Girlfriends, Fiances,and Wives of Sailors

Hi Anti M - He will be an HM. So he will be down in San Antonio for A school.

hey ladies - this is a scoop about PIR if your SR is leaving Great Lakes.  You will get to see him from after graduation until about 7:30pm.  MY SR had to be checked back in by 8pm and it takes time for them to walk back. My SR went to the airport at midnight that night (friday into saturday am).  My bf called me from a payphone at about 2am and told me exactly where he was at the USO.  I met him there at 6am and stayed until about 10am.  Everyone was very nice at the airport and will give you passes so you guys can hangout until his flight leaves.  That said, it is ALL worth it, but be prepared for what it is (and bring his cellphone so you guys can talk|txt again). We woke up at 5am everyday we were in GL.  He will be SO happy you are there!!!

Avaya-He will be a Saturday departure. Like heathee said, you'll still get to spend all day Friday with him, and you'll be able to meet him at the airport and stay with him until his flight leaves! It is worth it to go to PIR, it's definitely something you won't want to miss!

Hey I was just wondering if anyone knew how much time ill have with my SR after PIR. He's staying in GL for boot camp. I'm staying until Monday anyway because I didn't know.

Katrina, if he is staying in GL for A school you'll get time with him Friday afternoon, a few hours after PIR he will call you, and then you'll get all day Saturday and all day Sunday.

I just went to PIR on 27 Apr 2012 and here is how it went down for me: Immediately after PIR the sailors are released to their families if they are not attending A school in Great Lakes and if they do not have duty. You can take them anywhere and do anything until he has to be back, which is 2000 (8 pm). Give time for your sailors to get to their barracks BY 8 pm. The next morning sailors will be at the airport by 3:30 am but most of them will be there sooner. You can meet them at the airport as soon as you'd like and stay with them until their flight leaves. My sailor's flight wasn't until 5:45 pm so he was allowed to leave the airport and go see a little bit of downtown Chicago with us. My flight was actually before his, so we ended up dropping him off at his airport at 1 pm because we had to go to another airport.

Now, if your sailor stays in Great Lakes for A school, they have a few minutes with families right after PIR but then have to spend several hours improcessing at A school across the street. You will get to see them after they process. You will also have your sailor on Saturday and Sunday but he has to be back by a certain time. I do not know much about sailors staying in GL for A school.

B daniel, They will still put him on a plane instead of going home unfortunatly. He will probably clean, do watches and stuff till his school starts.

Katrina, if your boyfriend is staying in GL like mine did you will get to see him for about 45 min after PIR, then he goes back to his barracks for like 2 hours to get all his stuff then u can pick him up and have him the rest of the day he has to be back at base at 9:30 so he has time to walk back, although if you are driving a rental car or your car he can sponsor you to get on base and you can take him to his barracks. Thats what we did with my bf. Then you have him all day saturday from 6am to the same time as friday nite and the same goes with sunday :)

He will go straight there. They usually fly out Saturday, for us it was a little different though. He didn't fly out until Monday so we got him Saturday and Sunday as well but do not count on that. I think it was because it was a holiday weekend but most do fly out Saturday. 

Thats such great news. I'm so excited to see him. It's like seeing someone for the first time again. I love that. And him!

If I'm not mistaken, if they are in A school, they get that monday of Memorial Day weekend off, correct? my boyfriend and I are trying to coordinate days I can go down and visit him and if he gets off Sat-Mon, that would be wonderful. He hasnt asked anyone like his chief or petty officer what the official "rules" of that would be, but if I were to go down there, that would mean he'd have the 2th-28th off right?

So my boyfriend is in bootcamp right now and he graduates June 8th. I know he is going to leave sat for A school and that the airport lets you have a pass to go and sit with them before they leave. Will I be able to get a pass to go sit or do they just give passes to family members? 

ok thank you. I was worried that they would only let family members go through.

Information to know and use:  The Navy schools are closed for all  Federal holidays.  However, Great Lakes has the student sailors on four section duty rotation, meaning they have duty every four days.  There's a good chance they will have duty one of those days.  They can't leave base on a duty day, but if they don't have watch and make their musters, you can visit with them for a meal or use the facilities on base.  They can also swap duty with another sailor who doesn't have plans, they just put in a chit.

Check with your sailor for current duty day policies, they change often. 

Regarding PIR on 6/22:

Are there any hotels that pick you up from the airport and take you back? That plays a big part in choosing where I stay since I am flying alone and attending PIR by myself without a vehicle.

Skyla, I was in the same position as you. If you are 21 or over the best thing for you would be to rent a car. The only airports that pick you up/drop you off at the airport for free are no where near the base. I was able to talk to a lot of people who were also attending PIR via this website and FB and I was able to find a woman on the same flight as me! That worked out great bc she gave me a ride to my hotel from the airport. As for a ride back I just took a cab... $80! You could also try getting in contact with Sarge, I'm sure there is information about him on your PIR Group page on here. And I would suggest staying at a hotel close to the base. One that has a free shuttle to the graduation. I used the shuttle and was able to sit in the second row. Hope this helps!

