Comment

Comment by diannep on November 29, 2010 at 10:52am

You may want to give cash and gift cards to your recruits this year for Christmas. I deposited a check into my son's bank account for Christmas when he was in bc during Christmas last year. Or if they are with Navy Fed and there isn't one near you, you can mail them the check once in A School. They will have very limited space while in the Navy,...unless they are able to live off base which is not always easy to do in the beginning...you also may want to join their A School group here and ask the people on there about restaurants and stores in the area...so you can get gift cards for them to use when there.

Comment by Kathy Ship 11 Div 057 on November 29, 2010 at 10:43am

OK now that i have the address...wasn't there a link I can go to to check other information, like graduation date? The recruiter just said Nathan could be bumped to January 28 instead of the 21st :-(

Comment by diannep on November 29, 2010 at 8:25am

Lynne: These commandments are great!

Comment by chew92 on November 29, 2010 at 8:14am

Good advice, Lynne. Thanks

Comment by Lynne on November 29, 2010 at 5:42am

Wow, gone for a day or two and what do you all do...you just grow, grow, grow...okay seems like a good time for me to post my commandments since you all are in a fury of writing. Now before you read these let me say I have written these to be the MOST cautious they can be. In regard to the things about letters not all of them will affect your recruits but until you know it is safer to follow them. Some RDCs don't allow pictures, you have to make them a part of the letter. Some RDCs don't like colored envelopes. So because we don't know who your recruit will get as an RDC I have tried to give you the most cautious rules to help you help your recruit get through boot camp unscathed...lol!!

Remmber though Lynne's commandments:

1) Thou shalt not send any musical, glittery, over-sixed or any kind of cards that draw attention to the recruit. That which draws attention may result in PT or IT. Your recruit may refer to this as a beating. A beating is not actually a physical beating it simply means being given the task of performing long term exercise or chores as a punishment or as the RDCs say a "learning tool".

2) Thou shalt not send care packages of any kind or type. The RDCs may enjoy them, however the recruits will not enjoy doing PT while the RDCs enjoy the contents in front of them...lol.

3) Thou shalt not send any depressing or sad information to the recruit during boot camp. If you are sad...Tell us. If you are lonely, tell us. If you are worried, tell us. Please keep your cards and letters, uplifting and encouraging. It may be tempting to talk about a bad day at work, problems at home, or how much you miss your recruit and how lonely you are....don't do it. Come here to navy for moms instead. Let your recruit how you are strong and surviving and that they have nothing to be concerned about except doing what they need to do.

4) Thou shalt never take the RDCs name in vain...because you never know who is lurking and reading the site. This is a public site and yes, the RDCs do get on here and read and if your recruit vents to you, and you call the RDC ugly names here...the recruits may pay the price. We love our RDCs and we know they are only doing the BEST for our recruits...lol!! Just last week in our of PIR groups one of the recruits wrote home and said the RDC informed her that they had enjoyed her prom pictures, graduation pictures etc. on Navy For Moms. Need I say more??

5) Thou shalt not use your recruits picture, or name in your screen name or picture. There are many reasons for this including that the RDCs may read this site and the recruits want to fly under the radar and would in all liklihood prefer the RDCs dont know their names. In addition, your recruit probably doesn't want to hear...."your momma was worried about you"...lol...doesn't really go with the strong tough military image. It is also good practice for later on when your recruits are sailors and they may have jobs that require secuirty and confidentiality. See #4!!

6) Always remember you can ask any question you want here and you will find moms who probably are wondering the same thing and/or feel much the same way. Jessica, Dianne, and I will be around to answer those questions as will other moms in your group. These moms will become your greatest support system.

Comment by diannep on November 28, 2010 at 9:27pm

I haven't read back through all of the pages, but have you all been told that they hold mail from them for the first 2 weeks? It is quite possible that you will get a letter from your recruit asking where your letters are? Just want to warn you all...they will eventually get them...maybe 8 at one time (which they love!). Letters are like candy to them....so keep them coming! And ask anyone who was involved in your recruit's life to write....former coaches, teachers, neighbors, etc. Maybe even give them self addressed stamped envelopes to encourage them to write! Several teachers, etc wrote to my son and he loved it. They are starved for communication from home....and support! I don't think anyone has ever complained about receiving too many letters!

Laura: You all are in the toughest part of bc....both for them and for the ones on here. Lack of communication, the beginning of bc where there is lots of screaming and adjustment....emotional ups and downs.....lots of tears and confusion....but just stay close to this site....everyone helps each other....and you will see the "turnaround" mid-bc when they are finally able to focus on graduation! I had googled "Navy Boot Camp" and found some sites that tell you what they are doing....week to week....Jessica may have posted some of that in the discussions????....she has a wealth of info!

Yes, Kathy....day by day! You all will be veterans before you know it! Thanks for starting this group!

Comment by Laura (ship 2 div 909) on November 28, 2010 at 9:19pm

Thanks Dianne! it has only been two weeks since my son left but it feels like a lifetime! can not wait for that first communication with him wether it be letter or call. I feel so in the dark about what he is doing and going through (through his eyes) but have found solace here!

Comment by diannep on November 28, 2010 at 9:16pm

joansj: When you get the form letter with the PIR address written in your recruit's handwriting :-) , be sure to check it with the recruiter's address....sometimes the recruiter's address is a bit different....the letters sent to the recruiter's will get there, but may take a bit longer (if the address is not exact). The PIR address in the form letter is the correct one.

Comment by diannep on November 28, 2010 at 9:14pm

Hi, Ladies. Congrats on getting on the newest PIR group! I am a veteran mom like Jessica (our sailors graduated one week apart) and Lala and Lynne, amongst other veteran moms. Would love to help on here. We try to get to all of the questions....so ask whatever you need to know!

Comment by Kathy Ship 11 Div 057 on November 28, 2010 at 9:05pm

Thank you JessicaB-sailo rmom

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