Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Shoosh-- it is fine to send the letters all together.  Write on the front "letters to share from xx school". They will have to open them in front of the RDC's but they will not get beat for them.  It's suggested that you let your SR know ahead of time they are coming but the way mail is that just isn't realistic. Just go ahead and send them. 

Oh and they have to be addressed to a single SR.  Again send them.  It will be fine.   She will not get in trouble for them.   

Sorry.  I'm not at my computer so I'm late answering this question. 

VintageGal - Neil Diamond is my sister's all time favorite, I think. My siblings are all much older than I am and so I grew up listening to their 60's, 70's music, classical and the golden oldies, depending on the station or records that were playing. I also listened to some of the radio shows that were still broadcasted! 

The division idea is in the Letter Writing info above, I had barely cut and paste copied it to Shoosh, so I am glad BelovedbyHim chimed in and added her knowledge as well. 

DavesMom2020 - I think Katharine is still waiting for info. I know the post you are referring to but I think it was just a mix-up as we have had so many comments, but I could be mistaken.  

Chipmunk:  my son worked at the local oldies station for 2 years. He was the sound engineer on weekends. We listened to a lot of oldies. 

Anyone know if KATHARINE is ok?  It sounded like that concussion was pretty bad...  hope she is recovering!  

Anyone know how soon after graduation do they receive their duty assignments?  As in my sailor has a short A School (i think he said it was only 5 weeks) so could he possibly know soon?

Shanny - That is neat to have that shared music time with your son. 

I haven't heard anything from Katharine, the last post I recall she was still having difficulty with the computer screen. 

As for a short A school, I will have to defer to someone else. My son's schooling was different  - almost two years total, so I don't know. 

So I am just catching up from two days ago.  I've only been on the last day to ask quick questions.  That said:

Kim:  I got our SR's form letter today.  If you've seen my post, his address was bit confusing as he had written two different division numbers and two different last-4-digits of the zip code.  But I believe I got it all figured out.  He is in Ship 14, USS Arizona, Division 423.  PIR is 10/29.  It's cool that he is in USS Arizona because my great uncle was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed and lived to tell the story.  He was up early that morning because his job was to deliver newspapers.  The newspapers weren't there because the island where they were printed was already bombed.  He didn't know that at the time, though, so he went back to bed when the bombing began.  Anyway, Kim, let me know what you hear.  I think we got our FL earlier than some people because we only live about 3 hours from Chicago. 

Phoenixmom:  continuing to pray for you.  Hope you get answers soon and that it's something easily fixable.  Praying you feel better soon!

Shanny:  I've been wondering all day if you got your phone call.  And as I'm trying to get caught up on here, I see you saw him in the graduation photos.  I'm sure that so relieved your mind!  YAY! 

Oh, Katharine:  I hope you feel better very quickly!  And I really, really pray you find your lost puppy quickly!

FlyEG14:  Congratulations!  So it seems odd to me that they do PIR before BS21.  What happens if they don't pass BS?  They've already done the PIR.

Shanny:  So glad you actually got a phone call, although it was short.  You'll be able to hear from him more often now!

Well, I think I got all caught up.  Heading off for the night now.  Good night, everyone!

I’ve not seen Katharine ... I really hope she’s ok. 

@shoosh.....My brother was @ BC in the USMC. He said if they received pictures they were ridiculed, totally embarrassed. I think it’s different from USN. I would ask the recruiter what their suggestion is. Or go with what @beloved said. I read that just now. I think that’s fantastic they did that!!

Shanny - what a great experience for your son to work at a music station! That would be so much fun! 

chipmunk - I love the music from those eras as well :) The comedy radio shows are so much fun to listen to like Fibber McGee and Molly and The Great Gildersleeve. There are websites where you can still listen to them. Also, there’s lux radio that plays classic movies narrated by the actual actors. So fun! 

Shoosh, I sent letters from our whole school to my son during Valentine's day, there were about 60 and there were no problem with it. He will have to open it in front of his PO but he never said it caused any problem. I would send them, it is showing respect for our military from our youngest.

VintageGal:  he started off working football games-he would broadcast them and insert the commercials during the time outs and troubleshoot if there were issues with the broadcasts. Then he did basketball games and church services. When the pandemic hit and there were no sports,  he was doing 2 or 3 different church services every Sunday.  It started as his first part time job. But he really liked it so he kept that as Friday nights and Sundays even when he started working for a landscaper

VintageGal - FibberMcGee and Molly was the one we use to listen to. I will have to look into those websites. Thanks!

