Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Continuing prayers for God's healing peace and comfort to blanket you all right now. We don't understand the things that happen at times but He has a way to weave it all into a greater tapestry for His Glory. Jeremiah 29:11

Momof4gkids, you are in the right place. Be sure to also join your PIR group once you get The Form Letter. (Check your My Page.)

Here are the current PIR groups:

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

PIR: September 1, 2017 TG 43 - 13 Divisions (265-276 & 943) 3 guests (This is Labor Day Weekend. If your recruit will be staying in GL for “A” School or training, s/he will also have Liberty on Monday. The holiday weekend will not affect those flying out.)

PIR: September 8, 2017 TG 44 TG 44 - 14 Divisions (277-286, 819-821 & 944) 3 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.

Where do I find the list of hotels NOT authorized for PIR sailors to go to?

Nicknukemom- call the recruiter now if it has been 2 weeks! They will have the address for you.

Nicknukemom, since it has been at least 2 calendar weeks since your recruit arrived at the RTC and you do not have The Form Letter, then you can call the recruiter and get the address and mail letters to your recruit, but be sure to double-check the address against those at http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/contact_recruit.html or Ship/Division--How it Works.

Note to others: Don't call the recruiter for the address if it has not been at least 2 calendar weeks since your recruit arrived at the RTC.

raising 3247, Sailors are welcome at all of the hotels.

Nicknukemom: I would call the recruiter today and have him check on status, get some info.  They can pull strings, and know what is going on.  However, I got my form letter (finally) 2 weeks to the day of my sons departure.  It was the longest 2 weeks of my life.  They have soooo many kids coming in the summer...

I tried to call recruited to get info earlier, but he was on vacay...I was chewing my nails to stubs.  But finally on thursday the form letter came.....Do you have USPS informed delivery?  You find out whats in your mail at about 7 am...

lemonelephant- No, I am referring to other hotels that the Navy doesn't recommend the sailors going to during PIR. I know that they cannot stay at the Navy Lodge and Gateway Inn once they are in A school. I just remember back, when my son went to BC, that there were a few hotels that Sailors were not to go to.

Nickmukemom, write to your recruit and ask him who he intends to list on the Access List or give him the names of the 3 or 4 guests he should put on the Access List as they are on their official photo ID's and also ask him for the password for the vehicle/gate pass if you intend to drive onto the RTC for PIR. See The Form Letter for a copy of the form letter. There is info in Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit on what to do if you don't receive the form letter.

I have sent an inquiry to see if there are currently any hotels that are off limits to Sailors in the GL area. It has happened in the past due to illegal activity in the area, but I was not aware that there were any hotels currently off limits. I will let you know when I receive a reply.

Update on our Sailor in the Northwestern Univ. Hospital in Chicago-thank you for all the heartful prayers, comments, and good wishes. I think today he was a little better, but it is still very serious. His grandmother, known as Math Teacher on this page, is with him, along with is mom. His father flew up there last night, also. Not sure how long they can stay.  I am glad he has them with them. (They haven't mentioned to me any contact from the Navy officials since he was moved to this hospital) . All info. I have is from email from them. They appreciate you the Navy Families supporting him. just going to paste what I heard today, 7-25-17-Tues. Sorry I did not post anything until now for today, but when I'm at work, it's hard to stop here's today's info I have:

He seems more alert and feels better today. Was able to feed himself this morning using his left hand.  The left side has been affected by the seizures. We feel he  getting excellent care here. More tests and procedures today. Thanks for all your help.  Then midday, his grandmother, "Math Teacher on here" shared, "The Doctors just said they are doing a plasma exchange today. Putting a port in his neck and running his blood through to wash out the antibodies that are attacking his brain. Not 100% sure of the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis and won't know for maybe a week. They are treating for it and already seems to be responding. Also going to do a PET scan of his brain looking for cancer. Will scan the rest of his body later. They are checking EVERTHING. Looks better and less confused than yesterday."

Thank you for praying him!

Here is the list of groups for your recruits rating. Join the group for more information on your Sailors school.

Groups for Ratings

lemonelephant I will be staying at the Navy Lodge, is my son allowed there during the day? I know there is NO overnight liberty. Please advise, thank you in advance.

lemonelephant I just saw your post a while back about PIR weekend being okay for my son to be at, as long as escorted with me. I caught it while scrolling through hoping to find any other information. Thank you for keeping us so informed. 

NavyCousinThisTime Continued prayers for all members of your family. God is in control, we all just need to Trust in His Will. This will work out, in His time, not ours. Stay strong for your family and recruit. 

