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Step 1
The time has arrived, tomorrow morning your son will be leaving either for OSUT or BCT.
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Step 2
The night before go through the "What to Bring" and the "Prohibited" Lists once again with your son.
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Step 3
This is a good time to learn lesson #1. The Army is really serious about orders or instructions and about soldiers following them (actually all the Military functions this way). Sometimes you won't always understand 'orders' or like them very much BUT there is a purpose for them.
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Step 4
Now is not the time to do the 'Mom thing' and insist on throwing in an extra pair of sox or your son's favorite 'cartoon' boxer shorts in his bag. Leave the "oh just one more" 'extra-fluffy' towel in your linen closet. Believe me!
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Step 5
Showing up at Basic ("Basic Training) with anything other than what is on that list will draw the immediate ire of the DI!! . If the list says "1 towel" and "1 washcloth" there should only be 1 towel and 1 washcloth in your son's bag. The Army supplies new recruits with ACUs, footwear (Boots and sneakers for PT). Whatever else they will be needing can be purchased at the PX or BX.
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Step 6
The morning your son leaves for Basic Training or Boot Camp he will either be picked up by his recruiter or you will drop him off at a designated location. For sure it will be very early in the morning. This may be very hard on you (and him), do your very best to be encouraging and positive. It will serve as excellent practice for the future.
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Step 7
All new Army recruits (regardless of where they go for basic training) report for IET at a 'Reception Battalion'. This is a in-processing and holding area ... here your son will be checked from head to toe (dental, hearing, eyes...); will be fitted for shoes, ACUs, and go through lots of paperwork! They will be 'allowed' to call home during the first 24-48 hours just to let you know they've arrived, it will not be a long conversation.
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Step 8
Army Boot camp Mom lesson #2- Although your son will be able to take his cell phone with him... as soon as the new recruits reach the reception battalion, cell phones are turned in and will be held for the entire duration of basic training.
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Step 9
From this point on... phone calls are 'privileges' not rights which must be earned. The Army does allow even the very 'newest' recruits to call home on Mother's Day or Father's Day. Just so you realize, the same goes with new recruits who are married... phone calls are privileges. They will not have access to computers for IM or e-mail at all! In "How to be an Army Boot Camp Mom Part 2" you will learn how to contact your son in case of an emergency (and it has to be a 'real' emergency).
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Step 10
Relax. DI's are not monsters the movies sometimes have portrayed them to be. But their job is extremely important! They are professional, NCOs who go through rigerous training (basic training all over again!), who have been in the Army for at least 5+ years and now most have been deployed. What they will be teaching your son is essential.
Comments
goodflgirl2k said
on 4/20/2009 My son is a daughter.
Whaley4 said
on 2/5/2009 Very accurate. My son is currently at Ft. Benning for Stryker training.
ordnancemom88 said
on 10/29/2008 They played that video at my AIT graduation. If you want to be a good parent when your son/daughter goes away to training, just remember to write. Check with the recruiter and make sure you get to see them swear in. After that, just make sure you write every chance you get. There is no better feeling than hearing your name called out during mail call and no worse feeling than not getting a letter.
VICTORY said
on 7/16/2008 Hi m.m. I would like to say that this article is pretty accurate but, there are discrepancies. Regarding your comment in Step 6, "For sure it will be very early in the morning." My son was schedule was such that he was to leave out the day prior to the recruits flying out and he had until 4Pm to be dropped off. I didn't see him the following morning when he left out since he had spent the night at the hotel with the other new recruits and they left out the next morning. I advise parents to confer with the recruiter as they are able to.
mortarmom505 said
on 6/13/2008 Thanks! Part 2 is just about on the way. My MacBook screen cracked (major bummer--leaving for repair today)... so I've had to go back to an older, slower [slower, slower] Dell Latitude..... :-(