Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Thanks Sam's mom.  I am coming down to the hard core planning.  I have RSVP'd to the Meet & Greet and downloaded the Survival Guide PDF there.  I may have more specific questions as the day draws closer.  Appreciate the community on this page so much!

Depends on how hot or cold natured you are. So far as styles of clothing, I saw it all - from the very formal to shorts. I wore white dress pants, a blue 3/4 length sleeve T with red white & blue accessories. We stayed in Waukegan as the Navy Lodge was full so I am unfamiliar with their set up. How old is the brother? If adult, I'd say to allow experience of the campus, let him go to the chapel. Otherwise, it may be more convenient to just stay at the lodge. idk

@hope4answers - it is an older brother - 34 years of age.  I was rather thinking of dressing in the way that you described.  I wasn't too keen on the thought of wearing a skirt while sitting on bleachers.  I have done it in the past, but don't love it.  Getting excited!!!!

Just read somewhere that they may not be having the Chapel option. Not sure if it was for that week only or if discontinued all together. Sarge's Meet & Greet is a plus to get the latest answers and finally see in person some of the moms you have been chatting with in person!

It was posted on the RTC page and Navy for Dads the chapel option is being discontinued.  I think Navy Lodge shows the PIR on a big screen, I have heard they make a big deal of it for those who cannot go on base.

The sailors will be wearing their dress whites.  This is the civilian equivalent of a suit.  I suggest business casual or "church nice".  Wear something which will look good in pictures, and will complement the dress whites.  Yes, wear flats.  While shorts and flipflops may sound great in the humid heat, they really are not dressy enough for a formal ceremony.  Slacks are just fine.  Jeans may be too hot.

For the girlfriends and young wives, do not dress over the top sexy.  And if you're wearing a skirt, so a "skirt check" sitting down.  There are just some things you do not want to share with all your sailor's shipmates.

The AC gets chilly, you might need a scarf over your shoulders.

Anti M, thank you for that.

Hi Sam's mom, where can I go to get the Survival Guide PDF to download? Thank you in advance. 

Here are the current PIR groups:

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.

butterball, Sarge's Boot Camp Family Survival Guide can be found at http://www.mynavytaxi.com/goodies.html.

Looking for more of ship 03 Div 240 with PIR 8-4.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213400532713490&set=g...

WOO HOO!!!  Thanks to informed delivery I know the letter will be delivered today.  Return address shows SHIP 14 DIV 261.  Any mom out there with SR having the same SHIP & DIV?  So excited!!!

Mammagoose  - go to www.usps.com and check if available for your zip code.  if it is, create an account and then sign up for that service.  Easy Peazy!!!

Here are the current PIR groups:

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.

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.

Math teacher, the best gift is your presence, but there are ideas in Gift Ideas for PIR.

Suggestions on what to do.  My husband just recently had partial knee replacement (May) on both legs.  He has also had three back surgeries and getting ready to have a fourth.  He is not classified as disabled, but cannot sit without a back.  Any suggestions?

SoccerMom, have your son/daughter request a wheelchair for your husband. My mom can't walk that much either so my son requested one for her. I don't know how it works once you get to the base for one but at least they will have a chair instead of a bleacher. 

Soccer Mom. he can use a wheelchair to get into the Drill Hall, if needed, and sit in the handicapped seating area. No one will ask to see verification of the need.

Thank you everyone.  

Erin,

I sent mine with a 25.00 calling card, probably more than needed.

Super happy for those that have gotten. Calls and letters, still about 2.5 weeks before I can hope for that. 

Here are the current PIR groups:

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.

We are planning to drive to PIR.  Has anyone heard anything - favorable or otherwise - about the FastToll Illinois app to use rather than paying the tolls at each booth?  

Good Afternoon! I'm back! I've just sent my 2nd SR off to Boot Camp! The other one is already at his 1st Duty Station and I'm just waiting for my 2nd SR's PIR date! 

@lemonelephant - any word on the new PIR dates for someone who just arrived late last week?

Hi to all of the new moms going thru this for the first time. It's an emotional roller coaster until you hear from your SR the first time after they told you it would be 2-3 weeks before you heard from them again, but be strong and hold on! And start writing your letters!!! My SR loved receiving letters when he was there. My mother, their sibling (the new SR in my life) and I would write letters almost every other day so that he'd always have mail! Not to mention I would send a calling card so that when they could call they would be able to call. 

Go NAVY!!

@ Cj - Google FastToll Illinois and it should pop right up.  There are links for installing on both iphones and Android phones. I haven't read through everything yet, but the way I THINK it works is that you pay the tolls online up to a week AFTER passing through the toll gates.  I haven't read through all of it or installed it yet.  It seems to work better on the iphone.  (I have both).  

KiddGreen1978, welcome back. By counting 9 Fridays, PIR will most likely be 09/01/2017. It is possible for some who arrive on the same date to have PIR a week apart. Wait on The Form Letter to know the PIR date for sure. Arrival and What Happens at the RTC will let you know what to expect.

Brand new here and need a question answered, if someone knows. My Grandson will be sworn in Wednesday (tomorrow) morning and he doesn't know what time, nor do we. It's a two hour drive, so we need some kind of an idea. Does anyone know what time they usually begin?

@Proud_Navy_Granny - My son was sworn in last week.  The MEPS opened at 8:30 and the oath was at 9:15.  You can try calling the recruiter but I would plan on being there when they open.  They get the folks leaving out of the way so they can handle the folks testing, etc. for the day.

@Proud_Navy_Granny - I don't know where your MEPS location is, but definitely get there as soon as they open.  Our experience  was that those who shipped out were sworn in first.  You will be in my prayers as your family and your recruit start this new path in life!!!!

Just wanted to give a shout out to all those people that provideso much amazingly accurate info here!  Our son left early yesterday afternoon for RTC. We got our call around 10:30. It was exactly as expected thanks to you all.  Because I knew what it was going to be, I was actually able to turn on the speaker so that my husband was a part of it, and we were able to tell him we were proud of him and we loved him.  I could hear the smile in the voice as he said Love you guys too.  It was AWESOME.

Sounds like our SR's are doing some swabbing of the decks this morning. Bad flooding situation at Naval Station and all through Chicagoland. I saw a Facebook post about the Naval Station delayed opening because of it. My husband looked on the radar...huge storm there right now.