Calling Card

[Gina (Ship 09/ Div 331)]

I have read that it's a good idea to purchase a calling card, I was wondering how much would be sufficient for them. My son will be leaving in 14 days, and it has gone by fast, since he told us two months ago, when they told him his date for leaving to boot camp. My emotions are up and down, like so many of the moms here that I have read in there comments, I have taken much of your advice to be proud and let them know as well that we support them and are very proud of them as well. Thank you moms, Good luck to you and your sons and daughters.

[Jana]

It's not that it takes 35 minutes to connect...it takes about 30 minutes off the card just to make a phone call

[Navy Mom Sandi]

I bought the one for $20.00, I think it was 500 mins. I wasn't sure what to send either. But I will say that they really don't get to call much at all. Then again calling cards don't expire, so it doesn't hurt to send more than not enough. Good luck. It is a difficult process for both You and your recruit :)

[Navy Mom Sandi]

Also they say to buiy one that will be activated already and easy to use. Some are must harder then others. You can send it with him when he leaves, you don't have to wait and mail it. He is allowed to have those cards

 

 

[mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)]

yes the Costco one works at BC -- my son used it and it is activated when you purchase it.  I didn't mean that it takes 35 minutes time to make the call from a pay phone, but it takes 35 minutes off the card for a connection from a pay phone.  So if they call home 3 times (which is about average), then it takes over 100 minutes for the connection plus the actual time on the call.  And I would say their average talk time for the 3 calls is about an hour -- the first really quick - I'm here, then one about half way through for about 5-10 min, and then the awesome 'I'm a sailor' call after battlestations which is  pretty much as long as you want to talk.

[mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)]

if you read the fine print on the card it states the number of minutes that it uses just to connect a call from a pay phone.

[My2Sailors]

I sent two with my son for $20 each.  He did use them to call, he also let one of his shipmates use one because he tried to call his mom collect & she was not at home & her cell wouldn't allow her to accept collect calls.  His division didn't get to call very often, even though they did win the Captain's Cup.

[CorysNavyMom (Ship 11 Div 243)]

I sent my son a 900 min ($26.00) phone card from Sam's and he's had no problem using it. I don't get why they would care what the dollar amount of the phone card cost was. Odd.

[Cindylaine (MN Mom)]

I bought my son a Walgreens brand calling card.  It was $20 dollars for 340 minutes.  I kept the card and just wrote down the phone number to dial and the pin in a letter to him so I could keep up with the minutes.  He has called twice now for a total of an hour and he still has $12.00 on the card.  There doesn't seem to be minutes taken off for connecting with a pay phone.