Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

mom2blondies-I am so happy you got a phone call.  It is the best thing when we can hear their voice and oh the relief.  You will be on cloud 9 tonight!

mom2blondies- Whoo hoo yay for phone calls!! We love to celebrate when you get phone calls, letters etc!!

I am so happy he sounds so good and that he is on track. I love it and I know your heart is so happy. Keep that feeling for a while!!! 

Big hugs to you!!!

DoriBry- Hey, hope you are having a good day!!

I felt so bad for him though because he was telling me (although I already knew because of you ladies) that he hasn't been able to go to church with his girlfriend because they are on different days and he doesn't know if she got extra ROM or is moving forward fine. He is sending me letters he wrote to her so I can forward to her once she writes to me and I have her address......how is this for a unique situation?? HAHA!! I'm happy to do it for them, just need address still. He said he's worried she thinks he isn't trying to communicate with her and hopes other girls in her division aren't putting things in her head. I told him not to worry about that, since she has no way to contact him she knows he has no way to contact her. But I know he misses her and has so much he wants to say to her and can't and that must be so hard! He said over all it has been way more 'chill' than he expected and other than a bad reaction to the penicillin injection he got the day before he had to run the PSA (on one leg he said-but still ran it in plenty of time) he is doing great. And....he gets to keep his wisdom teeth! Oh, and the food situation, he said wasn't great at Ft. McCoy and he tried to get extra any way he could but still thinks he lost about 10 lbs. but he said at GL the food is 'really good' and he's sure he's gained back his lost weight in the past week. 

Shanny- Thanks for the heads up about Amanda's new discussion. :)

mom2blondies- Awe that is so sweet of him. I'm sure she knows to and is probably missing him just as much. It is hard in there as they really can't talk to each other.

Hopefully it will work out with you being able to mail her the letters when you can.  :)

Most of the SR's I believe have said that, that the food is much better at GL than at the Fort. Lol 

And that's good he doesn't have to have his wisdom teeth taken out. 

Again yay for phone calls.  :) Now you know why I always say keep your phones on you and your ringers on loud. You just never know when a call will come in!! Lol   :)

You will be sleeping good tonight!!

Mom2blondies ~ so happy for you that you received a phone call from your son! Isn’t it the best hearing their voice after all this time?! Sounds like he’s doing great :) It’s too sweet that he is asking for you to send his letters to his girlfriend. Makes you think about the days where soldiers were only able to correspond through mail and writing love letters to their sweetheart. Awwwee :) Tonight you’ll both be going to sleep with a smile on your face. BNMH!! 

Belovedbyhim ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR SEABEE SAILOR!  BNMH!!  

Partyofseven ~ So this whole thing just stinks all the way around! I pray that you all stay safe and healthy. I just had to watch a video for work about mental health and to watch for warning signs of depression. Lots of love to our teachers and students!! 

Enjoy your last day of your holiday break. I’m procrastinating decluttering my loft and dusting ;-P it’s not going anywhere lol it’s my workspace and all day I’m like wow I should really redo this room!

Have a wonderful evening and I’m definitely telling my husband about fossil creek! 

Mom2Blondies-- YEA!!!!!! 45 minute phone calls are Awesome!!! It's ok to get teary later as you think back over the call.  He Loves and Misses you and clearly Needed that Call!!! 

Good Evening everyone!! 

Mom2blondies - Yeah on the phone call!!! Would you please share some information with one of our BC Mom members - Joy - she posted a question about BC but it is the BC Forum 

Quarantine - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

and probably is not notifying most of us. Thanks!! If anyone else can reply to her as well that would be great. I don't know if they are letting them take books to GL or not for initial ROM? 

Pheonixmom - I finally came across your kitchen remodel pictures! Absolutely love the new kitchen! How wonderful with the new open plan! Congratulations!

Happy New Year everyone!!! BNMHs!

Thanks Chipmunk, I just did, thank you for posting the link right to it. Yes, they can take 2 books, 1 bible and 1 notebook/pen. 

belovedbyHim-I was so excited to talk to him but as soon as the phone hung up the tears started to flow. He was so funny, asked about his car. His friend was supposed to come pick it up and borrow it while he is gone but hasn't come yet so I assured him we were taking good care of it, haha! Then he talked to his dog for a minute. I had it on speaker and she kept tilting her head back and forth. From the day I brought her home she was obsessed with him. When he moved out for 4 months for Fire Academy she got super depressed but is coping well this time. 

