Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

@nise4295, your sailor should be able to tell you at PIR (or before). Certain rates train in different places. Our sailor is GSE rate, so his A school is GL. Do you know what your SR's rate is?

@ProudNavyGirlfriend - they do not come home after boot camp. Some will go straight to A school, some will be on hold for their schools. Most will not get leave to go home until after their A school is finished, before they report to their first duty station. There is a lot to read on this site. Lemonelephant usually posts links to the sections about rates and liberty/leave and things like that. I do advise you to join the groups for your sailor's A school, those can be helpful after PIR. 

@ProudNavyGirlfriend job = rate  

Oh, and don't ever count on anything being exactly what it "should" be in terms of time. The Navy does things on its own timetable. Our sailor was in a push division so went through PIR a week earlier than we expected. Then he was on hold for 2 weeks for BECC. Next he was supposed to be on hold for a week for A school, but that was bumped up to 2 days of hold. After PIR is when the real learning begins, all the rules and regulations of USN life, plus learning for their rate, etc. 

@BigDrock98  got my form letter today!  Ship 14 Div 227.  Our sons are together!  Already heading to post office. 

When he letter was received, I started shaking just to see I received the letter from him.  My emotions are running right now. 

@BigDRock98 we booked at Navy Lodge also.  So exciting.  Can't wait to receive a letter and hear his voice.

rate = pay grade

rating = job or occupational specialty

After the Sailor completes "A" School, rate and rating go together to make the rate badge and then many simply refer to that as the rate.

The count down is almost done. Less than 17 hours and our son will be heading to boot camp.

Joni, he will head to the hotel on Sunday and be sworn in and head to the RTC on Monday. Welcome to the journey.

Lemonelephant... Just three more hours until we drop him off at the recruiters then he heads to the hotel. It’s been an emotional weekend but we are so proud of him.

It was such an emotional day for us!  But worries were eased when we saw our future Sailor looking happy.  She's set for PIR (graduation) on June 23, and I think we'll be meeting a more grown-up, self-confident young adult then. (Even if only for a short time before A school)!

Sassysweet, he will not have much extra room at "A" School and he will already have his Seabag, hanging bag and black backpack to carry and has to be able to carry all of his things himself. Take things that he can add to his black backpack and don't add another piece of luggage.See the info in PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend. (That link is also in the info I previously left on your My Page.)

Well - my son is at A-School in Florida ... the research I did is proving that information is not always accurate!  He only has 1 roommate - only 2 beds, 2 closets, 1 bathroom  - major change from BC - I think that's what's making it so hard for him to adjust to - he doesn't start school till next Monday (I'm sure they'll keep him busy) but he'll have a better opportunity to discover what / where all things are on his new base... the adventure continues! 

He told us BC stories while we spent time with him over the weekend - it was so good to have him home for even a short while!  out of 96 that started in his division, only 72 made it to PIR!  he said something like 1200 started BC - only 796 (or something close to that - I don't remember exact number) went thru PIR!  That's substantial difference!  While a lot of them were medical separations, there were some that were bounced because of not following orders / rules - he said "doing stupid things and breaking ANY of the top 6 will get you thrown out either completely or to SEPS only to start all over again" alrighty then!  I'm glad he wasn't part of that group! 

Anna, my heart goes out to you and your son. It is everyone's fear to get that call and it can happen to anyone. I will pray that your son has the strength to hold his head up high and to not give up. He obviously has a great heart and no matter where God leads him, he will most certainly be where he is supposed to be. Where God intends him to be, and he will be a stronger more compassionate young man. I also pray for you mom, that God grant you the grace and the words to help him heal and pick himself to continue on. Take care.

Anna,

I am so sorry!  This happened to another Navy mom I was speaking with.  Her son received an honorable discharge and arrived home this past Friday.  With this discharge, he can get the issue corrected and try Navy or another branch again.  Best of luck to you and your son.

Anna, in reading the posts...I am so sorry to hear of your son's discharge.  No words...

Here are the current PIR groups:

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

PIR: July 28, 2017 TG 38 - 9 Divisions (227-234 & 938) 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.

Anna, I hope he will call you again soon.  A medical discharge can be for several reasons.  If they can fix it easily, they keep them.  Mt friend broke his leg in boot camp, they kept him for six weeks, then put him back in training.  If someone has something which will require surgery, they tend to discharge them.  Another thing which can happen is separation if they did not disclose a medical condition, other times a condition is discovered which no one knew about.   
Whether he can enlist again will depend on the what and why of the medical separation.  He can challenge it in certain circumstances, and must talk to legal about that.  

Best wishes to him for whatever path he finds himself on in the future.

Anna- I will continue to pray for you. You are so supportive and that is exactly what your son needs right now. God has a plan and maybe right now is not his time to go into the military. God has another purpose for him at this point in his life. It is not goodbye Navy...it is See ya later Navy. He could be back when the time is right. Prayers to your family and blessings for you all.

I have 3 prints of the "Dear US Navy" piece I made left - if you would like one, PM me your name and address and I'll send it out tomorrow.  First 3 to respond will get them :)

@idyastrid I would LOVE one!

Hi all! I have a question for the ones who were in the dating stage when your sailor left for bootcamp. Did they distance themselves when bootcamp got closer? My boyfriend told me the other day he needed some time apart, because he's going to be so busy with work, working everyday and getting home wanting to go straight to sleep. He said he didn't want it to seem like he wasn't making time for me. I can't help but think that maybe since he leaves in December, he's getting a little anxious and distancing himself to make leaving easier? I don't know, we haven't talked since Friday and I miss him a lot.

The prints are all spoken for

(unless I can get more prints - which is in the realm of possibilities!)

Proud Navy girlfriend... From what I read your boyfriend is letting you know his needs, work and sleep for right now, and he was being considerate of you by saying he would not be able to put the effort needed for a relationship right now. I would go done day at a time and not read anything into it.

Thank you Carol. I just miss him.

ScooterGirl we are having the same issues. We have sent loads of letters as well and in todays letter he is sad and depressed because he is not getting any mail.  I really feel bad for my son, but have no clue what to do but keep writing, hopefully they will get them soon.  or all of them at once.  

When I talked to my son on Sunday he said that the mail was really backed up. So hopefully they will get all the letters soon! 

Here are the current PIR groups:

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

PIR: July 28, 2017 TG 38 - 9 Divisions (227-234 & 938) 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.

LOL, I'm reading about the 4 day back log on letters! We're in such a fast paced, tech society that 4 days is considered a back log. I though the idea of mailing stamped envelopes was a great idea for our sailors to write home.

I thought so too, and gave Daughter 60 stamped postcards (from the post office).  We received not a single one--just one batch of letters the whole time.  She has never been a writer...at least there were two calls and lots of email chat when they got their tablets. :~/

Which division are your sailors in @ScooterGirl & @SailorsLlMom? We've gotten 2 already from mine in division 221

Mine is in Div 195. It's just her. At least the email chat lasted a long, long time...

My son is the mail person for Ship 02 DIV 937, anyone else here have a SR in that ship and div?

hi, babybird98- my son is ship 02; div 937.

Sassysweet, after Week 5 (?), they get tablets and have access to email at designated times.  This is a privilege and maybe not for every division all the time, but our daughter got to email twice so far.