Hi,

My name is Debbie and my screen name is 'debbie88'. I posted a response to "just one more hug!". I have some questions and would like some insight if anyone can help. Please go to that posting for my questions. Thank you so much.

Hello Debbie, welcome to the very best support group you'll ever find!!! I do believe that your son will call collect and there may be times he'll be able to use his cell phone.
Please be patient and if you can forward your house phone calls to your cell phone when your away from home so you don't miss his calls.
Once he's processed in he'll be sending you a letter with his address. I know this is a tough time for you and your emotions are everywhere right now, just hang in there you'll get thru this. You can also go to the Ft.Benning website for some info... I have to say this, if he ends up in the Foxtrot 1/50 company, you'll have a website that you'll be able to check daily with photos and weekly updates... Take care and feel free to ask any questions...God Bless and welcome to the Army Family...

HI,
Thanks for the information. I know things will get easier in time. And yes, this does seem like the best website out ther for mom's.

I did find the website to Ft. Benning helpful, somewhat. It's just hard when you have no information. The start dates of Kyle's bootcamp from his enlistment papers and AIT training don't even match the dates the Ft. Benning website has as start dates for bootcamp. I'll just have to waite to hear something from him

Thank you for your help.

Debbie

Hi Debbie,
I am sharing your feelings - my son left this morning @ 3:00 am for Ft. Benning. I have been to the Ft. Benning website as well but I did not see the boot camp start dates you referred to - where exactly are those?
Thanks!

You will receive a letter from the commander that will list your soldier's address and his graduaton date. Sometimes they are there for a few weeks waiting on their group tofill before starting basic.
Mine was there two weeks before we heard anything about start dates, his address and his graduation date.

Hi DownerDuo,

If you go to the Ft benning website, then click on Infantry Training, then on graduation dates. You need to know if your son is there for BCT (9 wks. regular basics) or OSUT (basics plus AIT together, 14 wks.) My son is there for BCT and then goes immediatly to Ft. Sam Houston for AIT (medic).

Do you know when your sons start date is? What is his MOS?

I feel for you. Those first few days were so hard for me. I'm better now, but still have my moments. I've gotten two letters already and he said he's going to be calling tomorrow

I look forward to hearing from you.

Debbie

Hi Debbie, welcome.
My son went to Ft. Benning on July 1 for BCT starting on July 11. He was in reception until BCT started. I finally got a call about a week after he got there. They only get to make calls on Sundays and it seems that they can only make calls to land lines. They also only get 1 minute to talk when they do get to call. He will need to call collect until he gets to the PX to buy a calling card. You will get an address once he is assigned to a brigade - be prepared as he will call just to give you the address and will have 1 minute to give you a very complicated address and he will feel the stress of trying to relay it to you in a very tight timeframe. Always keep paper and pen near the phone so you can relay the information quickly. He will have relinquished his cell phone as soon as he got to reception, so using it is not an option. I've tried forwarding my house phone to my cell and my son's calls have not gone through, so I have decided to just stay home on Sundays until he gets to blue phase and has more flexibility in when he gets to call as I know it's very important to him to be able to reach me and hear some reassurance that we're proud of him and love him and know he can do this. He doesn't get a choice as to when he can call - I have more choices as to when I go to church, so I've chosen to be home for his calls. Don't expect him to call you every Sunday - if anyone in his brigade does something wrong, the whole group loses their phone privledge.

Hang in there - you should hear from him soon!

He arrived @ Fort Benning on Friday, but according to his paperwork, his start date is 9/5. His is there for BCT only and then goes to Fort Gordon for 22 weeks of AIT. His MOS is 25B (computers). I still can't figure out the Ft. Benning website - under Infantry Training there are several choices, all of which are unfaniliar to me - 192d, 197th, 198th, 199th? He got a 5 minute phone call on Saturday to say he made it - but he used it to call and check in on our aunt & uncle who are in the middle of Hurricane Gustav. Nice gesture, but Mom wants to hear from him too!

My son is now home from basic at Ft. Benning. He was able to call us on our cel phones, we don't even utilize a land line anymore. His calls were sporadic but more frequent than we expected. Letters were very frequent when he first started, 3 or 4 a week the first 3 weeks, when it was "so awful" there. Then they slacked off to a couple a week during the next phase and by the time he was done, I only got one letter the last couple weeks giving me a list of junk food to bring to graduation. You will both make it. Hang in there parents!

DownerDuo,

Did your son get to start basics? If so, what platoon is he in?

