Resources

Get Ready for Boot-camp: Welcome to the Marine Family

While your recruit is getting ready to leave and enter boot-camp at Parris Island, the time is also for you to prepare yourself. A knowledgeable and well-informed parent/mom/dad is a parent who can share in the many experiences with their recruit.

For this reason, we recommend becoming informed, whether it is by reading, reviewing tapes, or surfing the internet. Here is a list of books, tapes, and web sites that are recommended, if you so desire:

Books:

Tapes:

(These and other titles can be purchased from Good to Go Videos at 1 (800) 444-3348 or at www.goodtogo1.com.)

Websites:

In the event you wish to go shopping for your future recruit, www.grunt.com is a terrific online catalog for marine specialties. You can also contact grunt.com via phone at 1 (866) 776-2607.

Below you will find a new training matrix for boot-camp, a list of hotels to stay for when your recruit graduates and overall general information. Please take time to read and look over the material. As fellow “Marine Moms,” we are here to support you and to help you through this time period. You will find yourself experiencing many emotions through boot-camp, as it is a “sea of emotions” for parents.

In the end, you will sit in the bleachers at graduation and feel the pride that we all have.

Feel free to contact us at any time for questions, or for support. Semper Fi Parents of the Hudson Valley, New York, based out of Poughkeepsie, New York, is your local support group for Marine Parents. We would like you to join us. For further information, please contact: Paula Zwillinger at home – 1 (914) 474-2295 (cell).

Per the Marine Moms Online Web Site –

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Helpful Hints

Within the first few hours of “receiving”, you will receive a phone call, which only lasts about 10 seconds, stating that your recruit has safely arrived at Parris Island. There is not much dialogue on this phone call and it is scripted.

Within the first week, you will receive a post card directing you how to address mail to your recruit. This is usually done in the following fashion –

Rct Last Name, First Name
PLT #, Battalion, Company
PO Box 13073 – last 4 digits of your recruits social security #
MCRD Parris Island, SC 29905-Plt #

The first mailing that you receive from your recruit will take approximately 2 – 4 weeks, depending if he/she likes to write letters. Keep in mind, that they are going though an adjustment period – many are tired and homesick, and will only get a brief time to write once lights go out, or on Sunday during 4 hours of liberty.

Do not mail any treats, candy or goodies to your recruit. Do not send anything to them unless they request it, as each platoon varies on the direction of the drill instructors. Packages are opened in front of the drill instructors. Do not send any mail UPS as the recruits cannot sign for the receiving of the package. Priority Mailing is acceptable.

Since time is of an essence to your recruit when they write letters, it is helpful if you send self-addressed, stamped envelopes to them with your mailings. Even though as parents you may wish for more mail from them, keep writing to your recruit with words of encouragement. Pictures can be sent, but do not send any copy of the training matrix.

If you find that you are not getting the info from your recruit that you would like, it is suggested to send them a letter, and then enclose a questionnaire – leaving a space for the answer. This has worked very well and it gives you the info that you directly would like to hear.

Over time, be sure to ask them where they stand in formation/drill and keep this in mind when Family Day and Graduation Day arrive, as you will be able spot your Marine more easily.

As the end of boot-camp nears, there will be much focus on the “Crucible”. This is a 3-day event that starts at 0200, where the recruits march, participate in obstacles/ challenges/teamwork and are low on meals, sleep and ongoing patience. It is the true test when they march back to their barracks for their Warrior Breakfast.

Liberty Sunday is the Sunday prior to Family Day/Graduation, and is a much-awaited event. They are able to call home during this liberty, and their phone call is much awaited from a parents’ perspective. This will be the first time that you will hear your recruit’s voice since they left for Parris Island (PI). Somewhere as this time gets closer, it is highly suggested to send them a phone card in your mailing so that they may call you from a pay phone.

Unfortunately, they only are able to speak for approximately 10 minutes, but these 10 minutes you will cherish and remember over and over again.

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Family Day and Graduation

Family Day is the Day previous to Graduation and is on a Thursday. This day starts with the “Moto Run” which is a “last horrah run” for these new marines, where they run around the base, ringing battalion bells. Family is able to see this event, but it starts at 0615 in the morning.

Shortly thereafter your recruit will receive his EGA – Eagle, Globe and Anchor – he has now earned the title of a Marine. This is open for family to view and is a much-awaited event. It is one to remember. After the “EGA”, your recruit now has 6 hours of liberty on the base with his/her family. This is a time for touring the base together, shopping at the PX and the clothing store and enjoying a lunch, which can be brought in or delivered to the base.  Keep in mind that your recruit cannot leave the base during this time. You can bring treats from home if you so desire. Big Joe’s Bar-B-Q delivers delicious “home-cooking” and will deliver to the parade deck. Call 843-770-0711. There is also a Domino’s Pizza nearby, or stop by the supermarket to bring picnic items in.

Where to Stay?

What to Do on Family Day?

1. Tour the Parris Island Museum
2. Bus Tours at 10:00 and 11:00 – on a first come, first served basis; Departs from Douglas Visitor’s Center
3. Barracks Open House – 1:30-4:00
4. Pugil Stick Brief at Leatherneck Square – 1:30-4:30
5. Combat Survival Swimming at the indoor pool
6. Weapons Display at Rifle Range – 1:30-5:00
7. Get your personal tour from your Marine

Graduation Day is the next day on Friday at 0900. It is held on the Parade Deck and the metal bleachers are marked with the platoon numbers. This makes good viewing for your particular platoon; it also makes it easier for your new marine to find you after the ceremony, which lasts approximately 1.5 hours. After dismissal, your marine is now ready to leave the island.

Portraits that were taken with your recruit in dress blues are sent home with the recruit. They will choose the picture plan and you will not see these until Family Day/Graduation Day.    

Your recruit will have the opportunity to apply for a credit union and should do so sometime prior to his departure from PI. The Navy Credit Union is located on PI.

In the event you wish to purchase dress blues for your new Marine, this can also be done at the clothing store prior to leaving.

Shopping at the PX is on the base and you will find that you will purchase many Marine related souvenirs.

Returning home, your new Marine now has 2 large, heavy sea bags along with a dress bag. Keep in mind that besides your luggage, he will have these to bring home. These sea bags are checked at the airports.

There are many more helpful hints and message boards on-line. Your will find tear jerking poems, and many moms/parents start scrap-booking with the many pictures that they will collect.
 
After being online and finding the support that you crave, you will say to yourself –
"Thanks for this web site. I'm no less worried, but a lot less alone. Thank you."**

**Courtesy of www.marineparents.com

Best of luck to you and your new Marine. Semper Fi!

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