NEW MOMS READ FIRST

[Barb Pruitt]

It just dawned on me that most moms, have alot of the same questions, so I thought I would put this out there it might help. First go to this site, it has GRADUATION DATES http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/family/upcominggrad.html it will update just about weekly sometimes they get busy and get behind. Spend some time on this site, you will find answers to alot of questions.

PHONE CALLS: you will get one right when they leave that says hi mom I am here Click. Very short but you know they are safe. You will get another around week 3 or so ( this varies on the command ), you may get a third right at the end.

ADDRESS: you will get their address about two weeks in. Remember to be writing letters while you wait for it, that way you can send a bunch right in the beginning.

GRADUATION PACKET / INFORMATION: around week four you will get a packet from your sailor/command, verifying grad date, and some information for hotels, a pass for your car window.

PICTURES: This is just a suggestion from me. When your sailor first leaves remind them what kind of pictures you want, also order video ( of graduation ) and a copy of the keel - yearbook, I have had two kids go thru bootcamp the keel is hard to get after the fact. Really a cool book worth the money.

Hopefully this will help a lot of moms upfront. Don't worry your not crazy. We all have had a hard time with our kids leaving, I can say it does get WAY better once they are in the navy. My kids call me ALL the time. You will find your sailor will appreciate family alot more when they are on their own. Good luck, if you ever need a shoulder this site absolutely ROCKS, the moms are very helpful and you won't feel so alone. Take care, Barb

Added note, I started this discussion it seems like years ago, when either my daughter or son went in I can't remember it has been so long. Its been we are on year two with our daughter. I know many of you new moms and dads are really worried. Happy thought for the day, I remember when I was crying EVERYDAY just like you probably are right now. It does get so much better, we have gone thru injuries, our daughter has met and married another sailor, and they are due in the spring with their first, our son has gotten the base of his dreams and is going to be married before the first of the year. Two years ago I would never have thought I would be at peace with this. And, I am a ex navy wife of many years. Have faith, so far 8 weeks of bootcamp may have been the worst 8 weeks of my life where my kids were concerned. It is almost as hard on us as them, in different ways. But looking back, its gets so much better and their adventures are just beginning. Good luck and god bless you all. For sharing your kids with us. They are well taken care of and the will make friends for life. As a footnote if anyone wants to get a reply or speak directly to me, please send me a comment as this discussion has grown so big I don't have time to read everything. God bless all of the parents out there that are sharing their kids with the rest of us. The adventure is just beginning.

[Angie F.- WA: HM mom]

Peg, your son will definitely feel like an old man at BC! I'm sure he feels very grown up by now with all those teens and twenty somethings looking up to him. :) Pictures is already a done deal. The ordering took place around week #4, though you can reorder more later. Just hope he ordered the PIR DVD and KEEL too or you might be out of luck. :(

If there are a large number of Divisions graduating (say over 10) then, yes, the earlier you arrive the better. When the gates open, by 7 at the lastest. It may take time at the gate, they often do complete car searches. Then you have to walk from the parking lot to the Hall, maybe a quarter mile, but at least it's inside! (Good thing-the summers can get very HOT, the Winters very snowy and FREEZING and it's often windy.) The Grand Hall fills up fast. Each Div is assigned a bleacher, but no individual assigned seating, first come, first serve. You don't want to have to stand or be way up in the balcony or in the overflow seating away from the rest of the same DIV families. Especially if you've met some on site and at the N4Ms PIR Meet and Greet the night before. You'll probably want to sit together. =)

As far as dress code, you'll see a little of everything. If you use your search box (upper right) you'll find previous discussions on the subject. My personal take: this is a very special Military occasion, you are there to celebrate their accomplishment. They are dressed up and looking sharp, so I think their families should show respect and make a similar effort, within reason. (I saw young ladies in black cocktail dresses and very high heels, a little over the top! Equally inappropriate were those in shorts and T shirts or ratty jeans!) You will probably meet one or more of their commanding officers. So, yes, slacks and a nice top is fine, I wore a comfortable pantsuit. Save the really casual stuff for sightseeing. DO wear comfortable shoes, you will be walking A LOT.

One extra tip: Don't try to drive into Chicago, lousy traffic, no parking. Take the Metra ($5 weekend pass) and the free trolleys. There are shuttles available from most hotels to PIR if you prefer. Ask your hotel when you make your reservation. We recommend you do rent a car though; the communities, hotels and restaurants are rather spread out. Overnights are a rare thing. Your new Sailor will be paranoid about getting back to base on time each day. They are told they must be present in the barracks by that time and not a minute later!

Your tri fold "graduation packet" would say if he's "Grad and Go". If it's not clearly there, then he's not. If he is, he will leave for the airport soon after the ceremony ends, but you can go the airport with him until his flight leaves. IF he is staying at GL for "A school, then he may just simply have to go check in after PIR and then call you to pick him up later. Our son didn't have to move over until the Tues after PIR, so we had him all weekend, during the day, but he did have to check in with his Chief briefly on Friday after the ceremony before he was free to meet us and go. FYI: The only bummer about moving over later is they can't take their electronics back to the barracks with them, so we had to get home and mail them back. We did bring his cell and laptop to the hotel for him to use.

'WHEW', hope that covers everything and a bit more! Glad to help out. :-) Best wishes to your son and enjoy the PIR experience, it's awesome!

[Angie F.- WA: HM mom]

Allison, looks like Linda and Kathy are on it! You can also scroll up to the link I gave Andrew's Mom above. Hope those get you to what you need. If not, I can give you the Public Affairs Office # at RTC. Just let me know.

