I'm New To This & Have A Few Questions?

[Kelly]

Hello,

My name is Kelly, and I'm a new boot camp mom. My son went to boot camp on St. Patty's Day. So he's working on his 4th week right now.

It's been pretty tough, but at I read more and more... obviously I'm in with the best of the Navy Mom's! We're all going through the same thing.

I'm actually doing pretty well at this point. I try and stay busy to keep my mind off it and I have a younger daughter that keeps me hopping. My son and I have an on going joke that we try and find our Happy Place during difficult times. And when writing that's what we've both talked about.. :)

I've done a little research on graduation and such, and still have more to do but hoping someone might be able to answer a few questions for me. Does anyone have recommendations for hotel accomodations for that area? And my other question is concerning something I read about being able to purchase a video copy of the graduation ceremony. It stated that the recruit may order one ahead of time and to check with them, which of course I've sent through a letter about this... but haven't heard back yet. And, if this is the case... how much are they? Will they also have their professional military photos made during this time? And, how much? I'm on a budget, and want to be prepared.

Thank you so much for your help with this, anyone. I appreciate your time. :)

Kelly

[Kelly]

Hello Jim,

Thank you for writing me, and asking how I am. That's very sweet of you. It's been tough of course, as with everyone here.... but I'm dealing with it. He's been gone 5 weeks today, so I feel like I'm on the downhill slide. Which is wonderful! :) I'm getting excited about graduation.

Well, we decided to stay at the Ramada. I did check out the navylodge, but didn't get that much info off of the internet about it... but I also didn't call, which I should have. Anyway, I decided that because I have a younger daughter that would enjoy the indoor pool that's at the Ramada. They also have microwaves and fridges in the rooms, so that will be helpful. It looks like a decent hotel, just crossing my fingers.

We are driving up there, so that more family members can come. We're on a budget. It's a really long drive, about 12 hours but it will definitely be worth it.

In his graduation invitation, it didn't state anything about grad and go. I'm hoping that's the case! From what I've read, it was supposed too, if he was. But, I know how that can go also.

He's hoping to go to Pensacola, but on his contract it states that there about 4 or 5 other spots that he could potentially end up. His recruiter stated that it would more than likely be Pensacola, so were crossing our fingers.

Anyway, thank you again for the great info and for responding. Everyone has been great!

Have a blessed day!

Kelly

[Jessie]

Hi Kelly,
I just had my sons graduation last weekend. I stayed at the Navy Lodge which was great. They have a microwave and a small fridge in the the room. I flew up on Thursday and his graduation was Friday. We were there at 0615 in the morning. We waited a while inside but being there that early made us get in quicker and get a great seat up front. It was packed. After graduation he had to do guard duty so we spent Saturday and Sunday with him. I brought him his cell phone to use and a pair of clothes to relax in the room. I am glad we left Monday because we got all day Sunday with him too. I felt bad for the recruits that didn't have anyone there. He wanted to go to the mall, see a movie and see Chicago. My husband and I rented a car which is really a must.
He enjoyed getting mail, I sent something almost every day, even if it was just a newspaper article. They are very isolated from the outside world. He apprectiated the funny cards. I sent him a calling card also. You will get a packet prior to graduation that explains everything. Make hotel reservations early. The NEX on the main base has lots of discounted stuff to do in Chicago. We did the trolley tours and his military discount saved us a lot of money for tickets. Do not park at Navy pier!! Very expensive. They do not have a military discount, it was 54.00 to park for 6 hours!!

I hope this helps!!!

Best wishes
Jessie

[Kelly]

Hi Jessie,

Congrats on your son's graduation! That's wonderful!

Thank you for writing me, I appreciate it.

I checked on the navylodge, but decided to go with the Ramada. I have a younger daughter that I thought the indoor pool at the hotel would be nice for her during our down time. It also has a fridge and microwave, so that will be helpful. It seems like a nice hotel on the internet, so were crossing our fingers. :)

We're driving there, so we won't need to rent a car. I originally was going to go by myself, and would have had to rent one to get around. But, so that more family members could come we've decided to drive. It's a really long drive, about 12 hours... but it will be worth it. I wish we could stay all day Sunday too, but we'll have to leave for work purposes. We'll get to spend part of Sunday, just not all of it.

Your information has been very helpful, it's great that everyone takes the time to let us newbies know things. It's greatly appreciated.

Thank you again and good luck with your son on everything. :) Have a blessed day.

Kelly

[Barbara's Page]

Dear Kelly,
How are you doing? So graduation is getting closer, that's great.
The hotel we stayed in was the Ramanda Inn. It has the free breakfast, nothing fancy, but pretty nice. There's an indoor pool, and a soveignor shop catered for Navy parents. The hotel also share the building with a realy nice restuarant and bar.
Also, the hotel has free shuttle service, for the graduation.
I have also heard that the Navy Lodge was also pretty good.

I could be wrong, but I have never heard of the graduation ceremony being video taped for purchase. I'm writting steady a year now, and I have never heard about that. All I know is that parents video tape their child's graduation.

Word of warning, I tell moms about after the graduation, their new Sailor will pick up their Navy photos. It is very rare if the Sailor buys the pictures themselve. SO bring a blank check with you, just in case.

