CHRISTMAS ADOPT-A-SAILOR PROGRAM 2011

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

Thanksgiving & Christmas Adopt-A-Sailor programs 2011

by U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 11:08am

Each year, RTC coordinates the Thanksgiving and Christmas Adopt-A-Sailor programs for a select group of recruits. This year's Thanksgiving program on Nov. 24, 2011 is for those recruits who will graduate Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 (Training Groups 3 & 5) and the Christmas program on Dec. 25 is for those recruits who will graduate Jan. 6 & 13 (Training Groups 7 & 8) as they are the senior divisions who will graduate the week and two weeks following the holidays.

These recruits will be given the opportunity to send home information and the necessary form that must be completed and faxed back to the Public Affairs Office. Only your recruit may send the information and only one form per recruit will permitted. Do not call our office for a form or additional forms; you will need to contact your recruit to request the information if you have not received any. All Thanksgiving forms must be received by our office by the close of business Nov. 21, 2011 and Christmas forms must be return to our office by Dec. 19, 2011.

Do not expect your recruit to be available for adoption if you do not communicate with our office prior to Nov. 21 or Dec. 19. Do not "surprise" your recruit by showing up to adopt him/her without informing your recruit beforehand.

On Thanksgiving morning, immediate family members only (mother, father, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, grandparent, spouse or cousin) will be allowed to pick up their recruits and take them off base to spend the day with them. They must be back in their ship (barracks) by 8 p.m. The recruits must remain within 50 miles of the base and no exceptions will be made.

Those recruits in Training Group 3 & 5 or 7 & 8 who will not be spending the day with families will be adopted by local civic organizations such as VFWs, American Legions, churches, etc. These generous organizations adopt anywhere from 10 to 150 recruits. They take the recruits to their organizations where the recruits spend the day feasting, playing video games, watching movies, having access to phones to call loved ones, play sports and simply relax and enjoy the company of the organizations. Many of these organizations hold fundraisers to be able to provide the recruits with a complete, traditional holiday meal. No recruits in Training Groups 3 & 5 or 7 & 8 will be left behind.

Here is the link to the FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150351763952259

[Popeye's Mom Alum DIV 031 1-6-12]

OK, I'm a little slow. My SR didn't send any paperwork & didn't think he was going anywhere for Thanksgiving. But this sounds like all the recruits went somewhere besides GL. I'm confused cause some places say one thing & some another.

He has mentioned being "adopted" at Christmas. Is there paperwork we are responsible to fill out?

Thanks for the help!

[Popeye's Mom Alum DIV 031 1-6-12]

Much! Thank you! I think I get it now. :)

 

[Babette-Zack's Mom]

My son sent the paperwork to me, I got it this Sat.  It is a blue form and you have to fax it back and then bring the form with you the day you go to pick him up...

[allie42989 (ship07/div036)]

This is such an awesome program! I will be unable to make it due to the costs of flying up there twice in 2-ish weeks, but it makes my heart happy knowing that he will be adopted by someone else so he can have a somewhat normal holiday! And, maybe he'll get a couple extra calls that day. :) Thank you to everyone who makes this possible!!!

[chelsealoo]

Ah! Finally got the paperwork:) So excited to have my SR for christmas! Is anyone else participating?

[Babette-Zack's Mom]

I am going and I can't wait, it is so exciting to be able to spend the day with him....Have fun...

 

[fishingmom SHIP2 DIV907]

Ok, our daughter mailed us an adopt-a sailor form, for her and one other. There is no way we will be able to go up to RTC for the day..... :(

So here is my question....do I need to inform her or someone else that we can not take these recruits for the day so they can be adopted out elsewhere..? 

I worry that her getting this info at this stage(2-4), any thoughts...?

 

[chelsealoo]

If they don't get the form back she will be adopted by a local organization, church, or VFW post:)

[heather's mom ship 12 div 029]

I got my daughter's papers and haven't faxed them back yet as I didn't know if she wanted to bring someone with her. Waiting to hear from her. No phone calls yet other than she got there phone call. We are very excited to have her for Christmas.

[OLIVIA]

OK so here is my small dilemma . my sr is from  chi-town area but bringing an sr from a western us  area. the SR  reallly wants to see Chicago but honestly on Christmas Day - little places open .   I think we will take him downtown ya-da-ya-da to see some things and head back home and then of course back to GL

[heather's mom ship 12 div 029]

I would agree there probably won't be much open, but the Christmas lights downtown are awesome if you could wait until you were ready to take them back to go then.

 

 

[heather's mom ship 12 div 029]

I get to adopt my daughter and 1 other for Christmas. We are going to my sister-in-laws for the day as she is within the 50 mile radius they are allowed to go. We will be opening gifts and would like to include the SR that is joining us but don't know what to do for her any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!