Will I be able to text my friends and family at some point during boot camp?

The only way to know for sure if you can text family while in Basic Training will be if your Drill Sergeants let you have access to your phone. And the only way to know that is to find out when you get there. Everyone here on RP won't know what the policy is for your Basic Training Company. This is going to be a sit and wait kind of situation for you. In the mean time....pack those pens, paper, envelops and stamps.

You will not have your phone. You will jot he able to text or call anyone. When you arrive at boot camp, you will make one phone call to whomever you want. It is a quick 15-20 second scripted call to let them know you have arrived safely. You may have the opportunity to make one or two phone calls during the three months, this is no a guarantee. You do not need to bring and paper, pen or envelopes. You will get that after a day or two in boot camp. You go to boot camp with basically your identification card, and that's it, nothing else is allowed except your wallet and a basic very small address book to write people. The Marine Corps has Drill Instructors and not Drill Sergeants. Talk to your local recruiter. Get all your questions answered start learning about the Marone Corps. Take it from a retired Marine and Recruiter. Best of luck to you.

Jesus Wept! Thomas are going to boot to learn how to surviv if placed in combat operations, uphold the Marine Creed or be a damn journalist? Hell even USMC journalist goes thru Boot. Hate to crush your bubble, but doubt you will have time for long phone texts, with paper you can write in snatches for days. Seriously they will let you have your phone unless you earn it for 30 minutes as a reward! Get use to it- there are places in the world where there is NO cell phone service without a sat dish.