The only *HOTELS* that pick you up...

HELP! Idk, what to wear to my SR's PIR >/...

I have 4 weeks (YAY)

It's been forever since we've seen each other, so you guys know how that is.

Wear a nice dress!!!!!!! It won't be any colder than when I was there a month ago... And I wore a dress and wedges! Just brought a sweater with me. You haven't seen him in 2 months and he's gonna be in a dress uniform so I say, dress to impress. If you think you're going to be uncomfortable just get over it and get on your sailor's level cause trust me, he will be much more uncomfortable than you... standing at parade rest for over an hour...

Yes, that's what I was planning on wearing. :)

But im more like a sandal girl, so i'm debating on the heels. I'm short, so I won't stand out much, lol. I'll most likely end up in heels/wedges though.

remember you will also end up walking across the base and back across the base and standing in the NEX for as long as it takes your sailor to get over there if he gets to come with you. I wore boots with a small heel bc it was winter but during the summer even being short I would have worn a very short heel probably. Even though I wanted to look great for him he knows if I am uncomfortable.

As of yesterday my husband is a Sailor !!!!! We got the call around 5 last night ,and got to talk for over an hour!! Something for everyone to look foward to :) He knows I have been chatting with you all on here and wanted to to pass on some advice to your future sailors  he said " write as much a possible ,good or bad send pics from time to time and if you have kids send artwork ot homework" . He told he that is what got him through it ,and when he had down time he reread everything . So keep writting ladies they will treasure it !!!

When you dress for PIR, wear something you'll like in pictures. You know there are going to be pictures!   They should be in dress whites pretty soon, which are quite sharp looking.  Almost anything nice enough for church or an office job interview will be appropriate.  

Sandals are alright if they are nice, but please, flip flops just look like you aren't trying.  Put some on your purse if you need to change shoes later.

(Feel free to ignore any advice about shoes, they're your feet!)

Anti M I agree with the flip flop thing. but just my opinion!! Also girls dress approriately. I dont mean this pointed at anyone but there were girls quite honestly dressed like hookers at my husbands graduation. First off, there had been a blizzard earlier that week so they were so cold you could see the goosebumps on their legs which is not cute lol and secondly all the guys were laughing at them and making comments about the way they looked. So while you want to look good for your sailor its not "going out to the club snag my man" type of good.

Yeah, PIR is a classy, family oriented event. The super sexy outfits are more appreciated in privacy anyway.  And you will be sitting in bleachers... don't flash the division!  If your skirt is short or tight, take a friend to a stadium and have them look up at you and take a picture.  That way you'll know if you're showing the sailors more of a good time than you intend!  j/k, mostly...

lol Anti M and Meagan you totally cracked me up! unfortunately for some it is necessary advice...I was pretty surprised at some of the outfits I saw at PIR (and ours was rainy and cold - yet there were fishnets, crazy heels and tank tops to name a few).  Best advice - as my mom told me many years ago - if you have to think about it twice - don't wear it:)  What I thought about was he is gonna want to take this off me so make it worthwhile.  Everyone sees these pics...look amazing and like you care about it (and him).

haha Anti M thats really good advice! bc honestly a skirt can fit ok then you sit down and all your goods are haging out! It happened with one of my prom dresses. there was a slit in the middle that hit below my knees but the way the dress was made when I sat down the slit wasnt connected so it went all the way up to almost the point of no return! but I never would have thought to see how I looked sitting down in my dress lol!

heathee I was so surprised too!! especially since it was below freezing with about 3 feet of snow on the areas that werent shoveled!

team leo where something that you feel comfortable in and looks pretty :) your sailor will be so excited to even see you! :)

The GW will have individual email, but it goes down or is secured for any number of reasons.  He also might need to wait until he has time to use the computers, or they aren't busy.  It can be pretty uneven communication, but there will be times you can keep in touch almost daily. 

He can use a satt phone too, but I hear that gets pricey.  

Snail mail is still great.

The Japan Moms group has really good ideas on care packages.  Also, phones which work in Japan, and phone cards for other ports.  He won't have a ton of room on the ship, so he should wait and see.  He may end up on the berthing barge at first.  

the phone cards are through ATT he can buy them on the ship. from my guesstimation it cost roughly .50 a minute (My husband got a $10 card and it lasted about 20 minutes. had a 25$ and it lasted about 10 minutes with his Mom and 40 with me and I think 5 with his brother. so around 50-55 minutes) but anyways I would suggest having him buy a card and then adding minutes to it over the phone. My husbands ship runs out of phone cards near every major holiday.. so christmas, new years, valentines, easter, etc. and when they pull into ports they run out too. But he can give you the 14 digit pin on the back and you can call the 1800 number on the back 0r 1800-569-2018 to add them directly.