[Rebecca Proud Mom of Marlon Jr.]

Can you bring more than 4 people to PIR, what if they are not on the list can they still get in?

[Angie F.- WA: HM mom]

Hi Rebecca! Boy, would I love to reassure you and say yes. :) Here's a repost from a featured discussion (Tips and Hints) in the BC Moms Group:

There's always someone who wonders about how many guests a Recruit can invite to their PIR. First of all, there are no actual tickets. The Recruit will write the names of 4 Guests they most want to attend. They are the only ones guaranteed seats! Children under the age of 12 do not count towards these 4 spots. Only one Green Parking Pass is issued per Recruit. (note Aug '09-There has been a recent change. Parents are now given a password to download the parking pass. They no longer send one in your Tri fold grad packet.) Changes to the guest list cannot be made in the last week of training. Any further questions on this subject, here is the only answer you will-or SHOULD- receive here on site:

Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL is the homeport for all Navy recruit training. If you have specific questions regarding Boot Camp, Pass-in-Review (graduation) or a Recruit, please visit http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/index.asp. If you cannot find the answer there, please phone RTC Public Affairs on 847-688-2405 or email on [e-mail].


If anyone on site gives you an answer other than this, they are violating the direct request of our N4Ms Admin and the Navy itself. Please help us pass it on to those who don't know. Thanks! Enjoy the PIR ceremony. :-)

[Rebecca Proud Mom of Marlon Jr.]

Thank you for your response, grately appreciated.

[Adele-MA Mom]

Hi Rebecca, It is all dependent on how many Divisions are PIR, and how many people show up. I brought 9 people total, and there wasn't a problem. If you can't get all of your party in, they extras can stay at the family center, and meet up with you and your Sailor after the ceremony. The Family Center is located right inside the gates, and is very nice. Have fun at PIR, and give your Sailor lots of hugs and kisses!

[Rebecca Proud Mom of Marlon Jr.]

Thank you I will, cant wait to see him love him so much

[llamamama]

thank you so much for this info... the link for graduation is not wking... any other ideas? trying to find out what time of day my son graduates... on Fri Nov. 13th... can you guide me?

[Shelly S]

Thank you so much for all this useful information. This answers so many of my questions!!!
For those of us that are just starting this jouney we truly appreciate it. What a wonderful site!!

[Angie F.- WA: HM mom]

Hello ladies, this thread has been quiet for awhile! Here's the updated link:

http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/upcoming_grads.asp

Kathy provided it for Allison above. Probably more helpful for you Shelly since llamamama already knows her son's PIR date, although she could also click on other info on the RTC site to see the rundown and rules re:Liberty weekend.

FYI: Get to the gates as early as you can, 6:30 or 7 a.m. at the latest! Some hotels offer shuttles, some people prefer the independence that driving offers, (a car is must to get around the area. However, do buy the METRA train weekend pass and avoid the hassles of driving -and parking- in Chicago!) but be prepared for the possibility of lines and a car inspection. They don't last too long, but plan on about a half hour from gate to drill hall.

Wear nice clothes, but comfortable shoes, you will do a lot of walking. It is VERY cold (and often snowy) this time of year, and always windy in Great Lakes/Chicago, so bring your heavy winter jacket!! Once inside the Grand Drill Hall and past the security checkpoint, you will find open seating in the bleachers for your division #. The graduation ceremony starts at 9 am and ends by 10:30. They announce Liberty Call immediately afterwards and-after the initial bedlam of Sailors finding and reuniting with their loved ones-the Hall quickly clears out. Don't forget your camera, (you can NOT take any photos outside the Hall) and a pair of binoculars helps too. They almost all look alike in their uniforms! LOL

If you haven't already, be sure to join our Boot Camp Moms Group on site. There you will connect with other members with loved ones in your Recruit's Division and PIR Group. You will compare calls and letters, encourage each other and celebrate all their progress together. :) There is usually a Meet and Greet on the Thursday night before PIR. So, plan to arrive in town early enough to get settled in your hotel and mosey over to the gathering to meet your new best friends in person. You will most likely only see the ones from your Div on PIR day. :-)

Enjoy your time on N4Ms now and stick close after BC is done and even though your new Sailor will have their cell phones and laptops once again. There is much more to their journey beyond BC and you will probably need/want to call on the support of other Navy Moms and be there for them too. Hope this helps you to plan better. Best wishes to your soon to be Sailors! God Bless and welcome aboard! =)

[Leslie Kevin's Mom]

Thank you so much for all the great information!! My son leaves on Sunday for GL bootcamp. I am currently in the cry every day stage =) I am glad I am not the only one. Kevin has been out of HS since June this year and we let him enjoy his time before he left. He goes to the gym everyday and has all his General Orders memorized. I am so proud of him I could burst but the idea of him being so far from home and not being a phone call or text msg away is so hard. I have no doubt he is going to do great!! God Bless our wonderful childeren and their family that support them in protecting our country!!!

[Angie F.- WA: HM mom]

Hi Leslie, treasure every special moment you have with him this week. I can feel your pride spilling over. =) You're right, he's ready and he'll do just fine and so will you. Glad you found N4Ms before he went. Here's where you'll want to plug in next:

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms

It looks like you have already connected with some awesome moms like Karen G in the Nuke Moms and my big hearted Texas buddy Brenda Sue. You might need some Navy Moms nearby to cry with and hug sometimes. You are in VERY good hands! =) Buckle up and enjoy the ride. My best to your Recruit and God Bless! :-)