PIR 4/8/2011 Alum Group!

This is new. Angie (who works at GL) posted this change in the Boot Camp Moms forum yesterday.

The "no overnights" at GL A School is a new rule.  Sad, but apparently true!

Well I am happy they still get them during the day for the whole weekend. I would have loved that much time with mine ;-)  What is really sad is that they are saying the sailors who do not have any family there do not get liberty at all. They have been in that place for 8 weeks and just because they have no family  who is able to come they can't go out at all. That is just so sad for those new Sailors.

Lala, it is sad especially if they have a friend that has family coming. Now I read if they don't have family they have to get special permission for liberty. Maybe that's to take into account for the situations where another family "adopts" them for the weekend.

I really hope they find a way for them all to have a chance to get off the base and go to dinner and have some fun without abusing the privilege. It is sad to think that this may be because of something someone else did. :-(

I got to talk to my SR for 50 minutes!! He sounded good but had a cold.  He said a lot of people are sick and they may have to get another shot. He likes his RDCs and is improving.  The food is good, he went to the dentist today and he also counting down the days.

SR Mom what div is your SR in. Do you know if others should be expecting calls?

Lala Ribbon Queen - what are those ribbons?  Do you make them for parents to wear at PIR?  Can you make one for me and my husband and her boyfriend?  How much to they cost?

Well, it is finally my turn to say that WE GOT A LETTER!!!!  Her boyfriend called and he GOT A LETTER!!!!  I called my sister to tell her my daughter wrote to her boyfriend and she asked if I had called our mother.  She wrote a LETTER TO MY MOTHER!!!  She sounds really tired.  Bumped her head on her ship mates drawer and had a "breakdown" hyperventillating until her ship mates helped her calm down.  She said she is emotionally and physically drained.  She did not get to eat until the next day after arriving in Chicago.  Then she was up until the next night.  She got her clothes.  Went to doctors.  Was lined up on either side of her getting shots "of who knows what."  Then came the "butt shot" that made it difficult to sit or lay down for days.  She has a sore throat and what sounds like a sinus infection.  She doesn't want to wait around for two hours to go to the doctors for "not much of anything."  She likes some of the food.  No mail went out or came in for two weeks.  She did finally start getting our letters and was finally "officially" allowed to write.  She wrote in the same letter a few days later and she passed her swimming, and the push ups and crunches tests.  Over half her division did not pass.  She was fourth or fifth over the finish line doing the 1 1/2 run.  So, that was happy.  She likes getting mail, but it makes her sad that she's not home.  Misses home cooking and all of us.  They have to buy their own uniforms and clothes.  Shampoo, and anything extra for women has to be paid out of their own money.  Says the clothes are expensive and by the time she gets done paying for them, there won't be any money left from boot camp!!!  Also said there was an assembly and the person in charge was explaining the benefits of the GI Bill, post 9/11 benefits, etc.  Since this was geared toward the full time active people, she asked about the education benefits for reservists, of which she is one.  He said he didn't really know and that he doesn't think they get anything!!!  Well, what did he think she signed up for???!!!???!!!  I called her college and got in touch with a military education benefits person and she will get $373 a month for college until after she does "active duty" for 90 days then the tuition benefits will kick in.  Please someone tell me that this can't be.  I will not tell her a word of this because she will do something to get kicked out.  The Recruiter said that she would get 75% of the cost of her private college paid for.  He said she would get $5,000 for BC and $1,500 for her weekend Reserves duty.  All of this has come out NOT TO BE TRUE!!!!  How can they lie like that.  We are not happy parents.  Will NOT tell our daughter this news.  Does any one have any other information about tuition benefits for reservists?  Please HELP! 

YES! navymomofonly - so glad to hear!! read it over and over and over again~!

navyMomOfOnly1Girl- yes I make the ribbons for anyone who wants them to wear to PIR. They are a great way to show support for your sailor, to recognize other N4M members at the meet and Greet and PIR and they also make a great keepsake. If you would like info on how to order send me a friend request and I will send you the info. There are more pictures and info on my page as well.

I don't know much about reserves and college tuition but I do know that the uniform costs comes out of their pay checks but not all at once. There may be a group for member who have sailors in the reserves who may be able to better answer your other questions.

