Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Logan's Run- I know it's hard for you and your son, we just have to stay strong for them. My biggest problem is always being there to fix things for him, this is totally out of our hands. His letter on Thursday was written on 7/20, was not as confident as the one dated 2 days later that my husband got. They will have good days and bad I'm sure. Keep the letters coming, I sent another one today and included some news articles I thought he might like to read, nothing negative. I also sent him some funny meme's, just to keep his mind occupied. 

Sandra

Sandra - Thanks for the support. I really needed to hear what you said. It is true about wanting to fix things, and now I have to accept that he has to do this himself. He will come out on the other side feeling accomplished and stronger. I'm in the support role now. I'm super proud of him!  I know the next call will be better; I'm looking forward to it. I have sent him 6 letters with funny pictures and memes as well. I told him that Aliens are Real. LOL. That's probably the only news I shared. Trying to keep it light, funny, and supportive. His friend is getting shipped off soon and will be on the same ship because of their MOS. Not that they'll get to talk, but it's nice to know your "bro" is close by. 

Apparently posting in Boot Camp Forum was not the same as posting in Boot Camp Moms. You'd think I'd have this figured out by now! So I'll post here, too:

"I just wanted to double check. Can you send a letter that requires more than one stamp to RTC? My kid is in RCU with an injury and will be there a couple more months. He is desperate for things to do and read. I'm happy to enclose some puzzles, questionnaires, magazine pages from his favorite mags (appropriate ones, like Scuba etc) and that sort of thing. His Dad had a couple envelopes that were just over an ounce and put a second stamp on them (in #10 envelope). Is this going to be a problem?

I really thought I saw something about this on this site before and haven't been able to find it specific to the number of stamps used. Thanks!"

Logan's Run - Sandra is right on. And the thing that kept me going was knowing that, in most cases, BC lasts only 10 weeks. Hoping that after PIR, when your son is in his A school training for what he signed up to do, he'll be much happier. It's a process...

Travelin Mom - I'm sorry to hear your son is injured. I hope he has a speedy recovery. In my opinion I would'nt think it's a problem to have extra postage because it contained MWR items. The reason is in the Sandboxx app you can send multiple pages and newsletters, plus there is a care package option in their store that you can send towards the end of their training. If he is in RCU you would think he could get more than just a single letter. I hope someone can confidently answer your question. 

Thanks, Joe's mom! I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but when you're in the thick of it, batten down the hatches because we've hit some stormy seas!!! lol. Couldn't help myself ;) Thank goodness for this forum!

Sandra-- What a WONDERFUL way to start your Sunday!!! Yep... They live for Mail call!! I mailed a letter or questionnaire almost daily!  The Letter writing article above is super helpful for when you can't think of anything new to say!  I'm so glad that his first phone call was upbeat and that he's enjoying it.  Yes, the reality hits them all differently

Logan's Run -- I'm so sorry that your phone call was less than stellar. Yes they have good day and bad ones.  (Stormy seas and calm seas) and yes sometimes you just have to batten down the hatches, Put your head down let the waves crash over you and face the Storm!  Our job back home is to be that Calm and Safe harbor that is ALWAYS there, ALWAYS Supportive, ALWAYS Loving and Always Reassuring.  We shine that light into their heart through our letters, keeping our tears at bay during phone calls and just being here!  (If you are a believer, also through our faithful and fervent prayers!)

TravelinMom -- Nope the Forum is all the moms but not everyone follows it.  This is the BEST place to ask your BC questions since more current and recent moms will see it.

The extra stamp should not be an issue.  They still can't get "Care Packages" but they can get mail.  They also don't get quite as strict scrutiny on letters, I believe.  Even in the Regular Div's they would still get the mail, they just may have to open it in front of an RDC. I'd write and ask if he can be sent magazines or if they are considered contraband.  The worst that would happen is he has to throw it out but better to ask him.  He will know what they allow or not.  I know during COVID they were bringing reading material around for the folks stuck in ROM Quarantine so they at least had something to do during the long hours but I don't know the current policy. As for including articles just make sure you don't send anything on Newsprint!! (Regular newspaper ink...) This rubs off and can get on clothing and cause a "hit" plus it's a pain to clean off their uniforms. reprint on a regular printer.

We usually say just 1 stamp because anything over has to be opened in front of the RDC's and you DO NOT want to call attention to your SR.  RCU is a bit different.  Hopefully of one of our RCU moms will pop over and answer.

Logan's Run -- They can get as many letters as arrive at any given day (1 or 100....) we just say only 1 stamp because those don't have to be opened in front of the RDC's.  2 or more or priority or anything not a regular First class letter/card are subject to that requirement. They are just checking to make sure no contraband is being mailed in.  So NO pain meds, chapstick, condoms, food items, chewing gum, large sums of cash.... (Technically bandaids and mole skin are not allowed either!) Of course if a SR gets 100 letters that is also likely to draw and RDC's attention but that does not mean they won't get to open and read all of them. (Now Storage.... That is a whole OTHER issue!!) RCU is a tad bit different but they still are SR's so they are still under all the original rules thus the reason for the question.  I believe they can ask permission for reading material to be sent from home and if granted they will not get in trouble for that.  It's just like SR's with contacts who are given permission to wear them for PIR or Girls to wear light make up at PIR.  They have to ask and once permission is given they will have to open the package in front of the RDC's but they will NOT get in trouble for it (Get Intensive Training because of it arriving.) IF you SR asks for something specific, Assume they have permission and send it BUT don't be presumptive and send items before it's asked for.

