DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in February

5 more fridays !!  whoohoooooo

@ Diana S-My SR left 2/11 also. I've not rec'd the letter either. Most who left for RTC on 2/11 should PIR on 4/11. Wait for the letter to confirm. You could also contact your SRs recruiter for the mailing address & PIR date.

My boyfriend left for Great Lakes 2/13 and called at 2am on 2/14 safe and sound..So far His Mom and I are waiting for the letter! Im so curious, i need some news...

Got my letter today!!! Ship 03 DIV 137 PIR 4/11/14 WOO HOO!!! :-D

YAY!! While our SRs are studying, I feel like we are all doing our homework too! We are so blessed to have found one another here, to connect, learn all we can and support each other. THANKS!!

My daughter left on the 19th and I got the box today!!!

i hope the form letter comes soon!

Let's stay strong Navy moms! and dads and families!

Bonnie-Codysmom

Im glad to hear Im NOT the only one sitting on stinky clothes LOL  My son left on the 4th and I still cannot bring myself to wash them or even move the boxes from the kitchen LOL

Kitchen Kimmi, the names on the form letter are just for you and it is perfectly fine that he wrote them as he did. (See the info on that in the info in the "Answers to Common Questions" section on Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones).) If you are concerned that he doesn't know the correct spelling of someone's name, you can write him and let him know how the names should be listed when he submits the names for the access list 3 to 10 days before PIR. You don't need a form of any kind to do that.

NavyGF88, Mail Call is every weekday (M-F) evening before Taps. Your SR (he's not a Sailor yet) will probably receive your letter Monday. He will be able to write for the first time on Sunday. See Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

Leach73, the form letter arrives an average of 10 days after the recruit arrived at the RTC. See Arrival and What Happens at the RTC and Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

DSS Navy wife & mom, yes, BC is a time of learning for loved ones as well as their recruits. You will begin to learn a whole new vocabulary (What does ??? mean? (A Guide to Navy Abbreviations and Terminology) can help with that.); you will begin practicing OPSEC and PERSEC (OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile) will help with that.); you will try to learn patience and will try to remember that "No news is good news!" (Staying informed about what is happening will help with that. See Arrival and What Happens at the RTC .); and you will begin to rely on others for information, support and encouragement.

Gisele a right there with you and we will be strong for them on Tuesday.   It's harder for me right now seeing him get frustrated with all the last minute clean up of his personal responsibility that need to get done and realized he is feeling stressed knowing so much is going to change even though this is what he wants. 

My SR just called!!! Sounded great, determined and happy! Said there's three feet of snow & it's cold @ RTC but they get bundled up better than somebody's great grandmother. 

My SRs contact w/me timeline so far: 2/11 swearing in/go to RTC, 2/12 1:40A "I'm here" phone call. 2/17 The box arrived. 2/21 The form letter arrived. 2/22 First casual phone call. 

Denise Maryland, I know exactly what you mean.  To me, the last week was the most stressful, knowing it was approaching so quickly, and my son was trying to fit everything with everybody in, which kudos to him, he actually was able to do!  But I found it stressful because I was feeling emotional, but I was in manager mode, too, trying to make sure we had everything down.  In the end, it all went off without a hitch, including driving to MEPS for his swearing in in an early morning snowstorm!

The default Privacy Setting on N4M is "Anyone." That means that ANYONE with access to the web has access to everything on your My Page. To change that, make change number 3 at the bottom of OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile), While you are there, read the Page and see if there are other changes you need to make.

Also, get in the habit of checking your My Page. You may have comments from other Members and not know it if you have notifications turned off.

If your future Sailor has yet to ship, be sure to check out the discussion, Things to Do in the Last Month before Your Future Sailor Leaves for the RTC.

If you have not yet joined Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones), now is a good time to do so and to begin checking out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) starting with OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile) (some of you have changes that you need to make--at least change 3) and Arrival and What Happens at the RTC.

@Lita - My SR will PIR 4/11/14

OK Ladies, he left 2/12.. got the box 2/17..letter today...2/22. Ship 09 div 140 PIR 4/11 (my birthday!) What a present!

Hi Lita- If it helps they will only let 4 come to PIR. The others could see him after, of course. I have been told that there are no exceptions. So, maybe that will help you decide. The ones who stay home can watch a live stream of it. Maybe that way your father could feel like he did both? Good luck!

NavyGF88, Mail Call is every weekday evening (M-F) before Taps. See Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

Lita, if the 4 who are planning to attend PIR are not the same as the ones your SR listed, be sure to write him and let him know so that he will list the people who will be attending on the Access List when the time comes 3 to 10 days before PIR. Only those on the Access List will be permitted to enter the Drill Hall for PIR.

Lita, your SR has the typical 9 Fridays at the RTC.

It's official, my son is no longer a DEPper. I just got a text from him; he has completed his final swearing in and is heading to the airport to await his flight to Chicago. I now have a Sailor AND an SR!  I will be waiting impatiently for his "I'm here" call tonight! He said two other Navy recruits were heading out with him also. Anybody else here have a recruit leaving today from Charlotte, NC?

My daughter was sworn in yesterday and off she flew to Chicago from Seattle.  Got the official "I made it to boot camp" call late last night.  I had thought I was being pretty level headed about seeing the kids go (she's the first of 5).  We've taught them well and know they'll do great once they leave the nest... but boy was it hard to say goodbye.  Even today, I find my self tearing up.  I thought I'd handle it better!  LOL.  I know we were all well prepared (thank you for the invaluable information you provide here!) and she was physically and mentally ready for this challenge.  I guess I was so worried about her that I didn't prepare myself enough for the separation.  I think what makes it worse is once we see her at PIR, she has 27 weeks of A School, also there in Chicago and we just don't know when we'll get the opportunity to see her after that.  At least by then, she'll be accessible via phone/Skype!  I have all of you in my thoughts who have done this and those who are about to.  I know it will get easier! 

I got my baby in a box this afternoon. I miss her so much!

We got our sons box today! Now to wait patiently(haha) for the letter so we can make plans for PIR!!!!!