@butterball, yes, it is okay for him to be at the Lodge during the day on PIR weekend.  

Thank you Anti M

Good morning. I am here to support my nephew. My daughter

PIR back in 2012. Now my nephew is going to RTC. But I do not know where. This site was a great help for me when my daughter was enlisted. I am hoping for the same experience for me concerning my nephew.

Good morning yelomoon, my SR in at the GL RTC now, I have had a great time learning so much, as you already know. Welcome aboard.

That is exactly what I am planning Cj I have already stated numerous times in letters I have sent, that my son's wishes are all that we are going to do. I think he will choose all of your suggestions. Thanks for the itinerary ideas.

Totally agree Cj!  We hung out in the motel afterwards, DaughterSailor and her brother played some video games, we ate lunch at a local diner recommended by the motel owner, then we...went to a movie!  Got her back in plenty of time, but it was just so great to have Normal Life again for a few hours.

If I may ask? are a lot of you staying until Monday? We meaning my  Husband Daughter and son in Law are coming in on Wed. august 30th. My Daughter and her Husband are wanting to leave on Sunday, I truly want to stay Sunday, My husband said that would be fine but we would have to leave Monday Morning. Does anyone Know if having liberty that day do the Guys have to stay on base if family has left?

ok thank you for that information. Now if I was to take my daughter to airport would he/son be able to go to see them off and then return. back to hotel with me?

My son is Ship 13, Div 281........anyone else have someone in this same Division?

I was a PIR last week with my son and I took everyone's advise about his time.  Since he is on hold, we got to spend Friday and Saturday with him.  He absolutely didn't want to stay in the hotel room and sleep.  We took him out to eat...he wanted bar-b-que at a sit down restaurant...so that is what we did.  He wanted some activity that would cause us to have memories...i.e. no movie because that is like watching tv.  We found a race track nearby so that he and his brother could race each other.  A little pricey, but the only other options were putt putt and the only places we found were for very young kids.  That left us with a few hours, he finally conceded to going back to the hotel room, but we just sat on the couch and talked.  Don't get me wrong...he was in the bathroom for a long time with his phone.  He was also catching up with his buddies!  

On Saturday, we went downtown (FYI, he told me to let him know when we were leaving the hotel so that he could check out.  It was 20 minutes for us to drive to base and we had to wait an hour for him.)  So many soldiers checking out at the same time will cause a delay.  You might want to get your soldier to go up a littler earlier.  We left the hotel at  8:45 and he was at the chapel parking lot at 10:10.  I know Chicago and traffic was easy, what wasn't easy was the plan to park at Millinium Park...Pokefest was going on and streets were closed off.  Check for events going on...it was crazy in that area.  Since we got off to a later start than planned, the line for the Willis Tower was too long and he said he was tired of standing all the time, so we went to a restaurant and had some Chicago style pizza.  It was really good.  The restaurnat was one and one half blocks from the Willis tower.  Giordano's is where we went.  BTW, we were stopped so many times by people on the street who would approach my son telling him that they were homeless vets and could he pay for a night or two for their family to stay in a shelter and they were leading a life of non crime but needing help.  I even found my young son getting stopped behind me and he gave them his allowance.  One touched us so much we stopped in the CVS to get hand sanitizer.  Just an FYI...the hotel looked really good at this point!  

I am thankful that we got to spend the extra time with him since he didn't have to fly out.  I did cry like a fool when he walked away after dropping him off at the Chapel Parking lot.  He stood tall and straight as he walked away and that is when it hit.  I cried so much that my 16 year old offered to drive.  Well, I think I might have cried more if I let him drive through Chicago....

Good luck to everyone with those graduating!  BTW...if you have someone watching the live stream have them watch closely at the end.  My sister saw someone running through the crowd and hugging a tall dark man...she thought they looked a lot like my kids and it was.  She was able to take her phone and capture the moment and post it on facebook for me.  The best gift I could have gotten as you could see how excited my soldier was to see his little (taller) brother.  I have probably watched it 50 times.  

Thank you butterball. Its nice to be back here amongst good people.  I am patiently waiting to hear from my sister about her " I'm hear call.  If I remember correctly it was 10 pm at night.

Nicknukemom: did your son call?  Is that the 1:30 am?

My Nephew  Called his momma.  " I'm here".   Just so proud Aunt. 

I am so upset. Had no idea the military was checking my medical records. I am an aunt. Apparently they have been checking just in the past week or so.

Send them stationary and stamps. They are being paid but not allow to have monies in recruit training. I call it boot camp.

they can buy a phone card there....if they find time.  Most moms mail a phone card because it easier for SR to just call then