Beloved by him - Thank you for the reassuring message and the low down on letters! Certainly appreciate all the advice and rule knowledge :)

Logan's Run -- While this info is based on how it's been in the past, Remember that your SR/Sailor is always your best source of information.  In this case you were worried he'd get in trouble and I doubt that will happen but it's always best to ask your Sailor.  BC is an odd situation in a Navy career in that normal sources of Communication are not available.  It does get easier to communicate after this!

TravelinMom - my daughter was in RCU for few months recovering from stress fractures in her legs. At the time, in 2021, she was allowed to get stuff like word-find puzzles, adult coloring books (with colored pencils, NOT MARKERS), language study books, but not magazines. She shared them with other SRs because there is NOTHING to do in RCU and they were going out of their minds. They had an informal library. Check with your RCU because things change over the years. If you can send them, mail one book at a time, or the extra postage will cause the package/envelope to be opened in front of everybody. Not cool for your SR.

TravelinMom - I meant to say "check with your SR" !

Good morning Moms. I know my son didn't write much but the communication was so different between Dad and Son compared to Mom and son. I think we are their safe harbor and they can say things to us that there wouldn't necessarily say with their Dads and vice versa. At least that was the case with my son, even his voice was different while I listened to him talk with Dad. More assured, more confident but with me it was softer. I always tend to read between the lines but my hubby takes it for what it says. Mom's seem to pickup on things then worry about every detail even after BC this seems to be true. This is a long journey, I do overthink everything which makes it harder on me and I wish I could learn to go with the flow like my husband. The Navy is teaching me to trust that I have given him a great start in life. My son has thanked me for giving him great morals to follow which made me happy. You've done a remarkable job Moms creating strong kids who answered the call to serve and protect others. Now days that is so difficult to find. We sum it up as Pride but it is so much deeper than that!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR OCTOBER 2023

PIR SEPTEMBER 2023

 PIR AUGUST 2023

**REMINDER** BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 2023, RECRUIT GRADUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY (NO LONGER ON FRIDAY), EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN GRADUATION IS ON WEDNESDAY.

@Ummi - My SR did say "he heard" that he could receive books. But I asked him to get confirmation and write me back. Scuttlebutt isn't the same as approval! But I've been mailing him a book I chopped up and weighed and have been mailing in 15 envelopes so he has something to read while getting the approval info to me! lol!

TravelinMom - That is some dedication!! Have you been numbering his envelopes, so he knows which order they go in. I am sure the pages are numbered as well, but if an envelope should go missing, that is something that is often recommended on here, to number your envelopes. 

TravelinMom - Chipmunk's right. Numbering them helps if something gets lost. I also used to take a pic of each page with my phone so I could re-create the letter if my SR said she didn't get a letter.

My SR, who was in RCU for roughly 4 months out of the 10 months in BC, told us to send a book at a time, because when he went back to his bunk, there was no room to store all the books (Maximum Ride Series, Stephen King novels, etc.) we kept sending. Basically what I'm saying is, send 1 or 2 books at a time. This is through our experience; things may have changed

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR OCTOBER 2023

PIR SEPTEMBER 2023

 PIR AUGUST 2023

**REMINDER** BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 2023, RECRUIT GRADUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY (NO LONGER ON FRIDAY), EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN GRADUATION IS ON WEDNESDAY.

B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN Thank you for the Blue Star Mothers information.  I had a lovely chat with my local chapters president and will be trying out their next meeting.

This is such a great source of information and support!

Thank you everyone!

The pages of the book are numbered already and I have stapled them into little packets. I told him he can pass them around as he's done with them or toss them, it didn't matter. No need to hold onto those. As for letters to him, I haven't numbered them but I have them all saved in Word files so could re-print if needed. I know I'd mess up the numbering after a while so figured it wasn't that big of a deal. 

TravelinMom - I wrote all of my messages to my son's email, then I printed them and mailed them to him. That way he had them and I did as well for future. 

New photos up on the RTC Facebook page.... https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=664718605696357&set=pcb.66...

**FB Notes.... Do NOT ask for specific Div's or SR's to be photographed.  DO NOT tag your SR but DO Click on the photo to save and share with your friends and family!
DO Thank the RTC Public Relations team for the opportunity to see your SR's in action (Even if it's not YOUR specific SR.)

Happy PIR Friday!!! Do we have anyone here this week???
https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand

Good Morning Everyone!! 

Did anyone receive a phone call this week?

Are we getting mail?  My letters generally arrived on Thursday. 

If you are still in that silent period - remember "No News is Good News" it means your SR is on track and moving forward with their training.  And you are getting stronger, able to bear those times of lack of communication, for some, during school but especially when they are out in the fleet. 

