family survival guide september 2015

1 Updated September 2015

FAMILY SURVIVAL GUIDE (FSG)


FAMILY SURVIVAL GUIDE (FSG) Facebook

• Welcome to 3rd Battalion 34th Infantry Regiment (3-‐34). The volunteers who manage the Facebook page are from our Family Readiness Group (FRG). They manage the page with oversight from the Battalion Commander. The 3-‐34 site is managed by a small group of volunteer spouses of 3-‐34 soldiers. Some of us are mothers and fathers, some of us work or go to school and some of us volunteer in other jobs in our community. We are all dedicated to bringing you updates, educating our new families about the Army and posting photos of your Soldier in Training (SIT). Please be patient as we post photos and answer your questions. We may be slower than you'd like us to be, but we are doing our best to update you. We cannot guarantee photos of your Soldier in Training (SIT) will be posted to Facebook. We will, however, post photos that will give you an overview of what your SIT is doing that week during Basic Combat Training (BCT)

• The purpose of this page is to give you a glimpse into your Soldier’s BCT experience and help you integrate into the Army so that you may become empowered, well-‐ informed, and resilient Army families.

• The 3-‐34 Facebook page covers all five companies in 3-‐34 (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo).

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE • You can expect to have the opportunity to learn about the Army. We have a program called the

Army Family Team Building (AFTB) Challenge. More information is in this Guide and in the Notes section of the Facebook page.

• You can expect to get plenty of information about the Army through this Family Survival Guide (FSG), Commanders Letter (CL) and from the posts on the Facebook. The Commander’s Letter is posted in the APPS section of the Facebook page.

• You can expect to have an opportunity to ask questions of our FRG volunteers and connect with other Basic Combat Training (BCT) families from the Facebook page.

• You can expect to receive pictures of your Soldiers during their next 10 weeks of training. We will also have CDs available with all the photos our FRG volunteers took during the Basic Combat Training cycle. That CD will be available for a donation to our FRG at the FRG tent during Family


Day and Graduation. If you cannot be at either event, your Soldier in Training (SIT) will have the opportunity to pick one up after the ceremony. You may even find extra photos on the CD that we did not post to the Facebook page.

• You can expect to receive the most current and up to date information from the 3-‐34 Command Teams on the Facebook page. There is ONLY one official 3-‐34 Facebook page. Your Command Teams in the 3-‐34:

Battalion Commander: LTC (Lieutenant Colonel) Perry Battalion Command Sergeant Major: CSM Boone Alpha Company Commander: CPT Byrne Alpha Company First Sergeant: 1SG Henry Bravo Company Commander: CPT Dieugenio Bravo Company First Sergeant: 1SG Deal

Charlie Company Commander: CPT Zelasko Charlie Company First Sergeant: 1SG Royal Delta Company Commander: CPT Glenister Delta Company First Sergeant: 1SG Asplin Echo Company Commander: CPT Radcliffe Echo Company First Sergeant: 1SG Drury

WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU • Please take the time to read the information that we have provided for you. As stated before,

our goal is for you to be become empowered, well informed, and resilient Army families. This cannot happen unless you keep yourself informed. The best way to do this is to read all the information we provide for you.

• Please be flexible and understanding. There is a reason for everything we do even if you don’t understand or agree with it. You must understand that the training environment can change for many reasons. We understand that not having all the information in front of you may be frustrating, but experience has taught us that Army life is much easier if you learn to go with the flow. We appreciate your patience and understanding with this.

Follow the rules of the page. In order for all of us to have a positive learning experience on the Facebook page, we must follow the rules of the page. We will not tolerate derogatory comments or threatening


language. Engaging in this type of behavior on the Facebook site will result on you being banned from the page. Additionally, the use of offensive language or racial slurs will result in you being immediately banned from this page. Note: Please help us keep this site family friendly. There are lots of children who visit the Facebook page to see their loved ones. Don’t be “that” person!

Family BCT Program & Challenge (or AFTB Challenge)

• During these 10 weeks that your Soldier in Training (SIT) is in Basic Combat Training (BCT) you can also learn some of the same things your SIT is learning by participating in the Army Family Team Building (AFTB) online courses. This is also an opportunity for you and any family member or friend to compete in a friendly challenge between companies.

• There are 3 levels to Army Family Team Building (AFTB) and within these online classes you will learn a great deal information to not only help you transition into Army life but your SIT as well. These online classes are a great learning experience and another opportunity to show support for your Soldier in training (SIT).

• The first thing you will need to do is register for Army Family Team Building (AFTB). To make this process easier for you we have provided screen shots that will take you step by step through signing up. On the left side of the Facebook site, please look for the Notes section and click on “Notes”. You will see a document labeled “Directions for uploading your completed AFTB certificates for the Family BCT Program/Challenge”, please click on that and it will take you to the detailed instructions with screen shots on how to enroll. You may also click on this link to take you there: www.facebook.com/notes/3rd-‐battalion-‐34th-‐infantry-‐regiment/directions-‐for-‐uploading-‐your-‐completed-‐aftb-‐certificates-‐for-‐the-‐family-‐bct-‐pro/10153461701126030

• Once you have started completing courses, your certificates will be generated, here is where the challenge begins. You will upload your certificate/certificates so we can count them as points that will go towards your Solder in Training’s company. Level 1= 1pt Level 2=2 pts, Level 3=3pts and any other training that you choose to continue on with will be counted as 1 point a piece and recorded as extras. The company with the most points a week before graduation will win a picture of that company in a manner chosen by the Command Team for that company.

