PIR 4/8/2011 Alum Group!

bcordova - The Navy limits what civilians can see when they use the internet on the Navy website. They don't want everyone to know everything. So when active duty sailors want to look at duty stations that are available, or a wide range of other things (ie their medical reconds, dental records, their personnel file, their PFA test scores, future duty stations...etc) they can. All they do is hook up the CAC card reader to their personnel computer, insert their CAC (Common Access Card) which civilains call the ID card,  Once the sailor inserts the CAC card, and their own password, then the server knows beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are talking to the active duty sailor.

Personnally, I believe a sailor without a CAC card reader is a fool. There is so much info they can find using it. A carpenter is useless without a hammer. A sailor is useless without a CAC card reader. It is an extremely powerful tool that most sailors fail to ues.  My nephew is already looking at possible duty stations, and he isn't even in "A" school yet.
They cost ~$20.  Very cheap.

Go look at this link, I posted everthing about it. 

http://www.navyfamilies.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=17616

For those that have already bought these reader, and if your sailors have problems loading them up (which they shouldn't).   Here is an article that was in the Navy-Times. I guess this guy runs a help desk for those having trouble with their CAC card readers. My nephew said it was so easy to connect up, but what is easy for some, may be hard for others. It's funny, because the guys an Army guy, but I guess the Navy thought it was so good that they wrote about it....

Here's the article, and the website listed is www.militarycac.com

Craig-thanks very much...

Texasmom, I am so sorry you missed his call.  I also take my phone everywhere.  I panic when I realize I am without it. 

Please send me a message with his name and current address, I want to send him a note.

Hang in there, I'm sure it is very difficult to be waiting and not knowing.

R.I.P Elizabeth Taylor

jim's cupcake ~ Yup, it's a facebook thing.  If you are on your sons facebook, in the search box on the top type in Navy Recruit Training to find the page.  There they post pictures every week  (a photo shoot of the week and Friday's PIR).   Plus there's lots of people asking questions and getting answers.

Hoping some of our SRs are going through the Confidence Chamber tomorrow morning!

Here's some interesting information about the "confidence" chamber experience ;)

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/l/aanavybasic5.htm

It is me~"out of touch" mother again.  I got onto facebook, and see the Wall with 116 photos...(that mostly look like graduation photos)...where would i look for a photo of the week?  Thanks you guys...I think my SR would just laugh to know that I am lurking around on Facebook!

For those getting calls and letters...yeah!!!!  I am hoping my letter comes tomorrow, Thursdays seem to be letter days here in CA!!!

I got 3 letters today!  he didnt say the date that they will be doing BS.  But he did say that he would be trying out for SWCC on Monday (21st) I wonder how that went??  If he made it, then he wont be staying in G.L. for HM school- but I also dont know what the SWCC schedule to ship out is.

You all be careful about posting names on here.

emilee: Do you think that 2nd name you posted was a last name for the SR?  I ask because they are known by last names.  If you think it could be, please delete your post since we are forbidden to have last names on the site.  Thanks!

Ok, good, thanks emilee.  Just an unusual first name so wanted to doublecheck.

Please do not use first or last names or dates of movement here, this can be read by anyone whether they are a member of the site or not.

I had a very good experience with the Navy Lodge.

cupcake - The Navy Lodge is https://www.navy-lodge.com/

You will be very happy you changed.  We lasted a day at the Ramada, and couldn't handle the smell.

Denise - Wow, a real Body Snatcher.  That would be the position I'd want.  It would be so cool moving around while everyone else is standing their.  That would be such a fun job....

cupcake - I would keep your room at the Ramada.  I think you have until 4pm to cancel the room.  Then I would call the NavyLodge each day.  Sadly some recruits may not pass the final PFA and may not graduate.  Thus rooms will open up. 

Secondly, not sure if you are using this as a vacation aslo, but what would be awesome (if you can afford it) is to go to the KeyLime Cove resort.  It has a indoor water park and looks really cool.  The hotel is $129.95 which includes access to the indoor water park.  Next time I go to PIR, I will be staying there....http://www.keylimecove.com/

Guess what's coming up for your recruits in Great Lakes?  The RDC will make stupid faces on the other side of the windows just to try to make the recruits laugh.  If they laugh they will spend just a little more time in the gas chamber.  My son said he had fun in the chamber.  He was one of the last ones in, so he was toward the back.  He didn't get as much of the gas as those in the front.  He said it was really fun to see everyone lose it (nose dripping, throwing up..etc).  The CS gas tablets burn on a hot plate, each tablet is the size of a quarter.  They use 3.