My then-wife and I wrote each other quite a bit when I was in Basic at Ft Sill (mid-80’s). It was awesome each and every time I had a letter tossed at me or had to step out to get it. I got more than most us us and that ‘reputation’ was a ‘badge of honor’ to me, to be honest. Even the letters that said nothing at all (of any ‘real’ content, so to speak) were ones that had me plain glad that I knew she had taken a moment for me that day 
Agreed on the ‘limit negative thoughts’ thing - unless its about something that is a ‘must-tell’, negs can take down the ‘high’ from opening letters/boxes. My wife sent me a few ‘hot bikini’ pics that I got teased about ceaselessly in good-nature (pics allowed in wall-lockers) - but I had no problems with the guys passing them around for a look. (yeah -thats mine, buddy, read it and weep) Not saying you gotta send soft-porn-like bikini pics, but something ‘special’ for him means a LOT (a typical guy anyways). Even a small wallet-size pic of just face (or butt/toes/whatever if that is what he wants) is something that can take him away for a few moments. <No, I would never, never, never say that I took some (or all) of the hot-bikini pics into bathroom alone when I could, I would NEVER do that kind of thing looking at wifey’s pics. What kind of guy would actually do that?! Only heartsick lonely perverted men would even think of such behavior with so many other things to be doing, and when they could not sleep a wink due to their body being ignorant of mind. I got way too many other things to ‘take care of’ than highly-trivial personal needs, ya know? 
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I got cookies at least once a week, and always enough for everyone including Drills and Cap’n who partook the first couple times in smart-ass ways but then started asking “Where the HELL are MY cookies?! Get her off her civilian feet and get those boxes packed for ME” with big smiles/winks about it - she thought of everyone that had involvement with me. A couple times, a box was visible but got carried back into Office with looks-over-shoulder like box was being snuck away so they could keep cookies themselves - almost like the sweet-things were expected routine for my 30 or so buddies. Another ‘reputation’ I carried proudly - folks started asking for specific type cookies, and getting them! A hint: mailing cookies, if allowed, is easy if you pour popcorn/similar around them to help with jostling and softer cookies/brownie-like things mail better than ‘brittle’ types.
No idea now, but usually every evening (or eves when we had the planned-out free-time that was expected to be used for shoeshining/laundry/cleaning stuff, we also had access to a few payphones. Phones were available at times that integrated into other ‘mundane’ chores, so its possible you’ll be able to get (collect) calls occasionally unless he’s out in field, or in trouble. Phone privileges kept some guys in line big-time - “you wanna talk to your bitch, you BETTER get your shit together, boy!” was herd more than a few times (not by me though, heh)
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and in hindsight, I can say that me being apart from her for over three months made for positive changes in me. Hard, yes, but “you don’t know what ya got 'til its gone” rings true here imho. Basic is nothing compared to some Army ‘jobs’. In a way, you are in Basic as well as he, and you must be strong for both of you. You’ll learn a lot about yourself ‘internally’ through this challenge. When feeling lonely/stressed, write him to pass time - it’ll help, I promise.
Definitely be prepared for him to start keeping his dirty underwear in the hamper and even might gently point little ways you can ‘better’ yourself. Basic is about instilling good habits as well as military training, so lots of us guys went home and looked around and thought “how in heck did I live like I did?!” and start picking up stuff that would’ve been ‘unseen’ prior to Basic. Wife and I had a few times that we had to meet midway with me (after Basic) being near-intolerable of having a sink with a toothpaste smudge in it or setting something down where it did not belong. No idea of your ‘habits’, but his are likely to be much more ‘efficient’. Just sayin… Don’t be upset if he picks-up after you without saying anything about it to you - its a habit now for him. YMMV My wife was a near-slob and there was readjustment to me for damn sure. We were both barely 20yrs-old, too, so ‘babies’ in a way. Army dragged us into ‘get it done and do it right first time’ quickly, and righteously too.
Plz pass on to husband that if Drills have to look at his nametag throughout Basic, he’s being successful beyond measure. Once a Drill knows your name from having to yell it repeatedly, it can be more ‘stressful’. My day of Grad had a few of the Drills saying bye to us and as I walked by, they all told me as they read my nametag “never could remember your name - good job!”. A few guys had become the first to have names hollered out when a ‘volunteer’ was needed for some shitty chore, and calling a name out from Office rather than having to walk outside and point at someone…follow my drift? The name of “CUNNINGHAM!!!” will never be forgotten to me. And a question that was ‘standard’ that may be relevant still: “Anyone here know how to drive a truck/car/motorcycle?” really meant that someone is needed to drive a lawnmower or wheelbarrow, something laborious. “NO, Drill Sgt, I do NOT know how to drive your truck” would be the proper answer - unless person actually wants to do some grungy chore/work. Never, never, never (NEVER!) volunteer to do something that sounds too good to be true because it definitely is. Trust me on this. There’s no such thing as cable-stretchers, either, so don’t go looking for them when asked by Instructors.
Most of all, Basic was fun if the bullshit headgames are seen for what they are - instilling habits and reinforcing them. I would actually enjoy Basic again if I were in decent enough physical shape. Honestly. Just so your man knows it can, and really should be, imho, truly fun if a person allows it to be. Where else can you throw grenades and shoot shit. And the food was OUTSTANDING. My first meal was ~all-I-could-eat lasagna/tasty rolls and the next dinner was ‘surf and turf’ that was as tasty as any 5-star I’ve gone to. Honestly, Army’s food is great, fwiw.
Welcome to the military, both of you! Last thing - Red Cross is great for getting ‘emergency’ word to him should it be needed. Tell him to quit saying he will ‘quit’ for you. Bad mojo to even think such. No, no, no, no. NO! Smack that outta his mind right now. Make him say anything else than that, it ain’t helping y’all at all and needs to stop now. There is no ‘choice’ if he’s signed on that ‘dotted line’ already. Accept it and go forward - no looking back now, so take the winds on y’alls chest, so to speak. It is so worth it. SO worth it, and y’all probably just can’t quite understand the full meaning of how stunningly great this is even if you think you know how good it is right now. You shall see…
Sorry I got wordy - but I had folks/total strangers do such for me way back when, and its helpful to have insight from those that have walked the walk (better to say it and not need to, than to need to and not have said it). I feel I simply must pass on things that strangers told me upon learning my choice of military enlistment. This may sound odd - but I truly am literally proud of y’all. Total stranger, me, knows that another few good folks are committed to personal betterment and keeping me/family safe - and want to know how to make it easier on themselves. *Thank you to both! If he is going to Ft Sill, I would be happy to attend his graduation (if I am informed of date - I live minutes from Ft Sill, OK).
*Have great day
