He's gone =(

[kerbear2709]

Well, my husband departed the airport about 30 minutes ago. I am so overwhelmed with emotions. I want to be happy for this adventure, but at the same time am incredible sad at the lack of communication we will have for 8-9 weeks. I currently have a love/hate relationship with the Navy LOL. 

So for those of you that have gone through this, during a holiday, will he get to call home, get a day off during bootcamp? How long before I receive "the box" and then the letter with grad and mailing information? What would you anticipate being grad date?

I know this sight is mostly moms. My mother in law feels nearly like he has died. Questions on when and if she will get to see him again because of A School then where we will be shipped to. It's such an emotional process. I am already counting down the days until he can at least have electronics so I can hear his voice and see him, thank you technology. 

Anyone else have their sailor arriving at GL today and then going on to MAA? 

And anyone that can answer my above questions, I would GREATLY appreciate the insight. Much love and prayers to you all on this emotional rollercoaster we are all riding. 

[CourtNavyWife]

Hey hun! My husbands in over 3 years now this is a rough timr but it will go faster than you think! My husband graduated before the holidays so he was allowed to come home for leave during a school for christmas im not sure how bootcamp during holidays is though i dont think theyll get time off. Theres lots of info to learn but if you want to message me and ask whatever ill be happy to help!

[kerbear2709]

This is shard for me. We separated for about a year then got back together. Now, its like he's gone again...just under WAY different circumstances. Although it is hard not to see him, having extremely limited and rare communication is what is going to eat me. I can't wait to see him at graduation, and then to at least have FaceTime or more calls during school. So far our two kids haven't been impacted, or asked where he is or to call him. I could only think to tell them that Daddy was away at work and his phone is broken so we can't talk to him, they are 3 and 5 years old. I thought the separation took its toll on me, but this is definitely worse. 

Thank you for responding to my post. This site has been so resourceful. 

[Jackie]

Hey girly! These next few weeks will be a roller coaster of emotions but at the end you'll run down to greet him and none of it will matter! You should get the box 1-2 weeks after he arrives which you will know once you get the scripted "I'm here" phone call. I'd say start writing to him NOW, it'll help you for sure. The letter with his grad date will arrive shorty after the box no more than a week id say. Then you'll be able to send him letters! Send them everyday if you can because it really will help him. They get mail everyday but usually only have time to write on Sunday's or when they go to bed if they're sneaky but they're not supposed to lol. You should get your first letter after he's been there 2 Sunday's. My mail day was always Thursday or Friday so you can stalk your mail man lol as far as a break I think they will have off days for Christmas maybe New Years too but I'm not positive. If you have any questions feel free to message me :)

[kerbear2709]

I got the call around 11 central time last night. It was all so surreal, exactly like it was stated and videos posted that we have watched. I was hoping when I saw his sweet face pop up on my phone that it was him saying he was getting on the bus, because last I had heard from him they were fixing to start briefing...boy was I wrong!!! I tried SO hard not to cry on the phone, but I failed. Badly. I was fine at first, but once he started talking and it started with the, "I made it, I'm ok" the tears immediately began to flow. 

I have started writing a letter, am doing so off and on between work. I work from home, so lots of time on my hands to journal. I already told him prior to his leaving that his first "letter" would be a "package" LOL. Because I fully intend to write daily. I am dating each one so he can see how things were until he receives them. 

Hopefully he will have time to write since it is our means of communication for now. I have seen where some people received the box within a few days then the letter within the first 10-12 days of their sailor arriving. But everyone says 2-3 weeks. 

Thank you for responding to my post. This site has been so resourceful. 

[Anti M]

I can tell you about Christmas and New Years at boot camp.  They don't have a day off where they can do as they please, they have "holiday routine" and it is very much like a Sunday routine.  Some of the more senior divisions might be adopted by churches or other organizations, but the newer ones, not so much.  If that does happen, they may be given the chance to call home on someone's personal phone. (I spent the three major holidays in boot camp, although the old Orlando one.  Policy has not changed a bit.).

Otherwise, they have a day without training, can write letters, catch up on studying, go to church if they like.  The chow hall does a really good dinner for them.  You may send cards, just remember no glitter or musical ones.  As for phone calls, there are still 4,000 recruits there, they cannot all go use the phone bank on the same day (the entire division is taken there as one unit).  Still, have your phones ready, just in case.  But is not a sure thing at all.  Just know they are not alone, the entire division is together and the guys tend to support each other.  "The Navy family" is not just a saying!

