Comment

Comment by NuclearOPSMom on March 18, 2016 at 9:30am

How do you know when it the candid phase is? I would hate to miss sending my son a box but also do not want to send to early and get him in trouble Loved the idea to send an extra box Our family will surely do this

Comment by Quilter on March 18, 2016 at 9:20am

 I forgot to tell you the size of the box!!    Most people use a US Postal Service "large" size flat-rate box for the Candio boxes. It makes into a box about 12 inches square by 6 inches deep. This is what I used. Have fun with it!! Decorate it and fill it with LOVE, and sweets!!  I sent two! One box for my son and one for him to give away to someone who's Loved one didn't know anything about it!! I sent a note inside the giveaway box so my LO knew which one was for  him! 

Comment by Quilter on March 18, 2016 at 9:07am

PaulaH,

Go to this Pinterest Page for great idea's!! The Candio Box is something that our Candio's look forward to!! You can also google Candio Boxes and get more ideas!!

www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=candio+box+ide...

Our LO was there last year at this time, a journey I will never forget!!! 

Comment by PaulaH on March 18, 2016 at 7:54am

When candio phase arrvies, and we can send a box, is there a size limit on the box?  Can put a book or magazine in the box?

Comment by PaulaH on March 18, 2016 at 7:13am

Thank you for all of this helpful info.  I also just saw the pictures!  She was in two of them! I'm going to use write2them.org today!

Comment by topdog1p on March 17, 2016 at 8:36pm

PaulaH if you are on facebook go to officer training command newport they have posted pictures of 11-16 class! you may get a glimpse of your LO.  

Comment by CindyN on March 17, 2016 at 12:18pm

Letters are very important, especially at the beginning. I didn't get many back (maybe 2) but he said say "write and send pictures/news".  So I wrote every day or two using  the service write2them.org to send letters and photos. The service takes my email, prints it out and sends it in the appropriate white envelope. I think they mail it from closer to the base so it takes a couple of days off the mail time from where I am. It cost about $1.20 per letter (for a bit more than 2x a stamp) but for me, it is so convenient that I am writing more often. They will print out 4 sheets, double sided (so 8 pages of info). I generally wrote a bit and then cut and paste a few pictures along a bunch of news stories I think my son and his friends may find interesting or enjoy. The OCs have some down time on weekends (at least Sunday) to visit with other classes, sharing info and stories.

Comment by Marmie on March 17, 2016 at 11:54am

I may have mentioned this before but when my LO was in OCS I sent a "letter" about every other day.  It was usually a bit about what was going at home, since his was during football season, I would clip articles from on line newsletters and add them to my word document to let him know how his teams were doing, I would find random navy trivia stuff to send, added a crossword or suduko puzzle and whatever else seemed entertaining.  My letters usually ended up being 7-8 pages of printed stuff.  He told me later he enjoyed them, especially the puzzles. Even if he didn't finish them, it was a few minutes respite from everything else that was going on.  All sent on plain white paper in a plain white envelope.  They really don't have time or energy to communicate with the outside world those first weeks.  

Comment by M's mom on March 17, 2016 at 11:42am

PaulaH:  The only time they have to write snail mail letters to home is when they could be sleeping so don't expect too many, but keep those letters going TO your candidate, as they love getting mail.  It's their only connection to the outside world for several weeks. Just DON'T send anything except letters---no goodies, gifts, etc, until they become Candios at week 10.  Anything else sent before then will be confiscated as contraband, and the candidate will be punished with hundreds of pushups, even if they didn't ask for it to be sent!  Make sure everyone who is writing to your daughter knows this.

Don't be anxious if you don't get any letters from your daughter.  I think I only got two total from my son, until he got email at week four.  These kids today do not DO snail mail.

Please remember that NO news is GOOD news the first few weeks of OCS.  If they fail any test or inspection and get rolled back, they will be allowed to call home and tell you, so if you haven't heard anything, that's good!    

After they pass the big Room, Locker, and Personnel (RLP) inspection at week four, they are usually allowed email privileges, and then you will hear more from her, although no texts until they are allowed their own cellphones back at week ten.   If you think your daughter may not know your email address from memory, send her a letter now with all the email addresses you think she may want.  They will be emailing from a closed government server, and will NOT have access to their usual email program, Outlook,etc, to look up email addresses, but must type the full address in from memory.  You may get an email soon with the subject line something like test@navy.gov   She will be assigned a military email address and you must use that to email her.  

Hang in there!  It gets better for them, and the anxious loved ones at home as they get further through the training. 

Comment by PaulaH on March 17, 2016 at 12:44am

Wow.  That is great news.  I didn't know about email.  I'll make sure to check my account daily.  This made my night.  Thanks!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 75
• 76
• 77
• 78
• 79
• …
• 241
• Next ›
• Page