Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Hey NNLori and Timsmom97,

I do that to. I talk about him constantly and I've read everything there is I think. Lol Have a great day ladies!!

Here are the current PIR groups:

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 - 9 Divisions (331-340, & 950) 4 guests

PIR: October 27, 2017 TG 51 4 guests

PIR: November 3, 2017 TG 52

PIR: November 10, 2017 TG 01

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

Kraftinkat31- You just type it from your phone or tablet and you can attach a picture and then they print it out and ship it for you! It's been awesome. I send two a week in addition to my daily handwritten letters haha

Yeah on your box Kraftinkat.! The calling card was just an accident. Keep in mind ladies that your recruits are being kept awake for more than 24 hours. They are tired and not really thinking straight and just trying to do everything exactly as they are told. My SR accidently left the cell phone to the side of the box while addressing the top and taping it all up. Thankfully it was able to be squeezed in at the bottom and taped back up.

Mail the calling card back as soon as you get his address. He may not have realized he was to keep that for his calls around the 3rd and 6th week and after BS.

Phoenixmom, now that my sailor is at A school and we can chat more, I asked him if he was ever homesick? He sort of laughed and said, "No, I was too busy the first two weeks trying just to make sure I was doing everything right and learn everything. The chiefs and such (my words) kept asking me if I was homesick. I wanted to look and say, 'No sir, I'm terrified'!"  - We could laugh about it now, because it is over but it gave me some insight in to just how much my recruit was trying to do everything just so and not mess anything up.  I know that the scriptures and words of encouragement from our letters got them through, he appreciated all of them.

Ladies, I don't know if I read it here or on the chat. Someone mentioned that their recruit had not said anything about getting any of their letter in a letter back to them. Just keep sending the letter. I haven't looked at the new website but the address format use to be posted there. You just fill in the ship # and Division # which was sent in the form letter. I can not emphasize enough that many of your recruits, especially if they are in any sort of leadership position with their division have very little time to do much of anything else but their tasks, even on Sunday. Mine would say on Sunday, I only have 10 min or 20 min to write and then write as much as possible.  - So stay strong!!

Downtoearth - This link should take you to RTC Graduation.

http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/graduation.html

Below the picture are two different links for recruit graduation. If you are asking about the gate pass for TG 47 PIR 9/29 that should be available to print in another few days. They are only made available 11 days before PIR. As for after Oct. I went to that link and found the link for the security form there which may be printed again if anyone has lost theirs or did not receive theirs from your SR.

http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/about.html - was my go to during bc because I didn't find this site until right before our PIR.

Kraftinkat--My son sent me his address book and bible back in his box.  When he wrote his first letter he asked me to mail them back.  Apparently, he was so nervous when he was putting everything into his box, they told him to put it "all " in and he just did as said.  So, that may be what happened.  Just mail it back to him when you get the address.  I did that and he was grateful that he then had addresses to continue writing! 

So I have a question.....oh good morning everyone!!! lol.......so, My parents will be going to graduation with us, and they are handicapped. Would it be wiser to take the shuttle from Navy Lodge or drive ourselves in? They cannot stand for very long before they have issues so I want to help them as much as possible because they can't walk far either? Any suggestions would be awesome!! thanx

Good Morning Ladies, hope all is well this Friday! Thank God it's FRIDAY, LOL! Long week....I am part of some groups like the A School in Great Lakes, Engineers. I know that when My son was in BC he would write me and was very homesick. Me and My son were very close. And some of the letters he would question himself as to why he chose to do what he did. So that is why I say to stay strong and pray with them. I had to cut the negativity out quick and had him to quit second guessing himself. every letter I sent words of courage, faith, determination and then I started to recieve letters that were more of thank you MOM I really needed that. he really didnt have a hard time with passing any of his test or FIT anythjing like that it was the being away from home, lack of sleep, and trying to do the best he could that was getting the best of him. Now that he is in A School he loves it! totally different and that was worth waiting for he said. He said he would always say encouraging words to those that struggled and would help in wich way he could, and he said those that focused that had that determination passed. so I believe words and scripture do help. Have a Great Day Ladies!

Mom of 2 I believe that you can ask for help once you get on base for PIR. it is quite a walk from the gate to Hall, so I am sure they will accompany you. If you are one of the ones that need to pick up your tickets I would ask and see what kind of help you can get. I know I read it somewhere on this site, if I  find where I read it I will send to you.

Hey Phoenixmom-thank you for your encouraging words. When I got my sons letters that is what he was saying. Yes he's homesick but he wants to do the best that he can there and he is determined as well. My letter back to him was full of love and support and how proud we are of him. And to keep going, don't give up. I will continue to do that as well. Thank you for all your words and knowledge.  :)

Mom of two... I went to my older son's PIR in July with my Mom who has a Handicap parking sign. They would yell up ahead to another Sailor " handicap" and wave us up. That continued into the parking garage and they gave us a handicap parking place right up near the entrance to the hall. Very short walk. Very respectful to the handicapped!! If you have a handicap sign I would drive instead of using the shuttle.

