PIR 10/15/10

Good night, everybody ... those who didn't get letters yet, hang in there for Saturday's mail ... there is no rhyme or reason for delivering letters, so don't fret. Just a little over a month to go and we'll be seeing our guys.

Well, I did not get a letter today; however, my son's girlfriend got two. I asked her what he wrote in the letters and she said he drew a bunch of happy faces on his letter. She said he sounded in good spirits. He did say that he misses the privacy of a shower. He said he is obviously not good at ironing and he doesn't like standing and saluting while they do personal checks -- I think, correct me if I am wrong, that is when they check their clothing or something....who knows? It sounds like he got docked for clothing check. He did not mention anything about bunk check. He doesn't like deck log...does anyone know what that means? I tried to ask as many questions as I could.....he didn't mention anything about getting in trouble or anything about the other recruits.....if I do get a letter tomorrow, I will share....

I'm glad my son is safe and it sounds like in good spirits.... :-) I will be praying for DIV 344 and PIR, Ship 12 tonight.

Well my daughter was a very busy lil writer Sunday....she wrote myself...my younger brother and his wife and their almost 4 year old lil girl ( all included in my envelope) she wrote her Granny and Papa (my parents) and her lil brother! It was so funny to hear what she wrote in all of theirs because she was so upbeat and postitive to them but in mine it was all the gripes....and to the one that asked bout why the girls argue.....It's the part that comes with being a girl....I think that every girl feels threatened by another girl ...competition type thing...it's like a Cardinal rule....you're a girl welp I don't like you! Just like High School....that's why my daughters friends have always been guys....she hates drama....and is so tired of it with her fellow div girls...she says it's just petty stuff that throws em in a tail spin.....

Congrats everyone, hoping for more letters soon and LONG phone calls. :)

Awesome seems like most got letters, that's great. Had too laugh a little at my sons letter he said he was homesick and couldn't believe he missed me yelling at him....LOL. Has two friends both from Teaxas but don't want to post their names as they are only last names. His bunkmate is from Rhode Island. He says they are all starting to Gel and is eating well. He passed his fitness test and his swim. Well hopefully a phone call but not this morning as I have football. God Bless all.

Didn't get a chance to post yesterday but... I RECEIVED 3 LETTERS! He sent 2 letters to me and 1 to our daughter! They were very sweet letters, all in CAPS and he seemed very upbeat! He made me cry and he made me laugh all in the same sentence... very typical of him. :-) I've been reading the letters over and over! Have a great weekend everyone!

Hi everyone, haven't been on in a while but have been trying to keep up with everyone's post thru my phone. I am happy to report that I finally got a LETTER!!!! Yes it's been 3 weeks since "the box" and no ltrs. I know he has been writting his sweetheart every week and I can understand that cause she is the love of his life but It has been depressing not to hear from him. Is there anything set for the M&G Thurs nite? We are going up on Wed. to visit family in the area but would love to go to the M&G if there is one set up?

Hi Andrewsmom! SO happy to hear you got a letter!! Yes, there is a M&G scheduled for Anastasia's at 7 pm on Thursday the 14th. If you could send me a private message with how many you think are attending that would be great - they are asking for a loose head count for staffing purposes. Thanks!!

Vincent's mom- please send me the name/address of the recruit that isn't receiving mail. I'd like to write to him too.

If anyone else hears about a recruit not getting mail, please let us know - we want to encourage them too!

So happy for all of you that received letters!!! One more step closer to PIR!! Have a good weekend everyone!

Yes Stevie!! 33 days to go! 9/11 is so dear to me since I've lived most of my life in NY. I've seen the Twin towers built and I've seen them come down. So sad. When I vist my family back East I have not had the courage to go down to ground Zero. Maybe next year when I visit. I'm so glad so many Navy Moms and Dads got phone calls and letters. Keep them coming!!!!

I just got a phone call..she sounds so much better than she did in her letter..I hope everyone else gets a call today also..it has done so much to high my spirits and her dads (he's been in worse shape than me).

