When will/ how will I have contact with my son?

[Darlynn Tracy-Oberg]

My son Kurtis left our house with his recruiting officer on December 15th. I saw him off at his swearing in on December 16th, in Boston MA~ MEPS building...thought we were going to go to Logan and have a 'last burger' together but was informed that was not OK....so we all said our goodbyes there. He has been gone for 5 days now. Shipped out to Illinois/Great Lakes for Boot Camp...How will I know how to contact him? Will there be some sort of contact made by him? Is there a place I can find an address to send him letters?
This is my first visit to this site and I am trying to load it up and read what I can, but frankly...am computer 'challenged'...LOL
Thanks for any advice...Darlynn out in Princeton MA.

[Kate H]

Hang in there Ladies!!! When my daughter left on the 29th of Sept, I got 1 phone call when she was @ O'hare and getting ready to head to the base. I recieved the 1st letter 2½ weeks later. She did call her Grandma 2 weeks in. I didn't talk to her on the phone until she completed Battle Stations. By then I was already on my way to catch my flight.

Keep in mind, they can receive letters all during the week but can only send letters out on Sunday. Please, please, please remember to write them often. My daughter told me that she really looked forward to mail call and was so extremely thrilled to get any letters from home. My mom and I staggered the days when we sent our letters out so she would get something from home at least 3-4 times a week. She really got a kick out of the daily diaries that I kept and sent off every 4 days or so. Remember to send 'em pictures from home too! Family, scenic, critters, Graduation pics when they looked civilian, (lol), etc. They really do miss that stuff.

Remember to tell 'em how proud you are of them and don't worry, they are in good hands.

[joe]

Our son left on the 16th and didn't get to great lakes till wednesday in the afternoon and we didin't here from him yet and christmas was a little tuff

[Terry (AARON's Proud Mom!)]

Hi Darlynn,

My son left the 15th also, and shipped out of Kansas City on the 16th after he was sworn in. His local recruiter was able to get us his mailing address by the end of that week. Check with your son's recruiter. Also, we just received a form letter from Great Lakes giving us a mailing address that is a bit different, as it has his "ship" name as part of the address. It was a lonely Christmas as your house without Aaron. I am so anxious for him to get to call home - in about a month from what we have been told. Wouldn't it be fun if our sons were in the same division?? Let's keep in touch.
Terry from Topeka, KS

[Tammy]

Welcome! This site is great, you will enjoy it. Don't be disappointed if you don't get a phone call from your son for 4 or 5 weeks. Their petty officers decide when they can call, which depends on how well they think they are doing each week in boot camp. It seems like an eternity but it actually goes by fast. Be sure and attend the PIR or better known as the graduation. also on here look for the PIR group of your son's graduation date whenever you receive the date. There is alot of support there. If you have any questions for me, just sent me a note.

Tammy

[Robin Stout]

Oh my I am so glad to have seen this. My son arrived Chicago O'Hare Friday December 19. He called us to let us know that he had made it since his flight the day before was delayed 4 times then finally cancelled. So he was letting us know that he was about to go into the USO office at the airport. That was around 9:40 a.m. that morning. Then we got the 10 second phone call that evening at 7:15. He sounded really exhausted. He said he was tired. I have been worried since then. I received what me and his best friend's mom (who graduated the Wed before Thanksgiving from basic) call "the kid in the box" today and the form letter telling us about address and general information. I went to work and cried really hard most of the day. We did Christmas the weekend before he left so Christmas was not hard, but I was really hoping that I would at least get a phone call. I asked my friend and she asked her son if there was a chance he would call yesterday and she told me today that he told her phone calls to home were decided on by the RDC and it was mainly based on when all the recruits in their division were able to handle a call home. So that made me feel a little better. If the RDC thinks that the phone call will upset the recruits more than help them then they do not get a phone call until they can all handle it. My son wrote at the bottom of the form letter that he is having fun. He really wanted this so I am sure that he is really having fun. I just want to hear his voice. Have you not received the form letter yet? That will give you his address and what ship and division. Have you gone to the website for recruit training? That is some good info too. Please keep in touch because it sounds like our sons are up at basic together. Maybe not the same ship or division but at least up there at the same time.

[kathy]

my son left for boot camp on dec 9th - 2 days after he turned 21. one of the hardest things i have done with him ws saying good bye that day.. have heard form him 2 times on the phone - short one min calls but sooo great to hear his voice and have had a couple of letters. i try to write everyday - he told me threee times on one letter how much everyone loves to get mail. says he thinks his graduation day is jan 30th- then off to florida for school.

