What can we send to them while at boot-camp

[alma02453]

Does anyone know if they are allowed to receive care packages? If so what can we send him?

[momkoz]

my daughter said they won't let them keep musical cards. They take them away.

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

momkoz...I think adam is kidding...I think he is ex-military

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

momkoz here is the link for your PIR group, just click on the http address

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pirdate730

[Viki]

Just plain letters, nothing else

[babysbreath]

Thank you! I am a little behind! Learning everyday though! :)

[Melissa]

Hi Ladies,
When my sailor was in BC Singing cards were the worst thing to send as when they open them they are given a bad time! My son had to do 50 push-ups for every letter he received! I know that its hard all the not knowing what is going on if it weren't for my N4M's I would of never made it! oh and one other thing in there rack they do have very limited space every two weeks my son threw out my letters because he had no place to keep them in his rack!

[motherinlawtobe]

my sweet boy doesn't leave until February and recruiters and parents are telling us to write him daily. Does that mean keep a running letter or mail him one daily? I don't want to overwhelm him but we want him to know we love and miss him while he is away.

[BeckyP-Kyle's Aunt]

Hello, Do not write and mail a letter daily. He will be given a hard time if he gets a letter every day. Once a week is what I did. I always included a phone card and single pictures and articles from our local newspaper. He had a chance to write only once a week. He did say the best thing was getting the local news to keep in touch with home. They have a very small space to keep items so be carefull how much you send.

[AngieFromWA:BUDS Mom/ HM alumnus]

MIL to be-while I will always defer to Navy vets like Hoppi and Arwen, after two years onsite and interacting with many Recruiters, DEPpers and BC moms, I will respectfully disagree with BeckyP, these Recruits LIVE for mail call!! News and letter from home is the highlight for them, so however much you can and want to write, each letter or (non Musical) card will be treasured by them. =) She's right, "mundane" news and stuff about home is great! You can always send a self addressed stamped envelope for them to send letters back for safekeeping if their storage space starts to fill up.

Each RDC is different, what happens/ed in one Division is not necessarily true for another division and team of RDCs. In my son's DIV, they were made to dance, front and center for every musical card. That's probably why Adam thought it was funny. As Jessica said, other Divs aren't so lucky. :( Care packages are never a good idea! I always encourage our newbies to write, every day to their Recruits if possible, (though journal style sent once a wk is ok too, the important thing is to WRITE) so your Recruit won't be the standing there without a letter when mail call time comes, nothing sadder in BC.

Stick to positive and upbeat, not so much of the "we miss you terribly stuff". They know, and are missing you too. Sometimes all I had time for was an "I'm thinking of you today. Praying all is well. proud of you, Mom" or "Praying for you", with a hastily scrawled verse and an "I love you." My son had to do 8 counts for every piece he received over 4, but he said and I quote "Mom, it's WORTH it, please keep them coming!!". So I did, and I've talked to hundreds of loved ones onsite since who did too. Your Recruit may not get to write (or even call) much, they are awfully busy learning to be a Sailor, but writing, supporting and encouraging them is our job during BC and it's an important one!

[BeckyP-Kyle's Aunt]

Hi Angie, you are correct about never being able to write enough. I knew I was not the only one sending him letters. He had no parents to send letters so there was myself and his grandparents that we all sent at least one letter a week, sometimes two, and I know some his good friends sent letters as well so he did get at least 3 or 4 letters a week. You are also correct that each DIV is different. The articles and pictures I sent were all printed from a color copier so he could always destroy them if he was running out of space. I think the whole time he was in BC he called me 3 times, when he got there(mandatory phone call) on veterans day when he passed battlestations 21. I loved each and every one of those calls.
He is now in Nuke school in Charleston and has been there since last October so things are so much different for us now. We are leaving in 17 days to go visit him and can not wait for I still miss him every single day and tell him that when we talk. I do remember his days in BC last year and only wish I knew this site was here for it would have beem much welcome.
The nice thing now we text all the time and send emails back and forth, mainly on the weekend for his weeks are pretty full from sun up to sun down.

[babysbreath]

So much great info...and this is just the beginning!!! Just when I got texting abbrv's downpat, Now...better learn Navy talk too!!!! Thank you. I am Joanne,,,it was VERY different when my brothers went into the Military!! Have a real nice week!

[Martina]

My son left for bootcamp on 7-27-10. Can we send phone cards? He told me he was only allowed to take $25.00 but I am thinking he probably needs a phone card?