Before your sailor leaves they need at least 1 night or more decent sleep before their ship date. They will be up for about 30-40 hours when they arrive at RTC...better to have too much sleep than not enough at this point.
MEPS- The Journey Begins
MEPS processing is a lot of "hurry up and wait" (it is part of the government after all). Urinalysis, instructions on where/when flying to Great Lakes, etc., etc.. Family is allowed at MEPS and airport if they ask for the military gate pass from the airline ticket counter.
Your sailor will get to O'Hare Airport, get luggage, eat, and get ready for the fun to begin - Welcome to the Navy sailor!!
Your advice to your sailors should be to listen, pay attention to detail, and follow directions in a brisk manner! Review what is allowed and what is not at RTC!!!
"P" Days
Entrance to the In-Processing Facility
Processing week, or P-Week (typically at least 5 working days long. It can be longer if there are not enough recruits to form a division). These are your sailors first few days at the Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC). This time is spent completing forms and building their military record. Reviews, information on legal, mental, and health status are completed such as:
- Physical health assessments
- Inoculations
- Wages, Benefits and Payment Processing
- Insurance
If sailors are on "P-hold" it is because RTC is waiting for more people to arrive so they can form a full division. "P-days" and "P-Hold" do not count as being in boot camp. Once RTC has a full division sailors will start their P-days.
Don’t believe this is an easy or slack time at Boot Camp. Though training has not officially begun, recruits should remember to stand at attention, respond only when spoken to and follow each direction exactly as told. It is important to only bring the items on the list given to them, as any unauthorized items are shipped home or donated.
As your sailors enter the processing center they will be directed to form two lines along the walls.....they're going to be called bulkheads from now on. Now is the time for you to realize that Navy-speak is the norm from now on so get used to learning a new language and new terms. Remember that NavyDads.com is here to help so don't hesitate to ask if you don't understand a term or acronym. If you're not a Navy veteran you are going to need to learn a totally new language and tons of new vocabulary and abbreviations.
You'll get a "I'm here" phone call.....it's late and the calls will be at odd times....and they are about 15-30 seconds long and pretty scripted. Your sailors are wondering what they have gotten themselves into so just deal with it and don't waste time with tears...listen and offer a word of love and support. No time for long lectures or tons of fatherly/motherly advice.
During these first days your sailor will visit "initial issue" where your sailors get a "ditty bag" which is like a duffel bag only smaller. It is a small cloth bag that holds their small items. The sailors receive their basic hygiene items and clothing....things they need to live and survive RTC days. They are fitted for athletic shoes and boots....make it clear to your sailors that they have to speak up if their boots don't fit correctly.....it will be a long, difficult, and painful 8 weeks if their boot don't fit correctly. Time to change into their new clothing ("Smurfs"). ALL of their civilian clothing will either be donated, sent home in "the sailor in a box" or thrown away. Also sent in that box is everything not allowed at boot camp- if they had a cell phone which they could use at the airport or bus it will go into the box--read that again and pick up on the usefulness of having their cell phone when they leave for Great Lakes. Just remember that shipping costs have to be paid for so the more they send the more it costs. Your sailors are allowed to keep a small bible....that is a great way to help with their spiritual health at RTC and a great place for addresses and phone numbers and the like. It might be a great going away gift as they leave MEPS. I still have my father's from his Army days that he carried across France and into Germany and Czechoslovakia in '44 - '45.
On a more serious note, your sailors have to provide a urine sample for substance testing. If they cannot provide one, they will stay in medical until they do regardless of how long it takes. This is an important lesson into the next 8 weeks.....hydration. The recruits will need to drink 8 to 12 canteens of water a day.
All are asked if they have musical talents or drill experience. Those that do, and indicate so, will form a "900" division or performing division. They do everything that "normal" recruits do, but also have practice and drill so they are pretty busy. They perform at official functions like PIR.
Those that have ratings towards Spec Ops like SEAL, Divers, EOD, SWCC, etc., form into "800" divisions.....these divisions have much higher physical demands than other recruits and have two PT periods a day.
Everyone else are organized into divisions of about 90 sailors. A recent addition used inconsistently is the use of "I", "M", or "F" after the division number to help indicate if the division is Integrated (male/female), Male, or Female.
At some point your sailor will be taken to a temporary in-processing barracks when they will meet their RDCs (Recruit Division Commanders) and start the actual in-processing days. Sleeping compartments are open areas with about 80-90 bunks or racks (remember your Navy-speak) where they will choose a rack and meet their first bunk-mate. They may even get a little sleep....little is the key word here. Each barracks is called a "ship" and is named after a famous Navy ship. The in-processing barracks ship is called the USS Pearl Harbor.
