Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Marchella, last week. Some who shipped last week will have PIR 08/11/2017 if they were placed in one of the last divisions from the week before (that happened for some who shipped on Monday or Tuesday). The rest of those who shipped last week will have PIR on 08/18/2017.

Marchella, your recruit will most likely have PIR on 08/25/2017.

Marchella, I am right there with you. I think my son's PIR will be 8/25, maybe we will all meet in person then. Pray lots, and start writing those letters they will love to receive.

My youngest son is at boot camp right now and graduates July 14th. My oldest son went to meps today and goes back in 2 weeks for his physical and finds out boot camp date. What a roller coaster this mom is on!

Received another letter today from my son asking me to send him paper, envelopes, & stamps to him along with some petty cash.  Am I allowed to send him these things? I know he has already been to the commissary; maybe he's running out before he can go again? Need advice.... Thanks Shannon

I'm not sure about sending money Nolagirl, but I know that we can send stamps, just not sure when we are allowed to. I do know that whatever we send has to fit into a standard sized letter. I think we can start as soon as we receive the form letter with the information that has the mailing address.

Thanks @ShawnMom.  @butterball my son sent cash in his letter; I wanted to send it back. Assuming that's not allowed then. Good to know about the standard sized letter/ I would have sent a large envelope!!!!  This is the second batch of letters we have received.     Thanks again!!!

Ddaarryylll, that was very thoughtful of you to take photos of your son and others. I was not able to be at my son's swearing in and found no one to have taken pictures. Nor did he ask anyone to take pictures. I was a little upset. So thank you for thinking of others. 

It's been 16 day (he left June 13th) and I have not received a letter. I'm an emotional roller-coaster. I've gone from proud, crying, to now annoyed. Perhaps, I'm thinking to much into it, but knowing that he took paper and stamps so that he would be able to writing. I don't understand why I haven't received a letter when many others have. This is week 3, he said he would be able to call in week 3. No call either.

Feeling really sad and hopeless. I'm missing my son deeply.

I want to know that he's okay.

Here are the current PIR groups:

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 & 937) 4 guests

PIR: July 28, 2017 TG 38 - 9 Divisions (227-234 & 938) 4 guests

PIR: August 4, 2017 TG 39 - 11 Divisions (235-244 & 939) 4 guests

PIR: August 11, 2017 TG 40 - 8 Divisions (245-250, 818 & 940) 4 guests

PIR: August 18, 2017 TG 41

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

Kim-MomInVT - We were NOT allowed to take our son to MEPS, but we WERE allowed to go to MEPS for the swearing in. Our son stayed at the hotel the night before, then they drove him to MEPS super early in the morning. He called us to let us know what time the swearing in ceremony would occur. My husband and I drove to MEPS and were able to videotape him swearing in, as well as take pictures. I am so sorry they didn't let you know you could at least meet there. 

New Navy Mom 1, your recruit IS fine or you WOULD have heard. I know it is hard, but "No news is good news!"

Some recruits do not write much. Your recruit shipped on the 13th, so he may have been able to write a "real" letter for the first time on the 25th (the second Sunday after arrival) during holiday routine. If he had extended P-days and had to wait on additional recruits to fill the division into the following week, then he will not have holiday routine for the first time until this Sunday. That is rare for one arriving at the beginning of the week as your recruit did, but is possible. See Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

You may receive an "I'm still alive!" call in week 3 or 4 (calendar week, not DOT), but that call can come before or after that depending on when the RDC is able to schedule the phone banks. Don't expect a call, but do have your phone available from 8ish am to 8ish pm Central Time and be pleasantly surprised when you receive a call.  The "I'm still alive!" call or other calls the RDC schedules usually come in the mornings on weekdays except on the day of a PIR because the "I'm a Sailor!" calls, which are typically made 1-7 days, but can come up to 10 days, before PIR, are in the afternoon and evenings, but calls can come anytime during those hours on Saturday.  Calls on the day of a PIR or on Sunday come between 1 and 8 pm. Calls for security reasons or for information are generally made during regular business hours.  Remember "No news is good news!" See Phone Cards and Phone Calls.

Kim-MomInVT I am sorry you weren't informed of that option.  I will say we didn't actually fill out ANYTHING before we went to MEPS. We showed up and just had to show ID and sign in as visitors. We walked through security (pretty much like airport security) and then we went into the large open waiting room where our son was and a other recruits and also Deppers. All the recruits/Deppers were told to go into the room and they were told what to expect for the swearing in. Then we all were informed that we could now enter the room for the swearing in ceremony. We were encouraged to videotape the ceremony and also to take pictures!!! Afterwards, we were allowed a short time to say goodbye and take a few last pics before our son was leaving for the airport for the flight to GL. 

Kim-MominVT, parents cannot take their future Sailor to MEPS. Parents are allowed to go to MEPS and see the candidate swear in, but some MEPS locations require a pass that must be obtained a week or so before the date--that is the case when the MEPS is located on a military base, but may be needed for some other locations as well. Not all parents attend the swearing in and your son most likely had a say in whether you were to attend or not, but if the MEPS in your area is on a closed base, then parents may not have been able to attend.

