My son left for BC on June 23rd

[Jackie]

My son left for BC on June 23rd. I got the call at 7:50pm that evening that he was there. We were told his anticipated grad date will be August 21. I got "the box" yesterday. I have to admit it was hard to see the things in there he was wearing the last time I saw him. I keep telling myself this is good. Everything seems to be right on track with what we were told. I know I am anxious to get the form letter and I keep telling myself it has only been one week. How long does it take to get the letter after "the box"? I don't want to call his recruiter since it has only been 7 days, just wondering if anyone else has heard anything from their child that left on that day with the same anticipated grad date?
Jackie

[Paula]

Guess whatm you will not be the first nor the last to contact the recruiter. You will get your mail very soon. Hang in there

[JeriLynne]

My son left for BC on June 11th and I still have not gotten the "form letter" but his recruiter called me...also this website posts PIR dates http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/upcoming_grads.asp

Good luck!

[Fleetwood]

Jackie, I got the letter the next day!

[Jackie]

Thanks girls!! I did finally get the letter - the next day! Its just the little things that mean so much. I had to remind myself that it has only been a week - one of the hardest weeks of my life I think. I just need to relax, be patient and breathe. I know he is fine. It was short and sweet but he sounded upbeat and happy. Yeah!! Huge relief!!!
Jackie

[Eli'sMom]

My only son, the baby of 4 no less also left on the 23rd and PIR is slated right now for Aug 21, Div: 940 Ship: 6. Oh that danged box, I almost hated to wash the clothes!!! My son is Eli, when I got his first letter, he was so upbeat and proud to be there, but letter #2 was a different story. Just got it yesterday and it was from July 5th, very different! The homesickness, the realization that this is a life-change and he is no longer my baby boy, missing TV and music, having his food choices (he is very picky) made for him. First complaining about his shipmates and that they have to do an extra hour of PT every night, then asking for tips on how to keep their spirits up. Even more than our generation, our children have been instilled with individuality since birth, having to be like everyone else from your underwear to your haircut is hard. I haven't gotten my phone call yet, but I know I will be bawling my eyes out when he does call.
Teresa

[Jackie]

O girl - they are 1/3 of the way there! I hear what you say about washing the clothes - took me a week to do it. The first 2 letters were hard for me as well - cried my eyes out again. My heart just hurt for him. I got letter #3 today - am thinking Wednesday is my day!! He sounded so awesome - so grown up. He says he is done with the homesickness, just staying focused right now. Love that boy!! He told me he passed the swim evaluation and is on to the gun thing now. He was told by elder recruits that after that it is smooth sailing. Well I am thinking, his week started on Sunday, it is Wednesday now, and "no news is good news". I have been on Cloud 9 all evening!!! My son did tell me he loved every word in every letter I sent and please keep sending any word at all cause it keeps him going!! I was worried about the phone card thing and worried that I would not get any calls. I sent him plenty of minutes. He says it is up to the RDC's when they can call home. My kid is in a different ship than yours but the PIR is the same. Maybe it is different in every ship. Hold out for that call - it will come!! These first 3 weeks were the worst in the mom's world as well!!!!
Jackie

[debs...]

Hi Jackie.

My son, Bobby went in on the 25th of June and I still have not gotten his letter. I have no information and I can't mail out my letters until I have an address. I'm really frustrated.

It looks like your son went in just a couple of days before mine and so we should be getting our information around the same time. Please let me know when you receive yours.

Thank you...debs

[Jackie]

Hi debs - O man I am shocked you haven't gotten his letter yet. I did get the form letter on July 1st. I then got a 3 min phone call on July 5th. He clarified the address with that call. That was the 3rd address I was given to write letters to him. Sounds like that is the way it happens thou. He sounded good - he said they were Week 1 Day 1 on that day. They were going to start swimming on that Monday. We then got letters on July 8th. I got 2 and his dad got 1. We are divorced so its kinda hard that way. I was worried how he would do letters since they are so limited for time. The good news is we can communicate with each other - took 11 years, but we are there now. He wrote his first letter on June 30th and the second on July 3rd. He told me he won't be able to call again for like 2 weeks - so I am so hoping for another call this weekend. We will see. Hope you get your info soon cause you really have to know the ship # and div # to send letters. Wow, did you try calling his recruiter?? He should be able to give you some info I would think. You must be a very patient person. Hope this helps and you hear something very soon!!! Jackie

[Michelle [Emily's Mom,A sch GL]]

Hi! My daughter left on the 23rd as well and her PIR is scheduled for 8/14. She is ship 10, div 285. The letters have been few and far between but she's been able to use her phone card pretty frequently in the last two weeks which has been wonderful to hear her voice. I ask for everyone's prayers...her wrist was broken in three places as she was holding the flag this past week and it's in a cast for 14 days. She's on limited duty right now and is worried that she won't be able to make up what she needs to in order to graduate as planned with the rest of her division. Plus she's been replaced as guide-on and she's really bummed about that because she really enjoyed doing it.

[Jackie]

O crap Michelle - your poor girl!!! So sad for her. Hopefully she will heal fast. Will definitely say a prayer for her. She must be devastated!! I have to admit I am kinda jealous about the frequent calls thou. My son tried calling me on Thursday at 3PM. I was working - I travel for work so was driving. I was in an area with bad cell service. I actually was amazed my phone even rang. I saw the area code and knew it was from Great Lakes. I tried so hard to get the call, but it was lost. I cried for about an hour and a half. Good news is thou - he did get ahold of his dad. His dad got to talk to him for about 35minutes. Happy for him but my stomach hurt all night. Can't wait to hear his voice again!! Best wishes to your girl!!!
Jackie

[vscrn*Trey's mom div 289 ship10]

What Ship and Div is he in. My son left around the same time and will also graduate on 21 August......if all goes well. Lucky for me I was at work when Trey's stuff came home in the box and me husband thought it was pretty sad to see all his stuff in a box. He is such a good husband, he put everything back in Trey's room and threw the box away so I would not see it.
Of course then the "jooker" came out in him and he sent me a text from Trey's phone. I jumped on my phone and wanted him to call me asap.....which....my husband did! Well I guess that was one way of letting me know Trey's stuff was back. I do really think it was nice not to let me open "THE BOX".

[Jackie]

Hi vscrn - my son is in Ship 12 Div 286. He is still on track to graduate on Aug. 21st. I can't wait to see him. There are so many times I want to pick up the phone and call him. The "box" was super hard just as we were told. I happened to be home at the time the Fed Ex gal stopped. My eyes welled up as soon as that truck stopped in front of our home. Poor girl - wonder how many times she has seen that?!? It was super hard. Glad your husband is understanding of your feelings and looking out for you. Wednesday seems to be our day for letters - two Wednesday's in a row now. He did call last Thursday at 3PM - I was working and traveling in an area without good cell service. He could hear me trying to answer but then lost the call. Good for his dad thou - cause he called him next and talked for a very long time. His dad has been beaming ever since. That made me cry too that I missed the call. Hopefully more of those will come now too!!! Have a good week.