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Comment by diannep on November 27, 2011 at 5:12pm

My sailor son said the body snatchers many times are saying, You ok?  And things to that effect.  One was talking to a sailor near my son.  They try to gage which ones may fall out long before it happens! 

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on November 27, 2011 at 4:59pm

Wellll...maybe they weren't! I could have been "seeing"things as I need glasses!

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on November 27, 2011 at 4:57pm

I didn't know they were saying anything. I thought they were just looking for someone who looks like they are about to pass out.

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on November 27, 2011 at 3:39pm

I don't know what they call them in the Navy but hubby calls those strings "Irish Penannts"...he would have me burn them off with a lighter.
Your "gig line" is the line going down the front of your shirt to your belt buckle, zipper in pants. It should all line up.
You will see the "body snatchers" going up and down the formation at PIR. What are they saying to the Sailors Craig?

Comment by RuthL on November 27, 2011 at 1:24pm

Graig and Diannep- I have a much clearer view not on what will be going on this week.  She will have a very long week, but she said she feels prepared. 

This site has been a life line and I want to thank you all for answering my crazy questions.  This is the first time my kid has been away and I hav been out of the loop in her life.  You all make me feel much closer to her and also give me great peace of mind. 

Comment by Craig on November 27, 2011 at 12:54pm

Ruth - Here is more on hell week:  

(I wrote this for the deppers I work with just to keep them in the loop)...

 

Week 4 is known a "hell week". This is where everything the recruits has learned to date is tested. Several things happen. They wake up the recruits at 3:30am to get them ready for the day's activities. They bring in RDC's from other divisions and they compare their division to your division. They see how well you learned. Most RDC don't like to admit that your division is better so they find the simplest of faults to penalize you.  These penalty points are called "Hits" in the Navy.  Don't confuse a "hit" as someone is beating you.  It's just a figure of speech. NO ONE CAN PHYSICALLY HIT (strike) YOU. You might have a small string hanging out of your pocket...hit (-1 point) You might not have your "gig line" straight...hit (now -2 points)

.
By getting so many hits, the recruits RDC's are ticked. You'll get Physical Trained (PT) and Intensive Trained (IT). You will get reinspected too.  You will be standing at attention and parade rest for a long time waiting for your turn to be inspected. Don't think this is punishment, think of it as teaching the recruits.  You will learn to stand for long periods by keeping your knee's unlocked!  ALWAYS KEEP YOUR KNEE'S UNLOCKED!!!!  What these RDC's don't want is during the PIR for the sailors to faint in front of the crowd. It's bad press. (that's where the jobs of the  "bodysnatcher" come into play).  Those that are really taking hits (penalty points) during the inspection could be rolled back (set back) into another division to relearn what they have already been taught. They all must meet the same standards because they are a team! If one team member is not performing, they move them to another division (a week or two behind them) so they can learn it again.

 

Alot of people think "Hell Week" is a untouched term used only for the SEAL/BUDS training.   However, people fail to realize that "Hell Week"  originated long before the SEALS ever came about.  In fact,the term was used since the 1800's.  I do think the SEAL/BUDS guys are very fond of the word and added to their own vocabulary just like college students, police officers, etc.

 

So there you have it, hope that helps.....

 

btw:  Here is a picture of a "body snatcher".  He's the guy facing 90 degree just looking at the various sailors. (on the far right)

 

Comment by RuthL on November 27, 2011 at 12:01pm

Craig-I send the sailor woman picture to my daughter.  I told her I could live with a little slips of the tounge, but she better not come home looking like that. I am sure it will give her a laugh.

Comment by RuthL on November 27, 2011 at 11:37am

Thanks diennep- She is on training week 4 day 1 Monday.  I looked at the week by week post and tried to make sense of the "Hell Week" aspect. She wasn't really worried about it, I just like to know what she is doing!  the mommy in me! 

Comment by diannep on November 27, 2011 at 11:28am

p.s.  When they are filling up the divisions, those are the "processing days" when they get their gear, do medical, dental, clearances, etc.

Comment by diannep on November 27, 2011 at 11:27am

Yes, true, Ruth.  "Hell Week" is usually week 4 of training.  It is called that because there are lots of inspections, activites, they are up a little earlier, and it is busy busy busy!  After that week, they have just 2 more weeks of training before BattleStations.  Depending on when their division does BattleStations, they could have a week before PIR or just a few days or a couple of days---nice "down" time for them, although still with structure...some even finish the day before PIR.  But since they have the "capping" ceremony right after BattleStations, that is their official GRADUATION ceremony...they trade those RECRUIT ball caps for their SAILOR ball caps.  They are then sailors!

There is a "Week by Week at Bootcamp" discussion above.  But it is geared more towards when they arrive/leave.  So the week numbers are off a little.  Remember, they are all there for anywhere from a few days to 10 days or so filling up the divisions for their PIR group. When they tell you they are on, for instance, 3-1, they mean "training week" 3, Day 1.  Doesn't mean-- week 3 day 1 --from when they arrived. So total time at bootcamp can range from 8 weeks to 9 or 10 weeks (depending on holidays).  If they are asmoed (setback) for any reason, of course it is longer.

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