No communication- Arrived BC night of 11/12

[Erica]

I feel lost. I would write if I knew where to. I don’t want my son to think we’ve forgotten about him. I keep telling myself that no news is good news. I hope! I’ve read through posts here but there are so many. I also hoped he’d go to church and the Missionaries’s who run the service would reach out but heard nothing.

[Kanada]

Hello Erica! 

It's super hard at the beginning, the no communication for 2-3 weeks is insane! I would still recommend writing anyway, so when you get an address you can mail off so many letters! That's what I did, it kept me busy and I wrote about my day to day activities, how proud I was, and how our cat was fairing. 

The only person you would hear from while your son is in boot camp is going to be your son. There are so many recruits there that it's impossible for anyone else to reach you. Your child is going to be the one sending you mail and making the phone calls. 

That said! The form letter, the one that comes with the address and graduation date, comes 2-3 weeks after your son has arrived at boot camp, and you should get a phone call on the weekend of the 3rd week as well. It's a long one, so you can catch up as well. Some cases, the first phone call you can get the address from your recruit if you haven't received the form letter yet. (It has happened before)

Yes, no news is good news. It's a painful mantra, but it reigns true! 

[gummybear]

You most likely missed his arrival night call. All recruits get to make a call when they arrive to boot camp. Then the get to make another call in about 3 weeks. No other contact is permitted. Don't despair. He is where he wants to be. He will come out a strong man. 

 

[Jodi B]

Hi Erica, my son also arrived at boot camp the evening of November 12. The only communication I have had was the night of arrival. No letter yet for an address to send info. It is very hard to not be able to communicate. I understand what you are going through.

[Jeanie]

Ditto for me . My daughter arrived at B C this pat Wednesday . I am having a really tough day today . I know how you guys feel . If I could at least talk to her it would ease some of the pain . They are doing what they chose to do for themselves and we have to hang tough for them . Peace to you all

[HaveFAITH]

Hello Erica. Please know that the form letter with their address ... in our case arrived 3 weeks after he left. By the time we received his address ... I have written 12 letters already which I mailed same day that we received his address. I honestly thought the first 3 weeks were the hardest. The adjustment period was difficult. It will get better though. I promise. No news is good news. We received his first personal letter on a Thursday and a phone call that Saturday. It was amazing to hear his voice. Please hang in there. Write to him anyway and mail it as soon as you know his address. Our sailor was very thankful for all the letters I have sent. He told me this after bootcamp, now that he is in A school. Take care. Keep reading posts here. People here are very nice. 

[lisfue]

Hello all, my son also arrived to BC on Nov. 12 a quick text from him that night "Maja (his name for me) I arrived, gotta go!" around 1am my phone was ringing, I answered he already hung up, I called back no answer, forget it didn't sleep that night, so after my daughter tells me "Mom I found a sight Navy Moms check it out" thank goodness, after seeing all the videos on youtube and the journey, feeling so relieved now and can't wait to see my son in January so excited.

[TexasNavyMom]

Hi Moms! I sympathize with you, I was in your shoes 7 weeks ago. The good news is you should be hearing something this week. First you will get a letter with PIR information and next will come the real one you have been waiting for. The best bit of advice I can give you is to pray, communicate with other moms on this site, keep busy and get informed delivery from USPS. That will prevent you from spending your days stalking the postal carrier and give you great anticipation on those special days that show a picture of your child’s handwriting on the envelope soon to be delivered to your mailbox! My son graduates the day before Thanksgiving and I am so grateful for all the moms out there who helped encourage, inform & sympathize thru out this entire process. Hugs to you all and praying you hear from you children soon ❤️

[Erica]

Thank you so much

[Cameronsmom]

No news is good news. Start writing letters now so when the firm letter comes, you can mail them. Be sure to number your envelopes so on your next to last letter you can tell your Sr the number of your last letter before PIR. They are so busy in bc and the time to themselves is very few and far between. The form letter should be to you in 2-3 weeks after your Sr left for bc. There will likely be only 3 calls including the I’m here call the first day there. They can earn extra calls depending in the group and accomplishments. The 2d call will be about 3-5 weeks in and the last call will be the I’m a sailor call. Hand in there. You’ve got this. BC is not just for them, it’s for us parents and loved ones too; teaching us how to handle no communication, distance and how to be strong for them. Nmhs.

[Erica]

That’s a good idea! Thank you

[belovedbyHim]

Oh Erica!!! I remember so well that feeling!! The first 3-4 weeks are the worst!! The communications black out is hard for our recruits but also for us too!  We thankfully have each other!  This time is also training for us.  This doesn't get easier but we do get stronger!

Your son has had 8 business days at BC.  You should be getting the Form letter this week, Hopefully before Thanksgiving.  Write your letters! Number them so when you get the form letter you can mail them.  Your son does not think you have forgotten him!  No one will have gotten mail yet.  Please watch the videos to see what is happening for the first few weeks.  I will also give you an idea here.  The Day he shipped  and arrived is not counted.  He would have made the I'm here call then began the process of becoming a US Navy Basically Trained Sailor!  He would have changed out of his Civies and into his Navy Sweats.  All his belongings are packed up in a box to be returned the night before PIR.  He will get his New Navy haircut and begin P-Days.  On P-Day 5 they have their first PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment).  Assuming he passed he would then be assigned to a division and move to his ship.  He may or may not have had P-hold days for several possible reasons but there is no way to know for sure until you get a chance to ask.  SO your basic schedule would look like this
11/12- Ship day, 11/13- 11/15 P1-3, 11/16 & 11/17 P-hold for the weekend, 11/18 & 11/19 are P4 & P5.  11/20 would be Training Day 1.  This is the day they write the form letter and mail it that day or the next business day.  11/21 & 22 are TD2 & 3.  11/23 & 24 are the weekend so they DO NOT count as training days.  Sunday morning they are allowed to go to worship OR Work on skills they learned during the week that they need to practice or study for, OR write home, OR shower a bit longer, shave slower....just not sleep!  Letters written on Sunday (or surreptitiously written at other times) are mailed out on Mondays ONLY.  Once you get your first letter home you will know your Mail day but you can guesstimate based on how far you are from GL. Most of us get our letters on Thursday or Friday, Just and handful on Wednesday. Do not count Weekends or Holidays for his training days.  You are looking at a PIR after the first of the year, Most likely around Jan 10 but it could be as early as Jan 3 or as late as Jan 17.
As has been mentioned, they have too many recruits to reach out to individual families. Also in the eyes of the Military they are Adults who are only answerable to their Command.  They do not know or care about the recruits personal lives.  It would be inappropriate for them to call and give you a "Progress report" on your now adult son.  It stinks as a MOM!! but it is part of the reality we all live with.  No one told you when you first held your baby that one day your heart would walk away from you to live on it's own and there would be nothing you could do or really would do to change that!  My heart lives in 3 pieces on both coasts and while I miss them deeply I am so proud of them and the lives they are building for themselves!
Read as much on here as you can and know you are NOT alone!!! Your feelings are valid and most of us have felt that way at some point.  There is a ton so stuff on the Main BC Page too!!
No News is Good NEWS!! We haven't lost anyone to BC yet, We won't start with you!!

[Erica]

Wow! This is so thorough and helpful. Thank you for taking the time to write all of this. It is much appreciated!