Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

I saw the post about Navy Moms stalking the mailman.  This was my FB post when I got the notice from USPS. LOL

We have a Sailor! 

mustangmom65, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations, mustangmom65! BTW--were you ever able to get your flights straightened out, or are we praying for safe driving¿

mustangmom65 - Congratulations!!!!

Thank you Elina! Yes, our flight worked out fine, no issues at all.

Mustangmom63 - Congratulations!! Bravo Zulu!!!

MomofJoseph - Love the picture!!

Elina & others - Yes, the American Red Cross will call and make sure you know how to get ahold of them if there is an emergency situation. I am not certain about them asking about the Form Letter or if they have started sending out a letter to notify you or not, that may have been what they were referring to. 

Hopefully when she has an opportunity BelovedbyHim will post her Red Cross infomercial  :-)  for you all. 

Mytidbitz - I am sure they will also instruct the parents and those in attendance about what to do when liberty is called and most likely will comment on the 900 Division. 

Jrdsmama - To answer your question -  I will check to see if they told him if it is before or after BC, not sure they did.  If it is after, does he get his phone back and can call/communicate? - Only sailors who are moved off of the RTC side in GL, either to THU (temporary holding unit) or A school will likely have their cell phones. If they are still on the RTC side, then NO most likely he will not have his cell phone until he goes to A school.  -   And if it is after does that mean he may have liberty for the weekend and we get extra time to spend with him?? - Not sure but there is always a possibility and you can hope for the best. If driving, you have a lot more flexibility with a weekend stay over. Just make sure your motel will not charge you extra if you leave early. Especially if you buy one of those stay 3 night or more deals. If you are flying then that is going to a little trickier, so plan to stay and do some sight seeing with or without your sailor maybe. He will be the only one able to tell you, hopefully in a letter but remind him that you won't receive the last one until after your return if he mails one the Monday before PIR. 

Mustangmom65, congratulations 3 in the Navy, Wow! Prayers for you. So happy for your daughter.

MomofJoseph, just love the picture!

Good Morning Everyone,

Welcome to our group. We are glad that you are here.

mytidbitz- I know it is hard. Just know that your loved one is busy working very hard and  is missing you as much as you are missing your loved one.

Your loved one will be the best one to get the final information from. And as it gets closer you might hear more about this  in your PIR group.

Jrdsmama- Hi and it's good to see you on here.  Your loved one will be able to tell you more as you get closer to PIR. Stay flexible and if you can stay an extra day until you hear from your loved one on how long liberty will be.

MomofJoseph- I love that picture and yes we all have done that at one time or another.   :)

Mustangmom65- Whoo Hoo Congratulations and enjoy your time with your family!!

Thank you for the update regarding the sailorization. We have not heard anything since RTC first talked about it.

Elina- Welcome to our group and it's good to see you posting on here. Yes, the Red Cross will call you to make sure you know how to get ahold of them if you need to.   :)

 As each day passes you will start to get stronger and the days won't seem as long as they did when you first began this journey!!  Big Hugs to you ladies!!!

 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR BRAND NEW SAILORS. MAY GOD PROTECT THEM TODAY AND EVERY DAY AS THEY BEGIN THEIR NEW JOURNEY!!!!

Congratulations to all the Sailors graduating today and to all the Mom's and Dad's who made it through the last 8-10 weeks of Bootcamp.

I already received my email from the USPS informational delivery and still no letter today.  There's always tomorrow, so I'm holding on to hope. I do worry that this means she hasn't received any of our letters either and this means at mail call every day she goes without her name being called.  

Today's mood is I want to punch something but also I want to cry.

mytidbitz, just remember the division your daughter is in, all her spare time is going to that and she probably has no time left for letter writing. She is doing alot of extra tings on top of your basic training. I am sure she has gotten your letters. Stay strong and proud of all she is accomplishing, she is thinking of you, I guarantee it. Prayers to make the waiting easier.

mytidbitz - I understand the bluemood - so may I suggest that you write another letter to her, or find a funny, non-glitzy, you know cheap Dollar General card for $0.50 or $1 that won't draw attention but still maybe go read some humorous cards to lighten your mood and find one that is just right for sending to her. Take a copy of it and you can always email it to her so that when she is out of BC, she will always be able to look back at it and know how much you were thinking about her, even in the great silence. 

Congrats Mustangmom65! Made my heart smile this morning!

Chipmunk and Northwoodsmom - Thanks for the encouragement.  I mail a letter every day.  Sometimes two if I sent one through sandboxx.  Yesterday I sent her a maze puzzle with her picture on top and at the end are her airpods because she is always asking Has anyone seen my airpods?

If I get a letter tomorrow I will stop my whining.

mytidbitz, it's not whining, it's airing out ones disappointment. You keep doing whatever it takes to get through BC! We are hanging right along with you.

mytidbitz - LOL!! And I like how Northwoodsmom phrased that!

