My wife called me at work moments ago, crying. She read my son's very short letter to me over the phone in which he basically states that boot camp is so much harder than he ever believed it would be...constant yelling...being told how to do everything. He asked that we keep him in our prayers (which of course we do). Unfortunately, my son has had a history of not seeing many things through and messing up his teenage years. His own realization of all that led him to the most important decision he has ever made. I tried to explain to my wife that he has only been in Great Lakes SIX days, and that it was only just about to get alot worse. Was that a mistake? That isn't what moms want to hear. I explained to her that the yelling and discipline were all part of a carefully orchestrated plan to turn 90 individuals into a TEAM....and that NOBODY in his group are having any kind of fun or "party" right now. Then my own insecurities crept up. Will he make it? I can't begin to imagine the shame and embarrassment were he to be sent home. I guess what I am in need of here is some moral support of my own. It's only been 6 days.......
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Got our first letter today. And while my son says it's tough, he also says he knows it is all for the good of making him a better person. I trust that The Navy is the best thing for an 18 year old. I imagine that all of our sons and daughters are realizing that they are changing for the better. You and your wife HANG IN THERE!!!!!! Concentrate on the POSITIVE and before you know it, you'll be beaming with pride at PIR. :0)
We did finally get a nice 2 page letter today from our son, and he seems to have gotten past the worst of it and is doing very well. However, he mentioned something about "beatings" which about took my wife off the deep end when she first read that. After some internet research, I was able to calm her down by assuring her that is a term used when RDC's administer punishment in the form of extended PT. Can someone please elaborate?
Wow, he's trying to make you feel as worked over as he is. When I was in it was called "mashing". It's a term used to describe team building through physical exercise. For example, if your task is to complete a certain drill for inspection and three of your shipmates blow it, then everyone does push ups. There is no physical "beating" going on anywhere, and I can have my E-5 attest to that. They didn't beat him in 2004. Though sometimes I bet they wished they could. In defense of his vocabulary, once it's in his head, he thinks everyone know it. Like "head" for a rest room. Both my son and I usually refer to it as the head. Drives some people nuts. So, RELAX Mom & Dad. He's fine. Jim
Hugh, my son is in 03/320 and I believe he has same PIR date as your son (09/23). Note that we have not had a phone call or letter either. I have been reading everything I can on several sites and it appears there is no rhyme or reason as to when they get to call or write (meaning it's different for all). I have seen some that get calls or letters end of week 2 and seen some that haven't heard from their SR for 5 weeks. But it appears that week 4 seems to be when most get some kind of contact (if haven't already). I will be rooting for you. Keep us posted.
Warren, your son will send you what is called the "form letter" in about a week (maybe earlier) and that letter will have the information you are asking about. ALSO, you can contact your recruiter in a few days as he sometimes can get the information faster.
Good post for me to read, as I'm having some of the same fears. My son joined the Navy because he finally realized that he was going nowhere fast, but it took him until age 27 before he finally figured that out. He's always been one to do things "his way." He's plenty smart enough to have gone to college, and my wife and I had the means to send him, just like we did his two older sisters, but he didn't want that. So he worked a succession of dead-end jobs, but could never make enough money to move out on his own. He's the kind of kid that if we told him to do something or offered an opinion on what he should do, it guaranteed that he would NOT do it, no matter how much sense it made. The thing that gives me the most hope is that joining the Navy was HIS idea, not ours. But I do worry about how he'll fare, as up until now, he's led a pretty soft life. I think Navy boot camp will either make him or break him, and I'm keen to know how he's doing. I'm proud of him for making this decision, even if it did come later than one would expect. But the wife and I are on pins and needles to know what's going on, and we're eagerly awaiting that first communication. As I said once before, I'm taking the philosophy that no news is good news.
Glenn, if he gets through the first two weeks, he should probably be okay. My son said that 5 people exited his division the first week. Given that the military is presently pretty much 'full' with kids like ours looking for that last chance in a lousy economic climate, you've really got to work hard to stay in. As far as letters and calls go, don't expect to see or hear much until after the 3rd week. My son says that allotted phone and letter-writing privileges are based on division performance, and the RDC's can "giveth or taketh away". I pray your son gets through it and on to the right path.
Thanks Hugh, I'll keep your son in my thoughts also. As fate would have it, just minutes ago I received "the box" with his belongings. I'm much encouraged that there were no blood stains!
Today we received our first letters from my son and everything seems good. He says that people in his ship or division like to talk so they have extra PT every night. He says that his favorite part of the day is chow time and that food is great and that there is plenty of it. It was great to read his letters.
Mark
Good Lord, were we supposed to send self-addressed stamped envelopes to our son? You'd think that would be one thing they'd be given. We've not gotten any mail yet and it's three weeks tomorrow....
I went through boot camp in 1976 and after viewing some of the videos in this web site, I certainly feel that it was tougher before. I was already very structured and disciplined so it wasn't as difficult for me as for some of the others. But regardless of the differences from 1976 to now, the goal is the same. It is quite an accomplishment to transform 80+ individuals into a team with one mind. I remember on graduation day reflecting back to the first week and suddenly becoming aware of how much we had all changed. We had become more than sailors, we were family. My son is currently on his third week (Ship 4 Div, 821) and no letters yet. Lack of communication makes it difficult to stay focused and positive. A lot of negatives creep into your mind. I remember how important mail call was to me so I write to him daily. I am hopeful that my son is doing well and taking on the challenges that I gave him - to not be satisfied with just doing ok but to do his best in every task pressed upon him. I am spending a lot of my time encouraging my wife. She is new to this. Maybe today a letter will arrive? Hang in there Hugh, we're all in on this together!!
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