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Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak
All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.
Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)
Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC
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RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021
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There is almost always a 900 Division in every TG. The 1 April 2011 TG did not have a 900 Division of its own and there were no 900 divisions while RTC responded to COVID-19 and suspended graduation ceremonies. Sometimes there can be two or even three in one TG if RTC skips a week of PIR. One of the divisions will usually reflect the TG number, but not always. If there is more than one 900 Division, then they will be Brother Divisions. The 900 Divisions begin with Division 901 and will normally end with Division 952. Division 901 is supposed to be the division that begins training in the first week of October when the Navy fiscal year begins. In 2019 there were 55 TG's in order to have TG 01 begin training the first week of October so the last 900 division of the 2019 fiscal year was Division 955. This made up for errors in the numbering of TGs when weeks were skipped that had occurred in previous years.
Once the recruits arrive, those with the Musician (MU) rating and volunteers who have prior music experience (band, choir, or other musical training) or drill team experience may join a 900 division based on information provided on a questionnaire the recruits complete soon after arrival. Auditions are held later to confirm the ability of volunteers. There are others who will be chosen for the 900 division by the RDC's during Phase 1 (P-days) or the first few weeks of BC. These recruits did not have a Musician rating or prior band/music or drill experience, but showed some aptitude for performance, such as military bearing. This is especially true for those chosen to be part of Ship Staff. Recruits with relatively high ASVAB scores have a better chance of being in a 900 division than those with lower scores since they will be better able to keep up with everything that is required of them than those with lower scores. The Recruits in a 900 division can have contracts for any rating. Once assigned to the division, these recruits go through the same training as other divisions in addition to performance duties. They practice on Saturdays beginning with the Saturday after the division forms and sometimes (rarely) on Sunday afternoons if the need arises for an extra practice. From week 1 DOT (after Phase 1) until week 4, they practice every Saturday from 3:00 or 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Then beginning the Saturday going into week 5, they also practice on Monday and Wednesday and do a run through on Thursday, then they perform in the real PIR on Friday if there is one that week. They usually perform in two graduations before doing their own. The 900 divisions go through Battle Stations-21 alone, with another 900 division if there are 2 or more 900 divisions in the TG or with a pair of brother divisions from the rifle divisions.
There are three types of 900 divisions. There are the Band/Bluejacket Choir/Drill team, otherwise known as Triple Threat (the musicians, singers, and drill team), the Sticks (those who carry the state flags), and the Ship Staff/Honor Guard (the body snatchers, those who guard various things, various servers...). Three 900 divisions perform their duties at each PIR, the 900 division(s) from that TG and if needed one to three 900 divisions from the next one or two TG's. Each 900 Division performs in their own PIR and usually in the PIR for one or two TG's ahead of their own if there is not a 900 division of the same type to perform in the TG/TG's. They may also have performances in the community--that happens mainly for the Triple Threat and Color Guard though. Those in a 900 division wear yellow/gold braided cords (ropes) called aiguillettes on their left shoulders with their dress blues and blue aiguillettes with their dress whites. This helps others to know that they have responsibilities to fulfill during PIR.
You may want to join the Group, 900's division sailors. There will be information on there that relates to your situation. Here is a site I found that explains about 900 Divisions, The Requirements for the Navy RTC 900 Division.
Watch RTC’s fB page beginning 2 weeks before your recruit’s PIR and you may catch a glimpse of your recruit, but know that not all of the PIR ceremonies are photographed, so don't be disappointed if you do not see your recruit. You will also want to watch RTC's live stream of PIR beginning 2 weeks before your recruit's PIR. RTC streams PIR live beginning at 8:45 am CST on the day of PIR at http://navylive.dodlive.mil/. Check for any streams of the practices for PIR as well (usually in the afternoon on the day before PIR). They will also have the videos saved on there for a short time if people were unable to watch live or if you want to stop it to check out a particular recruit or Sailor more closely. (Once PIR has passed, you may be able to see the video at https://www.dvidshub.net/tags/video/navy-boot-camp-graduation, but not all of them are included there.)
The PIR ceremony is conducted by the graduating 900 Division/s with help from one or two Junior 900 Divisions. Each incoming 900 division is assigned one of the responsibilities listed below, on a constantly rotating basis.
Ship Staff is in charge on PIR day. They greet and welcome the Officers and their distinguished guests as Sideboys. They play the role of "Body Snatcher" walking up and down the rows of Sailors, watching for and sometimes catching any Sailor about to or going down. (They lock their knees sometimes and pass out.) They help the Navy Corpsmen in the back room. They serve during the reception for the Honor Grads. They guard doors and perform a myriad of tasks behind the scenes and in front, such as directing people and helping those who require a wheelchair. It is their job to help make sure all goes smoothly. The Honor Guard Drill Team also does a rifle performance at the beginning of the ceremony. Since those in Ship Staff/Honor Guard have duties to perform before and during PIR, they do not march in through the doors when the other divisions march in on the day of PIR.
Sticks (Flags) does an incredible march perfectly timed and executed to the drum corps cadence. It is their job to present the flags for every state in the union. They are lined up by height, so the flow looks better, so your recruit will probably not get to carry his/her home state flag. They also honor those who have gone before by presenting the POW and MIA flags, as well as the US flag and the US Navy flag in the Color Guard.
