NAVY BOOT CAMP

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Comment by Zach'sdad on January 8, 2010 at 9:38am

Got our first written letter from Zach last night. Right on cue; he is missing us, the weather is bad, some guys don't seem to get it, he really misses us, write as much as you guys can and send pictures and oh yeah, he misses us. Strange talk coming fr0m a kid that couldn't wait to get away from the house and parental control after high school. He sounds to me like he is surviving this ordeal, that they haven't really begun to gel as a unit yet. He did mention that he was thinking of trying to get some time off after basic to come see us but my gut is that he is just homesick for the way things used to be prior to BC. I also think that he needs to stick with his schedule and not waste any of his time looking for a break from the routine. We will be going to PIR on 02/19 and I expect he'll have worked through these issues as time goes by. BTW; we have written at least a dozen letters with pictures to him since he left, I have to asssume that there's a lag before he starts to see these letters given to him. I'm not worried but his mom continues to in spite of what I say. Oh well.

Comment by MarkM on January 8, 2010 at 8:12am

Marty, Mark said the mail had been slowed during the holidays. Maybe one will come shortly!

Comment by marty slautterback on January 8, 2010 at 8:07am

No letter from Ryan thursday, thats the first one hes missed. hopin no news is still good news.

Comment by MarkM on January 7, 2010 at 10:24pm

Scott, my son did 1 year in Sea Cadets and 2 in JROTC. That experience is helping a lot in BC. He said it isn't as bad as some of the summer trips the JROTC went on with Marine drill sargents.

Comment by MarkM on January 7, 2010 at 10:21pm

Got a letter from Mark today. He is happy to be "half-way through this mess". LOL The next two weeks are going to be very intense before he goes to Battlestations, which is the culmination test of everything they have learned. It is a 24 hour, throw everything disaster at them test that is held on an actual mock-up destroyer. When they pass, they are awarded a Navy ballcap and get to call home as full US Navy Sailor!

Comment by Gingerman357 on January 7, 2010 at 8:02pm

This is a good bit of information. I hadn't thought of some of this stuff:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5840638_write-someone-navy-boot-camp.html

Comment by Scott Pellerito on January 7, 2010 at 7:17pm

My son started his P Days this past Tuesday so he about to start the journey, I am excited to see if the past 8 years in the Sea Cadets helps with some of the things all of your sons and daughters are going through. I am a Lieutenant Commander with the Sea Cadets and have some advice for some of the parents and their concerns.
When you write them their letters, please inform them it is merely a mind game, do what they are told, look straight ahead, give the proper answers and study the material they have been given. This will all be used at Battle Stations, this is a really tough 12 twelve hours but they are kept busy mentally and physically, it is to prepare all of them to incidents like with the USS Cole, remember, it was a bunch of 18 and 19 years olds that saved the ship that day, due to the training given to them at RTC! Unfortunately one of the crew was a past Sea Cadet who most of us knew, great kid and God Bless Her.
Your son or daughter will do just fine. If anyone needs any other information I will have it or can get it for you. Obviously I or anyone of the Regional Staff members will not be allowed to contact your sons or daughters. NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.
Let me know if I can help answer any more questions.

Comment by Scott Pellerito on January 7, 2010 at 7:09pm

Marlinespike is line handling at a mock up of a ship, knots etc. Hell week is just the time that they are all reminded that they are still at RTC! 4-3 is week 4 day three and they should be in weapons training where they tend to have some fun and of course that leads to the REMEMBER your in Boot Camp!
I have been at RTC for two weeks for the past eight years, my counterpart in the USN Sea Cadets meets at RTC every other week. Hope this helps you and answers some of the questions, remember, your letters are written as they are INFORMED of what will happen next, it is merely a mind game at at week 4 the Recruit is halfway done, remember the last week is in preparation for PIR!

Comment by Norman Cantrelle on January 7, 2010 at 5:53pm

We got a letter from Nathan today, it was dated 12/30 and postmarked 1/4! He said it was 4-3 the middle of Hell Week for them. Everything seems to be going well. I sent him a questionaire form and gots tons of info. If you have not tried that yet do it. They don't have to think about what to write, they just fill in the blanks. Found out about the flags they won. Who his closest friends are, what he thinks of his RDC, why he got I.T., how they did on Marlinspike and a lot more than we have ever gotten out of any of his letters. Says " I am kind of liking it here". Go figure. A call on Saturday and a nice letter on Thursday, amazing how those simple things can brighten up your week. BTW looks like that global warming deal is working out real good, it is going to be in the lower 20's tonight in N. LA. I guess I should go run around in it to get geared up for GL in 22 days!!!

Comment by MarkM on January 7, 2010 at 4:29pm

Received a letter today dated 03, Jan. He is doing well. He was going to learn which language he will learn at DLI this past Tuesday; was doing Marlinspike today and starting Hell Week tomorrow. Hell Week is something I am not familiar with. Hopefully someone can enlighten me. As he put it, he is more than half-way "through this mess" and is looking forward to A School.

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