Directions for upload your completed AFTB certificates for the Family BCT Program:

1. Go to 3-‐34messageboard.freeforums.net (http://3-‐34messageboard.freeforums.net/)

2. If you aren't registered, click register button on top right

3. Click on the “Completed Certificates” for the company your Soldier is in. It should be at the bottom.

4. Go to the right and make a new thread.


5. Click add attachment and

6. Click add file.

7. Click in file, then click open and click insert and click add file.

8. You can do this for all three certificates on the same email. You just have to insert separately. Then click crest thread at the bottom.

9. Make sure you lost your Soldiers name in the body of the thread.

(These instructions can also be found in the Notes section of the Facebook page for easy reference)

• Throughout these 10 weeks updates on where each company is in the challenge will be posted to the page. Anyone can compete in this challenge for your SIT’s company -‐-‐ family members, friends, and even neighbors! Please remember this is a friendly challenge and the goal is not only to win, but for you to come out feeling more educated and empowered in this new journey your SIT is embarking on.

Our goal for each of you to become self-‐reliant, empowered, and resilient Army families and it all starts with Army Family Team Building! – “Rock Force” (3-‐34 Battalion motto)

Your Soldier’s Name _*_ CO, 3-34th Inf Reg,

165th Inf Bde 11950 Golden Arrow Road

Fort Jackson, SC 29207

Your Soldier’s Company (See below for abbreviations)

* COMPANY ABBREVIATIONS

ALPHA = A BRAVO = B CHARLIE = C

DELTA = D ECHO = E

Mailing Address Info

Our Battalion


This is your Brigade (there are 5 other

battalions in our Brigade)

This is your Battalion

ORGANIZATION BREAKDOWN

Put your soldiers platoon NUMBER here (on the back of the envelope) once you have it. You do not have to have it to send mail though!

Only your soldier can give you this information.

165th

3-‐34 Foxtrot “Knights”

Foxtrot

1. Samurai

2. Death Dealers

3. Gladiators

4. Destroyers


These are the five companies in 3-‐34. Here is a

list of the companies including their nicknames

BCT TRAINING PHASES EXPLAINED

Week 0: Reception Soldiers complete an administrative process required to become a member of the Army. Simple tasks such as medical examinations, setting up military pay, and initial issue of equipment are completed during this time. This process typically takes between 2-‐3 days but can take over a week in some cases.

Weeks 1-‐3: Red Phase Welcome to BCT! SITs meet their Drill Sergeants and begin training. This is often considered a difficult few weeks for Soldiers because of the challenges of adjusting to military life. Most classroom-‐type training occurs during this period of training where Soldiers learn about:

Ballistics and Rifle Marksmanship Fundamentals Personal financial management Law of Land Warfare Uniform Code of Military Justice (Military Law) Dismounted Land Navigation (using a map and compass) Fundamentals of Physical Readiness Nutrition Rappelling and navigating rope bridges

Alpha “Assassins”

Bravo “Bulldogs”

Charlie “Rock”

Delta “Dragons”

Echo “Eagles”

Alpha

1. Outlaws 2. House of Pain 3. Death Dealers 4. Immortals

Charlie

1. Mercenaries 2. Hellhounds 3. Black Mambas 4. Chaos

Delta

1. Death Row 2. Pitbulls 3. Dominators 4. Immortals

Echo

1.Spartans 2. Juggernauts 3. Immortals 4. Pitbulls

Bravo

1. Warriors 2. Punishers 3. Spartans 4. Hellhounds

These are the platoons with the platoon number and nickname (approx. 50 soldiers in each).


Drill and Ceremony (marching) Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Defense (often referred to as the Gas Chamber) Fieldcraft Patrolling

Weeks 4-‐6: White Phase This phase is sometimes referred to as the Rifleman phase, qualification phase, or simply the shooting phase. Whatever the term, the training focus is the same -‐-‐ how to identify, track, target, and effectively engage targets with a rifle. In a word, Soldiers learn "Marksmanship". The training is progressive and becomes more difficult as the training progresses:

Fundamentals of Rifle Marksmanship are reinforced: Zero a rifle (align the rifle sites to hit targets at different distances) Engage targets at various distances Engage targets at various distances using three different positions Prone supported (laying down with a brace to hold the weapon steady) Prone unsupported (laying down using only your hands to hold the weapon steady) Kneeling unsupported (one knee on the ground, resting the weapon on the other knee) Engage targets at various distances with limited time Prioritize and engage multiple simultaneous targets at various distances with limited time

Engage targets at various distances, with limited and variable amounts of time, with a changing number of simultaneous targets available at any particular time...passing this requirement is also known as Rifle Qualification.

Weeks 7-‐9: Blue Phase The culminating phase of BCT, Soldiers combine the skills they have learned during earlier phases of training to complete advanced combat tasks.

Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (use of aiming tools such as lasers and night vision devices) Patrol and attack as a squad Maneuver and engage targets as part of a team Employ "crew-‐served" and more powerful weapons M240B Machine Gun AT4 Anti-‐Tank Rocket Launcher M203 40mm Grenade Launcher Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT -‐ Fighting in a city) Convoy Defense Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Long-‐distance Road Marching with combat load Forward Operating Base (FOB) operations Control Point operations Victory Forge (Field Training Exercising and culminating event)

Week 10: Graduation. After completing the final training events, to include a week of field training and a foot march, Soldiers are given a day with their Families to catch up and share their experiences. On the following day, Soldiers graduate and are sent to the next phase of their training that in almost all cases is Advanced Individual Training (AIT).


