Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis are commonly administered. The tetanus shot injection site usually smarts for a day or two afterward. No doubt they'll get the Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) to test for Tuberculosis (TB) ...and most likely, since the flu season is coming fast, an influenza vaccination. They may also get the small pox vaccination, usually administered to those heading for operational units (ships and stations).

---

Caution: I have two brain cells. Sometimes they both work at the same time.

Hey Shamrock!! Glad to hear you got a letter. My daughter is also in K-178. Wow! BIG company. You are the first one to hear anything. What state are you in? I'm out in CA so figure it will take longer for the mail to get here. Thanks for the info. Keep us informed.

carolynjemstar. we live an hour north of cape may so we get mail fast. but you should have a letter by the time you read this. i have actually thought about going to the base to see if i can see them outside. My husband said he'll change the locks on the house if i do cuz i'd be crazy lol I was'nt aware of the small pox being administered regularly that one is smarts when you get it. i still recall that one from childhood. shamrock

I GOT MY 1ST LETTER TOO!! It arrived Thursday in CA so it only took 3 days to get here. My daughter actually said "I'm learning alot and I'm glad I'm here. My time here so far has been quite an experience...there's a lot of yelling but I can handle it."

Wow!! I was so impressed with the tone of the letter -- very upbeat! I was so relieved that she has a great attitude at this point. I do realize that she wrote this last Sunday and this week was probably a bad one so we'll see how the next letter reads. Anyway, just wanted to share it with you. She closed with a final note: "P.S. Please don't send me any food." What a crackup! Obviously, someone got raked over the coals for mailed goodies!

I really enjoy the updates from everyone! Keep them coming!

Carolyn

Yea for letters Yea for letters

Phone calls are just around the corner

Loved the "P.S. Please don't send any food."

If you're anything like me, you'll send a picture of a Big Mac with a 'Wish you were here.' on it

We wrote:

SR Last name, First name, Middle initial

He got all our letters.

my son addressed his sr coleman g last name first initial but he also wrote the date date month and year i think they're turnin military on us haha shamrock

keep sending mail. however, be warned, depending on the cc they could be razzed about it. britt said her cc was going to have her grandmother do I.T. for sending a singing card. "you're not in cupcake land!). she thought it was fun. she also got I.T. because one week she got all my mail in one day. cc wanted to give me I.T. too! britt said she loved every minute of it.

I just recieved my 2nd letter from my husband who's in J178. He said his company is huge and just about everyone in it has the 'Cape May Crud!' He said the first 4 days were stressful to the point he wanted to come home, but now everything is becoming routine. He told me to expect a huge change in his cleaning habits as they sweep, mop, polish, bleach, etc. there. I can tell a difference in his overall attitude and think bootcamp is making him that much more mature! A good thing for most parents who are concerned about it. He, too, said the food actually wasn't bad, not that we expected them to feed them glop or anything lol. Showering apparently is interesting as they have 20 minutes to shower, shave and brush their teeth while trying to get 115 recruits into a shower that holds 30! I think the one thing most people will appreciate is that these recruits are toughening up, yes, but also finding out how good they have it at home! My husband says he has a whole new perspective on our relationship and that he feels like he's taken me for granted all this time. Hopefully you all will have the same reaction

I EXPECT TO GET ONE TODAY THURSDAY WITH THE HOLIDAY AND NO MAIL MONDAY THAT PROBABLY THREW IT OFF i JUST GOT BACK FROM ATLANTIC CITY AND WE WERE SO CLOSE WE SAID WE (MY HB AND I ) SHOULD DRIVE OVER TO THE BASE AND SEE IF WE CAN SEE THEM. THEN WE DECIDED PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA SO WE WENT TO ATLANTIC CITY AND GAVE THEM OUR MONEY. THE WEATHER HERE IN JERSEY IS REALLY CRAPPY RIGHT NOW SO IM A LITTLE WORRIED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET SICK. iT WAS REALLY HOT EARLIER THIS WEEK AND NOW IT IS COLD RAINY AND WINDY. ON THE BEACH IT WAS REALLY WINDY. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL DO THE WORKIN OUT INSIDE. MY DAUGHTER SAID TO ME THE OTHER DAY " NOT MUCH LONGER TILL GREG COMES HOME, ONLY A COUPLE MORE WEEKS" SURE WISH I COULD SEE IT THAT WAY! FEELS LIKE AN ETERNITY. i PRAY TIME GOES FASTER FOR THEM THAN IT IS FOR US TALK TO YOU LATER SHAMROCK

got lettr number 2 also today. said he learning time management 2 minutes to shower 1 minute to shave etc. said the company isnt working together to good yet so they're doing a lot of it. he said he'll be jacked when he gets home.. lost a lot of weight which has me a little worried. does that mean he isnt eating or is sick or what. somethin else to keep me up at nite! i laughed when he said he really has a new appreciation for me now that im not around doing everything for him. but overall sounded good. isnt sorry he joined so thats good. talk with you later shamrock

i always did get goose bumps when i heard our national anthem. now that i have a special interest in our military(my son) i get down right angry when its disrespected. i told my neighbor to either replace his worn torn frayed mess of a flag or fly nothing but dont let me see it like that again! 1/2 hour later a new one was flying and he asked the proper way to dispose of the old one.!! take your hat off and shut the hell up when the anthem is playing!! shamrock

