Handling Illness during Boot Camp

[Box kicker 101]

I'll admit that I've read about recruits getting sick--other parents have personally written to me about it as a "requirement" in Boot Camp.

After a couple of vague letters decribing sore throat and fevers, my younger son reports that several days ago he was put on bed rest due to bronchitis.

I know that my older son is suffering from something similar--along with a number of other recruits in their platoon.

Since the mail is a half-week behind, could someone let me know what the policy/standard is for dealing with real illness for a recruit. I thought that there was a max of 3 missed days, but I realize that even that might be too much.

I want to be able t write to my recruits with encouragement, even if what we have to say is that we will be attending two separate graduations. rather than one...

What say ye?

C.

Ma'am recruits get sick real fast myself i had caught phuemonia....Luckly for me i had got seen before it was too late it was my week right before the cruicible and i didnt want to get dropped so i thought i could hack it but damn i was wrong at nights i would wake up soaken wet from sweating in my sleep the day i went to BAS i had 103 fever the docs took my temp 5 times because they thought the thermoters was broken........long story short i had phuenmonia in my whole left side ......now one would think id be dropped right..... nope i got 5 shots put on some pills n two days i was back hooking and jabbing with the rest of my fellow warriors dont worry your recruits will be looked after if its something bad but they shouldnt be dropped for three days..............we had a recruit that was on cruches for two weeks he graduated with us so you never know

[Sempermom66]

Some of us started in whoopin and hackin, others contracted a gut flu virus about the time squadbay windows were to remain shut at night for the winter. Bad idea, everybody needs a little fresh air To this day i can't hardly sleep in a room thats chinked to tight

--->Dave

I concur! Perhaps the best approach would include a couple of Lysol bombs going off over the racks a few times a day.

Of course, the alternative school of thought is that if the microbe doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger...

I suppose these future Marines are better served by introducing their T-cells to a third-world cocktail of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists!

[Quinbo]

Respectfully SemperMom I need to say let them out from under your wing. They will be fine. I watch Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen deploy every day and it is not a measilly little 3 months called boot camp. You get innoculated against stuff you didn't even know existed. You can't keep them packed in cotten balls.

I know you want to provide them all the motherly love possible but right now their drill instructors are their mommy and daddy combined and they are looking out for their welfare.

[Sempermom66]

Respectfully SemperMom I need to say let them out from under your wing. They will be fine. I watch Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen deploy every day and it is not a measilly little 3 months called boot camp. You get innoculated against stuff you didn't even know existed. You can't keep them packed in cotten balls.

I know you want to provide them all the motherly love possible but right now their drill instructors are their mommy and daddy combined and they are looking out for their welfare.

With all due respect, Sgt, I let all of my sons take their respective falls from trees, roofs--and grace. I attended all of my daughter's wrestling matches in middle school. (The first girl to go out for the team).

I'm not about the milk and cookies, no sireeeeee.

I have always made it clear to my children that whether they choose college or the military, a boy cannot become a man as long as he lives with his mother.

Seriously, if they're on the same page, something is out of whack.

I believe that all of my children would attest to the way in which these wings were made for poking--them out of the nest.

Even as I'm writing this, I'm schooling my girl on the steps necessary to open up an infected puncture wound with betadine and a Q-tip.

We'll be meeting with her Army recruiter in two days.

And, sincerely--

Really--

Thank you so much for all of your measured and caring responses...

And for your service.

C.

[thedrifter]

Respectfully SemperMom I need to say let them out from under your wing. They will be fine. I watch Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen deploy every day and it is not a measilly little 3 months called boot camp. You get innoculated against stuff you didn't even know existed. You can't keep them packed in cotten balls.

I know you want to provide them all the motherly love possible but right now their drill instructors are their mommy and daddy combined and they are looking out for their welfare.

A Good Ending...............

Ellie