don't know what to expect while my 18 year son leaves for boot camp in a month

[Sara Ship 07 Div 012]

My son has joined in the reserves.  He is in the delayed entry program, was sworn in last Wednesday the 24th and we actually met the recruiter last night.  Charlie is leaving the 4th of October for boot camp,  I have to admit at the moment I am a little in shock from it, we had encouraged him to join the Air Force active duty, and he had changed his mind after doing most of the paperwork, didn't want to leave the area he said.  Then this - Mom, Dad - this is what I have done.  I think I need to know what to expect from the boot camp experience.  I am concerned that it is going to be very rough on him.  He is an only child to a couple of people that didn't seem to be much more than kids when we had him, we were just a couple of years older than he is now when we had him.  He is a lot lazy and hates being told what to do - big surprises are in store for him.  Any advice that anyone can give me to help prepare him in the short time left that we have him home, I would really appreciate it.  Thank you so much....

[DebbieBTexas]

My son is going to the great lakes also. He leaves the 6th. He has given me very little info. Like does he have to be in San Antonio on the 5th or 6th? I just can't wait to see the growth this is going to bring about. He's a really good kid, but this is going to be fun.

[Sara Ship 07 Div 012]

I didn't find out till last night that the recruiter is taking him up to Denver on Monday, they had told us Tuesday, so now my husband has to change his days off cause he wants to take him and I will just meet them over there to say goodbye.  I am very excited for him, but I am very worried also.  Every one else always tell us what a great kid he is, but he is just so lazy and disrespectful to us that sometimes I wonder.  I know this is going to be very good for him and I know he is really going to grow up a lot, but I still see my little boy when I look at him...gives me a new respect for my mom and what she has gone through over the years.  What is your son's name?  My son is Charlie (actually William, but he has always been Charlie from the moment he was born).  Is this son your youngest, or do you have more after him?

[DebbieBTexas]

He is the baby of four. But I have never had anyone except an uncle in the military, so it's scary. I know it will be good for him. At least his color blindness kept him from doing the scary stuff he wanted to do. His name is Lucas.

 

[Sara Ship 07 Div 012]

We'll have to stay in touch...it would be nice to be able to chat with another mother about the stuff the boys are going through during boot camp.  My dad was air force, my whole life, the reserves, but I have no idea what to expect during boot camp.  My nephew went into the air force last year, but I haven't gotten to talk to him too much about his experiences.  With Lucas heading off to boot camp, are all your other kids out of the house or are any still at home?

 

 

[DebbieBTexas]

He is the last. So my life is about to change a lot. I am not sure how to deal with it. I worry so much about all of them. I don't get to see the other three that much because they are busy with school, jobs and in the case of my oldest, a family. No one lives near by so we have to plan everything around schedules. It's not how I want things. But it's not my job to run the show anymore.

I think the boys are in for a rude awakening. Luke, being the youngest thinks he is pretty tough. He thinks his biggest problem will be keeping the grin off his face when he is being yelled at. It will be interesting. I wish I could be a fly on the wall and watch. I know it will be good for them. At least it's not the Army or Marines. Most likely they will not be hurt.

[theninjasmom]

Sounds just like my son Sara...but, with just a little more hard work to go, he finishes bootcamp next Friday! He had a tough time the first few weeks, and his letters broke my heart, but I can see him maturing in every word he writes. He got a viral infection and was very sick at the beginning of boot, but he toughed it out and is doing really well now. The best advice I can give you and your son is to enjoy your time together before he leaves, but you should really insist on him eating and sleeping right. Take mega doses of Vitamin C from now until Oct 4th. Have him do everything you can think of to help strengthen his immune system. The Navy won't do anything that will hurt him (not permanently anyway...), and if he's not cut out for it, they'll send him home, just that simple. In one of the first letters home my son was "complaining" about how much the RDC's yell. I told him he should be used to it! Lots of yelling in our extended family...that he should just imagine what it was like for the kids with "feel good, pat on the back for every little thing you do right" moms! My son was in NJROTC for 4 years, and thought he was prepared, but I don't know that anyone can be prepared. The RDC's have 8 weeks to turn little boys into grown men capable of doing some mighty important jobs. The military is not for the faint at heart! Good luck to you both! If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask!

[sailormom]

Don't worry, it sounds like this will be really good for him. My son went to boot camp in April as a boy who sounds somewhat like yours. He graduated bootcamp with a completely different attitude. He is so respectful, definately not lazy anymore. He is in Pensacola now and loves it. He said bootcamp was the hardest thing he has ever done in his life. But he wouldn't change it. He is so proud of himself now. Good luck with your son. Write him lots of letters. My son said was like Christmas everytime he got a letter. It really encouraged him a lot.

[DebbieBTexas]

I read that we had to be careful about cards and things like cookies. That they will be singled out. So sending mail was not a big deal. He didn't get targeted for harassment?

[Anti M]

Make the cards unobtrusive, no confetti, no musical cards, low key envelopes.  Many RDCs do not harrass them for mail.

Cookies?  No packages allowed in boot camp.  They'll just be thrown away.

[DebbieBTexas]

Thanks for your help. My son hasn't been very good at getting information for me. So I am just going to have to wing it. If his date is Oct 6, does he leave our town on the 6th and Meps on the 7th or leave the 7th and 8th?

Do we send them with underwear and socks or are they supplied.  Does he take stationary or does he have to buy it there? I understand contacts will be replaced for glasses. Is he supposed to take his phone and lock it up or just leave it at home?

[nowsheila]

We sent our son with the clothes on his back, he stayed one night in Cleveland before leaving for RTC so he did take his gym shorts to sleep in. He took his IPod and phone because he would be traveling for hours on the day that he left. He did call us from the airport both in Cleveland and Chicago. All of his stuff came back in the "BOX" that we recieved about 10days after he was gone. If in doubt call the recuiting station and ask. My son's recuiters were more than happy to answer all of my questions, because my son also couldn't tell me anything. Ha ha. I think that this is just a teenage boy thing. We did send him with $20.00 in cash, his debit card which he has not used and two phone cards. Make sure to get him phone cards, so if he is given the opportunity to call you he can. And also iof he is going to be calling a cellphine to reach you, make sure you answer the call, it will be an unfamiliar number. Good luck

[Sara Ship 07 Div 012]

Well, it has started...he left yesterday to go to Denver where they stayed the night.  He flies out of Denver tonight to go up to Chicago, and then they bus them to boot camp.  He took a pair of shorts and a sweat shirt and his phone.  Luckily, there are three from our area that are going, so he will have a couple of traveling companions.  Now it is just a matter of hurry up and wait.