AFTB Challenge *sometimes referred to as the BCT Challenge*

What is the AFTB challenge?

A: During the next 10 weeks you will have the opportunity to take a series of online classes called Army Family Team Building (AFTB). These classes will provide you with just about all the information a new Army family should need. In essence, you can train at the same time as your Soldier so that you will be better prepared for this new Army life. It is a great opportunity to show support to your Soldier. If you haven’t yet signed up at Myarmyonesource.com and started the AFTB training, you may want to now. If you do decide to complete Level 1, make sure to upload it so it can count towards the AFTB Challenge.

MAIL

What is my soldier in training’s address?

A: Rank, Last Name, First Name

___ Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 165th Infantry Brigade

Platoon, Platoon Name (or Platoon Number if you have it)

11950 Golden Arrow Road

Fort Jackson, SC 29207 (Fort Jackson or Columbia will work)

11950 is the 3-‐34 Battalion headquarters. All mail arrives at the Battalion and then it is sorted and sent to the companies. You may have received your Company’s building number as the address (and not the 11950 address printed in the address above). Either address will work. As long as you have 3-‐34, the company and platoon in the address. That's the most important.

Why is it taking so long for my soldier in training to receive his/her mail?

Fort Jackson is one of the largest U.S. military training installations. It takes time to get mail to your Soldiers in Training. There is a five step process here for roughly 13,000 pieces of mail the installation receives daily – from the Fort Jackson post office, to our Brigade, then distributed to each of the five Battalions (3-‐34 is just one of the battalions), and then to the five companies in our battalion. And then sorted to each of the platoons within the company. It truly puts a new meaning to the phrase “snail mail”. Mail may take as long as two weeks (10 business days) to get to your soldier. Do not let his discourage you. We explain this to your Soldiers in Training as well.

How can I find out if my soldier in training has received my letters?

A: As volunteers, we do not have this kind of access to the trainees. And we cannot interrupt training to ask if your SIT has received letters. The handling of mail is taken very seriously by 3-‐34. All of our drill sergeants and cadre who come into contact with mail must receive training to become certified mail


handlers. The training emphasizes the importance of safeguarding mail, handling of all accountable mail, timely delivery and the serious consequences of violating federal law regarding mail.

When sending a letter to your soldier, are colored envelopes not allowed? My family would like to send a birthday letter/card to my soldier, but the envelope is colored.

A: Yes, you may send a letter in a colored envelope.

When should we stop sending letters to our SIT?

A: We recommend you stop sending letters two weeks before graduation. All mail received after graduation will be returned to the sender or forwarded to the SIT at his/her Advanced Individual Training (AIT) unit.

May I send self addressed stamped envelopes to my SIT?

A: Yes, we encourage it. It makes it easier for them to write back. Also, it’s a good idea to include addressed envelopes to other family members and friends.

May I send a package to my SIT?

A: Soldiers have access to the troop store frequently, so please do not send items in bulk as their space is limited. It is suggested to send your mail through the USPS, sending mail via UPS or FedEx will not get a package to your soldier any faster, as all incoming mail to Ft. Jackson is delivered to the APO (Army Post Office) and distributed with the general USPS mail. In addition, please do not send mail to the attention of the battalion commander. Contrary to popular belief this does not get the mail to your soldier faster, it in fact will heed the process.

Is there anything I cannot send to my SIT in the mail?

A: Family members are discouraged from sending large boxes. Soldiers are taken to the PX (post exchange), a department store located on Army posts, about every two weeks to buy items such as toiletries, shampoo, and shaving cream. There is no need to send these basic items as the Soldiers have the opportunity to buy them and they are affordably priced (and tax free). This is a general contraband list and it is possible that an individual company may have additional items. Some companies prefer that soldiers do not get care packages so talk to your soldier about this BEFORE sending one. Also know that sending things overnight or 3 day mail will NOT get to your soldier faster... it just gets to the post office/battalions faster but they still have to sort it out to go through regular mail call at the companies. ITEMS YOU MAY NOT SEND: Ammunition/Explosives (live or expended) Shoe Inserts Cameras Cosmetics (of any kind) Beverages (alcoholic and non-‐alcoholic) Books/Magazines/Newspapers (except Bible or other religious text) Braces (e.g., ankle, knee, etc., unless prescribed by the military) Cash over $50 Civilian clothes or accessories Civilian glasses or contacts Cologne/perfume/after-‐shave (except non-‐spray deodorant, unscented skin lotion, etc.)


