My son is at Navy Basic Training in Great Lakes. His recruiter told him he could not take a watch with him, but in an information letter I rec'd from the Navy, it said I could mail him one. I mailed him a water-proof watch, US postal money order, stamps, pens, paper and envelopes about 5 days ago. Has anyone had any experience with this? Will my son receive this package? I hope he does not get in trouble because I mailed him these items. He called me when he first arrived at boot camp, but I have not heard a thing from him since. I'm very worried about him.
2007-09-03 12:42:07 · 16 answers · asked by Giovanna 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
You should get a letter in the mail about a week to 10 days after his first day. Not only do you call home you write a letter to. Don't worry this letter will be very bland and not seem like him at all. He is told what to write in his first letter home. After that every Sunday he will be allowed to write home. As for packages Do not send any food. He will open all packages in front of his RDC The RDC will look through it to make sure there is no contraband (Food,candy,gum,Tobacco,etc.) Then the recruit will have to stow it all in his A and B drawer. Think small junk drawer. About 3 inches deep 8 inches wide 12 inches long there are 2. That is his only personal space. Anything that doesn't fit is shared or thrown out. Other things you can send are a Bible(don't know your Religious beliefs... I'm just saying) Pictures, things of the nature you already sent. He is fine though I can promise that. Most likely you are going to get the letter of how much it sucks and how hot it is right now. How the food sucks and the RDC's are mean. But they will get more interesting. Also he should get 1-3 more phone calls home Usually last about 15 minutes.
2007-09-03 12:53:30 · answer #1 · answered by Rek T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trust me, he will get his package. As a matter of fact, I'd like to say that you did a great job in picking out the right things to send to him. All of those items will be of great use to him. I don't recommend sending him candy or anything like that, though. We had to sit and watch a guy eat an entire box of cookies that his grandmother sent to him, and he puked his guts out. I recommend sending him letters that will motivate him and give him that extra push to try harder and succeed. If there are any negative things that occur while he's gone, do not mention it to him. There's nothing worse than being in bootcamp or at war and hearing about bad things happening back home. You've done the right thing, and I'm sure that your son will greatly appreciate the package you have sent to him.
As far as hearing from him, don't expect to hear from him often at all. When I was in bootcamp, we only had about ten minutes every night to write home, and that wasn't very long at all. Sometimes, depending on how well recruits accomplish their tasks and exceed the standards, they may be allowed a set amount of time to call their loved ones. I also recommend sending a phone card if you haven't already. He will be fine, and I know that you will be beaming with pride when you see your son marching across the parade deck as a new U.S. Sailor. I hope this has been helpful to you. Thanks.
2007-09-03 23:43:23 · answer #2 · answered by Rodney 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe me, if he said he could have it, then he could have it. He would NOT want to chance getting in trouble, boot camp style, over a wrist watch, if he couldn't have one... and there's no way to sneak in something without the DI's seeing! Those guys notice everything!
Since you have his address, mail him letters.. lots and lots of letters... At least three every week... more if you can! In one of your letters, slip in a simple questionnaire for him to fill out, with the 10 most basic questions you have for him... give him multiple choice answers... some serious, some funny... and room to write back short little notes to each question... (Q: My DI... A: a) We all call him "daddy" b) an escapee from the local insane asylum c) a drag queen d) a demon from hell )
If he doesn't know what to write about, or doesn't think you care about the details of boot camp, he'll get the idea that you DO... and what kind of details you want... If he doesn't have time to write, then the questionnaire format will allow him to just circle the appropriate answer and send it back to you.. hopefully with little notes added, so you can get the flavor of how he's doing.
Hang in there! Boot doesn't last forever!
2007-09-03 20:28:06 · answer #3 · answered by Amy S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO do NOT SEND FOOD OF ANY TYPE!!! he WILL get in trouble for that!!!!!
he will have to open all packages in front of the RDCs and if ANYTHING is in those packages they deem contraband or something he is not entitled to, he will be smoked for it and be unable to keep it.
The money order was useless, he will have no place to spend it until after Pass in Review. the stationary is fine. they may or may not let him keep the watch, depends on the style.
Another thing: don't expect phone calls, they must be earned. i got 2.. the least week of Boot Camp, and then only because he was off base for something and was able to sneak in a few moments.
2007-09-03 20:53:52 · answer #4 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand you're a worried mom, but you should try to think of it like this: "No news is good news." Not hearing anything means he's healthy and safe.
Not including the 5 minute call when first getting there, I think I only got to call home 3 times while I was at basic, and like others have said those calls have to be earned.
And that multiple choice questionnaire thingy is a good idea, I thought.
2007-09-04 17:01:39 · answer #5 · answered by mAT2t 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's just a little busy right now. Mail takes time. He'll be fine. You just have to get used to the idea he won't be at your beckon call anymore. He now belongs to Uncle Sam. He'll call you when he gets a chance. If anything happens, they'll call you. Have a nice glass of wine and be proud your son is serving.
2007-09-03 19:56:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok first off do not worry! he will be FINE. and yes i would say you could send him a watch. but more importantly know that your son is completely safe, he is not a war he is just at camp. think of it as a child getting a small shot. he is no real danger. good luck with the watch hope this helps:-) bye
2007-09-03 19:50:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aww, the Navy has the wimpiest boot camp there is (other than the Air Force). He's doing FINE.
If you really want to get him in trouble, though, send him a batch of about 5 dozen cookies ... enough to share with the whole platoon. He'll be doing pushups while everyone else is chowing down ... CLASSIC!
2007-09-03 19:47:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's better to just send letters of encouragement. It's so hard to keep up with stuff in basic that you might want to send a gift like a watch once he gets to tech school. Honestly, if you send it to him now, he may just have to stow it with personal property.
2007-09-03 19:53:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, he can receive packages from home. The instructors will watch him open them and make certain he gets no forbidden items.
2007-09-03 20:36:37 · answer #10 · answered by John C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