When your recruit first arrives, you might be awakened during the night to hear your recruit reading a scripted message. Your recruit may be speaking quickly and sound tired or hoarse. You won't have time to ask questions so just listen and let your recruit know you've heard and understood his conversation. I snuck in an "I love you" too.
  —Marine Mom from Texas, 2005

I didn't get a phone call from my son. He was so nervous when he got there that he couldn't dial the number and use the calling card correctly. So when the Staff Sergeant asked if he made the call, he said yes. I was nervous about not having heard from him, but got a letter from him later that put my mind at ease.
  —Marine Mom from Missouri, 2001

After getting that first “I’m here” call, families often want to know when to expect the next call. It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict if or when recruits will make a phone call home during boot camp.
As much as you would like to get a phone call, I recommend repeating “no news is good news”. That might sound trite, but it is the truth. If your recruit has to be put back in the training cycle due to illness, injury, failure to pass physical fitness tests, swim qualifications, rifle qualifications, etc. you will get a phone call…. which is why I say, “no news is good news”. Unless you have received a call telling you otherwise, you can assume your recruit is doing well and has not fallen behind.
  —Marine Mom and Marine Parents Volunteer, 2009