PIR 4/8/2011 Alum Group!

Hope this helps some of you...

cupcake - Just because I didn't like the Ramada, you may.  Everyone has a different view on things.  My room totally sucked.  However, I'm sure there are many that are excellent.  Let's face it, Trip Advisor usually only has people that hate whatever hotel (1), or they think it's excellent (5), no one every says a room is just medium. 

Navymomof1Girl - The recruits will go with you after PIR to the NEX and photo shop.  They will show you the stuff and you'll end up buying something.  At PIR they will end it with "Liberty Call, Liberty Call", and that means you start running to find your sailor.  It's truly amazing how people can find their sailors so quick.  Heck, I can see dogs finding each other by stiffing each others butts, but how do people find there sailor that quick is quite remarkable.  I beleive they all meet back at the barracks, those that are staying in GL for school, will get their seabag and will move to the main base, once checked in, then they can go on liberty (ie to the hotel).  Those that don't stay will meet at the barracks, and are given the rule that they must be back at 9pm.  One minute late they are in HUGE trouble. 

Per your second question, is you daughter Regular Navy, a Reservist, or National Call to Service (NCS)?  If she is regular Navy, then she will still get her tuition assistance.  She doesn't loose that even if she got a sign on bonus.  I'm actually surprised that she will get a sign on bonus, from the last message I read, they got rid of that for MA's. 

Per the tuition, no sailor will be able to get tuition assistance until one year after they have transfered to their final duty station. The Navy realized that too many sailor worried about college instead of learning of learning their job, so they stop it for the young sailors until they have proven themselves in the fleet.  Here is the offical instrucation, look at para 5.

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/E8692AF5-13E3-4C7C-9414-3677C0...

Per your sitting at PIR. You sit in front of the sign for your division number.  Seats are 1st come, 1st served.  I got their early because I wanted the end seat next to the aisle.  If you get trapped in the middle, your stuck until everyone leaves to get out.  We wanted to make it a race to see our sailor 1st.   Remember, if you wear colored shirts, your sailor can easily spot you in the crowd if your on an aisle.  We used yellow, and all he had to do is look for a clump of yellow.  He found us as he marched in within seconds.  GF or wife, forget the colors, make yourself look as hot as you can be.  You want your sailor to sweat and to think of things that are about to happen.  It just drives them crazy, and they love it!

Here are some pictures of our 9/2/2010 PIR to explain it.  You can ask the honor recuit questions.  They will pop to attention and answer you.  Me being a sailor, I was asking really funny questions just to see if I can make them laugh to see if they truly had their military bearing.  Beleive it or not, he never smiled, but afterwards we talked and he said he was cracking up inside....

Denise - Your sailor will be at PIR.  Those in the performance division (900's) do the 2 prior weeks of their job.  When their PIR comes up, they will march in just like everyone else. 

emilee - Again, your sailor will carry the flag for the previous 2 PIR's, but not his own.  He will march in with his division.  One thing I recommend is to get with the previous two weeks of PIR's here on N4M and have one of those ladies take a picture of your sailor a couple weeks before you can see him.. He will be lined up in the hallway to march in, and you just ask any of the flag recruits "Where is Colorado". and take the picture.  I actually took 92 pictures of the performance division group for the 2 PIR after ours.  Man, those families loved seeing their sailors 2 weeks before anyone else.  That's the benefit for being in the 900 division. 

When we passed a Super 8 on the road, I had to take this picture... Man, I find it so funny!

Great information Craig.  You answered alot of my questions.   My son to will be holding a flag.  I love the idea of us wearing the same color-I want him to see us. 

Have a great day and keep the info.coming!

Lala - Now that I think of it, they did have the 942 division in the crowd (guiding people, flags..etc), because I asked them which division they were from so I could post their pictures here at N4M, but it didn't seem like all of them, they still had some standing. I thought.  However, now I beleive I'm wrong.  The reason is I remember watching the "body snatchers"  grabbing some of those guys out from the 942 and wondering why? But I bet they were from the division next to the 942 sign.  I was in the middle and could only see that from my view.  

KiWi -

Lala quote is the best:  Body Snatchers - Body Snatchers walk up and down between the rows of sailors at PIR and look for anyone who looks like they may pass out, they have to stand for a very long time and often lock their knees which cuts the blood flow and makes them faint.  The Body Snatchers catch them, hopefully, before they fall, and removes the sailor to the back area without causing a disruption to the ceremony.   You'll see at least 10 people drop.

What's funny is after you watch your own kid for some time, you'll end up looking at the other sailors that are kind-of swaying back and forth.  Frankly, we were actually more amazed at how quick the body snatchers found them. 

Remember, it's mostly because of them locking their knees.  However, some sailors have the flu or are sick, and really haven't had much sleep since battlestations.  So, that's why you see some of  them get removed.   

Ok, I just kill the post.  Just thought someone would like to see what their recuits ship (barracks) looked like...

Having done these forum forever, I know no one ever looks up in the discussion area.  Again, just thought you guys would have enjoyed them...  Sorry...

I LOVE the pictures!! Please keep them here and I am happy to see how all of layout is at the RTC.

Denise, I cannot come here after every email because I am working or away from my computer and I will start 3 pages back sometimes to scroll through and catch up. A quick scroll is a small price to pay for us all to be able to see all of these wonderful pictures.

