Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Here are the current PIR groups:

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  - 14 Divisions (277-286, 819-821 & 944) 3 guests

PIR: September 15, 2017 TG 45 - 11 Divisions (287-296 & 945) 4 guests

PIR: September 22, 2017 TG 46 - 7 Divisions (297-302 & 946) 4 guests

PIR: September 29, 2017 TG 47 - 9 Divisions (303-310 & 947) 4 guests

PIR: October 6, 2017 TG 48 - 14 Divisions (311-322, 822 & 948) 3 guests

PIR: October 13, 2017 TG 49 - 9 Divisions (323-330 & 949) 4 guests

PIR: October 20, 2017 TG 50

PIR: October 27, 2017 TG 51

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

Reasons to wait on The Form Letter before sending letters:

1. The PAO at the RTC asks that loved ones wait on the form letter before mailing letters.

2. The recruiter does not always give the right address and letters that do not have the correct address may be returned or may be delayed several weeks in getting to your recruit since it will not be a high priority for those in the mail room to look up the correct information.

3. Even if you do have the correct information, your recruit will not receive letters that are mailed before receiving the form letter much quicker, if at all, than letters mailed after receiving the form letter because recruits do not receive mail until they are in their permanent ship and a Recruit Mail Petty Officer is trained. The first Mail Call is on day 1-3 or 1-4 DOT.

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Note: If it has been at least 2 calendar weeks since your recruit arrived at the RTC and you do not have a 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.

NNLori, the divisions have not been posted on http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.html for TG 50 or 51.

Green2Blue- When they first arrive a boot camp they in temporary barracks while they go through what is called P-Days or processing days. It normally takes about a 5 days for them to get through that. Some shorter some longer I suppose. After that first week they are moved to their Ship and Division that is when the form letter is sent home with their permanent barracks. I understand your anxious to send letters. I am in the same boat. These couple weeks are hard because it feels like forever since we have talked to our sons/daughters. Try to be patient. I am writing letters and piling them up so when I get the address I can immediately start putting them in the mail.   

lemonelephant-Thank you for the additional information.  I have started writing letters and will just wait until I get the official form letter to send them.  I didn't realize they couldn't even get mail until they trained someone for that position.  Time is slow right now, but as usual, it will speed up again.

NNLori- Yes, I will have a pile of letters too.  My son warned me not to send him anything that will get him attention.  Do you think 2 weeks worth of letters in one day will be a problem for him?  LOL!  Also, I think TG means Training Group.

Thanks for the replies.  It helps to talk with others in the same "boat".

Green2Blue - it is so hard waiting for the letter to come but unfortunately each DIV is different; I know those are things we don't want to hear but I didn't find this site till my son was in week 3 and have loved it since! he is just finishing week 5. My experience was that my son was delayed 2 weeks as they were waiting in GL and doing classes so he was not assigned a Ship so the address/grad date letter took longer than the normal. I kept telling myself no word is good news which is truly the case, but hard as a mom. I also kept telling myself; they are feeding him, clothing him and he has medical attention there if he needs it so he is in good hands, so keep the Faith as the letter for the mailing address/grad date will come but we honesty didn't get our till at least week 2 and his first letter to us was at week 3 with the call a few days later. Keep the Faith, it will come. Prayers it arrives in the mail for you today! Keep writing, fyi also date them or number them ;) I didn't he first batch and wish I did as he got a lump sum as I mailed a few each day to hope he always has a letter each day to read. HUGS!! 

For those that might be just shipping off your child, I found that writing an email every night to my recruits email helped me deal with the first couple of weeks of waiting for the form letter. ( I had not found this site, and only had the information on the RTC site). Emailing my recruit did two things, for me, I could send that email and know that eventually it would be read, but also, I then copied and pasted all of my emails with the dates and times into one longer document that I printed on both sides adding a short handwritten note when I finally received an address. That way my recruit did not have a large stack of letters to keep track of. What I didn't know was that I should not put stickers on the outside of the envelope! I guess that can maybe draw attention, I don't know, my recruit never said anything about it.