CDs/cassette tapes Drugs/Medication (unless prescribed by military) Electronic devices (of any kind, e.g., cell phones, pagers, radios, MP3/CD players, etc. Food, candy and MRE items Flavored cough drops Lip balm Game or Gambling items (playing cards, dice, etc.) Health supplements (unless prescribed by the military) Hair clippers/hair dryers/curling irons Hair products (of any kind except shampoo and clear gel) High-‐value items over $50 Jewelry (except wedding band) Pornographic material Martial Arts items Matches/Lighters Military paraphernalia or memorabilia Sharp objects (knives, pointed scissors, razor blades, etc.) Tobacco products (of any kind) Weapons (of any kind) What can I send my Soldier in Training? A: Paper Journal Pens (Black only) Pencils Stamps Envelopes Self-‐addressed stamped envelopes Toothbrush Address book Toothpaste Alcohol free mouthwash Dental floss Corn/blister pads (Can no be medicated!) Gold Bond Foot Powder Toenail/nail clippers Unscented deodorant Shampoo/conditioner combo Unscented lotion Unflavored lip moisturizer (Such as Chapstick) Baby wipes, unscented Flushable wipes, unscented Sugar free cough drops (menthol only no other flavors) Razors (Males ONLY) Shaving cream -‐ (cannot ship in can, must be the cream type that comes in a lotion style container) Q-‐tips (Lots of Q-‐tips as they will use these for weapons cleaning as well as for personal care) Travel size Kleenex packages Unscented bar soap (unscented) (6) 4x6 photos to put in their wall locker (Use good judgement. Modest pictures only please) Religious medallions


Note: There is also more information on mail in the Commander’s Letter. Your strongest source of communication with your soldiers will be through mail, so please write, write, write. Remember your soldier is extremely busy and may not be able to write back as often as they would like or even at all. Mail is a HUGE morale booster – keep sending letters! We cannot stress this enough.

PAY When can my SIT expect his/her first paycheck? A: When your SIT arrived at Fort Jackson, he/she received an advance of $350 on a debit card (called an Eagle card). They may purchase personal hygiene items, pay for haircuts, etc, with that money. That advance will be taken out of their first full month's paycheck. Typically members are paid on the 1st and 15th day of each month. If the 1st or 15th of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the member will be paid the weekday before, usually a Friday. On average, you can expect the Soldier in Training to receive their first paycheck in 30-‐45 days. May I see my SIT’s pay stub? A: With his/her paycheck, the Soldier in Training also receives a Leave and Earning Statement (LES). An LES is a monthly statement listing military pay. It also includes the allowances the SIT receives, as well as the leave, or vacation days, he/she has earned. That is why it is called a "leave" and "earnings" statement. Your SIT must give you access to the LES. If there are pay issues, your SIT must discuss with the finance office. A family member cannot do this for the SIT. For more information on the LES and how to read it, visit: http://www.militaryonesource.mil/pfm?content_id=269406

PICTURES

Why aren’t there more photos of my soldier in training’s company? I haven’t seen my soldier in training on the Facebook page yet. How do I get a photo of my Soldier in Training?

A. The 3-‐34 site is managed by a small group of volunteer spouses of 3-‐34 soldiers. Some of us are mothers and fathers, some of us work or go to school and some of us volunteer in other jobs in our community. We are all dedicated to bringing you updates, educating our new families about the Army and posting photos of your soldier in training. Please be patient as we post photos and answer your questions. We may be slower than you'd like us to be, but we are doing our best to update you. Pictures are posted at a time that is convenient for our volunteers. We cannot guarantee photos of your SIT will be posted to Facebook. Our intention is to give you a glimpse into your Soldier in Training’s world. It is not to provide a picture of your particular soldier. There are a large number of SITs in 3-‐34; therefore, we ask that you please refrain from asking for a picture of your SIT. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

May I save the photos posted on the Facebook page for myself?


A: Yes. We suggest you do that soon because we delete all the photos on this site soon after training is over to get ready for the next basic training cycle. We also suggest you save all the pictures posted of your Soldier’s Company even if they do not contain your Soldier. Your Soldier may want them and you can always delete them later.

Where are the photos of my Soldier in Training’s Company?

A: All companies now have a photo folder in the album section of this Facebook site. We will continue to post photos throughout the cycle. Check them out (cut and paste address in your browser): https://www.facebook.com/pages/3rd-‐Battalion-‐34th-‐Infantry-‐Regiment/110744097339?sk=photos_stream&tab=photos_albums

When looking for photos, how do I figure out which company my trainee is in?

The 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment contains five BCT companies, A (Alpha), B (Bravo), C (Charlie), D (Delta), and E (Echo). If you have not heard from your trainee after one week at BCT, you may determine their location by calling you can call the Reception Battalion 24 hours a day at (803) 751-‐7713 for assistance in determining their location. You will need the Trainee’s full name and SSN to find out their location.

Isn’t there a place on Fort Jackson where I can purchase photos?

A: There has been some question about how to buy professional photographs of your Soldiers in Training. If you would like to purchase your Soldier's individual portrait taken when they first arrive at Basic Combat Training, or a platoon photo, please contact Leonard’s Exchange Portraits by phone at 803-‐787-‐4905. You can pay over the phone and either pick them up when you are here for Graduation and Family Day or they will ship them to your home, which will incur shipping and handling fees. If you want to purchase the Basic Training Activity photos please visit Leonard’s Exchange Portraits Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-‐Jackson-‐Photography/307522229346423 . If you have any questions or concerns, Leonards asks that you please direct message them on their Facebook page or call the number above. Leonards is a private business that has permission to photograph and sell photos on Fort Jackson; however, it is not affiliated with the 3-‐34. Please contact them for all your purchasing questions. Additionally, the FRG volunteers will have photo CDs of the Facebook photos available for a donation to the FRG at their tent during the Family Day and Graduation day events. What about videos during Basic Combat Training? Do you record their training? A. Occasionally, the FRG volunteers will post videos to the Facebook page. There is also a private

company that is authorized to record events -‐-‐ like the graduation ceremony -‐-‐ and sell them. Videorama is not affiliated with the 3-‐34. You may find more information on Videorama on their website: http://fortjacksonmwr.com/video/