I just committed a Navy Mom no-no. Just texted my sailor and said, “just checking in. Haven’t heard from ya in a few days. So I broke my rule and texted you first.” Got back a “wtf Mom?!?  Been busy. Worked all weekend. Text me when you want and I will respond when I can.”  I was kinda joking. But kinda not. Also got the no reception unless I’m on the deck or certain areas. Don’t forget that. Message. I may miss A School lol

Mom2blondies:  I have to send proof of life Snapchat’s multiple times per day to my son. He is in the fleet now so it’s required lol I sent them when he was in BC too. And included at least one picture of him in each letter. He misses his dog more than me I swear lol

mom2blondies-- I knew you would.  {{{{HUGS}}}}}

Shanny-- I have learned to send "Open ended Messages".  Things like...."Happy New Year.... Call or text when you can" or "Happy Birthday!! Miss you!" or "Merry Christmas! Let me know if you can skype sometime."  That leaves the ball in their court to message back as they can.

Hello,

I am still trying to figure out this site! But I think I am posting in the right spot now :) Also, first family member in the military, so so many questions!! My son is going to BC Jan 11th. He said we can drop him off at the hotel the night before and then they will take him to the MEPS building and the airport. Is that how it usually works? You say goodbye to him at the hotel? Is there a swearing in that takes place before he goes to BC? Is that live that we can watch. We live close to the MEPS building but we can't take him directly there right? Any information would be helpful :)

Joy:  first, HELLO and WELCOME!!!  
to answer your question, I think the rules are different depending  on your MEPS site. I drove my son to his recruiters office and that’s where we said our “see ya laters”. They then transported him to the hotel in the town  where MEPS was located. He did swear in the next morning at MEPS but it was closed to anyone other than the recruits and officials because of COVID. His swearing in was recorded and then Posted on the Facebook page for the MEPS location. So I did get to see it a few days later.   I know some MEPS locations aren’t as active on Facebook as ours is so maybe find it now and see if they have posted videos in the past. I followed it on Facebook so I wouldn’t miss the video posting.  Have him contact you with his flight information so you can track the flight. He will be given all of that info at MEPS.  I hope some of that info is helpful. It is probably different for different locations. I am in Michigan. 

once again WELCOME to the page!  Please feel free to ask any questions you may have!  Someone will always  answer. If your question gets lost in our chatter please ask again!  We will never intentionally ignore you!  You have found a great group of people to help you, support you, laugh with you and even cry with you. 

Shanny - thank you so much for the information!!

Joy:  you will probably get all kinds of answers tomorrow!  It tends to be a little quiet around here on the weekend!  
a little unsolicited advice...  if your son is not a writer or you think he may not be, tell him that even a single sentence would be enough. We all want long letters but some SRs are just not writers. I made mine promise to at least send me something. Even if it was just “Mom I am ok” or “Mom this sucks.” Or “Mom the food is horrible.”  Just anything.  I didn’t think mine would be a writer, then I got the first letter and it was 6 pages. They weren’t allowed to send mail in quarantine but he just wrote each day them stuck them all in one envelope. Also, they can keep their wallet if it is black. I wrote important numbers and addresses on an index card and cut it to fit in the wallet then wrote a message on the back about how strong he was and how proud we all were. Something he could look at if he needed to be reminded he was awesome!  

Joy - Our daughter dropped our sailor off at the recruiter's office. There was a bit more paperwork to do and then they drove him to a hotel that was close to MEPS and the airport. We met him there that night and brought him dinner. We stayed until about an hour before he had to be lights out (he had some calls to make too). They took him back to MEPS the next morning for another swearing in that was livestreamed, and we all watched it. Then to the airport. He facetimed from there and again from the Chicago airport. Every MEPS is different as to livestreaming and when you can be with them. Per our airport, we could not have gone to see him there. Every state (covid rules) and airport is different.

Tonight my older son went back after Christmas too. He almost went out with a bang! (But thankfully not). Just as I was preheating the oven, dozens of sirens went by and stopped a block away. Then they blocked access to the state highway that we back on to. How exciting. Then a firefighter with full equipment knocked on our door and told us to get out .... now. There was a gas leak at the end of the street. We packed up the dogs and important papers, and computers in the 2 cars (husband driving one, daughter the other) and got to the end of the street . It was now to dangerous to drive out past that point!!!!! So we drove home, left some of our stuff in the cars, and walked out the backyard (through the flooding field .... we are in flood phase 3 right now!!!) and started walking down the road with 2 dogs and 2 laptops in the pouring rain. 