Ladybug, yes, if he asked for a watch, then you can send one. Send a water-resistant black or silver watch. Send it in a padded envelope. Although we want to think that we have the best at the RTC and in the Navy, theft does happen at the RTC and in the fleet, so don't send an expensive watch. He can also purchase a watch at the NEX if he needs one for his duties in his division.

Our daughter sent us exactly 6 letters--and they all came on one day about 3 weeks after she got to RTC.  She told us that she was "just too busy" to write after that: of course the phone calls helped, but I was despondent  She wasn't a writer before the Navy and somehow I expected that to change. Unrealistic of me! Now she's in A school and loving it, and we're texting and emailing again.  it was a break in communication, but not an end to it. And when I think back...I wasn't writing my mom every day, or even every week, when I was her age.

I know the feeling about having not being told I could attend MEPS. I did receive the arrival telephone call and am very thankful for it. I am so very proud but I am anxious about all of our kids being treated in a way I would probably be angry about, but that is why God made me mom. I keep telling myself that he is an adult now and I have to let him make his own way in life, on his terms, not mine. PIR can't get here soon enough for me.

Thank you for posting PIR dates lemonelephant, sadly I believe I well be told August 25 will be ours. I am still waiting for the letter. It is a hurry up and wait experience for sure. So very difficult, but so very proud. Just when I think I am doing okay, I have a melt down. Will this feeling ever stop I wonder, I love feeling so very proud , but I hate being a blubbering idiot, and I can't let him know it, for fear it will make him wish he didn't join. I need to be strong for him, but I am still just a mom, missing her only son.

Six days to BC!  Wednesday he was singing in his room to music so yesterday I wrote my first letter to him to tell him about it. And how I will miss it.  He is getting so excited. While I am getting a little bit weepy, I am trying to focused on the excited.

I hear ya Michele75, the days prior to my son leaving I tried to spend every moment I could with him, long hikes, swimming and BBQ with his friends. It was hard not to miss him before he was gone, I was just trying to soak up every moment. I had my breakdowns for sure- just soak up the time.

Also, he will be able to keep his wallet if its slim and black, I made a poem with a little personal note on the back from me and laminated it, it was just the size of a credit card, but I could tell it meant a lot to him, something he could pull out and read until we can get those letters to him. Its hard letting them go, what made it a little easier was how excited my son was, - definitely hard to walk away from him at MEPS after his swearing in.

Depending when your SR left for BC, the recruiter should be able to tell you. Being summer, probably a quick turn around. Our daughter left on the 7th, from Germany, which was a Wed, and by Friday afternoon her recruiter knew PIR and if she was a Grad 'n Go.   So check with them if they are even working today. However, if staying at the Navy Lodge.....go ahead and make the reservations in your SR name.   Once the PIR goes up, everyone is calling.  Hope this helps. 

LoL, I won't have any trouble continuing to blubber. Thanks for the smile Esti'sMom. I think our PIR wil be 8/25. Trying to understand when, where and all the rest of the particulars of flying up for that. Still waiting for the first letter and the box, so I can start planning arrangements. So much to learn. Thank you for the hugs, and right back at you. 

Black belt mom when did your son ship out for BC. I am guessing my sons PIR date will be Aug 25 as well, he left on wednesday June 28- just trying to see if its the same to give me an idea

so its on the 9th Friday right? So you are thinking the 18th then?yah take the earlier Friday for sure!! As long as its the 9th Friday and not 9 Fridays and then the following Friday is Graduation. What do you think

Nice! Hopefully Ill get the form letter next week then. lets hope

Black belt mom, I only know the 9th Friday, son shipped out Tuesday 17th. I am thinking it is the 8/25 for PIR. Do I need any other information? Haven't received letter yet.

Sorry, Black belt mom, I was asking about the Navy Lodge reservation, and how easy it was to reserve a room.

I meant to type 27th Black belt mom, I am so sorry. So then I should think the PIR will be 8/25, right? He did call me on the 27th late in the evening too. Is that all I need to reserve a room 

Great thanks. I did get the American Red Cross letter today, he jotted a note on the outside, I cried like a baby, but I love seeing it. He seems very happy. I feel better knowing that.

Thank you jennifer, I just tried to book a room, but I can't find the place to register an account with the Navy Lodge, help please

Can anyone tell me what the "sin" box or envelope is? I keep seeing it mentioned, but I don't know what it means. I haven't learned the Navy terminology yet. 

Awesome Melanie, definitely want to utilize that. How do I get started using it, or where do I go to find it? Thank you in advance for your help.

TrueBlue Yes Sandboxx is a mobile app. I just learned about it a few seconds ago. I just Googled it and it was there, ready to download to my phone. I have started an account, ready and waiting to get my son's address to start sending real time photos/words of encouragement back. Check out the website, it is pretty awesome.