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Comment by diannep on July 23, 2010 at 11:30pm

KJ's mom: Mine was G&G to. Yes, you can meet your son at the airport on Sat., get a military family pass from the counter agent, and go to the gate with his group. We missed out on this...thought my son was flying out early Sat. morning, but flight delays (which we didn't know about until too late) had him there most of the morning. They bus the new sailors out to the airport around 2 a.m. on Sat...and the waiting begins for the flights. Your son should know his flight info when you see him after PIR. Many meet up at the USO at the airport. At this time, you can give him his cell and laptop. Make sure you know what airport he is leaving from. I thought they all leave from Ohare, but saw some posts where some leave from Midway. So questions for any parents who have Grad&Go's to ask.

Ladies, try to find out where your recruits will be standing in the formation for PIR. It helps to pick them out that way. Mine told me, but I still didn't see him...he is short and was on the side away from the bleachers...then they change formation when they circle back around the PIR hall, so forget it! But many are able to spot theirs...just try to get a position. They start practicing for this a week before PIR. Maybe before then? My son was able to call me again the week of PIR and told me where to look for him. I had to wait for the PIR DVD to finally SEE him, but that was great! Be sure to order that if your child didn't order with the picture pkg (pkg A comes with it). You can order at the NEX after PIR.

Comment by diannep on July 23, 2010 at 11:22pm

Thanks for educating me, nikosmom. I have a feeling it was stronger than the 5 mg because he said it made him feel drunk then really sick. I think when a system is "pure" (he didn't even take antibiotics growing up...vitamins, healthy foods only), then maybe that body reacts differently to pain meds? We are a family that does not use meds ... parents are in their 80's...no meds...never had meds for anything. So...I'm not a fan of meds. Also, a med led to my husband's death, so I'm rather sensitive to the prescribing of strong meds.
Thanks!

Comment by Anita ship 6 div 941 - Joshua on July 23, 2010 at 11:15pm

Hello everyone....my son called today...it was very exciting since I have not heard his voice in almost a month. He said things are going well in ship 6 div 941...still some that haven't quite got the hang of do what you are told..Josh's flag assignment is the California...he said it has been very hot there so not much marching is being done. He did say to keep the letters rolling...so keep your letters going to the recruits...it helps them more than we probably will ever know...

Comment by NukeMom/MM/USSMichigan on July 23, 2010 at 10:49pm

KJ"s Mom - Loved yr posting. I've rec'd zero letters so far and appreciate the news. Moms: keep up the news! It really helps those of us who don"t have anything.

Comment by trisha on July 23, 2010 at 10:12pm

Question - can I send my son his contacts for graduation? He doesn't want to wear his BC glasses.

Comment by KJ's MOM, Ken's Proud Mom, Cathy on July 23, 2010 at 9:40pm

I received three letter in one. He said he would keep adding letters when he is able to write and mail in one as he can only mail letters on Sunday. My son arrived in BC on 6/24 and he says they had two weeks of P-days (processing days), but it counted toward graduation since the date was set. [Date of this letter is 7-15.] He said there can only be four people "at" graduation, but others can be at hotel or something, etc. and we can all go out to eat. [Even though my husband and I are on Access List, I am confused by what he writes and what others have said here about people being able to attend graduation if not on Access List.]

He also writes he is a Grad n Go. [So we only have after graduation until 8 p.m. that night to get him to base? Will we be able to see him the next day before he takes off to A-School that day?]

Says there are 85 in Division 285. The only thing that worries him is a "darn inspection" and goes on to explain that they stand at attention for 45 min. in uniforms (everything has to be dressed right and answer questions then they have 2 min. to strip rack (bed) and 12 min. to make it with like medical fold, etc. and get back in front of rack). A typical day-to-day is to get up at 6 and shave/brush teeth quickly and then get in height line and walk dowh to chow. He says then they come back, get swim stuff and covers and go down outside (grinder) and form up to march. For swimming they march to Indianapolis and on one day they marched there, but walked back to ship because of black flag (too damn hot to march).

He says he is recruit chaplain assitant petty officer and helps with worship time. Night routine is folding clothes and getting to bed, etc., but also says couldn't write anymore as he had to get up tonight and iron clothes. He said it was weird that ironing relaxed him and he was starting to enjoy cleaning. [My son has never ironed, hardly cleaned, and folding clothes he was doing better as we made him do his own, but not the greatest. Where was the Navy a few years ago?]

Next letter states he passed PFA with 61 situps, 62 pushups and 12:46 minutes in 1 1/2 miles. His weight and body fat has dropped tremendously [Don't worry other Moms that have sons on skinny side as my son was trim, but on heavy side. He has been working for a year and even now to shape up even better.] He says he joined in punishment training for a workout. He speaks of another chaplain recruit petty officer [anyone's son here?] He cleans at chapel 8:45 each Sunday and writes he has a good chance of getting merit chits (bravo zulus) for his division, which would take away hits. He says is starting to love basics and becoming friends with many. [It sounds like he is adjusting a lot better from beginning and division is doing well.] He has hardly ever written letters except papers for college and says he will be an expert writer in a month along with being fit and skinny "as hell".

I've written quite a bit here for right now and will comment on some more that he says later in this 3-in-1 letter. I pray this has helped all of you some, put your mind at ease. He does seem so much more mature and after weeks of BC things are clicking more and coming together for him and others.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 23, 2010 at 9:23pm

NukeMom: We gave our son a small address book with all our addresses and all phone numbers when he left for bc (it's on list as allowable items) and he used it a lot during bc because he could never remember our cell numbers - for the same reason as your son, they were all programed in! Mail a letter in the morning to him, and add a small slip of paper with your home phone, work phone and cell phone - so he can put that slip of paper in his wallet and always have it handy. And mail another phone card too - those things suck up a lot of minutes just connecting from a pay phone!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 23, 2010 at 9:21pm

Hi everyone,
I just read some of the comments/concerns in a discussion on another PIR group and wanted to mention that Grad & Go does not mean Gloom & Doom ladies, there are perks that you have to look forward to!!! Honestly, I've been through it. PLEASE go read the info on the Grad & Go Info group, it will help. My son was told he was leaving RTC at 2am on Saturday, turns out they changed it to 5am and his plane didn't leave til 1pm, some sailors didn't fly out til 3pm. AND..... you can hand them their cell phones at the airport - instant contact forever more! Those who are not G&G can't be handed a phone, so their loved ones have no contact for another week or so. Check out that group!

Comment by KristinaR(Divison 285) on July 23, 2010 at 9:18pm

Dont worry I havent got a call yet neither. It would probably be sunday or tuesday hopefully.

Comment by NukeMom/MM/USSMichigan on July 23, 2010 at 9:17pm

One mistake I did: all of our phone numbers were preprogrammed into his phone. Don't think he knows any of them by heart! LOL - could be one reason no phone call. Sent a post card yesterday with all the numbers on them.

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