An Open Letter To The RDCs of Recruit Training Command

[K]

I wanted to post this for a few reasons:

1. Even if it has been posted before, I am sure it cannot be done often enough.

2. I am sure there are other moms (and dads) from this last Friday's PIR and past/recent PIRs that would like to chime in and add to.

3. To help ease the minds of the new boot camp moms and bootcamp moms "to be".

I want to thank you. I wanted to voice my appreciation at what you have done for and with my son.

I sent an 18 year old child to you who wouldn't wear a coat in a snowstorm and got back a young man who not only wore his coat, he buttoned it up! WIthout being asked!!!! Or told!!!!

I sent you a teenager who had no real direction, drive, motivation or organization or even a future and recieved a young man who now has a direction, a goal in life, and a FUTURE.

I sent you a kid who probably couldn't get more in this tiny town then a part time job at McDonald's in this economy IF that and you returned to me a young man with a CAREER and a path to a real honest and noble life for himself.

I sent you a kid that thought iron was something in Flintstones vitamins and now have a great young man who knows you can ALSO use one to take wrinkles out of clothes!

I sent you an immature boy who had a fifth grade sense of humor and no sense of self and got back a very funny and poised young man with good posture and a strong but gentle bearing.

But, I think most of all....I sent you a young one who had been isolated in a sense and thought that our life, our values, and our morals were all some bizarre anomoly to our family that had nothing to do with "real life" and you took him in and showed him that life is not about what you see on television or hear in the tabloids or from ignorant kids at school with worthless absent parents. You took what we tried to teach him and showed him that it was indeed the gold standard. He is now proud to be himself and that was something I was afraid I would never see. I saw it this weekend.

Thank You ALL so much for putting the finishing touches on the child I sent you. Thank you for helping him take that last step over the threshold for becoming a man. He purchased his graduation photos and now his three RDCs as part of the graduation photo hold a place on our family wall for the role they played in his life. I am not sure I can thank you all enough but I hope this is a good start. I invite ALL the moms and dads to submit their thanks here to them. In a world of selfish and self absorbed people who are all too concerned with the material and the celebrity....we need to appreciate the true role models and mentors and heros.

Thank you, RDCs.

[Maureen]

What a great letter! I still check this site out once in awhile and I am so glad I did tonight! My son's PIR was June 20. I could (and should) have written this myself! I laughed and cried, especially about not wearing a coat!! Thank you so much! I have saved this to reread!
Maureen

[Staci (Just way proud)]

I couldn't agree more. Nothing more to say. ....the words ring in my ears from PIR....Well done, Sailor! and Very Well Done, RDC's! Thank you!

[Mary]

My son is still at GL, but your son sounds like he could have been mine! I'm so looking forward to his PIR so I too can thank those who have made my son into a young man.

[Suzanne]

So True!! I sent an 18 year old boy who would fall over the trash before he would take it out. The last time he was home he not only took out the trash without being asked, he went around the house after all the company had gone home and picked up all the dirty dishes without being asked. I knew that man was in there, it's just someone besides me or my husband had to find him.
Thank you !!!

[Lynn Abid]

How beautiful!

[Tina (Robbys Mom)]

words cannot express what you have shown my son and what my son has experienced. I thank you for being there to guide and teach my son.

[kim ann]

Well put K! So beautifully written! As a mom sending off two young twin boys in June 08 into the wild wonders of the abyss of the unknown....you took them, ran with it and molded them into wonderful men! For that I commend you! To the hard work, dedication and care you did to take so many boys/girls (and continue to do) and do so gladly...we thank you! Also for the CO's, motivators/instructors, recruiters, and other naval personel, your unseemingly unnoticed work is NOT forgotten! Bless each and every one of you! KUDOS! My boys both PIR'd early Aug 08, and have the utmost ADMIRATION and RESPECT for all of you! :0}

[Ailene Martin]

Everything you've written is SO TRUE -- my son actually held doors open for me, and wanted to pay for our supper. It was unbelievable. Yes, the RDC's do an extremely admirable job !!!! Thanks from all us Navy Moms !!!

[Carol CGB]

That speaks volumes for all of us. Thank you so much and God Bless.

[Jeanne]

My son is just starting his 4th week of boot camp. Already, he has great respect for his RDC's and knows how lucky he is to have them. He wrote that his is known to be one of the toughest on base (they probably all are!), but that was a GOOD thing, because being tough on them would only make them better. Then a week or so later, he wrote to tell me that one of the RDC's is a very highly decorated gentleman (gave me his name so I could google him!), and that he was so glad to have the opportunity to learn from "one of the best". I know we all owe/will owe those RDC's a huge debt of gratitude for what they are doing for and with our kids.

[Joanne]

K ~ Thank you so much for writing such an eloquent letter. I hope the RDCs will have a chance to read it.
When my daughter had her PIR, I had a chance to meet one of her RDCs; I thanked her for making my daughter a sailor and she told me: “are you kidding, she was easy". That comment made me proud. I hope your letter makes my daughter’s RDC just as proud.
Thank you to all!

[Lou S]

Beautiful tribute and all soooooooooo true. Also from a very dedicated mom! Lou.