Now with me, there is no family on either side, so my daughter knew to order the smallest package of pictures. The cost was $ 140.

Please don't hestitate to write. I love sharing info on graduation.
Take care and God bless,
Barbara

[Kelly]

Hi Barbara,

Thank you for writing me. I appreciate your great information. Everyone has been so helpful. :)

I've decided to stay at the Ramada also. I have a younger daughter that I thought would enjoy their indoor pool during our down time.

All of the great info that everyone has given me, has really helped on what to expect. We're working on a budget and just need to know.

Thank you again and have a blessed day.

Kelly

[Pat]

The official pictures and video were done during boot camp and purchased by the sailor when my son was in boot camp fall of 2006. It came out of his pay. The video is pretty generic and obviously does not focus on just your son, but it does capture all of the ceremony. If you want additional 'photos' or video you can contact the official photographer with the information on the receipt. If available they will sell it. I believe the video was under $20...the pixs were consistent with senior high grad packages. My sailor handed me a large package after graduation that had what he had purchased in it.
Best of luck to your sailor!
You may want to check out the Boot Camp group, using the 'Groups' tab at the top of this page and search for Boot Camp for more helpful information. You may also want to enter his PIR date as many PIR's have their own group...some do Meet and Greet's in Chicago the weekend of PIR.

[Susan Fitzpatrick]

Hi Kelly,
My name is susan my son went to bootcamp in Oct., That was the hardest day of my life. Each day will get better and better. He graduated on x-mas eve of all days, the weather was horrible but we wre gonna get there come hell or high water. we went the night before because we had a get together at Flannigans Irish resturant which was next to the Hotel, The Red Carpet Inn. Check your groups they may be getting together as we did. The hotel was about $60.00. My son had already purchased his pictures and he said they were around $150.00. He did get quite a few pictures for the money. Anyway make sure you take lots of kleenex to the graduation it is awesome! My son got to come home for a week before he went off to A-school in Pensacola Florida. Do you know what your son wants to do? Just write him everyday he needs the encouragment, I still have a hard time believing he made this choice but I am so very proud of him. Im sure your son will do great, just hang in there and pray for him. If you need anthing please write back.

[Kelly]

Hi Susan,

Wow, that's amazing that he graduated on Christmas Eve! Wheww, of all days. :)

Thank you so much for writing me and telling me the great info. I appreciate it. Love this community, everyone is so helpful.

My son is going into Aviation Electronics. I do write him at least 3 times a week. I have a younger daughter and it is sometimes hard to write everyday, but I can definitely tell that he needs them and is enjoying my letters.

Thank you again, I'm so proud of my son also... as you are of yours. I will pray for your son too. They are our Heros!

Kelly

[Kelly]

Hi Pat,

Thank you for replying to me about the great information, it really helps.

Everyone has been very informative and helpful, and it gives me a great perspective on what to expect.

Thank you again and have a blessed day! :)

Kelly

[Nancy Peterson]

Kelly,
My son graduated from boot camp on 3-20 and what an experience is all I can say. I stayed at La Quinta in Gurnee, which if you have a vehicle is about a 10 minute drive from base. I think I paid $63.00 each night, which included the military discount and a continental breakfast. In my son's case he had the entire weekend off after graduation, just had to check in each evening. The motel was very understanding about letting my son stay there with us, which was a big surprise to me. Gurnee was a very nice area to stay in. There is a mall there as well as many of the big name resturaunts. Our stay in Gurnee was great and I would go back there again. I only wished I had realized I could have flown into Milwaukee instead of O'Hare and it would have been about the same distance and a lot less hassel.

Also, the advice about getting there early is very helpful. Unfoutunately we got lost and it took us 2 hours to do a 10 minute drive (that is partly because I did not do a dry run the evening before). All in all because we left so early we got there in plenty of time. Even though traffic is pretty bad on the street getting into the base, once you are on base they have it all set up lick clock work and it was very smooth sailing for us. Also we got EXCELLENT seats in spite of getting there after 8 AM. We sat just about my son's division. Yes, check out the signs and locate the division # your sailor is in and it will help to get you seated well.

One word of caution to ALL NAVY MOMS. It is a good idea to NOT put your sailor's division # in when involved in these discussions. Many of the "cheifs" regularly check this site and punish sailors for their families chatting on this site. I know that seems unfair, and it is, but that is just a word of caution that I was given by my son.

Good luck! We are all proud Navy Moms..........

The graduation is video tapped and you can order a copy after the fact if your sailor gets the pictures. Within the pic package is an order form for the video.

[Paula S.]

If there's no last name posted, I don't know how they'd know who's mom you were...post away... There is a PIR every Friday at Great Lakes and they are very good at security up there. There are even group for specific BC divisions here.

[Kelly]

Hi Nancy,

Thank you so much for writing me back. Everyone has been so thoughtful.

I'm so hoping that my son has the weekend off, as yours did... so that I can spend some time with him. His invitation didn't state anything about a grad and go, so I hope that's the case.

I would have never thought about Milwaukee either. I just looked up Chicago, to fly out. But we decided to drive, because more family members could come if we did this. It's a really long drive for us, about 12 hours... but it will be worth it.

Thanks for the advice about looking for the his division# at graduation, that will be helpful.

I'll go for now, but thank you again. This has been very helpful! :)

Kelly