Hell Week ~ Just want to clarify some stuff

[Craig]

Hey all,

I recently received a comment on my wall (you guys can go look), from a mom, who said this:

"At 5:06pm on August 9, 2010, Denise (A Seabee's mom) said…

good afternoon,
I was directed to a group for PIR 9-2. I was looking at a couple comments that you have posted. There is a panic in that group about the treatment of the recruits. I would think that you being retired that you couple clear it better. The term "hell week" is a Ricky rumor. Hell Week is a untouched Term used by our SEALS. Being retired it seems that this is the way the information should be passed on. All the sailors I know past and present talk about "hell week" the same why. I just wonder why it is that you refer to it and a boot camp term. Were you in before Battle Station 21 was put in? I have heard from past sailors that they thought that the final week of boot was hell?

Just tying to clear a few things up.
Thanks "

------------------------------------------

I have asked, and because she won't open her profile to let me see who she is, I guess I need to post  her comment here so she can remain on the "down-low" and so I can answer her and hopefully she will answer back.  Denise are you sure you're not an RDC peeking in?

 

"Hey Denise,

It doesn't seem like you ever read what I actually wrote, which was:

"Week 4 is known a "hell week". This is where everything the recruits have learned to date is tested. Several things happen. They wake up the recruits at 3:30am to get them ready for the day's activities. They bring in RDC's from other divisions and they compare their division to your division. They see how well you learned. Most RDC don't like to admit that your division is better so they find the simplest of fault to hit you on. You might have a small string hanging out of your pocket...hit. You might not have your "gig line" straight...hit.
By getting so many hits, your RDC are ticked. You get Physical Trained (PT) and Intensive Trained (IT). You will be standing at attention and parade rest for hours waiting for your turn to be inspected. Don't think this is punishment, think of it as teaching your recruits how not to faint while standing for hours. Knee's unlocked! What these RDC don't want is during the PIR for the sailors to faint in front of the crown. It's bad press. Those that are really taking hits during the inspection could be rolled back (set back) into another division to relearn what they have already been taught."

Where in the above can you find that "Hell Week" for a recruit in boot camp would be anything near SEAL/BUDS training? You can't.   A person would have to be an fool to think they would be the same.  Yes, both happen about 1/2 through, and yes, they are both extremely hard.  However, being hard to one group of people is not the same for the next. 

Do you realize that "Hell Week"  originated long before the SEALS ever came about?  In fact, it  was used since the 1800's.  So from what you're saying "the untouched term" was actually stolen by the SEALS?  I don' t believe the SEALS would do something that low, I do believe they were fond of the word and added to their own vocabulary just like college students, police officers, etc.

Per BS21, it was installed in 2007.  I wasn't in the Navy then.  However, I do run two Navy websites that have 100's of sailors that have returned and talked about the fun they had during BS21.  They officially must sign a page 13 which is place into  their service record saying they will not discuss what happens.  However, they all have said it was fun.  They also say that "Hell Week" was the worse. 

So there you have it, hope that helps.....

Craig"

---------------------------------------------

So lets talk about Hell Week:

Below is what happens during week 4 (give or take a day).  This is the week the sailors are tested.  Doesn't it  It seem like there is alot of test this week?  Yes, the sailors are being tested.  They are actually tested each day, but this week is when they seperate the men for the boy (sorry lady sailors, that's a generic term).  This week has the most test of any.  BS21 is nothing to this.  By the time BS21 comes around they have already learned their stuff.  Ask any sailor who has been trrough it, they LOVE it.   
-------------------------
4-1 Day
- PFA for Olympic Flag, no more than 10-15 people can fail.
------------------------
4-2 Day
- SAMT Laser gun training
- Zone Inspection
-------------------------
4-3 Day
- Live Fire 9mm and Shotgun. You need to score 180 or more to receive a ribbon/medal for uniform.
-------------------------
4-4 Day
- Drill inpection for Drill Flag
- Photo's
- Photo's and Navy "yearbook" division in house compartment pictures
- Tailor #2 (individual Dress uniforms)
-------------------------
4-5 Day
- Trift Savings Plan class
- Test #2
- Go to NEX for shampoo and conditioner
-----------------------

[Sara(Ship04/Div291 PIR 9/2)]

Craig
i've read your post about "hell week" and i completly understood what you were trying to get across to us moms. its testing what they've been learning DUH!
I don't see how you could have made it any more clear- at least for me anyway.
Thank you for giving us moms such good information it really has made my "journey" through boot camp at lot easier knowing a smidge of what they are actually doing and how they get treated.

