PIR 10/15/10

suwil68 - Don't worry! I'm sure he'll get the letters! You had the basic info on there... it'll be fine.

newnavymom - My son's note started with "hey guys, I don't have much time..."
so my guess is they were rushed! Try not to worry. Hopefully we'll get real letters very soon!

Happy Tuesday 10/15ers! We're another day closer to PIR!!!

Not sure if everyone is aware that anything we type in our groups can be read by non members.
So be careful putting info like where you will be staying and dates and of course your addresses.
It concerns me that many of us have the addresses for our boys on here.
Just wanted to let you all know.

Thanks for that info and looking out for us, Rebecca! We should all keep that in mind! :)

Just got my husband's form letter yesterday!!! So excited to see just 3 sentences... the best 3 sentences I think I've ever read!!! Ship 12 Div 344 PIR 10/15/10! YAY!

LikebetterwithaP - Welcome! We are all hoping to get "real" letters very soon! HUGS! :)

WOW! We have a lot of new members! Welcome!!! :)

Good Morning 10/15ers. I got my form letter last night when I got home. I'm happy to hear he's fine, but the handwriting doesn't look like his - it's printed in all caps - which he never did before. And there wasn't an I Love you Mom on there... it seemed kind of formal. So I'm having a sad day. He did say they had to wait for 4 days for the rest of the recruits to get there so they had it somewhat easy at first.

Pink - Don't feel sad!! I'm sure they were under pressure to write something quickly! You KNOW he loves you!

Also... that's the Navy way to write; all caps and lines through zeroes. Neatness is VERY important. He did good! Be proud!!!

The Navy teaches our kids LOTS of details on how they are expected to conduct themselves - proper writing included! :)

Thanks Dana. I needed to hear that. And actually it was nice to be able to actually READ what he wrote!

I don't know why I bother putting makeup on anymore... I've just cried it all off and it's only 8:10 am here! I guess I should invest in some waterproof mascara huh?!

Pink - Yes.. waterproof mascara... you're going to need that for PIR in 44 DAYS!!:) :) :) HUGS!!!! I'm feeling the same way!

Thanks, Jessica. Wish I knew what day of training he's on.

That's true. It's interesting how some divisions have already made calls and others haven't.

Morning,
Hope things are going well for everyone, you are one week closer to PIR!

I am working more hours the next couple of days so we can enjoy our sailor when he is here next week! Three more days til he comes home - I am soooooo excited!!!!

Don't forget, if you have Grad & Go questions, there's a discussion above that has the hyperlink to get to that group. Moms from last weeks graduating PIR group just posted their stories there.

i love the countdown clock it makes it seems like a lot less time away from out loved ones.

I have the most exciting news!!!! I actually got a phone call from my son this morning!!! The reason for his call was because he needed his divorce decree (young guy married less than 2 years to a witch) that the Navy needed. Got the info to fax this to him. I told him how much I loved him and he told me he was doing fine. His division was great and doing well. So Ship 12 Div. 342. We're in good shape!!! He said he passed his swimming, PT and is a flag carrier whatever that means. And he is leading I guess his group. I don't know but just hearing his voice and he sounded so good and confident and knowing everyone in his division was doing well was the best news!!! Hope this keeps everyone's spirits up. Oh, and swimming was a real concern to me since he did not know how to swim very well. Today is a great day!!! Love to you all.

Thanks for sharing winniesam! That is great news! So happy for you!!

winniesam!!! Yay... that's great news!!!! Sound like he's one of the guys who will walk in front of his division and carry one of various flags that they display at PIR. COOL!!!

My son isn't a strong swimmer either. That gives me hope!!! THANKS!!!!

amethyst_ivy - Welcome! Glad that helps you... It helps me, too!!! :)

Thanks, Sobe. Have fun with your son!!! So happy for you!!! :)

I'm so nervous about G&G, although there's nothing I can do about it if he is. I think I'm just still really missing my son so much and the thought of not being able to spend much time with him breaks my heart. I need to get used to it... because he's growing up and will be gone pretty much from now on. But it's hard! I'm not ready!

WOW winniesam!!! That is huge, getting a call. How exciting. I wish all the boys needed additional info faxed Ha Ha. Thanks for sharing the info, IT'S ALL GOOD!! Its shaping up to be another day full of great news.

Does anyone know anything about the Navy Gateway Inn on the base?

Ok, I'm not real good at negotiating these sites. Didn't realize there were so many. I have a daughter in Ship12 Division 342. Has anyone gotten any mail yet? I am getting depressed not hearing from her.

I still haven't received a box of my son's clothing. My son cracks me up because he wore the oldest clothes he has when he left and some big baggy pants...I wonder if he just threw them in the trash....he hardly took anything because he knew he would be sending it back. It is a mystery at this point! Once he gets settled and can actually write a real letter, I will ask. :-)

newnavymom - a lot of kids donate their clothes instead of shipping them home. Wouldn't it be nice if they told us they were going to do this before they left? lol....