The USMC is very different than the Navy.  They usually do not punish anyone for mail, unless it is a musical or glitter card.  You could send letters from kids all in one big envelope, which would be opened in front of the RDC, but that would be better.  That way they could all be handed out right at mail call, and it would be nice.

My first concert was The Who.  I'm old. 

Good Morning Ladies and welcome to our new moms,

Anti M- How are you? Hope your weekend was good.

Phoenixmom- Hope you are feeling better and that your weekend was good to. Big hugs to you!!!

LBF- Hope your letter was good and how is your SR doing?

God Bless and have a great Sonday!!!

VintageGal:  ok totally out of my norm but...  there is this son my nieces Introduced me to that is totally a roll down my windows, crank up the volume and sing at the top of my lungs...  you have to listen to it...

I Hope by Gabby Barrett

otherwise, I am rocking to

Snuff by Slipknot 

Afternoon everyone!!!!  Just checking in real quick. I am around today just trying to figure out this never ending headache. Maybe less screen time?  I hope everyone gets calls today!  I am hoping for a call a little longer than 30 seconds...  

Happy Sonday ladies!!

Shoosh - how awesome over 90 letters!!

DavesMom - it was just lip service though cause when we visited him he spent more time on it than I would have liked!

Vintage - hair bands all the way! My daughter LOVES 80s music and is teaching her fellow sailors all about it! My first concert was Def Leppard in my 40s, lol

Shanny - less screen time and get blue blocking glasses for being on screen!

Katharine - hope you are feeling better.

So my son’s div got a 4.8 on an inspection so I got a phone call this morning (I didn't want to answer it. I was worried it was a bad call) . This was a week ahead of schedule and he said he may get his regular call next weekend. He is section leader. He said writing with a red light is hard so he doesn’t want to write too much about what he does at boot camp and I told him it is ok I know enough just tell us how you are doing/feeling. I also sent him my calendar I made and asked him just to kind of fill it in for me and then when he PIRs to send it back. Since he is the last div in his TG I told  him how some do BST after PIR and he thought that was weird, lol.
He thinks all is well with his waiver situation and is going with no news is good news. He has a great division as far as respecting their RDCs go - finally one kid gets that!

Well, we are off to play Pokemon Go

SOrry if I missed anyone.thing - I am in unfocus mode I am so ecstatic!

Can anyone tell me when the scheduled/expected call comes (assuming no loss of division privileges or duty during call time)? My son is at end of week 5. This is his 6th Sunday, counting two in ROM and one in P-hold. I’m hoping for today -fingers crossed. I also recall reading that some of you have gotten calls mid week... I’m just trying to figure out the call schedule (excluding “bad” calls). 

Ive had a headache off and on too. I don’t get computer headaches tho. Coughing episodes twice on Friday and maybe once at night a couple nights. None last night. Afebrile but warmer than my normal. No fever or other symptoms. Get paranoid it could be covid. Wearing a mask at home and slept in my SRs room last night. Would be horrible to give it to my husband or his disabled brother who lives with us. The damn CO2 build up could cause the headache (and I missed my morning coffee on Friday). I thought I had Covid in April when my chest was tight and I lost my sense of taste. Testing was sparse so I just quarantined for 2 weeks to be careful. Got an antibody test last month that was negative. So who knows. Had to test last month as my co-worker was +,  but the rest of us at work were negative. We all wear masks religiously. Either way I was so glad my son had already left when co-worker has it (who is back at work and fine now). Anyway, it ready stinks that every headache or throat tickle makes me worry about covid. Even when you one if you mentions a symptom I worry for you. My co-worker had fever, body aches and diarrhea -no respiratory symptoms. I’m a nurse and run a medical office. My boss (doctor) is 76, and a stem cell transplant survivor, and super paranoid. I’m thinking I need to call him but I’m sure I’m fine. Did I say I hate this paranoia!!! We did get some rapid tests in stock last week - I can test myself before working on Monday.

Sure would be nice to hear (letter or call) from my son if I’m getting sick. I won’t be telling him if I test positive tho. 

@vintage....Did you hear from your SR in ROM?? How long has he been there? I’m wondering if he went back into training. 