When met a few neighbors on the way. Our refugee pack (with several more dogs) got about 3/4 of a mile down the road (a friend was going to pick us up a mile out of the evacuation zone) and they called the all clear. So we all walked back home, dripping wet, soaked clothes, and our shoes were sooooo wet from the flooding field that we had to walk through.

I cranked the oven temperature up and got a great final dinner for my non-sailor boy on the table, and only 20 minutes later than I had planned. They had cleared most of the trucks out of our cul-de-sac in time for my husband to take our boy to the airport :(. Who said we never have fun here????

And now we just have to look forward to 3 more days of flooding (our house got raised 9 years ago after we did have 2 feet of water in the house .... that was a kitchen remodel that was not very fun).

My sailor is sad that he missed this "fun family bonding experience". I am just glad to be dry again. But I really miss my boys :(.

Joy ~ hello! Welcome :) If I could tell any mom about when to have their child sign to go into the military it would be to wait till after the holidays! I’m glad that you got to spend this time with him before he leaves. Soak up every day that you can :) Which I’m pretty sure you’re doing. My son went in back in August and graduated at the end of October. He had to do an extra two week quarantine besides the initial two week quar. because someone a bunk over tested positive during Boot Camp. This could put a Recruit back in ROM (Restriction of movement) so I would suggest talking to your son about the chances of that happening. There are a lot of great resources on this site and it looks like you guys will have time to discuss it before he leaves. I don’t say any of this to worry you but to inform you. We’ll all be here for you night or day!

With all of that being said my son doesn’t regret any of it! He’s very happy with his decision :) 

So the morning of the day that we took him to the recruiters office was quiet and it seemed to go in slow motion. We had a family prayer, hopped in the car, and headed to the recruiters office where we gave hugs to last us all a while (even though he’s not a hugger lol) and then he was taken to his hotel. We then got a  big surprise when he called us to come visit him there and we hung out with him until his curfew at 10:00pm. He also had a few of his buddies there to enjoy those last few hours. The next morning he was taken to MEPS and it was a looooong day for all them. After MEPS he was taken to the building where he was sworn in. Someone took a video of it and then my son text it to us. He was then taken to the airport. So our last “see you soon” was at the hotel the night before. Like Shanny said it could be different per city whether it be a large or small town. I live on the outskirts of a major city. 

I’m sorry for rambling but I thought I’d share with you our experience. Big Navy Mom Hug to you and your Recruit!!  ((((((BNMH)))))) We’re all here for you :) I wish him all the best!!

Good Evening Everyone,

Welcome to all the newbies.  This is the Perfect place to be for questions, support, and help.  The Mom's on here are the BEST at helping each of us & holding us up through this new journey we are on.

Joy- I too am a new at this Navy Mom status & new to the military life. We had to drop our sailor at the recruiter's office & they took him to the hotel & then to MEPS.  We were not allowed due to Co-Vid.  No video of it either that we  know of to watch his swearing in.  We are in So.CA so I am sure it maybe different for different locations/states etc...

We went the entire boot camp experience with NO phone call(s) until a quick 1 to say "I'm a sailor"... believe me when I say I spent each day & night chanting "no new is good news" to myself!!!

The NavyMom allergies are a REAL thing...and even after boot camp & they are at their A school they still flow... Some days I feel like I can handle it then BAM! I crash again & the tears go like waterworks.

My sailor says food at GL much better than Fort & he gained weight at GL.  A school food is much worse he says...so is eating a lot of pizza he orders...not what Momma wants him eating each & every day as had hoped he'd be eating a bit healthier.  Not that Momma has been eating healthy since he left either...so.... we both need to work on it.

My son NOT a letter writer but, he did manage to send a couple to us, plus 1 or 2 to each of his two siblings & 2 friends.  I was surprised at that & happy to see anything with his handwriting on it.  They were short 1 page at most but, it was Wonderful to get those.