Trivia

What is the Trivia Challenge? A: After your SIT's company completes Red Phase, then you as a family member or friend can participate in that Company's trivia challenge. Each Friday between 2000-‐2030 hours (8-‐8:30 p.m.) eastern time, we will post on Facebook an Army-‐related question for family members or friends of Soldiers in Training to answer. Answers to the questions can be found in the Family Survival Guide, the Commander’s Letter, the Facebook page or by participating in the AFTB challenge. We encourage you to read these documents, browse the Facebook page from time to time and participate in the AFTB challenge. If you win the trivia challenge for your SIT’s company, we will take a photo of your soldier and allow him or her to write a message on white board that we will also include in the photo. Please keep in mind that the decision to take photos of a SIT for the trivia challenge is at the discretion of the Company leadership. There are a number of reasons the leadership may make a decision not to allow a SIT to participate in the trivia challenge. For example, if the trainee is facing disciplinary action or is not meeting the standards, the SIT may not be eligible to participate. What are the rules for the Trivia Challenge? A: We will post one trivia question per company. Make sure that you answer the question for the Company that your Soldier in Training is assigned. The reward for the winner will be an individual picture of their SIT with a message that will be posted to Facebook.

▪ If you are identified as a winner, please make sure that you reply in (in a private message) with your Soldier in training's rank, last name, first name, Company and platoon. Also, send us your relationship to the SIT>

▪ Families and soldiers of previous 3-‐34 Basic Training cycles: Please allow current 3-‐34 Basic Training families to participate.

▪ As soon as your company representative posts the trivia question, he/she waits at the

computer and writes down the name or name(s) of the first three winners (up to 3) in the comment section that contain correct answers. We use that time to determine our winner(s). There may be no more than 3 winners per Company. This means there may be only one or two winners some weeks.

▪ In order to give other families an opportunity, you may only win once per cycle.

▪ Please keep in mind that the decision to take photos of a SIT for the trivia challenge is at the

discretion of the Company leadership. There are a number of reasons the leadership may make a decision not to allow a SIT to participate in the trivia challenge. For example, if the soldier in training is facing disciplinary action or is not meeting the standards, he or she may not be eligible to participate.

▪ Once you've been notified that you are a winner, please private message your Soldier in

Training's name, platoon and your relationship to him or her.


▪ Photos will be taken next time the volunteer from your company visits the training area for pictures.

▪ Let’s be courteous and respectful. The trivia challenge is meant to be a fun learning

experience.

When are the Trivia Challenge questions posted? A: Trivia Challenge will be on Fridays between 2000-‐2030 (8-‐8:30p.m.) Eastern Standard Time. Please only answer the trivia question for the company that your SIT is assigned to. We will not post trivia questions for your company until they’ve completed the red phase. Can I do the trivia to try and win for those that haven't so they can get a picture of their Soldier?

A: The Trivia Challenge is intended for families and friends of the SIT. The purpose is for the people participating in the trivia challenge to study and learn more about the Army way of life so they can answer the questions. If you answer for them, it defeats the purpose.

PHONE CALLS AND INTERNET ACCESS

When will I receive phone calls?

A: Throughout your soldiers 10 weeks of BCT he/she on average will have 3 opportunities for phone calls, one per phase. These phone calls are a privilege and are not guaranteed. Phone calls may be taken away or granted at any time. The initial call giving you the address counts as your red phase phone call. It will be a very short call. The volunteers who manage the Facebook page do not know when phone calls will occur. We do not post information on phone calls to the page because we don’t know when they will happen. Sometimes these decisions are made last minute. In addition, soldiers may have the chance to earn additional phone calls by excelling in training such as Physical Training or scoring high on Rifle Marksmanship.

My soldier just started basic training and I’ve only received one phone call so far.

A: The initial call giving you the address counts as your red phase phone call. We know it was only 10 seconds long, but it still counts!

Why won’t you answer my question when I ask when I will get a phone call from my SIT?

A: The volunteers who run the Facebook page do not know when phone calls will occur.

My son called his girlfriend and not me. Will he get another opportunity to call me?

A: For some soldiers placing a phone call can be mentally challenging, as they want to stay focused on the mission at hand (graduating BCT) thus why some may not call anyone. Some soldiers will opt to call a best friend or a girlfriend/boyfriend instead of family. Remember they have a limited amount of time to


make a phone call. If you are unavailable when your soldier attempts to call it is up to each Company Command Team as to whether your soldier will be granted a second attempt.

How long are phone calls?

A: When phone calls are permitted there will be a time limit, usually no more than 5-‐10 minutes, and it is up to the soldier as to who they will call. For some soldiers placing a phone call can be mentally challenging, as they want to stay focused on the mission at hand (graduating BCT). Some may not call anyone. Some soldiers will opt to call a best friend or a girlfriend/boyfriend instead of family.

What if I am not home or I don’t answer my cell phone when my soldier in training calls me? Will he/she get another chance to call?

A: If you are unavailable when your soldier attempts to call it is up to each Company Command Team as to whether your soldier will be granted a second attempt.

