Question: Do I need to send my daughter a phone card in order for her to be able to call me if all we have are cell phones? and if so, where do you get them. The only ones I could find are ones if you are calling from a cell phone. (adding minutes to your phone)
Also I had to mail my daughter her debit card and I sent it with a tracking number. The envelope is a little bigger than normal (one of those brown/mustard colored envelopes) I believe an 8x4. Will she get in trouble for this type of envelope? Someone will have to sign for it. I just was not comfortable sending it by regular mail
My husband called my cell phone on Sunday... I never sent him a phone card. So I don't know if he bought one at the NEX? Or if you don't need to really worry about it...?
They can buy them at the NEX, but some like to send them the phone cards (no telling when they can get to the NEX) so that they have them when needed....saves them money too. Be sure to activate before mailing (saves them time on the phone) and also get one with at least 500 minutes on it. They lose alot of those minutes during the "connection" on the pay phones.
I think you are fine sending the debit card as you did. She may have to open it in front of the RDCs but that's ok.
Thanks Sharon....just let me know what I need to do if anything
I learn something new every day on this site. I did not realize that there were no all female divisions. I figured my son was in a co-ed division (now I see that's not the right term, it's integrated) as when I started the discussion for Ship 09 Div 279 2 people replied, one that has a son and one that has a daughter. I just assumed there were all male, all female, and integrated divisions.
I thought that they were either just all male or all female at first too... oh well, teamwork is teamwork & serving your country is serving your country... whether it's with women or men :)
That is the FB page for the training center. They post the question at 10a central every Tuesday. Also - yesterday and the day before they posted a lot of pictures of recruits, you might want to go look through the pics to see if you can find your SR!
Tay's Mom, I had the same problem. It was hard to find a calling card to use from a payphone. Check with Walmart, drug stores and grocery stores. If you can't find them ask someone in customer service. Read the fineprint on the back to make sure you are getting the right kind. AT&T makes them as well as some other companies.
I hope you guys are writing lots and lots of letters. Write every day if you can. I know sometimes it is hard to think of things to write about. I told my Sailor everything that was going on in the neighborhood and kept her up to date on her friends through her facebook page. I even had her friends all post comments to her on her facebook page or in a message to me and then I copied and pasted it to word and mailed it all to her. I did that 3 or 4 times while she was at bootcamp. I also sent her a letter from the cat which was hilarious (we had put him on a diet because he was and still is HUGE and he told her we were rationing his food and he didn't have the endless supply since she left and he knew she liked shoes but what kind of company makes you go to camp just to get a pair of boots? She has lots of boots and how could she just leave him here lol) She loved it. She said she was laughing so much she had to let her bunk mate and a couple other girls read the letter as well.
Also, ask your recruit if they have any friends who are not getting letters from home. There are several of us on here who are willing to write letters to recruits. Getting mail is like Christmas and is the highlight of every day for them. So keep those pens and pencils flowing.
Calling Cards: you can find an American one at a store here in the Houston area, The .99¢ Store
You pay .99¢ and then u can call to load more minutes anytime. :)
When my son was at bc, he was on the phone with me and told me that his card was "low" ---he didn't have much time left...a few minutes later....he was cutoff. Thankfully, he was right there by the NEX and able to call back with a card he ran and purchased there. I believe I had given him one with only 250 minutes on it...I would get the 500+ minute phone cards.
Hi Sandi I got a letter on Saturday however no letter today. Have you gotten a personal phone call? I haven't as of yet. He is having a blast he said so everything is going well.
Husband is an ex-sailor he said phone calls if they earned them are on Sunday's. Kyle was finished processing on the fifteenth or sixteenth and siad he would be starting bootcamp on 7/18/2011. Two weeks in recieving. I miss him and his sense of humor very dry but funny never the less.
this is probably a dumb questions but there is so many that have gotten calls or letters i want to ask it.... did everyones sailor arrive around june 29th?
because i have had no contact, no letters, NOTHING!! - i miss her chatter, and all day texting that i use to say was so annoying!
we got her box :( on july 6th and the official letter july 9th...
MIne arrived June 29th and I also go the phone call, kid in a box and the form letter and nothing since.....I was ok for awhile now I'm not. Still haven't adjusted to not hearing his voice and seeing him or him bugging me about something.
My son also arrived on June 29th & I got the phone call saying he was there and he would probably get to call in a couple of weeks. We received the kid in a box on July 6th & form letter on July 8th but NOTHING else. I will say that one of the random photos on the Facebook page showed my son so it put my mind at ease a little bit - I would love to hear anything from him!!!
