"You are going to join what!" That was my reaction to my son AJ's announcement that he intended to join the United States Marine Corps by going to recruit training at Parris Island. In "Letters to a Recruit", I wanted to help other parents understand and deal with the honorable decision their son or daughter has made. I decided, after permission from AJ, to share the actual letters that I sent to him at boot camp. He often times would write back and tell me how the letters would help him and his platoon during the tough aspects of training.