My soldier’s company just phased up. Why haven’t I received a phone call?

A: As volunteers, we do not always know when phone calls will happen. If we have information on when a phone call will occur, we will post that information to this site. This is why you don't always receive an answer to your question about phone calls. And they don't always happen just because a company phases up. Throughout your soldiers' 10 weeks of BCT he/she on average will have 3 opportunities for phone calls, one per phase. This does not necessarily mean your soldier will get 3 phone calls, however. For some soldiers placing a phone call can be mentally challenging, as they want to stay focused on the mission at hand (graduating BCT) thus why some may not call anyone. Some soldiers will opt to call a best friend or a girlfriend/boyfriend instead of family. Remember that this is an intense training environment and Drill Sergeants have a short period of time to transform your civilians into soldiers. We ask for your patience and understanding.

Can we send them cell phones?

A: Cell phones are collected at the beginning of BCT and stored away. Any cell phones mailed will be locked away as well. Usually, cell phones are returned to soldiers the day before Family Day. Again, this is up to the Drill Sergeants and/or the Company Command team. In extreme circumstances the use of cell phones can be permitted at the DS's discretion, this may only apply when several soldiers are placing calls on the same day (there are approximately 4 pay phones per company).

Do our Soldiers have access to the Internet while in BCT?

A: No. We ask that you refrain from posting personal messages to your soldiers on the main page because they will not receive them.

Miscellaneous I sent a private message to you on Facebook. Why haven’t you answered my question yet?

A: You may get a quicker response if you post your questions to the timeline or in a comment so the public can see them. Many people who like our page can answer your questions and not just the volunteers who manage this page. There are a lot of questions we are getting as a private message that


have been answered on this page quite a few times. Many of the answers to your questions are also in this Family Survival Guide or the Commander’s letter (see the APPS section of this Facebook site). Please try to limit your private messages to questions or comments that are personal in nature. Thank you.

It’s been weeks and I have not heard from my Soldier in Training. Can you look him up for me?

A: The volunteers do not have the authority to release names or verify the attendance of a Soldier in Training on this Facebook page. Generally you should hear from your soldier within 72 hours of arriving to their unit to provide you with their company, platoon and address information. Again this is not always the case, in the event you have not heard from your soldier within 7-‐10 days of their arrival, you may call the Fort Jackson Installation Operations Center at (803) 751-‐7671 for assistance in determining their location. You will need your SIT's full name and social security number.

TRICARE / DEERS / MILITARY IDs/FINANCE

Since my husband is in BCT, is it true that my family and I are already enrolled in the TRICARE? When will we receive the documents confirming our enrollment in TRICARE?

A: You are not automatically enrolled in TRICARE. Your spouse has to enroll in DEERS first then your spouse can go online and enroll you into Tricare. Please confirm with your spouse that he or she has enrolled your family into the DEERS system.

When will I receive my Tricare (health insurance) packet?

• Most will receive their packet within 2 weeks of their soldier in-‐processing, it can take up to 4 weeks. You must be enrolled in DEERS in order to use your Tricare benefits. Contact your local Tricare office to verify enrollment http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/tricare-‐service-‐centers.

• Once you are enrolled, you will have medical coverage. Please contact your local Tricare office to find a medical provider in your area.

• DEERS Contact Information: Toll-‐free: 1-‐800-‐538-‐9552 TTY/TTD: 1-‐866-‐363-‐2883

Obtaining your military I.D.

• Your soldier will get you enrolled while in-‐processing at reception, form DD172 will be sent to you within 2-‐4 weeks of in-‐processing.

• Your soldier will maintain control over the documents needed to enroll you in DEERS/TRICARE. YOU WILL LIKELY NEED THESE DOCUMENTS BACK so please write to your solider and remind them to send them back ASAP.

• To locate the nearest I.D. Card issuing office visit here http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/appj/site?execution=e2s1 (NOTE it does not need to be an Army


branch office to issue you the identification card. Be sure to bring all documentation with you, generally it is the DD172 form, Drivers License, and Social Security card. Be sure to call them to verify the documentation you need to bring. Also most offices can schedule you an appointment, doing so will cut down your wait time.

When will my soldier begin receiving pay?

A: Pay can take up to TWO months to begin (your soldier will receive back pay if it takes this long). As volunteers, we are unable to provide or assist you with pay. If your soldier has any questions, he/she needs to go through the Drill Sergeants to make an appointment with the finance office. The soldier is the only one that finance will speak to regarding pay issues.

ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY INFO

What do I do if there is a family emergency?

A: As stated in the Battalion Commander’s letter, if any emergencies arise while your soldier is in BCT contact Red Cross. They will go through the proper channels in getting the information to your soldier. The number for is Red Cross: 1 (877) 272-‐7337 Have the following: Full name, Rank/rating, Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), Social Security Account number or date of birth, and Military address. Please visit this website for more information: http://www.redcross.org/find-‐help/military-‐families/emergency-‐communication-‐services Contacting the company or the battalion with an emergency prior to contacting Red Cross will only slow the message getting to your soldier, as the Army has policies set in place for notifications to the soldiers, first is receiving the message from Red Cross.

FAMILY DAY, BANQUET, INFO NIGHT AND GRADUATION INFO

When should we expect the Commander’s Letter? I understand that it contains graduation and family day information.

