Leave after PIR

[Lorraine]

Hello,
My son is in GL and his PIR will be on 12/19. He has A school in Pensacola, Fl. He told us on his last phone call that he has to check in to A school first, then if they give him leave for the holidays he will be able to come home on the 21st. Please help me on understanding how this all happens. Also what is the chances that he will get leave, and how soon do they release him after he checks in? Do they usually keep them at A school? ANy help will be appreciated. Thank you.

[Vikki]

Oh - that is a tough one. You may have to roll with the flow on this. So much is uncertain until they get their hard copy of their orders. I can tell you that when my son was at A school they had everyone put in for either Christmas week or New Years week. My son chose New Years because he figured he would most likely get that as everyone he talked to wanted Christmas and we went on that assumption booking tickets for those dates they had a choice of (now that could have been a costly mistake) and it worked out. Your son reports so close to the holidays and they may work it different there - my son was in Virginia Beach. It is hard to be away from them on the holidays and my heart goes out to you and your family with the added uncertainty. BUT - PIR will be so cool and exciting and that will help a lot!
Let us know how it turns out!! ~ Vikki

[Lorraine]

Hi Vikki,
Thanks for your help. My son called yesterday, and he too said he wasn't sure what he will be able to do. He sounded a little disappointed. This will be his first year away for the holidays, and I know it will be hard for all of us. He also has a b-day a week later, so that will be double hard. Hopefully I will talk to him again, and I can suggest that he put in for New Years, if it's not too late. I will let you know how things turn out, hopefully we'll know something soon. I just recieved my PIR packet yesterday. I'm so excited, not sure about the weather, I heard it so cold. Well, thank you for your help.

[Tatiana]

I am in the same situation as you. He is also going to Pensacola and doesn't know how it's going to work out. I called his recruiter and he told me that he would know on the days before PIR. So I guess we have no choice but to wait.

[Lorraine]

Hi Tatiana,
This waiting really is so hard. I just talked to my son yesterday, and he said he won't know until it gets closer to PIR. He sounded a little disappointed because he didn't know. I would hope that because of the holidays they would get leave, but this is the military and it doesn't always work that way. Well, I will keep you and your family in prayer that both our sons get to come home for the holidays. My son has his b-day on week after Christmas. What is your son training in? Mine is training in Aviation. Talk to you soon

[Jason's Proud Mom]

My son also is going to Pensacola on the 19th, I was, to say at the very the least "disappointed" that he wasn't coming home or that I wouldn't be able to spend the weekend with him after PIR (Vikki. . you can attest to that post I made last week, LOL) But Vikki has BEEN there DONE that, and although it's not easy to hear or to accept, it's our NEW way of life, there are no guarantees on when or if they can come home. I've taken on a new outlook, thanks to my very mature 18 year old soon-to-be-sailor. . . I belong to the Navy now Ma, I do what they tell me to do, when they tell me to do it!! No expectations, no disappointments!!! We will ALL get through this together and are fortunate to have the support that is on this site!!!

[Lorraine]

Hi Jason's mom,
Yah, you're right. I just need to get into that frame of mind. Your son sounds so mature and has the right way of thinking. I talked to my son yesterday, and he said he has grad and go, but we can meet him at the airport and spend time with him until his flight leaves. I will be doing that, every second with him is a blessing. It's just so hard knowing that I won't have the holidays and his b-day which right after Christmas with him for the first time. I pray that God will give me the same strength and peace that he has given our children and all that they are going through in BC. Thank you for your words of encouragement.

[Vikki]

Hey Lorraine, Tatiana and Jason's Proud Mom,
Yes - we will get through it together! Even though I didn't get to see Tim at Christmas last year, he did come home the next week for New Years - but this year we won't see in for either - so I am pretty sad too.
Tatiana I know for sure your frustration about "waiting." Even a little over a year from his PIR we are still in that waiting mode - waiting to find out his schedule for New Years so we can get flights for his sister to be with him. Aghhhh!! Oh well - I have really learned that I have more patience than I thought possible.
Lorraine missing the birthday too will be a double whammy! This past July was the first time Tim and Lizzie were apart on their birthdays (twins) it was so hard on them - I just hurt to see how my daughter was having such a hard time. So we propped a photo of Tim on the table and sang them both happy birthday and she blew out the candles. It was so sad!!
Awe - Jason's Mom that is the spirit! We will just have to be here for each other! I was just thinking that we have this site and it is such a great support system, but our son's and daughters have the same support system if you think about it - they have each other - their fellow Sailors who are all (pardon the pun) in the same boat. That makes me feel a little better!!
Sounds like your sons are all grad and go to Pensacola so perhaps they know each other or will get to know each other - Cool!
Knowing the wonderful choice our children have made in choosing to Serve our Country in the US NAVY - that makes it all bearable!
~ Vikki

[Lorraine]

Hey Tatiana & Jason's mom & Vikki,

Thank you both so much for the encouragment. I get so excited when my son is ablt to call, but that makes me miss him more. I still know it is a blessing, though. Jason's mom, that is a great idea. If he doesn't get to come for Christmas or his b-day, we'll still celebrate them as if he is. Having a cake in spite of his absence is cool I think I will do that. We have to give our sons, each other's names, so when they g e tto Pensacola, they can become each others support group, and friends. With all the uncertainty and not knowing their schedules seems so small right now in this economy, now that is uncertain not to mention scarey. I'd say that our kids made a very wise and mature choice and I'm sure all of us are proud of each and every one of them. Good job, ladies. Talk to you soon

[Hoppi aka Angie]

FYI:

Your soon to be Sailors will NOT know if they will get leave for the holidays until they check into their "A" school Bootcamp, can NOT give out info how other commands do their leave time.

If your children miss this Chirstmas, sorry to say it will be the first of many they miss. Keep in mind latter in life when they get married :~} odds of their spouse being from the same state as them will be slim and they might be flipping whose house they go to for the holidays.