Did any gamer moms ever see that special on TV about the successful attorney (I think) with the game addiction? He would come home every night, ignore his wife and children and go game in the basement til 4am, getting angry if family bothered him. Game addiction is scary. I do think my son chose to go in Navy to get a little help managing his priorities and I’m relieved that he will be micromanaged at A school so he doesn’t have a chance to get lazy. I suppose if I mail his xbox to him, when he finally comes home on leave, we will get his undivided attention! 

DavesMom2020 -  I forget the days or times they are not likely to make calls, my apologies. My son's calls were on Saturday afternoon. I think some may come on Sunday afternoon, I don't recall. As for a schedule, well that is out the door with the current situation. I had his "I'm here call, a 3 week call, a 6 week call and then his BS call.  

It is hard to say! I am sorry!!

Happy Football Sunday!!! 

Unfortunately we can’t watch our game bc instead of showing Philly, they’re broadcasting Pitt. Hubby is losing it a bit. Lol  So I started making guacamole but my avocados were ripe enough so now I just have bruschetta. I then made chicken cheesesteak wraps and got in 35 mins on NT elliptical. It’s a new week and it starts today!! I gotta get on it everyday.   STAY BUSY!!!

I keep thinking about my SR but I also reached out to his recruiter and he said he’s going to send him a letter.  Ya know their jobs really aren’t done when they leave esp if the SR is struggling. (I believe that makes 6 letters coming ... he better snap out of it) I think he would’ve been fine if there were no big Q / ROM. I think that messed him all up. As of now, his new projected PIR date is October 30! (@jen!) but we’ll see. One day at a time right. :-)

Just got a call from my son. He sounded great. For some reason he thought he got an hour to talk, so was a bit surprised when he was ushered off at 22mins. He was giving lots of detail and had more to tell us but he sounded so good!! He had no idea if he sent the form letter because he filled out so many things. Write his first letter today - to my nieces dogs!! His favorite dog had “written” him a letter. Says he included a map of where he will be in PIR. He’s very happy. Said he is Starboard Watch Section Leader, and that it would be easy if it were not for that. Said he had his moments of regret but that he’s got this!!  My heart is happy. 

Normally we would say you have the " I'm here" call late night/ early morning hours on day of arrival, the "I'm still alive" call around 5 weeks and the "I'm a sailor " call following PIR. In the before times, BS21 always took place before PIR.  NOW... all that has been thrown out the window.  They still make the "I'm here" call on the day they fly into Chicago but after that... calls happen when they happen, BC is as short as 8 weeks or as long as Infinity weeks. There is no real norm since as soon as they seem to settle into a rhythm things change again. We used to say phone calls would not be on Sunday morning but recently there have been some so.... keep your phones handy and answer all calls! 

DavesMom2020 and LadyBluefire:  That's so great that you got calls/personal letters from your SRs and that they sound good.  Gives me hope that our SR is also doing well!  

belovedbyHim:  Thanks for giving us the heads-up that we could get a call Sunday morning.  I've had my phone with me just in case, but wasn't too concerned during church because from what I'd heard, they wouldn't call then.  I'll make sure I'm fully prepared and on high alert during church from now on.

@dAvesmom......I’m so happy to hear about your phone call and that he’s doing so well!!! My heart is happy for you. :)

Good Evening everyone!! I am glad to hear others commenting on Sunday morning calls. I thought we had some coming in, even if that is not the "normal". Yeah!! so happy for everyone!!

C'sMom2020 - even if your SR doesn't call you on a Sunday morning, be prepared for your sailor to forget what time zone difference it is and call you during church service!! I never turn my phone off and there were times I had to answer it really quietly and make sure that he could call me back!! I also called him sometimes and told him to just listen if there was a favorite song of his playing.

Kristel2400 - Glad to hear the recruiter might send a letter, I think that is actually very unusual but hopefully it will help encourage him. Yes, the Q/ROM is probably not helping! - Dinner sounded delicious, I wanted to join you! 

DavesMom2020 - I am sorry his call was cut short so to speak. The times vary, I think on just their schedule and how many are trying to get calls done. My SR also had our first call cut short, the 2nd one, he was trying to reach one of us because I was driving and couldn't get to my phone fast enough. I hope you get to feeling better soon.

LadyBluefire - happy dancing right along with you!!

Katharine, Phoenixmom - thinking about you - 

Navymom1975 - how are you doing?

Remember to double check the discussions above. 

Shanny - I hope you get to hear from your new sailor again soon. 

VintageGal - thoughts and prayers for your SR!

