900's division sailors

For those in choir, I never saw my daughter until the end when she marched by. They face the stage and basically had their backs to us. Try to get as close to the stage as you can. Don't be late or you will not be able to get close. I did get to see her on the big screens though. I am looking forward to the DVD so I can actually see them perform.

Wow! I just booked a room at the Ramada -- shuttle, I heard, was the way to go -- not so sure now. did you do the meet and greet that they host?

Yes, we did do the meet and greet. It was okay. I didn't find anyone that I had talked to on this site though. I have another daughter going to boot camp in January and I don't think I will do the Ramada again. Sorry. I would check at the Ramada to see what time they plan to leave with the shuttle. If they don't leave in time to get you there at 6:30 am, drive yourself. You should know the night before. Just remember there is a line at the gates at 6:30 so leave early. The shuttle is a very nice way to get there if they take you on time.

Oh, one more thing. We had a small graduation so that is why the Ramada left later. However, they didn't have room for everyone in the first trip over so they had to make a second trip. I felt sorry for those that had to wait for the shuttle to return for them. They would have been very late getting there. There are plenty of seats, don't get me wrong. But if you want to sit in front of your division, you have to get their very early.

Finding your PIR group on here is how I was able to meet so many nice Navy Mom's. One of the gals even had buttons made for us. Some of us still keep in touch on facebook. I have thoughts on the Ramada, but I don't agree the shuttle is the way to go. Parking and getting on base was really, really, easy. If you print your parking pass, they wave you through. Then you can leave whenever you want to go too.
PIR is AMAZING!

My daughter was in the choir as well. We sat where they had the 900 div sit. It was to the left of the blue covered seats if you are facing the bleachers. The choir was facing towards us. We sat in the lower section about 5 rows up from the bottom. We had a good camera with a zoom lens and got some awesome pics. We went to the Meet and Greet and had a great time. I met more than 20 of my N4M friends at the meet and greet. We only got to spend 7 hours with our sailor because she was grad and go and left on a chartered flight to Pensacola. But still worth the 16 hour drive. I only wish we could have had more time with her. Here are a couple of pics I took from our seats at PIR. If anyone has questions send me a friend request. :-)

Hi all, my daughter pir 9/17 i would drive myself to the base. It was just so easy. Just be in line to go onto baSE BY 0615. I stayed at the Ramada. 5 minutes from base. Parking was a breeze. Sailors so helpful. Enjoy your PIR's

Thank you all so much for all your help. I have changed my reservation... no longer at the Ramada -- we are staying at the Navy Lodge for the duration! they had room -- Yippee!!! AND WE WILL DRIVE ONTO THE BASE!! Since Alli has a niece and nephew also attending, I am thinking they can leave later and we can save seats for them . . . I cannot imagine a 7 year old sitting still for 2 hours until the ceremony starts and then sitting through the ceremony.... much less a 10 month old!!!

We took my daughter's 5 month old with us. He did amazing:) The Ramada did have the best pizza I have ever had through room service. A large pizza and salad made on site, delivered to the room, was like 14.95. total. I will always think fondly of the pizza since I had it twice in 4 days!

Hello all...I received my son's form letter today & he is on Ship 02 Div 903. Anyone else in this division? He has no musical background...what will he be doing?

To Allison's mom, you may want to check on exactly where the Navy Lodge is located, or you may have already checked. But I believe is on another part of the base which is I believe divided into 3 separate sections. One is the boot camp area, another section has the A schools and another section, school and where sailors are stationed etc. I am not sure where the Navy Lodge is located but pretty sure it is not right at the gate or inside the gate where you go for the pir. I believe you will still have to drive to go to the base where the graduation is even though you are at the Navy Lodge. They may have a shuttle from there. Some of the Navy Lodges are where you actually do not have to go through the gates of the base to check into etc.. I just wanted to tell you this so in case it is at one of the other areas, which I think it will be, you may be just as well staying at the Ramada. And yes, what I understand the Ramada is a great place to stay. We actually stayed at the Motel 6 and got a suite with 3 full beds for a great price. The room was clean and the bathroom was big too. It may not be as nice as the Ramada but for the $70. something dollars for 5 of us to stay was not bad. 3 adults and 2 teens. Kay, I am so bad... I had forgotten about Kim having the little boy... My granddaughters son was just over a year old when she went into the Navy. She is in Norfolk. My two grandsons are in San Diego.

