Letters Home from Boot Camp

[NavyblueNana]

My grandson is Week 3 ( not counting P Week ) of boot camp in Great Lakes. Have only received one short letter. He wrote that he hadn't heard from any of us, even though I've written every day since I got his address. Is that normal ? I know GOD is watching over him but no letters or calls is nerve wracking!

[Kanada]

Most likely he is reading your letters while you're reading his. Snail mail is a slow process and I found that USPS would deliver me letters from my sailor on one day with 2 different postage dates. Plus the mail room has to sort all the incoming mail for all of the recruits, so it is very normal to receive letters saying they haven't received anything yet. 

[Chipmunk]

Also, did your grandson write is BC address as his return on his letters? If he did, make sure you are addressing your letters with the correct address information. And yes, it can take a while for letters to get to them. Just keep writing and sending. The form letter should have also had the correct address on it. 

[Dana]

They also have to train the person that does the mail. Just ensure the address is correct and continue writing. He will get them.

[Mom1st]

Hi everyone. Can someone explain to me about boxes being sent home from the recruits during boot camp? Is this for all the divisions? Also how long does it take to receive my first letter with the graduation date and all? I am new to Navy moms so I am clueless

[Mom1st]

I meant to ask are they no longer sending home their boxes

[Kanada]

Welcome Mom1st! When my sailor was in boot camp, they sent back his belongings (the clothes on his back, phone, backpack, etc). They are no longer doing this as of recent. The new procedure is that the Recruit Training Command (RTC) will be storing the boxes locally and will be returned to the recruits the day before graduation, though they will not be able to open the boxes until after they have left RTC. Long story short, no more boxes. 

As for the letters, the time varies for location. If you're closer to Great Lakes you'll most likely receive it sooner than other Navy families in the same division (that's how it was for me as I'm in California, I always found out things last in my PIR group). They say 2-3 weeks for the form letter, which will give you your recruits address and the graduation date as well as some other helpful information in the PIR brochure. 

[Mom1st]

Thank you for the information

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Here's the latest info on boxes:

When will "The Box" come?  **UPDATED ON 9/5/19** 

Attention families and friends of RTC: Previously, upon arrival to boot camp, recruits would box up their civilian belongings and ship it to their choice of destination. Our new procedure now has those boxes being stored locally and will be returned to the recruits the day before graduation. The new procedure went into effect this week beginning with Div. 409 in Training Group 52.

[Mom1st]

Thank you

[belovedbyHim]

NavyBlueNana-- Yep as others have said, your letters likely passed in the mail.  They don't have a lot of free time to write home so don't be surprised if they are few and far between as well as short!

Mom1st -- The typical format is that they ship on one day, then the first full day at Boot camp begins Processing days (P days). There are 5 required Weekdays, Do NOT count Saturday and Sunday. The Box used to be shipped during P-days but now is being stored at GL. Sometimes and for a whole host of reasons they can have extra Processing days called (P-hold).  If NO P-Hold they will move to Training (W1-T1) On Week 1 Training Day 1 they will fill out their form letter and mail it home.  Since the mail doesn't always move on that specific day it may not ship for a few more days. 

So to give you an example.  A Recruit who swore in at MEPS on 9/11 and arrived that night would have P1 on 9/12, P2 on 9/13 P-hold 9/14 &9/15 (Saturday and Sunday) P3- 9/16, P4- 9/17, and P5 Today, 9/18.  Assuming No P-hold then tomorrow they will move to their Ship and begin Training . They will fill out the form letter, address it home and mail it. It may not move on Friday however so If it is delivered to the post office on Monday it will arrive Wed- Friday (25th-27th) Of course those who live closer may get the letter sooner!  Since it is the US postal service and mail gets lost on occasion we encourage folks not to panic unless 21 business days have passed at which time you are welcome to reach out to the recruiter for an address.

I hope this helps you figure out approximately when and where your recruit may be at in their training.  Also There is no way to know if they had hold days until you get the letter.  I know it's hard and you are missing them but try and have patience and keep positive!! No news is Good News!!

[Mom1st]

I apologize NavyBlueNana for not responding sooner. I had to work today and I just now settled down for the day. Just now checking my emails since earlier today. Thank you, that information is very helpful. 

[Tammy⚓️Girl]

Yea, that was sort of a pet peeve of mine with boot camp.  Our son didn't get many letters.  He did get every letter that we wrote via SandBox.  Those letters get fed-ex.  Our son said the mail room at boot camp is messed up, and I said what do you mean and he said they are just overwhelmed by all the mail that comes in.  (yikes huh).