NavyMomofOnly1Girl.  I am sorry her ride is not going very smoothly thus far.  I would get a hold of her recruiter, certainly rumors run rampant in the military~and every place else for that matter.  I don't know if you went and talked to the recruiter with your daughter so that you heard and believed the same thing as she did.  I read an article someplace that talked about recruiters "not telling the truth", it did talk about the recruiters general audience...which happens to be a bunch a kids who usually hear what they want to hear.  One of those being the SR that I sent them!!  I could only laugh when he came home one day and said he was going to be making $50,000 a year.  I had to sllllooooowwww him down and explain that those figures were with the value of his benefits added (health, room and board, as well as his E1 pay).  Kids hear what they want to hear and I (for the millionth time) explained...if it sounds to good to be true....well,......I know we got an example packet of benefits/value from his recruiter and we explained over and over what he would be "getting" as compensation.  Again, I would, as the parent...get with a recruiter and find out for yourself what her benefits will be, this way you can explain everything to her in about 35 days when she graduates (I think that is a great idea to not even talk about it now) She will be in a much better place, proud of herself for what she has accomplished..and ready to sit down and talk about her future.  Good luck to you.

Excellent advise Jim's cupcake.

Lala...I am Ship 11/124. My SR said that although their division is still having trouble coming together as a unit they are improving and were allowed phone calls today. My SR said a lot of recruits had medical appts yesterday so it was a light day.  He walks about 1 mile to where the pay phones are located.

NavyMomofOnly1Girl:  Eventually, the SRs meet with a "classifier" at bootcamp about their rates(jobs). I'm hoping that she might get more accurate information then about her benefits, etc.  Hoping that she becomes more encouraged...

That is awesome SR Mom, that means it won't be long until other div's get calls as well. Maybe some today or tomorrow :-) I have my fingers crossed for all of you.

SR Mom Ship 11 Div 124, My son is also in that Div and he said they are having trouble coming together as a unit also.  I received a 40 min phone call yesterday and he seemed very up beat. My son was one of the ones that has been on med. he had an injury but, seems to be over that now, so maybe we will be on our way to catch up.  I can't believe how far they have to go to make a phone call.  He said he had been raining all day yesterday.  I wonder if they have to walk or march in the rain.  I am sure it is still cold there, we are not use to that coldness.  We are having 70-78 degree weather here.  Talk with ya'll soon.

 

Lala Ribbon Queen, I sent an e-mail to you about ribbons and I have lost my information.  Do we send the money to you first and then you will send the ribbons?  Thank you.

Yes my SR also mentioned that it was raining and cold. He also said his job (because he is tall) is to direct car traffic when they are walking (he loves doing this because he gets to stand in the street and give hand signals). I think the mile walk is good for my SR because he failed the run by 2 min. He feels upbeat about passing next time (they have 2 more PFA attempts)!

I got a phone call this morning and it was the best thing I could have ever asked for.  My SR sounded great...asked to keep the letters coming...I am posititve all SR's what the same...have a wonderful weekend ladies! 

vicheck:  There is a discussion group for 122 up top.  Just click "view all" and scroll to the page.  You will meet others in your division there.  But stay on this main board too for lots of info!

Jim's cupcake.  Thank you for the words of advise.  But, we were with the recruiter, in his office, my daughter, my husband and myself.  I heard the same words that she was told.  We went there as a family.  I asked what were the tuition benefits.  I had a list of questions.  He said that the Navy would pay for 85% of the cost of a private education and 100% of the cost of a State school.  We live in NYS.  Our daughter attends a private college at $30,000. a year.  So, I figured if the Navy paid 85% and her loans paid for the rest, I wouldn't have to take out loans anymore.  Nothing was said that she had to be active duty first.  I've called the recruiter's office for two days and there has been no answer!!!  Maybe they moved out of the Mall!  But, I heard his words and they, apparently now, were very misleading.  We did not do our homework.  She took the practice test the next day.  Took the real test the day after that.  Took her physical and we went down and saw her swear in.  It happened that fast.  When she finds out that she has to be active duty first before she can get those tuition benefits, she will not be happy to say the least.  This is all turning out to be a big bummer.

NavyMomOf1Girl- I got your request for info about the PIR ribbons and I sent you the info to your inbox.Thanks

Just got a phone call!  It was short ~ 9 minutes.  But it was good!

NavyMomOf1Girl...I am sorry this is turning out the way it is.  I hope you can find out the answers to all of your questions..and that the answers are better than what is being said right now.  As hard as it is right now...I hope in the coming days, weeks and months there will be an up side to all of this.  There has to be.  Please keep us posted on what you find out.  My thoughts are with you.

http://gibill.va.gov/   (NavyMomOf1Girl)...I am sure you have started your internet search for information...but this site seems like it has a lot of current information.  Maybe you can contact them directly (forget the recruiter!) and get some answers to your questions.  I know I hate when things go wrong for me on the weekend...and I have to wait until Monday because the working world has come to a stop.  Again, I hope you find out some good, accurate and helpful information. 

ntz4laa, so great you heard from your daughter!  I know it has to be a huge relief to hear her voice and know she is doing well!!

