Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

I expect to hear from him soon. Hopefully before midnight, but if not I will be awake.

Just got word that my daughter has gotten very little mail since she arrived. A bunch of people have sent her letters and cards, any reason they would hold them back? We use the address she gave in her form letter, which I presume she got from her superiors and is correct. Any info appreciated!!

@ Jennifer ---- thank you for the song. Totally binge watching Sully now.   Making my heart smile.  4 weeks and no word from my daughter. Not sure if the snail mail is really that slower overseas......29 days and counting! 

Well....getting ready to leave for Meps for the final goodbye....It is an honor to watch him take the first step of the rest of his life :)

DragonMom now worries about silver/gray hair. People are actually paying good money to have that color. I am thankful I am totally gray, saved lots of money.

DragonMom - My son texted me "I'm here" at 8:30pm.  Not sure if that meant at the base or at the airport.  Got The Call at 11:40pm that night. 

Box came yesterday- 7 days later by FEDEX, but there was the 4th of July holiday in between.  No letter yet.  Very anxious about the letter but keeping myself as busy as I can.  But, how busy can I be now that the "baby" (last of 3) has left the nest.  Talk about lost!!!!

@Soccermom19 & @ ShawnMom - Oh yeah I know what you mean. My baby is the one who joined. I received the official call at 11:30 last night. Now the wait for the rest to arrive. Today stinks as I am home from work until Monday as I begin a new path with my company just as my son is beginning a new path in his life. I am planning on being at PIR come hell or high water. Started the planning now as I have 2 dogs that need boarded and hotel to get. I know about the meet and greet as well so once I have a PIR date I will begin the hardcore planning.

@Soccermom19 & @ ShawnMom & @DragonMom - I too know the feeling of sending off the "baby".  My sailor is the youngest of 4.  So, I am used to kids leaving - but he is the first of his siblings to join the military - so this adjustment had a different set of challenges.  It is SO hard to remember that "No News is Good News" ......Hope you all have a good day.  I have my reservations for PIR but need to get serious about making final plans....

tutorlady - exactly.  The baby is the first military and yes, the no news is good news is hard.  I did not get my letter yet.  Not sure how that will work, but yes I am definitely going. 

Shawnmom - I cleaned out all the cabinets and the fridge and starting on the closets.  I didn't want to leave the house for fear of not being home when the box arrived. It was like he was coming home  :-)  I even hugged the box when it arrived. 

Dragonmom - Just like me!!   I have been home and babying the baby for the past 6 weeks before he went and I am starting a new job this coming Monday but I told them I absolutely had to have 2 days off for PIR because I wasn't going to miss it.  My sailor says, it's no big deal - just means I passed the physical fitness test.  He has no idea what being a mom is al about!

Going to go to the Sarge Meet & Greet.  Don't know what that's all about but I want to be a part of everything there is. 

Just love this site.  I don't know what I would do without all those folks out there who pass on this info.  We are in it together!!!

anyone else child leave on the 28th and got their letter, I am thinking PIR will be Aug 25 but still no letter, just the box yesterday. I am anxious to get good deals on flights

NancyJo - Ooooo!!!  would love that mani-pedi with wine!!!  Don't know of any near me.

Marchella.  My SR left on 6/28.  Got the box 7/5.  No letter yet.  Not sure about PIR date.  Am anxious to jump on that air fare too!!  My son left out of Philly - how about your SR?

Soccermom19- If you get the letter can you let me know what the date is. Everywhere I am seeing that the kids that got there the week before are on Aug 18, however I hear sometimes when kids get there mid week they have to wait for more SR to arrive so I am hoping its not after the 25th. My son left out of Albuquerque NM- so anxious! Its hard he is my youngest, he is far more mature than his older brother who is 22 and has moved back home. I miss having him around the house-

@Dragonmom - I am right there with you!  I watched mine son swear in a few hours ago and he is on his way.  While I have been crying here and there over the past few weeks, I didn't cry this morning.  And I think it is because I know he is in the right place and he will do well there.  So excited for him to start this next chapter in his life.  

Correction--- It's Armed Forces Blood Program , Great Lakes, IL.

Thanks ShawnMom, it was very mixed emotions.  He is my baby of four and the first to follow me in the Military.  I am so proud of him, but so sad to see him go. This is the first time in 29 years that I have an empty nest...it is such a weird feeling 

I looked for Sarge's Meet and Greet for Thursday, Aug 24 - looks like the Event is not set up yet?    Does anyone know?

kingsxbaby -  I found my son!!!!  I found him!!!  YAH!!!

