Question

[Debbie46]

Can anyone tell me when this form letter comes and the box of my son's belongings? He left BC on June 25th. I keep asking the mail person every day, I think she thinks I am nuts. Thank you for your help.

 

Debbie

[diannep]

Debbie: Both come pretty close together. Some get th boxes in just about 3 days...mine took about a week (I live in S. Florida). The form letter came shortly after that. Some got the letter, then the box...but normally the box comes first. If he left on the 25th, then you should be getting the box possibly this week. If not, for sure next week.

[Debbie46]

Diannep,
Thank you for your response. I just received the box with his personal belongings. I cried and cried when I open it. His shirt still had his cologne on it. But it was so hard to go through it. I have written a letter to my son every day, I am just waiting to get that letter with his address. Thank you again.

Debbie

[Debbie46]

I just received the box today. It was hard to open that box. I sat and cried as I went through the box with his things. Now I can't wait for the letter. I have written letters to my son every day. So from what you told me they will hold their letters for a couple weeks. I guess they really do not want them to have contact with family. I have another question for you - There is a lady at my church who has known my son since he has been a baby, she is like a Grandmother to him - she is hospitalized in ICU and it does not look good. I thought it best not to tell him about that. Looking for some advise - I don't want to upset him.

[diannep]

I wouldn't tell him yet, Debbie. So sorry for about her illness. But he needs to focus and I think she wouldn't want anything to distract him. Better to tell him after PIR, I would think. But you have to make that decision because you know what's best for your son. As far as bc goes, they would rather them not be distracted if at all possible.

[mrssauce60]

Debbie: My son left to boot camp on June 24th. I got his box two days ago (the 29th). I was actually surprised to get it that soon! Have not received the form letter yet though. I called his recruiter today and he didn't have his address yet either, but would call me when it came in. Hopefully the letter will show up in the next couple of days.

[Lion55's mom]

Debbie, there was a recruit in my son's ship/div who became a father while in boot camp. They were not married so he did not get the information until PIR. I thought that was kind of extreme but in hindsight, it is probably best. Like diannep said, they need to focus. Also, they would not let him leave anyway because of the "immediate family" thing. He can't do anything about it but worry at this point and then you have two people to worry about! Communication will be so completely different when he graduates bc and gets to A school. I know it seems like an eternity right now, but it will be over before you know it. Just stay on this site alot and it will help you feel connected. Once you get his ship and division and get a discussion there, you will be surprised at how much info you can glean from other moms that have had a phone call for one reason or another. And they do have to call sometimes for processing information, etc so if one mom hears something, we all do! Pray for and write to your son and remember two things:

1. God has no grandchildren!
2. No news is good news!

[Jophers(Jo- Cameron's mom)]

My son left on June 27th got to boot camp on the 28th and the box arrived July 1st.His box came by fed Ex though not the Mail. I have not recieved the form letter yet but i am worried because I didn't send him with any stamps to mail letters so hopefully he will be able to get some up there. I too jooined the league of clothe sniffers. My sons clothing was exactly how he took em off, made me giggle, underwear still stuck in the shorts. It was how I always found the clothes dumped in the bathroom. I had my cry too. A silly thing they said take 2 personal bars of soap with you and yet both got sent back so all his clothes smelt of Irish spring.LOL. Fresh smelling dirty laundry. I hope soon to get the form letter too, so I can make my plans.

[diannep]

Jopher: Got a kick out of you describling your son's "Irish Spring" box! I have read posts from some whose boxes smelled FAR from Irish Spring...kind of RANK! :-) My son's was sort of "in the middle" of those two!

Don't worry about the stamps. I sent my son a couple of stamped self-addressed envelopes in my first letter. He threw them away...oh boy. Said that they "passed out" Navy stationery and stamps in his division. I have heard from others that they can buy the stamps too. But I figured that they were passed out, initially, by the RDC's. Maybe for those who write lots of letters, they will have to buy more stamps, but he can do that up there, so don't worry.

And, yes, the boxes all come by FedEx. My son wore shorts...like yours...but here's the difference. It was the DEAD of winter when he went....but being a S. Floridian, he would not HEAR of wearing long pants. I'm wondering what the RDC's said when they saw THAT?? I should ask him. Not to mention that he must have been freezing when walking outside to and from the bus to boot camp. Well, whatever! I saw in posts that moms were baffled when their recruits' boxes arrived and the pants legs were "rolled up." Well, that was for the computer measurement for their shoes/boots, something you and I didn't experience because ours wore shorts.
Your form letter should arrive this week, I would thinik. It usually comes aroundt he time of the box. Then you can join (or start!) your PIR group and connect with other moms with recruits in his ship! Good luck!