RE: 9/11 .. did anyone see the news special yesterday with Diane Sawyer about the babies of 9/11 who are now 9 years old? So touching, and in a sad way calmed me down about not getting a call from my son ... at least I know he's safe and I'll be seeing him in a month ... those poor little kids will never know their moms and dads who got killed in the attacks. We're raising good Americans, all you Navy mothers, and we have a lot to be proud of and thankful for. I saw a lot of flags outside today... this IS the greatest country in the world and the generation we brought into it is going to be just fine.

I got a PHONE CALL!!!! It was the most AMAZING 20 minutes ever!! Her spirits were up so much more then they were in the letter.....We were coming back from seeing my son when the call came thru and I saw the 847 area code...I screamed at my fiance' to pull over ... I so didn't want to lose signal ....He had a few choice words cause I skeered him....lol.....She said hey mom all in tears....then I said holy ya got phone time....she started laughing...she said that she has passed all her test so far....they have a test on Monday over General Orders and things.....she no longer has a bunkmate...so many have been either set back or sent home....she said that the RDC's told them if they didn't start working together as a team and proving that they were a team then they'd be set back a week! She said that she is a STICK (flag carrier) and that when they come out into the Hall on graduation I'll get to see her right off cause she's out in the middle by herself (as of right now) she said that she misses her hair straightner and that there's just no way that any of them find anyone attractive it's either birth control glasses or fly away bushey hair she said she will be so glad to use real shampoo doesnt even care if she gets conditioner but she doesnt like washing her hair with body soap....and she can't wait to get to the hotel so she can take a REAL sit down (bathroom) that's my girl....she said that they've done over 300 pushups right now...either for goof offs or screw ups and she feels like she does em in her sleep!...this whole I'm eating 3 squares a day just cracks me up....she said that there's so many different accents it's hard to keep up with which one goes to what state....my poor sheltered country girl.....She said that there are some people that's parents have talked about this site....she said I knew you'd get hooked up with it and I'm glad you're making friends...she only got about an inch cut off her hair so that was good....she said they were on 2.4 I believe she was spitting so many numbers and codes at me I was tryin to keep up and keep from Pee'ing myself ( I had needed to stop before she called but we were in the middle of nowhere) She said to tell all the moms and dads that they are busting their butts to make us all proud and she can't wait to see us on 10-15....they just need to work on team work a lil more..but she has faith they will get the job done...ok that's my story.....I'm still up on cloud 9....hope everyone got a call or at least letters today....

AWESOME Desiree's mom. Thank you for sharing.

Desiree's Mom- That phone call sounded so good. Made me tear up just reading..not much longer everyone! Almost 1/2 way there!

Stevie Ship 2...She was talking so fast it was hard to catch it all. She said that it was hard and she still cries alot. She got screamed at today but she didn't cry and she was excited about that. There is a lot of hard work but her ship is coming together as a team. She said they were wearing there NWU and combat boots now. Like I said she was talking so fast. I also let her spend alot of her 20 minutes talking to her boyfriend. I hope you get a phone call soon, it really helps.

I'm so happy for you Desiree's Mom!! It makes you feel so much better when you hear their voice and know they are okay!

Yes it was Great to hear that voice! I really can't wait for PIR now I wanna see her marching with that flag and doing her thing! Bless her heart she's short so it's a good thing I can know which one she is! Congrats to all that got a call....fingers crossed more come in.........now I'll just worry bout getting set back....uggghhh

Hi, all,
Glad to see phone calls are coming through, aren't they great! I'm hoping for another one maybe this week???
Mary K, my son left Aug 9 and had to hang around for a week until they started training; not sure why they do this unless they want to make sure they have a big group (his division started at 104 guys! But down to ninety something he said). Hope yours gets started soon!

Hang in there everyone!!!

