1. Your name (as you would like it to appear on the website):
-Shuree
2. Where did your soldier attend basic training?
-Ft. Benning, Georgia for [OSUT infantry training]
3. When did he attend basic training?
-October 26th-February 26th, 2010
4. How often did you hear from him? (Phone and letters)
-He called the 2nd day he arrived it was a very quick 45 second phone call, he was just allowed to say he made it safely and I’d be receiving his address shortly in the mail. He called ALOT. I got a call every week pretty much, mainly on Sundays in the evening. The only week he didn’t call was when they were out on FTX towards the end of training.
5. How long was it before you heard from him the first time?
-He left October 26th, and he called I believe it was on the 28th just to inform me he arrived safely.
6. How long did it take to receive a mailing address for him?
-I got the welcome to the army family packet that Ft. Benning sent out with lots of information on his graduation, his mailing address, his company’s phone numbers in case of an emergency, a map of Sand Hill for when I arrived for graduation and a few other papers. I got that about 3 weeks after he had left.
7. Were there any restrictions on what you could send him?
-Yes, I know some posts allow cough drops etc. he WAS NOT allowed anything like that. All I was able to send was pictures and I never attempted to send anything else because I didn’t want him to get into any trouble.
8. Were you sent information about family day and graduation?
-Yes, that information came along with the address. I received one envelope with information about his company, and had his address and that sort of info and the other envelope had graduation information.
9. Did he have a family day? If so, please describe.
-Family day was the day before graduation February 25th. It was pretty much there Turning Blue Ceremony. The Turning Blue started at 9am and lasted about 2 hours that included the class that needed to be taken before hand it was just an information briefing for the families, and after that the soldiers were released to their families and had to be back at 9pm. Prior Service I believe was allowed to return the following morning at 5am.
10. Please describe the graduation ceremony.
-It was great. I really enjoyed it as well as my son. They had ALOT of information that was being said over a PA system that had a lot of history in it and I enjoyed that. It was a great feeling to see my husband as well as all the other soldiers who made it through training be so proud of themselves.
11. Is there a website for his basic training unit? Is there a place to see pictures of his training online?
Yes, I didn’t know about this site until the end of his training but I did find pictures of him. all your soldier has to do is attend bible study and there should be some pictures of him on there. It was nice to see my husband even though it was just in a photo after him being gone for so long.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freedom-House-Ministries/144050667867
12. Any other tips or information?
-Its a different experience and its not easy to get through BCT I think that was the hardest thing I had went through. I wasn’t use to being away from my husband and I was kind of ungrateful during training because I only received a call once a week. I have now learned ALOT more about the army life. That no matter how hard you have it, someone else has it worse! always keep that in mind it may feel like your the only one going through it but really your not. And your husband is in a safe environment just embrace the fact that he’s safe, he’s there for a great cause, and before you know it you will be watching him graduate and to see how proud he is of himself you will know its all worth it.
My boyfriend left for basic training June-9th i recieved my call from him when he arrived. I was wonder will he have the privlege to call me once a week or do you have to be married to make calls once a week. I also wanted to know how can i get a package of information on the graduation.
He doesn’t have to be married to make phone calls. When he will get to call will depend on his drill sgts as well as how the class is doing as a whole. If they mess up, they may take away phone privileges. When my husband was at Benning, I generally heard from him about once every two weeks but everyone’s experience is different.
The graduation information packet will likely be sent to his parents. But he can send it to whoever he would like. If you don’t receive it, he can give you the information you need in a letter or you can contact his parents to get that information from them. Ft Benning also has a site for basic training graduation too.
This really depends on their drill sergeants. When i was in basic at Ft. Benning, I only got to make a total of 4 phone calls till we were givin our cell phones back. The first call is at the processing center, when you first arrive there. The following calls were made once you got down range (to your basic training battalion). While i only got to make the 5 calls, the other platoons in my company got to call either the same amount, and some did get to call every week. My platoon didnt get our cell phones back till the day before family day, while some of the other platoons got them every Sunday.
Did they send your husband home for Christmas and if so how did that work?
My boyfriend is at Fort Benning right now, I am just wondering if he graduates the 9th but doesn’t have to leave for AIT until the 14th can I spend the weekend after that with him?
I am curious if anyone knows anything about the family weekend that happens in the middle of their basic training? My boyfriend is there right now and I want to see him but want to know about the rules.
After he arrived and you got the first phone call. When did you recieve the second call? I talked to him when he was getting off the bus at fort benning for literally 50seconds and havnt heard from him since but it’s only been 3 days. We live together so being alone has been really hard on me?