The Navy Lodge is outside the area where the Ships our Recruits stay in are, near the main exchange. You will need to drive or take a cab the the PIR $4.00-6.00, Lots of us are staying at the Navy Lodge $68.00 a night and Im told its very nice. They are normally for Navy personnel but we all are part of the Navy family now :)

900 Divs are the Triple Threat:) Music"Drums-Horns-Choir", Flags and Rifles. Some Recruits help with visitors and handicap. All a very special Div. only the best and brightest get in a 900 Div. as they do all this extra work and training and everything else the other Divs, do to graduate.

my daughter cannot carry a tune in a bucket and does not play an instrument, but she did score well on the ASVAB test -- These kids can handle the regular sailor skills but can also take on the extra training that is required of them. They carry flags etc in ceremonies -- look for your sailor in PIRs later in boot camp. Mine was at the navy pier yesterday performing with her group at a NCO gala. She got to call me while there - we talked 45 minutes. It felt so great!!

I got my letter today but do not know what My son is doing He can play the trumphet so maybe all the marching Band practice is paying off :) Any help about graduation is helpful since this is all so new to me.:)

Just 8 short months ago I sent my 21 year old daughter off to bootcamp! She was selected to carry our WA state flag at graduation. It was amazing and such an honor. She had never been "picked" for anything before.
Today she left to drive by herself, in her new car she bought, across the state to Bremerton WA to join her new ship the USS Stennis. I am actually not that stressed about a 22 year old woman driving across the state by herself because she is now a 22 year old mature adult. Pretty exciting! Now I haven't gotten the call that she is there yet, so I am not totally stress free, but I am so PROUD of her:)

Kay, How awesome for your daughter. I'm assuming my son will be carrying a flag since he has no musical background. Either that or staff support. I'm waiting for his 1st real letter for details.

Hello everyone. When I got my son's form letter he wrote on the bottom that his cammies were being tailored. Maybe this is being done for graduation?

labmom39 - my son was in the choir 2 years ago. There were only 12 - 5 males and 7 females. He enjoyed it - they did have to be on top of their game - every Saturday morning he had 4-5 hrs practice. He enjoyed this time because although they practiced, they got to talk and carry on normal conversations with the director and other choir members. He also had what they call a "leadership position" within his division. He was port watch section leader which means that he scheduled all 80 division members for watch times throughout the night and he had to get up everynight at midnight to sign in the new day. Was definitely a good experience.

my daughter is also in PIR 11/19 ship2 division 901

Please take lots of pictures!! my fiancee is in division 902 and I'm sure she'll be doing something on 11/19.

no problem will be sure to take lots of pictures on 11/19 and post them will be looking for your fiancees division also just cant wait to see my daughter

thank you so much!!! I really appreciate that!!

Found out in a letter from my son that he will be doing a job such as directing traffic and/or people during his PIR and that means we will not see him "walk" in his graduation but he still graduates. Is this really true? Just curious if we will be able to see him at all during the ceremony, I find it puzzling that after going through all of the work of boot camp that he will not be able to participate and be recognized at his own PIR. I know every job is important, but I'm just trying to prepare myself and not have any false expectations. I'm hoping someone has an answer for me.

ljr23-When my boyfriend was in bootcamp he told me the same thing in one his letters. I beleive it depends on what they have him doing. My boyfriend stood guard to show people where they can sit and to keep them off the hand rail so they were'nt blocking anyone elsee's veiw. It was actually awesome because his mother and I were able to get in when the gates opened, found seats by where he was standing and were able to talk to him 2 hours before graduation even started. The only downfall is you can't touch him and give him a hug or anything till they call liberty or you get kicked out. Which was hard, but we made it through haha. I think hand shakes are permitted though. I hope this helps.

I got some news, finally! she is going to be a drum major conducting the marching band!! I thought she was going to sing!

