New Sailor here to help answer any questions you may have

[njkoletar]

Hi i'm Nick and i am a US Sailor in school right now and i wanted to join to help answer any questions you may have so ask away.

[lemonelephant]

You will have to ask your SR to date a letter with calendar date and DOT (Day of Training) so that you will be able to know. You can also watch in the discussion for your recruit's division within your PIR group in case someone posts the DOT and be sure to let them know if you find out the DOT as well for others who want to keep track of that. All of your letters need to be encouraging because you never know when your recruit will need that extra bit of encouragement.

[HuntersMom]

My son began bootcamp 9/5. I didnt send anything for him to write me a letter. Will he be able to get anything or write me anytime soon. Didnt know how long they had to wait to write home. I know that its Sunday when they are able to get mail and write, just curios. Im still waiting for his address to come in the mail. And he writes who he wants for graduation? My husband is his step dad and doesnt want to go so that will leave another part of the family to go so if he says him what can I do / My son doesnt know about him not going for this reason a may put him down so he can be with me.

 

[lemonelephant]

Yes, the recruits have stationery at the RTC with the crest for the RTC on it. He will not be able to write until the Sunday after he is in his ship. This is often the second Sunday after arrival, but could also be the third Sunday if he was held in P-days for additional recruits to arrive and fill his division. They only write on Sundays at first, but later may b permitted to write letters on other days as well. Once a Recruit Mail Petty Officer is trained, Mail call is every week day (Monday through Friday). The box will arrive first (within the first 2 weeks) and then the form letter will arrive (within the first 3 weeks) with the address, password to get the vehicle pass, and the names of 4 people he will put on the Access List. If those names are not the ones who wish to go, write to him and let him know because he will put the names on the Access List about a week before PIR.  This wasn't in your question, but if he did not take a calling card with him, go to http://callsforrecruits.org/ and send an email to get him some and mail them to him once you have his address so he will be able to call you.

[HuntersMom]

so he wont be able to use his cell phone to call when they say he can call home? I know they let him take one I believe.

[HuntersMom]

What does the Sunday he is in his ship mean?

[HuntersMom]

And what is the vehical pass?

[lemonelephant]

Recruits have Processing Days (P-days) when they first arrive.  After that they are assigned to barracks called Ships.  They cannot write until the first Sunday that they are in their barracks or Ship.

[Mrs Roo Ship 02 Div. 901]

Hello, my husband is leaving on sept. 18 and we arnt sure what to send with him. Im wanting to send copies of our marriage license, birth cert. for our sons and ourselves and social cards plus our bank papers. is that a needed thing? or is everything going to already be there. im not sure how our first pay check is going to go so i want to make sure they have our banking info. im getting nervous!

[lemonelephant]

Yes, he should bring copies of your marriage certificate and the birth certificates of all his dependent children as well as the SS numbers for you and the children.  If he has already put you on his paperwork, he may not need these, but if he does he will have them. 

(See Help (clickable link) and Talk about BEFORE they leave for bootcamp.... (clickable link) for more info on what to send and other things you will want to take care of.)

[Laurie ( ship 11-Div 319 )]

Hi Nick., wondering about a bootcamp grad gift for our son. I hear some taking about the Challenge Coins but I don't think I understand what these are all about or what you Sailors would do with them when your out to sea. Any suggestions?  

[lemonelephant]

Nick has not been on this site for some time. 

There has been quite a discussion in Boot Camp Mom's about the coins for the individual ships at the RTC and the other one from the RTC. (http://www.navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms?commentId=1971797%3AC... will get you in the general area of part of that discussion.)  They are to commemorate the Sailor's time at BC. The RTC is the only command that will not "coin" a Sailor, so some feel it is appropriate for a family member to give them or for the Sailor to buy one on his/her own. One mom has suggested buying a few for her Sailor to give to his close shipmates to remember this time together and I actually like that idea.  The Ship 11 coin is still in the works and will be available through pirgifts on ebay when it is completed.

The RTC coin is available as part of the Care Package from MWR at http://www.mwrgl.com/gen_info/rtc_graduation/rtccarepkg.htm and at the NEX at the RTC and possibly at the NEX on the main base and at https://store.nwtmint.com/product_details/1981/Recruit_Training_Com... and other places on the web.

My Sailor told me to never buy him any challenge coins when I was going to buy one for him at the NEX following PIR because he wanted that to be reserved for military personnel and I have honored that request.

Craig had the following comment on this subject, http://www.navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms?commentId=1971797%3AC.... Angie has indicated that this should be reserved for military personnel. Some are having a (retired) military family member or close friend give the coin/s. You will need to decide what is best for your family.

When at sea, Sailors may keep a few with them or put them away or send them home for safe keeping.

(The links within this reply are clickable links.)

[Bsmom (Ship 14 Div 300)]

My SR graduates 9/21 - when should I stop mailing letters to him? Also, should I bring a cell phone for him, will he be able to have it at his A school? Thanks for all your help!