We still have our Christmas up until epiphany as my dh & dd both got onto me when I said I wanted to take them down early this year... sooooo....guess I have that to do on 6th or this next weekend... probably weekend as I return to work in the office tomorrow....Yep, gonna be hard to get up at my 4am again as have loved being able to sleep in most days until at least 6:30am (dogs finally got the idea we are not up & going out at 4am or so...& bam! now back to work...).

mom2blondies - YEAH! phone call & a long one. Our 1 dog went through missing our sailor horribly...read Mom had very little sleep as she just cried & whimpered horribly especially at night since she was used to sleeping with him...she has a bed in his room but, he always allowed her to sleep in his bed with him...so... I felt so bad for her but, eventually she did settle down & started sleeping in her bed at the foot of his instead.

Love all the pictures of the areas and nature.  My happy place is outside as not an inside type person...guess expected as I'm an old country small town farm girl.  I love being in God's beautiful nature.

Today was a great day as my dd & her dog spent day together...started off with a bit of exercise for my horse (which he overdid it again as feeling good finally & it is cooler here)...then off to drive up into mountains for a hike we haven't done in probably a good 4-5 years...one we used to do quite often but, then life & other things got in the way.  Oh my stars! I knew I was not in any shape but, dang! I wasn't sure I'd make it at times...& not happy with myself for getting to this point...So time to get my self in gear again & start moving more & eating better.  This past year floored all of that in a big way but, time to get back up & do what needs to be done!

Take care & have a Grand evening everyone! 

Hugs, prayers & gratitude for Each of you!!! 

Jennifer - Thanks for sharing!! We are glad you are here as well. 

Joy - I am learning that each new social media site can take some getting use to. I just joined one related to my passion work and it is taking some getting use to. That is one of the reasons that I keep doing my best to help redirect our new members to this site, to this group, because this is where most of us hang out and are more likely to see your questions. 

BBH - Belated birthday wishes to your sailor!!

Mom2blondies - thanks for sharing your information with Joy. 

Good night to all! 

NewMilMom:  my son said to assure people that the rumor of food at A School in Pensacola being the best in Navy is probably true. He said the lines were always forever long and the food was always good when he made it there. (He and his roommates ordered out a lot.)  But he hated food at GL and said he didn't eat much in ROM because it was so bad. He lost 16 pounds and was back to wrestling weight. (He wrestled at 140-145 in his senior year)

Jennifer- Hey, thanks for sharing and we are glad you are here.

It is good to post and get to know everyone on here. :)

Thank you ladies for sharing your experiences with Joy.

Joy- Welcome to our group. We are so glad that you are here. There is a lot of information for you and I know it can be over whelming when you first join to read everything.

We are here for you thou. No question is ever dumb and someone will answer you. I am going to post some links for you to read over before SR leaves for boot camp.

Informed Delivery®  This is where you can sign up for your mail delivery so you can see when you have mail coming from your son. 

belovedbyHim- posted the links for you on your discussion board. I just checked it out.  :) These are the links I was talking about and they have a lot of good information in there to read.

Now that you know how to post on here someone can answer you faster since this is where we do most of our talking.

Welcome again and let us know if you have any more questions!!!

Big Hugs to you!!!

Katharine -- WOW!!!! So glad you and your family are safe, warm and dry!!

Joy-- If you go back to your page you will see the message I posted back in November when you first joined N4M.  You may want to re-read it now that your time is closer!  If you cannot find it let me know and I'll repost.  Read my blog to give you an idea of what the first few weeks may look like.. First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition 

Since Covid has hit things have been all over the place - they get put in quarantine, they get out of quarantine, they get put back in quarantine. A normal 10 week boot camp can drag on much longer and it can take a huge mental toll on them. It's important that they understand THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY! They need to be physically strong but more importantly they need to be MENTALLY STRONG! 

Let them know that they probably won't even get a letter from home until they are at least HALF WAY through boot camp. NO you haven't forgotten about them - it just takes that long for them to train someone in the mail room so they can get their mail. The first couple of weeks they may question their decision to join - and that's normal! But they need to be strong. This is just the beginning of their Navy career and they need to learn to be FLEXIBLE. (A Message of encouragement in a bible or even written and placed in their wallet can go a long way toward helping them get through the first month when they are having the roughest time!)

Remind them they are STRONG and THEY CAN DO THIS. Before they leave ask them HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THIS?

Good Morning Everyone!! 

I am just checking in to say hi and to also let you know that my time on this group is likely going to need to be in the evenings more. School starts up, I know Partyofseven will be doing school. I have a full day and week before me. And I have already been on this morning behind the scenes and so I need to get busy. 

For our new members, please come share and post your questions. We all volunteer our time on this site, so do check back often for responses. Or feel free to post again. 

