Please keep these in mind when communicating with your recruits during boot camp.  While they seem conservative and very limited they cover the various things that as seasoned moms we know recruits have gotten in trouble for. Every RDC is different.  Some RDCs will allow some pictures, some will not allow any pictures.  Send your recruits a copy of the commandments and simply ask them which ones apply to their division.  Then you will know what your limits are in terms of communication.

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) Thou shalt never return a call to an 847 area code even though you may want to and even though you KNOW that call came from the RTC you will not give in to your burning desires and immeasureable curiosity.  Sometimes recruits call home to get additional information for secruity clearances, medical information etc.  These calls are made from an RDCs office.  One mom tells the story of returning the call and being bluntly told to never ever call that number again and being hung up on.  The whole division was beat (given extra PT) becasue she made this call her recruit sadly informed her in his next letter.  In addition, for the rest of boot camp, every time the phone rang...one of the RDCs wondered aloud (wasn't that a nice way of saying that) if that was so and so's mommy calling to see if he was okay.

7) 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.