For those getting ready for PIR tomorrow, be rested, enjoy every moment of it, be flexible and remember that liberty is for them and about them, and return your sailor back early from liberty. Don't make it hard on them, because you think you need a few more minutes with them. - I get it, it's hard to let go. - But believe me, there will be a long line getting back in and if they are flying out they have to walk a good ways back to their ship from the drop off spot at RTC.

Blessings to all as I wean myself from this group, moving on to others and most definitely other home responsibilities. You are in good hands with lemonelephant and others. Be sure to sign up in your PIR group.

SoILMom, I would say he is finishing week two.

SoILMom mine left on the 27th of July and so he is finishing week 5 as his grad date is the 9/22 - this is why I say your son has just finished week 2 so if no letters have come yet they should start coming next week Wed or Thur. Mine seem to come Thursday here in MN. Congrats, two weeks in!!  Hugs! 

SoILMOM- some letters come earlier than the during the third week so you may have one today but I say don't expect any till the third week. It is hard, I just kept writing with tears here and there, kept myself busy catching up with friends, and reminding myself no new is good news and that is truly the case but hard to focus on. And remember they are in good hands, they are being feed and clothed. I will say the first 3 weeks for me was the toughest and wish I had this site to see that is how others felt and I wasn't alone. It is part of being a Mom.  Once you get the first letter it gets a little easier and when you get the first phone call it gets much more easier I feel. all div are different so some mail may come earlier but most I would say first come the third week they are gone and so if you get one earlier a huge bonus :-) Hugs!!!

SoIL MOM - We got our first letters in week three on a Thursday, and our first call the weekend after that.  It got easier after talking to them that first time and reading the letters!  It's so hard, but no news really is good news!

I am with you not knowing is the worst!!!  

I have just two weeks to go...planning a birthday surprise celebration for our hotel room Friday afternoon.  Just family and some cake :)  My SR's 19th birthday is next week!  Thinking about that is keeping me busy.  Also my other two boys are in soccer and that is starting and my job.  LOL.  

I was so excited, I got my son's Form Letter today!!!!!!!  He left on the 22nd.  I got his box on the 25th and now his letter.  I started crying the instant I got it.  That is a wonderful feeling!!!  My husband came and met me at work so we could open it together.  I cried of course....but that is an awesome feeling!!!!!!

My son also left on the 23rd.  Got his box on the 29th.  Letter should be coming very soon I hope!!!  I actually stalked the mail lady a little bit today.  LOL!!!  My son's A school will be in Great Lakes for IC (interior communications). 

Well...he will remain at GL following BC.  He will be an Electricians Mate.  That feeling was awesome!!!  I can't wait for you guys to get yours........

At PIR, what is the policy on handicap access and parking?  My mother is coming to PIR and while she is not assisted with walking (meaning no walker or wheel chair) walking the length of a football field will be challenging.  For those with handicap stickers, can they be dropped off in close proximity to the graduation building?  Is there parking close to that building?   Does the shuttle drop off at the external gate or allowed on base and close to the graduation building?  Any insight would be helpful!

If you have a car with handicap stickers or plates they take very good care of you. I took my Mom to my son's PIR in July and as soon as we got close to the parking garage they started yelling ahead to the next sailor 'Handicap coming " They will send your car right up near the front entrance to the building.

Here are the current PIR groups:

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  - 14 Divisions (277-286, 819-821 & 944) 3 guests

PIR: September 15, 2017 TG 45 - 11 Divisions (287-296 & 945) 4 guests

PIR: September 22, 2017 TG 46 - 7 Divisions (297-302 & 946) 4 guests

PIR: September 29, 2017 TG 47 - 9 Divisions (303-310 & 947) 4 guests

PIR: October 6, 2017 TG 48 - 14 Divisions (311-322, 822 & 948) 3 guests

PIR: October 13, 2017 TG 49 - 9 Divisions (323-330 & 949) 4 guests

PIR: October 20, 2017 TG 50

PIR: October 27, 2017 TG 51

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

NNLori, TG stands for Training Group; the group of all the recruits in all of the divisions who will have PIR together.