[Denise-- Seabee Mom]

Craig
I was just trying to get an understanding. It’s a question a lot of the moms in this current group seem to be very worried about. How do I know? They have contacted me. I have seen an on going problem with in this site at the increase panic that new moms are getting. They have enough stress and to be added to buy a word (s) isn’t really needed. Moms are thinking that their child he being "beating" They aren’t getting that this is a figure of speech. The call “I’m here” moms believe that it is a recording. Some panic over this.
My reference to the untouched term is within the Navy. The SEALS could have every well taken if from another. Hell week is also a college term. But then they aren’t in the navy. I also refer to the term that way only because of all the sailors that I have spoke with and their moms and wives only say too that there is no hell week in boot camp. Out of all the moms I have made friends with only one says that her son talked about Hell Week. Navy lingo ID’s the term as a Ricky rumor used by recruits.
As far as the reference to Battle Stations it was simple that the week leading up and during was Hell Week. I however agree that 90% of the sailors said that battle station was the best part of boot camp. I’m thinking that because the recruits stay up so long for the test that a family member felt that it was hell on them. And it is but not hell week.

I think it’s the 6th week that they go in the gas chamber. Hell Week? Some say so.

The bottom line is that as moms anything our kids go through that is hard on them can be called hell. And moms after boot camp you will find that your child for the most part really enjoyed boot camp. Some people thrive of the fast pace. Some love the physical push they get. And some walk out with some long time friends. They don’t like the fact that they don’t have their cell phone, PS3, computers and no junk food.

No I am not RDC. I live in Washington. I have a son that is a Seabee (CM). He is in Norfolk. He has been in for 12 years. I ended up with a stalker on this site and I decided to close my page for awhile because of her. I sent you a request so that you can look at my page. Once you left your comment you could very well have removed me. It’s not that hard to do.

I was simply trying to get a understanding of how 4th week was know as hell week. And you being old Navy before the day of battle stations, I was just looking for a clear understanding of what hell week was before now. I have only heard one other old timer speak of a Hell week.

Take care

[Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)]

Craig - Woow - just a bunch of moms praying and speaking among themselves in a forum about their kids whom they wish to excell during this particular week of intense inspections, competitions etc. (hell week) is not as Denise indicates "a lot of panic...." Perhaps Denise has forgotten what is was like to experience the days/weeks right after her son (now Seabee 12 years) felt. Perhaps there was not an outlet / forum like N4M then or she might have let off some stess and prayers of her own.

Further, Denise refered to us as being afraid of our young men and women getting beatings - I believe the term they (our recruits use) is "beat down" simply referring to drop and do push-ups and or extra IT when they do not obey commands or fall short through stupidity. We may only look ignorant to someone on the outside of the forum.

To sum it all up - Denise is kind to be concerned however, the information that you and other "Old Planks" have posted to this sight has, if anything, calmed the rattled nerves of empty nester mothers / wives and is greatly appreciate.

[Sara(Ship04/Div291 PIR 9/2)]

:)
I don't think that i've ever been afraid of how my recruit was being treated. i agree with Lydia everything i have read has truely made this easier. I can't imagine not having this kind of support system. I also don't think my son's "I'm here" call was recorded because he answered my question when i asked him to repeat when he thought he would get to make his first phone call.

[Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)]

Oh please excuse - not just moms here also young wives......

Nope she would have had to have gone back through to 5 weeks of posts to see us from the very beginning and see where we have had some pushed back, stress fractures, some sick, some hospitalized, some with wisdom teeth removed - not panic just daily concern expressed out loud to fellow moms/wives over the well being of our loved ones so far from home.

[kk]

Now, hold on guys, we have here a woman, Denise, who has been helping people for years on this site. That is all she is doing now. No need to be so defensive toward her. I have known her since the beginning of January when I started coming here and she has been nothing but helpful. She was trying very hard just now to help some other concerned mothers. So please, let her help them without taking offense, because she is not trying to harm you.

*****She too, is allowed to ask questions on this site.*****

[Denise-- Seabee Mom]

Look I didn’t come in here to start a fight. Moms were coming into the seasoned mom group feeling as if they were getting bad information. If you are all feeling at easy that’s fine. However you can’t speak for all the moms. Lydia I in no way thinks any of you are ignorant. I for one think that all of you moms are a hell of a lot tougher then a lot give you credit for. If you aren’t one of the moms that don’t think your child is being "beaten" that is awesome. However there is some that really took it that way. The site wasn’t here with my son went in. Most house holds didn’t even have computers then. A basic computer cost 1000.00. Navyformoms hasn’t been around for 3 years yet. There is a lot tougher weeks then the 4th week that you recruits are going to go through.
My son liked boot camp. The only thing he didn’t like was the food. I know how my son felt. It was the most important thing he wanted to do. He was 16 when we signed the paperwork for him to join. He was still 17 when he left.

NOTE to the worried moms…I tried to get it cleared up for you. Sorry but your on your own now…I get in enough trouble on my own…lol Love you guys. you know my email.
To the rest of you. Good luck to you and your new sailors. Its ups and downs. But an awesome thing for them.

[Craig]

All.... Holy Crapola, I get home from work and this thread is this long...

Everyone has said their peace, and much like in the Navy, we move on.....

Raychelle, yes your husband is older, but I have seen older sailor just run circles around the 18yo ones. Your husband will be one of the star performers in his boot camp unit. And just to clarify Rachelle word, "And he's getting beat just as bad as the young guys!" is just a word saying. In boot camp they cannot physically touch you.
**********************************
* This topic is now closed. *
**********************************