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Comment by pp2019 on February 2, 2020 at 6:56pm

Good question! I would get him some books to read about Navy or military successes - here are a few my son read in 2019 (I looked at our Amazon orders :)) Alone at Dawn, Arabs at War, It's Your Ship, Get your Ship Together. I would get him books related to his country/language he will be studying at DLI. Airpods are good. My son wanted a new watch. I bought my son a triangle shaped pillow from Barnes and Noble that he can use to read his iPad in his lap in bed. Finally, an Amazon gift card for him to get whatever he needs is always a great idea!

CONGRATS! Enjoy PIR!!!!

Comment by Earin on February 2, 2020 at 3:02pm

pp2019 we are getting so close to PIR and since our SR was also gone for Christmas, looking at getting a couple gifts that he could have/use while at A school.  If you have suggestions for these, I would be grateful for the ideas!

Comment by Earin on February 1, 2020 at 10:06pm

pp2019 Oh, so glad to know I’m not the only one!  So appreciate the info!  Hope I can pay it forward!

Comment by pp2019 on February 1, 2020 at 4:52pm

I am with you! I cry when I see the Blue Angels fly over a stadium or hear the Anthem. I travel internationally for work and thank God every time I land back in the USA!

Yes, those handwritten letters are SO PRECIOUS! 

Roommates are not necessarily from the Navy. I think they will put him in a room with others in his chosen language.

My son has the phone insurance for breakage, not theft. He's good at breaking screens :( I asked my son about theft because I had seen in other groups where someone had something stolen. My son said, "Mom, no, we don't have that issue." If it gives you/your son peace of mind, I would get it :)

Comment by Earin on February 1, 2020 at 12:52pm

Congrats on your sons graduation from BC pp2019! 

Comment by Earin on February 1, 2020 at 12:51pm

Thank you pp2019 for all of the details!  This is fantastic!  We have no military experience in my or my husbands family so always have a ton of questions and so appreciate this site for connecting us with those that have gone before.  I am glad to hear they will be kept busy before they start classes.  We are going to PIR and am already welling up at the pride and anticipation seeing the divisions marching in. (I have a hard time just making it through the national anthem when it’s played out of respect and appreciation of what it stands for.)

It will be nice to have more communication with him but I will admit that I’ve enjoyed getting the handwritten letters while he’s been at BC. 
Ive seen on some other posts that having electronics insured is a strongly suggested idea due to theft.  Have you heard anything like that from your son?  Oh, and are the roommates all from the Navy or could they room with other branches?

Comment by pp2019 on February 1, 2020 at 12:39pm

Hi Earin! Welcome to the group! My son just started his language a few weeks ago so I can give you the "scoop" from my perspective. It is not uncommon for him to wait prior to classes starting. Mine waited a long time to begin. The first few weeks are classes on the DLI and life in the Navy. He will be in classes all day for several weeks. After that he will probably do whatever it is his superiors need done- take things/papers to another department, help move furniture, pretty much anything that needs done he will do. He will have his electronics (yay!) so he can text/call when not in class. He will not be able to leave the base until he "phases up". He will begin in Phase 1- stay on base at all times. Phase 2 means you can go into town but have curfew. This phase may not occur for several months. Phase 3 means he can stay off base over night. Again, this will happen several months later. WE visited our some 3 weeks after PIR. We were able to have dinner with him on base and hang out! He gave us a tour of DLI. My husband was able to visit his room. It is college dorm style. He will have 1 or 2 roommates. My son has moved 3 times in a short period. Your son won't need a lot of "stuff". My son wanted a few of his favorite clothes/shoes, Nat Geo mags, books, headsets, etc. Nothing big because the rooms are tiny.

I hope this helps!! CONGRATS!!! I hope you get to go to PIR! Watch one online before you go. They are live every Friday. Sit in his division's designated section. I will never forget the moment those HUGE doors opened and the Recruits march in! I have tears in my eyes remembering it!!

Comment by Earin on February 1, 2020 at 12:21pm

Hello!  Our SR will PIR on 2/14 and then ship out to DLI immediately after.  We’re so excited and proud of him and he truly seems excited and motivated with his rate choice.  He’s submitted his language preferences so just waiting to get the final decision.  
We heard from him that he won’t start classes for about 45 days once he arrives out there.  Assume that is so they can sync up classes with others that are starting since all branches would be sending their incoming CTI’s there?  What do they do during that time?  Oh, and what type of barracks are out there?  Is it like boot camp or more like college dorm?
We are planning a trip to CA at the end of Feb and may have the opportunity to get to Monterrey.  What are the chances he might have liberty if he will have only been there for a couple weeks by that time? Lots of questions and appreciate any guidance from those that have gone before!

Comment by Babs on December 9, 2019 at 9:21am

Hi, Starry!  Congratulations to your son for getting into DLI and obviously scoring quite high on the language tests.  My son graduated with Mandarin and has been in for 5 years now.  Hopefully your son will get his first choice, but it is the Military where things can change according to their needs.  One word of advice...they have to study 30 hours a day, everyday, even holidays.  The program is so rigorous, I am not sure what the graduation statistics are, but, as a Mom, I hardly EVER heard from my son.  Don't get hurt by this and send him food!  Good luck!!

Comment by bbcregular on May 24, 2019 at 8:11pm

Hi Momsy, welcome to the rollercoaster life of having a CTI2B. There is a lot of hard work ahead but well worth it. My daughter is starting her 3rd yr as a CTI and enjoys her work and team. It is a small group of people and those he will be in class with will be those he works with. So make good relationships. Enjoy PIR. 

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