A: The Commander’s Letter is sent out during the first couple of weeks of BCT, only one letter is sent to the address of choice provided by the SIT. Receiving the does NOT guarantee that your Soldier will actually graduate, nor does not receiving one indicate that your SIT is not graduating. If you do not receive a packet, do not fret as we have provided it for you here. The exact packet that is sent home is under the Commander’s Letter tab. Please print it and bring it with you to graduation as it contains valuable information that you will need including a map. You do not need the packet to attend graduation.

Who can attend Family Day and graduation?

A: EVERYONE is invited to attend both Family Day and Graduation, there is no limit and there are no tickets needed to attend. There is no need for you to call the Battalion or Companies to RSVP or ask for a ticket.

What is the information session at the Battalion Headquarters?


A: At 8 p.m. on the Wednesday before graduation – the same day as family day -‐-‐ there will be an information session at the Battalion Headquarters. After you drop your soldier off, head to the Battalion for information from the Red Cross, TRICARE (Medical) and Army Community Services. This is an opportunity to answer some of your questions. We would like to meet and thank our AFTB challenge participants during this information session as well, so we hope you join us. Many of your Facebook volunteers will attend this meeting.

Where do I get information on the dinner banquet?

A: For anyone needing information about the Graduation Banquet, which is a dinner with your Soldier at either the Officers Club on Semmes Rd or the NCO Club, located on Lee Rd please refer to the Commander’s Letter (Note 1 section of letter) for Company times, prices and banquet cuisine choices. Tickets for the Graduation Banquet can be bought at Hilton Field on Family Day at the MWR tent. If you did not receive the commander’s letter in the mail, it is also posted on the Facebook page.

Will my soldier receive a pass the day of graduation? May I drive my SIT to his/her AIT?

A: If your SIT is going to AIT on Fort Jackson he/she cannot stay in a hotel. Your soldier must report to AIT after graduation. For soldier’s continuing to AIT at Fort Jackson, the 3-‐34 does not have control over whether or not your SIT will receive a pass the weekend after graduation. That is a decision made by your SIT’s new unit. If your soldier in training is going to another base east of the Mississippi the SIT may drive there with a family member or the military will make travel arrangements for you. If the SIT is going to AIT west of the Mississippi then he or she must take transportation arranged by the military and he cannot spend the night in a hotel after graduation. Hope this answers your questions.

I have an 18-‐year-‐old cousin who does not have a driver’s license. Can she still enter Fort Jackson without one?

A: A government photo ID is preferred. If your 18-‐year old has a high school or college ID card, please ask her/him to bring it to enter the military post.

Do I need to purchase a ticket for the graduation banquet?

A: You may purchase tickets on Family Day at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) booth.

May my Soldier visit Weston Lake on Family Day?

A: Yes. However, the Soldier may only travel to and from Weston Lake. Stops on the way to the lake are not authorized. Soldiers must inform their chain of command of their intent to travel to Weston Lake and must also provide a contact cell phone number to their Drill Sergeant.

May we bring signs to the ceremonies?

A: Yes, however out of courtesy for those around you we asked that you sit to the top of the bleachers so as not to obstruct the view of others.

Is there handicap parking and access at Hilton Field?

A: Yes. The Military Police will direct you to parking for handicap. On both the far right and far left of the bleachers there is wheelchair access into the stands. Fort Jackson does not provide wheelchairs.


What if it rains, where will the ceremonies be held?

A: Ceremonies will be held at the Solomon Center in the event of inclement (bad) weather. An announcement will be made on the page the morning of Family Day or Graduation if there is inclement weather. Additionally, we will inform the guards at the gates. Weather calls are made no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of the event.

May we bring strollers?

A: You may bring strollers, but remember seating is on a first come first serve basis, so if you arrive late and do not get a front row seat, you will be asked to park the stroller under the bleachers until the ceremony is over.

May we bring pets?

A; Pets ARE allowed on Fort Jackson, but are not allowed at Hilton Field (except service dogs). The weather may be quite warm, so please plan accordingly if you bring your pet – do not leave them in the car.

How early can we arrive?

A: Arrival time is up to you, some will start to arrive as early as 2 hours in advance, expect delays when getting onto post. (Although your hotel information may state 1 mile from main gate or 5 minutes to main gate, remember you are not entering through the main gate, you are to enter at gate 4 as directed on the map).

What is the proper dress for Family Day and Graduation?

A; Most will dress casual to dressy casual. Remember that you are representing your Soldier. If you are Active Duty military, National Guard or Reserves, you are welcome to wear your uniform if you wish – it is not required. Please remember this is a family event on a military post -‐ dress appropriately. There is no dress code, but you should have all your personal parts covered and not be wearing any clothing with offensive language. Remember this is an official military ceremony.

What address do I type in the GPS to get to Fort Jackson?

A: 10000 Lee Road Columbia, South Carolina 29207. Once you get onto Ft. Jackson follow the blue line that is painted on the roads. It will lead you directly to Hilton Field.

When will I know if my Soldier is NOT graduating?

A: They continue to train right up Family Day so it is possible you may not be notified till then. They are given as many opportunities as possible to meet the graduation requirements and may be doing repeat training in an attempt to meet the requirements till the last possible moment. REMEMBER NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS. Soldiers are typically given a call home when they find out they will not be graduating.

What happens if my Soldier does not graduate?