You can see him at PIR/graduation if you can make the trip.  It will be on a Friday, and because his A school is in TX, chances are he will fly out on Saturday.  You can get a gate pass and visit with him at the airport.

You can visit him during A school, once he earns his liberty privileges.  Also, he should get a week or so of leave between A school and his first command.  At A school, he can have his phone and laptop when not training, so communication will be better.

Liberty is normal time off such as weekends, and is subject to travel restrictions.  Leave is their earned paid vacation days and they can fly home on leave.  They earn 30 days a year, 2.5 days each month.  Taking leave requires permission and paperwork, and depends on what the command needs and is doing as to when and whether it is granted.  Leave travel is paid for by the sailor, but the Navy can help arrange it and get huge discounts.

I hope this helps a little.  Just knowing the possibilities and being able to plan a bit helps.

[kerbear2709]

Thank you so much for all of this information. This REALLY does help. We have two small children, 3 and 5 years old. I was going to make the drive if he was given some time off, so this lets me know to stay put and wait on a possible phone call. 

At graduation, do we get to see him prior to the ceremony, like will he greet us. Or do we have to wait for it to end? I am not sure if I nor my children will refrain from running at him LOL. 

I can not thank you enough for responding to my post. This has helped me in more ways than you know. This site has been so resourceful yet a curse at the same time LOL because of it having so much insight. I am trying to brace myself for what is to come. 

Thank you again!

[Anti M]

You wait until after the ceremony.  There are a lot of sailors, and they all tend to look very much alike in uniform.  

Oh, and until they finish boot camp, they are referred to as "SR" or seaman recruit.  That term should help as you explore other groups.

When I was very little, so little I only know the story because mom told me, my father deployed as a first class PO (e-6).  When he came back, he had advanced to chief.  They wear a different uniform, a different hat.  At homecoming, I cried when he tried to hold me, and pushed him away, "I want my OTHER daddy"!  LOL, that didn't go over well.  Dad understood though.

For the future, look into Daddy Dolls for your little ones to have during deployments.  A huggable soft doll with a picture of him in uniform printed on it,

[kerbear2709]

Thanks.  I don't think he will look that different, and they are old enough, I think, to recognize him. We are older of the bunch, LOL. Not fresh out of high school or leaving college. He is 32. We joke that he is the old guy. 

Thank you for the aid on the terminology. I am still trying to learn all of this, but know once on a base it will be second language. 

As for the dolls for the kids- I had him buy cloud pets, with the voice record, so he left messages and they can hear him. He even got me one too!! Then when he is in school, bc it's through bluetooth and they have an app, he can do new recordings and I can use my phone to update them. But I am thinking about getting some sort of sailor doll/bear for them too. Something a little more plush and flimsy they can sleep with. 

When will I receive a picture of him in uniform? We haven't seen that yet...this is new info for me.

[ally684]

My sailor was "the old one" too!  Oldest in his DIV.  He also got more responsibility... not necessarily a bad thing though.  We didn't get to see his picture until the night before graduation....  Check the RTC Facebook page though!  They had a blood drive half way through and we found his picture on there from that!

[kerbear2709]

I will definitely stalk Facebook LOL thanks again!

[WifeofaUSsailor]

Hey girl I know exactly how you feel! My husband left in January last year a few weeks after we got married. I remembered I couldn't stop crying in the car after he left but I think just knowing that he was doing something for us and himself and was going to become an even better version of who he already was helped me get through it. I'm not going to lie it was very difficult but just keep busy, busy, busy and lean on family and friends for support! I actually have a YouTube video that I created for wives or girlfriends when their sailor leaves for bootcamp that gives all the details. Here is the link for it if you want to check it out. https://youtu.be/B-B8EWfzgQ0

Hugs to you girly I promise it will all be worth it when you see him at graduation!

[kerbear2709]

Thanks, it definitely sucks. The worst was the call last night. Even though I knew exactly what was going to be said and expected. I tried so hard to stay composed but the second he started the script, I was overcome with tears. Staying busy is not hard for me to do with chasing after our kids. Its when I lay down at night that I worry about. 

I will absolutely check out your video. Thank you for sharing the link, and for responding to my post. This site is a blessing!