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NavyIs my daughter doing ok?
Tue, 01/17/2012 - 18:39
I am a prior service member who has a daughter just enlisted in the Army. Last I heard from her was a tear filled phone call about what they were going to do with her as she had not started basic yet. How can I find out her status? Pvt E-1 Kristen K. Townsend, Fort Sill, OK. How can I find out if she has adjusted somewhat yet? She said she was being threatened with a article 15 at reception. She was cold and had leaned against a male recruit's leg to get warm. Was she informed about fraternization prior to this? I have no way of finding out what the outcome was. I feel that a article 15 at reception is not necessary as they are new recruits and require an adjustment period. 34 years ago we were given a 1 week asjustment period to military life so we could get focused. I hope the quality of drill sergeants are to the high standards mine were. I hope they have some common sense and not just a bunch of book learned hotheads.
Please advise me on how I can find out if Kristen has adjusted and on her way to a bright future.
Cindy L. Siewert (Carson)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:45
#1
@ Cindy
I can't find out how she's doing but I'm sure she's just fine. Have you heard anything from her yet? Normally recruits are allowed to make a phone call while in Reception or at least write a letter. They keep them pretty busy there but when she gets to her BCT company the Drill Sgts normally make them write a letter home along with their mailing address. It'll be a form letter probably. When you write her back make sure you get her exact name, unit number, box number & all the rest of the address just as she wrote it. She won't get it otherwise. The Army has always had a desire to keep the parents informed.
Either way I'm sure you'll hear from her eventually. That goes for whether she's actually getting an Article 15 or not. It's also possible that she's under some sort of discipline that involves taking privileges from her. That would be my guess. Maybe she's being held up at Reception until a later BCT class.
As a side note - I don't imagine that there can be much of a penalty for doing something she was specifically told not to do. I never had much trouble with male/female relations being in Combat Arms & when I was an Instructor it was all-male Combat Arms classes in most incidents. I can't remember any advice on fraternization other than my own good sense. But I was an NCO for my full Army career & that falls under a whole different category. Those who didn't have good sense suffered the penalties.
If worse comes to worse & time goes by without a word from her you could try to call the post where she's at. They can maybe look her up & at least get you the phone number for her Reception or BCT 1SG. Another thought that I have is to call her Recruiter. He can maybe give you a point of contact or find something out for you. My son's Recruiter, even though he was a dirtbag, told us when he finished Reception & when he started Infantry OSUT. That's just in case the Soldier doesn't have a chance to write but I'm pretty sure it's mandatory that they send that form letter.
Good luck to her. It's too bad she started her career on the wrong foot but she certainly won't be the first to do that. Please let us know when you eventually hear from her & what she tells you. I've never heard of this happening (I'm sure it did, though) & for my own information I'd like to know how it comes out.