A Sailor's Needs for A School

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

I "borrowed" this from another mom on the Nuke Mom's site - thought it would be helpful to have on here too!  

She says:

My son finally had a meltdown last week about how much stuff he needed to get but either didn't have time for or he simply forgot. He requested that I post some of the things that all NUKE's need in A school. He said that a great idea would be to send them the day before graduation to the indoc address as it never changes. The address is:

                                         FN, first name, last name

                                         class: INDOC

                                         101 NNPTC Circle

                                          Goose Creek, SC 29445

   This way all new sailors will have everything they need when they get there.

 

This is his list:

 

•       -bowls/silverware
•       -can opener
•       -laundry det./dryer sheets 
•       -ironing board/iron
•       -personal hyg. (body wash, cologne, deoderant, etc)
•       -twin sheets (they are provided but my son tells me they "suck")
•       -sneakers
•       -black socks
•       -white/blue t-shirts (to replace the ones from boot camp, again he says it's a quality issue)
•       -something to do (books, video games, cards, etc.)

 

He also said that he has picked up extra's of Navy issued things and highly reccomends getting extra of the following as soon as you get to GC:

 

•    -NSU cover (1 or 2)
•    -dress whites cover
•    -ribbons
•    -pt gear (at least one more set, two would be better)

 

I hope this helps! Also veteran moms please add anything that you think would help!

[jeremy0203]

no need for that stuff to be sent. They have the ability and the money to go buy things. They can very easily walk down to the exchange or take the bus(if they run that still) to Walmart and pick up anything and everything they need =D.

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Hi jeremy - you do bring up a good point - maybe the discussion should read "items they may need, but don't actually need to be sent". 

We didn't send stuff to our son - he did like you said - went and bought what he needed when he got there.  I know that Best Buy gets a lot of business from the new sailors!

About the only thing we consistently send him is Subway Gift cards (which he has his own money to buy (but it makes me feel good to send one in a card occasionally!) and some special jerkey that I get from Costco for him.  He could probably buy jerkey somewhere there too, but again it makes me feel good to put together a little care package once a month with items from home! 

[Adam'sProudMom]

I guess this would depend on the personality of the sailor, but our son would not have appreciated it if we had sent all of this stuff to him. He likes to "travel light" with very few possessions, and is pretty independent, preferring to buy what he needs for himself. He did call and request some specific civilian clothing items from home, but he never wanted me to send anything extra.

Of course, he was one of the older ones (23 when he got there), and had already lived in dorms for four years, so was used to fending for himself.

Maybe it would help to show the above list to your sailor (either before they leave for boot camp or right after PIR, if they're already there), and see how they feel about it. There are items on there that my son never bought, and never needed. Plus, as mentioned, some kids would rather pick out their own stuff--all part of the growing-up process!