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Comment by momofson on January 10, 2012 at 10:54pm

Sorry, but need to ask, what pictures tomorrow?????

Comment by Patrick's Mom on January 10, 2012 at 10:31pm

Thank you Malia, FTLW and Lala.  Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than you know.  Malia - All I know is that my son will "supposedly" graduate on 2/10.  I have no idea at the moment which ship or division he is in.  So happy for all of you who will see your SR's in a picture tomorrow!

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on January 10, 2012 at 10:18pm

Ditto LaLa, my son left in three weeks after enlisting...now, we knew he was going to go in but hadn't thought past the enlisting part! Thought he'd be in DEP...time to research...didn't happen that way for us did it!
That's one thing I would tell those on DEP to advise their families about...start saving up!

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on January 10, 2012 at 10:05pm

My Sailor was in the 900 DIV and she was singing right up front with the choir. I will never ever forget as long as I live hearing her voice in that PIR hall. They put on one heck of a show and I am so very glad I was able to see it. I couldn't really afford to go either. The whole joining the Navy thing was a surprise to us, she had never mentioned it before and within 5 weeks of first speaking about it she was on her way to bootcamp. Not very much time for us to prepare at all. Luckily it was spring when she left and summer when she had PIR and I helped people clean out their basements and had 4 yard sales to pay for it all. packed the cooler, got the cheapest room we could find and was there to see it all. All I know is I wanted to go and I found a way to make it happen.

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on January 10, 2012 at 8:33pm

Guess what? Here is another reason to get the DVD. I was watching a recent youtube that a mom did. It showed the drum core playing (LOVE drum core...I watch "Drumline" just to see it!), and then the Fifity Flag presentation starting...my Seabee walked by and said, "Watcha watching?" I told him and then showed him...then realized that ..he has NEVER seen it! The Sailors are waiting OUTSIDE while the introductory part is going on! He needs to see his OWN DVD just to see that part!

Now, the 900 Divisions are privy to this but all others are not!

BUY the DVD...or make sure your Sailor does!

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on January 10, 2012 at 8:22pm

Patrick's mom, I am so sorry for this set back. I hope you hear from him very soon so that you have more info. I will keep him and your whole family in my prayers. You all have been through so much.

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on January 10, 2012 at 8:20pm

I must say that I know this is a long and expensive trip to spend one day or maybe a little more with your Sailor. And I understand that some may not be able to do that. But I will also say that I went to PIR and had only Friday with my Sailor. We didn't get to meet her at the airport and if I had it to do over again I would still GO. I have never been so proud of an accomplishment of one of my kids. I will never regret going and when my son joins the Navy this summer I will be going to PIR again even if I knew I would only get to see him for a couple hours. I would be wanting and hoping for more time but I would be there. I honestly can't even imagine not going. And really nothing has changed from what we, Diannep, FTLW, and myself have been telling you since you came to this page. In most cases if your recruit leaves GL for A-school you will get most of the day with them on PIR Day (7-8 hours) and most of you should be able to meet them at the airport and spend anywhere from one hour to 7 or 8 hours with them on Saturday. It has been like this for a few months and I expect it won't change. There are those few lucky families who may find out when they get there that their Sailors flight isn't until Sunday because of no flights being available and they get extra time with them. I wish that for all of you. If you decide to go I don't think you will ever regret it. If you go or not get the DVD :-)

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on January 10, 2012 at 6:58pm

Welcome Patrick's mom! I'm sorry for the setback and hope that you hear from your recruit soon!

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on January 10, 2012 at 6:55pm

None of this is really new info. This post After PIR - Liberty & Friday and Saturday Departures (clickable link to the post in your discussion forum) that I wrote is not just based on my own personal experience( Liberty changed for us – for the better!) but what RTC puts out in their   Family Guide (Clickable link – Page 5 bottom right hand paragraph)on basic info for Friday and Saturday Departures.

