Sister is in bootcamp, what should I send her?

phx223 · 07-21-2009, 16:50

Ok so I know that I couldn't get much when I went thru Navy boot camp, but that was the navy and seven years ago. What can/should I send my kid sister in bootcamp?

LilCop2002 · 07-21-2009, 18:57

If it was my sister, I would just send moral support via letters.

DO NOT put anything that would attract attention to her such as your proper rank, flags, or much of anything other than a white envelope, address, and a stamp.

Unless she writes and/or calls with a specific request, let her handle her own with letters to and from home and leave it at that. The amount of room for items sent and personal free time is extremely limited.

Check my Signature for how I know about this...

wrenrj1 · 07-21-2009, 19:03

NOTHING of substance: Let me recite..

"Dear Sis, hope you are doing well, I am fine. Mom and Dad are fine too. Your other siblings are well too and considering going in to the NAVY as they hear good things from you just like your older relatives that served with the NAVY with distinction, especially your grandfather ADMIRAL________(insert name here) who recently retired.

Respectfully (not love) your brother,

LilCop2002 · 07-21-2009, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenrj1

NOTHING of substance: Let me recite..

"Dear Sis, hope you are doing well, I am fine. Mom and Dad are fine too. Your other siblings are well too and considering going in to the NAVY as they hear good things from you just like your older relatives that served with the NAVY with distinction, especially your grandfather ADMIRAL________(insert name here) who recently retired.

Respectfully (not love) your brother,

That's a sure fire way to get her harassed throughout her time at BMT. I think I might just do it to my sister.

Ralff · 07-21-2009, 20:13

A guy in my flight got a rubber duck from some of his buddies back home. He had to stand in front of the flight and sing the rubber ducky song.

Candy and other items won't do much good. Letters should be about it. Any pictures will be looked at and probably made fun of by the TIs but as long as they aren't sexual in nature she should get to keep them after they are done with their fun.

**MrMurphy** · 07-22-2009, 07:33

I got a ton of letters from Pilotkitten (then my fiance), she knew better than to send anything else.

One guy, a fitness freak, got a package with a letter from his mom in it (the only reason he was allowed to open it). He retrieved the letter, looked inside, cussed and just got down and started doing pushups. His church college group had loaded it with all sorts of junk food and candy he NEVER ate...

We had the option of him picking 10 guys to eat as much as we could in a few minutes, or tossing all of it and doing something else related to our standing in the squadron competition (can't remember what right now), which is what we ended up doing.

LilCop2002 · 07-22-2009, 16:58

Guess the OP isn't too interested in us, Mr. Murphy.

ravenkeeper98 · 07-22-2009, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilCop2002

If it was my sister, I would just send moral support via letters.

DO NOT put anything that would attract attention to her such as your proper rank, flags, or much of anything other than a white envelope, address, and a stamp.

Unless she writes and/or calls with a specific request, let her handle her own with letters to and from home and leave it at that. The amount of room for items sent and personal free time is extremely limited.

Check my Signature for how I know about this...

+1 on that.

Does she have an AFSC yet? (Job)

wrenrj1 · 07-22-2009, 18:34

I specifically told my parents to NOT send me anything related to my 18th birthday that occurred during Army BCT WAY back in 1981...Times were a bit different (and even worse prior), forget any type of privacy etc. I wonder how many postal regulations the military has broken just to allow D.I.'s to ridicule trainees, but in retrospect, I got thru it...

GeorgiaGlocker · 07-28-2009, 15:32

Just letters of encouragement. I enlisted in 1975 and one guy received a box of candy hearts from his mom. He never lived that down. I will always remember this: there are two things you never, ever do in front of your TI. Laugh and cry. Some learned the hard way.

txleapd · 07-28-2009, 19:33

Send her a letter with "Happy Birthday!!!" written on the outside of the envelope one one side, and "Squids suck" on the other (assuming it's also the Navy. Just insert whichever branch if not)....