My son's PIR is 12/3, and I still haven't gotten my first "real" letter yet, so I don't know what exactly they've got him doing. That would be great if he was like kbowe10's boyfriend and we could actually visit with him while we were waiting for the PIR to start. No hugging would be tough though.

tenn mom~my daughter is in bootcamp now and PIR 10/29. As far as phone calls go it is totally up to the RDC's. I have been really fortunate to have received 3 phone calls not including the I'm here call. My daughter received 2 of them as a reward where only a few got them. I am now waiting on the I'm a sailor call as she had BS21 last night. As far as letters, write as much as you can. Let your SR know that you are there to support them and love them. My daugher wrote in the first 4 letters for me not to forget her. When the first call came in I asked her why she wrote that and she said that with her being so far away she was afraid that we would forget her. After that I sent a card or letter everyday. Then at the next call she said ok Mom, I get it you will not forget me, and thanks for the support. She let others read her letters and cards and I even started writing to another SR that wasn't receiving mail. Letters really do mean a lot to them. I told her everything that was going on here. She said it was almost like being here. The first day she left I never thought I would get through boot camp and now I am preparing for PIR. It is hard on your SR as mine was homesick to begin with~try to be positive in letters and phone calls. I would hold back the tears until I hung the phone up. Just remember "This too shall pass".

Hi, I was curious, do the 900 divisions do Battlestations on the Sunday before graduation? It seems like the last few were on Sunday. I was just trying to see if there was a pattern.

tammy, i don't know the exact date of all the 900 divsion BS21, but the link below may be able to help you out. hope it helps!

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir1152010/forum/topics/battlestat...

Thanks Jose it gives me an idea!!

Thank You for the info!! Top 10%, huh? Well, now I'm impressed!!

I just got a call from my son!!!!! It was soooo good to hear his voice! We only got to talk for 15 min. He said he had trouble w/ his phone card, so that took up some of the time he was allowed. He sounded good and he was proud to be in a 900. He told me that he was recently assigned platoon leader, or whatever you call that guy w/ the cutlass out in front. He said it's out of his comfort zone, but I told him to keep up the good work and be confident!

My daughter said that they were asked who would be able to pass the swim test, their PT and knew their general orders. She raised her hand and they put her in 904. She is marching behind the flags and said it is choreography and is pretty fun.

CONGRATS TO DIV 901 FOR PASSING BATTLESTATIONS. AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES TOO.

My son is ship 02 div 904......he is very happy to be in the 900 division. He seems very happy its good to hear it in his voice!! :)

Kathy, my son is div 903. I was told by moms in the Illinois group that being in a 900 division is an honor. They choose recruits that are squared away both mentally and physically. Thay can either be part of the "triple threat" (band, choir, or rifle guard), "stick carrier" (flags), or staff support.

Tami
There is a 904 group in the PIR12/17. There are only 4 of us so far

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir12102010

My daughter is in Ship 02 Div 904. She got there 10/26/2010. She went there start out of high school and seem to have been selected to be a leader. I am not sure if there is a specific requirement for 904 or just a Division to be filled in for the period. There were other 904 divisions in the past so I guess it is possible to look back and see if there were specific requirements.

Ok to any moms out there going to graduation on the wed before Thanksgiving my son is in Div 903 and will be performing he is a side boy you can see what he looks like from my profile picture if you can get a picture of him and post it or send it to me that would be great. Thanks Shelly

My son is Ship 02 Div 909. He does not play an instrument or sing but think he may be in a 900 div because of his Eagle Scout rank.

April - almost afraid to ask... but what is a "body snatcher"?

just got back home from graduation. it was awesome to see how far my son and the other sailors have come together to be one. and to see the work of the 901 division was so exciting to be able to watch them perform was amazing to say the least, they were great all the hard work paid off. i am so proud to be a mom of a sailor.

thanks kathy, yes it was. it was one of the best days of my life.just to be able to give him a hug felt great. would not change a thing for the weekend with him.

CodesMom, Body Snatchers aren't as bad as they sound. They stand duty watching over the formations so they can cattch anyone before they pass out & go down. I've read that the recruits are taught not to lock their knees to help prevent this.

Dodie, I remember Code telling me about that (locking knees and passing out). Thanks for the info!

Before PIR, go to the restroom, I have it on good authority that hugs and kisses can be exchanged with our 900 Sailors.

Just joined this group. My son is 904! Love the comment jewel! I'll defnitely try that! LOL

PIR 11/24/10 photos have been posted on the RTC facebook page. Some really good shots of 900 division members.

My daughter is div 905. I believe that 904 and 905 were participating in today's PIR. The earlier comment may not work so well with guys and Moms.LOL