Leaves today for bootcamp

[Lisa Lou]

Hi there, I am brand spanking new and my son leaves today for boot camp. I am so surprised at how empty I am feeling. I knew I would be emotional but this overwhelming sadness is unexpected. I am divorced from my son's father, we have a very difficult and complicated relationship. My son left my house for the last time on Sunday, July 4th and now I feel empty and sad. I have been extremely supportive of my son's decision and tried to prepare him the best I could. I will meet him later today to say my final goodbye before quarantine. I am so proud of my son; he is the only one who joined a military assignment out of my extremely large family and from his father's side as well.

Are my feelings normal for a new Navy mom? I can't seem to stop crying. I was never a helicopter parent so I am struggling to understand why I am feeling so blue. Any suggestions to help get through would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Lisa Lou

[Chipmunk]

Becky, I left a message on your page - also, the form letter should arrive anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 4-5 weeks depending on your SR (seaman recruit's ROM status.) We say that "no news is good news" especially now during this silent time because a call usually means something not good - however, they might also need to call for more information or they might call to update their status if they need to. 

[belovedbyHim]

Becky -- Everything you are feeling is NORMAL!! I'm posting on Your page  but please keep in mind that everything is subject to change!  IT seems lately that as soon as we think we have an idea what is happening, it changes yet again.  Expect that Boot camp can be from 7weeks to 12 weeks assuming no additional ROM.  We have had some who had their time extended by even more than that!  IT stinks and is Hard but No news Really is GOOD News!!

[partyofseven]

Hi Becky,

And welcome to our group we are glad that you are here. BBH posted her blog two comments up and that will help explain a lot. No question is ever dumb and someone will answer you. You should have gotten your scripted call your loved one letting you know he made it there safely. 

this is totally normal. Cry when you need to and it does get a little easier. Staying busy is good and start writing your letters now so when you get that form letter you can mail them off right away!!

Big Navy Hugs to you!!

[Sandy]

Hi feel the same here all . Son just left yesterday. Where and when can we send mail to them? We have to wait until we get the letter first even for sandboxx? Also will they be able to see sandboxx as they have to give up phones correct?

[belovedbyHim]

Hi Sandy.  Welcome to Boot Camp.  Please read my blog to give you an idea of what the first few weeks may look like.. First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition Up and to the Left is a link to all the Navy Lingo! It is titled Navy Speak and you can find it here. We are here to get you through the “Great Silence” of the next 4 weeks (ish) and the 10 weeks of BC (ish). You will come to learn that No News Is GOOD News and everything is Needs of the Navy. You life will be Hurry Up and Wait and it’s ok to make plans but they are subject to change until after they have happened so it’s best to embrace the Motto: Semper Gumby!! (Always Flexible!!)

The Expected timeline will look like this
Day 0 -- Travel, Arrival and "I'm Here" scripted phone call

Week 1&2 Day 1-14 -- ROM (Restriction of Movement/ Quarantine-- Lots of studying and waiting) Unless they are Fully Vaccinated (2 weeks after final shot) in which case they skip straight to Week 3.

Week 3
Day 15-21 Arrive Onboard RTC and begin P-days (P-days- Initial Processing Days) including 2 days of P-hold (Weekend)
Day 21-- Complete P days. (Initial PFT & Run)

Week 4- First week of training  Day 22-- Begin training and mail form letter out. Look for it to arrive around 1-2 weeks later

Week 5 -- First inspections and tests (Dental May be this week or next... Not Confirmed)(Form letter/ Personal letters usually arrive this week)

Week 6 -8 -- More training, Drilling (Flags and Marching), Fire Fighting training, Marlinspike (Line handling- How to tie up a Ship to the Pier) and weapons lessons, Confidence chamber( May or may not be happening yet, we don’t know for sure).. Warrior training in here somewhere.

Week 9 & 10 -- Stressful!! They have all their final inspections, PFA, Drills, BS21 and Tests. This is the lead up to the end!!

