Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Hello TML629, My son started on Feb 4th. I got the box yessterday. 

TML629 I'm guessing 3/27 because of Easter Sunday, but I don't have a clue!  Grasping at any straw I can get myself.  Got my son's box yesterday too, no letter.  Mine left the 4th too.

So this question goes out to the long term people of the site my son left on the 4th of Feb and he has a 5th grade sister at home  and her class is learning to write letter and I was wondering if he got a whole bunch of letter from this class if this would get him a ton more pt because of this. thanks

TML629:  Be sure to have the kids put the school's return address on their letters since the SRs will most likely want to write them back!  They love getting letters, especially from kids' classes like that! 

Navybrat/mom:  They are allowed to keep a small Bible, but not sure how small that is.  They have very little storage space so it would have to fit in there....They also can request a bible there.

You could also print the addresses on an index card and enclose it in one of your letters.   

TML629: They have PIR on Easter weekends....on Friday.  PIR was 04/18 last year and Easter was 04/20.

Thank you I will let the teacher know.

TML629 That is an excellent idea! 

Marie still don't have my letter yet I am hopping it is not that weekend I want to make PIR but my 5th grader is also in a play that same weekend I went based on everything I had that was 10 weeks so we told her she could do the play just need that letter.

Put a list of phone numbers in the wallet.  If they go to make phone calls, your SR will likely have that on them.  While they can remember many phone numbers, it helps to have a list if they are tired or stressed.  

BootsnPanama:  What a great idea to put the piks in his wallet with addresses on the back! 

Good Morning All !

Anti M:  Yep, that is the best idea .... to put the addresses in the wallet before leaving for Bootcamp.  But this SR is already there so have to go to Plan B!

open facebook PIR groups 

04-03-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/411531129024921/

03-27-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1394022954235282/

03-20-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1532104763708545/

03-13-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1566023320279125/

03-06-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/325389517668946/

02-27-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/769093476518887/

02-17-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/769093476518887/  

02-06-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/373434896151688/

01-30-15

https://www.facebook.com/groups/541614465975138/

This waiting for the form letter and our kids address is for the birds!!! Utterly frustrating! I know they need to adjust from home life to Navy life but what is wrong with getting encouraging words from home!! Sorry for the rant but I'm very frustrated about the whole ordeal. 

Chkimbr,

Your SRs don't get to fill out the Form Letter with their addresses until they have been fully processed and assigned to their ships.  The mail would have no where to go until then.  We each wrote letters and gave them to our Sailor daughter when she left.  She had those to read until the Mail Petty Officer was trained.  It's a process for all involved.  I know that each SR knows their family loves them, prays for them, supports them, and encourages them~~  Hang in there.  Remember this is only 9 weeks out of your entire lives and you will make it through.  (((HUGS)))

Hello Friends!

     "Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord,

      and whose hope is in the Lord."

                                                    Jeremiah 17:7

hi everyone!  I have another question.... is renting a car a good idea or use taxi?  What has everyone found to be the best way to get around town :) I don't mind driving since I travel the country for work and use to traffic.. just concerned about parking for grad and stuff :)

tori'smom, is your SR staying in GL for A School? If so I would say definitely to rent a car. My Sailor stayed in GL and it was the best way to pick him up and drop him off at school and to drive around wherever he wanted to go. I left the hotel at 6 am every morning to go pick him up, then we went out for breakfast and whatever else he wanted to do and I dropped him back off around 9 pm that night. Definitely allowed for more flexibility. 

Even Sarge's charges can add up.  Renting a car is always more economically feasible.  We did that.  But we DID use the shuttles (Sarge's or local service) to PIR...it was only $3/pp each way....the shuttles (actually taxis) bypass the car line going into RTC....we had no issues taking the shuttle there and back...your sailor rides back with you IF he/she is flying out for A School.  Those staying in GL for A School move over there shortly after PIR and you pick them up over there a few hours later.

There are deals on car rentals and if you book your flights with Southwest Airlines, in the past they have given out a discount code for car rental that was pretty good!  Southwest Airlines flies in to Milwaukee (45 min to GL, no traffic, car rental cheaper) and Chicago-Midway (hour+ to GL depending on traffic).  No change fee charged if your SR is delayed; 2 bags check for free.

