Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

I got my son's  form letter today!!! I was so happy I had tears of joy. I was not expecting such a prompt arrival after receiving his box only a few days ago too. His PIR is June 16, Ship 11 DIV 190. 

Navymamabear-YAY! I sent you a message a few minutes ago. So happy we received our form letters and that our kids are graduating the same day. They're not in the same Division, but that's ok. Big smiles today!

Here are the current PIR groups:

PIR: May 5, 2017 TG 26 - 9 Divisions (137-144 & 926) 4 guests

PIR: May 12, 2017 TG 27 - 9 Divisions (145-152 & 927) 4 guests

PIR: May 19, 2017 TG 28  - 9 Divisions (153-158, 812, 813 & 928) 4 guests

PIR: May 26, 2017 TG 29 - 9 Divisions (159-166 & 929) 4 guests (Note: This is Memorial Day weekend. If your then Sailor will stay in GL for “A” School or training, then plan to leave late Monday or on Tuesday if you are able since your Sailor will also have Liberty on Monday. The holiday will not affect those flying out.)

PIR: June 2, 2017 TG 30 - 11 Divisions (167-176 & 930) 4 guests

PIR: June 9, 2017 TG 31 - 12 Divisions (177-186, 814 & 931) 4 guests

PIR: June 16, 2017 TG 32

Click on the date of your recruit’s PIR and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your recruit.

To all of you waiting anxiously, just like I was.  Just got back from my Sailors PIR.  It was amazing.  His transformation was amazing.  Confident and proud.  Lost 24 pounds and built muscle.  He was always active but now he's built more.  Boot camp was a wonderful thing.  I think it instilled skills he'll use for a lifetime.  So be proud Mommas.  Your babies are growing up!  He also said it wasn't too bad.  It's what you make of it.  He had a lot of fun times.

Congratulations Mjh363! Can't wait for June 2nd. 

Congrats Mjh363 - we should have been there with you all yesterday but a push back has us now going on May 12 with fingers crossed!  Hope the weather for you was great; looks like they are about to be hit again in IL with rain. 

carleys_nana  Thank you.  Can't wait for you to go.  You'll love it.  Sarges meet and greet was great too.

Qenime,  They do have overflow into the chapel.  They will not be able to see your sailor until after graduation though.  And sometimes the live feed may not work.  You are there for four hours.  A lot of hotels will broadcast live feed in their lobbies.  The best is for extra people to wait at the hotel and watch it there.  You can then bring your sailor back to the hotel after graduation.  They would get the same amount of time with him/her and watch the graduation much more comfortably.  To everyone:  Bring a stadium cushion with you.  I don't know how I would have survived 4 hours on metal bleachers without one.  $8.97 for one at Walmart near there.

If he is staying in Great Lakes he will have to sign in after PIR for a few hours.  Then he will have liberty the rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  They do have to be back every night though.

I will second the idea to bring a stadium cushion. Those bleachers get hard and you are sitting there for hours.

I'm not sure what time on Sunday he would need to be back.  If you are traveling I would plan on leaving late Sunday evening or night.  He probably would get most of the day.

Our sailor who is in GL for A school had all evening on Friday, plus all day Saturday and Sunday for his leave after PIR. Just be sure to have them back well before their curfew. Also, whoever signs out the sailor is responsible for him and should be with him all the time. That person also has to sign them back in.

Our sailor had to back by 9:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday, so we took him back about 9:00, in order to get signed back in on time. And on Friday, he got to sign out of his new ship around 3 pm and back in at 9:30 pm. 

I had my son from 11am to 8pm.  Then I met him at the airport on Saturday at 6am.  He had a 7pm flight but they bused him over at 3am.  Was grateful to have the extra airport day with him.  If you have a sailor flying out try to schedule a flight home Saturday evening.  Just in case so you can have the extra time if it's available.

TieranyC, calls are totally up to the RDC. Don't expect a call, but have your phone available at all times (especially from 8 am to 8 pm Central Time M-Th and Sat and from 1 pm to 8 pm Central Time on Fridays and Sundays--calls at other times are possible, but generally indicate a problem or a need for information) and be pleasantly surprised when you get a call. See Phone Cards and Phone Calls.

