DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in May

motherhen, my son shipped out May 24th, we got his box on Friday, but did not get the form letter yet.  I think I will call his recruiter tomorrow and see if he can get his Ship and Div. too.   It seems like the few who have heard about PIR that shipped around that date will have graduation July 22nd. 

We just got a letter from my son.  Anyone have a SR in Ship 02 Division 937?

Good Morning, Ladies.  I'm Betsy and my son graduated from BC in Dec. 2010. He is now a sailor and in Pensacola in A school.  I would love to help with any questions you might have.  There are a few of us "veteran" moms on here so you won't feel lost. 

I would say that the most important thing to stress with your depper is the need to run and work out A LOT.  No matter how much they (or you) think they are in shape, running more and working out, will really help them a lot.  If by chance, they happen to have work boots, have them practice running in those too.  A lot of kids have never worn boots like that and some have problems with blisters once they get to bootcamp.  If they condition their feet ahead of time, it could help.  

For you, who love them, encourage and tell them frequently how proud you are of them.  Some of them may tell you that you don't need to write to them everyday. Don't listen to them.  My son told me that and on one of his phone calls, he told me "Mom, you were right (words I cherish now, lol) I really miss you and you can write me as much as you want.  We look forward to every letter and can't wait until they call mail call."  They will look forward to and cherish every single letter and card that they receive.  If your depper takes a bible or small prayer book with them to BC, before they leave, try to put little notes of love or encouragement randomly in the pages for them to find while they are there.  Make sure that they have all loved one's addresses together in their wallet before they go.  Laminating the addresses is a good idea too, since who knows what will happen once they leave you. I would also laminate any pictures that they will take to preserve them

1 Chronicles 29:11-13(KJV)
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

Good evening everyone.. We always have to count our blessings: here's mine for this WONDERFUL day:

1. Daddy Roel my father-in-law was granted a tourist visa today!

2. Last night after working at the hospital(7pm-3am shift) I drove to Naval Air Station-Lemoore (for 4 hours), I arrived safely there and back. Was very nervous especially on the way there since it's a really dark and winding road (Pacheco Pass and I-5). I prayed and sing praises the whole way, glad to have K-LOVE radio.

3. I was able to get my military ID..finally..

4. I went to NFCU to "fix" the account and now I have access to it! I prayed so hard that I'd be able to talk to someone who would help me. Brenda (bank clerk) was really helpful and very patient to answer all my question and needs. She made everything so effortless!

5. Meeting all of you helpful ladies here in N4M who help me navigate to this new lifestyle. (Amanda, thanks for the form!)

6. My GPS broke down and I was glad that my co-worker Dolores printed out directions just in case.. I got there and back safe.

7. All the helpful people in the NAS. Who was patient to me who is so bad with directions. I met an officer who handed me a detailed map of the area and even highlighted the DSP, NFCU, starbucks, gas station and how to get to I-5.

8. The icing in the cake, seeing my husband in the picture! (Angel whose husband is in the same ship12/div 224 won the Tuesday trivia on the facebook page of RTC.

9. For all of you here, thank you so much for the support and prayers.

Remember, with Jesus Christ everything is possible! God's mercy and blessings to to all of us, and our families!

Thanks, All, for the insurance advice.  I appreciate the footwork of those who have gone before me.  Clearly, things have changed since I was inducted long, loooong ago.  :)

By the way, in response to an earlier post, my son leaves for RTC on May 2nd.  I have no clue why the long wait unless there is a backup/ waitlist for A school. (I know this was the case with me.  I enlisted in September and didn't go to b/c until January because they were waiting for an open seat at AIT.) 

Can't believe I was on this site a year ago - my sailor left on 5/12/11.  This time goes sooo fast and sooo slow.  Lots of emotions.  Let me know if I can answer any questions.

Yes, my son also left in May 2011 and is now in Groton, CT.  He is a submariner and will be there for A school also probably until June 2012. 

Let's get this group going! My husband leaves for boot camp on May 8th.... with only 139 days to go I feel like it is crunch time! Does any one else feel this way? The last few weeks have been the hardest for me in this whole process. I think it might be because this could possibly be our last holiday season together for a while. I am not a 'crier' so no tears have fallen yet, but I have come really close a few times. It's mostly when I am driving to or from work when I start thinking about where we will be this time next year. Because I have no idea where we will be. We have tried to fill the next 139 days (20 weekends to be exact) with fun activities. I have started a list of things that need to get taken care of before he goes: like finances, moving in with my parents, getting the POA's, etc. Usually I like checking things off my list, but the more I check off the closer his ship date is. My husband has also created a "Boot Camp Bucket List" of things he wants to do or places he wants to eat before he leaves. How is everyone else handling this prep time?

