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

julabula:  Both FTLW and Lala stayed at Navy Lodge.  They can answer all of your questions about it!

808mom:  When you find out his division number, be sure to start (if one is not started yet) or join your division discussion in the Forum above.  Then, when it is closer to PIR time, ask on there if any of those ladies in that division could snap a pik of him for you and email it to you...along with delivering him a great big hug from you!  The ladies on this site are so wonderful in doing things like that!

oh man, hearing that some of you got your form letters makes me wanna run home and check my mail, but i live 25 miles from my work, so i guess i'll have to wait until i get off at 5!  UGH!.     I also wanted to tell ya'll that it might be smart to buy a book of stamps and send in your 1st letter to your SR, so he will have stamps to send ya'll mail....he can buy stamps, but make it easier on him, send him a book of stamps!   

808mom --  my oldest son, that graduated boot in 2003, is and has been in hawaii since 2005, all three of his children (my grandchildren) have been born there and his wife is(was) navy also.  I feel your pain on the price of tickets to/from hawaii.  I hate it that you will not be able to attend, but here is some information that might be of help.  MWR (morale welfare and recreation) at RTC has a "care package" they will GIVE your sailor the day of graduation, i can't remember exactly whats in it, but you can go to this sight -  http://www.mwrgl.com/gen_info/rtc_graduation/rtcgraduation.htm  and order it, its like 20.00....  it is for grads who parents can't make it, but ANYONE can order them, i got my oldest son one of these and they gave it to him right after grad....i think he has to pick it up at the NEX....you can ask them when you order it......just an idea!

808mom:  Europe!  wow!  I will do whatever I need to do to help you out!  Let me know!  I am defiantely going to Grad, we are div 262, ship 11, but i will try and find your son and give him a big ol MOM hug if you want me too!  and take pics!  It would probally be easier for someone in your sons division, but I will definately do that if you cannot find anyone elese!  My oldest is getting out of the navy this year, next month to be exact, and moving to Arizona, he has a job waiting on him there.....its not Texas but its a heck of alot closer than Hawaii!  By the way I LOVE hawaii!  been 6 times to visit....love it there!  Let me know if I can help!

I have not yet gotten the form letter but I booked the flight with travel insurance- it was only $1100 for 6 people- so happy with that!   Getting excited.  Found a great hotel deal and I booked a mini van.  Making progress- now if time would just hurry up.

I got my form letter today!!!! *does happy dance* His PIR is Aug. 24! Now have to wait for payday to book everything!

Momof5, amazing deal on airfare! It costs more than that to fly two adults out of Montana. So needless to say we are flying out of Spokane. I agree with you...time does need to just hurry up!

Dakota's Mom, thanks for the confirmation. Brandon had just sent a message with it as well. You guys are great!

I have never seen my son's handwriting so neat! Glad I got the letter today, so now I can start sending him mail...1 week down 7 more to go!!

Brandon, I was thinking the same thing. That is funny!

my husband just called, we got the form letter also.....he is waiting on me to get home so we can open together!  but he did say the handwriting was very NEAT (this is a feat within itself for our son, he would make a perfect DR...his handwriting is AWFUL) lol......anyway, i will report back later!  so excited!  YEAH!

Just got my daughters address.  So excited.  Still waiting for the letter to get air flight tickets and hotel.. Look forward to it.

Received the form letter today.  So happy right now.  It's only been a week but seems like a month.  Her address and graduation date were confirmed which is good because I've mailed out a few letters already.  lol  She was able to write a short note on the letter saying she was kinda bummed that they were still in P days and the actual boot camp hadn't started yet, but was thinking maybe the 4th or 5th.  We only live an hour away but I think I'm still gonna book a room for the night before.  I'm pretty sure they have a family day or something the day before.  I'm so excited.

Neat Writing=Navy Writing!  I about fainted when my son was there and I saw his writing on his letters...who WROTE that??  :-)

Glad that so many are receiving the form letters and hope all are received soon!

Got letter today from mail !!! The address was right by his rectriter gave me last week. I noitced Kyle had to put military zero on this letter and wrote more formal printed letters. His hand writing are sloppy but had to write more neat on this letter! interesting!

Got my letter!  His writing was so neat!  we wondered if he actually wrote it!  LOL....but it was interesting, he wrote "Dear Mother and Father".....mother and father, are you kidding me????  LOL.....what happen to mom and dad???  I think he must have been copying from a pre-written paragraph off the chalk board.....lol.....anybody eleses say mother and father?  he said he was fine and he heard boot camp gets better.....lol......bless his heart......i'm sure they are all thinking what the hell have they gotten themselves into!  LOL.   Anyway, NOW to start the flight search!