Here are the current PIR groups:

PIR: May 5, 2017 TG 26 - 9 Divisions (137-144 & 926) 4 guests

PIR: May 12, 2017 TG 27 - 9 Divisions (145-152 & 927) 4 guests

PIR: May 19, 2017 TG 28  - 9 Divisions (153-158, 812, 813 & 928) 4 guests

PIR: May 26, 2017 TG 29 - 9 Divisions (159-166 & 929) 4 guests (Note: This is Memorial Day weekend. If your then Sailor will stay in GL for “A” School or training, then plan to leave late Monday or on Tuesday if you are able since your Sailor will also have Liberty on Monday. The holiday will not affect those flying out.)

PIR: June 2, 2017 TG 30 - 11 Divisions (167-176 & 930) 4 guests

PIR: June 9, 2017 TG 31 - 12 Divisions (177-186, 814 & 931) 4 guests

PIR: June 16, 2017 TG 32

Click on the date of your recruit’s PIR and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your recruit.

At what point during BC do they know where they will be stationed? My husband is in the PACT program and will be staying in GL for training after PIR in June. 

@TieranyC - They fill out the form with their station preferences at the beginning of A school. Our sailor turned his in last week. From what he tells us, he may know his duty station in a month or 2. He is training for GSE and in BECC right now. 

@Melissa - I don't think you should put his address out there publicly, you might want to privately message anyone who asks for it.  

@TieranyC, just saw your husband is PACT. I'm not sure about that works for them. 

Can I make a post on Facebook about my son enlisting in the Navy?    And also the date he leaves for BC?

Sure! We posted a lot, plus pictures from MEPS they day he left. There are links on the left of this page about OPSEC and what you should/shouldn't post. It's helpful.

Thank you - :-)

Mjh363 - we were at the airport from about 5 am to 8 pm on Saturday. Wish we could have met. Flight was scheduled for 7:30 But was about 40 minutes late. I think they were the last group to fly out. 

@TieranyC I sent you a friend request on this page.  I am a fellow Texas and my son is also in PACT.

His job will be AECF.     I am just so proud of him and I was thinking of making a post on Facebook as way for more people to see it.

Ugh ProudofK.  I would have loved to meet you.  We were at Midway.  If you were there we probably saw each other and didn't know it.

AECF is a job field, during boot camp he will be assigned either ET (electronics technician) or FC (Fire Controlman).  Fire as in firing missiles, not fire fighting.  I was an ET long ago.  

The concern with FB is both personal security PERSEC, as well as operational security OPSEC.  Yes, you can post his field and that he is leaving. although I would set it to family and close friends only, and not be specific about his travel dates.  

The surest way to think if you are violating persec/opsec is to ask yourself, would I tell this directly to someone intent on harming him or me?  If the answer is yes, do not post.  

TieranyC, those with a PACT contract often discover their first duty station while in BC. It is usually 2 to 4 weeks before PIR.

Here are the current PIR groups:

PIR: May 5, 2017 TG 26 - 9 Divisions (137-144 & 926) 4 guests

PIR: May 12, 2017 TG 27 - 9 Divisions (145-152 & 927) 4 guests

PIR: May 19, 2017 TG 28  - 9 Divisions (153-158, 812, 813 & 928) 4 guests

PIR: May 26, 2017 TG 29 - 9 Divisions (159-166 & 929) 4 guests (Note: This is Memorial Day weekend. If your then Sailor will stay in GL for “A” School or training, then plan to leave late Monday or on Tuesday if you are able since your Sailor will also have Liberty on Monday. The holiday will not affect those flying out.)

PIR: June 2, 2017 TG 30 - 11 Divisions (167-176 & 930) 4 guests

PIR: June 9, 2017 TG 31 - 12 Divisions (177-186, 814 & 931) 4 guests

PIR: June 16, 2017 TG 32

Click on the date of your recruit’s PIR and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your recruit.

I keep hearing of lots of people getting theirs.  I haven't and my kid left a week ago.

Mine left on the 24th also.  Got the box yesterday.  No form letter yet :(

Coolwater, your then Sailor will have training, not "A" School, in GL. See the info in Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks (PACT) Program.