Ok ladies, sooo my daughter's best friend received her letter today!  It was postmarked out of Illinois on the 12th and she received it today in NJ so that didn't take long to actually mail,  and I'm really hopeful I'll get my letter tomorrow.  Just one thing, as if I wasn't freaking out enough already, the return address on the envelope she sent her BFF is off by one number, so on the form letter we received her return address starts with a 3 and even on the envelope too but on the envelope she sent her friend she wrote a 2 as the first number.  I'm hoping she made a typo on her friend's envelope  because the address starting with a 3 is the same one the recruiter gave us.  And they don't move them after the form letter is sent out right?

mytidbitz, the link below has the addresses for all of the ships.  I double-checked my son's against this list to make sure I had it correct.  (I had trouble reading one of his numbers.)  I hope this helps.

https://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/faq.html#contacting_recruits

mytidbitz - and congratulations that you heard something from your daughter - even though it was from her BFF

MomofJoseph - Thank you thank you thank you!  I was able to view the addresses and whew, I had the right addresses.  They all start with a 3 none with a 2 so she must have made a mistake when address her return address.  thank you again.  I feel such a relief!

mustangmom65 -- I'm Late to the party but Congratulations!!!!   Enjoy every second with your sailor!

Ladies, This is a Regular Announcement: Please put this information in your Phones:
I have a contact labeled {sailor ICE} with this phone number and text number as the phone number under the contacts, then I have the needed contact info in the notes section. The info in Italics below. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it or have to remember where or what you need! In the event of an emergency I can just pull up the info on my phone and hand it off if I’m not able to think clearly!!

If an emergency (such as a serious illness, death or birth) of an immediate family member takes place then military families can initiate a request for Red Cross emergency assistance. The message will be verified and then delivered. If the emergency requires leave for a service member, the Red Cross will verify the emergency to the service member’s commanding officer. Eligibility for emergency leave will ultimately be determined by them. Throughout the process, the family member will be able to track the progress of the message from anywhere in the world online, by phone, through our mobile app or in person.

To best prepare for an emergency, please have this information ready when reporting an emergency message:

· The service members name, rank, social security number and unit address {SR Davy Jones, 123-45-6789, Great Lakes Naval Training Center Ship 99, Div 1904.} {In Fleet This would be their Ship Name and number}

· The name of the person with the emergency and the nature of the situation {King Neptune, Hospitalized in critical condition}

· The name and contact information for the medical authority to contact regarding the status of the emergency {Doctor Jack Sparrow, Barbados General Hospital, 555-123-4567}

To access these services through the Hero Care Network, create an account and send the message here or send through the Hero Care app by texting “GETHEROCARE” to 90999 or call a Hero Care specialist at 1-877-272-7337.

This is a reason to have the discussion before your sailor leaves or ask in an early call or letter (Reassure them that all is well at home but you have learned you should have asked sooner.) No one likes to talk about the possibility of death but it happens and it’s easier if you have a plan for how to handle these situations. When you can, ask if they want to know about anyone not parent or sibling while in boot camp (They likely will not be allowed to leave anyway), ask if they want to come home if it’s a parent or sibling ( It will be short 2-4 days at most then 2 week Quarantine and a delay in BC training-- Fleet still short followed by quarantine.)

mytidbitz -- Your SR will not be the ONLY one not getting mail.  there are many reasons why they may not call or write.  You are still in the early days of the great silence.  Try and focus on the positives, She is Safe, She is Doing what she wanted, She is being fed and sheltered.  She is Strong and she got that from YOU!  If memory serves she's in a Performance Div so she doesn't have tons of free time to write.  You Will get through this and one day you will look back and think how easy and short BC really was.

mytidbitz -- Once they mail the form letter if there is ANY change in Status (Change in PIR date, Div or Ship) They will make an Official "Business" Call!! Yes they can move them but it's usually for a reason.  You already verified that she made a mistake on her address and that it should be a 3 and not a 2 but I just wanted to let you and our other New moms know how things work if there is a change.

Hi Good morning Moms!

I was so apprehensive about checking my email today and kind of slowly opened it and then  I’m getting two letters today!!! Well two envelopes! Thank you God.

Momofjoseph - I hope you get a letter today too 

I forgot to mention yesterday that she did ask her BFF “text my mom, see if she’s ok” 

mytidbitz, yay!!!  I’m so happy for you!  You asked me a question in the Nov. PIR group and I just answered your question over there.  Sorry for the delay.  I thought I was “following” the thread, but evidently not because I wasn’t receiving notifications.

Hi Ging,  I'll go look right now.

Good Morning Everyone,

We are glad that you are here.

