Comment

Comment by PKMom on August 17, 2010 at 8:02pm

Sobe, congratulations, definitely brag-worthy!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 6:41pm

It's bragging time! My son's A-School is normally 14 weeks long, but it's designed to be self-paced, so he called today to say he has completed it!! He can officially use his earned title "ITSA" (Information Technologist Seaman Apprentice). He comes home for leave in 2 weeks, then will go on to C-School in Norfolk for 5 months, then he will be stationed in Italy. I am so proud of this young man and I can't wait to hug him!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 6:36pm

BS-21 video (Battle Stations 21 exercise). Every recruit goes through this exercise during the final week of boot camp to become a sailor. Turn your sound on, grab tissue and watch the ballcaps they are wearing in the beginning, then the ones at the end! I love this video, enjoy!

Comment by PKMom on August 17, 2010 at 5:50pm

Sobe, thanks for the suggestions about the bookings! Still can't decide whether to get a motel with a shuttle or not, I've read both recommendations on various postings. Guess I'll go exploring online again... :-)

Comment by PKMom on August 17, 2010 at 5:46pm

Laura, thanks for the heads up about the shuttle, I'd have done the same; thanks for coming back to 'pay it forward' for those of us just starting this journey!

Comment by Penny0910 on August 17, 2010 at 4:36pm

LOL Laura. I would have been doing the same! Thanks for the heads up.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 4:03pm

We drove to PIR - left Ramada at 6:20, got to RTC by 6:30, only 10 cars ahead of us, took 5 minutes. We were waved through (it's a random searched on autos). We were in our seats in the hall by 7:05am! Got 2nd row seats too!

The shuttle at the Ramada leaves at 7am, then picks you and your sailor up at 11:30, which is good, because it gives your sailor time to walk back to barracks to retrieve their portraits, navy swimwear, etc.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 3:51pm

Sailors are welcome on all the motel shuttles!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 3:49pm

Wow, I just typed this long comment and it disappeared!

Planning your PIR trip: Book hotel and rental car now - those can be cancelled up to 48 hrs with no fee. Ask for GPS in your rental car - trust me on this!!! Or bring your own if it's portable. Wait to book airfare for at least 2 more weeks, because things can happen during the first few weeks of boot camp (medical issues can be detected for one). When you do book, consider regular tickets instead of the refundable ones the Navy suggests - because those cost $400 or more for that type of ticket, whereas a change fee is only $100. If you cancel completely, you have credit for one year, less the change fee. Also, try to avoid "package deals" with those Dot Com companies, they have higher cancellation fees. Read the fine print before purchasing.

Laura is so right on with her statement about not planning activities for your sailor. Most of them are exhausted and all they really want to do is hang out with you! They want to eat junk food or really good expensive food! They want to take long hot showers in your motel room - by themselves (they have been showering next to 88 other people for 2 months!).

We flew into Midway - it was great. I had considered MKE (Milwaukee), but there were too many connections, so I lost time but would of saved money. I chose saving time (flew from California).

And, I really recommend you all read the recent posts on the Grad & Go Info page (click link, blue underlined words). Those moms agree with me, it was actually better to have less time with them that weekend so they can have instant contact via phone as soon as they leave the airport!

Comment by Penny0910 on August 17, 2010 at 3:37pm

Laura, I've seen a post that someone drove the car there the night before (parked it there over night) and took the shuttle the next morning and then drove back because they wanted to take there recruit with them. Does that mean my daughter couldn't ride the shuttle back to the hotel with us?

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