Accelerated boot camp because of the holidays

[tiggertime]

My son left for boot camp on November 7th. His PIR would be in early January. His recruiter told his dad and I that our son might get put in an accelerated group at boot camp who would graduate before Christmas and that he may be able to come home before or after he checks into Goose Creek South Carolina where he will be going to Nuke A school. Does anyone know about this? I can't imagne squishing everything they normally learn in 8 weeks into 5 or 6 weeks. His PIR date will be reflected whne we get the letter in a few weeks. I am not planning on him graduating before Jan, but we were told that due to the holidays sometimes they push everyone through. Any help/comments are appreciated.

 

Josh's mom

[lemonelephant]

You will have to wait until you get the form letter to know for sure, but the TG for the 12/21/2012 PIR date has already formed and people are starting to get form letters for the 12/28/2012 PIR date, so I really doubt that your son will be in the PIR group before Christmas. 

To guesstimate the PIR date, count 9 Fridays after your SR arrived at the RTC (4 January 2013) and then realize it could be the week before (28 December 2012) if he is one of the last to fill his division (possible for those arriving at the beginning of the week, but less likely for those arriving on Wednesday and after) or the week after (11 January 2013) if the RTC skips a week and does not have PIR one week, which happens at this time of year.  The good news is that he may be in one of the divisions that will be in the Christmas Adopt-A-Sailor program and get to leave the RTC for Christmas.  The only way to know the PIR date for certain is to get the form letter with the date and then double-check that against http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp since some form letters had the wrong date for the Thanksgiving TG and again for the 12/21/2012 TG (the recruits did call to let families know of the error).

The average length of time for BC is 8 1/2 weeks, but it can be 7 (for those in a Push Division who are the last to fill the division) to 10 weeks (more common around this time of year due to reduced training days around the holidays and skipped weeks when there is no PIR).

 

[Pennadair]

Lemonelephant,  how do we find out about Christmas?  My husband and I are planning to drive up from Texas, and I would LOVE to be able to "adopt" my son.  He graduates 12/28.

[lemonelephant]

He will send you a form about 3 or 4 weeks before Christmas that you will have to fill out and return.

[lemonelephant]

After seeing several posts on the Adopt-A-Sailor program, I wanted to make sure that I have been giving accurate info about the Christmas Adopt-A-Sailor program, so I looked back and checked all of the Thanksgiving and Christmas programs since 2008 and discovered that those in the 2 TG's that follow Thanksgiving are adopted for Thanksgiving, but the last two years, they have skipped the TG that falls after Christmas and adopt the first 2 TG's in January.  The 2 previous years, there was not a PIR the next week after Christmas due to how the holiday fell.  I guess they are consistent, but it seems that more could be adopted by their own family members if they did the same for Christmas as they do for Thanksgiving.  If you get a form, then you will know he is eligible, but if not, then you will see him for the first time at PIR.  You can write and ask him if he has heard anything about it so you can begin making more informed plans.

[Tyrellsmom]

Pennadair, where in Texas are you? We're in Houston, plan to drive there also since the plane tickets for that week are so high. There are 7 of us trying to get there. My son graduates 12/28 also...I'd love to know if anyone has checked on any good rental car rates for such a long trip and your plans for hotel, etc. needing some suggestions.

[Pennadair]

Hi, Tyrellsmom,  We are in Houston as well, actually in Rosenberg.  We are driving, but taking our son's truck.  We are going to leave the weekend before Christmas and are hoping to drive to GL, in case we can adopt our sailor for Christmas (which is looking "iffy.")  If not, we are going to spend Christmas in Ohio with my mom, and then drive to GL on Thursday.  I haven't booked a hotel room yet, but the rates look pretty reasonable.  Are all 7 of you planning to go to PIR?  From what I have read lately, there might be an issue with extra people over the age of 2.  Fortunately for us, it is just my husband and me. What part of Houston do you live in?

[Tyrellsmom]

We're in north houston/humble area. I saw that about adopting a sailor but I'm not really understanding how that works. We plan to leave the day after Xmas, arrive on that Thursday mrng. We know only 4 people can get into PIR, which is fine, but we do have an 8yr old, need to find out for sure if he's included in that count or not. We're going to stay until Sunday morning and make a mini vacation out of it since we're traveling so far. We're looking at stayng at the ramada that is near there, not sure yet. My son is on ship 02, div 907...yours?

[lemonelephant]

Tyrellsmom, I have added a Page, 900 Divisions (clickable link), that will be of interest to you since you have a recruit in a performing division. I believe that Division 907 is Ship Staff/Honor Guard.

[Tyrellsmom]

Really!?!?!? I had no idea that meant anything. Gonna read up on it! Thanks so much!!

[lemonelephant]

You are very welcome.

[Carebear1993]

Hi Pennadairs mom been looking at your comment my daughter flew out on Tuesday the 5th also from Houston . We live in Baytown havent heard yet just recieved a Fed Ex Box yesterday but wasnt home am I understanding there is a possibility of PIR at Christmas Time and how do I( find out about adopt a Sailor. Thank you for any help as this is all new  to all of us.

[lemonelephant]

Carebear1993, You will first get the form letter to let you know when PIR is.  Then IF she is eligible to be adopted in the Adopt-a-Sailor program you will get a form that you will have to complete and send back if you are able to adopt her for Christmas.