My son will probably still be in reception at Fort Benning on MLK Day. I was just wondering if they got that day off and if they are off are they allowed to call?
Not sure, I am sure they will get to watch it. Considering its the Presidential election, my son told me they will be allowed to watch the Superbowl and I am sure when he gets the chance to call you he will. My son called me once, inbetween gaurds about 9:30pm like to scared me. LOL. Its a 706 number I could give you a listing of the p.n. but they were all disconnected the last time I called them, Lol me bad.
My son got to do a trip to the racetrack in Louisville (I'm drawing a blank on the name even though it's famous) for Memorial Day during OSUT but he was in the second half at that time. If Zac is still in reception then there is really nothing to get the day off from. He's not doing anything other than waiting for enough people to get there so they can form up. As for phone calls, it really depends on who is in charge of them at that point. Make sure the cell phone is on and be happy if he does call but don't worry about it if he doesn't.
Melissa - Most of the phones that the recruits get to use don't accept incoming calls. They are there strictly for calling home. It would cause quite a disruption if they were able to receive phone calls at any time of the day. That would not be good for discipline.
Frankly, I wouldn't count on it. In terms of the phone call, MLK Day isn't commonly known as a huge family holiday, so there's not a big reason to "give" them a call home. They may take it a bit easier that day, but it won't be to give them a break, it will be for the drill sergeants, etc. to have a day off. Like mturnb said, just keep the phone on, but don't get your hopes up.
And ditto on the no incoming calls - Laura, I'm surprised your phone calls even came through with a legitimate number. The calls I got from Ft Jackson when my husband was in BCT always came with either scrambled or private numbers, usually because he had to use a phone card to call home.
I don't give a flip if he has the day off or not. I just thought if he had the day off then he could call. I'm not used to the military BS I guess and don't think I will ever be. It seems that if something makes sense you won't see it happen in the military. The recruiter was adamant that my son leave on a certain date, but he is just sitting there while enough people arrive to make boot camp. Even I could come up with a system in about 3 minutes where I knew when there would be enough people to start boot camp. I'm sure he isn't down there twiddling his thumbs, but while he is still in reception we still have no address, we still have no idea about graduation and the 9 weeks we expected him to be away has not stretched to 10 weeks and counting.
Well, 2 things to keep in consideration - first is that recruiters have quotas that they're supposed to try to fill every month, and your son leaving at a certain time may have contributed to that, plus there is often a Quick Ship Bonus, so he may ultimately have gotten $$ for leaving quickly.
Second is that the recruiters cannot control what happens at the actual BCT locations - once they ship out, the recruiter's mostly out of the equation. Hundreds of soldiers process at each location on a regular basis, and truth be told it could be the waiting for enough people idea, or it could even be that there are TOO many soldiers going through right now and they need to make room for your son. This happened with my husband in AIT - he was a holdover for FOUR months waiting to start classes.
It will happen when it happens. When it's all said and done, it will feel like it was just a moment in your son's life. It's harder now because you've just started out and because it's all new to you. It gets easier.
or it could even be that there are TOO many soldiers going through right now and they need to make room for your son.
I didn't get stuck for an extra four months but I did get stuck for an extra two weeks for that very reason. I came in about 2:00 a.m. on a Saturday and they formed up a brigade on Sunday. Being one of the last ones to arrive, they took the first 180 or 240 (I don't remember which) and was about 15 too late. Guys that were on the same bus as me but, thanks to having a name way down in the alphabet, got to go into the new brigade and I had to march around in civvies for an additional two weeks.
Logistics of getting training companies formed up can be difficult with people dropping out annd others wanting to ship early from all around the country. Zac is getting to experience "hurry up and wait". Even with being out for almost 30 years, I had to deal with it again last year when my son deployed. If you don't take it with a big grain of salt then you're just giving yourself unnecessary headaches.
I got a phone call tonight and the problem is too many people. He said 300 people a day are arriving. He wasn't scheduled to start basic until 1/23 anyway and I think he may be on target for that. He got his haircut, 5 of his shots, his uniforms, and they are standing outside in the cold all day. He is extremely sensitive to cold so it has been difficult for him. They are also in his face yelling at him. If they are trying to break him they are well on their way. I don't know who told him, but he was told that Fort Benning was the worst place to go for basic, that other places were much better and that when they got in your face you had a card you could hold it up and they would back off. My son is a "survivor' as he puts it and is not a quitter, but it sure does hurt my momma's heart that my child is having to deal with what he is and my tax dollars are paying for him to get treated that way. I don't care that millions went before him and hundreds are there with him now, he is my only concern.
Break them down to build them back up stronger. Isn't that sometimes we did as mothers. Would not pick up our baby when they cried, but just said dust it off, you're fine. As hard as it is to see your momma's boy grow up and become a man it happens.
He will do fine, he is taking a giant step, you will always be there for him but now as hard as it is and as much as you don't want to you have to let part of him go. We will do anything in our powers to protect him, keep him out of harms way, beat the crap out of anyone who hurts our baby, but we unfortunately have to be realistic and hope that what we taught them, told them, and showed them will come through.