Craig, why not post the piks in a discussion, and each time you post more, maybe post here so the ladies will look? Many of them have limited time to check comments so need to scroll quickly...but would like to see the piks too.  Would that work?

And if you remind the ladies to check the discussions, they will! 

On the body snatcher issue at PIR:  My son told us that the RDCs told all of the sailors before PIR:  Don't be an a--, if you see someone swaying and about to fall, CATCH THEM! 

I like that these body snatcher sailors are rotating through the ranks constantly, watching faces and body language, and questioning those who look in danger of passing out.  We saw several faint or collapse when there, but none "hit the floor".  They were all caught...thank goodness!

Denise- I dont think anyone is offended.  Im certainly not.

Tone of voice doesnt come across very well online. & yes Mumzie- you guys are chatty (which is great)  :)

My, oh my, yes Mumz - WE ARE!!  (441 replies in our little discussion group) we just chat and chat and chat - but I notice that we are all pretty tame on this main PIR 4/8 page.  :0)

Denise:  No worries!  I have suggested that maybe Craig post in a discussion above so there is a place for the pictures...but he can remind everyone on the board whenever he puts new ones up.  I know all love the piks and I know all need the posts and comments too....so we'll get it all done! 

TB:  You can still follow your division's discussion group....but be sure to hit the "Stop Following" prompt at the bottom so that future comments don't come into your email.  You will have to hit this again each time you comment on the discussion group.

I wanted to share another proud moment that I witnessed with everyone.

Last night I was at the KISS concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and in the middle of the concert, they brought a couple of military men on stage and spoke of our great people in the military and then asked everyone to stand up and show their support by placing thier right hand over their heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. It was quite impressive and it made me proud. I just wanted to share.

Have a great day!

Craig don't go!!  I've gotten more information from you in the past 2 days then I have in 20 something days!  Nothing like hearing from someone who's been through this already as some of our mom's have.  That's the best information we can ask for..a seasoned veteran...

Same here. I also only follow 2 groups - well 3, but i don't review every post on the the 3rd. I follow this main discussionand our group discussion.  I look for items in the discussions if I need information. I also use the search for the N4M at the to of each page to look for any specific information. I am an information gatherer and I prefer to search. I ask questions when I can't find answers.

I am afraid that Craig may have left our group as it did sound like he took the comment negatively although we all know that it was not meant that way. I may go and join one of his groups to gain information from him.

If you would like a visual of what RTC is like there is a video on YouTube, they also have one on Battlestations.  It gives you a good feel for where they are and what they are doing.

As far as the groups go there is a lot of good info to be had here on this site but it can be very overwhelming if you are following them and they are coming to your e-mails.  If you know where your recruit is going next or what job they will be doing there are groups on here for that just look under all groups or type in what you are looking for and it will probably pop up.

At PIR you will also see the body snatchers fixing the uniforms of the guys that are standing, if a collar is wrong or any little thing they blend in very well but you will see them going up and down the rows checking on the guys.

If your recruit carries a flag in his division he will probably carry it during PIR which will make him easier to see.  The 900 divisions have it easier because they are moving during PIR whereas the other guys are at attention the whole time.

It is something to see and you will be glad that you did.

Hey guys...

Sorry about not getting on sooner, I'm actually on convalescence leave for the next month, and had a bunch of appointments today. Beleive me, I'm a sailor and we have thick skin, nothing really gets to me, and I will help this group as much as I can.  Like I said, I have a depper from my website in div 126 and I want to track him.

I have 100's of pictures of boot camp.  I have floor plans, I have the complete picture because running a deppers website I have too.  The more info I can give to these deppers before they leave, the better time they have in boot camp.  This is the main reason why I do what I do.  Again, I want every sailor to succeed.  I am trying to pass the torch to them.

As far as the pictures, I will never put them up in the discussion area and this is the reason why.  Suppose we are talking about a certain subject, say Battlestations, people need the info now, and not have to search and find them two days later in the discussion area.  It make no sense to me, thus why I won't do it.  However, this is what I'm thinking, I will put a hyperlink to the pictures and those that want to click on the link can do so.  That way you can a visual of what I'm talking about, almost like when you guys asked on where to sit during PIR.  From the pictures you can immediately see how you do it.

Again, besides my two websites, I also run the USS Chicken Ship (not for those easily offended), and the Cryptology section here at N4M.  So, I will post this just to liven up this page.  

This is for the GF and wives only.... I want to test you....

 http://i55.tinypic.com/x0thg9.jpg

NavyMomofOnly1Girl - Yes, being a Reservist changes the complete picture for education benefits.  You must be activated for 90 days to use the Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP) program. 

http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/other-programs/reap.html

I want you to check one more thing, being a Reservist has two meanings.  She could have choose to be a normal reservist, or, she could have signed up to be a "National Call to Service" (NCS) reservist.  If she choose to accept the NCS program, then she is totally screwed.  The NCS program is the very worst program any sailor can have.  You really need to see if that happened.  She might be able to change it in boot camp, but once she leave boot camp, she will be screwed for 8 years.  The NCS program is so, so, sad for sailors.  I have about 15 parents on my website that have gone through this NCS program stuff, and sadly, everyone was screwed.  So check her contract.

mumziepooh - Just trying to figure out what you're talking about concerning the white belt.  Just guessing here, I beleive your talking about the flag bearers.  Those white belts hold the heavy flags. The weight is on the shoulders and not on the arms.  But again, just guessing...

http://i54.tinypic.com/2yl07bd.jpg