All of this is assuming no exposure to COVID with additional ROM
Training typically occurs Monday - Friday but we have heard rumors that Saturday’s are now training days as well.
Normal PIR will be 10 Fridays after departure from Home but it can be less by 1 but it can be extended by ???? (lots!!) It just depends on how many times they get caught in the “Ring of Fire” but do not get COVID. IF they get COVID, Once they are recovered they will not be removed from training again even if they are in the “Ring of Fire”. (so there is that small silver lining if kids get sick)
I Hope you’ll come and join us on the Main Boot Camp Moms page: https://navyformoms.ning.com/group/bootcampmoms You may have to scroll down a ways to reach the comments but we’d love to get to know you and answer any questions or concerns you may have or just be a support from others who “get it”.

To answer your question, Yes you have to wait till you get the form letter or a phone call to know the address.  Once you know his Div and ship we can help you with the address but that usually takes a few weeks depending on if he was fully immunized or not.  As for Sandboxx, IF you MUST use it, Remember it is for BOOT CAMP ONLY!!! Do not EVER use it again after!! All it will do is get letters there a bit faster.  They include a return stamped envelope I believe, but no, your SR will not have access to the App they will reply via snail mail.  Sandboxx prints your letters off and places them in an envelope and delivers it to GL.  Once it's in the Navy's hand it get delivers on the Navy's timeline.  Each Div also has to select and train a Div Mail Petty Officer to deliver the mail.  Any Letters that arrive before then get set aside to be resorted later.... Sometimes much later and sometimes Never...
I encourage you to post your questions on the Main Bootcamp Feed as well so that you get answers quicker.  That is also where we chat and get to know each other better and offer tons of Moral support so you KNOW you are NOT alone in all of this!!

[Sandy]

Hi friends been since July 20th since my son left for GL miss him awful one minute I am ok next crying. People say it's like he's at college. Uh no so different. I feel once he calls replies to letters I can breathe. He had his vaccine already so dont know if he's in quarantine. Also is boot camp 8 or 10 weeks? Sending you all peace and strength.

[Chipmunk]

Sandy - first of all, no BC is not like them going to college (even though having two go to college ahead of my son going to BC did help me deal with some of the silence).  The ROM - restriction of movement / quarantine time is fluctuating now with vaccinated and unvaccinated SRs so it is hard to know until you receive your form letter. As far as the length of BC - it is 8 weeks, however depending on what division your SR falls in, it might be a 9th Friday with the way we use to count. 

The information that is saying 10 weeks, to my knowledge is the fact that they are doing a trial run with some divisions of tacking on an extra 2 week of financial classes to their time in GL after PIR. If this is the case with your SR you should receive a call or other notification from your SR of the extended time at RTC. 

[belovedbyHim]

Sandy-- Your feelings are NORMAL!!! and NO Boot Camp for any branch of the service is NOT like sending them off to college!!! College they can call anytime they want, You get to go see them anytime you want, You get to go help them get set up in their room.  You can call to see how they are doing!  They can make mistakes and still stay in school... They are not being trained for the possibility of being sent to fight in a war... So To those people I ask Them, In what way is Going to the Navy like going to college?? Only in that they are learning and it's not at home!
If he was 2 weeks past his last injection he should not have ROM.  Your form letter should be on it's way to you here soon. As Chipmunk said, BC is 8 weeks.  You add 14 days for ROM, and any additional ROM's for un-vaccinated SR's who are exposed to others who get sick with COVID.  They have also added a new class for some SR's that lasts 2 weeks.  So the Answer to your question is that Boot camp is 8 - 52 weeks long! (Although it would be shocking to learn of a SR who was there for a full year!)  Since you said your SR had the vaccine you are looking at 8-10 weeks assuming there are no issues.  If any of that changes your SR WILL call home!! If there is more than one person they could call in the event of a change in training you may want to speak to those people and make sure that they will all share information with other important people in your SR's life.  (Girlfriend.wife, SO, parents who don't live together and their SO's, Grandparents.....)