Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Congrats to the Captain's Cup winners, and especially DIV 930! :)  Hooyah!!

AnchoredbytheSoul - there is strength in numbers.  This site is amazing.  Stay with us.  God bless.

And so it begins... watched my son get sworn in and leave for boot camp a few hours ago, he looked like a little boy again to me. He just texted that he is boarding the plane now. This is hard!

@Daisy12, oh my heart just leapt for you.  This is an exciting time!  Good luck to your SR and prayers to you!  

Our son had PIR most recently so I know exactly how you are feeling. I can tell you that the time goes by very quickly and suddenly you are at PIR!  My advice to you is to cry when you feel like, write to your SR often; I wrote to our son every day, (yes, I am one of those moms :-)) ask them in letters when is "hell Week" and send cards (but not too often. I know this because my son asked me not to send any more cards he had nowhere to put them) But always, in your letters express a positive and upbeat tone.  Praise their decision even though your heart is aching and tell them how proud of them you are. In my letters, I always included an inspirational quote and/or bible verse. Over the week-end, my son told me "thanks for the quotes and verses mom, they really helped."

 Keep busy, we are fortunate in that we have a middle school age son at home and he kept us a lot busy with sports. And even that was not enough to help so I started a flower bed! When the flowers bloomed I printed the pictures on regular paper and sent it to him.  We attended a wedding and our baby went to a dance, I printed those also and sent it to him.  He told us the guys in his division asked him what happened to him, his little brother was so handsome!  Friendships form and bonds strengthen, some of your SR best friends might be within their division. 

 Know this, your SR is fine, they are in good hands. No news is good news.  Pray for their strength and believe in their ability to finish strong.  Light a blue candle and burn it every day.  I have been burning a blue candle since my son left for boot camp and I will continue as long as he is in the Navy.  It was the best feeling to see him and hold him after all these weeks, and you too will know that feeling.  Thanks to your SR for serving; you are all in our prayers!

“I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”

            -Mother Teresa 

Here are the current PIR groups:

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 - 7 Divisions (187-192 & 932) 4 guests

PIR: June 23, 2017 TG 33 - 11 Divisions (193-202 & 933) 4 guests

PIR: June 30, 2017 TG 34 - 7 Divisions (203-208 & 934) 4 guests

PIR: July 7, 2017 TG 35 - 7 Divisions (209-214 & 935) 4 guests

PIR: July 14, 2017 TG 36

PIR: July 21, 2017 TG 37  (Keep checking and join when it is up if you have a recruit in this TG.)

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

Baseballlover I got the call too about an hour ago! 

My son left for boot camp last Thursday, 25 May and I received his box of personal belongings yesterday. Big, ugly cry when I opened that box and saw what he was wearing when I saw him last. I don't know, it just felt so final, like those were the remains of my little boy, because I next time I see him he will be a man. I'm so proud of him, I know the Navy was the right decision for him, but it doesn't make it any easier on a mother's heart.  Anxiously waiting for the form letter so I can start mailing letters. So glad I found this group, I know it will make it easier for me to be around others that understand completely.

Since we had a change with the PIR for my daughter's group we got two form letters. Things I noticed in just that short time...her handwriting was different/better and there seemed to be a more relaxed style to it. As if she wasn't panicking while writing. No erasures. Also, at the bottom..."I love you & Miss you" *Heart Symbol*. I kissed that letter, cried & bit my shirt sleeve like Lenny on Laverne and Shirley. :D (well, maybe not the shirt sleeve part *wink*). SO Proud to be a mom of a Future Sailor!!

@NIck's Mom ... TG is Training Group.

just wondering-in each division-what do they call the people over the recuits? does each division have a chief or petty officer?  I was looking at pictures of PIRs recently on the recruit training command page and in a lot, it looked like a senior member (not a recruit) standing in front of the group. Wonder if that is their "trainers?" the ones that are over each division-the ones that teach them, train them, fuss, at them. how many does each division have?

 NavyCousin    RDC's-Recruit Division Commander. I think they have 2-3 per division.

