ALUMNI OF PIR 12/29/2011 TG 06 — 10 Divisions (021–028, 904 & 906)

YAY ProudMom!  Are you feeling much like the cat FTLW posted below? I AM!

This is so exciting!

Congrats to 21/22 sailors!  Now...hoping that 23/24 went and will call soon!  Meanwhile, onward to the next BattleStations!

Whoop Whoop!!!!!!!!! I am the very proud mother of a US SAILOR!!!!!!!!!!  Way to go everyone. I just about bursted from the seams in jubilation when I got my call. 

WOW!  We have come along way from those depressing women who first showed up here almost 7 weeks ago!

Craig and Vet moms- Can any of you tell me more about the Seaman PACT program.  It sounded perfect for her, but now that the time is closer, I am wondering.  She is really excited about her assignment, but I am a mom.  I like to know all I can.

RuthL - I had a much longer post but decided to pull it down.  I know the Navy too well, so my views are much different than most people.  The bottomline is if she is happy, then that's what matter.  Has she already chosen PACT?

I should have just directed you to the official instructions and you can read the rule.  Your's is para 010501

http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/Publications/Directives/VOL%20IV_Programs%...

Proud Mom, we plan on attending one of the Meet & Greet events (Ramada vs Sarge), but still not sure which one. How about you? How about everyone else?

It looks like both take place on Wednesday evening. Sarge's M&G sounds pretty fun. In addition, it is just across the intersection from where we are staying (Marriott Courtyard). I'm thinking the Sundance Saloon sounds like the place to be.

This is the first I have heard of anything to that effect. We have our "Ribbons", but have not heard of anything else so far. However, sounds like a fun idea :)

We talked about going to both.  Will likely spend most of the evening at Sarge's.  Looking forward to meeting everyone!

I may have posted this before but here it is again!

Here's a quick rundown of both Meet and Greets:

Sarge:

5-10 pm at the Sundance Saloon.

FREE transportation from Springhill Suites, Marriot Courtyard, Holiday Inn Express, Residence Inn, Candlewood Suites and Crossland. All other local hotels for a modest fee.

Guest Speaker from the Base to provide info on where to eat, things to do, how to save $$.

FREE food starting at 7 PM….they also have a menu if you want to order something.

Sarge has lived in the area for over 30 years and knows it well.

Sarge has arranged with his friend Nick at Trattoria-Pomigliano in Libertyville for a FREE meal – ANYTHING they want – for your Sailor.

There is a DJ.

Plus, Sarge goes above and beyond the “call of duty” to help Sailors and their families. (He is the “go to” guy for Taxi (shuttle) service. Prices are great and again does more than he has too!)

Ramada:

6-8 pm at the Ramada.

Finger foods – Chips and salsa, veggies and dip, egg rolls, meatballs, maybe another and it could change. (This is what they had when I went. Sarge was not doing a Meet and Greet then)

Bar – or you can bring in your own soft drink or water. Those staying at the Ramada get a voucher for to free drinks.

Hostess provides a name tag and will come in and greet everyone and ask if anyone would like to speak.

BOTH events are open to everyone. There will be people there that know nothing about N4M’s. Invite them!

CONGRATULATIONS to Divisions 21-24's new Sailors!

Thank you Proud of my SR.

I dont know yet if were going to meet and greet.

Got up late so getting this done on the fly- Have mercy on Great Lakes next week- As Lala says ---- everybody sing... " Navy Moms Are Coming To Town!!!!!!!!"  

Gonna try and make both meet n greets that way I don't miss some of you... I hope! This has been a fun roller coaster and now we all can breathe for the time being. 

My Marine flies in today from Maryland so may not check in again until tomorrow... so excited to see him. Y'all have a great day.

In the words of Tiny Tim--- God Bless us Everyone!

momshousedivided:  Enjoy your Marine's visit!  I'm heading out to the airport myself in a few minutes to pick up my sailor flying in from VA. 

Good morning, all.  Hoping for more I'm a Sailor calls today.  Phones handy all day.  Not sure of all divisions that may have gone through last night....so be ready! 

Congrats to the new sailors of Div 021-024!  HOOYAH!

Anybody hear from 03/025 yet this morning?