Mongosafari · 08-01-2009, 15:38

USAF BMT 1982 Lackland AFB, TX
She doesn't need anything except letters of encouragement. No food, candy, soap etc. Everything is provided or she can get there. It's over in a few weeks.

ravenkeeper98 · 08-01-2009, 17:29

8 weeks now, little different from when I went through in '90. They even have to carry around an inert M-16 during basic now.

lucksthename · 08-01-2009, 19:43

ravenkeeper, I noticed your in sumter SC, Shaw afb. I also am staioned at Shaw. Where do you go to shoot? I compete at Mid Carolina Rifle club, in IDPA and USPSA. also what squadron?

ravenkeeper98 · 08-02-2009, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucksthename

ravenkeeper, I noticed your in sumter SC, Shaw afb. I also am staioned at Shaw. Where do you go to shoot? I compete at Mid Carolina Rifle club, in IDPA and USPSA. also what squadron?

When I get the chance to get away from the family I usually head over to Manchester. 20AMXS

LilCop2002 · 08-07-2009, 19:25

GUess the OP is gone. Should we just highjack the thread now?

lauren044 · 08-13-2009, 11:27

Send her only letters of encouragement.....take it from a retired TI.....thats all she needs.......

**NeverMore1701** · 08-13-2009, 14:27

I got letters, pictures, candy, energy bars, snacks, all sorts of stuff. We had 10 minutes per mail call to eat and/or share whatever we wanted, then we tossed the rest. Only the PT fails got any special attention if they ate stuff. That was Army MP OSUT, 2005.

Oh, had my mom send me a towel, too. I purchased an extra of the crappy little towels they issue, sent it to her, and she got a color matched blanket sized super soft towel for me. That thing was heaven, I'd stick it in the dryer when I went in to shower, so it was nice and toasty when I got out. Loved it.

Big Time · 08-13-2009, 14:33

Prepaid phone cards,stamps,postcards.

***Morris*** · 08-14-2009, 00:36

Hell yeah Lil!

Soo, who remembers the poor schlep that was too stupid not to mow the fire ant hills?

Who remembers the empty bunker at Medina that USED to house a nuke?

Anyone remember the lonely outpost of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children as they attended Mil Dog training?

For Lil cop, where is the LLC (lame, lazy and crazy) squadron these days?

Nurses still as hot in Wilford Hall?

Still yelling out "Nut to butt! Nut to butt!" to the young'uns in chow line?

LilCop2002 · 08-14-2009, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morris

Hell yeah Lil!

Soo, who remembers the poor schlep that was too stupid not to mow the fire ant hills? Who mows anymore? Goodwill contracted out...

Who remembers the empty bunker at Medina that USED to house a nuke? I remember hearing about that all the time as a young Trainee as well as a SF Troop...

Anyone remember the lonely outpost of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children as they attended Mil Dog training? They're still here. They actually use the softball field next to my squadron to train them.

For Lil cop, where is the LLC (lame, lazy and crazy) squadron these days? It's only 2 doors down from my building. Makes getting them out of my flight that much easier.

Nurses still as hot in Wilford Hall? I've only been there once, but I damn near broke my neck over a few...

Still yelling out "Nut to butt! Nut to butt!" to the young'uns in chow line? Nope. We only do that when they're processing through the showers. JK

Bleh...

Flattop67 · 08-19-2009, 20:25

Hey Guys, I see a couple of you are here at Shaw, good to know.

pal2511 · 08-20-2009, 12:08

I never got to check out any nurses at wilford hall...at that point in my life it might have been too much eye candy for me to have!

***Morris*** · 08-20-2009, 12:54

Ahh, Wilford Hall. Remember it briefly in basic, then was in VAQ across the highway when in CATM school. Nurses wouldn't give me the time of day until they heard I was Guard AND I worked for a major video game player maker (making more coin than a seasoned major).

But quite a few were easy on my eyes. Too bad Wilford Hall was known as a farm club for the officer marriage system.

Ralff · 08-20-2009, 14:14

Was just there myself. Got myself some eye surgery. Before I was eyesight handicapped, I did enjoy what I saw.