANTICO VA 22134-5033

Got any other questions or updates?

Happy to illuminate anything further. If you have more helpful or updated information, please share!

Previous Changes

Some time ago, Liberty periods enable candidates to call home on many weekends. In recent years, the mobile app Sandboxx enables families to quickly and conveniently send photos and letters to their candidates, but the fastest they would hear back is when the candidates used the attached pre-addressed envelopes.

New Corps

Now, with little fanfare, the current class at OCS and MCRD Parris Island have been issued iPads once a week. Staff at OCS have declined to comment, but what is clear from military families is the sudden ability to video call home using FaceTime or Skype with base-wide wifi on Quantico. A source informed the blog that candidates have been encouraged to use communication apps only, although their time with the iPads is largely unsupervised. Some candidates and their staff reportedly call these hours “FunPad Time.”

Social Reach

Photos including selfies of candidates both training and goofing off after hours have appeared in a variety of unofficial Facebook groups. Inappropriate activity in one of these images has reportedly led to the dismissal of one candidate.

Polarized Reactions

Veterans and Active Duty reactions across social media has been loud and swift in denouncing this new development. On the other hand, families and recruiters have mostly supported and clearly benefited from the new ability. Adele B., mother to a candidate, spoke out against the FunPads, saying “I had 18 long years listening to my son jabber at the dinner table. These ten weeks it’s the Marine Corps’ turn. It was going to be great. But then they go and give him an iPad and I can’t get a break.”

This update actually catches the Marine Corps up to other branches’ practices (such at the Army). Regardless, veterans we spoke to expressed dismay that such a change would compromise the shock value of training. Former Drill Instructor Donald Millar joked in a Facebook comment, “Just 1 more piece of gear for them to lose!”

What’s Next?

Marine Corps officials previously described the changes as a “pilot program,” which would not be rolled out to every platoon this spring and summer. It’s unclear what metrics would lead to cancellation or continuation of the program.

Regardless, families, staff, and even candidates themselves, are surprised and trying to adapt to their current reality.

Have you received a skype call from your candidate yet? Do you have any more information we can share with families? Please comment below or use the comment form in the footer to supplement our information. Please help us update this page today, April First.

Our JAG buddies said to clarify for you–this is satire. Please don’t reach out to the command.

This post on proposing at basic training originally appeared on the Sandboxx blog, for the general US military audience. It definitely still applies to USMC enlisted or officer basic trainings.

It’s flashy, it’s exciting, it’s the combination of two of the most momentous days of your life.

But is proposing at your OCS graduation also a decision you will regret?

Ryan and Jenny

Ryan and Jenny first met in biology class in their suburban Georgia high school. Their personal chemistry was evident nearly immediately. Jenny started coming to Ryan’s baseball games with her girlfriends, while he would tell his buddies in the dugout about his big plans for their future together. After nine months of dating, Ryan followed the call he felt to serve in the military.

At the age of 18, he reported to Air Force Basic Military Training, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. At graduation, with his whole family and closest friends there to witness, the new Airman proposed. Ryan and Jenny were married within ninety days and began a whole new life together.

The Good

The happy newlyweds didn’t mind postponing their honeymoon for Ryan’s specialty training. Although Jenny had some trouble finding work as he moved around during the first year in the Air Force, they found the military community strong, and enjoyed exploring new locations as they built a life together.

In today’s military, getting married young is not uncommon. On average, military couples get married a full four years younger than their civilian counterparts.

Why are boot camp (and other early) proposals so common? On one hand, it makes perfect sense.

Young, new military members have achieved many of the other signs of adulthood early: a steady paycheck, moving out, training in a profession, owning a vehicle, and making significant decisions for their own lives. It would follow that marriages and kids would follow the accelerated timeline.

Tens of thousands of successful, long-term military marriages started young.

Andi Edwards and her husband married at age 19 and they have been married 13 years. “Our biggest tips have always been: Ignore the people who say it can’t be done (because it CAN!!!). Focus on being your best selves and treating each other as you want to be treated. Faith is our family’s focus and that has carried us through tough times, too.” spousebuzz

The Bad

Unfortunately, as your seasoned basic training staff will tell you: just because it feels right doesn’t mean you won’t regret it.

The bigger the life decision, the less you should rush into it

Ryan and Jenny’s life together became progressively more difficult, as more moves made building careers and deep friendships increasingly difficult for Jenny. Ryan was absent more frequently due to his travel. After his first deployment to Kandahar, he came home a changed man. Distant from Jenny and drinking more, their relationship was already on the rocks when his second deployment came only a year later.

Many young service members and their girlfriends/boyfriends don’t have the life experience to objectively understand their difficult future path and their relationship capacity. How many new high school graduates even have their own unique identity established, distinct from the influence of their childhood environment and parents?