Chipmunk- I received 2 letters last wk, and we have more coming today. No phone call this wkend but maybe Sunday we will get one, hopefully. I love my sons letters, but they are short with very few details. I have always said he is a man of few words, but it is so good to hear from him. His letter on Friday said he was doing well, and passing his tests. He mentioned something about having an insanely great brisket, he said it was like it was made in Texas. That made me smile. he got a little taste of home. I miss him so much, but at the same time grateful he is doing well.

Sandra

We received two letters last week and another is coming today. We also, received a phone call yesterday!! My family was all together for a birthday celebration,  so my son was on speaker able to talk to the whole family. What a gift it worked out the way it did!! He told us some very heartfelt things of how grateful,  thankful and blessed he is for having us as his family and thankful for the love and support we're showing him. He misses us very much, as we do him too.  He told us he's passed all of his tests, he's enjoying the food, made a few buddies, he says he has awesome RTC's and is motivated and focused on doing his best and getting to PIR. Best phone call ever. We all needed that💙⚓️

Does anyone know when the division artwork is available?

G'sNavyMom- That sounds like an amazing phone call, good to hear he is doing so well.

Sandr

Sandra - thank you so much. And, the same for you. It's so nice to hear positive feedback from our SR's. My son mentioned the brisket too. He loves brisket and enjoyed it! I'm glad your son is doing well too. Fingers crossed you receive a phone call soon💙

G'sNavyMom - What a perfect phone call - music to a mom's ears. Sounds like you've raised a wonderful young man. I didn't know anything about the division artwork until my son mentioned it in his final letter from BC. At PIR he surprised me with a sweatshirt with his division's flag on it. Pretty cool!

joe-mom - thank you so much! I'm super proud of him💙That is wonderful you received a sweatshirt with your sons division flag! I keep looking on the site for my son's division, but it's not available yet. I wasn't sure when they are posted. Congrats to your son and your family. That's so wonderful.  I can't wait for our PIR!! 

Where would we look for the division artwork, I feel like I saw that information somewhere but can't remember now?

G’sNavyMom - I didn’t know anything about the division artwork until my sailor presented the family with t-shirts that had it on the backs. I had no idea they did anything! He may have mentioned that they were designing their division flag, but it never occurred to me that it would be an entirely unique thing!

Diahn - that's so cool! Each division is so unique.  Do you know who designs them?

Sandra - My son sent home a postcard his first week that had the information on it. I believe the website is: myffr.navyaims.com. click on the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. Then click on division apparel. Search for his/her division 

G’sNavyMom - I’m not sure exactly - I know the entire division had a hand in it as far as what to include. I assume either someone in the division had some drawing ability or they had a bank of images to choose from and once they were happy with it they turned it in to their RDC who sent it to get turned into a file that could be used to create the flag and then was available to order on t-shirts and hoodies.

Diahn - that's so cool! 

Sandra & G'sNavyMom - Wow!!! Two letters in a week, that is wonderful!!  Phone calls are the best but when they don't come just know that they are working hard. My son's letters were also short, He always said he only had 10 minutes to write. 

I am glad they are enjoying the food, that is good!

G'sNavyMom - That birthday phone call is priceless!!

G'sNavyMom - This information is from the pages in the upper right which Lemonelephant put together. I don't know if the link that you shared is more up to date than what is in this information or not. Division T-shirts

My son bought shirts for all of us for Christmas (well not quite all of us) and then later, I was still able to order a couple for his oldest sisters.  My understanding is that they all work on ideas for their division flag, but 1 maybe 2 people do the actual artwork. Because of my son's job in his division, he did not get to spend much time with the division when they were designing the flag. 

Here is the link to the website again - Welcome (navyaims.com)

And the T-shirts or hoodies are not available for ordering from outside sources, I don't think until after PIR, but I believe my son had actually purchased ours while he was at BC, because he had packed them into his seabag and then could not get to them at the airport. So, he had to pack them and fly home with them at Christmas time for us!!! 

I took a look at my SR's account and I noticed he has a transfer coming out that says Certificate, does anyone know what this is?

Sandra - If your son has a NFCU account, it is possible that he is putting money into their Early Start CD (sorry if I am remembering the name incorrectly.)  NFCU has a special CD that earns a fairly good interest rate for up to $3000.00 which your SR can start putting money into as soon as they have their direct deposit from DOD going into their bank account. 

Chipmunk- That is kind of what I was thinking but when I think of Certificate's I am under the impression that they are opened for a certain amount and can't be added to until maturity. I will have to read about how this one works.

Sandra - I have the same understanding that a Certificate of Deposit usually has one deposit date and then you earn interest until the maturity date. However, I know our local credit union has a different sort of deposit option for a similar type of starting savings certificate. I don't recall how NFCU's is set up, I just know about it because my son was able to set one up before he left for BC.  

I was sweating though because they have to have their initial DOD deposit into their checking account to show that their account is active, within 30 days of opening the CD, for them to earn that special rate. We opened my son's CD up before he left for BC, and it took longer for his first direct deposit to occur in NFCU than I thought it would!

I looked into it and yes its a little different with the Navy CU, deposits are allowed. That's a great option

Sandra - Yes it is!