Just got the box - and letter.  I'm so excited I now have my son's address.  Already mailing the letters I've been writing.

He's in Ship 09 Div 268.

How funny I was wondering who wrote on the envelope?? my son's handwritting is definitely not so neat.

Just sitting here so emtional and thrilled that I can write to him and mail out the stack of letters from last week.  :)

YAY for boxes and letters :-)  It makes for happy families and it warms our hearts to see you happy!!!

ethansmom -- Yea for letters!  So happy for you, got mine today as well.  Yes, in your next letter to him you need to let him know to put your actual NAMES in those spaces....Mother and Father won't cut it.....since there'll be about 800 mothers and fathers there!  LOL..  No worries, he has plenty of time to fix that, but the names on that list is what allows you entrance to PIR.  Your name not on list, you no go!  

oh yes, Mine has to make a change also, he put down me, his dad, his sister and his brother in law, but his brother in law isn't able to get off work, so we are changing it to his brothers name (who lives in hawaii at the moment, but is moving to phoenix WE HOPE before grad) if he's in phoenix he can go, but he will not be able to go form hawaii, tickets are too expensive.....I'm sure several will have changes to make.  No worries!

They get a chance closer to PIR to update or make changes to the list. It will be fine. Just let him know :-)

And you are right, that happens a lot :-)

ethansmom --  div 262 brother div is div 261, yours would be 263 IF they have a brother div....not all div have brother div....brother divisions train together and do battlestations together, and house in the same ship......i don't know if it means anything or not, but my son said his div was an integrated division (men and women) there are some divisions there that are all men......  

Southwest is the only airline we know of that doesn't charge a change fee if you have to change your tickets. They only charge you the difference in the ticket price. They also don't charge for 2 checked bags. They run specials that you have to really watch for and you have to go to their website to get them. My daughter flew Allegiant Air when she came to FL to see us. She got a pretty good deal with them and they let her change her return flight with no fee. They just charged the difference in the ticket like Southwest does. I had never heard of them before.  

do the 900 division have brother divisions? 

Just received my letter...my son is ship 11 div 262.  Now it is time to plan our trip.  So far he has listed me, his dad and grandma and grandpa on the guest list for PIR.  We have 3 kids going with us, but one is 13.  Will my son need to take someone off the guest list and replace them with his brother?

ethansmom S 11 D 264 PIR 8/24/12 -- From PHX, I am flying Allegiant out of Mesa into Rockland - even with all the fees they charge(seats, food, bags, etc) it is still close to 600.00 cheaper for the 5 of us going.

Got my letter today, Blake is Ship 9 Division 268...I'm in Tennessee for dance competition this weekend, will be making my reservations soon!!!!

Ethansmom- I sent you a friend request- we have SR's in the same ship and Div!

loveofanavymilso- The 900 division does not have a brother division-at  least that is my understanding.

Sounds like the ball is finally rolling for lots of folks in this PIR group- form letters and boxes arriving- very exciting.  Hoping for my form letter soon.  Miss my boy.

OK saw everyones posts today about the letter and told my husband we could get the letter today.  My daughter called before we got home from work and was so excited because the letter was there.  Neat to hear her excited....I'm with everyone else, couldn't believe how neat the hand writing was!  Also laughed at how it was addressed....Dr. and family....LOL.  He wrote a note and said it was going well and he is eating lots of fruits and vegetables!!!!  Never happened at home!  Gotta find out what brainwashing technique they used to make that happen and sell it LOL!  As happy as I was to get the letter and hear he's doing well it did make me miss him more.....I am so proud of him and excited for the choice he's made for himself but it doesn't mean I can't miss him.....

loveofanavy....  900 divisions only have brother divisions if there happen to be two 900 divisions in the PIR group.  Happens, but rarely.

To add to ellen's post...yes, if your SR can get your extra names on a shipmate's list, that helps.  You will need the full name of that SR on PIR day.  However, if not, not a problem.  The extras may have to wait a few minutes to get in, but they should get in.  We have seen PIR groups of 14 still get all guests in.  So be sure to bring the extras~

Good morning!

Any other nukes? in div 941?  Our SR is scheduled to go out of state for A school, and from what I am reading, we only have graduation day with our SR's, then possibly a flight out very early Saturday morning.  I need more time to see him!!!!!

My son is Nuke -- Ship 11, Div 261.  I've been trying to research when it is estimated they would leave.  Neighbor's son went through Boot Camp two years ago -- he was Nuke and he had a couple days at Great Lakes before he shipped -- hope that is the case for us!!

2 days would be a lifetime!  I will keep my fingers crossed!