One Airman’s grassroots initiative to lift up Air Force basic trainees during an unprecedented moment in history has grown into a global movement.
Airman 1st Class Cailey Brislin, who works in the 434th Squadron Aviation Resource Management at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, was inspired to start the “Letters to Lackland” initiative last month after rediscovering encouraging notes she’d received while completing Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, according to a 47th Flying Training Wing release.
Brislin hoped to help these trainees feel less alone at a time when the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has them going through 14-day Restrictions of Movement, practicing social distancing, and even spending time living in an on-base tent city. Since the effort kicked off last month, more than 50 Airmen in the U.S. and abroad have agreed to pen paper-based pep talks to these potential future Airmen, the release said.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright even endorsed the effort on Twitter, creating a #LettersToLackland hashtag.
If you’d like to get in on the letter-writing, but don’t know whom to write to or where to send your note, Lackland’s 37th Training Wing has got you covered.
According to a Wing spokesperson, letters can be sent to the following address:
737 TRSS/Pfingston Reception Center
Attn: BMT Trainee
1115 Juniper Street Room 107
JBSA-Lackland, TX 78236-5511
From there, the wing will ensure that your letter winds up in the hands—and, inevitably, the heart—of a BMT trainee.