Desiree's Mom, LOVE YA, GIRLFRIEND! You made my morning (Sunday) ... I can just picture you getting the call ... I would have ended up in a ditch along the road. Thanks so much for sharing your daughter's info about boot camp. My son used his call to reach his girlfriend (boo hoo) but she immediately called us (yeaaahhh), but it's not the same as getting to hear his voice. Been waiting for it 3 long weeks .. maybe I'll get the next call.

HOPING FOR A PHONE CALL!!!! :) fingers crossed for everyone!!!

I'm hoping the same thing Missy! My fingers and toes have been crossed all weekend. LOL

Yeah, I hope we all get one! 32 days left!!!!!

NWU's are the new Navy Working Uniforms in didgital camo. They replaced the traditional dungaress and chambray shirts

Got a twenty minute phone call last night, it was great he sounds great. Says his division is starting to come together, they train mostly with 345, both are coed. Many are homesick but they are getting through. They only get to write on Sundays. Keep the letters coming

Its 4pm here, starting to feel like todays not my day for a call :( What time did everyone get phone calls? Anyone get any today?

Stevie..I see someone answered the NWU question..and thankfully her bunkmate is 28 and she really likes her and she told me that she is trying to keep her in line and helping her alot.

Still no call here Missy. and its 7:07

No call here either and it is 5:50 p.m. here in California. :-(

No call here either....9:03 p.m in North Carolina : (

No call.... very disapointed..:( makes me worry they lost their calls

Hi Stevie! Don't worry. It's good that she's got someone older to look after her. When I spoke to my son he said the younger guys look up to him because he is older (28 also) and he's guiding them and looking out for them and that's a good thing.

I do relate to everyone on that feeling about the first call…… I did receive it on Friday. It was about 4:25 pm. the first one last until 4:45. Did I say the first one? Yes, he had used two phone cards, the first call last exactly 19:08. Mom, he said, I am running out of time on this card, but I will call you back. The second call last exactly 5:35…. What is that? Almost 25 minutes? I don’t recall ever having a phone conversation with my son that lasted more than 10 minutes…… Mom, mom he kept on saying and he went on and on telling me about the things he has been doing and his responsibilities as well as his failures…. Mom, mom he said, the first couple days I forgot to put the lock on the mattress to make the bed….. Now I do know exactly what I have to do….. The food is very healthy….and with all the exercises I‘ve doing I look better than before…… He went on saying I have a division of 76 people to command to do formations/march…. He went on taking about his responsibilities…. “Mom, it is a pretty strange sense of responsibility and it is kind of fun”.

The same day I receive a letter which I am assuming was written the first opportunity they have to write, because it has not date and he said: “it was pretty rough being here at first, they kept us awake for 48 hours straight to mentally strain us… he went on saying…. There are instances I wonder what I get my self into.. :-)” Thanks Goodness I spoke with him before I read the letter……

But then over the phone on Friday ….OMG, he sounded so upbeat, he has been commissioned to design the insignia that will go in the flag they will carry on graduation date….. He also said…. Mom, mom I got five uniforms… and I told my friends what you said about me in uniform and they think you’re a cool mom….. he jus didn’t stop talking and telling me about all the things he has being experiencing…and when I asked him if he was ok with all that…. His reply was: “Mom, they are just preparing me for my job”…and when the time was over he said: “Mom I got to go, but I can’t wait to see you all, I love you.....
I cried, I laugh and cry again and laugh again…what an emotional rollercoaster that firsts phone call is…. But what a relief is to hear from them……

Hi all who have not yet received the phone call, I know the anguish you are going thru… but one of the things that my son told me was “Mom, we are a team, and when we all do well, we all get reward…. If one fails, we all fail". Hang in there, I am pretty sure, it won’t be too long before you get that phone call.

No call for me today either and it's 8:15 pm in CA. I sure hope 344 gets phone calls soon. I'm tearing up reading about all of yours and am so happy for those who got the calls! Only 32 more days. We can do this!!

Oh Pink don't be sad, you know you will get a call very soon! I'll pray really hard for you tonight that you get that phone call. I know how much it means to you. Have faith that it will be within the next few days. I'm sending a big hug to you. Hang in there girl!.