Good Morning, Ladies. Even though I don't comment much anymore because my sailor is out of BC and A School and now doing C School, I still love to see what's going on and almost always learn something new or that's changed. Semper Gumby!

I'm trying to help a young man who will be shipping to BC in a few weeks. He's looking for guidance as to what he needs to do to get his affairs in order prior to leaving. What are your recommendations? I can think of: power of attorney, simple will, auto insurance adjustment, filing federal/state taxes in his absence, add authorized signature to bank account for expenses, set-up Navy Federal bank account...

Thank you for your help. I certainly missed out on several of these things when my son enlisted!

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to all of our new moms and the ones that just joined!!

Don't hesitate to ask any questions as someone will answer you. I know you guys have received a lot of information and it is ok.

Katharine- I am so glad that you and your family are ok. What a night you guys had!! Praise God that you and your family are safe!!!

Good Morning to all our regular ladies. May you have a blessed day today.

Luci- Let me check for you. Good Morning. Hope you and your Sailor are doing well!!!

Luci,

Here's a link for you!!

 Things to Do in the Last Month Before Your Future Sailor Leaves for....)

Phoenixmom- Good Morning, Hope you holiday was a good one and that everything is ok. 

Phoenixmom,

I hear you. That's how I feel every time my other son gets exposed at work. Glad you are taking the little one in and hopefully he just has the flu.

It takes 3 to 7 days for the symptoms to show. Prayers that you will be ok and not show any. Even symptoms of allergies/sinus had me wanting to get tested since they are so like the virus. 

I will keep you guys in my prayers. 

PartyofSeven I was really nervous when he began to have Fever. But he seems ok today, but just to be on the safe side.

Phoenixmom- This is good. I would do the same and take him in any way. It's always better to be safe and just to make sure. 

Big hugs!!

Prayer of the Morning:

Holy Lord, I know I’m weak, but I also know that you use my weakness to show your strength. God give me the understanding that your grace is all I need, and that I can’t earn it on my works alone. Help me be proud of my weaknesses, because they show your strength and protection. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.

mom2blondies!  Woohoo!  A phone call!  Isn't it wonderful!?!?!

Shanny and mom2blondies!  I love the winter pictures.  I struggle with winter because I don't do well, at all, in the cold.  And I get nervous with the drives that I and the kids have to take.  But I love the beauty of it and don't think I could really live somewhere where there isn't the snow like in Michigan.  My sailor actually said it didn't seem like Christmas or his birthday because it seems like spring down there.  Shanny, your picture reminds me of a place here that I like to drive when the snow sticks in the trees.  It's a dirt road that the kids used to run on in cross country.  And they had their senior pictures taken on that road. It is through a woods and at the end, there is a river, like your picture, Shanny.  It's gotten to be a tradition for my DH (I now know what that means) and I to drive down that road and take pictures at one of the first snow falls.

Shanny, our sons went to the same MEPS here in Michigan.  I didn't know they videoed the swearing in.  We missed it when he went earlier in the spring for the initial part, and again, of course, when he shipped out.  We also just dropped him off at the recruiter's office.  Do you think I would be able to go back and find it?   

I'm not sure if I updated everyone on here about my sailor.  For those of you who are new, my son is now at A school in San Antonio.  He did very well in boot camp.  The only time he was discouraged was when he went into a second ROM because his bunkmate thought he was Covid positive just one week before graduating.  But after being in ROM less than a week, he had a better perspsective on everything and was positive again.  He got out of ROM and put into a new division that was right where he left off before ROM.  His Battlestation was the night of PIR so we never got the "I'm a Sailor" call.  But that doesn't always happen.  We finally knew he graduated because we saw his picture and saw him in the video of graduation.  He was then in THU after graduation for 5 weeks before shipping to San Antonio.  He is there now waiting to class up.  He said he will class up January 27 and graduate A school March 19, unless he gets bumped from the class because of too many students. 

I just wanted to tell a little of my story, because as others have said, it is different for everyone.  But we all make it!  No News is Good News.  I recently had a "freak-out" moment, I think it was Sunday.  And only because my sailor gave me incorrect information and I had to clarify.  After private messaging with another "veteran" mom on here, she came up with a variation of a phrase we all live by, and I really like it!  It is "No News is Better than Freak-Out News!"

C’sMom:  search for the city MEPS. On Facebook. I just checked and my son’s is still up. He swore in July 30.  So your son’s is probably still there. Go under the tab for videos!  Hope you find it!!!