[Cheryl Proud to be Allen's Mom]

Darlynn, welcome aboard! Anne R is right about everything she told you. It will seem like an ETERNITY before you have any contact with your sailor, but it does get easier. Just remember to write to him everyday. He will be grateful for any type of letter from home. My son wouldn't allow me to send any packages of goodies until after PIR because they would confiscate or pick on him for getting it. It really is tough not knowing what is going on, but it is so worth it. You will be amazed in the grown up man you will be meeting at PIR. Waiting for the first letter or possible phone call was awful! They are occasionally allowed to call, but there are so many waiting to use the phone that it will be quick and sweet. Best wishes and hang in there!

[Kim, mom of 2 sailors!]

Welcome to N4Ms. I am very new myself. My son Andrew left to GL on the 15th, maybe our boys are together!! Andrew called that first day and I haven't heard from him since except 2 lines on the form letter of do'd and dont's etc. I was hoping for a call on Christmas but didn't. My husband said they probably didn't call cuz' alot of the guys are homesick enough and that would probably make it worse. I wrote him a letter almost a week ago, but haven't heard back. I guess this is the hurry up and wait everyone has been talking about. You should have gotten the same letter I received with his address. I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you which "ship" he's on in boot or not, but it would be great if our boys were in the same group, company or whatever it's called. Like you, I'm anxious to hear from him. Good luck, I'll be thinking about you and I'll try to stay in touch..Kim

[Deb]

I'm crying and saying a prayer for you as I know firsthand the heartache of wanting to talk to a son who is away at GL boot camp. Kim, stay strong. Write to your son as much as possible. You could include his favorite comic strip from the paper or an uplifting article from the newspaper or church bulletin. This website seems like a great resource for a Sailor's loved ones. I just learned of it today as I was leafing thru a Woman's Day magazine. My son, Michael, enlisted in Aug. '08 and graduated in October. When his first letter came, I reread it probably a hundred times. Seeing his handwriting was the best gift ever! God Bless.

[Denise Quarterman]

Hi, I know what you are going thru. But trust me it will all go by so fast and the next thing you know you will be in Great Lakes for his PIR. My Son left in July and finished boot camp Aug 29th. I'am crying now just to know what you are feeling. You can get his address from his recruiter, stay strong they really need us to be strong for them.

[janice jackson]

WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM MAKES YOU CRAZY!!!!!! THE FIRST CALL HOME IS ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED MOMENTS! YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST GOTTEN A PHONE CALL TO SAY THEY MADE IT OK. MY SON CALLED JUST FOR ONE MINUTE, THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK, JUST SAY I'M HERE AND OK. THE LETTERS ARE SLOW ON BOTH ENDS AND PHONE CALLS ARE FEW. MOST THE TIME AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY ARE "EARNED". THEY ONLY HAVE A SHORT TIME AT NIGHT T WRITE HOME. JUST KNOW, HE WILL BE FINE AND SO WILL YOU!!!!! IT IS HARD WHILE THEY ARE IN BOOT CAMP BUT WHEN HE IS IN A SCHOOL IT GETS BETTER. MY SON IS IN IRAQ AT THE MOMENT AND I WAS A MESS BEFORE HE LEFT BUT IT IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THEN WHEN HE AND HIS WIFE WERE IN VA. HE CALLS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND WE USE SKYE TO TALK AND THEN WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER TOO. YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO THIS WHEN HE GETS OUT OF BOOT CAMP. IT'S THE NEXT BEST THING TO BEING THERE" LOL. IF YOU NEED INFO ON SKYPE LET ME KNOW.

[Angie F.- WA: HM mom]

Just a couple tips ladies...

Deanna T. I would highly discourage you from posting your phone # on site, for your protection and the safety of your future Sailor, you may not even want to use your last name, if his is the same as yours! This site offers a PM (Private Message) option, so make friend requests left and right, we're all here to share info and make friends while we give and receive support, and share personal info that way. =)

Janice J-please turn your caps off dear. That is the cyber equivalent of yelling and I know that wasn't your intention, though we all can get excited from time to time around here! :-)

New Moms, welcome! Don't worry about not being cyber savvy. we all learn from each other. I was a techno idiot before I came aboard and my patient N4M friends have taught me all kinds of neat tricks and guided me. If you haven't already, and you have a recruit in Boot Camp currently, please go join this Group ASAP:

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms

That's where you will most easily connect with other Moms (and Dads) who's own Recruits are in your Recruits Div and have the same PIR date, plus you'll gain valuable support, insight and info. Some of my best friends on site where ones i 'met' online during BC, then met in person in GL (Great Lakes) at our N4Ms meet and Greet the night before graduation. Welcome, hang in there, relax a little and try to enjoy the journey. It's only just begun. God Bless.