Airlines

Shop as early as you want, however, as I stated above, I suggest you do not buy until after your recruit has completed 3 weeks of boot camp.

My next suggestion, count your weeks and then purchase your tickets in his 9th week in boot camp. Here is why, very-very few of these guys get set back due to injury, but those few that DO, 99% will be set back, to graduate at a later date, within the first 8 weeks. If they make it through the Crucible, which is in the 8th week then there is a 99% chance of graduating on time. Remember, in the first 8 weeks are the setups, pushups, jogging, climbing ropes, jumping off a 6-story tower, etc., the injuries can happen by virtue of what they are doing.

You are smart people, you know how to get airline tickets. You go to a travel agent, call the airlines, search the Internet, get your tickets, get on the plane, and go. What about that new Marine's ticket? His ticket WILL be purchased on about Wednesday of his 10th week, from a travel agent on the base. If this happens, most of the times, he will come home on one plane and you on another. If you want to make sure he is on the plane with you, then you purchase his ticket. Remember, if he is a 4 or 6-year active duty Marine or going into the Reserves, he has GOT to go back to Camp Pendleton (about 50 miles North of San Diego) for either MCT - Marine Combat Training, or SOI - School Of Infantry, so he needs a round trip ticket.

After boot camp, the new Marine has 10 days leave before he has to be back. The Friday he graduates is NOT one of the 10 days. The 10 days start the next day, Saturday, and continues through S-M-T-W-T-F-S-S-M and he has to be back at Camp Pendleton on that second Tuesday by 3:00 P.M. Have him back in San Diego by 10:00 A.M., 12:00 noon at the latest, SAN DIEGO TIME, on that Tuesday, here's why. After he lands, he picks up his luggage, goes outside the terminal to the USO building where there is a contract bus that takes him 50 miles North to Camp Pendleton, where he will check in. This gives him 3-5 hours to do this, plenty of time. He already knows all this, I am just telling you so you will know. Regardless of when he gets home, check his orders! They will tell him exactly what he needs to do. The phone number for the San Diego USO is 619-296-3192.

My suggestion, if you ARE going to buy his ticket, write him and let him know this, 2 or 3 times, between his 2nd and 4th week. This gives plenty of time for the letter to get to him before his 10th week when his ticket will be purchased locally. I know that new Marine, if he could be on a plane heading home one second after graduation, he would do it. If you are in a position where money is tight, and there are a few of you going out, CHECK and see the difference in tickets between coming home Friday afternoon and coming home on Sunday. Usually coming home on Sunday is a lot cheaper, just a thought.

If your Marine happens to be what they call a "92 day reserve," meaning he is going to boot camp, coming home, and then he starts full time college on Monday morning. He is one that will go back to Camp Pendleton, for MCT or SOI, NEXT SUMMER. His trip next summer is paid for by the Marines, so, he only needs a 1 way ticket home. Before you buy a one way ticket, check the difference in price between that and a round trip. You will find that a round trip is a LOT cheaper than a 1 way.

Regardless of what type of Marine you have, IF you are going to buy his ticket, when you get it, lay it on a copier, take a picture of it, and send the copy to him. This way he KNOWS you are coming to see him and take him home. When he gets the picture of the ticket, his morale will skyrocket. If that is what a picture of an airline ticket will do, why not do it??

Suggestion: Unless you are planning to go out early, or staying over after graduation, plan to arrive in San Diego Wednesday in the early afternoon. On a Friday departure, plan it for 3 P.M. or later, that way you are not pushing the clock to get from the base to the motel to the airport.