Need info faster than anticipated!

[LPK]

My daughter was scheduled to leave for boot camp in June, but now an opening that corresponding to her Corpsman training has come up to go at the end of April. What paperwork do we need to have done ahead of time, what tips do you have for her and for me, and where on this site should I go to get the most info? Thanks! I like to be organized and this is a bit of a concern (probably unfounded!) My daughter is 24 so she is very grounded but we are close and I will be handling her bills, etc.

[Amy]

I can tell you that she really really needs to learn her rankings, general orders, and the creed before she leaves.
Also, she needs to work out, as much as she can. Be able to run the mile and 1/2, do the 20push ups and sit ups.

If they already have her ready to ship out then her paperwork should be finished.
Just make sure she has done her IFA, physical test, and is with in the weight requirements.

Don't stress to much about it, if its the end of April she still has a lot of time to go! :)
Just make sure she studies, and doesn't get into any trouble between now and then and you guys should be fine !

[Anti M]

Set aside some money now, her first checks will be small. Some bills can be suspended while she is in boot camp.

Write down addresses and phone numbers on a piece of paper and put it in her wallet. Address books get sent back at times. Stamps in her wallet too. No one has said otherwise, but having a plain black man's wallet for boot camp makes more sense than a fat girly wallet. Generally, they don't mess with wallets!

Activate a phone card, it goes in the wallet too.

I know there's a boot camp group here, but I don't have it marked. There's also a New Moms group which is terrific:

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

I'd advise a good short, and I do mean short, hair cut. If they don't think it is short enough, they will cut it in Glakes, and that's not always a happy thing. She can grow it back after.

For her: Pack a sense of humor, if you can't laugh at how weird boot camp gets, you'll cry all the time.

[2 in the service]

The black wallet advise is good advice. My daughter showed up with a pink one.....bad move. DI's had fun with that one! Like others have said, being a signer on the bank account has been helpful for us too. AntiM and ChrisA have got all good info. Very solid advice. Best wishes to you and your LO.

[ChrisAmo]

I can only tell you how we handled things when my son went in. He put me on his bank account so I could pay his bills while didn't have computer access to do so. (actually, it forced me into learning how to pay my own bills online!). Like Anti M says, have enough money available to pay those bills as the first 2 paychecks will be small......we floated our son a loan and he paid us back when he got his first proper paycheck.

The #1 thing is for her to get in shape. She doesn't want to be playing catch-up the whole time she's in boot. Better to go in well-prepared in every way. Yes, to hair cut. If they do it for her it won't be pretty.

Finally, enjoy her while you can. She may start pulling away from you a week or so before she leaves, that's normal and is a self-defense mechanism so she won't miss you so much. For the first 2-3 weeks she'll be absolutely miserable and will let you know that she's made a terrible mistake. Then things will start to make sense to her and before you know it she'll be a sailor.

[LPK]

How often are they paid? Do we need power of attorney and medical poa? Thanks for all the info!

[Anti M]

They are paid on the 1st and 15th, or the business day before. Boot camp tends to be a bit different, takes about a month before the pay kicks in. Oh, they get it all, just takes a while for the paperwork catches up.

[Arwen]

POA and MPOAs are a good idea, the Navy will not tell you much if she is sick or injured and has not given express permission to share her medical information.

Also remember to discuss what, if anything, she wants to know about if a family member, friend or pet is injured, ill or killed. Does she want to be notified during boot camp, or would she rather wait until she graduates, so that she can finish without distraction? Remember, if it's not a direct family member (mother, father, sister, brother, or child) the Navy will NOT allow her compassionate leave to attend a sick family member or funeral.

Also, do NOT send her with stuff from the list the recruiter may have given her. The only things she will be able to keep must fit in a sock (literally), and includes a wallet (with social security card, bank card, phone card, ID, a book of stamps, a folded sheet of paper with important addresses and phone numbers), a mini religious book (Bible, Torah, Book of Shadows, etc), a mini address book (the one in the wallet is a back-up) and a religious medal, silver in color and smaller than a dog tag.

She should also bring $25, which may come in handy at some point. My son lost his phone card and had to buy a new one with part of his money. They are not allowed to have more cash than that.

She can bring her cell phone and use it until she reaches boot camp, calling you from the airport, and will probably be allowed to use it to make that first "I'm here" phone call. Then it will be sent home in The Box, along with her clothes and anything not on the above list.

[judyann]

My son had to leave suddenly also. He only had a week or so to get ready. Like Amy says she needs to know everything she mentioned and be physically ready. My son didn't have time to learn the rankings and creed before he left and it set him back a bit. but she'll be fine. My son made it fine and is now on an aircraft carrier. Good luck to her and you.!

[Kathy (AOMom)]

One more thing, she does not need the items listed in the handbook, such as underwear, bathing suit, etc, they will all get sent back to you. They are issued all these things at BC, even sneakers, so dont worry about that part. The only things she will need are a prepaid phone card, wallet (as mentioned), stamps, (no stationary). She will be given a sort of debit card to use at the NEX for hygiene items she will need. She can take her cell with her while traveling to BC, my daughter called me on hers and texted until she got there, then the last call as a civilian to say "Im here" The cell phone will also be shipped back with the clothes she wore. I have seen a lot of moms get all the items listed only to waste their money. Woops. I shold have read Arwens better, just repeated a lot of stuff.

[Cathryn (son is in Pensacola )]

Well her recruiter will get the paperwork done and you will need a blank check for direct deposit or have her join the Armed Forces Bank she can add you on there, it is a great bank! Just tell her to focus and work hard and have fun. My son is in BC right now and he is schedule to grad 4/23/10 we will see . He had blister issues on his feet, major ones. But you can send padded inserts to her after you get her adress in boot camp, they help the feet. I have invested alot in Band aids and inserts but they have helped him. Good luck add me as a friend if you wish! Cathryn in Texas

[Donna]

Listen to Arwen - she is a wealth of information. I couldn't have gotten through bootcamp without her. Also be sure to pack that sense of humor and remember that bootcamp is just a short time in the sceame of things. Now would be good time for you to start picking up cards to send to her while she is in bootcamp because the recruits live for their mail. You will get her address in the "box" and the sooner you start sending mail the sooner she will receive it. She will only be able to write to you on Sundays but they receive their mail everyday. The first couple of weeks are miserable for them but then it changes and they like it, or at least my daughter did. My daughter left for bootcamp in December and graduated at the end of February so I'm still feeling the effects of my new empty nest.

[NavyGirlsMomDiv.136(PIR 032610)]

All these are true.They are checked out by medical. They also have there wisdom teeth pulled in boot camp. If ya still got them my daughter said they pull them. And get a few days and back to work. Thank God she had hers pulled already. Don't forget the phone card. And both of you be aware of letters they are slow to start with. Hang in there the both of you. Graduation is soooo great. And be ready for the change for the good that you see in your child. Such a great feeling. Be ready for any set backs. My daughter hurt her ankle and missed her run by 15 seconds. Thought we would miss her original grad. date. But in the end after all our prayers was answered she graduated with her regular division. Good luck and God Bless