Greetings everyone! I'm in a rather unique situation, as I'm an Army veteran who's wife is actually going into the Navy in January! 

I figured I would just give some advice to everyone with a loved one going into basic, so that things can go as smooth as possible for the recruit (As that's what really needs to matter). This is based on my personal experience in Army BCT, but I think it applies to everyone.

1) Make sure your loved one knows that you understand they won't be able to call or write for a few weeks. Sounds really simple, but I know a lot of people that spent their first weeks preoccupied with concern that there loved ones were expecting phone calls, when that wasn't possible. They need to focus completely on their training, and any additional stress is completely detrimental to them. 

2) Remind them that no matter how stressful or exhausted they get, it's TEMPORARY. Basic is likely going to be the most mentally draining and stressful thing they've ever gone through in their life to this point. Remembering that it's a temporary situation with an ending, can really help push through the rough times when your recruit feels like quitting. 

3) Make sure your recruit knows that you're very proud of their choice to join the Navy, and for everything they've accomplished in basic. There's always gonna be rough times, and that motivation can really carry someone through. 

4) Keep ALL negativity to yourself, and away from the recruit. Be it financial, personal, family, news, etc etc. I know it's natural to want to discuss everything with your loved one, but you need to resist this urge. The last thing you want is a recruit who's mind isn't into their training, and is focused on other situations they have no ability to fix. 

5) Be supportive at every available opportunity, and write as much as possible. Letters can be the absolute highlight of the week for recruits, and really help them through rough times as well. When you write, try your best to talk about non-military related things. It's totally cool and natural to talk about basic from time to time, but you should also try and take their mind to another place so they can relax.  

6) To the spouses/significant others: Don't be "That guy/girl" that breaks up with their significant other in the middle of basic. This happens at least once in every group, and it can really ruin a recruits mindset. Nothing can make a recruit feel more helpless or down then getting that letter in the middle of basic, when they have no ability to fix things or talk to you. If you don't feel like you can handle the military life, then you need to break things off long before they leave.

7) Be understanding. Military life is incredibly unpredictable and stressful, and this starts with basic. It's possible your recruit won't be able to call at all, and it's possible they might be too tired to write you. Please understand that your recruit still cares, but they need to focus on their training and themselves for the time they're in basic. You have the rest of your life with them, give them this short amount of time to focus and get through their training.

This is just a few things I wanted to share with everybody, I really hope I could help! If anybody has questions about anything, just send me a message and I'l do my very best to help. Again, all of my experience comes from being Active Duty Army, so there's definitely a lot I can help with, but I'm relatively useless in regards to Navy specific issues. Still working on figuring those out for myself! Love the site, and look forward to speaking to everyone!