Hey Shamrock, Have your neighbor contact a local Boy Scout group. They are one of the few groups allowed to have ceremonial disposal of old worn out flags. Our community does it every year and its a community event and its pretty neat to see all those worn out flags that have done their job get retired. Plus it really teaches our young people that its just not a piece of red,white and blue fabric.

new mom here and posted to someones notes on accident soory - I have a son in K-178 and have gotten three letters so far but still worried about him-yall seem to have it together but I worry cause we are a very close family and he isn't at home sleeping in his bed-having trouble letting go- but extremely proud of his decision and the person he has become just need to know he is really okay!! does anyone know any secrets to checking on them? Typical mom question huh??? We live so far away and really need to know more. Can anyone help????

My daughter is also in K-178 and I have only received ONE letter. I didn't get a letter last week but I am hoping there is one in the mail today (Friday). I haven't been home yet. I also live very far away in Southern California. Go to the Cape May website (www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay) and look under Recruit Training (at the top), then go to the left and look under Academics. You will see a schedule of what they are doing every week - in general. It helped to at least see that. My daughter is my last to leave the nest. I know how you are feeling. Our house is so empty and QUIET. I, too, am having a difficult time but you just have to get through it. Remember, our children have it MUCH TOUGHER than anything that we are going through. The CG will take good care of him and just know that you raised him up right and he will also get through it and be better because of it. You can't check on them. Just wait for his letters and I guess we should get a phone call next weekend. I saw today where someone got a call on a Friday. I assumed it would be Saturday. That is just around the corner now. We will get to hear their voices. So, know that we are all in the same boat. You are not alone. I still cry every time I walk into her room. Feel free to write back. It's good therapy.

Carolyn

momof4,

My son graduated Bravo company a couple weeks ago. At the exchange I saw a bumper sticker that said "Coastie Mom, the toughest job in the Coast Guard." Not sure our kids would agree, but it does feel like it! For recruits, it's a transition time into young adulthood...for moms, it's the transition into being the parent of an adult child. Neither have ever done it before, so there's always some trial and error. This is a HUGE time for both of you. Hang in there! Be patient, wait for the letters. If you've gotten three so far, he's doing good. There really isn't any other way to get information on your son. Calling Cape May to try to get information will get him in trouble. No news TRULY is good news. My son was reverted twice, and both times he got short phone calls home to let us know soon afterwards. That is NOT a phone call you want to receive. This is my third son to join the military, so I've been around this bean pole a few times. You have to be the encourager...no matter how you feel, just keep writing the letters and sending the cards and pictures, and bug everyone else who knows him to do it too. Keep telling him you love him and how much you believe in him. Write about your day, about his favorite tv show, about the silly thing the dog did. My son told me those letters from home really made a difference, especially on the hard days. And make no mistake, boot camp is hard! The Coast Guard knows what they're doing...and what they're doing is pushing your son to succeed. His graduation will be a sweet reward to him—and to you for making it through.

Courage, mom. :)

Ruth

make no mistake. we dont have it all together were all fallin apart together. in the same boat missing our child bf gf worried to the point of sick. just keep reading and writing on this site and helping each other. sharing stories from the letters we recieve. answering questions what ever we can do for each other. i dont go in my sons room. that will surely start the tears flowing.


shamrock

Thankyou so much you have helped me-and I now know that what I am feeling is normal-he is the first to leave our home and I dred the other three when they become of age to leave- but also know that it is a fact of life. the youngest is four and next in line is only three years away from graduation, next is four years away from it,LORDY LORDY HELP MEEE!!! Maybe I hang on too long but they are what I live for. Cant believe someone already got a phone call- that is great!! I am happy for them I am sure they needed that as much as the rest of us. I got a letter from my son Saturday he said he had gotten in trouble and had to do pushups for standing too close to the buletin board- well that really dropped a bomb on him - first time to get in trouble there! I think he will think about those little things a little longer. Again thankyou and hope you and yours stay safe-

Thankyou so much your words really helped- as well as all the other posts I have been reading- yall are really a godsend !! I have three more boys to go and am not happy having reality hit me that they do grow up and move on!! Maybe I will lock the other three up in the closet!! haha Am excited about the phone calls next week- maybe they will be able too call. need to hear his voice to know for sure that he is okay. I got a letter saturday and he said he had gotten introuble-had to do pushups- he stood too close to the buletin board!! It really burst his bubble- first time to get in trouble!! Now he is known and he says that isn't good!! Says his hair cut is something out of his nightmares!! yall have really helped me- and for that i am in debt. Here is a Southern Thankyall,
Connie