To all of those reading and lurking, we are glad you are here, don't hesitate to ask any questions!  BelovedbyHim I am glad you popped on earlier, Anti M - I hope you had a good day! 

Good Evening Ladies!!!

DavesMom2020- I never saw that special but I can say that my Sailor doesn't play his game all the time like he used to. He now tries to balance it out and not play it like he used to.

Yay for the phone call. Doing the happy dance.

Kristel2400- I'm hoping your SR is doing better and that's great that the recruiter is going to send him a letter to. Tell him we are pulling for him and he can do this!!!

C'sMoM2020- We used to know the timeline of the phone calls pretty good but with COVID things change. Keep your phone on you at all times and answer every call you just don't know.  :) No news is good news to live by.

Thanks for posting that belovedbyHim- hope your trip went well.

LBF- Glad to hear your SR is doing good and that you got a call. Whoo hoo

Phoenixmom- Thinking of you. Hoping you are starting to feel better.

Anti M- Hope your weekend went well.

Shanny- Hoping you get to hear from your Sailor again soon.

VintageGal- Hoping your SR is doing better.

Katharine- Hope your head is starting to feel better and that you are ok.

For our new moms how are we doing? Any questions please ask and someone will answer you. No question is ever dumb.

God Bless and good night. Sleep easy ladies and stay safe. 

Cmom2020 - We received our form letter on Saturday as well. Was so nice just to see his hand writing, lol. Our SR is also ship 14. We got a little greedy and were hoping for a call on Sunday but from what little I've been reading I believe his call would be this next weekend if their division isn't messing up of course. We are also fairly close, about 4hrs South of GL.

Good morning Ladies, what a weekend. I've been baking and will be for the next two weeks doing wedding and bridal shower cakes. Life goes on, I have been helping my sister who is still on oxygen from the Covid she got earlier in June with their backyard wedding. They got a huge tent but now it looks like the temps are going to plummet and there is a chance of snow flurries. Well we will make the best of things, these poor kids have changed their plans 3 times already. First it was suppose to be in Madison, changed to Key West and now it's in the backyard of his parents.

Vintage my favorite roll down the window of the car is SPIRIT IN THE SKY, I love that song probably from the 70's. Like AntiM I am old.

Good Morning Ladies and welcome to all of our new moms,

We are glad you are here. It's another day closer to PIR and to being able to communicate with your brand new Sailors in A school. 

Let us hear from you.

Northwoodsmom- That sounds awesome all that baking. I bet those cakes are beautiful!!

My favorite roll down the window song was ac/dc Back in Black. I was a rock n roll girl mostly but I did listen to the other groups as well. lol

Kim- Good Morning, It's good to see you on here as well. Yay you got the form letter that's awesome!! Now you can send those letters off.

Just in case my evening post gets lost in our replies

Katharine, VintageGal, Shanny, Phoenixmom, LBF and Anti M thinking of you ladies and hope your week end was good. Hoping you ladies that are waiting for phone calls and letters may they come thru today.

Just wanted to share the beauty of the north woods with all of you.

I got a text at 8:00 am and all it said was “I’M BACKKKKK!!”

He has his phone and is back in the world. On his way to the next adventure!  

Anti M  - have a wonderful day! 

unicornlily05- I hope you get a letter from your SR! I know b it means so much to SR to have your support :) keep doing what your doing! Hugs! 

Shanny- oh my gosh, that’s awesome! I bet you had chills all over!! I’m so excited for you!!

We have a personal letter coming today from our SR!   So excited!  Wish our mail came in the morning instead of mid-afternoon.  I so hope he is doing well.  

We watched the making of a sailor documentary last night finally!  How do they get everything done now in 8 weeks with the 2-week quarantine?

Also, where can I get a copy of PERSEC?  I'm sure I've read it already, but I want to read it again.  I saw on one of the Facebook pages that they said not to put your SR's ship and division on there because while the addresses of each ship are public knowledge, where each SR is sn't.  But I see a lot of people doing it on FB.  Is it different with N4M?  I just dont want to do anything wrong.  I thought while they were in boot camp, it was okay, just not afterwards.  Can anyone clear this up for me?  

Sorry had to post before I finished. He has his actual orders and we now know where he will be stationed. We also know he is officially single again. She did it by text just a couple weeks after he left because of “distance”. He texted her back and informed her she needed to return his stuff or he will send someone to get it. The Navy Moms Posse May need to be activated!