No sleep first 48 hours?

[jam]

My son started Boot Camp yesterday (Nov. 1).  He told me previously that they would be kept up for the first 48 hours.  Does anyone know if this is correct?

[amandamomof4]

my son got there Oct.4th and when I asked him when he went to bed after getting there he said 8pm the next day, and that he slept for 10 hours. So he was up about 38 hours factoring in the time change I am pretty sure that he slept on the plane there though.

[sailorwifenmom]

My Sailor was, but it wasn't the Navy's fault (he was flying in from Japan, so between the time zone changes and the flight, he was up for awhile). They do get a chance to sleep. Now, honestly, a lot of times they don't sleep (or don't sleep much) in those first few days, but most of that stems from it being a new environment, adrenalin, nerves, etc - not the Navy telling them they can't.

When they get there, they do the initial inprocessing, and if they get there at night, then that does cut into their sleep (regardless of when they go to bed, they still get up at the same time), so, if, say, their plane lands at midnight, they have to ride from the airport to the base, then process, it could be 4 am before they go to bed, then up at 5 or 6 or whatever time. But that next night, they go to bed at bedtime. If they get to bootcamp at, say, noon, then processed in by 4 pm, they go to bed that night at lights out, and get up that next morning.

It just depends on arrival and the individual Sailor's ability to sleep in a new and stressful environment.

(Btw - those times are rough estimates, not meant as a guideline for how long it takes to do the initial checking in)

[Concernedad]

Pretty much. What little sleep they may get is while straddled together on the hallway floor. The first week (P week) is the worst.

[Anti M]

Just adding my "yes" they do.. but it isn't a purposeful thing, it is just the way the journey and processing happens as the others have explained.  They should grab a nap on the plane, and eat when they get to the airport (both ends of the flight).  If they take their phone, they should NOT stay on it texting until the last moment, they should be napping if possible.  There's a reason sailors can sleep anytime, anywhere.  

And NO staying up late at last minute going away parties, no staying up all night at the MAPS hotel texting and calling family or loved ones until midnight or later ... let them REST!!!  No hangovers for those of age.   Explain it to them and listen up yourselves ... repeatedly.

I went to boot camp nearly 30 years ago, and it was much the same.

And there were times when I was working when I was up almost 72 hours, until the job was done.  The Navy has no overtime, once you're a sailor, you're "on" 24/7.  

[Vicki king]

My son is wanting to follow in his fathers footsteps and join. Makes me proud and nervous I want him to get an education while he is in, but I have been told that what ever he does while in the Navy he can't use when he gets out. Very confussed mother

[amandamomof4]

who told you that? I suppose there are a few jobs that would not translate directly into the private sector but I think any education and experience your son gets would be valuable for the future. You do need to do your homework before he visits the recruiter. How old is your son?

look at navy.com under the careers section and have your son look at and join navydep.com

[sailorwifenmom]

There are lots of jobs that translate directly to the civilian sector. Not to mention, there are a lot of things - management and supervisory skills just to name one - that translates across the board.

A couple of examples - recently, a friend retired from the Navy as a Chief. His rate (job) in the Navy worked with loading aircraft and payloads. Now he works as an office manager for a company that does lots of international business. Not "exactly" what he did in theI Navy, but still using those skills - leadership, organization and time management, personnel management, the ability to consistantly meet deadlines, and a knowledge and understanding of the logistics of shipping merchandise globally.....

This is just one example... A Seabee is trained in construction, as an electrician, a plumber, or even as locksmiths (had a friend do that...) You can learn to be a cook, you can manage the barracks, and go into hotel management...

If you have a clearance, it almost doesn't matter what you did, most companies with a govt contract would rather train you than pay to investigate and clear someone else (cheaper for the company)...

IT - go into computer and network repair...

You can be trained as an air traffic controller...

You can even be trained in journalism - and these are just off the top of my head! Whoever told you that he won't learn anything marketable in the civilian sector needs to look again at the modern Navy.

[Anti M]

Hubby and I were electronics technicians and were offered high paying jobs, but in Los Angeles, where we did not want to live, so we turned them down.  Hubby had a contract to work in Antarctica, but was medically disqualified.  The jobs are out there.   They just aren't always in your hometown.  

Plus, the VA assists vets in retraining and turning their military experience into civilian employment.  That's how I got my teaching certificate.  

Just being an E-6 got me six college credits, although I never turned my electronics training into a degree.  I could have, it is the equivalent of an E.E..  I still have two B.S. degrees, one begin before I joined and finished after I separated, and the teaching one the VA helped me build from the first.  I could have had three had I chosen to do so.

While on active duty, it is difficult to gain college credits and take courses, but it is never impossible.  They can take classes at sea, and if he gets shore duty, he can go to school part time.   He can also work with DANTES to transfer his Navy training into educational credits. I should have done so myself, and regret I never got around to it.

http://www.dantes.doded.mil/DANTES_Homepage.html