Leaving for bootcamp in 4 days.

[KaywaaB]

Well, technically my husband just has to check into the hotel in 4 days, leaving in 5. Hoping my last few days with him would feel like months... instead they are feeling like hours. I grew up with my father being in the military and I thought I'd be able to handle this... but I'm learning its A LOT different when its my husband.

I'm just curious what other wives spend time doing. Maybe some hobbies obtained while their husband was away. Obviously some have kids and (like myself) work.. but what to do when you arent doing that? Its only the beginning and I already feel like a part of me is going away... and I know its goign to get harder but it still sucks.

How soon after bootcamp/into A school do we find out where we'll be stationed? Thats what we're most looking forward to. Finding out if we're staying where we currently are or maybe we'll get to go somewhere completely new. Do we even GET  dream sheet the first time? Is it weird that I'm going to be writing letters everyday and sending multiple ones at a time? He's my best friend and I dont want him to miss anything I do..

[eyeronics]

Now I may not be a wife but eventually I will be hehe..

My boyfriend just graduated from bootcamp last week so I am fresh with information....

Yes it's going to be hard but the letters and few phone calls you will receive will all be worth it. I spent my time focusing on school and getting ready to go to chicago and see him. Not it's not weird writing letters everyday. I wrote him one everyday and somedays more than 1. It helped him so much! He said that he wouldn't have been able to make it without my support so yes write him everyday... IDEAS!! Pictures of his friends, family, and of course, the two of you. Send him pictures with every letter! You can print them out on plain letter paper, it makes it easier. Write poems, print out his favorite song lyrics, find funny jokes, anything. That's what I spend most of my free time doing... Thinking of what I wanted to write him, searching for gifts on the internet for when he gets out, stalking this website and the RTC facebook page lol. You can make a nice scrapbook for him while he is gone. Itll use up a lot of your free time and be a nice gift for him when he goes to a school. I don't know how soon you will find out where he will be stationed as my sailor is just starting a school.

The next 8 weeks are going to be hard but be happy! Your husband is doing a great thing and your relationship is going to grow so much because of this. Look forward to the next time you will see him... It will be a moment to remember :) 

[Anti M]

Which A school is he going to attend?  Toward the end of that school is when orders generally come in.  Yes, he does get to fill out a dream sheet, but honestly, it doesn't matter much for that first set of orders. 

[Anna PIR05/18/12 (SHIP04/DIV151)]

Write him as often as you'd like to, letters are golden to him especially right now. One suggestion though, I write mine daily too because like you said, he's my best friend as well and I'm always finding things to write about and even more than once a day so send him a blank larger manila envelope so he can send some back to you in case he starts running out of room to store them. My fiance has only been in RTC for a little over three weeks so I'm really just now starting to go into separation anxieties and missing him more terribly. BUT finding this site has helped tremendously. There are all kinds of forums that can answer so many questions you may have and plenty of us out here going through the same things as yourself who can offer support :) The more I venture here, the more my focus goes from missing him to getting super excited about all that is to come. I practically moved in on this site a few days ago and live here, lol. It's just been soooo helpful. Also there are questionnaires on here that you can send him that kind of ask all the questions on a few pages which is great because at first, when they are able to write, they may not find a lot of time to, and these help get you that answers about his daily life and more. Just hang in there and let him know that you miss him, but that you are okay. A also when you find out what ship and division he is in, there will be specific forums for his division where you can meet people who's sailors are with him. This site is truly an awesome supportive network. And keep us all updated, we are just as excited as you!

[KaywaaB]

good ideas for what to include with letters. Hopefully ill be able to throw myself into work and the gym and time will fly.
He'll be going to A school in pensacola. I've heard he will have to go to school the day after graduaton with no time in between. We've been debating on looking for an extended stay hotel and just going to stay in pensacola for the 3 months he's there. I already live in florida so its not too bad.
They said one of frst stations will prob be norfolk (where I grew up), mayport fl, japan (eeek) hawaii or san diego.

We have a joint navy federal account that we just set up... I read somewhere that he has to have direct deposit set up before he leaves... but how do we do that without him working?
Should he take his cell phone? We are getting him a phone card too. Tonight I'm going to write a smal note and stick it in his wallet. Should he have our marriage license in his wallet too? I also saw I need to write down specific info for him to bring, any ideas other than bank info?

[Anti M]

He should take a deposit slip for the existing account.  He should definitely have the marriage license, but get your hands on a certified copy if possible.  You can never have too many official copies.   He can take his cell phone for the trip, but it will come back in the box.   Have him leave you a voicemail to listen to while he's gone.

Japan for married sailors isn't bad, if he's an E-4.  They try not to send them otherwise.

[KaywaaB]

Thanks for the info :) Just a few more days and he's gone. Terrified we're going to forget to do something. heh.

[Anti M]

It will all work out.  Try to breathe!

[KaywaaB]

I dropped him off at the hotel today and bursted into tears.... numerous times.

Came home... and burst into tears again... this really sucks and I feel weird... blehh... All I can do now is HOPE the weeks go by fast and nothing happens

[SailorGirl124]

I just dropped my boyfriend off in Tallahassee today and he arrived in Jacksonville today. He ships out tomorrow for Great Lakes and is going to Pensacola for A-school too! We're in the exact same situation. I haven't stopped crying literally since I got home...I don't know how to get through this. 

[KaywaaB]

whats he going in for? 

and i cried all day yesterday. everytime i see or hear something that makes me think of him i cry... and i feel terrible. being at work today... i felt like a zombie. I really thought it would be a lot easier than this.

My 2am 2 minute phone call was super sad and I really hope i can get through the next 3 weeks without crying everyday. im a baby ehhh lol