Like Anti M said email can be crazy. depending on his rate he might have a computer in his shop which they sometimes let them use. If OPSEC is violated, someone gets hurt, or just randomly they will shut down email.. sometimes even for one part of the ship and not the other! Also this is becoming a big fighting point among multiple wives but do not send nude pictures via email. First off the guys checking the emails are gonna see them I have heard horror stories of girls pictures getting posted around the ship. and second it can actually get them in a lot of trouble. No matter how stupid it sounds, i know one wife who stopped getting emails and everyone on the ship did then when they turned it back on they said that if they didnt stop sending emails with nude pictures they would do it again. He can also get just his email shut off for it for like 30 days I think.

Care packages... I like to send cakes in a jar, cookies, and beef jerky. I also send him magazines, he is actually signed up for three subscriptions so I send those out as they come. I also send enough candy and stuff for other guys in his shop bc some dont get any and he likes to trade sometimes for stuff other people send lol. This last package I sent him different kinds of hot sauce lol for the food :) I also decorate the inside of every package.. gives me a project and I use the theme to buy stuff to go inside of it. like his next one will be a fathers day package from the dogs lol ;) so I will decorate it and probably make some sugar cookies in dog shapes and a few other things like that :)

oh also when adding minutes if you cannot understand the people talking or they arent understanding what they ask you dont be afraid to ask for a manager! I am still hoping my card didnt get charged an extra $150 after last time I called them bc they didnt understand to cancel the charge and they resent it through after they messed it up the first time. so fingers crossed!

Actually, the emails aren't supposed to have any attachments at all, just plain text. I have met a sailor (female) whose job it was to read emails going on and off the ship.  Wow.  She said it was good when it was boring.  Be boring, LOL.

Never send nude pictures in any medium, they have a way of showing up in all the wrong places.

meagan, your packages sound so cute!

Japan prohibits jerky, but they are more concerned with large amounts.  When I sent my ET packages, I simply put "snacks" or "candy" on the customs forms instead of listing individual items.  Anything mint flavored will leach into the other food, same with scented soaps.  Double bag everything.  Chocolate melts.  I bet you knew all this from being in Iraq!

(I used to live in Iran a very long time ago.  Love the culture and the people, hate the stupid strife and conflict crap.)

Hi girls!!! I just wanted to share my happines with you!! next Friday I´m getting married with my Sailor!!! I´m so happy we are finally going to start our family together!! I love him with all my heart! Im ready to become a Navy Wife!

thanks Anti M I didnt know that! They had told us we could send pictures just not nude pictures! hmm. I dont want to get him in trouble for sure! haha I def never send anything inapproriate.. mostly just pictures of our dogs hahahaha. or I sent him pictures of the house since we just moved. other than that I try to be super boring! I wont even send him pictures in care packages. I know he would never give them to anyone else but I know people will break into lockers, and steal stuff if left out on accident.

thanks! It gives me something to do too! the last package I wrote a love quote or mini love letter on every package of candy! lol he sent an email and said he loved it bc anytime he got a new box of candy out there was a new little note to read! <3 It also helps the deployment pass faster I can think about it in terms of care packages instead of days or weeks!

thats an interesting fact about the beef jerky! Is it any beef jerky or just made from certain meats?? I heard like pork jerky was not allowed in some countries in the middle east but didnt know for sure all the rules on that whole area. So true about the mint!! lol I realized that when I made my sailor cookies. I seperated his out in seperate bags but put mine all in the same bag lol and they all taste like mint now. :)

thanks for the tips :D....we are at SD it's a shame you´re not here :(

congrats Ari! have a great time and cherish it!

congrats Ari, and hope this isn't weird, but I LOVE your name!

Aw congrats Ari! Can't wait until I'm in your shoes!!!

I got my fiance's form letter today! Ship 02, Div 932! PIR 6/22 =D

meagan, the pictures and attachments thing might vary from ship to ship. I know that I'm not allowed to send anything but plain text to my nephew on a sub.  A very OLD boat.   I'm guessing the newer ships have better server capabilities.  I've been told it was a real pain to retrofit the older vessels for internet.  Sure, the operational systems were state if the art, but personal internet was out of the question for a very long time.  Subs do their data transfers in bursts, so some of the surface ships probably have more capacity for pictures.

But yeah, theft on ships is terrible.  Always had been, my dad told me stories about roughing up thieves onboard in WWII!  I had jewelry stolen in the barracks while i was sleeping.  I came in late, didn't put my necklace in my locker, I put it in my bedside table drawer.  It was gone in the morning.  I had two roommates, and one of them left the next day.  It was a PIR present, a gold anchor my Mom had sent from Saudi Arabia.