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Comment by diannep on May 8, 2013 at 11:16pm

ambi:  Gateway is actually about 2 to 2.5 miles away..sorry.  But remember this.  If you have a choice, stay at Navy Lodge.  The sailors usually want to get "off base" since they have been on a base for a long time!  So most would prefer to rest and hang out off base.

Comment by Lisazship2DIV928 on May 8, 2013 at 11:03pm

Ok I think she will need a chit cause we are on base cheaper rooms that's why we picked it my husband is retired AirForce so we got a better deal there I'm writing her to tell her about the chit who does she ask for that when she goes to sign in for school or at bootcamp cause I asked about that and the lady who made my reservations said they are allowed to visit without that I thought that sounded wrong cause I knew I read something on here about the chit thanks diannep

Comment by ambi9821 on May 8, 2013 at 11:00pm

Thanks, Diannep for the info.

Comment by mrsb on May 8, 2013 at 10:58pm

Thank you Craig!  Well said!  I believe I will be giving my sailor his challenge coin as I am the one who birthed him!!!  I do have some rights as a mother!!

Comment by Craig on May 8, 2013 at 10:55pm

Hi all,

I'm Craig who is a retired Navy sailor, and the co-owner of PIRGifts.  We make the boot camp challenge coins.  They can be purchased on Ebay, just go to PIRGifts.com and it get you there.... but I'm not here to sell coins, they sell themselves.  I do this to educate the deppers (future sailors waiting to go to boot camp) on my website (NavyDEP.com).  Teaching future sailors is my joy. To them I say – I am glad you joined my old team. Thank you for the class, dignity, and character in which you will be serving our nation. 

Some of you have messaged me wondering if it's proper for a parent to give their sailor a challenge coin...and how to do the "Secret Handshake" (which is in a video at the end). 
Here are my thoughts as a sailor....

To me, boot camp is a major accomplishment. In 8 short weeks, the Navy will return to you a mature and capable young man or woman that will have the foundation to be a leader. They will have the ability and knowledge to be a successful person in life. To me, this is an honor for me, as a parent, to see my sailor's life change. You too, will soon realize that for 18 years or so you have been the "referee" in your sailor's life. You were the rule setter and the penalty enforcer. But as your sailor's life changes, so will yours. You will now become the "cheerleader" for them. You will watch and cheer as they work their way through the advancement system, the qualification standards, and simple things like just folding their towels correctly. You will stand and scream at the PIR as their division enters, and you will cheer as their ship enters San Diego or Norfolk after a deployment. I have decided it is far more important for me to be a cheerleader than a referee. I don't waste my time on the sadness, I focus my feelings on the positive things that will help my sailor. When I show my sailor that I am proud of him, it goes a lot further than an award that the command "might" officially recognize him with. I am his "cheerleader".

Many people will say "but they didn't officially earn the challenge coin". Let me tell you, no coin is officially documented on a sailor's page 4 entry in their service record. It's only the sailor that will remembers when, where, and the reason for what the coin was given. If you did receive a coin from a command, which only the sole honor recruit gets, and you happen to lose it, the only way besides begging the command to give you another (which they rarely do) is to buy it. So does that cancel out the spirit of the reason you receive the coin? No. You received it for something you accomplished. Whenever my sailor pulls that coin out, he immediately remember how proud I am of him. It's ever lasting.

Now let me ask, after PIR you go into the Navy Exchange and buy the mementos of boot camp that your sailor wants. You might buy a Navy Boot Camp water bottle, maybe a glass, patch, or hat that has "Great Lakes Navy Boot Camp" on it, or maybe even a t-shirt. But what item do you think will stand the test of time? It will be the challenge coin that your sailor's grandson or granddaughter will hold up and say "What is this? What does it mean? How did you get it?" That is when the grandfather or grandmother (your sailor) will get a warm smile on their face and will proudly tell them about what it was like to be a sailor.

 
Just my thoughts....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28663038#28663038 

Comment by diannep on May 8, 2013 at 10:46pm

ambi:  Gateway is 3 miles away...it is located on A School base.  Navy Lodge is just 1.5 miles away.  Those staying at GL A School with family staying in Gateway have to get a "chit" when they move over to that base in order to visit at the Gateway with family (daytime, no overnights).  Otherwise, the hotel is off limits to the sailors on that base.

Navy Lodge is off base and the room is actually booked in your sailor's name.

Comment by Lisazship2DIV928 on May 8, 2013 at 10:33pm

Baciandrio I just ordered one but from PIRgifts I'm glad you like it I look forward to getting it in the mail

Comment by ambi9821 on May 8, 2013 at 10:07pm

Lisaz, how close is the Navy Gateway Lodge to the graduation hall?

Comment by Lisazship2DIV928 on May 8, 2013 at 10:01pm

Those poor babies are probably worn out and can't see straight

Comment by Baciandrio on May 8, 2013 at 9:52pm

Oh and today I finally received our PIR letter....my SR used my married name (I haven't used it in 18 years) and this is the time he decides to use it?  I have no i.d. with that name on it!  LOL  Am posting yet another letter (this the 4th one this week already) asking him to please rectify.  Just shows how hard they're pushing themselves.  Even when you write the name out for them, they goof (shrugs).  Have a good one ladies!

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