Alumni of PIR 8/24/2012 TG 41 — 09 Divisions (261–268 & 941)

Welcome everyone.  Looking forward to getting to know everyone.  I have a son who shipped June 26th and is ship 11 DIV 264- thinking PIR is 8/24/2012.  I am a first time Navy Mom- so still have a lot to learn.

In before FTLW that's a first and probably an only. FireTeamLeaderWife is the one with all the links and info, I am sure she will post it soon.

Lovin' the cake picture for the group.

I am a veteran mom here, although somewhat of a newbie to the group. I come from a "Navy family" background. My dad was a commanding officer way back when and told some great stories, my avatar is that of his ship, uncle was a Navy transport pilot, he didn't like Bob Hope...lol and also had lots of stories to tell, two aunts retired nurses, two cousins JAG officers, one cousin retired Navy intelligence, and another cousin currently an officer aboard ship somewhere in the ocean. This background doesn't give me any Navy smarts, it just gives me an excuse for my sailor speak when out in public.

Please ask all the questions you have, there are no dumb questions!! One of us will have an answer or point you in the right direction to get one.

Get ready for the rollercoaster ride for the next few weeks, right along with your SR. You will come of the ride OK, and ever so proud of your new SAILOR.

Ha,Ha you beat me ellen!

Hello!

FireTeamLeaderWife here!

My Sailor PIR’d on 05/26/2011. He is a Seabee Reservist. I have been an AF Reservist wife for 27 + years…I know …not Navy…but I am familiar with military life! We have been through two Deployments…one right after 9/11 and most recently a year ago…our son enlisted while Hubby was in Iraq. This site was a Godsend and helped me get through not only our sons BC experience but my husbands and my separation for 6 months.

I am a “veteran” mom on the PIR groups mostly. I have been on them now for the last 10 months and we have 5-7 PIR groups running at the same time.

I will check in here to see if I can answer any questions and lend support. There will be a few other veteran moms along to lend a hand and support you all through your PIR experience. Others drop in occasionally too…plus we are always looking for more to “join the ranks”. Things change in the military and we like to give out the most current info that we can so moms that have just gone through this help a lot.

I have a lot of Discussions with information to provide you along the way. I will post as the subjects come up! Please ask any and all questions…there are NO dumb ones Folks!

Welcome! Hang on for the ride!

Thank you for starting the Group Momof5!

Ho Ethansmom- welcome to the group.  We are all in the same boat- guess if this is the date, but fingers crossed.  Positive thinking right?  I am hoping we get letters this week so we can confirm and start making travel plans.

Thanks FTLW and Ellen for joining us and helping us with questions- we so appreciate having someone to look up to who has been through this.

I'm like ethansmom, my son left 6/28, so I'm assuming 8/24 is PIR!!

Today is our Sailor sons Birthday!

Momof5....how do you know ship and div if he just left last week? I'm a first time Navy mom, too and I'm very curious!! :)

Hey, all.  I'm a N4Moms veteran, like FTLW, joining to help you all with questions as you endure bootcamp along with your SR (recruit)! 

Momof5:  Thanks for starting the group!

Please be sure to read through the discussion groups above in the Forum that FTLW posted.  I will add the BattleStations discussion, which is their final test before becoming sailors.

Here's hoping for "smooth sailing" on this bootcamp journey for you all!

MoMof4:  I'm guessing that Momof5 got the info from the recruiter.  They can check the computer for ship/div/address info for your SR.  But it you do that, be sure to check it with the "form letter" you will get from your SR soon and make sure it is the same.  Sometimes the recruiter's info is "changed" but the form letter info is correct.  Letters will get there anyway, just may take a bit longer if the address wasn't correct.

They hold mail from the SRs for the first two weeks of bootcamp.  This is because they are training the Recruit Mail Petty Officers, who will handle the mail.  They must finish this before mail is distributed.  Once the mail is distributed for the first time, they will start receiving it M-F.  They aren't usually allowed to write for the first time for two weeks either.  Then they usually can only write on Sundays for a while, but other writing days will be added as bootcamp goes along.

I'm guessing that MoMof5's SR is in one of the lowest-numbered divisions, which would be the first to fill.  It takes a while to fill up all of the divisions.  Those in the lower-numbered divisions will be in processing days the longest before they start actual training.

