First Letter

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Firebuff, Rich on April 6, 2016 at 11:46am

He gets assigned a ship, and a division their first night.You should be receiving the infamous box, and a letter soon.There are do's and don'ts on what they can get. Mostly, support in the form of letters is the best.

Permalink Reply by Bill Yoder on April 6, 2016 at 11:52am

We received the box 4/1 and hoping to receive a letter soon. Matt is the last of 6 but first military. My wife and I are just looking forward to see how he is adjusting. I attended Army boot camp in 77 and recall how nice it was receiving a letter. Thanks

Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on April 6, 2016 at 1:11pm

You will get a Form letter usually around 10-14 days in. Save this as there is his correct address and a password that you will need to download a Gate Pass should you go to P.I.R.. In the meantime....write letters and number them so you can send them off when you get his address!

Permalink Reply by Chris A. on April 6, 2016 at 2:48pm

First letter can be as early as 7 days (if they are put in a push division), have heard a small minority not getting the letter for almost three weeks in. Just depends. Our son shipped on 2/8 and we got the box in 3 days, letter in 8 days (with a federal holiday in between), but he was in a push division and moved through P days faster than most. As others have said, start writing now and send the letters once you get an address.

Permalink Reply by Britton Morrell on April 12, 2016 at 12:15pm

Bill:  My boy also arrived on the 29th and we just got the form letter (mailed 4/7) yesterday.  Do you know what Division your boy is in?

Permalink Reply by Bill Yoder on April 13, 2016 at 7:55am

Britton,

Ship 06, Div 197. Where did you son leave from. Matt left from Harrisburg PA. Let me ask you something, was the form letter addressed to Mom and Dad and did it look like your son's handwriting. My wife and I thought it strange that Matt would say Mom and Dad and his handwriting was different - actually it was much better. :)  Take care and thanks from the contact. 

Bill

Permalink Reply by Britton Morrell on April 14, 2016 at 11:26am

Bill - Our boys are in the same Division.  I was able to speak to Matias on Tuesday because he was going through his Security Clearance paperwork and he needed more in depth information as well as my birth certificate etc.  They do not have a sister company - but a brother company (Division).   (They typically have classes and training with another brother or sister company.  

Yes the letter is in their hand writing and one of the trainings in Navy (as in all military) is to do legible standardized block writing and so I am sure they were all at a desk and had to write it and get it approved before folding it up and sending it off.

Let me know when you hear more and I will do the same.

Permalink Reply by Bill Yoder on April 15, 2016 at 12:14pm

Britton - Thanks for the info. I mentioned your son's name in a letter to Matt and explained it may be a shot in the dark but one never knows. As of yesterday the 14th no personal letter. If I hear something I'll let you know. Interesting about the writing. We have been pushing Matt for years to improve his penmanship, why to go Navy.....

Permalink Reply by Britton Morrell on April 21, 2016 at 7:16pm

Bill:

Sure hope you get a letter today.  We got our first one today.  

Permalink Reply by Maggie Yoder on April 29, 2016 at 5:42pm

Britton - This is Bill's wife, Maggie.  We got a phone call from Matt last Saturday, and we finally got our first letter today. He sounds great, and he does know your son.  He said that they were bunk neighbors for awhile, but then they all moved bunks. So anxious to see him at graduation.  I can hardly believe that they're more than halfway through.  Hope your son is doing well.

Permalink Reply by Patricia Lehmann on June 17, 2016 at 8:41pm

We never received the form letter, and due to privacy issues could not obtain my son's address from either his recruiter or the public affairs office. I am happy to report a letter arrived from my son, so the address issue is solved. We of course wrote him back immediately asking him to send another form letter. So happy things are going really well and he is extremely busy.

Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on June 18, 2016 at 12:04am

Sorry to hear of your troubles! I can't believe that you got a personal letter before the Form letter...that's a first!

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