A: Each situation is different. It depends on why your Soldier did not graduate. Most of the time you are still permitted to spend time with your Soldier at the company area after the official part of Family and Graduation Day, but it is up to the Company Commander. Your Soldier will not be allowed to participate in the official Family Day or Graduation Day activities at Hilton Field. In fact, they will typically be required to assist with the day’s events by setting up or helping to park cars.

How can I obtain a list of the people graduating?

A: We do not publicly release a list of the graduates.

If I am immediate family, my Soldier’s AIT is on the approved transport list, and I choose to drive my Solider to AIT when can they leave?

A: Your Soldier may leave right after graduation. You will just need to sign them out first. Typically Soldiers are given about enough time to travel to the location. So you will want to get on the road ASAP. You should arrive at your SIT’s AIT location by 1700hrs (5 p.m.) on the Friday after graduation.

Who does the Army consider immediate family?

A: For the purposes of being able to sign your Soldier out for transport to AIT or a graduation day pass the Army considers parents, grandparents, legal guardians, and spouse’s immediate family. Unfortunately brothers, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, fiancés do NOT count per Army regulation. We understand that there are extreme circumstances. In these events, the battalion commander will make the final decision. You must make your situation known to the chain of command very early on. Understand that very few exceptions are made.

If I drive my SIT to AIT, when will he/she have to report to AIT?

A: By 1700 hours (5 pm) the day after graduation. It does not matter what the report date is on your SIT’s orders. If for some reason you will not make it on time, the SIT must contact his or her AIT unit as soon as possible to report the situation. Once the Soldier arrives at AIT, the AIT unit will determine if a pass (time off) is authorized that evening or anytime over the weekend.

Will my Soldier get a weekend pass after signing in at AIT?

A: We cannot answer that. It is up to each AIT and your Soldier will not find this information out until they arrive at AIT.

Can my Soldier change their method of transportation to AIT?

A: Once a Soldier’s tickets have been purchased, they cannot be changed. You must communicate your plans to your Soldier early on. Surprise family visits at graduation are great, but they will not change the fact that we cannot change your Soldiers mode of transportation after a certain date.

What if I am not driving my Soldier to AIT?

A: If you are immediate family (see above) you may sign your Soldier out for an OFF post pass on graduation day. Your Soldier must be returned to Fort Jackson at their unit no later than 7:45 pm the


evening of graduation. After your Soldier is back at the company area you will not be able to spend any more time with them.

I have a knife I keep in my car for safety. May I bring it on the military base?

A: For those of you coming on post for family day and graduation, please be aware of the following regulation: The possession of the following privately owned weapons or devices is prohibited:

-‐ Any knife having a switchblade or automatic blade opener. -‐ When carried on one's person in an unconcealed manner, knives with blades in excess of three inches in length, except while engaged in authorized hunting, fishing, camping or other outdoor recreational activities, or when required for duty purposes. -‐ When carried on one's person in a concealed manner, knives with blades in excess of three inches, razors and ice picks. -‐ Brass knuckles or similar devices. -‐ Blackjacks, saps, nunchukes and similar devices. As exceptions, nunchukes may be possessed for bona fide educational instruction or competition in a recognized martial arts program and may be carried and transported directly to and from educational and competitive martial arts events. -‐ Also, do not bring firearms onto the military base for family day or graduation.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Hotels

• There is an abundance of hotels in the Columbia area. There are many sites out there to help you with your bookings (i.e. Hotels.com, Expedia.com, orbitz.com just to name a few).

• You can also contact Victory Travel on-‐post here at Ft. Jackson http://fortjacksonmwr.com/travel/ and at 1-‐800-‐221-‐3503. They can assist you in finding a hotel at discounted rates.

• We STRONGLY encourage you to make travel arrangements that are refundable. Approximately 10% of arriving Soldiers will not graduate for various reasons.

• There are a couple of options for on-‐post lodging here at Ft. Jackson. On-‐post lodging will fill up fast, so be sure to book early. If using on post lodging please have a back-‐ up plan as you may lose your reservation to an active duty soldier that is arriving at Ft. Jackson for school or is moving here. You may contact them at 1-‐877-‐711-‐8326 or 803-‐782-‐9802 or www.ihg.com.

• Here is the website for Weston Lake – Cabins, RV sites, camper and tent sites. For reservations, visit: http://fortjacksonmwr.com/weston/

Airports

• Columbia Metropolitan (CAE) http://www.columbiaairport.com/ 30 min to post • Augusta Regional Airport, GA (AGS) http://www.flyags.com/ 1 ½ hours to post • Charlotte International, NC http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Airport/Pages/default.aspx

1hr45min -‐ post


• The above three are the commonly used airports, though you may find better rates with • Greeneville International, SC http://www.gspairport.com/ 1 hr 50 min to post • Charleston International, SC http://www.chs-‐airport.com/ 1 hr 50 min to post

BUS

• Columbia Greyhound http://www.greyhound.com/. The address is 2015 GERVAIS ST Columbia, SC 29204

TRAIN

• Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage. The address is 850 Pulaski St Columbia, SC 29204

CABS

• Blue Ribbon Taxi Cab -‐ 803-‐754-‐8163

• Yellow Checker Cab 803-‐799-‐3311

family survival guide september 2015

Documents

facebook page

battalion commander

training sit

cpt byrne alpha company

cpt zelasko charlie

cpt glenister delta

cpt dieugenio bravo

cpt radcliffe echo company