MomofJoseph- Hey and thank you for sharing and posting that info for mytidbitz. That little list is our go to when we want to make sure of the ship's address while they are in boot camp.   :)

mytidbitz- Good Morning and I know you felt relieved when she had mailed her bff a letter and she wanted to know how you were. Big hugs to you!! She is thinking of you like I was saying.   :)

Yay and for also getting letters today!!! whoo hoo that is awesome. And I know you won't be stalking that mail man. Lol

Ging- Hey and it's good to hear from you. thank you for sharing with mytidbitz.   :) How are you doing?

How are the rest of our new moms doing today? If you have just recently joined please come and introduce yourself as we love to celebrate, laugh, cry and vent with you.

Partyofseven, thanks for asking.  I’m doing really well.  The “great silence” was rough, but once I got my SR’s phone call I was fine.  Letters and an additional phone call followed so that continued to put my mind at ease.  His PIR is three weeks from yesterday.  I’m sooooo excited!  I went ahead and made hotel reservations (which can be changed) as soon as I knew the PIR date.  We’re six hours away so we’re going to drive.  Thanks for all you and all the other veteran navy mom’s do!!!  It is very much appreciated!

mytidbitz --- I am SOOOOOOOOOO Happy for you getting Not 1 but 2 letters!!! I Hope you don't jump your mailman too hard when he gets there!! When my Sailor was in BC our regular mailman was off for just about 1/2 of BC.  I Had warned him so he knew that I was looking for these letters from GL and he'd said he'd bring them to the house.  well he had a rotating cast of Subs while he was out and one guy was a stickler for rules! He would only put the mail in the boxes (We have a communal mail box stand jut down the street) I Had to have my key and I couldn't get the mail out till AFTER he was done with all the boxes and the box was secured again!  Oh and a snail would look fast compared to this guy!! Thursdays were our mail days and I thought I'd have a stroke waiting for him to finish!! Informed Delivery was not available so I didn't KNOW if I had a letter or not but The 25 minute wait was killer!!!

Oh and Hey mytidbitz -- What's today's mood??? ;0)

I got a phone call!!!!  Woo hoooo!  Caller ID was a 847 area code and said, "North Chicago, IL"

He sounds so happy!  And we are over the moon that we got to hear his voice.  

Thank you to the Mom who said to ask them how long they have to talk.  He had an hour, but wanted to call some friends, too.  We talked for 25 minutes.  My heart is so full !!!!

Today's Mood is WOOHOO! 

So we called our mailman (yes we have his phone number, LOL) and he was about a block away so we walked up and met him with a coffee and some pastries in exchange for the letters.  Otherwise he wouldn't be at our house until about 2pm, that's a full hour from now!  

Calling your mailman and walking to meet him is not considered stalking right?  LOL

So she sent 2 letters for me and 2 letters for her dad and one for her sister.  Then a really short one to say she think she messed up the return address, but she's received 3 of our letters and so to keep using the address we used.  

MomofJoseph - So so so happy for you!  And I'm so happy he sounds happy.  That's all we want for our kids right is to be happy.

Sounds like it's a good day all around!

MomofJoseph -- Yea!!! Phone calls are the BEST!!! This should keep you on cloud nine for a while!  I'm so glad you got to visit and he still got to call friends!

mytidbitz -- I thought so!  WOW That's a BUNCH of Letters!!! Enjoy each and every one of them!! And now you know that she's getting your letters so you can breathe easy there.  I'm so Happy for you.  (It may be mild stalkerish behavior but in BC it's TOTALLY justifiable!!!)

Yay for momofjoseph and mytidbitz!!!!!  A call and letters!  :)

Thank you everyone.  Quick question. Are smart watches not allowed at all A schools?  I ask because in her letter she said I wish I would have brought my watch I feel lost sometimes.  We want to get her one as a gift for PIR so she can take to A school.  Right now I’m looking at G shocks but Samsung makes some nice watches but they’re smart.  

Gio0525 - So happy for you!  When is your son's graduation date?  I'm hoping my daughter remembers our phone numbers or has them in her address book, LOL

Good Morning Everyone!! Congratulations!! WooHoo on the phone calls and letters. I was able to read and rejoice with you all yesterday, just not able to reply!! I know your momma hearts are signing!!

mytidbitz - I agree with BBH on the watches - I know at Nuke school they are not allowed any sort of smart watch and many of the families get G-shock. Just make sure all accessories are solid black, watches, umbrellas, etc. They are not allowed to wear their black backpack that they should have been issued in BC on their back when they are in their dress uniforms. They were only allowed to wear their sea bags from what the USO guy told them at the airport. So they had their sea bag on their back, carried their garment bag in one hand with their orders in an envelope in hand and their back pack in their other hand. 

Even when meeting our sailors at the airport, this was why we use to tell people don't take extra stuff with you to them, they can't carry a lot of extra. 