I just realized something... I took a closer look at the last set of letters I got and the postage date was July 14th... not the 10th which was Sunday or the 11th which was Monday... but THURSDAY!? I guess you never know when they will really be sending out their mail... when I talked to my husband he said that the mail went out on Sunday... I guess he didn't know :(
I will weigh in with the others that haven't heard anything except the "I'm here" call, kid in a box, and form letter. Got those but nothing since. So Tay'sMom, all that cool talk this morning to you about being okay, letters will come eventually, blah blah blah...well my mail carrier just about jumped out of her skin because I burst through the screen door and started down the walk at a pretty good clip as soon as I saw her at my mailbox! SERIOUSLY. A letter has GOT to come tomorrow!! ;-)
Mine arrived June 30th. Since our relationship is a long distance one & a very new one...I'm not aquainted with his parents/brother...(he's met mine!) so, I can't call and ask! He sent me postcard the two days he was in San Diego and one from the airport in Chicago...so, I know that he got there and was preparing to get on the bus to RTC. So...going from talking/texting everyday to nothing is challenging! I'm thankful everyone shares on here! I have 11...yes, 11 letters waiting to send to him! Including the last two weeks Dodger's scores! I'll let you all know if I get a letter today...I'm in Alaska...so I'm guessing friday or saturday if they were mailed out monday. His postcard from Chicago came on 7/5 ...postmarked 6/30. Keeping my fingers crossed & praying we all get something soon!
Sharon - it's picture 12. A women commented on Facebook that she also thought it was Ship 11/Div 274 but I was unable to post a comment because I don't have an account.
I got a letter on Monday, and dont worry Cathy, if you remember I called USPS because my mail was 3 hours late. OK guys you can laugh, but when you are sooo desperate for some communication you would have called too. LOL
I did notice the letter was marked 7/10 but the postmark was 7/15. Uggh which means it could be next Monday before I get another letter.
I like the Lanyards, how much, what info do you need, and are these in place of doing ribbons?
I think there needs to be a warning placed near every Navy for Mom's mailbox during bootcamp:
WARNING: Anxious N4Moms lady lives here...starved for mail from her SR....not responsible for injury to mail carrier should he/she show up with no letter from her SR!
I'm sorry so many of you haven't been getting letters or phone calls from their SR's :( I feel very fortunate that I've been able to hear from my husband since he left June 27th... my mom and sister were too lol, My sister wrote him in a card we were sending... "We're very glad she finally got your letters, she was beginning to turn into a navy wife monster" lol... I wasn't that bad was I? :P
PLEASE MR POSTMAN "Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman, Wait Mister Postman, Please Mister Postman, look and see, If there's a letter in your bag for me" - The Marvelettes
No mail here in Sacramento, calif either :( I'm going into work LATE tomorrow....actually I may straight up stay home as everyone has said calls come 3rd week on a Thursday right.....well my luck ill stay home & she'll call her step dads cell phone or her brothers since I know she has that # memorized because it's my old # & I'll miss it!
Hmmmm.....SailorBrittysMom: Calls do not always come the 3rd week on Thurs nights! I never got one then when my son was there....they are really so random. Even scheduled calls (like the 3 week call) can be delayed for one reason or another...so....ummmm.....maybe you should go to work??? :-)
Glad some of you got some good laughs from the posts on the board! Remember...laughter is a GREAT way to release anxiety over missing your SRs!
dianne - thank you :) i am hanging out till at least the mailman gets here - i should work out....or do my elipitical as i am reading everyones post but i am not - I think going to start working on the name badges for the lanyards....just passing time - as i HOPE to get a letter or something today as so many are starting to get them! :)
Kiminaz...i think that woman was me...and the pictures weren't numbered when i thought i saw my son...if it is him, the picture was posted on Tuesday. he is a lead flag carrier the only male in front of All Ladies...closest to the grass...they are marching...there were other comments on that picture naming a different ship/div...but i'm pretty sure that is my son...the jaw line, build, ear and the position of his fist and arm...it's got to be him....maybe we are looking at different pictures...
Shy of five day's I have received letters and one phone call which he made me aware of the fact that it was not personal but business asking for some address and that was it. Wondering if and when I iwll get my phone call. Sandi, it doesn't get easier even when you have had your son as long as I did and that was for 22yrs it still hurts but in the end it's all for the good of the man/women.
