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

The box usually comes in the first week. I got mine on the 5th day after she arrived. Sometimes they donate everything and don't send a box back. But most of them have a cell phone so they send the box back but may still donate their clothes. The box is usually delivered by FedEx so if you come in your house through a side or back door or through a garage be sure and check the front door or porch. One mom found the box on her front porch while working in her flower bed. She had given up on it ever coming because her son had been gone 5 weeks lol.

Also to add to what Lala stated below, when you do get "the kid in a box" make sure you check those shoes, socks and pockets on the pants.  Sometimes they will stash their cell phone in one of those and some ladies have even found small notes in them.  

Hello all, I think I am in the right group, my son is in division 191.  His PIR should be Augh 24.  I am looking for a way to reach out to some other moms going through this.  I am finding this site to be a little confusing but I am trying.

Good Morning, srmproudmom and Race's mom.  Welcome!  Hang in there, srmproudmom, it won't take long and you will get the hang of it.  We are here to answer all questions, including the "how to do's " on the group.  Just let us know how we can help.  

Hey everybody! My boyfriend left June 25th and his mom just told me his graduation date is August 17th! :( So I guess I wont be in this group anymore...really surprised because I figured it would be August 24th.

I have had others looking for a facebook page for this PIR so I thought I would share it here as well...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/133432956792127/files/#!/groups/439...

Found out from my son's recruiter that my son is in ship11 Div 262  and got address, Will mail the letters to him soon

srmproudmom:  Hmmm....don't think you posted the correct division?  Div 191 is from the June 22nd PIR group.  And 291 would be too high.  Maybe 261?  That division will be in this group.  Glad you found us here!  Don't worry...keep practicing on the site...one thing I was doing wrong when I joined back in 2009 was this:

On your personal page on here, you have a Comment section at the bottom where people can comment and you can comment back.  My problem was that I was commenting back to MYSELF!  I didn't realize this until another sweet lady in my group, JessicaBSailor, who is another N4Moms veteran who helps out here as long as I have been, told me.  Duh, Dianne! 

So you see...we all are learning by trial and error!  Just keep practicing!

Diannep, how did you comment back to yourself? Now you have me worried lol that I have been doing it wrong for 2 years. Oh I hope not lol. 

Ladies, please be careful about thinking that the PIR groups on FB are safer than on here.  Anyone can join FB....under any disguise!  So your comments on FB need to be watched just as they do here. 

We always advise that you not post very personal info received from your SR...just general info...how they are doing, what schedule they are on, etc.  Personal feelings about their "bosses" especially should not be posted.  This is a frustrating time for them...and they may write a letter at a "low" time which could be a bit negative.  FB and N4Moms are "public forums."  So just know that what you write can be seen!  Private message any details you would like to share with others in your division.  That is safe!  :-)

Lala, I have no clue.  I think IT has changed up this site since I was doing that almost 3 yrs ago...and now not sure you can!  But I was not hitting "comment back" or something back then and the comment was just appearing right there on MY page.  Geeesh....  :-)

Good news!!! I got "the box" today when I came home for lunch. Needless to say, what did I do?............. broke down and cried. Then pulled myself together, because he is doing ok and I know I will get that form letter soon. I wrote to him last night and it helped just to get that started. Next step... cleaning his room. Lord help me LOL!!

I got "the box" today.  And yep...I cried too.  I pulled the phone out of her shoe and tucked in her pocket was a small note that just said she loved us and would see us soon.  So, I then cried again.  lol  Now just waiting on the letter to confirm the address I got from her recruiter.  I have mailed one letter already, but the address I got from her recruiter didn't have the RTC line in it.  Any idea if she will still get the letter?  Also, she wanted me to send her a pair of contacts for pictures and graduation.  Can I do that and when and how should I send them? 

Sorry everyone I guess I posted my son's division wrong... I am looking for others in division 941 ship 02.  I am trying to learn this site it's a little confusing to me.   lol  

Geraley T   I have that room issue to!! My so unorganized son left me piles of to wash, to get rid of, to pack up and i don't know what to do with!! I haven't been able to go in there yet, hopefully this weekend!!  Best wishes to you!!

If I find out his ship/division number from his recruiter can I start to send him letters or should I wait for the form letter to come?  When do the recruits start to recieve letters?  I don't want to send it now and it not get to him!

MamaB:  Ahhhh....so sweet to get that note!  Yes, she will get the letter.  It is not necessary to put the Recruit Training Command in the address.  Full name/ship#/division# are important!  Be sure to compare the recruiter's address with the form letter address when it arrives.  Sometimes there are a few changes--form letter is the correct one...but she should get the letters...may just take longer if the address was a bit different.

For those who have received the form letter, feel free to start a "Division Discussion" above for your division is no one else has.  That is a way for you all with SRs in the same division to get to know each other.  Stay on this main board too as we will be providing lots of info here!

THAT's better srmproudmom!  Welcome to the group!