My son leaves on May 1st.  He will spend the last month at home.  He is now living in another city.  We will enjoy the last month with him before he starts his new life. I am excited for him.  I am sure that I will cry, its in my nature. What are some of the things I should be talking to my son about?  Should I get POA for him or do I need to?  Not sure about some of these things.  Thanks for any help I can get.

we did get a poa, and we talked about finances.  got a bank account set up (you can do this ahead if you use usaa)

Enjoy every minute!  There is a real info drought time when they go to boot camp.  SO talk about everything that is important to you and your family before he goes.  Be sure to tell him how much you love him and will think about him every day.  Most of all, tell him how much confidence you have in him, and his work ethic and value system! AND get him to clean his room before he leaves!

It is also fun to plan a "leaving for boot camp" party.  let me know if you are looking for ideas for this.  Ours was a blast!

navymommo> I would love to hear abt your party ideas, if you don't mind sharing!

There are lots of ideas about parties if you go back in the history on this site.  We had a navy themed party.  Got great invitations from Marci Davies at PatrioticPapers.com  She is fantastic and the invitations were beautiful.  We had a buffet with all his favorite local foods and loads of tables and chairs with blue tablecloths and white candles with gold stars on the tables.Depends on how formal you want to be-  we had red and white carnations in vases.  we got a navy flag which now hands in his room.  We had a letter writing station.  We took a photo frame and wrote instructions- please jot a note to ________ and we will mail it to him when we get his address.  Mail is SO IMPORTANT when they are in bootcamp.  We supplied notecards and envelopes.  We had enough responses to this that we had at least one note to mail everyday that he was in GL.  May people asked about gifts.  We encouraged NEX giftcards, phone cards, and visa cards ( for use after bootcamp)  He got a beautiful engraved bible and a navy miraculous medal (they are allowed to have them).  I got thank you notes  with a prewritten note and he added a personalized couple of sentences, helped him stay organized and got these out quickly. (he only had 5 days between the party and his ship date)

We had a sheet cake that had an anchor on it.  There are lots of Cake ideas on the site. We also had a tray of his favorite dessert (chocolate covered strawberries)   I found york peppermint pattie m&ms in blue and white and we put them around the house (they were GONE!)

A friend took photos all night and we printed these photos out and sent them to him over the time that he was at bootcamp.  Warn him that you want to do this and to SMILE because the guests also asked for these photos.

Lastly, after he left, we made a kodak photobook of his swearing-in at meps, and photos of his party.  Gave one to his grandparents, and had one on his desk when he stopped home after A school.  He loved it!

Let me know if you have any questions.

That sounds wonderful too! 

Don't forget to plan to have good music!

Great ideas!  I love the letter writing station.  Thank you so much for taking the time to share. 

Thank you so much for sharing your ideas.  The letter writing station is great.  I didn't think of invites, so thats so good too.  Another question for anyone, I was thinking of getting t-shirts Mom of Sailer, Dad of Sailer, etc.  Does anyone know where I can get these?  I just want to show my son, in any way possible, that I am very proud of him and his decision to join.  Thanks a bunch!!

Mrobnson>  There are so many companies to choose from...If you type 'Navy mom shirts' into Google you will have several sites and shirt options to choose from.

On another note, I don't post much because we seem to be just be waiting.  No questions at the moment, just quietly getting our ducks in a row for May, just day-to-day stuff, and waiting, waiting, waiting.  However, yesterday my husband and I went to the Indianapolis Home Show, and while we were there we purchased a new flag pole w/ flag. Since it came with a two-flag clip, we chose the U.S. Navy flag as our second flag.  The only one remaining was on display, whch they lowered, folded and gave to me.  When they handed me that flag an immediate lump formed in my throat and the tears just streamed down my face without warning.  [sigh]  Now, I know for certian I'm am going to be a complete messy this summer at PIR.

I don't know if Jessica mentioned it below but life for your recruit at boot camp will be so much easier if they are already in good physical shape before they go. You can look up the requirements for their gender and age. If they can pass the physical part before they leave for boot it will make it so much better for them and make it a lot easier to "fly under the radar". So stress the importance to them of working out and doing pushups, running, swimming etc :-) My daughter left in May 2010 I cannot believe it has been almost 2 years already. The time seems to just fly by once they are out of bootcamp.

Anyone else's husband or son leaving this May?  I'm wondering if we have everything taken care of. I know we need the POA finished, a calling card, address book.... Anything else? I feel like I'm missing something. The insurance form and ID card form will come in the mail. Umm.. Let me know if you can think of anything else.

 Avaya0805> My son leaves May 2nd.  One of the things he was told at a DEP meeting was to take a checking account deposit slip to RTC.  One more thing to add to the wallet.

