Ship 07/Div 245

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

Hoping that those who have SRs in Ship 07 / Div 245 can gather here and connect with each other.

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

Friend can make all the difference!  Get this... my son said that he might even want to spend his liberty time (if any) with his bc friends instead of family.  I said, "Ok, whatever you want to do is fine."  I was thinking, "NOT ON YOUR LIFE!"  lol

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

Ashbran2, I am so glad to hear that your daughter is doing better!  Hopefully it's smooth sailing (ha! I didn't plan that pun) from here on out. :D

[jjamesge]

I'm so happy to have found this group!  My son is a grad & go... not sure what this means as to our time with him after PRI.  My oldest son graduated from Marine Boot Camp last August and we had time with him on Family Day (Thurs. aft) and he had 10 days leave immediately after graduation on Friday.  This is going to be different!  Does anyone know if the sailors can leave base at all before they head out? Hoping to get things arranged to be at the meet & greet Thursday evening!

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

Hello jjamesge, grad & go is an obsolete term but indicates that SRs who will be going to A School in locations other than Great Lakes can expect to leave/fly out the day after PIR (Saturday), any time from the wee hours of the morning until early/mid afternoon.  We will have time with our SRs on Friday after PIR.  The ceremony ends with "Liberty Call", and it is at that moment that SRs get freedom, limited though it is, until curfew that night.  They do get to go off-base as long as they stay within a 50-mile radius.  I'm not sure if curfew is the same time for all divisions and/or SRs, but it is usually 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. Friday night.  They need to return to base about 45 minutes before curfew so they have time to get to their ship without being late.  In Navy terms, "on time is late", and one SR reporting back late has very, very bad consequences for everyone in the division.  SRs will definitely know the rules of their liberty at the time of graduation.

Then on Saturday you can meet your SR at the airport and spend time together before their flight leaves.  From the information I have been able to gather, people meet at the USO in terminal 2 (O'Hare airport) and can get passes to accompany their SR to the boarding gate.  Also, it is at the airport that you can give your SR some items like cell phone, laptop, Ipod, snacks, clothes (not much since they are not allowed to wear civilian clothes during the first weeks at A School), etc., all of which must be carried on-board the plane in a solid colored black bag/backpack.

Mind you, I am not speaking from experience just from what I have been able to learn here on N4M groups and the RTC fb page.  But I think the information above is accurate.  Sorry if that is more info than you wanted, but I don't remember seeing you on N4M so just thought it would be helpful to give you too much information rather than not enough!

I, too, hope you can make it to the Meet & Greet on Thursday.  

IS YOUR SR IN DIV. 245?  I am always in search of people with SRs in the same division as my son, 07/245.

[jjamesge]

Thanks so much for your WONDERFUL reply!  I have been at my mother-in-law's without internet access for the past three weeks and teaching summer school before that with no time to spend online--I'm feeling quite behind in my research!  My son is indeed in Ship 07/Div 245.  He'll be heading to  Fort Sam Houston for corpsman training. I'm so glad we'll be able to see him off at the airport! You made my day with your great reply.  My older son graduated from Marine Corps bootcamp in San Diego last August, and I felt much more prepared for that event.  Having just returned from California yesterday, I really need to get cracking on finding hotel rooms, etc.  I believe I saw somewhere that you can bring an extra person in hopes that there will be enough seating, but that nothing is guaranteed beyond the four on the initial list. Do you know if that's correct?  Bless you for all of the supportive postings I've seen of yours!  See you at the Meet & Greet!

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

You are welcome!  I fear I would suffer serious withdrawal without internet access (or my cell phone) for even a day!  

Learning about all this Navy/military stuff is time-consuming, isn't it?  And, now that I finally feel as though I've gained a fair level of understanding about bc it's time to move on to the world of A School.  This is more work than grad. school was!!  lol  

You are correct about the extra guest.  Those who are not on the intended guest list must be accompanied by someone who is and check in at the visitors center.  About 15 minutes before the ceremony starts and after all intended guests are seated, the additional guests who are waiting will be permitted to enter on a first come/first served basis, space allowing of course.

Is the Marine Corps bc at Camp Pendelton?  I live near Los Angeles and make it down to the San Diego area at least once a month.  Congratulations to both of your sons for their outstanding achievements!  Gratitude, as well, for their commitment and service.

I just finished teaching summer school too (last day was July 21st).  I'm an Ed. Specialist (Special Ed. Teacher) for the public school district in the neighborhood where I live.  Let summer break begin... at long last!!!

See you in 11 days (if I can find you at the Meet & Greet)!  I'll be looking for you!

[jjamesge]

I see postings about printing gate passes.... in your research, have you seen where to go to print them? I'll try to look later today!

Marine bc is at MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) right next to the San Diego airport. After bc the guys head over to Pendleton for combat or infantry training, and then to their MOS stations.  My son is stationed at Pendleton on the Amphibious Assault Vehicle crew, and is currently on an  expeditionary unit to numerous ports in the Pacific... on a Navy ship, of course :-)  My two boys could actually end up working together someday!

I just returned to Michigan from Banning, CA (not far from Riverside). I had a wonderful visit with my mother-in-law.  We also had a day at Universal Studios which was tons of fun.  Did I drive past you?

I just retired after 34 years of teaching, most years as a high school English teacher, and the last 6 as a hs media specialist/teacher librarian.. we have lots of different names in different states.  I'm hoping to be working in the school part-time next year and looking forward to a little sanity-just one teenage boy left at home. I love my job, but the legislature is making things as difficult here as it is in CA.  My sister-in-law teaches in Yucaipa, and my father-in-law taught for Riverside.

Looking forward to finding you! Thanks again for all of your help!  You deserve a great summer break! I'm sure this graduation will be the high point. Watching my eldest graduate from Marine bc was incredible. I'm so looking forward to this!

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

I'm heading out the door right now, but just want to give you the link for the PIR graduation site where gate passes are printed from.

http://www.graduations-for-basic-training.com/GreatLakesNavy/Schedu...

I'll "talk" to you later!

[ashbran2]

Thanks for all the information you have provided.  I am looking forward to PIR.

 

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

You're welcome, Ashbran2!  I am so weary of all this and looking forward to PIR, too... for many and varied reasons, exhaustion being one of them!  lol

[jjamesge]

Has anyone from 07/245 received an "I'm a Sailor!" Call yet??  I 'm sitting on pins and needles :-)