Unfortunately, “young age at first marriage has been found to predict a higher rate of divorce in the military population,” and the military’s divorce rate hovers between 2-3 times higher than civilian counterparts. The higher the deployment tempo, the worse it fares. “Forty-eight percent of couples who marry before 18 are likely to divorce within 10 years. Only 24 percent of those who marry after age 25 will divorce within 10 years. That doesn’t mean half those teen marriages last forever. That means only half of them even make it to the tenth anniversary.” military.com

The chances are, do you think you’ll be an exception to the rule? Military relationships are hard–separation, training, stress, danger, and frequent moves make sacrifice a lifestyle for spouses.

Rose-colored glasses are dangerous upon entering such a difficult commitment, as Jenny and Ryan found out, although they did survive, recover, and have a strong marriage to this day.

You Decide

Military marriages are tough, and boot camp is a very early time to propose. However, with unwavering commitment and an appetite for adventure, many military couples have enjoyed rewarding decades together.

Can you be one of them?

That’s for you to decide.

Sandboxx is an app for service members, recruits, their families, and supporters. It was created by Marines who wanted to make it easier to stay in touch with family when off-the-grid without a phone and with units when they were back home. Download Sandboxx free.

Our thanks to Marine Captain Jeremiah for sharing his personal story, originally appearing on the Sandboxx blog here.

Military life can be both miserable and rewarding.  The reward comes from working with great people on great teams accomplishing great missions.  The misery comes from austere locations, uncomfortable situations, and separation from loved ones.

One thing that makes every aspect of military life more bearable is the ability to keep in touch with friends and family.  But many times, the only way to connect is through the mail.

When I was a recruit, going through my initial military training, I got mail just like everyone else did.  It was simultaneously the best and worst time of the day:

• Best – because it was my connection to the outside world, the world that didn’t include drill instructors and smelly recruits;
• Worst – because there was very little time to read and enjoy the stories, jokes, and gossip sent by friends and family.

It was the same for everybody.  Mail was our escape.  It was our sanity check.  It gave us hope that there was life after recruit training.

For some, mail call brought snacks that they couldn’t keep.

For others, it meant envelopes soaked in perfume or really crafty, artistic packages…which invariably led to some ‘gentle’ ridicule from the instructors.

Some got great news, like the birth of a child.

Others got horrible news, like the death of a parent.

Now matter how you look at it, mail call was (and is) how recruits stayed connected with the important people and events in their lives.  And it was all the more important during the holidays.

The mail I got at basic left a lasting impact on me.

Specifically, in the letters from my dad I received something far more precious than anything I’d ever requested for a birthday or for Christmas.

Something more valuable than a lesson on how to throw or catch, more timeless than a lesson on fishing.

What my dad sent to me during my three months of boot camp was powerful, wonderful, mysterious.

In his letters to me my father wrote of how proud he was of the man I was becoming.  He told me how much he loved me.  He wrote about how confidently he believed that no matter what obstacles I faced in life, I could overcome and succeed.

Through his letters, my dad gave me permission to be strong, to win, to lead.  I became a better recruit, and ultimately a better warrior because of those letters.

“My father gave me the greatest gift…he believed in me.”~Jim Valvano

Thanks for believing, Dad.  And thanks for writing.

Join the Sandboxx community here to make an impact on your service member.

Sending letters to OCS via an app is one component of the startup Sandboxx. Civilian Marine Sam Meek founded Sandboxx with this goal in mind:

Our mission is to connect the military community, our veterans, and the friends and family around them.
Our purpose is to free our military community of friction, so that they can focus on keeping us free.

OCS Address Format

Please note the following format. Failing to include all the correct identification could result in the letter being hung up in transit or returned.

Last, First, M., 8525
B Company, 1st Platoon OCS
2189 Elrod Avenue
QUANTICO VA 22134-5033

Send Mail to Your Marine (to-be) Via The Sandboxx App

Take It From Here

Make sure to tell your friends and family about Mailboxx before you head to OCS or even a deployment. As the future leaders of the Marine Corps, also think about sharing such assets as these with your Marines. Most of them will not be aware of many programs and benefits like Mailboxx.

Unit-Specific Secure Social Communication

Once you’re in the fleet, continue to use Sandboxx, which is a social network unique to the military.

What makes it worth your time is that it’s the only network that allows you to find and keep in touch with other Marines who served in the same unit with you at the same time.

Seriously: Don’t Just Take Our Word For It

Since we heard about Sandboxx, their developing work and success have really excited us at the USMC OCS Blog, because it seems especially valuable to our audience. As both participants in OCS training, cut off from the world, and as future unit leaders, officer candidates seem to have a high potential to benefit from the Sandboxx team’s products.

“Developed for service members by service members, Sandboxx is the tool our service members have been waiting for to make keeping in touch with all the most important people in their lives easier and more enjoyable.”
Major General Ray Smith
(USMC Ret.)
Founder & Chairman of the Board