How to coordinate finding my kid after PIR?

[SeasonedMom]

Hi, those of you who have been through this, how did you coordinate with your son/daughter where to meet after PIR? I can imagine it will be a bit chaotic; all of us moms running to hug our children, lol! And they will all look pretty much the same in their uniforms...

Any tips of how to make it easy to find each other that day? It would need to be planned well in advance, since we won't talk much except by letter and random phone call before the ceremony.

As always, thank you all for the info that you provide to we newbies!

[CryptoDad]

If you followed advice and arrived early, you will be sitting in the lower bleachers directly in front of your Sailor's division, so you only have to sort thru 80 faces.

Sit high with a better view and you may be able to spot you Sailor in advance. When liberty is called avoid the temptation to rush into the chaos on the floor. Stand on your seats, get tall so s/he can see you. Wave your arms. Stay put until you can make eye contact and only then move out to your Sailor.

 

[azmom]

We sat in the last row of the lower bleachers.  Why? 1. you have a back rest 2. you can stand whenever you want because you won't be obstructing anyone's view 3. When those garage doors open up everyone stands up looking for their sailor but then they have to sit. You can remain standing making it easier for your sailor to pick you out of the crowd.

In a letter or a phone call, ask your recruit where they will be in their division so that you can have an idea as to where they are. 

Don't sit directly in front of your sailors division but sit at an angle.  This way you are not looking only at the sailors in the front  (they are standing in very straight rows) but can see rows behind that first sailor.

Tell your recruit to remain standing where they are.  You will come to them.  This seems to work well for most.

Divisions are all mark on the floor so when you get there look for yours and then sit at a diagonal.  It really does make a difference.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy PIR!

[SeasonedMom]

Thanks for your replies. It helps a lot!

[My2kidz]

One other suggestion is that you will have a chance to talk to your sailor after they finish BS21. At that time they should know where they will be standing and you can tell them to just stay where they are and you will go to them. My son was AROC so was standing in the front of the division and we got there really early to sit in the first row so it was easy to go straight to him but as hectic as it all is, as long as you are sitting pretty much in line with the division, it is easy to find them if they don't move!

[Baby J's Mom]

How early we're you there?

[My2kidz]

We were inside the Hall by around 6:45 if I recall. It was a long wait but worth it to have such good seats.

[Concernedad]

I wouldn't worry about it. Your sailor will be looking for you too. 

[Travelgirl67]

I told my son in a letter to head back to the wall to his back (when he was standing in formation) and I would come meet him. It worked for us because I couldn't guarantee where I would wind up sitting and didn't know how easy it would be for us to see each other during the actual ceremony. Because my son was in a push division and one of the last divisions in his training group, we never received "the call" they didn't have time from the time they finished BS21, got chow, did graduation practice, and who knows what else. So while I would guess at least 90% of the folks who successfully complete BS get to make their call, there is the off chance some may not. Don't wait that late to try to communicate with your loved one on the game plan on how to meet up.