1. Your name (as you would like it to appear on the website):

Kirstie Hampton

2. Where did your soldier attend basic training?

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

3. When did he attend basic training?

May 25th, 2007 to August 3rd, 2007

4. How often did you hear from him? (Phone and letters)

I didn't get to talk to him on the phone all that much at first. I probably talked to him over the phone about 3 or 4 times and that was over second half of his training. I was only his girlfriend then, so he called his family the first few times. Usually when we talked, it was only for about 3 or 4 minutes. So I got to the point where I would have a list of things to tell him...then I would just read it when he called.

I did get a letter almost every day once he could start writing...and that continued until his FTX (I think it's the simulated war thing) because he needed to concentrate on what he was doing and stuff. After FTX it was back to normal.

5. How long was it before you heard from him the first time?

About a week and a half from when he left. But it sucked because I couldn't write him back yet - - no address. 

6. How long did it take to receive a mailing address for him?

2 and 1/2 weeks. The longest 2 and 1/2 weeks of my life!

7. Were there any restrictions on what you could send him?

I could only send him 3 pictures per letter. If I sent him any more, he got in trouble. No newspaper articles, etc. No revealing pictures. I did send him one of those cards that play music - - - I put a little note in it that said don't open the card if you'll get in trouble for it playing music...well he opened the card before he saw the little note so he had to do push-ups.

8. Were you sent information about family day and graduation?

Like I said, I was only his girlfriend then so that stuff was sent to his grandparents' house. I kept in tough with his grandma on a weekly basis so she was sure to tell me all the information.

9. Did he have a family day? If so, please describe.

Yes! It was the day before he graduated. We went down to Fort Leonard Wood and all the Basic Training Soldiers and Families went to the movie theater that they have on base. (We still hadn't got to meet with our soldiers yet) We watched a slideshow in there and the drill sergeants talked. Then after that we waited outside of the barracks for the soldiers to come out. It was amazing when they would come out and greet their families after not seeing them for so long.

After that we went out for dinner and just hung out and talked. He had to be back I think at like 7 or 8 that night. 

10. Please describe the graduation ceremony.

It was really nice. The BCT graduates marched in with the army band playing. A few people got up and talked. Lots of people took pictures. Kind of like a High School graduation. After that there were booths set up that I believe local army wives ran where you could buy stuff like shirts and dog tags for grandmas, grandpas, etc. Again, lots of pics were taken. We took a lot of pics of my soldier with his closest BCT friends so he will always have something to remember them by. After that, they went to their barracks and got their stuff and then we left.

11. Is there a website for his basic training unit? Is there a place to see pictures of his training online?

I think that there was but we didn't receive any information about it. My soldier's (now my husband!) grandma is really up to date with that stuff. My husband's brother is at BCT at Fort Benning right now and they sent info on a website to see pics. So if there is somewhere to see pics of Fort Leonard Wood BCT, they need to get out more info on it to families.

12. Any other tips or information?

Write to your soldier every day! It will really help them with the mental hardships of BCT. It lets them know you care. And for God's sake don't cheat on them while they're gone. That happened to so many of my husband's friends when he was there. I guess they had a "wall of shame". They put up pics of the girls who did them wrong while they were there.