The Page, What does ??? mean? (A Guide to Navy Abbreviations and Terminology), will help you with many of the new terms you will come across.

Thank you lemonelephant!! You always have the answer!!

NNLori, not always, but sometimes. You are very welcome.

Please be sure and join your PIR group . Those with October 6, 2017 and after have a new form letter and things have changed for access to PIR.

Those PIR groups are going to get you the fastest answers to your questions about the new guest list form, etc.

Congratulations to all of those who had PIR yesterday. I hope you had a good visit with your sailor and able to spend as much time with them as possible. Prayers for the safety of those traveling to "A" school and prayers for your safe travels home. Be sure to take your time and rest as needed, especially if driving. Happy Labor Day Weekend.

Good Morning Chipmunk,

Yes everyone be safe out there and congratulations to all of our new sailors. The traffic was horrible here yesterday with everyone leaving.

If my SR has been in processing since late Monday night(or early Tuesday morning) when does he go to his ship?

And with the holiday how does that affect their schedule?

  :) 

partyofseven, your recruit may have finished P-Days or may still be in them. Either way, Monday is a HOLD day. Each recruit has 4 regular P-days, but may have extra P-HOLD days if the division did not fill on the day the recruit arrived. See Arrival and What Happens at the RTC.

For those with recruits already in their ships, Monday is a HOLD day and is treated much like a Saturday with about 5 or 6 hours of training. There is no holiday routine on Monday. Monday is not a DOT.

Good Morning lemonelphant, 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. :)

You are very welcome.

Good Morning Partyofseven - to answer a comment on the chat side - I am on my sailors checking account. We set everything up at Navy FCU before leaving for bc and took advantage of a savings program that gave him more interest on a large deposit. - money he had originally worked for planning to save for college.  - If they don't have that set up before going to bc, I am not sure if they will make them set up one to do their direct deposits or not. Their first pay will take about 3 weeks or more to show up. - But if you are not on their account, you may have time to go to the NavyFCU on RTC once they are put on liberty - it just depends on the time. If there is a local branch in your hometown, I would go in and talk to them as well. - We have a branch near us which is nice. - Also once they get to A school it may be difficult for them to access their accounts online easily so being able to keep tabs on an account is good, especially for those of us with younger sailors.

Hey Chipmunk, That's what we did, but we used his account here, cause he wasn't sure if he was gonna use the navy credit union. Now he will have to because they don't do shared branching there. But I told him he could access everything online but I'm thinking he will want to do that. I'm not sure if we have one here or not. But I am going to suggest he still keep me on his new account for that very reason. :) 

partyofseven - you could just keep the one account and set up another at NFCU. We have that set of circumstances as well. It is definitely worth being on the account as joint owner. I went to the branch at RTC while waiting for my sailor and asked to get a print out and they had no issues when they saw I was joint owner and could give the passcode.

With NFCU, I have my own user/password in addition to my sailor having one. I can look up information and pass it along until we are able to get a laptop for our sailor to have. If your sailor has a smartphone they have the mobile apps.

Also, I have my non-NFCU account set to make bill payments to my son's NFCU account and there have been no issues yet with that.  Hope this helps.

That sounds awesome. I will be telling him this. Lol And that's what i told him to, just in case and it doesn't hurt to have me on their either. Good practice for them. 

I will see what I can find out here and there and talk to him about it. 

Thanks for the info and yes it does help. 

partyofseven - I just see it as being practical, especially in the beginning.

True. :)

 I have a question my daughter told me that it is ok now to send her a few pieces of make-up. Who should I send it through? Does it matter?

belliesmum, there is info in Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit for you on sending make-up. Yes, she can have it. Look for the .

Good night Chipmunk, 4HisGlory17.

TrueBlue, that may or may not happen. The RDC can meritoriously promote up to 10% of the division. See Recruit Petty Officer Positions and E-1, E-2, or E-3? How did that happen?.