How often can Navy recruits in Basic call home and how often & how much mail are they allowed to receive?

Question

My daughter's boyfriend shipped off to Basic in Great Lakes on July 18, 2006. We would like to know how long it will be before he can call or write us. We are sending letters, but don't know if he is getting to read them? Can someone tell me the guidelines on phone calls and mail? Also, will they be shipped directly to Pennsicola or will they be allowed to return home for a few days?

Any and all info and encouragement would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Not sure the difference between Army and Navy basic training. My son was Army. He could receive letters right away. He also was able to call the first week to let us know where he could be written exactly. He did have to do 20 push ups for each letter sent so we started putting them all in the same envelope. He got NO time between basics and his advanced training. However that is not always the case. It depends on when the next class starts. He might get to come home for a week or so between but don't count on it. One thing you and your daughter will have to learn. Everything about the service is hurry up and wait. You will find yourself doing a lot of waiting. Please tell him thank you for me though and tell your daughter just hang in there and keep supporting him!

Answer 2

I am not sure what the difference between the Marines and Navy is as I was a Marine but we got one initial phone call lasting about literally two seconds to let our parents know that we were okay and then we had to wait until the week we graduated before calling, unless there was an emergency such as 9/11 then those with family in NYC who worked in the world trade centers were allowed to call home along with those whose family worked in the pentagon. They can receive as much mail as is sent. THere is not a limit. I would not recommend sending packages however, especially if they have food or candy in them as it will get him in lots of trouble. We were given 10 days of what is referred to as "boot leave" before proceding to further training and school. Pensacola is nice and he should have more phone privaleges there as it is a nice base (at least NAS Pensacola was when I was there about five years ago). Hope this helps. I wish him the best of luck.

Answer 3

As someone who has gone through Recruit Training, you can call home when you get there to tell someone you made it there safely. The next time you call home will be about 4 weeks later. As for writing he will be issued stationary the first night and he can write as often as he wants, the only catch is that the mail does not get collect till sunday after worship services are complete. Throughout Recruit Training he might be able to earn phone calls for different reasons. For example we earned phone calls for having the highest test scores or having the best polished shoes. There is a agenda that he must follow and that agenda says he is promised two phones calls while he is there, the first night and one 4 weeks later.

Answer 4

My Hubby went to boot camp June 18th, so about three weeks ago. I got the first "Im here phone call" was literately 3 seconds long, and then last week I got to talk to him on the phone for 7 minutes. It is now July 2nd and I received 3 letters from him in the mail! I feel like with everyone elses posts, it is pretty random and it really depends on the situation and the time they are given.

Answer 5

don't expect any phone calls, actually. They are allowed one when they get there.. for a whole whopping 30 seconds. Then afterwards, his recriuit company has to earn the phone calls, and they are usually limited in duration..like ten minutes, and only allowed to make one at a time, so he may use that time to call his parents. I got exatly one phone call.. the second to last week he was there.

He can receive mail every day. the RDCs are NOT allowed to withold mail, but they CAN make them work for it with extra pushups and whatnot. The guys that get mail with cutesy stickers and smelling of perfume are the ones that are singled out.... send letters ONLY. no food(it will be confiscated) and no newspaper articles unless he writes and tells you its okay.

he will have some time on Sundays to write letters, but often times they use that time to shine their boots or garb a quick nap.

As for A school in Pepsicola.. he could be a Grad n Go, which means IMMEDIATELY after Pass I Review, he hops a plane to Florida, no time to visit with anyone who came to see him graduate. Or he could get Hometown Recruting, 2 weeks in his homewtown to work in the local Recruiters office. He won't have enough leave accrued to take any actual time off at this point.

Answer 6

He can take 2 weeks of leave following boot camp unless the navy has changed it's policy.

We could take up to 2 weeks leave between boot camp and "A" school even though we hadn't accumulated 14 days yet. You earn 2 and 1/2 days of leave for every month served on active duty.


You have to consider the cost of air fare, though. The Navy will only pay for his travel from Great Lakes to Pensacola.

If he owns a car and plans on driving then the personal vehicle rates are only paid from GLakes to Pensacola too.

Answer 7

Well You can write home or to any one the very first day...As for phone calls, about the 3 or 4th day you find the px and then you can do that..THEY NEVER STOP YOU FROM WRITTING OR CALLING, THEY ENCORRAGE IT!!!When he leaves boot camp he will get leave to come home, more then likely 30 days..You just keep writting him, the letters help them alot, and yes he gets them.. The reason I know this is I put 22+ years in the navy, retired as a Lt Commander...Your friend from Tennessee...ROB

Answer 8

as i can remember my husband went to boot camp there 7 years ago and i think it was about a month before they let them call home. they can write though. all we did was write until i saw him graduate from boot camp. keep the letters up this will help him get through it. they can not come home until they graduate from boot camp unless they have a school to go to. my husband did and in the end he came home 8 months later. i know how it can be, this is just the start of it. good luck and tell your daughter to keep her chin up. support him and his choices!! good luck!

Answer 9

you isn't waiting to call domicile that typically. i imagine i became allowed one telephone call contained in the starting up basically to assert that I arrived competently. yet that became it for a lengthy time period. ultimately, regularly in route of the end of teaching your instructor ought to sense all warmth and fuzzy interior and assist you to a call or 2. yet, that extremely relies upon on how your unit has been appearing. believe me notwithstanding . . . you received't have that a lot free time on your palms. Write on your family individuals. The letters somewhat typically cases recommend more effective to a sparkling recruit than telephone calls besides.

Answer 10

make sure you got the addy right