DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in May

I know that today you are missing your soon to be Sailors very much. And I wanted to show you all how much I care so I wrote a poem to you from your Sailor. If your Sailor could call maybe this is what he or she would say. I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful Mother's day.Love to you all, LaLa (Lora)

Hi Mom, please try not to worry 'cause
I'm doing really well,
Even though I miss you

And there’s stories I’d love to tell!

 

I’m laying here in my berth
On a ship that does not sail
Thinking of you on this special day
I hope you are doing swell!.

 

It’s been a little stressful here
The Commanders love to yell
But, it’s not as bad as you may have thought
It’s not a living hell!

 

Memories get me through the days
Oh, your cookies I can almost smell,
But the RDC’s would eat them up so,
Don’t send them in the mail!

 

It won’t be long until I see you
So please try not to dwell
I’ve really come a long way here
I’m emerging from my shell!

I’ll be dressed in white at PIR
To boot camp I’ll say farewell,
My time with you will be well spent
Don’t forget to bring my cell!

I miss you!

I love you!

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Love, from your soon to be Sailor

Motherhen- My day left for bootcamp last year on May 25th, It is amazing how much has changed in just 1 year. She was only in DEP for a month. If you or your  daughter have any questions at all please let me know. My daughter is already finished with A-school and C-school and she is an AO based in VA. She is always very happy to answer any questions as well. Good luck to your daughter, I know you have heard this before but if she is prepared physically for the PT it will make the experience so much easier.

I haven't hear of them changing it to just 3 people and can't really see why they would do that. The PIR hall is big enough to hold four guest per Sailor for I believe 16 or 17 divisions graduating. There were 13 divisions graduating last July with my daughter and we took extra guests with no problems at all.

Lala, That is an awesome poem, very touching, Thank You!

@Lala, that's the best, thank you so much!!

 

@sailorwifeschu - we drove around downtown today and up to Georgetown!  Georgeous up there today, I didnt' want to come back down the hill.  But off to Dillon tomorrow!!  woohoo!!  Got postcard of the lake in Georgetown for my dtr and one of a Big Horn sheep (they're so cool!).  Will slip them in the mail (in a plain envelope! haha) soon as I get her addy.  Hopin to hear about an address tomorrow - sounds like a lot of the SR's that shipped last week have them.  I'll be calling the recruiter tomorrow for sure!  :)

@BluAngel, I want to call his recruiter too, but it seems that a handful of people who go by that first address from the recruiter it can take a long time for those letters to get to their SR. I've already warned hubby that it will take a while for mail to start, but I WILL be writing him everyday. It takes time for them to train someone to be the mail expert. I want to send them, but I don't want them to get lost in boot camp letter limbo.

Patience, patience, patience...this will be my new mantra.

@ Sailorwife, mine is "hurry up and wait" :)  I am mailing a quick note to my daughter using the recruiter's address as a test and then will compare that address to the official address, if not the same then it is not a big deal.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week and hopefully we will all have "Official" address this week!

@sailorwifechu--- I hope by now you have gotten the call from your hubby!

Recruiter is coming over today for the last time since my son will be leaving next Monday! Because my son is older, I haven't really been with him talking to his recruiter, but today I may stay. The MEPS is pretty far away and I'm hoping he can give me at least an estimate about the time of the swearing in so I can see if we can make it. Did all of you attend swearing in? Were there huge differences in the time they said and the time it took place? It's becoming a reality now.. before it was just somewhere in the distant future!

 

xmasqina,

I believe I posted my experience last week, but will respond directly to your question now as well -- sorry if it's a repeat for some ...

The day before swear in, my son's recruiter told me that it would take place between 10 and 1.  He also told me he would fly out around noon, so I planned to be there before 10:00.

I have two younger children, so had planned to get them off to school and then head to MEPS.  Just after 8 am, my son called.  He said he was finished with what he had to do locally, was the only one swearing in and he would try to get them to wait until I could get there.  I did the best I could getting my kids situated in short order and drove the 40+ minutes (plus rush-hour traffic) and arrived just after 9 am.

It turned out, he wasn't the only one swearing in, but he was the only one shipping out.  He swore in with nearly a dozen others at EXACTLY 10:00.

This is my story.  I'm sure it will be good to hear from others as well.

@ Xmas; I attended my daughter's and the Recruitor told me btw 8-10, I arrived about 8:30 and she hadn't finished processing. I chose to stay and wait, which I am glad I did because we were able to spend a little more time together before she left. I wanted to take pictures of the ceremony but was not allowed to due to the privacy of the others, so we did a mock one for pictures. I am so glad that I insisted to my husband for me to go, it is well worth the drive.

xmasqina,

I too was not allow to take actual pictures because of the privacy of others, but did also take mock photos.  We too were able to spend some time together in a "family" lounge both before and after the ceremony.

Thanks Connie and MNSunshine.. I"m hoping that I will be able to see it.

@Xmas, recruiter told me to not be any later than 8:30 as it can start around 9 depending on how many they had to get ready that morning. I don't remember the exact timing of everything, but it was after nine before they called them back to the briefing room before the ceremony. It was all so short, I wish now I had taken a couple more pictures (I take way too many as it is, but only have maybe 10 from that morning). And now it is only four days later and I miss him like crazy!

Got addy from recruiter!!  Matched up the address for her ship (09) with the RTC Website, so I guess as long as that's correct, she'll get them...  Thx again everyone for the talks!