OMG - I feel like the kid at Christmas who just got the one thing they have been asking to get for years!!!!  :-)

Kingsxbaby - Thanks so much for letting everyone know that there were pics out there of the blood drive.  It was awesome.  Took some doing to find him.  Naturally he is in the back as he doesn't like to be upfront.  - he's perfect for covert ops :-)  

But I went through all of the pics and finally found him

Soccermom19 I have been stalking the page and notice they seem to be going in DIV order is your son in one earlier then 224? Thats the latest photos I see. Thanks

This is a great venue Proudmama82 I'm sure you will find it helpful and comforting at times

CONAVYMOM - I don't see any numbers at all.  Where are they?

It is too early for pics of those who arrived last week.

Check out https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand. The PAO posts random photos randomly. There is no guarantee that your recruit will be photoed, but it is fun to look at the photos and get an idea of what is happening at the RTC. They do not have pages that follow a particular division.

https://www.facebook.com/ASBPGreatLakes has pics of some of the recruits who give blood while at the RTC. Those donations occur about 2 weeks (10 to 16 days depending on the division) before PIR.

The recruits (and later Sailors) really do look alike. Many of us have stories of recognizing the wrong recruit or Sailor.

Here are the current PIR groups:

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 - 7 Divisions (251-256 & 941) 4 guests

PIR: August 25, 2017 TG 42 - 9 Divisions (257-264 & 942) 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.

Marchella, 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. (I left more on that on your My Page.)

You should be able to have a "real" letter next week since he will have holiday routine for the first time on Sunday. See Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

Good Morning Navy Moms!! 

So, I think PIR for us is going to be August 28th.  Have not yet received the letter, but hopefully soon.  My SR went in on 6/28.  He is a future Nuke.  6/28 arrival & (tentatively thinking) 8/25 PIR dates. 

Anyone online with similar dates?  Just booked hotel for the 8/25 date with free cancellation.  So excited!!! 

Definitely doing the Sarge's Meet and Greet the night before.  Sounds like a great time and informative too.  Hope I meet many of you moms there.  It sure has been great reading the comments online.

Have a great day!!! 

If you are waiting on the letter to determine PIR - while you are waiting for the official letter, contact your Sailor's recruiter and they should have a PIR date and sometimes they may also know if they will leave that Friday after graduation (Grad 'n Go) or be there for the weekend. Some leave on Saturday and others leave on Sunday.  Happy Friday!! 

soccermom19 I am there with you, my son left on 6/28- I am hoping for the form letter today but I did book at Navylodge with free cancellation for the 25th of Aug. I am so excited also, I feel like a little kid going to Disney World- myson is a grad and go so we will be going to Pensacola FL to spend more time with him. I cant wait. What about you

I signed up for the infromed delivery and still no letter today ;(,

If anyones child that left on the 28th gets the form letter can you let me know- I really want to plan for the 25th. I am trying to be patient.....but Im like a little kid on Christmas morning

Marchella, mail has come and gone for today.  No letter. :-(  And I feel exactly the same as you.  Did book the hotel assuming 8/25.  I'm at Marriott Chicago/Waukega.  Booked to come in the night before so I can attend Sarge's Meet & Greet as well as PIR.  Will you be at both?

I agree, Sam's mom. PIR IS Amazing, but these tidbits of info for the "had I known .." situations are jewels indeed. In looking back over the past year (my son's PIR was 8-12-16) End seats, either floor or top (if you're short like me, you may have to stand on the top bleacher to see with binoculars) Get there early to find a good seat, the bleacher cushion with a back would have been a great help as well. Comfortable walking shoes as the PIR hall is quite a ways from parking or where the shuttle buses drop off/pick up. Your sailor may say it's not a big deal to be there, but you'll be so glad if you can make the trip. This site has been so helpful & encouraging. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ladies!

@ Sam's mom and @hope4answers - I know this sounds totally vain - but how do you suggest dressing?  We have a dad, mom, brother and girlfriend that will be attending PIR in a few weeks. We also have one extra brother.  Would you suggest him going on base to try to watch from the chapel; or, staying at the hotel to watch?  We are staying at Navy Lodge.

soocermom19- yes we are going to both I wouldnt miss it for the world. Did you say your son left on Monday the 26th? Mine was the 28th- Got his box on Wednesday the 5th- Hopefully it will be the 25th, I did book at the Navy lodge cuz it was cheap- hopefully that was a good decision- His recruiter is the one that told me to book it there- have you heard anything on the navy lodge

Marchella,  I checked out the Navy Lodge,  Yes better price.  Looks good!!!  Son left on 6/28 same as your son.  I will be looking out for you so we can connect and talk.