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Comment by Sailor Collins Wife!! on December 20, 2010 at 4:12am

Anyone with ship 09 Div 067?

Comment by Arwen on December 20, 2010 at 2:15am

Bex, boot camp limbo (extra long processing) is what happens at the beginning of boot camp, not the end. Once they graduate from boot camp, they're moved out of there as fast as the Navy can move, and when the Navy wants fast, they can be really, really fast.

 

You will know if your son was stuck in boot camp limbo when you get his grad date (on the letter).

 

If his grad date is Feb 11, he will start training sometime this week. Usually two divisions start Monday, two divisions start Tuesday, etc. The division that is on the same day is called the "brother division" because they train together.

 

The real limbo is for those who will have a Feb. 18 PIR. The first of them will start training on Dec. 27, and by the time the last of them start on Dec 30 or 31, those final recruits will have spent *at least* 16 days in boot camp limbo.

 

After graduation there is another limbo... A-school holding. A-schools are often too full, or have long waits between classes. Some schools move their students right into the pipeline, my son did indoc the week he arrived, then started IT school the very next week. However, several Aviation-based schools had students on hold, waiting for a class to open, for as long as four months. And there is no predicting how long it will be.

 

During those long A-school holds sailors are given a job on base, ususally cleaning or office work, or landscaping (mowing lawns). They can't take leave (just in case their school opens up unexpectely) and spend a lot of time on "TV watch."

Comment by mamawalrus on December 20, 2010 at 1:52am

Bexwest-yes check and lets see...Springhill does have indoor pool, breakfast I believe but let me check on that again,,,,close to base.  I will check on if there is a shuttle as well,, we may want to do that in the morning of PIR from what I have read.

Comment by BexwestShip11Div065 on December 20, 2010 at 1:37am

I just read the post from Anita on Boot Camp Moms group- she recommends the Residence Inn- sounds like it might be better. Will try to call tomorrow and see if they give discounts.

Comment by BexwestShip11Div065 on December 20, 2010 at 12:52am

Hey mamawalrus, I've been looking around and reading about the hotels, Springhill does sound the best - are you calling about a discount?  If so, I would definitely book 2 separate rooms (my parents are attending too).   I stayed at one in CA this fall, very nice.    I finished my shopping too, tryiing to get in the mood but I know what you mean, it's only been 11 days and it seems way longer.    I've been really busy with work up til now, so its not been so bad, but now it's starting to feel like slow motion,  watching the clock....... ( ok, I know it's dorky, but I put his stocking up with the others... but what the heck do I put in it since he won't be here - cant just leave it empty?  I know, ha! - new boxers!  to pack to take him at Graduation!  :-)

So Arwen:  is there anywhere I can look to find out when my son's training will start, so I know if he will be in Boot Camp Limbo or go right there after Grad?   

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on December 20, 2010 at 12:17am

Lol Arwen, that underwear remark makes me laugh. It is true for the girls as well. My daughter went straight to Victoria Secret and bought new undies and put them in the backpack with her phone and a few other things that we were going to give her at the airport. When she got back to the base she threw away all the undies she got from boot camp. The next morning when she realized Grad and go on a Chartered flight meant no seeing family at the airport therefore no backpack and she was stuck with no underwear lol. As soon as she got to Pensacola she had to go to the NEX and buy more of the "issued" kind.

Comment by mamawalrus on December 19, 2010 at 10:45pm

How was everyones weekend/ Got most of my shopping done finally,,, took kids and grandson to the River of Lights last night. Had to get out and start getting into the mood! Getting the little comments on the form letter made me feel better, I know he is not starving at least and if that is the only few times he is enjoying himself then I am ok with that! I know he loves food! hahahahahahahahaha

 

Well we are rounding on week 2 and it honestly feels like week 4! I thought for sure with the holidays around us that time would surely fly by but then again having someone all of a sudden gone and no communication does tend to stay in my mind! But it is comforting to know he is actually probably pretty happy there and doing exactly what he wanted to do, so in the end it is his Christmas present to himself!

Also I never heard from anyone of the hotel thought, trying to get a discount if we book at the same hotel? Thinking of the Marriott Springhill Suites. They have everythign from 1 bedrooms to 2 bedrooms in one suite.

Comment by mamawalrus on December 19, 2010 at 10:30pm

Pench@ how did you find out that your son is G & G already?

Comment by Arwen on December 19, 2010 at 10:02pm

My son left on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009, I didn't get my letter until Dec. 24 and started training on Dec. 28 (for the Feb 19 PIR). So don't worry if you didn't get the form letter. Everything is okay. It's just the weird holiday schedule they run at Great Lakes.

 

About half of the recruits who arrived last week will be held for two weeks before starting their training. basically they're in boot camp limbo for that time. Those weeks do NOT count toward their 8 weeks of training.

Comment by Arwen on December 19, 2010 at 9:54pm

dorrio, no, you should not be worrying. In the Navy, "no news is good news." They are allowed to contact you almost immediately if something goes wrong, and if they cannot, the Navy does.  It was just over five weeks from the time my son left home and his first call, four weeks is typical.

 

Recruits get THREE guaranteed calls home.

1) the "I'm here" call, the very short call that sounds scripted

2) the "I'm still alive" call  - this one they get at the end of their third week of training. Most recruits spend a week in processing before they begin their first week, so it usually comes at the end of their fourth week in Great Lakes.

3) the "I'm a sailor" call, the day they pass Battlestations 21.

 

While these calls are "guaranteed" in that RDCs are not allowed to prevent their divisions from these calls, some individual, unlucky recruits may have watch during these calls, and may miss out. Some RDCs will allow a recruit who had watch to make the call as an individual, but there is no guarantee.

 

There are three other classes of calls.

1) earned calls - either earned as a group or as an individual. These are unpredictible. Some may earn as many as five or six, others never earn an extra call. Most of these calls come in the last few weeks of boot camp.

2) security clearance calls - they care calling from security offices to get more information for their security clearance. Only a few sailors get these calls, those going to high-security jobs working with computers or intelligence. They usually aren't supposed to chat, but some security workers let them talk anyway. This call can last for 30 seconds to a few minutes

3) problem phone calls - to let you know that they are sick or have been injured and are in holding until they heal, ASMOed (set back in training for some reason) or are being discharged.

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