@Connie, that is a good idea. Sending a "test" mail. I might go ahead and contact the recruiter in the morning. I'll even write on it "testing." He's going to think I'm being silly, but that's okay, he loves me anyway.

 

I'm going to the hotel tonight and shipping out tomorrow. I just wanted to say thank you for all the support and answers. This website has been very helpful for me as I prepared to leave. Good luck to all your sailors and future sailors!

Just received "The Box". She sent her Bible and calling card back. In the Bible was a note I wrote to her, I even told her to take it out if she sent it home, she probably forgot that part lol. She was given a smaller New Testement while @ MEPS so I figured she would end up returning it. Sure am missing that crazy girl today.

@Denise, you beat me to it. Lol.

 

Missing my son too!!!! His dad called and said the box came today. Thought he could keep glasses OR contacts and both got shipped back. Kept wallet and Bible.

@ Lucy, she didn't send her glasses back so who knows. I know she won't be able to wear them once she receives her BC glasses. Hugs to you, I so can understand, but I refuse to cry, saving the tears for PIR lol

@ConnieC....hope my son has his bc glasses because he is as blind as a bat!

Lol, sure hope so Lucy.

How do I find out the date of graduation??  He left last week....

OK- we are ready to go to the recruiting office in AM-   Had a family dinner tonight and the house is just TOO quiet.  He practiced using the calling card, is all packed and is now quietly chatting with friends.  There is a sense of calm and peace in the house...a little scary!

Keep us in your thoughts!

Ho boy, what a day.  My daughter got a call this morning telling her they had an opening for her to leave May 31 instead of August.  We are 2/12 hours from the recruiter's office so I had to get off work early to drive her there so she could sign the new contract, but they changed her rate to HM which was what she really wanted.  I'm so excited for her, but anxious realizing how quickly this month is going to fly by now.

She is leaving May 31 from Dallas.

Got the box today. I will admit, I was a crying wreck on my porch. But there was no address on it. Now, gotta wait on the form letter.

@HM Charlottes, my hubby is going in HM as well. He just got to GL on Thursday. Glad your daughter was able to get the job she wanted.

@sailorwifeschu. Have had you on my mind. Hope you got your call. I never saw if you posted. Got my box today,too. COME ON letter!!!! lol

@Lucy and @Connie, they should've been able to keep their glasses even after they receive their BCG, they can use them for DIV and PIR. Contacts can be sent back to them about a week before PIR with enough solution for one week. I'm going to check the box again to see if his glasses are in there...

Oh but the BC are so much better looking, I kid!

hi marlowmom, my son left for bc yesterday too! Where are you from?

My son also left yesterday for boot camp.We are from Montana.Anyone else from here?

My son got to bootcamp yesterday (May 10) we are from New Jersey.He did call me last night for a moment to let me know he was there and O.K.

if your sailor wears glasses they gine them a pair. boys wear all the same and girls have other ones. my sone get his in his space and was able to wear them after graduation

 

Has anyone received the form letter yet? My poor mailman is tired of getting ambushed at my mailbox, lol

ConnieC,

My son shipped 5/4.  I received his box 5/10 and his form letter yesterday (5/11).  It truly was a form letter.  The only things he wrote were the salutation, his address, the names of his PIR guests and password.

I loved seeing the envelope addressed in his printing.  And ... he wrote "Love you mom!" on the back of the packet.

It made my day -- my week!

Gosh, Sunshine, you are making me teary eyed already, and my girl doesn't leave until the 31st.

Ya Sunshine, that is the same date as my daughter so maybe, just maybe I will get a letter today. Or...... She is in the next division and it will be another week. I am happy for you, now you can put a tentative X on your calendar!

Just returned from the Swearing In at MEPS for my son.  This was a great experience!  His recruiters were wonderful, facilitated our entry and could not have been nicer.  The officer who administered the oath was great.  We had some family time, along with the company of the recruiters.  As he left MEPS, personnel lined up and clapped for his send off!  I am so proud of him and grateful that we could be with him.

My son arrived in GL yesterday (May 11).  I wish all of you and your SR's the best of luck on this journey!

MNSunshine....my son flew into Great Lakes on 5/5. I got the box 2 days ago but no letter yet!!!

My son left yesterday for New Orleans MEPS and is, even as I speak, flying to Great Lakes.  Sniff Sniff

Willsmom --

I was in your shoes last week.  I'm feeling much better this week.  My son's box came on day 7 and his form letter with his address on day 8.  For some reason, just knowing my letters are on their way seems to help.

Lucy --

I hope you get your letter.  I can't wait to find out what ship and div your son gets.

My husband just left yesterday. I'd never cried this much in my entire life.  I wrote him two letters already. If only i have an address to send it to...

HI Joel's rackie!  My son left yesterday.  I keep thinking of how proud I am of him.Maybe they are together.  I think they are too busy to miss us!

Keep positive thoughts-  we will get those addresses soon.

Thank you for the words of encouragement navymommo.

No PIR date, but I did get the potential address from his recruiter. Ship 3 DIV 215. Going to send out a test letter today, that way he doesn't think I'm neglecting him.

 

My son arrived at boot camp Tuesday May 10th. Today I got the box even though I was prepared for it seeing his handwriting on the box and his clothes inside was so sad!!

Son left Tuesday and I already received "the box". Yep, that was a tough one. No notes, looked everywhere! Unfortunately found the stamps in his backpack. Hopefully they are available to him so he can write. Yikes!

Karensv - where do you live? I wonder if our boys are together? Mine left when yours did and I got my box today too!