Our daughter shipped out from Tampa On the 20th. We got the short call that night at 10:00 PM and we just got "the box" today. I'm waiting to find out her address and PIR date. No news is good news at this point but....
When she left I thought she was going to have a hard time without a phone, internet 24/7, texting, and Facebook. It seems I am the one that is going through communication withdraws. When she went off to college I could at least count on her returning a text within a few days. Now I need to settle for maybe getting a phone call in a few weeks during the most changeling time of her life so far? I guess the Navy is training us Parents also.
Jim
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Typically the first 4-10 days after the new recruits arrive at RTC are called Processing Days or P-Days. Around holidays and sometimes for unforeseen issues (flight delays, severe weather, etc.) P-days can last up to 14 days. Although recruits are assigned to a ship and division upon arrival, these assignments are not final and they do not move to their designated ship until P-days are over. Unplanned events may change that ship assignment. Your sailor's recruiter may give you an address a day or two after your recruit arrived at Great Lakes with a particular division that may not be final. This is why NavyDads always advises you to wait for your sailor's form letter with his or her correct address. That letter typically arrives 5-10 days after they have shipped to RTC.
I'm a volunteer at the USO Tampa to bad i missed you and your family. I was there on Monday but left at noon. I feel your pain my son left to boot camp at the beginning of the year. probably the hardest thing i had to do. A few words of advice. Call her recruiter Monday her recruiter will be able to see on his computer and give you her address. Write as often as possible, I used to write every two to three days. she will only be able to write on Sundays, expect her letters on Fridays (stalk the mailman). Your calls may come at anytime, my first call came the first Saturday then they were random. Her recruiter will be able to tell you her expected (PIR) graduation day. I'm near by if you need anything just reach out.
Alex
Alex & Paul
It's all good. I'm just learning to go with the flow and adjust to this new/old way. I am getting some letters ready for when I get the address. It's been awhile since I actually wrote a letter and it's kinda nice.
Thanks
You've hit on something a lot of parents never key on.....boot camp is as much a learning process for dad and mom as for our sailors! All to get folks ready for the fleet and long periods of no communication....you'll get a call- you just might have to wait for it!!!!!