Marine Corps introduces a new way to stay in touch with deployed troops

[USMC5831]

Marine Corps introduces new way to stay in touch with deployed troops
Submitted by: Marine Forces Pacific
Story Identification #:200515203351
Story by Lance Cpl. Bernadette L. Ainsworth



U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES PACIFIC, CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii (Jan. 5, 2005) -- The Marine Corps implemented a new, efficient and fast system for family and friends to stay in touch with Marines deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Bahrain.

Motivational Mail, also known as MotoMail, which became operational on Dec. 1, enables deployed Marines to receive letters within about 24 hours, without requiring the use of the e-mail.

"E-mail requires for the sender to know a recipients e-mail address, while MotoMail only requires the sender to know the recipients deployed mailing address," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Don L. McCarty, Headquarters Marine Corps postal affairs officer and the driving force behind MotoMail.

Unlike e-mail, Marines do not need access to a computer to read their mail; they will receive a hard copy of their letter. The letters will be downloaded, printed, sealed, sorted and delivered at postal facilities located in Iraq.

"It is better than e-mail because it is a sealed letter delivered to the Marines to be read and re-read," said McCarty. "It will be comforting to them to be able to reach into their cargo pockets and pull out some word from back home."

"I found MotoMail very easy to use and my friend in Iraq got my letter the next day," said Lance Cpl. Lisa A. Dean, Temporary Additional Duty clerk, Headquarters and Service Battalion Comptroller.

MotoMail is printed on sturdy paper so it can withstand more weathering conditions than regular paper.

For now, MotoMail can only be used one-way to send mail to deployed Marines. Two-way functionality is planned but not available for some time.

Although MotoMail is new to the Corps, British Armed Forces have been using a similar type of online mailing system called E-Bluey since 1999.

This is not the first time this online mailing system has been used by the Marine Corps.

"We tested it at Camp Fox in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom and it worked well," said McCarty.

Setting up an account is as easy as setting up an e-mail account, just log on to www.motomail.us.

Follow the instructions for setting up an account and make a contacts list. Then just sit down, write and send the letter. Units that can receive MotoMail are listed on a scroll-down menu. After selecting the unit, just input the recipient's name.

For people who don't know Marines personally in theatre, but would like to send a note, there is a tab for "Support the Troops" where people can send messages. They are printed and posted at chow halls and post offices for everyone to see.

Currently, only Marines and Navy corpsmen attached to Marine units in Iraq can receive MotoMail. Other branches of service are waiting to see how well the system works, said McCarty.

Since Jan. 1, nearly 6,000 people have hit the website to send messages to troops abroad, according to the MotoMail website.

"The program has taken off as expected," said McCarty. "Everyone is enthusiastic by the response it has received so far."