Day 1

[cris]

Last text I received from my daughter was lastnight, she was leaving Ohara airport for camp

No news is good news... .my moto. I concentrate on the advantages my daughter has going to bootcamp. She has been in JROTC since she was twelve. We have the program not just in the High schools but junior high. She took to it like a duck to water and for seven years it was an everyday part of life. Every muscle in her body reacts to commands instantly, second nature to her now. Her posture perfect, hand positions automatic. I remember having to get on to her not to stand at attention during homecoming pictures its so natural to her. I think I will email her junior high instructor tonight and let him know Im thinking of him.....

[Birdie]

You most likely won't hear from your daughter again anytime soon. Well, not counting when you receive her box of personal items that she has to mail back as soon as she arrives at camp. Contact with family is an earned privilege and won't be available for weeks. Write as many letters to her as you can. My son told me that the letters from home were his lifeline as he was going through bootcamp.
When he was finally able to use the phone, I could barely understand him, he was crying so much. He said even the toughest guys in bootcamp cried when they called home. It couldn't be helped.
Just encourage your daughter every chance you get. Keep telling her how proud you are of her. That's what she need to hear every step of the way.

[flobelinda]

Oh she will do just fine. Normally the recruits struggle with the physical part of it. But it seems this is second nature to her. I won't be surprise if she graduate with HONORS.
My daughter just graduated on 10/2 Coming back from the Great Lakes. It is truly a very proud moment for you and your daughter. Just not seeing and communicating with her for 2 months is the worst thing you have to deal with.

[Birdie]

My son mentioned that they would fling the letters from home at the recruits. Since I wrote such long letters, he said that when mine arrived, they made a big splat when they hit their target. After he told me about that, it was my goal to write such long letters, that they would give someone a concussion if they got hit by the envelope. I reminded him of that yesterday (he's currently deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln) and he had to laugh. He said people would duck when my son's name was called. :)

[cris]

thank everyone for the wonderful words. I told her to think of it like shes going to camp if she gets nervous. They take the high school JROTC kids to camp in OK. every summer for a week and half. Its set up to be like boot camp...camos and boots only, mre's, hiking, marching, sleeping in bunks with community showers.... but now she will be paid for going instead of us paying for her to go. LOL

[NM Loreta-Ship11,Div002 PIR11/19]

Hey Cris, that is good your daughter is prepared then! Got a quick one liner from my boy..he said folding is hard. Hopefully..that is all he really is finding hard to do..lol. He has been in boot camp two weeks as of this Tuesday...