Comment

Comment by Jaz04 on June 26, 2010 at 1:53pm

My son was told by a sailor that had just finished his a school to volunteer a lot. It helps them adjust. I hope he is doing both volunteering and adjusting.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on June 26, 2010 at 1:46pm

Musical cards: My son's GF sent one of those cards where you can record a message, but she sent it around the 6th week, where it's not as big of a deal. Nothing came of it at all. They don't get in trouble, those cards are not forbidden, they just get teased and maybe some extra pushups for the "noise" it caused! Brandon's RDC was actually pretty friendly with him by this time, and they were so close to graduation too. His RDC saw my son as a motivater for others talked to him about how he helped others (maybe he got the only level headed RDC there??) Brandon also volunteered to do "any job", just to keep his mind off of things. He was ranked 5th in his division of 82. Wow - sorry to brag, I was just really proud of him. You get the better "jobs" if your RDC likes you. Gotta play the game, but the Navy really wants everyone to step up and volunteer - they are creating leaders, so tell your recruits to go for it. It's not like high school where they will call you a teachers pet. But remind them it's not an individual race, they need to do this as a team!

Comment by oheavens on June 25, 2010 at 9:37pm

Oh dear! this could be funny. I hope they are far enough into their training to not stand out too bad. Perhaps he can tell by feeling the envelope what's in there and decide to not open it. Do you think any of them figured out a way to disarm a musical card before looking at the inside?

Comment by SusanH81 (Ship 10 Div 255) on June 25, 2010 at 7:50pm

Maybe put a quick note in warning him not to open it, and hope it gets there first?

Comment by mel on June 25, 2010 at 7:21pm

OMG! My mother in law sent my husband a musical card....what was she thinking? lol, I told her she should know better, she has been a Navy wife for almost 17 years!...Well, I really hope he doesn't get into trouble for this!

Comment by Heart Broken on June 25, 2010 at 5:47pm

Too funny, I posted in my Facebook notes the rules and tag my son's GF so she would know what is to be expected of her. Thanks for the info Sobe. :-)

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on June 25, 2010 at 12:19pm

Jessica - I know what you mean, but in reality I think it might help to look at those PDA rules like this: No one likes to see couples hanging all over each other in public. Most of us don't have a kissing marathon in public either. So these rules are common sense - except for the hand holding, I can see that as being a bummer! But remember your Prom or Homecoming, and how the guys would "escort" you into the dance or restaurant by offering their arm? Well, it's pretty sweet actually! My son GF loved walking around the mall with her handsome sailor - there's something to be said about a man in a uniform. People would smile just watching them! And remember, you can give them a big kiss in the PIR hall, just don't start a kissing contest! We went to our motel to change clothes after PIR and gave our son and GF a few minutes to themselves (but not too long!!!!). It was funny to have this young couple tell us old folks to go "take a walk"!

Comment by Jaz04 on June 25, 2010 at 9:18am

Thanks Sobe. Very helpful.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on June 25, 2010 at 1:05am

Here's something that I thought I would share with you. When we first read it, his girlfriend was sad, but as it turns out, it was very cool to watch all these sailors acting like gentlemen!

Public Display of Affection
In the Navy physical forms of affection such as hugs, kisses, and holding hands while in uniform are known as a "public display of affection" (PDA) and are forbidden.

There is one exception: families saying goodbye to a sailor before a deployment or greeting a sailor returning from deployment or long separation. Boot camp counts under this exception, with limits. One enthusiastic hug of greeting and a quick kiss are acceptable. French or
extended kisses are not. Nor are extended hugs, hanging off your sailor, etc.

Hand-holding at any time is forbidden. There is a compromise, and I consider it to be a fairly romantic one. A sailor may offer his arm to his girlfriend/wife/mother, she lays her hand in the crook of his LEFT elbow in a formal escort-type pose. Likewise, a female sailor can take the RIGHT arm of her husband/boyfriend/father with her left hand. In a truely romantic gesture, men may lay their right hand over their lady's
hand (to keep it warm, or for skin-to-skin contact). The sailor must always have his right arm free to salute an officer or properly displayed flag.

Also, just because you aren't on base, don't assume they aren't
looking. RDCs and other boot camp personnel also go to the mall, out to restaurants, to Chicago, etc, and they will be looking for new sailors breaking the rules. Some may actually be assigned this job in popular venues. Even if they run into the recruit by chance and are just out with their own family, they will report the new graduate. You won't likely see them because they will not be in uniform, but they will see
your sailor.

And no, they won't punish YOU. They will punish your sailor when s/he returns to barracks. The most common punishment is to have their liberty revoked the next day, or if the behavior is observed on the final day of liberty, new sailors can be retained for an extra week of boot camp. These are not idle threats. They actually do it. If you want to "mug it" with your sailor, get a room!

About uniforms
Your sailors will be wearing their dress blues if it's winter and dress whites if it late spring and summer at PIR and that whole day after you drive off with them.

Be sure to bring a lint brush or sticky roll for your recruit to "clean up" his or her blues. The blues are wool and pick up just about anything. If you are bringing a pet, bring one of those sticky-tape rollers to de-fur your sailor. Bring a towel from the hotel or from home for them to sit on in the car or when you are out and about!

Be careful with whites, they show everything. On Saturday and Sunday they will be wearing their service uniforms, aka "peanut butters," which is a khaki shirt and black slacks or skirt. In the winter they may be cold in the short sleeves, so make a stop at the Navy Exchange so they can get a uniform sweater and a name tag (but have them check with their RDCs first to make sure it's okay).

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on June 25, 2010 at 12:30am

How are you guys doing? Sounds like some are getting calls, some are not. Hang in there! Only 5 weeks to go. If you need "lifting", go read PIR 6/25 or 7/1 posts, they are almost there and you will see that there really is a light at the end of this long dark tunnel. Noticed lots of guys getting teeth pulled, we didn't have a lot of that in my son's PIR, but there were a lot of injuries. Pulled teeth are better than injuries!

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