DIVISION 024

[KLMkathy]

Welcome to your division.

[Lori_KingsBay_USSRI_Radio]

Cakes - hurray - sounds like he got right down to business....and you had talked the day before. A letter is so nice to have in hand isn't it! Lori

[Lori_KingsBay_USSRI_Radio]

My SR's GF and brother got the phone call today; hummmppphhh :-( He did give me 30 seconds - "Hi Mom - gotta go but will call you Tuesday; I love you!" I did get time to spit out "do you need help with travel to A school".....response, "I don't know yet, will let you know - gotta go." My SR is supposed to get a call home on Tuesday (maybe the 3 week call? and I get this one) :-) Ash said he didn't pass his first inspection; another one tomorrow (keep your fingers crossed). He passed his written test on Friday. Another intense training this week (mopping floors etc.). BUT, DIV is beginning to pull together!!

[Cindy in Snowy MN]

Hello all, We were out of power all day today due to snow storm in MN (Brrrrrrr)....power just came back on so I can share....I got another phone call today YEEEEHAAAAAW!!! Mine said because they are on the 7 week "push through" that they get to call every Saturday...but he also said that may change because this week is intense training! He passed all his inspections so far and got a 5.0 on the test on Wednesday and 5.0 on test on Friday....the chief said if he can pull out all 5.0's on the rest...he will graduate with honors, but also added the tests will get harder :( !!! He also needed travel plans. He is driving home with us Friday right after PIR and leaving Sunday night from Minneapolis to Pensacola FL .. :( I get him for at least one whole day (think I will tie him to the chair)! He also said one recruit that I had asked him if he knew...got sent home yesterday because he failed both his inspections. LoLo, he had a different thought on the division pulling together (yet), it was getting a little easier, but added ...the ones that were the worst have gotten sent home! He also added his feet are killing him...the boots are horrible to march in, but he is pushing on! And he didn't like the fact that $680.00 came out of his first check for uniforms!!! I said...UHHH, WHAT? Do they not sign up...volunteer their life to serve their country, and the Government doesn't buy their Uniforms??????? Something wrong with that!!!

OK, thanks for listening!!

Cindy

[Cindy in Snowy MN]

Hello All....Just booked our stay for PIR at... Americas Best Value Inn and Suites - Waukegan/Gurnee 4.3 miles to the base with free shuttle...$59.95 - 2 queen size beds; that includes discount for families attending graduation....has indoor pool and they accept Pets :)! IF you book here, make sure you tell them your in town for the graduation...saves $20!!!

Telephone: [phone]
http://www.americasbestwaukegan.com

[Lori_KingsBay_USSRI_Radio]

My information is 2nd hand so it may not be perfectly correct :-0 Hoping to talk to him Tuesday.

[Cindy in Snowy MN]

I will pray you get the call on Tuesday :o), I admire you for being able to handle that...it would be driving me crazy!!! Does Ash live close?? Maybe next Saturday have Ash at your house so you both can be on the phone at the same time :) ! I know at my house...as soon as we see "pay phone from a 847 area code on the caller ID...we are all scrambling for a phone LOL...all 3 of us have are all on separate phones so we all get the information at the same time :o )! He did add...Marching is terrible for their unit, they cannot get that pulled together :( ...but will be working on that this week.

[Lori_KingsBay_USSRI_Radio]

Having Ash here on Sat. is hard because when he calls she is in route to her job (he's called at the same time each time). I guess I could drive her to work! I did invite her to come over Tuesday but she works. Marching - yes, A told Ash he would have had a 30 minute phone call but the whole DIV lost a minute each time they messed up which was 10 times. Ash said she felt bad after the call because he seemed very "level" is the best word I can think of - not very emotional. So I do know its still very tough; but, they must be experiencing some degree of improvement for him to have said that. There were only 33 who didn't pass the inspection Tuesday - he was one of them so am sure that is a real concern; I know from a letter he was nervous about it - he got a 3. One of his buddies passed the inspection and is gonig to look over A's before the RDC does. I am thankful his written test went well. So hoping he does well today! I'll know Tuesday. He did mention that he mailed letters on Thursday and that he had received our mail. Thanks for praying about a call; continue because I'm at 20 days without talking to him more than 30-60 seconds and I would feel better getting some voice time. I am one of the lucky families who get to adopt their SR for Thanksgiving so I'll get some face and voice time then. Taking our laptop so if we need to make airline reservations we can do so then. Praying this week goes well for all DIV 024! One of our 024 N4Ms shared on a live chat last night that her SR BF is coming home. He didn't give her the reasons why. He was in this DIV. Lori