If Div 131 is in the 4/3 group, then so is 132.  They are brother divisions.  So, so far, there are 5 divisions....but I have only seen a PIR group with 5 divisions once in the 5 yrs I have been on here....so thinking there will be other divisions added.  As soon as RTC posts your grad date on their page, you will know!

tori'smom

Since your daughter will most likely fly to San Antonio on Saturday, you will want to maximize your time with her by seeing her off at the airport. That means driving to the airport in Chicago at an ungodly hour in the morning. One more reason to rent a car.

Onpoint, the RTC has not posted the divisions for the 04/03/2015 TG. See http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp.

Happy Friday!!

     "Open my eyes, that I may see

      wonderous things from Your law."

                                  Psalm 119:18

Just got my letter!  SHIP 12 Division 134 Graduation date April 3.  Whew!! Now to get my letters to the Post Office!

PIR GROUP 04/03/2015 TG 21 is now up and running.

This PIR Group will start with Division 129 and will have the Performance Division 921.

Come on over!

Here is the direct Link:

PIR Group 04/03/2015 TG 21

If you have a recruit in Division 129 or 130, what ship is your recruit on? Thanks

Here are the current PIR groups:

No PIR 02/20/2015

PIR: 02/27/2015 TG 16 - 8 Divisions (095-100, 915 and 916) 4 guests

PIR: 03/06/2015 TG 17 - 7 Divisions (101-106 and 917) 4 guests

PIR: 03/13/2015 TG 18 - 7 Divisions (107-112 and 918) 4 guests

PIR: 03/20/2015 TG 19 - 9 Divisions (113-118, 807, 808 and 919) 4 guests

PIR: 03/27/2015 TG 20 - 11 Divisions (119-128 and 920) 4 guests

PIR: 04/03/2015 TG 21 (to be updated; begins with Division 129 and contains Division 921)

Click on the date and join to connect with others with loved ones training with your recruit.

Is that a "large" graduating group?  I had 4 listed on the letter, but does anyone have an exact count?  My daughter was trying to come from ND...but we have three coming from OR as well...

Anna, so far it appears that there will be 4 guests for the 04/03/2015 TG.

My son is in division 129, it's ship 03

Since Monday is a federal holiday, does the training schedule change? I know they will still PIR on the same day, but do they have to cram 5 days of training into 4 days this week? Or does training go on as usual?

PacNWmom:  All of the holidays are considered when planning a PIR date.  Although a holiday is not counted as one of their 6 weeks of training dates, they do have a little training that day along with a more relaxed schedule (typical of a Sunday schedule).  No worries....they will get it all done!

lemonelephant is correct.  Looks like 04/03 will have 9 divisions and therefore, each sailor will be allowed 4 guests at PIR.

Anna:  My son's PIR group had 9 divisions also.  It was a nice size group....not too big, not to small in the PIR Hall.  The largest PIR group we have seen is 15 divisions....and they are bursting at the seams then!  Those large groups usually only come later in the Summer/early Fall when the graduated high schoolers hit the PIR groups.

Anna - It looks like you have more than 4 possibly?

The maximum number of Guests allowed for any PIR is four.

Here is the "official" from RTC Website:

ALL GUESTS, to include Active Duty/Retired Military Personnel and those ages 3 and older must be on the access list.  Children 2 and under do not need to be on the access list.

The number of guests allowed per recruit is dependent on the number of divisions in the training group.

12 or fewer divisions within the training group: FOUR guest maximum per recruit.

13 or more divisions within the training group: THREE guest maximum per recruit.

Please coordinate with the recruit as only recruits may place names on the access list.  RTC staff can neither change these names nor release the names of those on the list.

Individuals who are not on the access list will NOT be authorized admission into the drill hall.  We do NOT have a designated waiting area nor do we offer a standby list.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

(Click, or double-click I can't remember! LOL, to open in it's own screen. The site is cutting off the video's for some reason.)

Happy Valentine's Day!! <3

     "Your Love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

       your faithfulness to the skies."

                                                        Psalm 36:5