NEW! Google Custom Search

Loading
Home › Forums › CooksTalk › Ipke-Kitchen Kvetch

Basic Training

Pielove's picture

Basic Training (post #68811)

Pielove on Tue, 01/05/2010 - 18:27
in

Hello all--

My nephew (on my husband's side) is about to leave for basic training-- my understanding is that he will be in the Navy on a submarine crew. My question is, what is the appropriate gift (if any) for a young man leaving for the Navy? His mother is throwing a party this weekend. I am not from a military family and have absolutely no clue in this matter, so I welcome your advice.

pie

‹ Monday Photos Feb 8th Um, what happened here? ›
-A +A
Napie's picture

I do not even want to think (post #68811, reply #1 of 8)

by Napie in reply to Pielove [original] on Tue, 01/05/2010 - 20:08

I do not even want to think about how many years ago it was that I went off to Navy bootcamp! He will not really be able to take anything with him so I would look at something that can be sent to him when he graduates. Every sailor needs a good watch or a good pocket knife. Since he is going to be a bubble head (slang for a sub sailor) a Fisher Space pen would be a good idea, I kept a journal and wrote a lot of letters but we didn't have e-mail in the old days.

I can tell you this there is nothing like a regular care package from home once he is in the fleet, my mother sent toll house cookies and they were the BEST thing I could have ever received.

Bootcamp was the best job I ever had, three hots, a flop and I got paid to walk in a straight line, fold my cloths and get in great shape, what a deal.

Adele's picture

Wow! 30 years plus since (post #68811, reply #2 of 8)

by Adele in reply to Pielove [original] on Wed, 01/06/2010 - 10:15

Wow! 30 years plus since bootcamp, but unless things have changed, you can only take a limited amount of items and they must be on an approved list.

I do know that mail call was very exciting, and it was a much, much nicer day if I got mail. A card a couple of times a week would be nice, even if it doesn' really say anything. Just getting your name called means something. On that note, you might want to find out if there is anyone NOT getting mail and send them a card too.

But, but, it's SUPPOSED to taste like that!

StevenHB's picture

I did some work for the Navy (post #68811, reply #3 of 8)

by StevenHB in reply to Adele [original] on Wed, 01/06/2010 - 16:49

I did some work for the Navy a few years ago. My guess is that there's much less "mail call" than there used to be. In the surface Navy (i.e. excluding submarines) all the ships and sailors have email.

I assume that subs are different because of their need to be stealth but I don't know the details. My program didn't address subs and I was never on one.

Without coffee, chocolate, and beer, in that order, life as we know it would not be possible
Adele's picture

Wow, never even entered my (post #68811, reply #4 of 8)

by Adele in reply to StevenHB [original] on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 10:43

Wow, never even entered my mind that bootcamp would have email. LOL.

But, but, it's SUPPOSED to taste like that!

Pielove's picture

Thanks everyone! Great (post #68811, reply #5 of 8)

by Pielove in reply to Pielove [original] on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 19:44

Thanks everyone! Great advice-- and funny to think how things have changed. I will try to get together a care package or two, once he has started. That is, if I can get his parents to cough up the appropriate address-- they are not the most organized folks.

pie

Rich02's picture

all good advice. What seems (post #68811, reply #6 of 8)

by Rich02 in reply to Pielove [original] on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 05:23

all good advice. What seems funny but really isn't is addressing his letters to Admiral . I was in boot camp and my friends sent me a letter Lt Col. Rich. The DI didn't share their humor. Rich

We did what we did when we knew what we knew, now that we know better, we should do the better thing.   Maya Angelou

Pielove's picture

Ha, I will avoid changes in (post #68811, reply #7 of 8)

by Pielove in reply to Rich02 [original] on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:08

Ha, I will avoid changes in rank, as well as addressing his mail to "slug-boy" and/or "bunny boots." Probably just a good-sized batch of homemade goodies-- enough to share-- will be my contribution.

pie

Pielove's picture

Hey All! Thanks again for (post #68811, reply #8 of 8)

by Pielove in reply to Pielove [original] on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 18:49

Hey All!

Thanks again for your suggestions. Unfortunately, it turns out that the nephew cannot receive any packages-- only cards and letters. So we are sending him a valentine!

pie