Comment

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on April 20, 2011 at 9:59am

diannep, thank goodness for moms like you that have current knowlege of boot camp.  I don't like to bug my son too much with questions about RTC!  Since it was seven years ago since my son went through boot camp, I don't know that what I remember is the same.  He was on the Roosevelt from 2004-2007 when it went into dry dock.  In 2008 he went IA, then RTC when he got back.  He doesn't want to go to a carrier again, but others love it, of course. He'll either go IA or have sea duty in late 2011 or sometime in 2012.

Comment by 1ProudMomma on April 20, 2011 at 9:19am

Tricsious and tks4, I think I have sent you a friend invite yesterday.  Would love to email you and visit with you about our kiddos.  Looking forward to PIR!!

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on April 20, 2011 at 8:39am

When we were there for PIR in July some of my daughters friends didn't have any family members attend PIR. They were allowed to leave base with another Sailor they just weren't allowed to leave alone. Hopefully that has not changed. Her friends shared a cab with a couple of other sailors and we all met at the mall. Some of them bought cell phones and other goodies (new non-granny underwear) lol and they all put their stuff in separate bags with their name and left it all with me. I was supposed to give it them at the Airport but they were all leaving on the chartered flight :-( So I shipped to them priority mail as soon as I got home from PIR. They were in FL on base in the Nex and already had their new address before I could even get out of Chicago because of flooding.

Comment by Stacey on April 20, 2011 at 8:38am

Everytime my SR calls our house from the phone center it comes up on caller id as "Pay Phone".

Comment by diannep on April 19, 2011 at 10:58pm

Ruth:  HA!  Now....I have never been called the Navy PIR foster mom....but that is pretty funny!  My son PIRed a week after JessicaBSailor's son did...and we have been on the site since then helping with the PIR groups.  Both of our sons PIRed Jan/Feb 2010.  We just love doing this, and have been joined by several other wonderful veteran moms whose children have also PIRed in the past yr....Lala, janlee, Betsy, ochaos, etc  

Yes, my son is connected to the USS TR.  It is currently dry docked. Don't know if it will sail before his enlistment is over???  Did your son enjoy being with that ship?

 

Comment by diannep on April 19, 2011 at 10:53pm

gfr16:  If your SR wants to ask some buddies to join you after PIR, he will need to find out how this is done up there.  I'm sure they are told.  You can also call the Public Affairs Office and ask about it 847-688-2405

Talk/write to your SR first about it. 

Comment by ochaos on April 19, 2011 at 10:44pm

As far as phone calls...watch for the "847" area code. Caller ID is usually "payphone" unless they are calling for info then it most likely will be "US Government"

Now, calls are earned and given as rewards and can be shortened or taken away as punishment.

Phone call frequency and length are determined by the RDC...some rcts get to call home almost every week. Some don't get but the standard "I'm here", "I'm still alive" and "I'm a Sailor"...some don't get these.

If you aren't getting calls and the rest of your division is try not to panic...very often rcts are standing watch, taking or making up tests, have other duties to fulfill when calls are being done. Believe you me they would rather be taking to you too but they belong to the Navy now and are working on their schedule.

Just remember..."No news is good news" If anything happens that may delay their PIR, you will be notified ASAP.

Remember also that payphones eat up minutes so if they don't have a lot of minutes left on their calling card you may want to send them another one...but they also can buy one

Don't ever call the number back that your SR calls from if you miss the call.  Some of the phones WILL ring, and may be answered by an RDC; and if an RDC finds out that an SR got a callback, they get in trouble.  So if you miss the call, you just have to wait for the next one.  :-(

Calls seem to be by division, but sometimes if an SR does something really spectacular, they could be allowed a call as a reward, so occasionally individual calls could be allowed.  But they are usually by divisions.

As far as the first call...they are NOT guaranteed to call. Most get 3 calls: the "I'm here" call, the "I'm still alive" call (3 weeks) and the "I'm a Sailor" call (after Battlestations)...some only get the last one, some get all, some get more....depends on the division, RDC and the rct.
Watch for the 847 area code and the id is usually payphone...or it is withheld or restricted.
Sometimes they get a quick info call the first week or two...the id is US Government then.
They all need calling cards...it eats up 30 minutes to just make a call from a payphone....so they need a bunch of minutes. They can buy calling cards at the NEX. If you send them one ...make sure it is activated first (saves time)
When you get your first call DO YOUR BEST NOT TO CRY…your rct will be emotional and most likely will be tearful and if they’re not, they will be if you are and then you’ll waste valuable talking time crying.
Let them talk…they don’t get to talk much at boot camp, have questions and a pen and paper by the phone to jot down what they say. When they call and you hear their sweet voice…everything you wanted to ask will go out of your mind.
If they are upset..just reassure them, let them know that it will get better, it is only a few weeks and after boot camp it is MUCH better. Tell them you love them, yes you do miss them but are looking SO forward to seeing them march through those doors at PIR.
Then, hang up and come on here and cry and shout and be happy that you heard from your rct !!!
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.

 

Comment by ochaos on April 19, 2011 at 10:43pm

As a rule the mail you get will come on the same day every week.

Comment by catzmoo on April 19, 2011 at 9:53pm

This is what the family guide says:

0630: RTC Gate 8 opens to visitors.
0700: The drill hall is open.
0845: Guests must be seated.
0900: Graduation commences.
0920: Divisions arrive at drill hall.
1030: Ceremony concludes with Liberty Call.

Comment by momluvsyou on April 19, 2011 at 9:49pm

Hope div 811 gets to call soon! 

What time does graduation start?

 

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