Triple Threat is comprised of those who are on the Rifle Drill team and all those who were chosen for their musical abilities. The Blue Jacket Choir performs the National Anthem, Anchors Aweigh and anything else they've been tasked with. The band plays at various times throughout the ceremony. The Drum Corps also marches and helps everyone else stay in step and keep time. Those in a Triple Threat division will not march in with the other divisions since they will already be on the Drill Hall floor.
The address to write to your recruit is:
SR LAST NAME, FIRST NAME MI
SHIP 02 DIV 9XX
3600 OHIO STREET
GREAT LAKES IL 60088-7105 (60088-3156 will also work)
Is there an advantage to being in a 900 Division? It all depends on your point of view. Loved ones may catch a glimpse of the recruit in photos posted on RTC’s fB page. The recruits in a 900 division get to interact with civilians more than those in a rifle division if they are at extra PIR’s or events in the community. The recruits often begin working together as a team faster than those in a rifle division, but not always. There is extra work involved since these recruits go through the same training that those in a rifle division do as well as having the practices for PIR. There is nothing special after BC tied to being in a 900 division.
What do the "extras" in a 900 Division do? There are extras in each 900 division. They train just like everyone else in the division. They must be ready if called upon to take the place of a recruit who is sick or injured or who is otherwise unable to perform. Some of the extras help to clean the stands, Drill Hall, rooms used for preparation.... Some will be in charge of setting things up and putting things away before and after PIR. Some of the extras will be escorts and assist with seating those in need of wheelchairs or other assistance. Some will be "seaters" and direct guests to the appropriate section.
Be sure to ask your recruit ahead of time what s/he will be doing during PIR and if s/he will be performing in any PIR's ahead of his/her own PIR so you will know where to look for your recruit or Sailor in the pictures or videos and at PIR.
The above information is provided by lemonelephant, the mom of a retired Sailor.
Last updated 1/3/2025 to remove some outdated info.
Comment
AirForceNavyMom, watch the videos and see if you can see her then.
Also, check your My Page.
My recruit will not tell me what she is doing because she wants it to be a surprise for us. She mentioned something about carrying a special flag when I brought up that I thought she was in Sticks division. I see her carrying one of the flags in the photo so I am not sure at this point.
AirForceNavyMom, ask your recruit what she will be doing within the division during PIR. Thank you for catching that. Somewhere, RTC switched the order of the types of 900 divisions--perhaps it happened with TG 04 since there are two types of 900 divisions in that TG.
I had a question about Division 904. This post says they are Sticks. I just saw a photo of the Division marching on RTC’s Facebook page and they are carrying a Triple Threat flag. Has something changed and should I be looking at Triple Threat’s info for dates to watch graduation videos?
I'm glad you know what he will be doing and will see him early. No hugs though. :(
I found out that my son will be a “greeter” and he said that I will see him when I enter the hall. How am I supposed to keep myself together when he will be right there??? Has anyone else delt with this?
Army/Navy, be sure to ask him what he will be doing so you will know where to watch for him. Ship Staff are less likely to be in the Livestream, but some are.
My SR is ship 2 929..not sure what he'll be doing yet. He is Nuke.
Remember that some will be "Extras" and have other duties. If that applies to any of your recruits, please let me know some of the other things that those recruits do. I have some things listed above, but there may be more.
jappyj, make sure you find out what flag she will carry, if one, so you will be able to spot her in the Live Streams and then at PIR.
My daughter is in Div 940 I have been thru boot camp in October with my son but I didn't even know my daughter would be in a performing division I am so excited for her!!!
pixie, no, all Nukes are not automatically placed in a 900 division. Yes, there is sometimes a high number of Nukes in Ship Staff/Honor Guard (this is because ASVAB scores are sometimes used to help make the sort and Nukes have high ASVAB scores), but no,all Nukes are not placed in a 900 division. The only automatic sort to a 900 division is MU. There will never be anyone with a special ops rating in a 900 division (they are in an 800 division), but otherwise 900 divisions are made up of recruits with contracts for a wide variety of ratings. See Ship/Division--How it Works.
My son is in Division 906...interesting to read what some of their duties are! Does anyone know if the recruits going Nuclear automatically get placed in a 900 division?
wendy.from.oregon, Sounds like she has a job she has experience with already. They don't carry flags in Triple Threat except when they are actually marching in formation.
She told me she would be cleaning bleachers after graduations :) I laughed! Her dad always had her do that after football games. She'll be good at it. hahahaha
She was also in Search and Rescue thru our county which was run by Marines. She is used to the marching, etc. Maybe they'll figure that out and have her carry a flag?
daylec, thanks for the confirmation. I know there are always extras in each 900 division who don't "perform" but no one has ever told me what they do. Perhaps now we have a clue.
As far as I know 905 is the Triple Threat division. Our son is a musician as well as others that I have spoken with in that group. Maybe they needed more recruits to fill the division so they had to look outside just those musically talented. and thought athletes might be easier to train, just guessing on that last part
I just found out this morning that our daughter is in Div 905. But not sure why... :) She is not musically inclined :) However, she is very athletic (she says that's why she was chosen)...she said something about having to clean the stands after PIR's...can you give me some insight? :) Thanks!
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