Boot Camp - unknowns

[ndws]

Hopefully someone here has some information to help my wife and I.

Anyway, her son is going the ROTC route through college, and is doing boot camp between his junior and senior year of HS, which is this summer.

He's all sworn in, has his MOS, etc...but he pulled a bait and switch on everybody and picked an MOS that sends him to Ft Benning, GA instead of Ft Sill, OK like everyone had planned on. In any case, that changes our travel plans for his graduation quite a bit. We aren't driving now, and are instead flying.

So, despite him having a definite day he leaves here on, his actual start of camp apparently can vary by a number of days because of the speed of his intake at the base, and in turn causes his graduation date to vary.

My questions are, has anybody gone through this recently, and have tips or advice for planning the trip? Are there military discounts for airfare available since the family is traveling for his graduation? The discount may be a pipe dream, but its worth asking about. Anything we should know about ahead of time? We'll be traveling in late July/early August with a 14 month old too, so one extra moving part in the process. lol

Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

[ndws]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

My son graduated from Marine Boot a year and a half ago. We flew out like a day before Family Day. He actually graduated the day before Thanksgiving, so travel was a pain. We didn't know his grad date until a few weeks before, because like you said, it's not definite, it depended on some crap that I can't remember now.

Good luck. You'll basically have to wait until you know the exact date, and then get your flights, or just go a couple of days early and hang out I guess.

Dang it, you would think with all of the precision that is our military, a graduation date and family day could be something a little easier for the family to plan for. lol

According to the recruiter, once he's in training, then everything schedule wise appears to fall into place. But that sure kicks discounted airfare out the damn window.

[ndws]

Originally Posted by mac459

Tell him in basic never look too far ahead..you got to look at it one day at a time..I went to Ft. Benning in 2005 as an infantryman..I never looked past the next meal and it made life so much easier..just thinking OK this sucks as but I get to eat and take a break in a few hours..Also tell him to do what he is told when he is told to do it..do not stand out..If he stands out for the wrong reasons most of the Drill will eat him up..I actually know a lot of the Drills down there right now..All from my first unit..they stayed regular army..I went on to bigger better things in the military cause well I'm awesome and they suck at life..Just kidding

As far as traveling to Georgia at that time..be ready to hate life..it will be very hot and very humid..make sure you take lots to drink for yourselves and for the little one

As far as his career in the military..I don't know if he is going active when he gets done or what his MOS is..I will say this..If he is in combat arms..especially infantry..He needs to get to know his lower enlisted very well..I had 2 Lts when I first joined..Both did ROTC..The first everybody hated because he would just give orders and didn't care about us or how much sleep or how we were doing..He left for certain reasons unknown to me..The 2nd one come in and got to know the guys..spent time with us..asked us about what we thought..always checked if we needed anything..He involved himself with us lower guys and didn't stay in that "I'm an officer" phase..He made sure he took care of his men..then during our deployment he did the same and we would have done anything he asked of us..He made himself on of the guys..In my opinion that is the best leader in the world..When you can be one of the guys and still lead..it's a very fine line to walk but if he can walk he will be a great leader

I hope this helps some

Great info. I've spent some time in Atlanta at different times of the year and yeah, the summers are tough.

The good thing is, the kid is a military nut. He loves the history of it, studies different parts of it, and eventually being an officer is what he wants to be. frankly, I think he'll do very well at it. I think he's immature at this point and maybe another year would help him in the intimidation factor, but he fought tooth and nail for his mom and dad to sign off on letting him go this summer. Originally, he had a couple different MOS in mind, but when he got to KC for his testing, he put down cavalry scout. So, he gets the crash course in rude awakenings. He's not a big kid, 5'9", 150lbs or so, but he's always stayed in great shape with cross country and other athletics, and he does close to 300 pushups and setups a day now to prepare for this summer. As far as the physical demands, I think he will be mostly ok, aside from adjusting to life on the Chattahoochee in the summer. And he should do well with various shooting exercises. He's a pretty good shot with his AR when we go out, and he's comfortable and sane with guns in general.

After training, he's obviously coming home for his senior year of HS, so he's not moving on to his next duty just yet. He's actually going in with Guards, so he'll drill during the school year locally, despite his infantry status which I think ordinarily would have him in Wichita.

In this case, is his return transportation provided like his transportation down to Ft Benning, or are we bringing him back ourselves? The recruiter actually wasn't able to answer this question, and frankly we haven't found anyone that could tell us definitively.

[Perineum Ripper]

As far as coming home when he is done..He should either have transportation home provided by the military..or he might be able to sign out and go home with all of you since he won't be going on to a duty station

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by mac459

As far as coming home when he is done..He should either have transportation home provided by the military..or he might be able to sign out and go home with all of you since he won't be going on to a duty station

I did the split training like his son and the military provided me money for a ticket home. I had a choice - I could get a ticket bought and paid for by the Army or I could get paid per mile and find my own way home. Since I was going from Augusta, GA to Portland, OR, I took the per mile options. They gave me $1200. I then purchased my own plane ticket for $200 and pocketed the rest.

I don't think they let you do that anymore.

[Perineum Ripper]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I did the split training like his son and the military provided me money for a ticket home. I had a choice - I could get a ticket bought and paid for by the Army or I could get paid per mile and find my own way home. Since I was going from Augusta, GA to Portland, OR, I took the per mile options. They gave me $1200. I then purchased my own plane ticket for $200 and pocketed the rest.

I don't think they let you do that anymore.

They may not..I'm sure someone finally figured that people were doing that..I moved from Hunter Airfield to Campbell and I moved myself and was able to leverage the army into about 1400 more than what it cost me to move..whenever I weighed the truck in after I loaded I was able to get a pallet with about 800 pounds of feed sacks on it so my total weight went up to my max alloted amount..then unloaded the extra weight and made the trip

[Dayze]

one will re-learn everything. never assume you know how to do anything, because most assuredly there will be you're way and their way. Do exactly what you're told. low profile; do not stand out. one day at a time.

[Nightfyre]

To the OP, flying into Atlanta and driving will save you money and probably time, rather than flying into the closest regional airport.

[BullJunkandIron]

Be able to adapt and be flexible. Once he gets in training you should get a letter from his commander telling you the date for his family day and graduation date.

Finger nail polish remover gets edge dressing off of tiles.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Armadillo Skin

Be able to adapt and be flexible. Once he gets in training you should get a letter from his commander telling you the date for his family day and graduation date.

Finger nail polish remover gets edge dressing off of tiles.

Acetone is amazing stuff. Edit: But don't pour it down the drain.

[ndws]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

To the OP, flying into Atlanta and driving will save you money and probably time, rather than flying into the closest regional airport.

Yeah, that's the plan. We briefly thought about flying into Montgomery, had hoped it would be a little closer and cheaper. Not much closer if at all, and considerably more expensive.

Hopefully we have enough time that we can take him up to Atlanta. There's a steakhouse up on the north side I'd like to take the tribe out to. When I'm down there, I'm usually up on the northside anyway, so its a place I try to hit at least once while I'm there.

[Cheater5]

ndws- PM sent. Check inbox.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Armadillo Skin

Be able to adapt and be flexible. Once he gets in training you should get a letter from his commander telling you the date for his family day and graduation date.

Finger nail polish remover gets edge dressing off of tiles.