I'm not always aware of what he's been told, since he 20 years old.  The recruiter-parent relationship is nonexistent when the depper is out of high school.  Though I do occasionally corner the recruiters at the high school and ask questions since I teach there.  :)

It seems like there are so many groups at N4M that it is impossible to find a one-stop-go-to place for information.  I am so glad that everyone shares what they know, though!  I don't know about you, but I am trying to learn as fast as I can and feel like I still know very little.  :) 

In case you didn't see the following blog post, I'm sharing it here with my fellow MAY parents to, perhaps, prevent a bit of worry within the first few weeks of RTC.

We frequently experience complaints from loved ones in regards to the mail delivery at RTC. We would like to offer some insight into the mail process so everyone has a better understanding and respect for the process instead of posting derogatory comments and shouting in all uppercase letters at us. Everyone must understand that all mail must first go through the U.S. Post Office and then through the post office on base. The base post office is not a 24/7 operation, mind you. It is staffed by just a few civilians who must deal with the incoming mail for the 5,000-6,000 recruits currently in training and they must do so during normal working business hours. They are not working evenings, nights and weekends.

They also must deal incorrect addresses, misspelled or incomplete names, illegible handwriting, and most of all, those who send letters to their recruits before their recruits are even in their permanent ships. If you obtain an address from a recruiter within a day or days after a recruit first arrives to RTC, that address may not be correct as many recruits change buildings/ships during the first couple of weeks. The recruiter will give you the address that is currently in the system, but then if the recruit changes ships, you will not know unless you call the recruiter again and have them look up the information again.

Depending on when a recruit’s division gets filled depends on how long they will spend time for in-processing before moving to their permanent ships. This might be one to two weeks. Each division also has to train a recruit mail petty officer on the procedures for retrieving and handing out mail to their division. This is why it is normal for recruits to not begin receiving until their third week of training.

Mail cannot be delivered to a division until that division is done with in-processing and in their permanent ships. Thus, those letters sit in the base office until the division is in their ships. Plus, if that original address obtained from a recruiter is wrong, those letters then can be delayed by up to three weeks as staff has to look up each individual recruit for the correct address.

Staff constantly deals with letters that contained incomplete names/addresses for the recruits. It’s especially difficult if the recruit has a common surname. For example, if they have to look up a recruit and the recruit’s name is addressed to only SR Jones with no first name, or SR Jones, Michael with no middle name, staff cannot properly identify which SR Jones, Michael is correct.

Regarding sending letters via overnight mail: This does not guarantee your recruit will receive that letter the very next day. It’s best to save your money and send all letters via regular postage.

While we understand everyone is anxious to get letters to their recruits, we ask for your patience and respect for our staff. Please be sure you have the entire address correctly printed on your letters and use the address provided by your recruit in the official RTC form letter, not an address from the recruiting office.

Hello Moms and Dads...My Sarah leaves May 15th for Great Lakes...Thanks for letting me join!...

My son ships the 16th.  I wonder why your children are leaving the 15.th.  Do they fly up to GL?

Big thanks to everyone.  My son is coming home this week to spend the last few week with us before he leaves.  It will be wonderful to have him home for a time but I wonder if everyday I will be looking at him and holding back the tears.  I appreciate all the advice I have read.  It will give me some direction to coach him before he leaves. 

Does anyone know if the PIR is on the same day of the week or does it rotate?  I know its a bit early to be thinking of this, but we are trying to make plans.  Airline & hotel for 4 people.  I just want to be prepared and do the research before we need to purchase.

Hi all...  Just wanted to let you all know about a great program for Recruits.  CallsforRecruits.org has FREE phone cards for recruits in bootcamp.  If you or someone you know is leaving soon for bootcamp, go to the website and get some phone cards for them to use while they are at BC.  They can use them at A school or anytime if they need them, although most people have cell phones these days LOL.  Just thought I would pass along the info.... 

New here! My husband leaves for boot camp on may 7th and will be a Hospital Corpsman. I see a lot of Corpsmans going out this month I guess that is why some are on the 1st and some the 7th. Good luck to all Corpsmans!

Wow! 40 days and my baby will be gone!  (Ships 5/14) Interesting that SHE doesn't want to know how many days she has left. I think she has stuck her head in the sand and is in denial. I am starting to worry, she isn't working out, running, studying, NOTHING....doesn't live at home anymore but I see her almost daily when she comes over for food (LOL). We have tried to warn her that she is going to have a tough time physically if she doesn't start doing something but she is a typical 21 yr old who has been filled with BS from her recruiter *sigh*....do they still hold the SR back a few weeks if they aren't meeting physical requirements or do they just discharge them???