Craig- She did already choose the PACT program and has recieved her first assignment.  And I was lucky enough to read your longer post.  Gave me much to think about.  I guess the bottom line is she is 19, made this decision, and will have to live with it regaurdless.  She tends to make the most of things, so time will tell how it will all work out.  At least she will be close to home when in port.

022 was the first to call yesterday and I got that call about 2pm Great Lakes time.  It was a very long day, but so worth it when you get to talk to them.

I used to hate that count down clock at the start of all this.  Now  I Love it!

RuthL - If she's happy, then that's what it's all about.  A lot of young adults just get burned out with school.  They want to see and experience life.  The Navy allows this.  A good thing about PACT is she immediately gets sent to her 1st duty station.  Why is this important?  College....

Because the Navy has a rule that a sailor must be onboard their 1st PCS command for 1 year prior to the Navy allowing them to take college course.  Her clock immediately starts ticking when she gets to her 1st command to reach that one year time.  A lot of sailors don't get to see the college because they are required to wait.  Some "A" and "C" school are long, then you have to wait that one year at the 1st command.  So they get burned out from school.  They want to experience life.  

 Heck, my nephew left for boot camp July 2010 and still is in school.  He might get to his 1st command at his 2 year point, then he waits 1 year at his new command before he can take college.  That's a really long time.    

Here is the rule about taking college in the Navy.  Read para 5.

College_1_year_time_requirement

Craig, Thank you for all the wonderful information.  This may be why exactly why she chose this path.  She has always done well in school and been a multiple sport athlete.  She did the half day college half day senior route in high school.  Was enrolled in college, but really had no clue what she wanted to do forever. She joined the Navy and withdrew before her freshman year.  When she started researching the military, one of the things that drew her to the Navy was that they had the best opportunity to earn college credits, while serving.  She wanted to travel, have an adventure, and serve, while she figured out the rest.

I'm a Sailor calls should start any time now!  Let's see which divisions went last night.

Just had "I'm a Sailor" phone call from my son...he's in Div 26!

Congrats to all the New Sailors, I know you all are very excited for that call :-)

Craig, How many recruits are in a division. There will be 10 divisions PIRing on 12/29. Just trying to estimate the amount of graduates. What happens if you donot receive the graduation package with the tickets prior to graduation?

Scotturk -   

Per the number of recruits. They usually start at 88 recruits, but through attrition, they end up with usually 75 recruits.  However, my sons boot camp division was caught goofing off (in the navy it's called skylarking) after battle stations, and just before PIR.  Over, half of his division was sent back in training just 3 days before PIR.  All the parents had already shown up and were unaware their sailors would not be graduating.  They just had to sit there and watch as other did.   You best tell your sailors not to be goofing off, they are still in boot camp and they can still hammer them.  

So plan on 75 recruits x 10 division = 750 recruits.  

Just to give you guys a clue on how the ships are laid out, I'll include a couple pictures.

All the ships at Great Lakes are built exactly the same.  They were all contracted to be built at the same time. Your group will be the "non-surge" layout.  The difference between surge and non-surge is:

Great Lakes gets hammered from June to October because of all the high school seniors graduating.  It's called "Surge" from June to October.  During the surge, they have to rearrange the walls in the barracks to allow more recruits to having sleeping quarters.  So they move the walls. They do this "as needed".  From the attached picture, you can see your recruits are in a "1,2,1" (non-surge) floor layout.  The surge units use a  "3,3,3" layout.  Since the picture would be tiny, and you guys wouldn't be able to read it, I will post the direct link to the pic...    

http://i53.tinypic.com/mr92c5.jpg

So you have 2 division per side x 2 side = 4 division

then you have 3 floors: 4 division per floor x 3 floors = 12 divisions per ship.

Makes sense?

Man...that SUCKS Craig! I have "heard" rumors and while sad, it is good to have a confirm from a really reliable source. I'll be sure to let future PIR groups know.

Love the info and pics! Great Stuff...thanks!

Sad about what?  You got me confused on that....

Sorry...sad that they CAN get sent back. Yeah... I know they KNOW they can get hammered...that they know better than to goof off...had a "mom" moment...won't happen again! LOL

Dang...my apologies! CONGRATULATIONS to all the New Sailors today!