WHAT TO SEND TO SOLDIERS IN BASIC TRAINING & DEPLOYMENT
Your loved one is in basic training or deployed. You want to stay connected—but what's the best way to send them your love, support, and moments from home? This complete comparison covers traditional mail, Sandboxx, and Olettra.
BY OLETTRA · FEBRUARY 2, 2026
When someone you love is in basic training or deployed, mail call becomes everything. It's their lifeline to home, their reminder that they're not forgotten, their motivation to keep pushing through the hardest days.
But here's the question families ask us every day: “What's the best way to send letters?”
Should you handwrite everything? Use a digital service like Sandboxx? Or send something they can actually see and feel like Olettra's flipbook letters?
Why Letters Matter in Basic Training & Deployment
During basic training, recruits have extremely limited phone access. Most training programs allow only a brief phone call upon arrival and occasionally on Sundays (if it's earned as a privilege).
For deployed service members, communication depends on location, mission, and available technology. Wi-Fi can be spotty. Video calls drain morale when they freeze or drop. Phone calls are short and expensive.
Physical mail is different. It doesn't require a charged phone, stable internet, or perfect timing. It's something they can hold, reread, and keep in their footlocker or deployment bag.
For many service members, mail call is the highlight of their day.
The 3 Ways to Send Letters: A Complete Comparison
Regular Mail (Handwritten or Printed)
How It Works:
- •Write your letter by hand or print it
- •Address the envelope with proper military format
- •Buy stamps at the post office
- •Drop it in a mailbox or take it to USPS
- •Wait 3-7 days for delivery
✓ What's Great:
- • Most personal - handwriting carries emotional weight
- • Inexpensive - just the cost of a stamp ($0.73)
- • Timeless - there's something special about a handwritten note
- • Can include small items - photos, drawings, printed pictures
✗ What's Challenging:
- • Time-consuming - requires trip to post office, handwriting
- • Slower delivery - 3-7 days depending on location
- • No videos or motion - limited to static photos and text
- • Easy to forget - requires discipline to write regularly
Best For:
People who love the craft of handwriting, want to include small keepsakes, and don't mind the extra time. Perfect for grandparents, thoughtful writers, and anyone who enjoys the ritual of letter-writing.
Sandboxx Letters
How It Works:
- •Type your message in the Sandboxx app or website
- •Add a single photo (optional)
- •Submit by 4:30 PM ET (Mon-Thu) for next-day delivery
- •Sandboxx prints and mails it for you
- •Can add Exchange gift cards
✓ What's Great:
- • Incredibly convenient - send from your phone like a text
- • Fast delivery - next-day to training mailrooms
- • No printing or postage - they handle everything
- • Gift card feature - can send Exchange cards with letters
- • Built for military - 10M+ letters delivered, trusted service
✗ What's Challenging:
- • Feels transactional - typed letters lack handwritten warmth
- • Limited to static photos - can't send videos or motion
- • Subscription model - ongoing cost adds up over time
- • One photo only - limited visual storytelling
Best For:
Busy families who want speed and convenience above all else. Perfect for quick updates, frequent senders, and people who prioritize efficiency over personalization.
Olettra Flipbook Letters
How It Works:
- •Write your letter (handwritten or typed)
- •Upload a 6-second video
- •We convert your video into a physical flipbook
- •The flipbook gets embedded in your physical letter
- •They receive a letter they can flip to see you in motion
✓ What's Great:
- • Brings video to life physically - no Wi-Fi, battery, or screen needed
- • Works anywhere - perfect for restricted environments (basic training, deployment)
- • Emotionally powerful - watching someone wave or smile in your hands hits differently
- • Collaborative - multiple family members can contribute videos and messages
- • Permanent keepsake - can be kept forever, doesn't expire or require charging
- • Affordable - $14.99 (limited offer)
✗ What's Challenging:
- • Not instant - requires upload and processing time
- • 6-second limit - videos must be short and intentional
- • New concept - some people haven't experienced flipbooks before
Best For:
Families who want to send living moments that don't require technology. Perfect for grandparents waving, kids blowing kisses, pets doing tricks, or just saying “I love you” in a way they can watch over and over—even when there's no phone or Wi-Fi.
“It's like holding a video in your hands.”
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Regular Mail | Sandboxx | Olettra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0.73 (stamp) | Subscription | $14.99 |
| Delivery Speed | 3-7 days | Next day* | 3-5 days |
| Can Send Videos | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (as flipbooks) |
| Works Without Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Handwritten Option | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multiple Contributors | △ (manual) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Permanent Keepsake | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Motion/Movement | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ease of Use | Medium | Very Easy | Easy |
| Emotional Impact | High | Medium | Very High |
*Next-day delivery only to basic training mailrooms when submitted by 4:30 PM ET Mon-Thu
Real Stories: What Families Are Saying
“My son is at Fort Jackson for basic training. I sent him an Olettra letter with a video of our dog doing his favorite trick. He told me he's watched it at least 50 times. It's the one thing that makes him smile on the hardest days.”
— Sarah M., Army Mom
“I use Sandboxx when I just need to send quick updates—it's fast and convenient. But for special moments (birthdays, holidays, big news), I send Olettra. There's no comparison when you want them to actually see something moving.”
— Mike T., Navy Dad
“My daughter is deployed. Wi-Fi is terrible where she is, so video calls never work. I sent her an Olettra flipbook of her kids saying goodnight. She keeps it in her pocket. She doesn't need a charged phone to see her babies' faces—she just flips through it. That means everything.”
— Linda R., Mother of Deployed Soldier
So, Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Regular Mail If:
- •You love the craft of handwriting and have time to dedicate to it
- •You want the most budget-friendly option
- •You're sending small physical keepsakes (drawings, pressed flowers, etc.)
Choose Sandboxx If:
- •You prioritize speed and convenience above all else
- •You send letters very frequently and want a streamlined process
- •You want to include Exchange gift cards with your letters
Choose Olettra If:
- •You want them to see living moments - a wave, a smile, a kiss blown their way
- •They're in an environment with limited or no Wi-Fi/phone access (basic training, deployment, remote assignments)
- •You want multiple family members to contribute (grandparents, siblings, friends all adding videos)
- •You're sending something for a special occasion (birthday, promotion, holiday) and want maximum emotional impact
- •You want them to keep it forever - no battery, no screen, just something real they can hold
The Bottom Line
There's no single “best” way to send letters—it depends on what you're trying to say and how you want them to feel it.
Regular mail is timeless and personal. Sandboxx is fast and convenient. Olettra is the only one that lets you send living moments they can hold in their hands.
Many families use a combination: Sandboxx for quick updates, handwritten notes for personal touches, and Olettra for the moments that matter most—birthdays, milestones, or just when words aren't enough.
Because at the end of the day, what matters isn't how you send love—it's that you do.
And when you want them to see your face, hear your voice captured in motion, and feel like home is right there in their hands? That's when Olettra makes all the difference.