Boot Camp Questions

[PeggyRoberts]

So my son Matt will leave for boot camp on Monday, November 10. He's either not very forthcoming with information that the recruiter has provided him or he just isn't asking questions. What will he need to take with him? I'm assuming he won't need to pack many of his personal belongings. Can he take a cell phone with him? Will he be keeping his personal belongings once he gets to Great Lakes? How much contact will he be able to make to family and friends once he's there? Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks. I have a sister in Chicago. Will he be able to get leave to see her? What will the Christmas holiday be like? My husband and I had plans to go to Chicago to be able to see Matt. What's the likelihood of that happening?

[Cindy Corpsman Mom]

Hi Peggy ~ The only thing your son will need is the clothes he's wearing, a phone card, stamps, paper and envelopes. My son took his cell phone, when he got to GL RTC, they took it away and sent it back with the clothes. You'll receive "the box" about 3 - 7 days after he gets there. I cried my heart out when I got his box. Regarding contact. You'll receive a 10 - 30 sec. call once he gets to the base saying he's made it. That's it. There will be no contact from him, at all, until you receive the 'form letter'. That's a standard form letter the RTC sends to the parents/spouse explaining a lot of things. The last page, at the bottom, they have three lines reserved for the recruits to write a very brief note. That's it until you get a letter from him. They have very limited time to write, usually on Sunday mornings during their free time. The division, as a whole, earns phone privledges which will vary in time. Some calls will be longer, some will be shorter. Keep your cell on 24/7 and with you at all times. You'll never know when he's going to call. Morgan usually called late morning/early afternoon. As far as Thanksgiving, once they are on base, they cannot leave and no family can go in; however, I would call his recruiter to verify that and ask about Christmas too. Once Morgan left for bc, we did not see him until his PIR. When you talk to his recruiter ask for his address, he should have it. Start writing now, he'll really be wanting those letters when they are finally able to get mail. I wrote daily, but it's your choice. Some Mom's wrote, others typed their letters. It's totally up to you. Write about your day, in detail. Send cards (no musical ones), news about his favorite sports team, cartoons, pictures (4 x 6) a family picture would be good. Don't let him know about the sad or bad things that will happen while he's in bc. He'll have enough to worry about. Of course, if there's a family emergency, that's a different story. God willing, that won't happen, if it does, contact the Red Cross and they'll contact RTC. He won't have a lot of space to store things in (you'll be surprised at how small they'll be able to fold a t-shirt). He'll need all the love, support, and encouragement you can give. You've found an awesome site for support, encouragement, info, and anything else you may need. Reach out and find Mom's who have a recruit in his division and/or ship, they'll become your friends. Find other Mom's whose sons/daughters have already been through PIR, they can help you understand and support you in ways that other Mom's in the same boat (no pun intended) can. Find other Mom's to help mentor as they'll be needing it. Always remember, your feelings do matter and your family on N4M's are here for you. Please feel free to contact me, I'm on this site every day. Good luck, God bless you and your family as you begin a new adventure of your own.

[Sharon]

Cindy- this was very helpful to me- Thank you for all of your information. Just Like Peggy, my son , Jon will be leaving for Boot Camp on November 16th. Your suggestions about sending him with paper and envelopes and stamps are great. I am very excited for my son, but also sad, that he wont be around for the holidays.
I know in my heart, this is what he wants and I am happy for him.
I am sure after the 16th, I will have many more questions and concerns.
I look forward to talking with you again.
Sharon in Green Bay

[Deb]

Hi Peggy,
My daughter is at GL now in boot camp. She left the end of Sep and graduates in 2 weeks. I would definately have him take his cell phone because when they get to GL there may be a long line for the phone, and some recruits never got the chance to call home. Her's also came home in "the box" tucked in the toe of her sneaker.
Here's a great website to get you informed:
http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/index.html
There's a ton of info on the site. It shows where they sleep, eat, have classes, and explains a lot about what they'll be doing each week. It made me feel a lot more connected to her and excited about what she was doing there.
Click on the area for parents...there will be an area for graduation dates. In about 2 weeks after he gets there his graduation date will be posted. It's approx 7 weeks from the first Friday that he gets there.
All of Cindy's info was right on...exactly how it happened for us too. It takes a while for the letters to start coming home, but start writing to him immediately...his recruiter should have his address 3 days after he leaves home. My daugher's letters have all been positive. She said it's not bad at all, some was a bit boring, the simulated ship is a lot of fun, she's met a ton of new people, and the PT part isn't as hard as she was afraid it would be...and she wasn't the sporty athletic type. Good luck to you and Matt!
Deb

[Cheryl (Kyle's mom)]

Hi- I know just how you feel. This was me a little over a year ago. We didn't learn anything from the recruiter. Have him take nothing. Everything he takes will just be mailed home from boot camp and will cost him more money to send more home. They send home everything - clothes, shoes and all, personal items, toothpaste,etc. No cell phones allowed. No leaves during boot camp. He will be able to make an initial 3 sec phone call that sounds scripted letting you know he arrived safely. Tell him you love him while he is saying that because they hang up immediately. Then I believe it was a few weeks till they got their first one home. Maybe they will make an exception because of the Holidays. My son graduated right before thanksgiving. No family or friends until graduation day. Don't make plans to go until graduation day. You will definitely want to do that. I will never forget the site of all those sailors marching in. My biggest mistake was not having an address for him when he left. He was not getting mail when the other guys were getting things. I thought we had to wait for him to write to get an address but apparently not. His first letter home - we got yelled at. Poor guy thought we abandoned him. Tell him it will be hard but will pass. Just be respectful, keep mouth shut and he should be fine. Let me know if you have any other questions. I might be able to help.

[Sharon]

Hi Peggy,

Just so you know, you are no alone. My son Jon, will be leaving on November 16th, and I feel I know nothing about this.
I hope to meet with his recruiter this week so I can get some kind of idea.
I will be thinking of you on Monday.
Look forward to talking with you again
Sharon

[Lyn]

I came across this website when I was looking for Navy rings, I'm so glad I found this because after reading several of the posts, it was describing me and what I'm currently going through as a mom to a new recruit. I imagine I will be on here daily!

Peggy, my husband and I felt the same way. There were so many times we asked our son how it was possible that he didn't know anything. But it's true, the recruiters don't really tell you much of anything. Our son left with the clothes on his back, a small overnight bag that held toiletries, a book and his cell phone. These items all arrived back home in a box about a week later.

Cindy,
Your post almost made me cry! I was so upset when I got the box home. My husband was out of town and I called him to open the box with him on the phone with me. After emptying all the items, I was in tears. It looked like they placed the box in front of him and told him to strip down from the shoes upward and put it in the box. He had shoes, rolled up jeans, shirt, overnight bag, and his jacket on top, that was it. I didn't find his cell phone, although poster Deb said her daughter's was in her shoe...I didn't even think to look there so I'm going to do that tonight. I guess I'd hoped that we would have a note or letter or something in the box, but nothing. As far as that phone call home...WE NEVER GOT ONE! :( Obviously he's there since we got all his stuff back, but still. He left for boot camp the day before Thanksgiving 11/26. His recruiter JUST gave us his address yesterday!! I've kept a log of all the daily stuff and put it in there with an address book, phone card, picture of all of us and stamps! I was happy for him for the first week, but yesterday and today it's really hitting me hard, I miss him so much. If I got a call or a letter, I'd be fine. ~Lyn