Does everyone get E1 pay at boot camp? Also, what about  BHA and separation pay durring boot camp? I just want to be prepared financially eithier way :) I heard that at boot camp you won't get your first check until it's been 4-6 weeks. Then part of that check is taken away because of uniforms and supplies. Can anyone clarify this info? Thanks for help.

I found this on a different Group's page and thought it might be helpful to some of us:

I agree that reunions can be very stressful times.  In fact, there's something called the emotional spiral of deployment (and it can be applied to boot camp / A school as well).  We all go through them differently (and sometimes we can sort of skip over some of them), and they can also overlap.  It sounds like  you all have the triple whammy going on of being in one cycle for homecoming from school, and another cycle (with some overlap) because of the upcoming deployment. 

The stages are: 

1) Anticipation of Loss

2) Separation and Withdrawal

3) Emotional Disorganization

4) Recovery and Stabilization

5) Anticipation of Homecoming

6) Renegotiation of the marriage contract (personally, I think this could also be called renegotiation of the family contract, since if you have kids, the parent child relationship also has adjustments)

7) Re-integration and Stabilization

Homecoming can be stressful as well as exciting, because you've been apart a long time, you're nervous about the changes in each other, having to re-adjust, all that stuff, and that can be stressful.  Also, because you know another separation (the deployment) is coming up, it sounds like you all are also experiencing some Anticipation of Loss (basically you know he's going to be leaving, and you know it's going to suck, you aren't happy about it, and it stresses  you).  Add to that, when you go through the Separation and Withdrawal phase, it's like, ok, I know this is going to suck, and I don't like it, so I'm going to get mad, or I'm going to withdraw, or we're going to be irritated with each other and fight more. 

Looks like we all go thru these phases at some point. Hope it was helpful :)

Hi all...  Just wanted to let you all know about a great program for Recruits.  CallsforRecruits.org has FREE phone cards for recruits in bootcamp.  If you or someone you know is leaving soon for bootcamp, go to the website and get some phone cards for them to use while they are at BootCamp.  Just thought I would pass along the info.... 

I see a lot of people commenting about leaving the 15th or 16th, my daughter is due to leav the 14th for MEPS and says she has to be in GL on the 15th. How appropriate, the week after Mothers Day! No easy is it. I am wondering though about the comment on pay. She told me should would not get paid right away and that they take the cost of uniforms out! Really, is this why I always support more money for the military??? Anyway, we will have to pay her bills while she is gone and the hubby is on unemployment! Does anyone know if this is fact? I really would like to know. Thanks...and hope to see lots of folks here at graduation!

My daughter leaves to BC on 5/14/12 - 32 day :(

Is there anyone in the Northern Cal (Sac) area that have a loved one leaving May 7th or 8th to BC in Great Lakes?

Just thought I would let everyone know about CallsforRecruits.org...get FREE phone cards for Recruits in boot camp!!!

Hi to all the other May DEPers' Moms! I am brand new to the group and my son Christopher is leaving May 3 for BC. This website has been a great source of information for me in the short time I have been a member. Anyone else from Florida leaving on that day?

My son is leaving May 14th.  I know he can take a phone with him on his way up and then it will be mailed back to me.  Should I let him take his iphone or get him a disposable  phone.  I would hate for something to happen to an expensive phone.  Any one have any experience or advice?  Thank so much

Since no one has addressed your questions about pay, I'll do my best.  All recruits are given E1 pay during BC regardless of the rate they will have when they graduate.  Yes, uniforms are deducted from the pay, but they are given a uniform allowance in their checks so eventually, it is the government paying for the uniforms, but it just takes time to get that money back.  I think they get paid on the 1st and the 15th, but it can take some time for paperwork so if they go in on the 6th, their first check might not show up until the 1st of the next month.  Make sure they either start an account at Navy Federal or they take their banking info in their billfold so they can have their checks deposited in their regular accts. if they have payments coming out of that for loans.  While in BC, they are off the grid with their finances so try to get POA and put onto their accounts so you can help them out. My son left last year in May. 

WOW! I just emailed the CallsforRecruits website and I instantly received 6 phone cards and best of luck wishes from the Administrator! What an awesome tip Ronny and Anna! Thank you!

Hey Jo Ann - My husband leaves for boot on May 1st. He has also been waiting since November. Time has flown! I can't believe it. This been emotional, trying to prepare. There are lots of positives to joining the Navy. It's just going to be hard to be away from him.  Luckily I have our little one to keep me busy and a full time job. Hey maybe your daughter and my husband will wind up in the same group? Keep me updated!  Best of luck to you and your daughter.

My son leaves May 29 for boot camp.  Any other moms son/daughter leaving that day? 

My son leaves May 15.  Anyone have someone leaving that day?