Customer Reviews

Letters From Boot Camp: A Memoir of Navy Basic Training

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As informational as it is emotional. Beckley seemlessly weaves the details of how boot camp works with the fears, courage, shock, and joy of her accomplishment. From the agony of being continuously "cycled" (exercised intensely) to the subtlety of finding pride in independence, Beckley gives us an incredible real-life journey. And, it is possibly as fast-paced as basic training! When, I got to the last letter, I couldn't believe it was over.

I appreciated a female perspective on such a male-dominated career. It's the first I've found. However, it is not just a girl's story. And, while helpful to anyone thinking of enlisting, the book can stand alone as a story of growing up and growing strong.

I thought this was a great read. I loved the back & forth with the "old salt".

" I just wanted to follow up in response to review below as an addendum
that I emailed the author from her website - these were the actual letters
she sent home - so its not written by memory but happening in real-time.

But I really loved best the relationship between her dad, a former sailor,
and her as she is going thru the experience. Take it with a grain of salt -
but it is a good snapshot that gives any kid thinking of going in the Navy
the "real deal"! "

Not a current depiction of what boot camp is like. I am sure this is what the author remembered. Was a little disappointed.

This was an informative and raw account of Navy Boot Camp. I recommend it for anyone considering joing the military. An entertaining and insightful read! A Lockwood.

A well written and imformative book for anyone thinking of joining any branch of the service.
It also gives an insight for parents on what is expected of their loved one.

In this era of war-time turmoil, I found this memoir an important source of the true dedication that our men and women of service endure to secure the safety of our country. Any citizen choosing to make an opinion on the sacrifice of our service people, and the current war, should read this riveting and insightful memoir on what navy basic training entails. This was a quick way to gain new respect and insight into the mind and heart of a young cadet and her family.

Letters from Boot Camp is an informative and interesting account of what someone could expect as they enter the military. A refreshing bit of advice for young people so they can enter this experience with their eyes open. I especially recommend it for girls who want a first hand idea of what to expect when they enter boot camp.
AM

This book certainly gives a recruits view of boot camp and that of their family as they go through it, but there's a couple of problems with this one: It is a compilation of letters between a recruit at boot camp and her parents. The letters are each short and do tell a story, but it consistently feels like there is a lot missing in the experience; like so much was just left out. There is no commentary on the letters to expound on what it was like or to explain more about what happened outside of the letters, which is unfortunate because it seems more insight could compliment the book so well. The other problem is the timing of the book: it may have been published in 2007, but the letters themselves and the boot experience dates back to the 1980's in a boot camp in Florida. To be honest a LOT has changed since then. RTC Orlando where this book is set has closed down. So has RTC San Diego; the only boot camp for the Navy now is in Great Lakes, Illinois which makes for a completely different setting. Also additions and subtractions from boot camp has changed a lot; there isn't a service week anymore, but there is now a final test (like the marine corps 'Crucible') called Battle Stations that acts as a capstone of Navy boot camp training. It is a good reflection of what it was like then, but it does not answer many questions; and raises many many more that are completely unanswered. It is a memoir that is great to see what it was like then, but not if you are seeking to learn more about whats going on now.