Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Can someone tell me about mail?  How does it work?  How will I know what the address to write is.  Believe me, if I have to rely on my son for those details, it probably will not happen.  And then once I get the address, do I need to send him a self addressed, stamped envelope or do they have what they need to mail?

Soccermom19, My heart goes out to you right now. I went through the same with my SR. 1 year of college - 5 hours away - home for 6 months - moved to the local "big city" and rented a house with buddies - moved home for 2 1/2 weeks and then off to BC. I am a big, big hugger of my son, too, and he reacts the same way. "Stop, Mom." lol. Never mind ... keep hugging. (BTW, my recent SR's call after 6 weeks - "no physical contact - even high 5's - since arriving") ... seems my SR has realized that hugs are a good, important thing!!!

OtterBaby - yes, exactly!! He went away to college - 1 year.  Then went off with his buddies in an apartment. 

But just dropped him off and hugged him before he got in the car and in the parking lot of the recruiting office.  He's in the Navy's hands now.

soccermom19, I'm really proud of you for going for the parking lot hug!!! Trust me - (hah: now that I'm a seasoned Boot Camp Mom of a whole 6 weeks ...lol) - your son will remember those last hugs when times are challenging and falls into his bed ("rack") at the end of a long, long day.

Black belt mom - You're in my thoughts. I've learned, also, that college isn't for everyone. My son just really, really didn't want to be there. He [barely] completed 1 year. The Navy, though, does promote education beyond what they learn at A School. Lots of options for them.

A word about hugs: our sailor is not big on public displays of affection. We each got a short hug right before he left to go to the airport at MEPS. He didn't even really look back. Right after PIR, he gave us all a brief hug, but they aren't allowed large displays of affection that weekend. But we all noticed the change when it came time to say goodbye at the end of PIR weekend. Those were some powerful hugs. And even when we went to see him a couple of weeks ago in GL (where he is at for A school) those hello and goodbye hugs are super strong. Those hugs are a lot different after BC and even going into A school. Even with more communication, there is nothing like having your family/friends right there with you. Hang in there moms and loved ones. 

Here are the current PIR groups:

PIR: June 30, 2017 TG 34 - 7 Divisions (203-208 & 934) 4 guests

PIR: July 7, 2017 TG 35 - 7 Divisions (209-214 & 935) 4 guests

PIR: July 14, 2017 TG 36 - 9 Divisions (215-220, 815, 816 & 936) 4 guests

PIR: July 21, 2017 TG 37 - 8 Divisions (221-226, 817 & 937) 4 guests

PIR: July 28, 2017 TG 38 - 9 Divisions (227-234 & 938) 4 guests

PIR: August 4, 2017 TG 39 - 11 Divisions (235-244 & 939) 4 guests

PIR: August 11, 2017 TG 40 - 8 Divisions (245-250, 818 & 940) 4 guests

PIR: August 18, 2017 TG 41

Click on the date of your recruit’s PIR and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your recruit.

Marchella, last week. Some who shipped last week will have PIR 08/11/2017 if they were placed in one of the last divisions from the week before (that happened for some who shipped on Monday or Tuesday). The rest of those who shipped last week will have PIR on 08/18/2017.

Marchella, your recruit will most likely have PIR on 08/25/2017.

Marchella, I am right there with you. I think my son's PIR will be 8/25, maybe we will all meet in person then. Pray lots, and start writing those letters they will love to receive.

My youngest son is at boot camp right now and graduates July 14th. My oldest son went to meps today and goes back in 2 weeks for his physical and finds out boot camp date. What a roller coaster this mom is on!

Received another letter today from my son asking me to send him paper, envelopes, & stamps to him along with some petty cash.  Am I allowed to send him these things? I know he has already been to the commissary; maybe he's running out before he can go again? Need advice.... Thanks Shannon

I'm not sure about sending money Nolagirl, but I know that we can send stamps, just not sure when we are allowed to. I do know that whatever we send has to fit into a standard sized letter. I think we can start as soon as we receive the form letter with the information that has the mailing address.

Thanks @ShawnMom.  @butterball my son sent cash in his letter; I wanted to send it back. Assuming that's not allowed then. Good to know about the standard sized letter/ I would have sent a large envelope!!!!  This is the second batch of letters we have received.     Thanks again!!!

Ddaarryylll, that was very thoughtful of you to take photos of your son and others. I was not able to be at my son's swearing in and found no one to have taken pictures. Nor did he ask anyone to take pictures. I was a little upset. So thank you for thinking of others. 