They don't start receiving mail until they have been there about two weeks, once the Recruit Mail Petty Officers are trained (mail held until then).  Once the mail is delivered to them for the first time, they will get it regularly M-F.  In the beginning, they can usually only mail letters once a week, but that can change as bootcamp progresses and they get to send letters more often after that.  My letter day when my son was there was Thurs. 

I'm bummed out! Just called the recruiter and they told me Blake's Ship/Div info isn't in the system yet :(

I guess I'll call again later this week.

Just called my boyfriend's recruiter.  He said that his division is not in the system yet.  He arrived at bootcamp on June 27th.  Do you think this will push his graduation date back a week since his division number isn't online yet?  I sure hope not!

Actually diannep...you can comment on your own Page still. The comment box doesn't show up but there is a link to click that says:

">Comment on My on Profile"...I have done it to "save" a tidbit of info.

Hmmm...would that be considered talking to myself?!

Sometimes the address from the recruiter can have TMI or not enough info. My recruiter got the Ship Div but not the street etc (didn't think to ask on where to find it!) so I waited for the Form Letter...11 days.

Here is the Format for addresses:

SR, Last Name, First Name, Middle initial

Ship ##, Divison ###

Recruit Training Command

#### Something Drive or Avenue

Great Lakes ILL 60088-####

SR= Seaman Recruit

(The Recruit Training Command can be left off...it just may be written that way on your Form Letter.)

FTLW:  On the ship address page, they don't say you have to have the RTC part in.  Doesn't matter if it is put in there, and I believe they put that in the address in the form letter.  Strange that they don't have that on the ship address page too?

http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/contact_recruit.asp

Receiving the box, Sailor12, is very hard...many can't touch it for a long time...others go through it little by little and wash things...others (like me!) just have to get it "over with" and wash everything right away.  Most do not put notes in there, by the way--although some do.  They are getting yelled at so much at that time, so many orders, that most don't think to do it nor have time.  That form letter should arrive soon with your SR's handwriting!  That is a GOOD day!  :-)

Thanks, FTLW, for the info on how to comment to myself on my page!  I do enough "talking to myself" around the house so I think I'll "pass!"  :-)

I know...IDK why it is that way on the form letter and then on the RTC pages it's not there! :-) I never know quite which way to "present" it!

I plan to clean my SR's room this weekend, not looking forward to it.  He has so many things he has saved over the years, I'm sure it will be emotional.   I see so many got notes in their "kid in a box" that I rechecked my box to see if I missed a note, sad to say no.....:{

MamaB, yes, she is permitted to have her contact lenses for PIR.  You are allowed to send them (and a very small bottle of solution) a few weeks before PIR.  She may be asked to open the box in front of her RDC, but once they see what it is, they will just tell her to store them in her rack until PIR day.  Also, for those of you who have female recruits, they are also allowed to wear a little bit of makeup at graduation, so you can send some makeup.  But, once again, they will have to keep that in their rack until the morning of PIR.

Got my Stepsons address from recruiter today, so we can start sending off our letters.  He is Ship 09 / Div 268.

Guess we are meanies over here, he had his room all packed up and cleared out and ready for his sister to move in to before he even left last Wednesday.  LOL  

We got the box yesterday. :(  

I'm so thankful for this website and this group, so we can start planning our trip to Great Lakes for his graduation!!!!!

I am planning to leave his room- we do not need it for anything.  Who knows how long it will be before he is home.  His room is a mess, just the way he left it- but it is his stuff- so I will leave it for him to decide what he wants to do with it.

Glad you got the address klh17- it seems to help to be able to write and kind of know where they are at.

My son is in DIV 262, ship 11.  This is our 2nd son to join the Navy, and this time around isn't any easier.  But we didn't have this site last time, this is so cooL!

Welcome mkcmom- I think deaf65 has a SR in the same group as your son.  I have not yet seen anyone from my son's- so hoping I do soon.  It is hard.  The past week seems like a lifetime.

Momof5 -- hang in there, it will get better.  This is our 2nd son (our baby) in BC now.  Our oldest has been in Navy for 9 years, he is exiting this year, one going in, one coming out!  But the Navy has been awesome for our 1st son.  But, saying that, it isn't any easier the 2nd time around!  It IS hard.  We are empty nesters now, not sure we like it!  What div and ship is your son on?

Anyone on ship 11?  did your recruiter give you the address?  Ours gave us 3600 ohio st, but online I fine ship 11 (uss kearsarge) at 3505 Sailor drive....wondering which one is right.....????

Thanks mkcmom- I know it is the right choice for him- just missing him- and running into folks in town that ask about him brings up all those emotions.  he is ship 11 div 264.

For ship 11- I was given the Sailor Drive address.

Happy 4th to all of you!!!!

Happy July 4th!

Thank you FTLW and Momof5!!!  I sent a letter already to the Ohio street address, but i"m sure he'll get it.....doesn't take rocket science, and his div# and ship# were correct.....but i will use the Sailor Dr address from now on..... Hope everyone has a happy 4th of July.