Watches - they are able to purchase watches at the BC NEX. My son just had his inexpensive black Casio watch from Wal-Mart which broke while he was at BC. He ended up purchasing another inexpensive < $20.00 watch at BC which had alarms etc on it and I believe he still has it after 4 years, so you don't have to go expensive > $100 for some G-shock if you don't want to. 

Chipmunk- why do I feel so much pride just when you’re explaining all the policies?  I guess because I realize she’s doing this !   Thanks for the info on the watches.  I was thinking of replacing her Apple watch that she lost a few months ago.  I even saw some navy blue Apple watch bands with the navy logo engraved on it.  She’s not going yo nuke school so I thought it would be ok yo use the Apple Watch but now I’m thinking g shocks are cool and that may be the better choice.  I’m also thinking of sending her a nex card to buy a watch but she’s getting paid so she should be able to buy it for herself right?  The only thing she’s asked me for so far are stamps and pictures which she had said she didn’t want.  She thought it would be too difficult to see us in pics and her recruiter had told her you’ll change your mind when you get there.  

I bought her an address book yo take with her and I’m hoping she has our numbers because  she asked for our numbers in the letter.  We all four have the same number except for the last 4 digits so I hope she can figure it out and not have to wait for our letters.  

Good Morning Everyone,

mytidbitz- Good Morning, I was also going to say don't get her the apple watch yet. They all require them to have a G shock watch at first. After she gets to A school and or later she can buy one then or you can get her a new one for Christmas.  :)

I'm so happy that letters are coming and yes you can stalk that mailman they seem to know when our kids are in the military! Lol Anyways, that should make your mama heart full and so happy.

That's how I was when I first got mine. Now that they are starting to come in you can rest a little easier. I also sent mine pictures and stamps and just put them in his letters. It is ok.

Just no glittery cards or music cards and you will be fine.

gio0525- Whoo Hoo that is awesome!!! 1 hour phone calls ladies!! That is so great!! I am so happy for you!! Your mama heart is full as well and it does help us so much when we hear from them.

MomofJoseph- whoo hoo I love it!! Saturday's was always my phone call day to and sometimes he would call on Thursday's. You just never realize how good it is to hear their voice when you finally get to hear it!!

That is so wonderful ladies!! Enjoy that feeling until the next call or letter!!!

God Bless and have a wonderful Sonday!!!

gio0525 - So glad you had a phone call!! Not all calls are 1 hour, it just depends on the division and what the phone banks look like, so feel blessed! Thank you for sharing your experience with others! We keep in the know that way. And hopefully you will have a full weekend with your new sailor after his graduation. As I recall they are expected to put in a leave / liberty chit, so in one of your letters to him let him know that you are planning to come see him and stay for the weekend, so to be sure to put in a request to be with you. 

mytidbitz - You are becoming a Navy Mom and that pride is just part of the growing process because you are recognizing the sacrifice both that you daughter is making but also the importance of learning how to keep her safe as well as within regulation.

No, she would not be able to wear a navy blue banded watch with a Navy logo engraved on it!! Save that for yourself. We get to wear the bling, they don't. 

It would be safer for you to put money into her bank account for a watch than even trying to send her a gift card in the mail. We don't recommend sending gift cards or cash money, I wouldn't even send a check honestly - as it would give someone access to your bank account. At least not while they are having to receive mail in a communal mail room location. Once they are in the fleet and might have their own apartment with mail delivered to them directly by a mailman (assuming locked boxes) then you could send gift cards. It is too easy for someone to tell they are in an envelope and keep it. - Yes, ugly, selfish things like that do happen. 

Stamps are hard for them to keep with getting from the NEX, Not sure why but it is easier for us to mail them stamps. So for those of you just getting addresses, be sure to send a few stamps at a time in some of your letters. Tell them that if they don't need them to feel free to share with shipmates.

As for the phone numbers, the address book might have been big enough that it got accidently packed in her box. They get yelled at  and hurried while doing the packing of the box, my son actually forgot to put his cell phone in and had to figure out getting it opened and taped back up. That was when they mailed them and they wrote the address on in such a way so that you knew if it had been tampered with. 

You should be able to put the phone numbers on a small card that can fit into their wallet. More info for new members. 

mytidbitz- You can also put the phone numbers in your next letter. Depending on what mine would ask for in his letters I would do the same.

And that's also because you are becoming a Navy mom along side of her becoming a Sailor. Remember as they get stronger so do we!!

When we could go to the airport I brought mine a little bag and he went thru it and took what he wanted. I also learned a lot from other moms in my PIR group. What he didn't want I took back home.

I'm not trying to over whelm you :) but you and her will know best and later on after she gets to A school you will know how to send packages. I sent mine a couple and still do.  :) 

They use a friend's address if they don't want to use the regular mail room.

Just some more info for you!

Have a great day!