FIRST LETTER FROM BOOT CAMP

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hutcherson on August 15, 2011 at 3:08pm

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)

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Permalink Reply by HUGH H. KIRKPATRICK on August 18, 2011 at 3:25pm

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?

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Permalink Reply by Jim Govoni on August 18, 2011 at 3:44pm

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

 

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Permalink Reply by Richard Riley on August 19, 2011 at 10:57am

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.

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Permalink Reply by Warren Swanson on August 24, 2011 at 11:18am

How do you find out what Ship and Div they are in and when the PID is so we can make travel plans for going to great lakes? My son just arrived there around 01:00 this morning Aug 24th 2011

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Permalink Reply by Richard Riley on August 24, 2011 at 11:26am

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.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn on August 24, 2011 at 11:36am

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.

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Permalink Reply by HUGH H. KIRKPATRICK on August 24, 2011 at 1:11pm

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.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn on August 24, 2011 at 1:25pm

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!

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Permalink Reply by Mark Byrer on August 31, 2011 at 4:23pm

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

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy W. on September 2, 2011 at 8:55am

Attended my son's graduation yesterday. Don't worry dad! And tell mom it's ok too! My son said the first two weeks were hard but gets "better" as they build you back up, he will have access to stamps etc, it will come...just keep him in your prayers, if he's made it to week 3 and you haven't gotten any SIQ calls...he's doing just fine! Go ahead and start writing now, he'll want to know EVERYTHING that's going on, sports scores, news, daily happenings at home. Remember, if it fits in a standard envelope it's good to go, cards can be sent too. We printed pictures off and sent them, screen-shoot sports scores & news stories etc... You should be getting his correct address soon but doesn't hurt to get a head start.

HUGH H. KIRKPATRICK said:

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....

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Permalink Reply by Logph Aguirre on September 3, 2011 at 12:28pm

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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