Stevie..I am so sorry, I wish I had some answers for you. I don't know your daughter but I know how mine is and if she is doing okay, I know yours is too. I thought I was going to go crazy until she called so my heart goes out to you. I will say a prayer for you and her. Stay strong

no phone call fof me yet but i'm loving hearing about all your calls...thank you all for sharing those with us. I did get one letter that my son wrote on the 6th and he mentioned he had received our letters the day before so it took some time for letters to get through. I'm sure the rest of us will get calls soon. His letter was very upbeat as many of your letters and calls were. It will be so exciting to see the changes in them.

Wasn't there a lonk for T-shirts? I have lost it. Does anyone know if we should order them beforehand?

Stevie..I just said the same thing in our division forum. I hope they have not gotten into some kind of trouble. The others seem to have earned their calls. On the otherhand....all of our SR's letters have indicated that everything is going well and the division is working well together. hmmm, I guess we will just have to wait and see. At least we did get letters and know they are fine. I know it's tough for us....but even more tough for our SR's. Let's just keep praying!!!

Good Morning everyone! One day closer... may all be well with our recruits today.

Today is our 8th Wedding Anniversary and ironically the birthday of his bunkmate's wife, Missy [Chris'Wife S12D344 10/15]. Today will be harder than other days for both Missy and myself... those phone calls would be great anniversary and birthday gifts!

Happy Monday everyone!!! 31 days left!!! My stomach is in knots!!! I'm so excited! I just want time to go by FAST!

We got home last night (from being out of town) at 8:30PM or so and I ran in to go through the mail... cause I knew there'd be a letter thanks to all of you!! It was there!!!!

My texter wrote 2 pages front and back! I was so happy! His tone was good although I could tell he missed us... but that's normal cause I miss him, too!!!!

He told me about the people he's friends with. His bunk mate is older which is cool I bet... kind of a big brother role. :) I didn't recognize any of the names from here though... but I'm glad he has friends so they can muddle through it together!

He's mostly friends with a group of guys called "The Golden Thirteen" because they bonded the day they spent together doing things for their security clearance.

Here's one of the sound off's they sing... It's cute. One of the recruits came up with it. "I don't know what you've been told, 343 is made of gold, "someone's" A$$ is on the line, lunch lady's lookin' mighty fine!" I removed the name he told me cause it was a last name. I'm sure they could change that up for whoever is getting in trouble the most that day... LOL!

When I was in boot camp we LOVED the cadence singer and it made marching a little fun when we could all chant those little ditty's.

He said that boot camp wasn't hard per se... just tiring... and he's just trying to survive it. :) That's my boy!

So... Now I want more letters and a call!

HUGS to all!!!

AbbyP... congratulations!!!! :)

Welcome Home Dana!!!!! So glad you had a nice long letter waiting for you! That cadence is a crack up! Thanks for sharing some details! HUGS!

I just got back from my son's PIR and while on base I saw 344 marching. Just wanted to tell you they looked very good marching. I know it isn't much news but I remember looking for anything about my son especially this early.

Awwww that's awesome! Thanks for sharing hurleyl8dy... sorry I don't know your name!

Dana, my coworkers think I'm nuts (thats nothing new). Cracking up out loud , over that little chant. Soooo glad you came back to an upbeat letter. HUGS!!

To Anyone who is flying. Anyone book a flight yet. Found a great deal and on the fence if its tooo early.

LoveUDrew - yes, I have already booked my flight... so if you see a good deal, I'd grab it! If it's on Southwest, even if you have to change it you can without a penalty... I love Southwest! :)

hurleyl8dy - THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing that you saw 344 marching!! I'm tearing up just thinking about you seeing my son. I cannot WAIT to hug that kid! You just made my whole day!

Thanks Pink. I'll take your advice, we have to go Am Trans and its $75 for changes but at least it is an option. The flight is only $150. Are you flying into Milwauke or Chicago?

LoveUDrew - I'm flying into Chicago-Midway.