Thank you Sunflower, that makes me feel much better!

Sunflower, thank you! I knew someone else had dealt with this recently when mom of two was asking on chat.

Hey Timsmom97 that's right yes we do. How have you been? I was so glad to hear from my son. We are getting closer.

Congrats! yorkeshirelass for SR'S PIR Date, and best wishes to your beloved SR.

Yorkshirelass - congratulations!!

NNLori - hope all is well with you today, I haven't seen you chime in anywhere, may just have missed you. I hope you hear from your recruit soon.

 Kraftinkat - It was definitely cheaper for us to drive than fly, with three of us going and my husband had time he was able to take off work for two days. We left after work on Wed and drove 12 hours over two days up and then two days back. My husband did most of the driving and we had little sleep on Friday night to be at the airport early with our sailor for his flight out on Sat. We live in OKC, so not nearly as far away as you are. I already had money budgeted for vacation which we did not take so it wasn't hard to pay for the drive and motel, we also stayed in a very cheap but clean motel in GL.

I would check with your recruit also, they may have enough money to help out with some of the travel expenses to PIR. Also check with other family members - ask for an early Christmas present. The best to you as you seek wisdom and direction for traveling.

Kraftinkat - It is definitely tough when you are doing this as a solo ride. I don't know if you are part of a church or another community fellowship that you could ask for some assistance, it never hurts to ask. Driving by yourself while cheaper, would be a long haul.

Timsmom97-Hey that's what I've been doing as well. Writing letters daily watching the prices on the airlines. 

Yes I signed up for the meet n greet. I'm looking forward to meeting you as well. It should be a fun night.

ShawnMom - you definitely had some great rates!  I don't know what my husband looked up but our airline prices were definitely a lot more. I have also heard that SW is the only airline that offers refundable tickets, can you verify for others? How was the service?  It worked out in the long run for us to drive, especially since we drove through my hometown and were able to visit my parent's graves. But it was also very tiring as well, considering our son arrived at the airport near his A school before we even were out of the suburbs of Chicago after eating breakfast.

These are a lot of good ideas for Kraftinkat, thank you ladies.

Shawn mom, I'm gonna try that to with the rental car. Thanks for the tip.

Anyone know anything about Sarge meet and greet night before PIR on Nov 3rd,is it worth attending?

Hey

CAB- I was looking for a redeye but so far no luck. 

I know my SR said he would be calling soon but so far no call. We are always waiting, I can't wait to hear from him. :)

Here are the current PIR groups:

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 - 9 Divisions (331-340, & 950) 4 guests

PIR: October 27, 2017 TG 51 4 guests

PIR: November 3, 2017 TG 52

PIR: November 10, 2017 TG 01

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

yorkshirelass, most who have attended Sarge's Meet and Greet have been pleased. It is held at the Lakehurst Event Center in Waukegan the night before PIR (go to http://www.mynavytaxi.com/events.html to RSVP).

Yorkshirelass attending the meet and greet from Sarge is a must very entertaining much needed info. and you also can meet the Div. of parents that are with your SR. we enjoyed very much.

Yorkshirelass, I agree with Phoenixmom, Sarge's Meet/Greet was enjoyable and we meet two couples that became valuable help for us after PIR and at the airport. Not to mention a nice dinner, and lucky to be near the front of the line.  But I also want you to know that if it doesn't work with your schedule and possibly having to pick up PIR tickets beforehand, that if you can't make it, you can still have a successful PIR trip. Go early, figure out the gate information ahead of time, PM one of us if you need to, and we had no issue parking in the garage on RTC. We were there about 6:40 AM, parked close to the stairwells and went down under the covered portico into the waiting area in the Great Hall, which had murals on the walls that I didn't have a chance to read all of, because the line started moving to get us inside.

So, if you can make it, it was beneficial to us, if you can't it is okay. Just be sure to have cash for the raffle tickets for basket donations and for the drinks which are sold by the people who own the building. Sarge just asks for donations for the food which can be cash or charge via his website.

Yes I agree with Chipmunk dont stress to much everything went very smoothly with Graduation. Believe me I stressed the whole time and when we got there settled into our hotel and it was time for PIR there was nothing to it. although we took the shuttle and it was right on deck with the time and all. it didnt seem like the people driving in had any problems what so ever. and if you can sit on the top balcony you can take great videos and pictures from there. especially when your sons div. comes marching in we got some great videos and pics. Have fun it is very exciting. gates opened up at 6:30 and people start rolling in. remember they will be selling things such as coins t-shirts, sweatshirts, blankets, ect. so take cash not sure if they accepted the card I'm sure they did but just in case. Congrats to your Sailor very exciting time!