# Talk Me Down: My Daughter is in Boot Camp and I'm Worried **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723 "2015-12-07T18:20:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![RollOutTheBarrel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rolloutthebarrel/32/1649_2.png) [@RollOutTheBarrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RollOutTheBarrel)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/81 "2015-12-10T00:31:35Z")
When I went through, everybody always said that basic training doesn’t get better - you just get used to it. So, don’t worry, she will get the hang of things. She won’t be shaky and teary at graduation; she’ll be standing tall and proud. 🙂 I’m grateful to my sister for her dedicated letter-writing. At the end of the day, when I finally finished everything I had to do (usually after lights out), I’d read a letter by flashlight before going to sleep. It was really the only break I had it my day. So, definitely keep sending letters! I have a tip for her hair. What we would do is run our hands over our hair any time we washed our hands while they were still wet. It helps control the frizz. It’s a little habit I still have over a decade later. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/82 "2015-12-10T03:13:29Z")
Her battalion posted an update today (that still floors me. The Army is on Facebook). They got to do an obstacle course today! **Bear** , we already purchased the tickets, so we’ll just have to make sure she stays focused during her leave. I imagine the DIs will give them all a stern talking to before they leave. **RollOutTheBarrel** , I’ll tell her about the wet hand trick. Thanks! I might send her back with gel or hairspray, if that’s allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/83 "2015-12-10T05:34:16Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Is she at Fort Jackson? If so, tell her she’s damned lucky to be here in December. Other people are here in July. I’ve lived here almost all my life and I seriously can’t fathom it. I went through basic at Ft. Jackson, in 1974, in August and September. I saw TV only once in that time. A television was brought in so we could watch Nixon resign. I polished my boots while watching. In one thread we were asked “What is the best thing you remember eating or drinking?” Well, for me it happened during basic. We were on a long march, and unknown to us our drill sergeant arranged for sweetened iced tea to be available, about two thirds of the way through the hike. I will remember to my dying day how good that tea tasted. We were so hot, sweaty and thirsty. I am on Facebook but I rarely go there. The only reason I joined was to look for my drill sergeant, so I could tell her about the tea, how I still remembered it. I did find her, she has an unusual surname so it wasn’t too hard. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/84 "2015-12-10T11:28:09Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Well if she’s gotta come home then she’s gotta come home. Make it easy for her: > > - Give her a mile long chore list every day. > - The chores must be done in order > - Some chores must undo previous ones (i.e. fold the laundry, put it away, wash the laundry) > - Tell her she’s “not moving fast enough” with the laundry while the washing machine is still going. > - Get her to bake and frost a cake. > - While she’s making the cake dump all of her clothes, bed sheets, and mattress onto her bedroom floor. > - Eat the cake in front of her while she’s washing the dishes. > - When the dishes are washed, dried, and put away…hand her your dirty plate. > - If crumbs fall off the cake while you’re eating it, make her do pushups. > - When you’re tired of watching her do pushups, take her to her room and freak out about the rathole of a mess she’s living in. > - Inspect her clothes, find something that looks dirty, have her redo all the laundry Great idea! Although she has to take it seriously… > [@Nava](#): > > Ehr… I think you somehow understood that my brother was saying basic was easy? > Maybe you went to an easy school? Guess I missed the meaning of your post Easy school? Pretty easy, not hard stuff, helicopter repair-outside of classes, we were free to do anything. We rarely had PT but we were to keep in shape. The only part of soldiering was uniforms and falling in to march to class and back. A lot better than basic but I guess ANYTHING is better than basic When I bought plane tickets I always got discounts for being military > [@simster](#): > > Occasionally walk in her room in the middle of the nighte and yell “GAS GAS GAS” - Good one! God how I hated the gas! > [@simster](#): > > It isn’t ‘summer camp’ - but its also not ‘brain washing’. No? Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/85 "2015-12-10T14:23:02Z")
> [@RollOutTheBarrel](#): > > I have a tip for her hair. What we would do is run our hands over our hair any time we washed our hands while they were still wet. It helps control the frizz. It’s a little habit I still have over a decade later. Why doesnt she just get a short GI Jane buzzcut beforehand so hair is one less thing to worry about? Ok, I have to ask. Some females have horrible problems with menstrual cramps. Is that something they would disqualify her for and not even allow her to sign up? Or if she does sign up and go to basic, is that something they can get sick leave for? Also doesnt the physical intensity cause most women to skip periods during basic? ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/86 "2015-12-10T15:43:24Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Why doesnt she just get a short GI Jane buzzcut beforehand so hair is one less thing to worry about? > > Ok, I have to ask. Some females have horrible problems with menstrual cramps. Is that something they would disqualify her for and not even allow her to sign up? Or if she does sign up and go to basic, is that something they can get sick leave for? Also doesnt the physical intensity cause most women to skip periods during basic? If your cramps are so bad that you are debilitated, then it’s a medical condition that should be considered for exclusion to military service. In the field, you don’t get to,e off for cramps. I’ll give you a real life example, I get migraines. They are awful, but I have trained with them before, it just _really sucks._ For hair, I still wear mine long. Tell her to bun it when it’s wet after her shower and slick the sides with some gel. Some females love hair nets,mi never saw the purpose. I would pony, braid and then bun the braid. Now, **Ivylass** , I cried every single night for the first week and a half in Basic. It was the first time I was away, and everyone was so much older and mean (I was the youngest at just-turned-17). After that week and a half, something just clicked. I didn’t become a bloody super soldier or anything, but I hit a groove. It’s a course designed to not only get you pulled together as a team, but also to get you to prioritize. Tell her to practice her push-ups and everything she is struggling with in her “free time”. There will be more free time as they get better at studying/cleaning/prepping. The staff wants to see her working on improving. No one will fail basic because they don’t get into push-up position fast enough, but having the right attitude is important. Send tons of mail. Care packages, corny “Just Hang In There” cards, whatever. I swear some days I stuck with it because I knew there was mail on the way :). ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/87 "2015-12-10T15:45:25Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Her battalion posted an update today (that still floors me. The Army is on Facebook). They got to do an obstacle course today! > > **Bear** , we already purchased the tickets, so we’ll just have to make sure she stays focused during her leave. I imagine the DIs will give them all a stern talking to before they leave. > > **RollOutTheBarrel** , I’ll tell her about the wet hand trick. Thanks! I might send her back with gel or hairspray, if that’s allowed. As a general guide, we (the military) are getting more involved with social media. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/88 "2015-12-10T15:55:59Z")
Her attitude is half the problem. I wonder what she’ll be like after three weeks, if there will be a noticeable change or if she’ll slack off and be hit hard when she goes back. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/89 "2015-12-10T16:33:08Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Her attitude is half the problem. I wonder what she’ll be like after three weeks, if there will be a noticeable change or if she’ll slack off and be hit hard when she goes back. The stubbornness will come in handy, once it’s focused in the right direction. I know my family noticed a HUGE change. I was leaner, stronger, more organized, and hugely potty-mouthed :). ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/90 "2015-12-10T19:35:37Z")
if her hair is an issue, she can cut it off short. it will be a lot less work and stress. Hair will grow back once she is done (if she wants) ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/91 "2015-12-11T01:40:44Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > She’s in Missouri, Fort Leonard Wood. Her Florida butt is hating the cold weather. I don’t think I’ll be able to get the time off work for graduation but I’m hoping to send Ivylad and maybe one of her aunts. Ok, finally figured out whats been bothering me about this thread. Sorry if this is a bit of a derail, please please please please try to be at her graduation. try _ **HARD** _! The day she graduates from basic training going to become one of her most cherished “core” memories. Getting married is one of the few things that I can think of that compares. Not even graduation from AIT compares to graduating from Basic. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/92 "2015-12-11T02:46:39Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > … that still floors me. The Army is on Facebook… The CIA has a Twitter feed. So does the NSA. And the Supreme Court. They won’t allow cameras. but they tweet. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/93 "2015-12-11T04:15:27Z")
> [@guestchaz](#): > > Ok, finally figured out whats been bothering me about this thread. > > Sorry if this is a bit of a derail, > please please please please try to be at her graduation. try _ **HARD** _! The day she graduates from basic training going to become one of her most cherished “core” memories. Getting married is one of the few things that I can think of that compares. Not even graduation from AIT compares to graduating from Basic. AGREED. My Dad was at mine, it meant SO much to me. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/94 "2015-12-11T13:17:04Z")
I’ve asked for those dates off work and they’ve been approved. Now to budget for the trip. I figure we’ll fly in a day early, as there is a noon briefing and formal luncheon the next day, then the day after that is graduation. I presume the post will send info regarding hotels? Or do we handle that ourselves? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/95 "2015-12-11T13:53:04Z")
I dunno… How big are these graduating classes? I looked it up and I see there are more hotels than I would expect in a rather rural area, and I imagine most of them cater to the military base. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/96 "2015-12-11T14:15:02Z")
Her graduation is scheduled at 9am with another company going at 10am. Is it like a high school graduation, where they call you up one at a time? Or is it done all at once with speeches by dignitaries? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/97 "2015-12-11T14:36:02Z")
They will send info regarding hotels; there are also Facebook groups for the various graduating companies and the Army posts in them. (I know!) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/98 "2015-12-11T15:01:05Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Her graduation is scheduled at 9am with another company going at 10am. Is it like a high school graduation, where they call you up one at a time? Or is it done all at once with speeches by dignitaries? Mine (USN) was just boring speeches by a few officers, and a “pass in review” by the graduating company/companies. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/99 "2015-12-11T15:41:55Z")
Not a lot to add here but I still have the letters everyone sent me while I was in OCS, and it left me in the best shape of my life! I’ll +1 what **Poysyn** said, and add that as much suck as it was doing it, I’m glad for the experience and the people I got to meet. They really can be your friends for life. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723/100 "2015-12-11T17:19:01Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Mine (USN) was just boring speeches by a few officers, and a “pass in review” by the graduating company/companies. Everyone in mine was called up individually to receive a scroll, and I completely whiffed my drill. I came to attention, yelled “Sir!”, knelt down to lay my weapon down and then marched up, forgetting to come BACK to attention. Naturally, my Staff pointed it out to me. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-down-my-daughter-is-in-boot-camp-and-im-worried/739723.md?page=6)