ALUMNI OF PIR 11/06/2015 TG 52 - 10 Divisions (369-376, 820 and 952)

Hoping that the hurricane hits no one!  We are in "hurricane country" down here in S. FL and didn't have to deal with this one....thank goodness....Still hope that it keeps turning north and more east and heads back out to sea!

Getting ready for some major rain. 6 inches or more tomorrow then hurricane rain and winds. Hope the hurricane takes a turn and doesnt come up the Chesapeake bay. Wasnt pretty the last time that happened. Everyone be safe and Im running to that mailbox today hoping for a letter!

mommacnavy, it is so much easier to find them when they are in front with the flags.  My older one carried one too.  Depending on how many flags they earn is how many they will need to carry the flags.  I really want to say they march in by size, but I could be wrong.  That way the it's easier to see them all. 

I did get a phone call from him today.  I guess he needed more info for his security clearance thing.  Middle names of my step children. 

I did get another letter yesterday from my son. Although very tired of the antics of some in his division- he's doing great. He just hopes they grow up quite a bit in the next week or so before things get tough. Said they had the worst IT ever this weekend because the RDC's found brownie crumbs in the showers...  Brownies in the showers?  Wow. Cracks me up.  By their 4th week of training, they should be much more "together" as a Division, so hoping they can hang in there a bit longer. He also mentioned they have already practiced drill for graduation day.  That's exciting. I think they see light at the end of the tunnel.  (Div 369) 

Momma:  Maybe wait until your new sailor comes home for Christmas and THEN go through his things with him.  He should be able to get some Leave from A school during Christmas break.  Just a thought! 

Carla:  It is very common for groups not to get it together for a while.  I feel sure his will!  I hope he will meet some buddies during Bootcamp and that they will go to A School with him.  It truly is a special bond in the military.

Nuke&Snipes:    I think his division will grow up a bit.  They have no choice if they want to be at PIR!  Takes some longer than others.

bpickship:  Did you know that they will no longer offer the Hall of Fame flag?  Sad, but I believe the last PIR group to receive that (highest flag honor) is either 10/16 or 10/09.  I believe they are coming up with new flag protocol.

Received a letter from my son today.  He said things are going a little slow there right now - still just "folding clothes and crap".  He said nothing fun for another week or two.  Said the RDC's are like Jackel & Hyde - they are funny and joking and then just start screaming.  He said everyone in his division that needed their teeth pulled had them pulled this past Saturday (9/22) - Div. 374.  He said they looked miserable.  He mentioned that he is doing okay but he can't wait until bootcamp is done.  He said his hair is growing back but on his military ID photo he is bald and was on only one hour of sleep and he looked awful in the photo and that the photo has to stay on his ID until he is an E-4!  He also passed his swim and PFA tests (YAY!!!)  He said the mile and a half had to be under 13:30, situps over 45 and pushups over 37.  (He did 12:40, 68, and 58).  His calves were hurting a lot but he said they were tolerable and that he was going to be able to be off them for a couple days (Probably less activity now while others recovered from their dental work).  Although the food is good, it didn't compare to home cooking and he was thankful that he did not have watch that night - it was midnight when he was writing and needed sleep.  Oh yea...and reminded me to make sure his cell phone was charged when we go out for graduation and he is able to get it back.  Sounds like someone is withdrawing from texting/social media...... 

GarrysMom:  No, the new sailors flying out are bussed as a group to the airports to wait for flights.  They leave in the wee hours ....and you can meet them there.  Most will be bussed on Friday night....late....some may not fly out until Sunday....they won't know when for sure until right before PIR.  If they do not leave until Sunday, you will have time with them on Saturday too.....

PIR is over at 10:30....they return to their ships briefly to check out and then they have the rest of the day with you.  So from about 11 or so until 7 or 8 pm.  They cannot be late back on base....they need to have time to walk to their ships...so they will ask you to have them back 30 min or longer before their actual curfew.

Got my first "Grandmother" letter today!!!! Words cannot begin to describe the feelings.. He sounds good, misses all of us, but staying strong. We are so proud of our Grandson. What a good day indeed....

Happy Friday!!

     "This is the day that the Lord has made;

       let us rejoice and be glad in it."

                                             Psalm 119:24

What a blessing for your SR to be selected as the Religious Petty Officer, TraG151!

I got a letter from my SR yesterday...not sure exactly how I feel. He's clearly frustrated & perhaps a smidge homesick. I know this is all still very normal for BC, but I'll be happy for him when the tides change. This truly has been his dream for a long, long time...but currently, it's not what he expected. It sounds like he feels the same as some of the others. BC isn't difficult for him, it's just frustrating. 5 more weeks...

Good Morning!

Congrats, TraG151!  Here is the list of the leadership positions so you can read about your SR's position:

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

TraG151, That is so cool that your son was appointed RPO! We just received our first letters from our son yesterday, and he said he is RPO for his Division as well! He had been helping with the high school youth group at our church before he left, so this should be a position he'll enjoy.

I also wanted to let you know that our daughters(16 & 19yrs old) will be watching PIR from our hotel in Great Lakes.  If you want to bring your younger children they would be more than happy to watch over them for you.  They are both top notch babysitters around here. : )  

Kada  :-)  So great if you can help out TraG!  Very kind of you.

We got our 2nd letter from our son yesterday... It was a little brutal for me, made me cry because I felt bad for him. Apparently he was SIQ (sick in quarters) for 2+ days with the flu, couldn't keep anything down. So, he missed his call home, missed the Sunday schedule with chapel, etc... He said he tried to sleep it off as much as he could, except when the division was getting screamed at & he couldn't sleep. :( Hopefully he was able to study enough for the test they had Monday! He said sick people are supposed to get to make up their phone call, but it hasn't happened yet... he isn't the type that would ask, since he is trying to "fly under the radar". So, now I have to wait until NEXT Thursday to get another letter, which will hopefully be much more upbeat! It's rough when you wait around each week and stalk the mailman, only to find out he's had a super rough week:(

annrea1024- praying for you!  Tough to get a frustrated letter :(

TraG151, Mandimae83 - that's awesome your sons are RPO's!  I'm hoping my son is hanging around with them :)  He loved the chapel service this week; as a matter of fact, that was one of the things he was most bummed about when he was sick, was missing chapel with his buddies.

Momma8480 - I am also having a hard time going through or changing anything in his room!  I FINALLY at least washed his sheets & comforter & everything & made his bed with all the pillows in place.  It never looked like that when he lived here, I thought it would be nice to see the bed made right, but it just looks like he's gone :(  Anyway, I really like diannep's advice on waiting for his leave!  And it makes me feel better that I'm not the only one having a hard time with messing with his room. 

Momma8480... weird, I hadn't seen your post from a few minutes ago when I posted my response to you!  I am praying for all these recruits also :)  I am getting the feeling that this is the toughest time for all of them, since they are learning how to become a cohesive team with a bunch of strangers.  I have a feeling the letters in a couple weeks will be more positive!  That's what I'm praying for, anyway :)

Thanks, My Sailor daughter :)  I will let you all know if he calls!  Fingers crossed & prayer going up now!

Hello!

     "Lord, You establish peace for us;

      all that we have accomplished

      You have done for us."

                                       Isaiah 26:12

Angee80,

Could the letter have gone to anyone else?  Maybe a girlfriend?  Also, if he had your house number or zip code wrong on that letter, it could be in a set aside pile at the post office.  Just ask him to give you the info on a personal letter. He should remember the gate password and people he wants at PIR~