Please assist other Army families in knowing what to expect from basic training by completing this short survey to be published on the site. This is only a guide; please add any information you deem to be relevant.
Please email the completed survey to me at staceyATmarriedtothearmyDOTcom
1. Your Name (as you would like it to appear)
2. Where did your soldier attend basic training?
3. When did your soldier attend basic training (please include the year)?
4. How often did you hear from him (phone and letters)?
5. How long was it before you heard from him the first time?
6. How long did it take to receive a mailing address from him?
7. Were there any restrictions on what you could send him?
8. When did you receive information about family day and graduation?
9. Did he have a family day? If so, please describe.
10. Please describe the graduation ceremony.
11. Is there a website for his unit? Did you find a place online that has pictures from his basic training?
12. Any other tips or information?
My name is jennifer. My solider (fiancia) attented basic training in san antanio texas. He went on august 30th 2011 and went threw 8 weeks of boot camp. Now hes in tech school for 34 days. When he was in boot camp I didnt hear from him. It was extremly tough but I knew sooner or later he would get his cell phone back and he would be able to call. I hear from him every day once in a while its every other or 2. It was sunday the last time I hear from him. Tonight I just got off the phone with him. It took about 10 weeks to get a mailiing adress from him. I dont send him anything because we text alot or email. He has told me that if I do send him something it has to be black no tan things. I recieved family day and graduation information october 4th I think. He did have a family day. He had his mom and dad their. I came along to lol. We spent about and hr and a half together then he had to do a couple of things so that took about 30 minutes. ( THe longest 30 minutes of my life) then he came back and we spent a but more time togetehr then he had to get ready for his graduation. His graduation ceromony was gourious. I loved it. They were all very supportive. My fiancia friends the reccrutires everyone really helped eachother out. Theirs no webiste for my finanica unit sadly. Infomation that i can give you is dont think about the bad things. I have done that and its made me upset. Dont worry if he hasnt called you for a few day or emailed you. It doesnt mean he hates you or your not important it just means he tired up and busy with what hes doing but know that he wants to talk to you as badly has you want to talk to him. I also sign up for military youga. Its for women who have husbands, fiancai, boyfriends in the military/army/airbase. That has helped me out alot too. Hope this helps
1. Your name (as you would like it to appear on the website): Paige
2. Where did your soldier attend basic training? Fort Leonard Wood for BCT/ATI
3. When did he attend basic training? May-October 2012
4. How often did you hear from him? (Phone and letters) Although my soldier is still there, and it’s only 4 weeks in, I’ve gotten 3 phone calls so far. I got the usual “I’m here, I love you, I have to go” the night he got to reception around 12:30AM. He called again 10 days later on a Friday night for about 5 minutes max around 8:30PM. Then called that Sunday after around 9:30PM, the next Sunday at 3:30PM. I’ve gotten two letters so far. Tim said he would be calling every Sunday (if they earned it) but it could be anytime. The calls have been about 20 minutes a piece.
5. How long was it before you heard from him the first time? See the last question 🙂
6. How long did it take to receive a mailing address for him? He sent it in a letter- he could have told me on the phone what it was, but he said he wanted a surprise and not know when it was coming so he wasn’t always thinking about when it’d get there. I got his letter with the address 3 weeks and 2 days after the first day of reception.
7. Were there any restrictions on what you could send him? I know I can’t send him care packages. He hasn’t asked for anything yet, but I’ll only send letters and pictures unless he asks otherwise.
8. Were you sent information about family day and graduation? I haven’t gotten anything yet- it’s been almost 4 weeks past reception, but he said it would be coming soon.
9. Did he have a family day? Not yet- I’ll have to post back on the my comment after it’s happened 🙂
10. Please describe the graduation ceremony. Again, hasn’t happened yet 🙂
11. Is there a website for his basic training unit? Is there a place to see pictures of his training online? I haven’t tried to look for it yet.
12. Any other tips or information?
– It’s extremely hard with being separated at first, but you’ll soon get out of your funk. Mail will start flowing and calls will start to come regularly. Just remember this isn’t permanent.
– Write about anything and everything. I have a blog of my own that I express what I’m going through- I’ve printed some and sent to him. I’ve also drawn pictures for him (he loves looking at my drawings) and attached pictures of me (PG of course). I got a 8X10 picture of him framed and I took a picture with it as if he were there. I sent him pictures of “us” of where he’s missed such as my high school graduation. It makes him feel like a part of it, like he was there.
– Keep your cell phone on you at all times, because you never know when the Drill Sergeants might decide to unlock their phones and the time is so limited. Give him your work schedule if you work- I give him mine every Sunday and he knows if he needs to call my work instead of my cell phone.
– If something comes up like a fight or something, don’t make a big deal out of it. Always remember that this is temporary, and that being with him is more important than a fight. Pick your battles and stay strong!