Here's a link about liberty weekend for the Grad & Go staying in GL. Alot of good information.http://www.facebook.com/pages/Training-Support-Center-TSC-Great-Lak...

  we should be at the meet and greet... thats where we are staying... hope to put faces with moms names.

  did anyone get calls today???

     I was thinking I would get one from my daughter... nothing yet.

No call today! My son's in the same division as your daughter Sandy, I am just waiting, and hopeing it will be this week, I really want to hear his voice,

No call yet... two letters at the same time last week from early bootcamp

Got the house phone and cell phone by my side.....waiting for a phone call.

I think we're all doing the same thing!  All phones with me ALL day long... house phone,cell phone with me all day long...no call yet.

No call yet either, but my cell has become an extention of my arm...never leaves my hand! I can't wait to hear from him!!

Was out for the day and had my home phone forwarded to my cell. Didn't put the phone down all day. I'm just a little obsessed. Hopefully he'll call this week.

Well said ICsailorsgirl!

I remember the first time my sailor called home. It seemed like I had been waiting forEVER. I was sitting with Phil when the phone rang. I looked down and saw that 847 area code. I looked at Phil and almost screamed OMG it's her, she is calling (the phone continued to ring) he smiled and said well Honey don't you think you should answer it? Lol I was so excited that she was finally calling I didn't even realize it was still ringing and I had to answer it.

ICsailorsgirl - My son is leaving on Saturday - I was disappointed but what are you going to do?  I will have Friday with him, we will meet him at the airport and hang with him and then go enjoy Chicago until Sunday.  I am going to take what I get - this is not summer camp, it is the Navy and we no longer have control.  Flexibility needs to be the name of the game, now.  I envy all of you that have the whole weekend.

Lala - so funny!  When my son called, I was all ready for it to be on my cell phone - I had it in my pocket and was one foot out the door to the store - the house phone rang and it said "PAYPHONE" on it.  I hardly ever answer the house phone - no one except solicitors call there!  But I answered and it was him!  On the house phone.  And I almost just let it ring......He said he wanted to be fair to dad and me both and talk to whoever answered.  I told him that this was NO TIME TO BE FAIR AND TO CALL MEEEEEEEE - I was nice and gave dad a couple minutes.....

Mumziepooh that's hilarious :)

I agree ICSailorsgirl. I know it is hard to think you are getting that time with them and not to get it. but it was hard for me to see so many getting angry about it. I would have given anything to be able to pick my daughter up at the base on Saturday and Sunday morning instead of getting her for only 7 hours on Friday and not being able to see her at the airport because she was leaving on a chartered flight and 150 sailors didn't even come into the airport. I honestly wish all the sailors could spend the weekend with their families :-)

I feel the same~as we are lucky to get any time!  We are flying from CA...just to see him graduate will be a treat.  Any time spent with him~PRICELESS.  I am just looking for enough time for a hug and a smile...anything else is a bonus!

Great posts here, ladies, about the time available with your new sailors!  I only had about 9 hours with mine...but felt grateful to have that time.  Never crossed my mind to be bitter about not having more time...although that would have been nice!  These days, the Navy is including families more in the process from years past.  They are the ones who created Navy for Moms.  So, we are all grateful for that...

Denise "YA'LL" I think you said it all.  I to have a parent with Alzheimers.  Enjoy the blessings and the opportunities that come because every minute counts...

Have a great day ladies and remember 31 days to go!!!!

OH NO Proud!  I am so sorry!  I KNOW you are sick over it - I hope and pray he will be able to call back.

Proud Navy Mom - I tried to call back too but got "does not receive incoming calls". What my SR will do, if I don't answer, is call his best friend or girl friend next. So I call them and ask them if he should call, to please call back home.

I tried calling back too and got the same recording. Luckly enough he had already talked to the girlfriend and he tried every number possible and finally got a hold of me. Those 20 mins in between were heart breaking though.

LaLa Ribbon Queen - sent an e-mail for the ribbon order on your N4M's e-mail box.

Denise "Y A'LL"  My SR daughter has to go through BC like every other Sailor.  Then she is going to Master of Arms training in San Antonio after graduation  How long after graduation I don't know and can't tell her that.  I guess they don't really find out when they go to their next training until a few days before PIR 4/8/11.  After MA Tech school, she will come home and do one weekend a month and two weeks a year.  Hopefully, the rest of the time she will be in school.  She just isn't going to get 85% of her tuition paid for like the Recruiter said, which is why she joined.  That is what Reservists do.  (One weekend a month and two weeks a year).  She will be deployed at least once in the six year enlistment.