I dunno, Reggie. I found a pik of "my son" on RTC FB when he was there....I was sure it was him at Rickys Heaven...no hat on. Yep, that's him! Well, it wasn't....funny how the same haircut and uniform can make them look so much alike!
Yes, 847 is normally the area code that comes through, especially for pay phone calls. BUT....some ladies on other groups have received calls from their SR's from other Chicago area codes, so we advise you all to answer ALL phone calls when your SR is at bootcamp, just in case.
Tay'sMom
Question: Do I need to send my daughter a phone card in order for her to be able to call me if all we have are cell phones? and if so, where do you get them. The only ones I could find are ones if you are calling from a cell phone. (adding minutes to your phone)
Also I had to mail my daughter her debit card and I sent it with a tracking number. The envelope is a little bigger than normal (one of those brown/mustard colored envelopes) I believe an 8x4. Will she get in trouble for this type of envelope? Someone will have to sign for it. I just was not comfortable sending it by regular mail
Jul 19, 2011
SailorsCupcake Div269
Jul 19, 2011
diannep
They can buy them at the NEX, but some like to send them the phone cards (no telling when they can get to the NEX) so that they have them when needed....saves them money too. Be sure to activate before mailing (saves them time on the phone) and also get one with at least 500 minutes on it. They lose alot of those minutes during the "connection" on the pay phones.
I think you are fine sending the debit card as you did. She may have to open it in front of the RDCs but that's ok.
Jul 19, 2011
Jana
I learn something new every day on this site. I did not realize that there were no all female divisions. I figured my son was in a co-ed division (now I see that's not the right term, it's integrated) as when I started the discussion for Ship 09 Div 279 2 people replied, one that has a son and one that has a daughter. I just assumed there were all male, all female, and integrated divisions.
Jul 19, 2011
SailorsCupcake Div269
Jul 19, 2011
ldslees
Jul 19, 2011
Jana
Jul 20, 2011
balsuz Kevin's mom :)
Jul 20, 2011
Cathy_ProudNavyMom
https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand
That is the FB page for the training center. They post the question at 10a central every Tuesday. Also - yesterday and the day before they posted a lot of pictures of recruits, you might want to go look through the pics to see if you can find your SR!
Jul 20, 2011
Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons
Jul 20, 2011
Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons
I hope you guys are writing lots and lots of letters. Write every day if you can. I know sometimes it is hard to think of things to write about. I told my Sailor everything that was going on in the neighborhood and kept her up to date on her friends through her facebook page. I even had her friends all post comments to her on her facebook page or in a message to me and then I copied and pasted it to word and mailed it all to her. I did that 3 or 4 times while she was at bootcamp. I also sent her a letter from the cat which was hilarious (we had put him on a diet because he was and still is HUGE and he told her we were rationing his food and he didn't have the endless supply since she left and he knew she liked shoes but what kind of company makes you go to camp just to get a pair of boots? She has lots of boots and how could she just leave him here lol) She loved it. She said she was laughing so much she had to let her bunk mate and a couple other girls read the letter as well.
Also, ask your recruit if they have any friends who are not getting letters from home. There are several of us on here who are willing to write letters to recruits. Getting mail is like Christmas and is the highlight of every day for them. So keep those pens and pencils flowing.
Jul 20, 2011
Tay'sMom
Jul 20, 2011
SailorBrittysMom
Jul 20, 2011
balsuz Kevin's mom :)
You pay .99¢ and then u can call to load more minutes anytime. :)
Jul 20, 2011
diannep
Jul 20, 2011
diannep
Jul 20, 2011
Debera1952 (SR Kyles Mom)
Jul 20, 2011
Debera1952 (SR Kyles Mom)
Husband is an ex-sailor he said phone calls if they earned them are on Sunday's. Kyle was finished processing on the fifteenth or sixteenth and siad he would be starting bootcamp on 7/18/2011. Two weeks in recieving. I miss him and his sense of humor very dry but funny never the less.
Jul 20, 2011
SailorBrittysMom
thanks
heather
Jul 20, 2011
SailorBrittysMom
this is probably a dumb questions but there is so many that have gotten calls or letters i want to ask it.... did everyones sailor arrive around june 29th?
because i have had no contact, no letters, NOTHING!! - i miss her chatter, and all day texting that i use to say was so annoying!
we got her box :( on july 6th and the official letter july 9th...
thank you,
heather
Jul 20, 2011
Brenda72
Jul 20, 2011
kiminaz (ship 11/div 274)
Jul 20, 2011
SailorsCupcake Div269
Jul 20, 2011
Cathy_ProudNavyMom
Jul 20, 2011
Cathy_ProudNavyMom
Jul 20, 2011
HvnlySno (S11, DIV 276)
Jul 20, 2011
kiminaz (ship 11/div 274)
Sharon - it's picture 12. A women commented on Facebook that she also thought it was Ship 11/Div 274 but I was unable to post a comment because I don't have an account.