Somehow I came across this blog post - one Mom's PIR experience. I thought it was really neat and only cried my eyes out half a dozen times. Click on the link to read it.

Be forewarned - I'm pretty sure I'm going to embarrass myself by sobbing at PIR - so consider this my warning to Ship 12 Division 343. Sorry folks... I AM that much of a SAPPY mom! ;)

I am an emotional person, so I was surprised that I did not cry at PIR. It was like I was in a different world and I was very quiet (which is NOT me!). But later that night when we dropped him off at RTC, that's when I cried!

sobe - That is something Tim would do! Thanks for letting me know.

Oh Dana you are not going to be the only one sobbing at PIR! I'm fully prepared for that... waterproof mascara and a towel! :)

Christina b - so glad you found another Mom with a daughter in your division!! Yay!

Any South Jersey people out here?

Phew another day closer to Oct. 15th

Chris' Girl - Hey Chick... your user name shows Ship12 Div 357... didn't you mean for it to say 347?

Hello ladies....I just finished my weekend with my son after PIR and I woulnd't have missed it for the world! I highly recommed for your M&R and PIR.
1) Print a picture of your screen ID, with your screen name. Its akward at first, most people don't know first names and the pictures would be helpful.
2)Know that the hotels lounge holds maybe 150 people, so if there is alot of you, it will be crowded.
3) For PIR - make sure that you get there early! Seating really is limited.
4) Bring tissues - I didn't cry at PIR, but choked up throughout the weekend.
5) Everyones PIR experience is different, some leave right away,grad and go, and others will get liberty on the weekend, and of those, some will get the whole weekend, others will have to check in. Don't stress about that now, you will find out in the week before PIR whats going on.

I am going to try and help you with any questions you may have, please feel free to email me and I will do my best to help you, and if I can't, will point you in the right direction. Believe it or not, the 8 weeks of BC does go quick, but I know that it feels like forever.

I would also recommend, if you feel comfortable, to share some of the details in hte letters you get, alot of SR's dont write alot and the information that our group got was by gathering it from all of our kids letters.

Trishar and MaryK - that's for sharing with us! Having the advice of our "big sisters" helps a lot. I think it takes much of the fear of the unknown away and help us feel less on edge and a little more in control - which is how Moms like it! THANK YOU!!

Good Morning 10/15ers! Happy WEDNESDAY! 44 Days left!

I can't wait until we are all saying "I'm all packed up and heading out tomorrow!"
Oh gees... just typing that made me all tear up!

HUGS!!!

Just read on U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command's Facebook page that the Photo of the Day will be posted TODAY!

Let's keep our fingers crossed that it's of a 10/15 Division!

Dumb question, but ... how do I get to the Facebook page? I am a f.b. member, but what do I type in and where? Do I ask RTC to be a friend?

Not a dumb question at all! ;)

The top of your FB page has a Search box. Type in U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command and then you "LIKE" it. See if that works and report back. :)

Good Morning 10/15 ers! One day closer to PIR! We can do this!

Does anyone remember what Bravo Zulu means? I think it's like congratulations or good job, right?!

Bravo Zulu is a naval signal, conveyed by flags or voice, meaning "Well Done".
Ships can communicate by flags... it's really cool!

Thanks Dana! I have so much to learn!

Me, too... or maybe re-learn! ;)

Thanks MaryK and trishar...great advise. I know my son isn't much for writing an actual letter...now if they had email...ok things might be a bit different! I'm hoping he will at least circle and fill in the questionaire that I sent.

I think that when they have no other way of communicating... the old fashioned way looks pretty good.

Speaking of that... this is one of the cards I purchased to send to my son... I think it's cute.

Well poop just looked at the photo of the week....not mine :(

Here are a couple more... maybe they'll make you smile. I just giggled when I read them at Hallmark so hopefully my boy will laugh, too. :)

Tracye - ditto! Darn!

Love the cards you bought! They are funny and they do make me smile. I think I need to go to the card store.

OK... a couple more funny pics to lighten the mood. I sent these in Word doc letters I typed up to my son a while back. "Fart" jokes are so sophomoric... but sorry... they just make me laugh and I know the boy in my Sailor to be will laugh, too ... and LOL Cat pics are a classic. I found the cat photo on the internet and added the caption.

I just can't help but LAUGH at that dog photo... the caption kills me. I didn't think that one up! ;)

Love these...they are so funny....love the casual face!! Where did you get these?

OMG! Dana - I bought that same card for my son!! What a hoot! He's so much better about the newfangled texting than writing for sure!

Thanks for sending the pics and cards! It totally made me laugh!