NAVY BOOT CAMP

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Comment by Devons Dad From CT (Rich) on September 19, 2009 at 7:27pm

Got a call from my son on Thursday! Said he passed his exams and heading into week five. So good to hear from him. Since he has limited time, I found it helpful to have him call my cell and I can join other people in for a group discussion. Looking forward to 10/16.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on September 18, 2009 at 9:17pm

Funny how eight weeks in Great Lakes teaches them to look at the details!!

Comment by Don Brown on September 18, 2009 at 9:07pm

Tim, glad to hear your son is doing well, mine said that they are ahead right now in points for record in their ship, has yours said anything? Mine just got his third job today, said he really didn't want this one, but oh well.....he got a 15 min phone call on Weds, had the top score on his test....but lost 10 min today on the 45 min call, made a stupid little mistake, he said he wouldn't do that again!

Comment by NavyDCparent on September 18, 2009 at 2:49pm

All my son wanted to do after PIR is go to Cracker Barrel...I was there for three days and we ate there twice. lol We don't have them in Southern California, it was great! And, the staff really respects our new Sailors! People were stopping by to thank our Sailor...still beings tears of pride. God bless them all.

Comment by Paul (Zac's Dad FC) on September 18, 2009 at 12:49pm

Went to the PIR on 9/11. It was awesome. Zac really didn't want to do much. We went to the mall in Gurnee a couple of times. Just get to Grand and go west and you will run into the mall. If you go north on Hwy 41 the Grand exit is closed. You pass Six Flags on the way (on Grand). There are a lot of place to eat in and around the mall. Zac had watch on Sat from 0800-1200. Shortened that day. Sunday was an all day at Six Flags.

They have to carry their outer garment, rain coat, with them. It is part of their uniform in bootcamp. They may feel the need to have it everywhere with them. He was allowed to leave it in the car while we were at Six Flags.

Make sure to go to the web site on the form letter you get when they arrive at bootcamp. This is for your base pass so you can enter the base to pickup and drop off your sailor. You are allowed to go to the parking lot between the NEX and Chapel. Make sure to arrive with plenty of time for them to walk back to their ship. Some ships are a good walk from the parking lot. We made sure to be there 45 minutes before their liberty deadline.

They really can't purchase much while they are on liberty since they have limited space in their rack. Zac bought a watch and sun glasses. If you are prior military and have a challenge coin, that is a nice thing to pass on to them. I had one a friend had given me while we were at Malmstrom AFB in Montana.

Comment by Raul Azpiazu on September 18, 2009 at 12:41pm

I did find out on one of the other links onBoot Camp Slang that PFA is Physical Fitness Assessment. No word on "flagged"

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on September 18, 2009 at 12:26pm

probably written the Sunday prior to the postmark...that is the only time they are allowed to write. Guessing PFA is personal fitness assessment.

Not sure about the flagged....98% sure it is not good............

Comment by Raul Azpiazu on September 18, 2009 at 12:23pm

We received a letter today but he didn't date it so although it was postmarked the 14th we don't know when he wrote it. In the letter he says someone was "flagged" on Friday. What does that mean? Is it good or bad? He also uses the acronym "PFA". What does that mean?

Comment by Larry Huffman on September 18, 2009 at 11:44am

The illnesses are normal. It is called the Recruit Crud. Comes from all of them coming together from different regions being exposed to new strains of cold and flu viruses. Not uncommon for your recruit to be sick for 2 or 3 weeks of boot camp. Most recruits find (I know I did) that if they are still sick when the gas chamber day comes, it will be better after that. When you go in and breathe the gas, it really ends up clearing you out. I spent about 15 minutes just coughing crap up, and I was not sick the rest of boot camp. hehe. The aches and pains are normal too. lol

It is good to send newspaper articles and clippings of stories or sports teams that you know your recruit follows. I also would search the internet for funny single frame cartoons and print them on the letters I typed. Also, word puzzles and games are good for them to get. You can find sites on the internet with free puzzles...my daughter liked logic problems...so I found a bunch and printed them 4 to a sheet...printed the answers on another sheet...and she had word games to keep herself occupied during down time. We sent our son Suduko puzzles last year and he loved them as well.

They have one small drawer called an A/B drawer that they can keep their mail in...so do not send too much. This drawer also has to hold other stuff as well...so it not just for what they receive from home. You do not want to send too much stuff or items too large for that small drawer. Do not worry about your letters...send as many as you can...but just keep in midn their space limitations when sending additional stuff. Also...if you send them musical cards, the cards will most likely be opened by the RDCs...however, the recruits end up liking the musical cards. They will open them over and over to provide music for the division. lol.

Comment by Greg Yee on September 18, 2009 at 9:33am

Tim
Glad to hear your son is doing well, we have received several letters from our son but only one phone call, he says in his letters the calls are related to his divisions performance, oh well, he says in his letters he is looking forward to PIR, he also says the chow sucks ( funny how things havent changed in 30 years, chow sucked when i was in boot camp too LOL ) and his spirits sound high, he starts week six on Monday.
Funny how long our letters take to get to him, he wrote us on the 13th & 14th and we got his letter on the 16th, our letters take around 7 to 10 days to get to him.
Thanks for the advice on the Navy lodge, looking forward to PIR 10/9/09,
Tell all of your sailors Thanks for their service and our thoughts and prayers go to all of them.

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