My husband just left to Fort Benning for Boot Camp

Jennifer - posted on 11/11/2009

Closing Conversation due to length of post and/or age of original question is older than 30 days. If you have additional questions, please start a new conversation. Thanks!

IRIS - posted on 10/29/2009

Well congtrats on ur new baby,,I hope u had a healthy delivery n a very healthy baby as well,,well, u know I think the baby n ur 2 yr old will keep u busy n the school too,,,I'd b exhausted if I was u. Well ur hubby will bk b4 u know it,,book camp is so long,you'll c!!! I hope I was helpfull. Take care n God Bless u n ur family!

Michelle - posted on 09/28/2009

Rachel, you can find Married to the Military at pretty much any book store. I found mine at Barnes & Noble. If you don't have one near you go to their website and you can order it online. Another very good book (I think even better then Married to the Military) is Today's Military Wife (6th Edition).



Randi, hang in there girl. Keep focused on your studies and your babies. The time will fly by faster then you know it. My husband left for BCT/AIT February of this year, graduated the end of May from Ft. Knox. I too am in school full time, and had 4 kids to care for while he was away. I would write him almost every day. His Drill Sgts would only allow them mail call once a week, so he got more then one letter from me most of the time. I would keep pen and paper by the bed and before I went to bed at night I would write him something about what happened that day, things of that nature. Keep the letters uplifting, telling him how proud you are of him, and how much you respect what he's doing. Try to keep the madness or stresses of the day out of your letters. You are going to be stressed out from time to time, and some days will be harder then most, but he needs to focus on what he's doing there. If his mind is at home worrying about what's going on then he can't focus on doing his best there. Tell him how much you miss him of course. ;o) If you need to vent about anything, do that with your frineds and family. Shoot, one day I even called his recruiter and vented to him just because I needed to talk to someone who was part of the military. He sat there and listened doing his best to reassure me. Then at the end of the conversation I said to him, I doubt there is anything you can really do - maybe what I needed was someone to b**ch to. LOL! He started laughing and said that's what I'm here for. ;o) So don't be afraid to use that avenue if you need to and it's military related. For family day and graduation I got family to watch the kids for me when it was time for Family day. I flew out by myself (mainly because we couldn't afford to fly all the kids too). We were able to spend the weekend together and have our "adult time" LOL! He was disappointed at first, but after family day was over and it was time for me to leave again, he said to me that with how hard it was for him to say goodbye to me, he knew it would have been even harder to say goodbye to the kids too. Then when graduation came around we were able to book a flight for all the kids and we all were there to see him graduate. You'll get through this, just try to keep your mind occupied as much as possible. Focus on the positives and that you'll be back together before you know it. If you need to talk, I'm here.



Have a great day, you can do this! :o)

Rachel - posted on 09/28/2009

where can i get that book?

Marlana - posted on 09/22/2009

my husband is at ait right now and I also am in school full time but with just one 18 month old. Fort Benning is supposed to be one of the toughest places to go to boot camp, from what I hear they are not allowed cell phones whereas my husband was allowed to use his for a few minutes only every other weekend to talk to us. I would definitely write him every day, one of the things that I did was write "the list" which was that at the end of every letter I would write one or two things that I missed about him (never the same thing twice) so that he knew that I was always thinking about him. Don't send singing cards or anything that can't fit in a priority mail envelope or he will most likely get smoked, also take pictures of things that you guys are doing, milestones, get pro pics done, so he feels like he is doing that stuff with you even though he is gone. Boot camp is hard but just try to hang with family and focus on the baby and school and it will be time for ait in no time, then it will be much easier because you can talk to him much more often! hopefully all this rambling helps, i just went through this and I hope that everything goes smoothly for you and your little family!

Arlene - posted on 09/22/2009

I understand. My husband just recently graduated in July 2009. It didnt really hit me till he left how difficult it was going to be. I have 2 young ones, they kept me busy. But I would suggest writing everyday!! I did, and it brought his spirits up greatly. Believe it or not there are guys there who do not receive anything, from anyone. Mail is like gold there. Tell him how proud you are and how you'll be there. Send lots of pictures too. My husband felt as if he was there for everything with pictures, since he wasnt here for our sons birthday, last days of school, parties, etc. If at all possible make plans to see him both times your able to. Once after the first 10 weeks (you should get more info from his commander about that). They have a weekend that they are able to leave for a few hours on saturday and sunday. IT will be a great reward for him if your there after all those hard weeks of training. After that things really settle down. Dont expect too many phone calls. Not for the first 10 weeks anyway. And try not to be disappointed if he doesnt write too much. Sundays there is no mail and they are only given an hour or so a day of free time, which they can use however they need to (shower, get in extra PT time, etc)



If you need to talk or have any questions feel free to message me. I know how difficult it was for me to have so many questions and no one to turn to. It is confusing at first, but things will come. I reccommend a book, that really helped me understand the military life, it's called Married to the Military. That will help pass some time,lol. Learning some of the many abbreviations!! If you'd like a copy, I could mail you the one I have. I read it already and wouldnt want it to go to waste. Good luck and dont hesitate if you have any questions

Tammy - posted on 09/07/2009

Try and write him every day even if its a few lines a day. I have been thru this twice. I have two kids that are in the Army daughter that is now Military police correcitional officer and son that is now in Iraq. I a year ago he was in Fort Benning. Infantry is hard b/c you know what they are going up against. Just try and write a few lines a day an mail it out every day. That way when they get mail call he will be happy. It keeps their spirits up while they are going thru so much. I even got the point that I didnt know what else to say b/c i was writing every day but I would find something like what was going on with his favorite show or what ever. Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to write me. Get ready for the graduations. There should be two, one from basic and then one from infantry. my personal experience think that the Infantry gradaution was the best I have ever seen. Make plans to go to it. Find out as soon as you can when he will graduate and try and get a room rented asap on base if you can. If not call the base and find out where you can get a cheap room that is in a safe place for you. They some times will take the time to call and reserve it for you and then you call and confirm it and it will usually get a discount b/c of it being military. I stay'd at LaQuinta which wa nice and had the discount so it was cheaper. Any way if you have any more questions please feel free to ask. Good luck.