Birthday at bootcamp

MilSup4Life · 09-29-2012, 04:31 AM

I was working on my calender for next year and it suddenly dawned on me that my son will turn 18 while he's in boot camp, about week 5. I know there's all kinds of warnings from folks about making sure nothing draws attention to a recruit. What happens, if anything, if there's a birthday...especially a major one? Will he get razzing? Anything he needs to prepare for? As for the family, should we not send cards? Should we just send letters instead? I'm hoping we'll get to take him out after PIR and celebrate both, but don't want to totally dismiss this major day.

maggio1994 · 09-29-2012, 05:44 AM

Well from what I hear you do not want anyone at boot camp to know it's your birthday.

Sending cards would probably give him some extra (probably unwanted) attention as well.

You'll get time to celebrate after PIR, the length will depend when he leaves for his a school.

I would just say happy birthday in a letter, or ask him if you want to send a card or not.

MC · 09-29-2012, 07:18 AM

I'll be celebrating my 20th birthday in bootcamp. As a precaution, I asked my family not to send any cards. Letters are fine for me, and I figured I could celebrate before or after bootcamp.

LT Guppy · 09-29-2012, 07:19 AM

Cards aren't a huge deal as long as they don't make noise.

MilSup4Life · 09-29-2012, 11:37 AM

Thanks for the heads up on the music cards. I'll make sure family knows. Personally, I find them extremely annoying so not something I would pick anyway. :-) His A School will be there, so I'm hoping we have time together after he moves his gear. I figure we'll celebrate then. I was just hoping it was atleast OK to send cards. If I wrote a birthday letter, I'm sure I'd get too sappy since it's a "big one." So it's birthday card and fun, encouraging letters.

I appreciate the in-put. I want to make sure we don't cause him any additional PT. If he deserves it, he can go till he drops...but don't want it to be because mom sent something wrong.

jhampton002 · 09-29-2012, 12:16 PM

My birthday shipmates did 8-counts per year of there birthday. So your son is turning 18? Well my Chief would have made him do 18 8-counts.

MilSup4Life · 09-29-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhampton002

My birthday shipmates did 8-counts per year of there birthday. So your son is turning 18? Well my Chief would have made him do 18 8-counts.

Oh my! Do the Chiefs know without anyone pointing out the birthday? Like, do they check their rosters or something? Maybe I should just tell my son I'll be thinking of him not doing those 8 counts on his birthday and skip the cards. Yikes!

LT Guppy · 09-29-2012, 01:36 PM

Though really, he'll be doing 8 counts regardless of his birthday...

llamayamaa · 09-29-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhampton002

My birthday shipmates did 8-counts per year of there birthday. So your son is turning 18? Well my Chief would have made him do 18 8-counts.

Oh no! I'll be turning 28 while I'm in boot camp! I second MilSup4Life's question- do they check your files to see if you have a birthday while at RTC?

culp7 · 09-29-2012, 04:21 PM

18 sets of what?

cttaef21 · 09-30-2012, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llamayamaa

Oh no! I'll be turning 28 while I'm in boot camp! I second MilSup4Life's question- do they check your files to see if you have a birthday while at RTC?

Might depend on your RDC, but I turned 22 in boot camp and didn't hear anything about it...It was in the middle of the week, but it was a very easy day for the most part

cakers00 · 12-09-2012, 12:44 AM

Same here, except I'll be 29 while I am there.

I have already requested to my friends and most of my family so far not to draw any attention to it.

09-29-2012, 04:31 AM	#1
MilSup4Life Newbie Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Birthday at bootcamp I was working on my calender for next year and it suddenly dawned on me that my son will turn 18 while he's in boot camp, about week 5. I know there's all kinds of warnings from folks about making sure nothing draws attention to a recruit. What happens, if anything, if there's a birthday...especially a major one? Will he get razzing? Anything he needs to prepare for? As for the family, should we not send cards? Should we just send letters instead? I'm hoping we'll get to take him out after PIR and celebrate both, but don't want to totally dismiss this major day.

09-29-2012, 05:44 AM	#2
maggio1994 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 110 Rep Power: 0	Well from what I hear you do not want anyone at boot camp to know it's your birthday. Sending cards would probably give him some extra (probably unwanted) attention as well. You'll get time to celebrate after PIR, the length will depend when he leaves for his a school. I would just say happy birthday in a letter, or ask him if you want to send a card or not.

09-29-2012, 07:18 AM	#3
MC Newbie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	I'll be celebrating my 20th birthday in bootcamp. As a precaution, I asked my family not to send any cards. Letters are fine for me, and I figured I could celebrate before or after bootcamp.

09-29-2012, 07:19 AM	#4
LT Guppy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,858 Rep Power: 0	Cards aren't a huge deal as long as they don't make noise.

09-29-2012, 11:37 AM	#5
MilSup4Life Newbie Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the heads up on the music cards. I'll make sure family knows. Personally, I find them extremely annoying so not something I would pick anyway. :-) His A School will be there, so I'm hoping we have time together after he moves his gear. I figure we'll celebrate then. I was just hoping it was atleast OK to send cards. If I wrote a birthday letter, I'm sure I'd get too sappy since it's a "big one." So it's birthday card and fun, encouraging letters. I appreciate the in-put. I want to make sure we don't cause him any additional PT. If he deserves it, he can go till he drops...but don't want it to be because mom sent something wrong.

09-29-2012, 12:16 PM	#6
jhampton002 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 42 Rep Power: 0	My birthday shipmates did 8-counts per year of there birthday. So your son is turning 18? Well my Chief would have made him do 18 8-counts.

09-29-2012, 01:36 PM	#8
LT Guppy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,858 Rep Power: 0	Though really, he'll be doing 8 counts regardless of his birthday...

09-29-2012, 04:21 PM	#10
culp7 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 114 Rep Power: 0	18 sets of what?

12-09-2012, 12:44 AM	#12
cakers00 Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 93 Rep Power: 0	Same here, except I'll be 29 while I am there. I have already requested to my friends and most of my family so far not to draw any attention to it.