It's been 16 day (he left June 13th) and I have not received a letter. I'm an emotional roller-coaster. I've gone from proud, crying, to now annoyed. Perhaps, I'm thinking to much into it, but knowing that he took paper and stamps so that he would be able to writing. I don't understand why I haven't received a letter when many others have. This is week 3, he said he would be able to call in week 3. No call either.

Feeling really sad and hopeless. I'm missing my son deeply.

I want to know that he's okay.

Here are the current PIR groups:

PIR: June 30, 2017 TG 34 - 7 Divisions (203-208 & 934) 4 guests

PIR: July 7, 2017 TG 35 - 7 Divisions (209-214 & 935) 4 guests

PIR: July 14, 2017 TG 36 - 9 Divisions (215-220, 815, 816 & 936) 4 guests

PIR: July 21, 2017 TG 37 - 8 Divisions (221-226, 817 & 937) 4 guests

PIR: July 28, 2017 TG 38 - 9 Divisions (227-234 & 938) 4 guests

PIR: August 4, 2017 TG 39 - 11 Divisions (235-244 & 939) 4 guests

PIR: August 11, 2017 TG 40 - 8 Divisions (245-250, 818 & 940) 4 guests

PIR: August 18, 2017 TG 41

Click on the date of your recruit’s PIR and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your recruit.

Kim-MomInVT - We were NOT allowed to take our son to MEPS, but we WERE allowed to go to MEPS for the swearing in. Our son stayed at the hotel the night before, then they drove him to MEPS super early in the morning. He called us to let us know what time the swearing in ceremony would occur. My husband and I drove to MEPS and were able to videotape him swearing in, as well as take pictures. I am so sorry they didn't let you know you could at least meet there. 

New Navy Mom 1, your recruit IS fine or you WOULD have heard. I know it is hard, but "No news is good news!"

Some recruits do not write much. Your recruit shipped on the 13th, so he may have been able to write a "real" letter for the first time on the 25th (the second Sunday after arrival) during holiday routine. If he had extended P-days and had to wait on additional recruits to fill the division into the following week, then he will not have holiday routine for the first time until this Sunday. That is rare for one arriving at the beginning of the week as your recruit did, but is possible. See Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

You may receive an "I'm still alive!" call in week 3 or 4 (calendar week, not DOT), but that call can come before or after that depending on when the RDC is able to schedule the phone banks. Don't expect a call, but do have your phone available from 8ish am to 8ish pm Central Time and be pleasantly surprised when you receive a call.  The "I'm still alive!" call or other calls the RDC schedules usually come in the mornings on weekdays except on the day of a PIR because the "I'm a Sailor!" calls, which are typically made 1-7 days, but can come up to 10 days, before PIR, are in the afternoon and evenings, but calls can come anytime during those hours on Saturday.  Calls on the day of a PIR or on Sunday come between 1 and 8 pm. Calls for security reasons or for information are generally made during regular business hours.  Remember "No news is good news!" See Phone Cards and Phone Calls.

Kim-MomInVT I am sorry you weren't informed of that option.  I will say we didn't actually fill out ANYTHING before we went to MEPS. We showed up and just had to show ID and sign in as visitors. We walked through security (pretty much like airport security) and then we went into the large open waiting room where our son was and a other recruits and also Deppers. All the recruits/Deppers were told to go into the room and they were told what to expect for the swearing in. Then we all were informed that we could now enter the room for the swearing in ceremony. We were encouraged to videotape the ceremony and also to take pictures!!! Afterwards, we were allowed a short time to say goodbye and take a few last pics before our son was leaving for the airport for the flight to GL. 

Kim-MominVT, parents cannot take their future Sailor to MEPS. Parents are allowed to go to MEPS and see the candidate swear in, but some MEPS locations require a pass that must be obtained a week or so before the date--that is the case when the MEPS is located on a military base, but may be needed for some other locations as well. Not all parents attend the swearing in and your son most likely had a say in whether you were to attend or not, but if the MEPS in your area is on a closed base, then parents may not have been able to attend.

Ladybug, yes, if he asked for a watch, then you can send one. Send a water-resistant black or silver watch. Send it in a padded envelope. Although we want to think that we have the best at the RTC and in the Navy, theft does happen at the RTC and in the fleet, so don't send an expensive watch. He can also purchase a watch at the NEX if he needs one for his duties in his division.

Our daughter sent us exactly 6 letters--and they all came on one day about 3 weeks after she got to RTC.  She told us that she was "just too busy" to write after that: of course the phone calls helped, but I was despondent  She wasn't a writer before the Navy and somehow I expected that to change. Unrealistic of me! Now she's in A school and loving it, and we're texting and emailing again.  it was a break in communication, but not an end to it. And when I think back...I wasn't writing my mom every day, or even every week, when I was her age.