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Comment by nursememrie on June 5, 2011 at 8:45pm

Just found out about this board and wanted to say hello to everyone.  My son flew to boot camp on May 25.  Got his "box" early this past week, got his form letter yesterday.  It was so good just to read a few lines in his handwriting!   I have spent hours this weekend on the computer trying to plan this trip to Great Lakes now that I have a date.  I am seriously thinking Amtrak, as we can get on the train near home in the evening and wake up the next morning there, with most of the travel slept away.  I have flown several times, and I know how exhausting that is.  Looking forward to July 22 with all of you!

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on June 5, 2011 at 8:09pm

And you never know when those new friends may become friends of your Sailor. My daughter has a new wonderful friend that she spends a LOT of time with. They go to the beach together and hang out and shop. Her mom and I became friends on here (different PIR dates) and our daughters don't have the same rate. They probably would never have met if we had not given them each others number lol.

Comment by diannep on June 5, 2011 at 7:59pm

UF:  Hmmmm....I think it might be a good idea to go get another running mate from the recruiter!  A good deed you are doing for that SR and a wonderful thing they do for you!  You never know who might be there who would love to have someone to run with.....I realize that this one was a friend of your son's and the next one won't know him...but whatever!  You will be making new "friends"!

Comment by diannep on June 5, 2011 at 7:56pm

sharon:  Ha!  No, your letters to him don't need to be typed.  I think FTLW (I abbreviated her name!) found that it was easier for him to read them at night under the "low" red lights if they were typed in large font.  So you can write them any way you like...but you might want to write LARGE for the same reason she did!  :-)

Some do send paper...I sent my son a few sheets with self-addressed stamped-envelopes and he did not use them!  He used the Navy stationery they had there to write his letters.  What you could do is just send a extra sheet of paper in your letter to him...maybe with a folded self-addressed stamped envelope and if he writes and mails it back...then good!  I know many moms do send some paper and the SRs use it.

Comment by UFQ202- Ship 12, Div 231 on June 5, 2011 at 7:50pm

I am kinda sad today. Tomorrow I have to see one of my son's friends off to Navy Bootcamp. They met at the Recruite's Office. I have been helping her get into shape for the running. We have become good friends. She has helped me cope with my son being gone. I may have to go back to the recruiter to find someone else to run with. She knows what will happen for the first week and is ready to go. I will be busy writing lots of letter. Another week closer to graduation!

Comment by sharon c on June 5, 2011 at 7:14pm

oh, and also, do we need to send them paper, or do they give them paper to write home? I apoligize for not knowing these things. thanks for putting up with me.

Comment by sharon c on June 5, 2011 at 7:11pm

this may sound really stupid, but the letters we send to our kids don't have to be typed, do they? If so, my son will be doing push-ups till Christmas! Can someone please let me know? thanks

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on June 5, 2011 at 5:41pm

Hello PIR 07/22

fireteamleaderwife here! I know...it's long. You can abbreviate me, I don't mind!

My Sailor (son) PIR'd 05/26/2011 so I am a "new" veteran. Ask me anything! I'll try to answer to the best of my ability or I will "take a run" through the site for you!

Every one of us veterans has had the same experience as you...but experienced it in a different way. So combined we hope to be able to help you out.

Since we're at the beginning and talking about mail here is what I did based on advice given to me!

I typed my letters in 14 font. Typing and the larger font made it easier to read. The reason is that ( and surely NO SR would do this (wink, wink), their "ship" has red lights (simulates a real ship) on at night and some like to read their mail then. Though my Sailor told me that sometimes they were allowed to study then, so maybe some mail reading was allowed then too!

On the back I would photocopy word searches, jokes, pictures and cartoons. I found some off the internet and I also purchased a word search book, scanned them in and printed. I went to B & N and found some black and white Far Side's and did the same with those. Ironically they both had Naval items in them!

I did do some color ones and there was no problem as far as his RDC's went. My letters were usually about two to three pages and I just creased them REALLY good!

Eventually I spent a block of time and pre-printed the backs so they were ready to go for the letters. I did always hand sign them and I did hand write the cards I sent.

Give me a couple of hours and I will put everything I have together and post it.

Akso we have several questionnaires that the moms have made up and sent to GET INFO! I looked at several of them and customized my own for my SR. Someone will post those or I will get 'em up too.

I'll be back in a couple.

Welcome!

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on June 5, 2011 at 4:50pm

Also, in case no one has mentioned it don't send musical cards :-)

It does take 2 or 3 weeks for you to start getting letters and for them to get yours. The first letter may ask why you are not writing but your mail will catch up with them once the are a week or two into actual training. Mail call has been said to be very much like Christmas and even those who told their family not to worry about writing change their minds pretty quickly. Right now I am sure it seems like PIR will never get here but once it does you will be shocked at how fast the time has passed. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend :-)

Comment by tdbaugh on June 5, 2011 at 3:52pm

Hi all, I love this site. It has helped me learn a lot about the process my son is going through. He left May 23rd. I have received his box and form letter and waiting to get a letter or call from him. I want to thank everyone for the post if not for them I would be lost. He is in Ship 12 Div 231.

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