Kyle started on the 4th of Sept. and he is in B co., 2nd Battalion, 47th IN 192nd Bde.

Pam, you out there?

Debbie

Hi Debbie!

I'm so glad to hear you can finally write to Kyle. I finally know what's going on w/ Dustin. I'll post it in my thread so that I don't hijack yours.

So c'mon Mom... how many letters have you sent him so far?

Pam

Hi,

I received his address on Monday and of coarse I HAD to write a quick letter (only 4 pages) and race to the post office- barely made it before they closed!! But I know how important those letters are to our boys' insanity and so I wanted to make sure he gets a letter as soon as physically possible He should get that letter today, if all goes right. Then he should get 3 tomorrow (me ,grandma, aunt).

If a letter is what I can do to help him get through boot camp then absolutely I'll do it everyday!!

Good to hear from you again........

Debbie

Hi All,

A letter came from Kyle yesterday. He said he's had the hardest day of his life so far Just the nonstop pyhsycal things the DS's make you do. Kyle said it's crazy all the ways they come up with to 'torture' you. He said it was 'pretty cool' to get his gun, until the DS's started "using it against you as a form of torture. How long can you hold one above your head?" lol/sad face!!??!

He said he is 'squared away' according to them(??whoever they are) and he's tired of some of the 'young kids' that don't show respect to the DS or try hard getting him in trouble all day long so he freaked out on them!! yikes (he wasn't alone, though). He said the platoon is tired of being punished for their mistakes and that they'll learn one way or another (from the DS's or their platoon). Hopefully that unity forms very soon. Very soon for the sake of everyone.

He hasn't ever said that he hates it though. He said he knows that the DS's job is to make them strong inside and out for what they may need to do someday. oh, and he'll be in the best shape of his life when he is done.

Hopefully that attitude will carry him through the next few weeks........

I checked the weather at Ft. benning yesterday. It was 92 degrees. But there is this website that adds the real weather. They take in to account the humidity, wind, sun/shade, etc. So the real-weather was 125 degrees in the sun!! Crazy.

Have a great day

Debbie

Debbie,

I'm so glad you posted this. It really helps to know what Kyle is going through before Dustin gets there.

He'll get through it - you raised a strong young man and I'm sure it helps him knowing that his Mom loves him dearly and supports what he's doing.

Praying for cool fall weather!

Pam

Hi, my name is katie, my screen name is smacsmom. my son left for fort benning on sept.3rd. i cant believe how hard it's been letting go. i cant wate to here from him. nothing yet. but i know it shouldnt be long now. i do know he started basic on the 10th. they gave him his cell phone back, so he called me tuesday night. this is all so new to me. i cant wate to see him at family day and graduation. he's there for nine weeks then off to texas for medic training.

Welcome Katie,

This is a great place to find support. My name is Debbie and my son started basics a week before yours.

There are a lot of mom's to help you

Debbie

Hi Debbie, thanks i'm so glad i found this site. there's alote of questions. i really dont know where to start. have you heard from your son yet? about familyday and graduation??

Hi Katie,

My son arrived at Ft. Benning On 8/24 and went downrange on 9/4. While he was in reception we got 8 letters from him. But since basics has started we have only received one. Then we have gotten a few very short & very rushed phone calls. You should be getting a letter any time with your son's address so you can write him as well as a tenative date for graduation. We got ours 4 days after basics started. From what I understand, we should be getting a more detailed letter the closer it gets to graduation. My son should graduate Nov. 5-6 and he is going to FSH for AIT-medic, as well.

How is your son doing?


Don't hesitate to ask questions. Or just simply vent!!

Debbie

Hi Debbie, thanks for asking.. when we spoke last tuesday night he said that he was excited to start basic tomorrow. he was not happy about standing around for a week. i cant wate to let him know that i'v been chatting and found out that other men have wated alote longer then him. so he should feel lucky he only wated a week. I'm trying to figure out his graduation date and i think it's right around your sons. or a week later. i keep wating for that letter, or better yet a call... I went down to his room last night to clean it i had to turn around, still cant, to tough. but atleast i can talk about him without crying. thats an improvment. i must say. lol.. thanks have a nice day, katie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: smacsson,

I know what you mean........my son is 22 and had recently moved back home. He 'dumped' alot of things in his room thinking he'd have time to deal with them before he left for basics but it all happened so fast. I told him I'd take care of it for him, well, i haven't been able to do it yet. Soon, though I'm almost there!! Soon you will be, too

The roller coaster ride does get easier..............promise.

Hang in there.

Debbie