My son left yesterday after a long day of festivities with Cardinal Navy Company.  I received my call at 10:15 that was of course scripted, but I go to hear his voice and hear say 'I love you!", then was to expect over the next few weeks.  His last words to me before we walked away to meet his division and get on the bus was, "Mom, I got this!  Don't worry!" Could see a transformation already this week being with his RDC's for only a couple days before boot camp.  So proud and didn't cry too much as he walked away, was able to sleep and then this morning it hit me.  Counting the days until PiR and I can see him again. 

I finally got my SR's letter. Ship 03 division 215. I cried so hard when I got it. I got the formal letter and a personal letter today. Wow. How emotional. Apparently his division is getting repremanded quite a bit because some people don't like to listen. He's also having issues with his knee. He fractured it about a year and half ago. It's hard knowing you can't do a thing for him. I guess alot of people are getting sick too.I'm sure that's the navy beating them down. (Not literally of course). I sure miss him. I read the letter to his older brother and even he cried. 

This is what I'm putting in the raffle in the meet and greet on Thursday night - I hope it generates a bunch a tickets!!!

I am so sorry to hear of the knee issues.  Knee "issues" are an ongoing problem for some of my children.  Praying for strength for him (and for you) and that the sickness runs it course quickly.  It IS so hard to not be able to "DO" anything.  Praying for you!!!

So sorry about his knee :(  I hope they fix it and help him feel better!!!

Idyastrid what a wonderful gift for the meet and greet. Made me cry.

Our daughter left Wed, April 26, and we got the form letter on Thursday, May 18 along with first (and so far, only) letters from Daughter. Another family I know personally, though, whose daughter left the same date as ours just got their form letter just yesterday, June 4.  So never, never, never despair!

I just got my first call from my son. He is sick along with many other guys. Other than that he is missing home and home cooked meals and a single hot shower. He also asked if I wrote him any letters yet. I told him 2 went out Friday and one from grandma is going out tomorrow. He's looking forward to those. For all the new mom's out there, write often. 

Here are the current PIR groups:

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

PIR: June 16, 2017 TG 32 - 7 Divisions (187-192 & 932) 4 guests

PIR: June 23, 2017 TG 33 - 11 Divisions (193-202 & 933) 4 guests

PIR: June 30, 2017 TG 34 - 7 Divisions (203-208 & 934) 4 guests

PIR: July 7, 2017 TG 35 - 7 Divisions (209-214 & 935) 4 guests

PIR: July 14, 2017 TG 36 - 9 Divisions (215-220, 815, 816 & 936) 4 guests

PIR: July 21, 2017 TG 37 - 8 Divisions (221-226, 817 & 936) 4 guests

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

Are our recruits allowed goodie packages in boot camp? How about A school?

I ordered an ATT phone card off of Amazon and got it very quickly.  The instructions for activation are on the back.  I also opened a Penny Talk account.  That allows me to add funding to the account as needed. I printed and laminated the calling instructions for the Penny Talk account and sent it in his wallet.  Both the phone card and the Penny Talk account are easy to use.

Anyone know if food is allowed in the hall for PIR?  Since we'll be there bright n early hours early, can we bring in breakfast sandwiches while we are sitting their waiting for the ceremony to begin?

@Wisconsinmom - certain ships allow them to have food in their rooms for A school, others do not. Our FR could get shelf stable food sent to him in his first ship in A school, but his new one does not allow him to have food in his room. You can send other things like socks, toiletries, etc. Your sailor should be able to tell you the rules of their ship. 

Motherof5 Penny Talk can also be found at Walgreens.  I sent two with my recruit to Boot Camp just last week.  It was cheaper than others that I found as well. 

@ldyastrid - Everything I have read says yes, we can bring food in. 

The instructions to use for Penny Talk was right on the back of the card as well. 

YAY - glad we can eat in the hall!  Hubby gets hangry and I don't want to be near him then  HAHA

Anyone see anything on Captain's Cup?  I cannot find anything on the RTC Facebook page.