Didn't realize ellen (another N4Moms veteran) had joined!  Hi, ellen!  Wow, we know who to come to now with our "Navy" questions since your family has such a wonderful history with the Navy!

Hi all.  First of all, thanks Momof5 for starting this goup.  My daughter, Becca, left thursday, June 27th, so I'm assuming she's in this PIR group also.  I spoke with her recruiter on Friday and was told she was assigned to Ship 9, Div 266.  I have a  question, my daughter had asked me before she left if I could send her a pair of contacts for pictures and graduation.  Can I and should I send them now? 

Too funny, Ellen.  You are excused!  HAA!  Grandpa's fault! 

When my son first arrived at his duty station, he was in a pretty bad part of town and realized that he would need a car.  Had sold his before he left.  His buddy from bootcamp/A School took him to the dealerships.  I was in touch with them as they "shopped" around, wanting to make sure they weren't taken advantage of (thank goodness for his buddy who was checking all of the blue book values of the cars on his phone...they got a nice deal on one).  So I asked to speak to his buddy...and he started using some colorful language when talking to me too.  I heard my son in the background go:  Hey, man, you can't talk to Mom like that...she doesnt' like it!  The buddy hem hawed around and then said, sorry!  I just howled.  He told my son that he and his family talk like that all of the time so he didn't know.  :-)

So, ladies, let this be a warning.  Not all may pick it up, but they are hearing alot of "colorful" language at bootcamp, sometimes being shouted about 1/2 inch from their ear!!!  So...give them a little "space" if they normally don't talk that way...but find it hard to "turn it off" when talking to family!  :-)

Hello and welcome to Momof4, diannep and MamaB- happy t see you  guys here.  Also, FTLW- thanks for all the information- I have been reading it and learning so much!  Much appreciated.

Good morning all.  Looking forward to more ladies finding this group today!

Welcome, Dakota's Mom!  It is very possible that this is your group, so stay on here until you get confirmation in the form letter!  If you happen to be in the next group, we will get you connected!

Hi Everybody! 

I have not received "kid in the box" yet? My son went to boot camp on June 26th.  Looking forward to have friends from all of u :O)

Hello everyone!!

My son left June 25th, I received his "kid in the box" on Thursday.  Just waiting for his letter saying his address and PIR date.  I talked to his recruiter and got his ship and div number. Thanks for starting this group!  I am a former Navy wife, so I am holding on better than expected, but I am starting to feel it hitting me...  I have a feeling this week will be my breaking point...Sorry, but I think we all end up there some of us just take a little longer! 

Hello and Welcome Jordanmom- I got my kid in a box on Friday- hoping for the letter this week so I can book the flight and all.  Hang in there- it is k to have all the feelings we do good or bad- it just shows how much we love our SR's and that is a good thing.  Hugs.

Welcome to the group deaf65- my SR left the same day- sure hope we get our form letter this week.

Welcome Dakota's Mom- we are all in the same boat- hoping this is the right group and just waiting- what a fun group to wait with!

I received my som's Kid in the box" today after work. I emailed his recruiter to see if he have his ship and div number. Stayed tuned unti I will find out what ship and div my son is in

Welcome to the group 808Mom.  My parents live in Kula so I know that area code! :)

Deaf65- glad you got the box out of the way- now we wait for the form letter so we can book those flights.  I made hotel reservations today because I figure I can easily change those.

This PIR group should start with Div 261.  Either later this week or next week, RTC should post all of the divisions in this group.  By that time, FTLW usually has it figured out!  :-)  She is making note of the division numbers you all post on here!

JordanMom-Teri:  We N4Moms veterans have heard from Navy wives in previous PIR groups--- that it is so different for them with it being their child going off to bootcamp!  You'll have to let us know what you think!  Just remember, all of us N4Moms veterans helping out on here have "sailor children" so we can help if you hit that "breaking point!" 

Hey all! I know most of you are here to support you children, but I'm here for my boyfriend. He left June 25th and arrived at Great Lakes very late that Monday. So I guess the 26th was his first real day. I'm hoping this is his PIR date!! (I've been a nervous wreck this entire week!) I hope y'all are stronger than me right now!

