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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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Events

**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED.  Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021

Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.

Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.

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My son goes to boot camp 5/8. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way but how do I get over the feeling like my heart is going to be ripped out of my chest??

Views: 652

Replies to This Discussion

I think you will start feeling better when you start getting letters and phone xalls. It will soon be replaced with so much pride you will forget how you feel right now.
I just watched my son graduate yesterday and I'm still beaming from ear to ear. Hang in there. It does get better!

Thank you so much! I'm sure I will feel better. I am so incredibly proud of him. I know he will do great things. 

My son is only a few weeks into bootcamp and there are good and bad days. I would have to say the pride talking about him when people ask is what helps. Hugs from one mom to another. Cherish the time before he leaves nothing is more important than that time.
Thank you so much! Hugs back. I try so hard not to cry in front of him, it's hard
I am currently opening a second childcare center and hope this will keep me busy enough to keep my mind somewhat off of it
Oh mama, I know how you feel. I was there a little over a year ago. My son left for boot camp on April 20, 2016. I had such a hard time with him joining the military and kept wanting to ask him "Are you sure you want to do this?" But I kept those words to myself because I wanted to respect his decision. To keep myself from falling apart, I wrote our my feelings in my journal. I was so worried about whether he would survive boot camp and worried about how he would do in the Navy. My son has organizational issues and the Navy is now his organizer. He thrived in boot camp and has excelled in sub school. He has a purpose in life now and I am so proud of him. Boot camp is hard because there is no contact with them. Getting "The box" back was emotionally difficult - it was like everything that my son was in his former life with us was shipped back to us. But the cool thing is that you get LETTERS from your son! I wrote letters and gave him news from home and encouraged him to hang in there - that he had this. I didn't let him know how much I missed him because I wanted his focus to be on getting through boot camp. They are allowed one (very quick) call when they arrive, another call mid-way through (depending on the instructor) and then the exciting call at the end of "I'm a sailor!". Going to PIR if it is possible for you is incredible and it is so exciting to see your son after not seeing him for 2 months. I hope this helps and feel free to message me anytime. Hang in there - this is definitely a very hard emotional time for a mom.

Can you friend me as well?

I don't think you get over it but learn to deal with it. My daughter left for RTC on the 17th and I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life. I think I needed to let it all out though. I received the box yesterday and actually held it together pretty well. All week long I have been telling myself "this is her decision and there's nothing I can do to change it. And no amount of me being sad or worried will change anything at this point!" I guess that's all we can do! Enjoy your time before he goes!!!
I wish I knew.

It's tough!   Take heart in the knowledge that your son has made the right decision for HIM.  I'm sure he did not go into this lightly.  Mine didn't.  He went in with eyes wide open (and mouth shut), and will be graduating in 2 weeks.  The time, although heart pulling, does fly by.   You'll get an initial "I'm here" phone call, then his box, then his form letter, then hopefully a phone call around week 3.  Write him everyday! We are lucky, our SR has the opportunity to email on Sundays (they are testing the waters with this), and through those email, I can "hear" how much he has grown, and really likes it.  Before you know it, your heart will not be ripping out -- it will be bursting with pride!   Take care and God Bless.

My son just left on Thursday. I look as though I have pink eye!!! My eyes are so puffy from crying so much. I have read that the time goes by quickly. For everyone's sake, I hope this is true. I was looking forward to hearing from my son when he reached GL, unfortunately we never received a call. I did receive a text from him stating he landed in Chicago, but that's it. I am hoping that by sharing my feelings here with others, who are experiencing the same situation, it will help me get through the next two months. I will keep you updated and let you know how things are going. I can say since your son is leaving in a couple weeks, spend as much time with him as possible. Take lots of pictures too before he heads off to GL. Also, get as much information about Bootcamp before he leaves as you can. This sight has a lot of insightful information. I wish I had found this prior to my son's departure. Good luck to your son as he ventures into the next stage of his life. I know exactly how you are feeling. Best Wishes!!!

This is true...exactly: the heart is going to be ripped out of the chest...my Son left feb 08th...and there were horribles 8 weeks, all will pass on PIR day, when you hug him again.. I cryied every single day and prayer too, because boot camp is not easy, now he is in Mississippi for A school.

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