The Grad n Go issue was dealt with back in July or August when RTC FB put out a statement saying that it was an obsolete term and was no longer being used. They also stated that they had informed the RDC's to stop using it. They still do...old habits die hard...LOL...they can use whatever they like as far as I am concerned...they have a big enough job on their hands that they don't need to sweat the small stuff. However, since we were asked not to, then that's what we'll do. In fact the original title of that above post had Grad n Go in it. (Clickable link). When the statement came out I could have sworn I had seen the term on the RTC website and it was still on there on the main Graduation page. So I emailed PAO and asked what was up, they said it was obsolete and they would update the page. It was still there three months later and I emailed them again and they fixed the page promptly. When the term comes up we just address it at the time, no biggie.

As far as Departures for your Sailors…there are always exceptions. The basics are there for you…and that’s probably the best way to plan your travels around. I agree with diannep on the Sunday departure for yourself if you can swing it. If you can’t, then you’ve done the best you can…and be at peace with your decision. I agonized over leaving Tuesday or Sunday…once I decided, I was at peace with it. LaLa and diannep (maybe a couple of others) advised us on Sunday and I was so thankful! I made it late on Sunday as I knew that I would not know which airport my son would leave from.

We veteran moms try to get you the most recent information that we can. We have seven PIR groups running at a time and we stay on the most recently graduated ones for a little while after graduation. We LOVE hearing your PIR experience and chatting with the group about them. I once spent one night “talking” with a couple of moms driving home from PIR. It was a blast! We always ask the new moms to PLEASE give us any info that is different than what we give out as things can change at a moment’s notice in the military. Dianne has just recently been adding specific posts on the PIR groups that have graduated for info…though she always encourages the moms to come back ANYTIME and help out wherever they are comfortable! That’s why I stayed on. JessicaB had to leave the boards for a while (SOOO glad she is back – the more the merrier!) and I valued her info so much that I did not want it “lost”, so I started posting it and then found my own “niche”.

As far as going to PIR… wouldn’t have missed it for the WORLD! Here is a link to my BLOG BLOG OPS about it…I haven’t finished it yet... LOL! I and my two other sons went…I spent extra bucks for a non-stop flight and paid for luggage, GPS, IPASS, because I don’t travel and I wanted “peace of mind” …sacrificed the bucks. My hubby was in IRAQ and could not go. He went to my son’s graduation from “A” school on Gulfport. We could only afford one of us to go…so decided he should and I am so GLAD. It is very small at the “A” school ceremonies (only one other family member was there). He got to wear his uniform (AF) and I was able to book him home on the same flight as our son. TRULY feel blessed. Our recruiter suggested not going to PIR because of cost…he downplayed it for that reason. He is a good guy! Didn’t want me to feel bad if I couldn’t go.

I was originally only going to have one day with my son…I got THREE! Does that guarantee that you will? No. I KNEW it was one and got blessed with three…I would’ve been FINE with the one.

I know of some who can’t go to PIR for financial reasons and for reasons other than finances…they then make plans to go see there Sailor. That’s the best that they can do and their Sailor usually knows about it. I had one mom recently who did not know how she was going to get there…her sweet, fantastic, lovely son sent her the money for a plane ticket…and you know how little money they have left after deductions are made in Boot Camp. He wants his mother there! I WANT TO GO JUST SO I CAN GIVE HIM A BIG HUG!

**On a side note if there are any of you on here that cannot make PIR there is a care package you can buy and have given to them as a gift. I have the info if you need it. Also, we encourage all of you to “hook up” as families may adopt your Sailor for the day. I know one mom from mine that had a whole group with her at the Gurnee mall. One didn’t want to see the movie they went too and went shopping with her instead! *New Sailors are not allowed to be out in public alone…have to be with their sponsors (family) or buddy).

Semper Fortis Navy Family!

Comment by Malia on January 10, 2012 at 6:52pm

Welcome to Ship 11 Div 062 group Patrick's Mom. I am sorry to hear that your son got set back. May all is well with him. If you have any question about our group, ask away. On a positive note, you will be able to see your son in a Div picture tomorrow. :) Thanks to Brandon'sgirl for winning RTC Tuesday FB contest. 

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