"The Phone Call" Upon Arrival of BC

[momplus2]

My Son leaves on Monday July 1st. Late yesterday he met with his recruiter in Elk Grove, CA. My son told me I need to have him at the recruiters location in EG on Sunday. They will all check in at a hotel in Sacramento, CA. We will be having dinner and a movie Sunday night. He says the room where they take the oath is very small  so he says I can't go. First question, has anyone experienced this location in Sacramento and is it that small for parents? If he doesn't want me to go...I will have to be ok with it. My next question: When there are divorced parents, how is the information for graduation handled. His dad and I are divorced and have been since he was born, 18 years. My son said, "I have to call his recruit one week after he leaves and his recruiter will give me his address and graduation date" So, I guess I won't be getting "The Call" which hurts like XXXX! Dad has been an absentee until about 1 year ago.

I need some support...Help!

[Concernedad]

Soon enough, if you stay on this site, you will know more about what's going to happen to him than he will.

Your son will get one phone call, he can call whichever of you he likes, but expect it late at night (not so bad in Cali).

He also will be sending his stuff home in a box. Again, he'll get to decide to which address. He will also fill out a ton of information that will go to the address he lists. This will tell you all about graduation.

You can call the recruiter and ask about attending his swearing in, but I doubt you can stay at the hotel.

[momplus2]

Thank you your response, Concernedad

The hotel is not far away 25 minutes. I just have not heard of a room being so small that parents can't attend for the oath. I just wondered if anyone out there has heard of this before. You would think they would accommodate parents since this is a big event of their son/daught/husband/wife's life.

[Concernedad]

I would suspect there is room for you. The kids get a lot of conflicting info. Call the recruiter.

[momplus2]

Thank you for your support Concernedad. That is a good idea.

[ProudIdahoNavyMom (Ship3 Div253)]

I would for sure call the recruiter to clarify but for us we actually took 6 family members (and so did just about everyone else that was swearing in) M.E.P.S ended up splitting the groups into 6 & 7 SR's to accommodate family because the room (Idaho) was fairly small but they were amazing with all of us and told us to move freely around the room to take pictures and video during the swearing in...just to be quiet and courteous.
I actually missed the "I arrived" phone call (2am) and feel ok about it. They read from a script telling you when to expect letter (1-2 weeks ), box (2-3 weeks but came 4 days latter) and phone call (4-5 weeks) then he said I love you and hung up. You could hear a lot of others in the background saying the same script and my husband said it was the same in the Marines when he was there and that I would not have been able to "talk" to him and ask questions, he would have most likely had to just hang up.
I sure hope this might help and I can say that for my family it has been just over a week (06/19) and the last 2 days have been a turning point for us and finally able to be productive and not crying for the better half of the day :) I am here if you need to chat with someone :)
Kellie

[Debbie]

I was divorced when my son went to boot camp 12 yrs ago.  Just becasue he said call his recruiter doesnt mean  you wont get the I am here call.  He won't know any of that info anyway.  The get like 3 sec to talk and like someone says talk from a script.  It is up to him who he sends the box too and calls.  You should talk to him about all this before he leaves.  Also grad info it is up to him who he sends it too. 

[Hunter518]

My sons Dad and I are also divorced. He made the decision 2 yrs ago to live with his dad and there have been several occasions where we have discussed "the call" and sitting arrangements for PIR since there are only 4 seats. My parents are very involved in my sons life, but he also has a sister, step- dad and step-mom who would like to attend. It will be a challenge to get everyone seats. As far as your questions, idk about Sacramento, but in Houston the room was fairly small, but was big enough to accommodate a few family members who would like to attend. Of the 10 boys being swirn in, only 4 had families there. You can call the meps office and inquire about attending. I attended my sons Thursday and I'm very glad I did. They called us back from a waiting area when the nosy were to be sworn in. They were lined up at attention when we walked it. We stood in the back of the room as they were sworn in. They then left the room to "sign their life away" and returned and were able to take pictures and say their goodbyes. Even I'd the room is too small to attend the actual swearing in, you may still be able to go and see him off and take pictures. Calling meps will be the best way to get answers. I asked his recruiter questions too, but got more infor from meps. If you aren't far, you could even go there in person. Sometimes it is hard to reach someone by phone. As far as the phone call home. My son called when he arrived at the airport to let me know he landed in Chicago. He still had his cell and used it to call me. It was a very short call! Just I'm in Chicago. I asked if he would be able to call from base but he didn't know. That was at 8:30 pm. At 11:30 pm he did call again from his cell. He made it to the base and asked that I would call his dad as that was his only call for the next 3-4 weeks. It sounds like your son is getting conflicting info from his recruiter. If he has a cell, have him take it. It will get shipped in "the box" with his other belongings, but at least this way if he even has 30 seconds to make a call you will get to hear his voice! That was the best phone call I have ever received! Especially knowing he used it to call ME and not his dad! Good luck to you and your son. My son enlisted several months ago, but nothing could have prepared me for saying goodbye. I hope you are able to get all the answers and attend his swearing in ceremony!

[momplus2]

Thank you for your support.

This is our last day/night together. His friends are coming over and he is very busy.

Thank you again

[Angie]

It is up to your son if he wants anyone in when he says his final oath.  Ask HIM what he wants.

 

Also with the phone calls and anything sent from bootcamp...it is up to your son where it goes.

 

Something to talk about NOW is who will go to PIR, they only allow four guests on the list...yes extra people may waiting in the waiting area, and IF there is room they will let them in.  Though those in already can NOT save seats.  Keep in mind...people on here will say...yes you can get extra people in to see PIR, but that isn't true all the time.  When there are alot of divisions PIRing, they do not let extra people in.  AND right now is a higher tempo than normal as the highschool kids just graduated and that means those that where in DEP for a year or so...are leaving, and that means more divisions PIRing, which means less room for extra guests.