I made reversation today because I tried to make reversation for Navy Lodge but they were full booked so I made reversation at Ramada Inn .

Hello everyone! My boyfriend left for bootcamp June 26th.  I am really hoping this is his PIR date!  We haven't got the kid in the box or form letter yet! Hopefully will come very soon.  Any other girlfriends on here that want to talk about anything I am here!  I would love to exchange numbers of something so we can talk if we ever need a pick-me-up or support when we have a bad day.

Hey loveofanavymilso! My boyfriend left June 25th, so maybe they are in the same division! I just heard from his mom today that she got the kid in the box over the weekend, but no form letter. So hopefully soon!!

I got my box today...no note :( Emailed recruiter, hoping to have Ship/Div soon!!

Lots of girlfriends are usually in these groups...along with wives, sisters, aunts, sometimes even fathers, bfs!  We are not just moms!  :-)

Hiya again .. Got my box today .. I was sad seeing his handwriting and all contents did make me cry . No note but some boarding passes and a what to do at airport pamphlet.curious thing for me is 2 boarding passes both In his name and thru united . But one was chicago to Minneapolis at 10pm that night which is coincidentally same time he called me to say hed arrived .. Wondering about that ? But looking fwd to PIR letter ..might breakdown and call recruiter !joined PIR group 8-24 in anticipation :)

I cant wait to see how many of us have sons in same racks and possibly are or will be friends.and i LOVE the graphics of weather and countdown.i actually added great lakes to my cellphone weather and look at it daily..makes me feel closer to him!..remember im the mom of ''baby boy never left home now empty nester'' so please excuse my extra emotions!..:)

Hi all! As I said before in the Boot Camp Moms group. I finally heard from my son's recruiter and he gave me his ship/Div number. Soooo, really hope I am in the right place now LOL. Lara(Navy Mom of 3) *waves happily* Due to my being a TOTAL newbie at this, I was unable to send the friend request. Hopefully we can maintain contact here though.

I can't wait to find out his ship and division number! It will be awesome if he is in the same ship and division number as some of y'all. I think it will be another week till I find out something from his mom though :( I really wish I could fast forward through all this!!

Still trying to learn how to "friend" 808mom LOL

Geraley to send a friend request go to that person's page and on the left side you will see "send friend request" click on that or click on "send message" and it will allow you add her as a friend and send a short message as well. :-)

Hi everyone, I am Lora, aka Lala the PIR Ribbon Queen from NC. I am one of the veteran moms who spends time on the PIR group pages helping answer any questions you have. I am so excited for this group to be formed. I have a daughter, 22, who is Sailor in VA. She left for boot camp May 25th 2010 and had PIR in July, 23 2010 so I have been on this site for 2 years. Her husband is also a Sailor in VA and his PIR was Oct 2010. We give him a really hard time because she outranks him lol. We have experienced lots of different things through this journey and I am here to help you. If you have any questions at all please ask them here on this page and one of us will do our best to answer it for you.Or you can send me a private message if you like.  My Sailor was in the performing division 936 and was in the choir. For now the best advice is to write letters every day if you can. Even if your SR said not to, do it anyway. They quickly change their mind and love hearing their name called for mail call. It is like Christmas to them and they say the letters are what gets them through the next day. Try not to worry if the first couple of letters seem down or sad. This is normal and it does get better. You will be able to tell a difference in them with each letter you receive. I know this is hard but be strong, you can do this. And on the days when you feel like you can't come to this page and we will help you through it :-) I know you are looking forward to those first letters and calls :-) And I look forward to getting to know all of you and hearing more about your soon to be Sailors :-) my email is: uniquememorymakers@yahoo.com here is a link to a facebook group that you may want to join. There are people on it now from all the active PIR groups as well several people who have already had PIR who help answer questions. Just be sure to keep coming to this page and share any letters and info you have received and to ask questions that other may benefit from as well. Some people do not have facebook and you want to meet them and get to know them as well :-) https://www.facebook.com/groups/327167160695549/  Thanks everyone and welcome to your PIR group page.

Welcome to the new members today!  If you aren't sure if this is your group, please stay on here until that is confirmed or you are directed to another one.  We should know the divisions in this PIR group either later this week or the first part of next week.

Good morning all!