During P-Week, men will receive a “buzz” haircut and women are required to have their hair cut to the bottom of the uniform collar. Ladies: It may make sense to have their hair cut before leaving for boot camp - they can always grow their hair longer after training. Medical and dental in-doc gets done here to make sure your sailors able to train and learn properly and efficiently. Most of these P-Days start up at 0400 and Taps are at 2000. There will be much yelling throughout the day (Welcome to the Navy!!!!) and minor lectures along with all of the regular P-Day tasks. Your sailors should now also have been learning the chain of command.
Your sailors will also learn about the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), the military’s legal code, the standards of conduct, basic uniform wear, spend time stenciling or identifying their clothing and learning how to make their bed- get used to it being called a "rack" for the duration of their enlistment. They can check You Tube for "hospital corners" before leaving home and start practicing how to make their rack every morning. We've heard of recruits sleeping in their sweats and on top of their covers so they don't have to remake their rack everyday. There will be timed drills on bed making however, so they will have to know it anyway. They need to be ready to hear "You have X minutes to make your rack in accordance with RTC instruction" or similar.
Other important aspects of Processing:
- Make sure they bring legal documents to verify their marriage and ages of dependents – marriage certificates and birth certificates.
- A positive drug test will get them sent home and prevent future enlistment. If they test positive for alcohol, they will be screened and watched for signs of dependency. It’s best not to celebrate with alcohol before they leave. This is not summer camp so they need to take things seriously.
You'll get used to thinking in terms of military time more and more. This is about the most difficult time to stay awake, but remember that part of the goal here is to re-set your recruit's internal clock to RTC time. The recruits have come from all over the country and are used to totally different waking hours.....some may have held down jobs or gone to school. Others may have spent the night killing zombies on the X-Box. Keeping everyone up until they are exhausted resets their internal clocks all at once.....when they finally hit the rack on the second day they will sleep whether they want to or not!
Recruits receive their green guard belt and receive a lecture about hydration.....remember that your recruits will have to drink 8 to 12 canteens of water a day. It is hugely important to drink that water!! Keep hydrated and maintain posture. Around 0500 to 0530 your sailors will be marched to the galley for buffet style breakfast. Hard to hear but there is no talking allowed. Another fact you have to master- this is the military and not a summer camp. It is not intended to be fun and there are rules for everything. You moms and dads reading this- your sons and daughters are fine and are in good hands- take a breath and accept it. It will make the next 8 weeks much easier and the time will pass faster. We know it is hard to let little Johnny or Susi go, but they are adults now-- they have sworn an oath to the Constitution of the United States and will live by that oath for the duration of their service.
One of the most difficult challenges your sailor will face- "The Moment of Truth". Your recruits will be asked if they ever lied or did not speak the truth about joining the Navy. Everyone is naturally nervous, but there are sailors that are not prepared for this question as they have not been truthful during their Navy journey so far. Their problems and issues should have been addressed before this point and standing up at this time indicates a serious issue. To cut to the chase and lay all the "PC" stuff aside....if they stand up at this point their Navy career is essentially over and they will be sent home. They may get asked if they are homesick or are depressed- the answer is NO!! If they say yes they may see a counselor- but their Navy career is essentially over and they will be sent home. Hope you see a trend here....your sailors must not stand up- issues must have been addressed before this point. The Navy is also watching to see how they handle stress....don't handle it well and you'll wear that label forever. Remember that your sons and daughters are being trained to be warriors and to lay their lives on the line if called on to do so. They also need to remember that they are now living under an honor code. That being said, if your recruit really needs help he/she should talk to the Chaplin.
If they have done DEP PQS, they can get advanced if they pass this multiple choice test with 80% or above and passing everything on the Baseline PFA (physical fitness assessment). A lot of questions are common sense, but don't think that if they are really physically fit that they can just get advanced to E-2. They must pass both.
Been quite a morning....better head to the galley for some lunch and reflection. About now it's starting to hit "....this is serious stuff and I don't know if I can do this." After chow it's time to learn and start writing stuff down....chain of command...the 11 general orders...rank...recognition...etc., etc.. This afternoon they also need to start stamping names and other info on those personal items they were issued. Dinner is typically 17:00 to 18:00...then dash off to the ship and in about 8 minutes shower....better try for about 5 minutes. Better get pt gear- shorts, shirt, shoes, and socks ready and at front of rack, in order for the morning....hit the rack at 20:00. Before they fall asleep, most will be thinking...." man oh man, what have I done!!!".
At the end of P-Days your sailors generally move to their RTC home for the next 8 weeks: one of the ships or barracks complexes at RTC. They will want to talk a lot at night and will end up losing sleep.....not wise. They need to get into the RTC frame of mind and adapt to the hours. They will appreciate that later on.
And Remember... Their first day of training hasn't even officially begun yet.
Return to boot camp video made by the Navy shows what those first days are like.
Comments