C’sMom:  my sailor said what he misses the most is the stars. He said he hasn’t really seen the starry sky since he left here because it’s always too bright out. I guess that’s one thing we have in the middle of no where Michigan...  I told him to wait until they are out on the water with nothing around. Because the sky will be amazing!  

Shanny, thanks.  I'll look it up!  

partyofseven - thank you for the link. I will pass the information along to him - and maybe even try to figure out how to play catch-up with my sailor on things we neglected to do ;-)

c'smom - my sailor was in SanAntonio after bc and graduated in late October. He's moved on to start his next training phase. Best of luck to your sailor!

Good morning everyone!

Joy-I'm glad you found us here. I'm in your same boat, zero military experience of knowledge and these ladies have helped me so much to not feel alone and given me better understanding of the process. Were you able to see my reply to your original post? If not I can copy and past it here for you. I spent the last 4 weeks hoping and praying for NO phone call because it would mean he had to extend his ROM. He was able to call home yesterday to let me know he is moving through on schedule and starts actual bootcamp today. Normally it wouldn't take 4 weeks for ROM and P days but because of the holidays things were delayed.

Shanny-that is funny about the dogs. My SR has no social media at all, he deleted it all when he about 16 or 17 when he was getting serious about his pre-Navy career path. I told him I'd send him photos once I got his address. 

C'sMom-The snow is so beautiful but I have never had to live/drive in it. My oldest lives just 30 minutes away and gets snow a couple times a year so I wait until the roads are clear and go up there and enjoy it. 

Phoenixmom I hope your little one is ok. It is so nerve-wracking when you find out you were exposed after being so careful. 

I was able to connect with my SR girlfriends dad and I got her mailing address ship/div so I'll be able to forward my SR letters to her right away when I get them. I don't know why I didn't think to get his contact info before they left but I was able to do some detective work and found his email address and emailed me all of her info today! She has PIR the week before my SR. 

Shanny - to funny about A school in Pensacola & great food rumors...  But, unfortunately my sailor is A school in a different state. 

I think he will be fine just wish he'd not be eating all the junk fast food stuff (pizza & burgers) that he can at the fast food options on the base he is at.  It sure is not going to help him be in best physical shape that is for sure.  

PhoenixMom - praying & hoping for good news on your little one.  It is so hard normally when they don't feel well & now that Co-Vid is rampant the stress/worry goes up a zillion times.  

C'sMom - I love the "no news is better than freak-out news". Gonna have to add to my repertoire.

Our poor sailor is Not having a good 2021 so far...when he first got to A school he bought a laptop on the base...had for what 2 months now & as of yesterday it is deader than dead...black screen won't do anything!  he was more than a bit upset after dropping 1,300.00+ on it to only have 2 months & massive issue.... dang!!

Have a wonderful day everyone!  And prayers that 2021 is a good year for all of us.

NewMilMom- Oh no that is not good at all. Was the computer under warranty? I pray that he will be able to get it fixed. 

Have a great day as well!!

mom2blondies- That was fast that you were able to get the gf's information. 

Have a great day!!

Luci- Hey, You are very welcome!!! I am glad that I was able to help you. If you can't do them now, at least now you know and can take care of it later on with your Sailor.

Have a great day!

I have a question that I'm not sure how to find the answer. Does anyone know if they can send mail between ships at bootcamp? My son is sending me letters to forward to his girlfriend (seems so funny they have to travel across the country and then travel right back to where he sent them from). Once they have each others address can they just put a stamp on it and put it in the mail? Even though it still probably has to leave to be sorted it would be a shorter distance than all the way across the country, haha!

Mom2blondies, no, they are not supposed to be in contact with other recruits.  it is big trouble for them, up to being separated from the service.  Sending mail to you to send to the other is an end run around the rules.  If caught, they're risking everything.  

Anti M-Yikes! Good to know now before anything was sent! I'm guessing they will be told that at some point so they know. If not I'll let them know as I know neither of them would want to risk that at all!! Their situation is pretty unique...or maybe not, I really don't know. 

Anti M-is this just during bootcamp? Is it against the rules for me to update each of them on what I've heard from the other? I certainly don't want to send anything that could cause trouble for either of them. I already have a sealed letter to her ready to send out updating her on the phone call I had with him so wondering if I should edit my letter?? Thanks for the info!