[Cindy in Snowy MN]

Hi Lori...I know the SR BF that was sent home.. "E" (my son) told me the reason why because I had asked him to share his phone card so he could call home..with the SR BF, then "E" told me he couldn't because he was sent home the day before! But because of privacy I will leave it at that! You ARE the lucky family that gets face to face time :)! Wish I knew if "A" knew my SR, its his B-day on the 26th (Day after)...I would have you give "A" a big hug for me...and relay the special B-day message to "E"..I am hoping it is my son that is going to help "A" on the next inspection...I had told "E", since he passed his, to help the others, to do whatever it took fold their shirts if that's what was needed, he said "It was the plan to help a buddy on the next one!" "E" mentioned he mailed letters Thursday too...but told me what was in it, that was funny! Your right, I only got 20 minutes because they had minutes taken away. I did ask "E" if there was talk amongst the recruits about "Moms" in the division talking on N4M's website...he said "Yes there was a little"...with a chuckle!!!! E said he needed his debit card so he could make airline reservations from there, to get back to Pensacola FL...???? After just reading what twosilvatwins wrote...sounds like her SR is on the same page as "E"...the immature guys drive him crazy...but they are starting to be sent home!!! I will continue to pray for a long call on Tuesday...Tell "A" My son is one of the "Roving Night watch" guys,...because he has the best handwriting of the Div, and the Laundry guy...see if that can narrow it down a bit for him to figure out who my SR is :)!!!!

Hugs,

Cindy

[Anti M]

HI. Actually, the Navy does pay for their uniforms by putting in a uniform allowance, then taking it back out. It can be difficult to spot, but it is there. They do it for bookkeeping purposes. Food works the same way once they hit A school. They put the money in then take it out, all to account for how many sailors are eating. None of it com,es out of base pay. Just hard to see if it goes in one pay period, and comes out the next...

[Cindy in Snowy MN]

Thanks Anti M...is it the whole amount for the cost of the Uniforms or just an 'allowance'...example, my company gives me X amount for Safety shoes...but the rest is up to the employee for anything over and above! Thanks so much for your continued advice and guidance...it is so much appreciated!

[twosilvatwins (ship 03 div 024)]

I got a call yesterday... It was exciting. He sounded upbeat but had a hard week. He was put on light duty because he hurt his toe. Due to that he lost his position as RCPO. He said he's not too sad about that because this division has some really childish guys in it and the RCPO has a lot to deal with. He is really concentrating on his studying so he can graduate with honors. It was kinda hard making time for schoolwork with his extra duties but he is doing better now just being a recruit. I think there is a possibility he can get his position back but not sure if that is what he was trying to say. He also mentioned that this division is in 12th place out of 12 because of those immature guys. They need to send people home.... How can you make an immature person into a sailor... i would think impossible. But i guess the soon to be sailors in our division will be a group of mentally and physically fit sailors... I asked about wisdom teeth and he said his weren't ready to take out yet but he had 8 fillings and 2 root canals... OOOW. Sounded painful. I had been on him since he turned 18 about drinking energy drinks and what it would do to his teeth. Mom was right again. His teeth were wonderful... no cavities and perfectly straight from his braces... Till he turned 18 and started buying that concentrated sugar in a can (energy drinks) which I never allowed him to drink. I hope he learned.... Well i can't wait to hear from him again and I miss him sooooo much.

[Cindy in Snowy MN]

twosilvatwins! I am LMAO off at the 'teeth' deal!!! Too funny!!! I had one set of my SR pulled out before he went in...the other set was not even in yet, or ready to come out...so I said "the government could pay for those to come out :)! He too has perfect teeth, never a cavity and had braces, I can totally relate to the Energy Drink deal... but I did put my foot down about the energy drinks and pop etc... THANK GOD, he didn't really like them anyway :)!! My SR said the same thing about the immature guys...they are driving him crazy and frustrating him because they are all paying for their behavior, and they just don't seem to care! He is SO frustrated that they are 12 out of 12, but his spirits were lifting seeing that the really immature guys were being sent home.

Hugs to all....

Cindy