Jul 20, 2011
Cathy_ProudNavyMom
Jul 20, 2011
SailorBrittysMom
Jul 20, 2011
Tay'sMom
I got a letter on Monday, and dont worry Cathy, if you remember I called USPS because my mail was 3 hours late. OK guys you can laugh, but when you are sooo desperate for some communication you would have called too. LOL
I did notice the letter was marked 7/10 but the postmark was 7/15. Uggh which means it could be next Monday before I get another letter.
I like the Lanyards, how much, what info do you need, and are these in place of doing ribbons?
Jul 20, 2011
TexasLiz
Jul 20, 2011
kiminaz (ship 11/div 274)
Jul 20, 2011
diannep
I think there needs to be a warning placed near every Navy for Mom's mailbox during bootcamp:
WARNING: Anxious N4Moms lady lives here...starved for mail from her SR....not responsible for injury to mail carrier should he/she show up with no letter from her SR!
Jul 20, 2011
SailorsCupcake Div269
I'm sorry so many of you haven't been getting letters or phone calls from their SR's :( I feel very fortunate that I've been able to hear from my husband since he left June 27th... my mom and sister were too lol, My sister wrote him in a card we were sending... "We're very glad she finally got your letters, she was beginning to turn into a navy wife monster" lol... I wasn't that bad was I? :P
Jul 20, 2011
emextx 09/280
Jul 20, 2011
SailorsCupcake Div269
Jul 20, 2011
rhonda121199 (Div 269)
diannep: Your post is heeeelarious!!! I love it! I literally laughed out loud.
Alie: You doing the happy dance and her falling out of her bunk...you guys are killing me this evening.
Thank you both for giving me the tickle bug....hadn't laughed like that in a while...it was much needed!!
Jul 20, 2011
caylex 9/279
Jul 20, 2011
HvnlySno (S11, DIV 276)
Alaska reporting....no mail :(
Maybe tomorrow! :)
Jul 20, 2011
SailorBrittysMom
Jul 20, 2011
diannep
Hmmmm.....SailorBrittysMom: Calls do not always come the 3rd week on Thurs nights! I never got one then when my son was there....they are really so random. Even scheduled calls (like the 3 week call) can be delayed for one reason or another...so....ummmm.....maybe you should go to work??? :-)
Glad some of you got some good laughs from the posts on the board! Remember...laughter is a GREAT way to release anxiety over missing your SRs!
Jul 21, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
(Another mom posted this, so I take NO credit for it! I've actually seen it a couple of times now!)
Jul 21, 2011
SailorBrittysMom
dianne - thank you :) i am hanging out till at least the mailman gets here - i should work out....or do my elipitical as i am reading everyones post but i am not - I think going to start working on the name badges for the lanyards....just passing time - as i HOPE to get a letter or something today as so many are starting to get them! :)
Jul 21, 2011
SailorBrittysMom
lanyard proof - & mock up of maybe the name badge...
navymom@wavecable.com
Jul 21, 2011
Reggie_Ship11/Div274
Jul 21, 2011
HvnlySno (S11, DIV 276)
Jul 21, 2011
Reggie_Ship11/Div274
Kiminaz...i think that woman was me...and the pictures weren't numbered when i thought i saw my son...if it is him, the picture was posted on Tuesday. he is a lead flag carrier the only male in front of All Ladies...closest to the grass...they are marching...there were other comments on that picture naming a different ship/div...but i'm pretty sure that is my son...the jaw line, build, ear and the position of his fist and arm...it's got to be him....maybe we are looking at different pictures...
Jul 21, 2011
Debera1952 (SR Kyles Mom)
Jul 21, 2011
Leann
Jul 21, 2011
diannep
I dunno, Reggie. I found a pik of "my son" on RTC FB when he was there....I was sure it was him at Rickys Heaven...no hat on. Yep, that's him! Well, it wasn't....funny how the same haircut and uniform can make them look so much alike!
Yes, 847 is normally the area code that comes through, especially for pay phone calls. BUT....some ladies on other groups have received calls from their SR's from other Chicago area codes, so we advise you all to answer ALL phone calls when your SR is at bootcamp, just in case.
Jul 21, 2011