Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Ryansmom--No human ever became interesting by not failing. The more you fail and recover and improve, the better you are as a person. Ever meet someone who’s always had everything work out for them with zero struggle? They usually have the depth of a puddle. Or they don’t exist. Your son will rise above this, he will master those skills in no time! In the grand scheme of things, its a week of additional training that will put him over the top :) He'll be on his way before you know it and you'll be standing proud next to your Sailor! HUGS and Merry Christmas!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/23/us-navy-to-lower-fitness-stand...

This confuses me because on the other hand isn't the Navy making more stringent Fitness guidelines for entering BC as of January 1st? 

Thank you sambam32. I appreciate your input and know you are right.  So hard right now but know he will do great things!

@sambam ... I went to the Navy times source, as Foxnews is a little hyperbolic and misses details.

What is changing is not necessarily the standards, although they may, but how sailors in the fleet are treated once they fail a body fat or PFA.  They want to keep their trained sailors, not discharge them so quickly.  The boot camp rules require the SRs to be able to pass their fitness test before they ship, so they are ready for training, not worrying about their run or push ups or body fat.  Used to be if you couldn't quite make your run ot make tape, you could still go to boot camp and work on it there,  Now they must be ready to go.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2017/12/21/navy-grants-fit...

Happy Merry Christmas Eve!  

Thank you Anti M.  My heart broke for him when he told me he was being held back a week.  You could tell he was so upset.

Hello All!! Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!! I received my son’s form letter this morning and his box last Thursday, both had me in tears! #happymama

 Mamabear - It is Navy Exchange Photo Lab, #847-578-6205, email: GLPhotolab@nexweb.org - This is from the reorder form that was with my son's pictures - Aug 2017.

A word of encouragement to those moms whose son or daughter called home disheartened or tearful, or whose SR has been held back for one reason or another. I challenge you to be strong and courageous. If I have learned anything in life it is that anything good does not come easy.  Out of 3 sons, my oldest two, so far, seem to have struggled the most (Marine veteran and current Navy SR), while son #3 (in college) has had his setbacks but has had the benefit of watching his older brothers. I've heard many a story in my kitchen about success and failure between the brothers 3.  And I, myself, have struggled with feelings of failure.  My oldest has reminded me that failure is always an opportunity for growth, and is one step closer to success.  Some may remember when their sons did not make the A team in football or varsity until their Senior year, if they did not quit!  Watching your friends (brothers) move forward without you is tough.  But, the growth, experience, training ad "play time" that you get on the B team for a longer period of time, makes you a better A player when you get there.  A school is around the corner.  Keep the faith!

When will I find out my SR's address so we can start writing to him? We received his box on Thursday and I have to admit that I am having a hard time with him being gone for Christmas and not being with us. I pray and tell myself everyday he is not alone and he is safe. Not hearing his voice yesterday was rough. Just have lots of questions and still trying to get answers.

@Lilo830 I received my husbands form letter 8 days after he arrived. 

Thank you for the responses it feels so great to know I'm not alone, so happy I am part of the Navy family.

I received my sons form letter today! So excited to finally have his address. He's in division 102 and graduation date February 9th. Any other parents in the same division or grad date.

@ReeseMom, Right here, kind of. Division 106, grad date 2/9. :) 

@ReeseMom close by...my son is division 098, grad date 2/9

Ladies and Gentlemen - it is so great to see the chatter, words of encouragement from others and responses from many different people. I know that it was hard to have your SR away at Christmas and for many not able to have even a phone call. Even those of us with sailors at home, know our time is short with our loved one, and I think saying good bye a third time now (1st to BC, then after PIR), back to A school, is going to be even harder. Helping each other through all the questions and concerns is what this site is about.

Mamabear - Glad to assist, I happened to log on shortly after your comment posted and I still had the reorder info nearby. You mentioned shadowboxes, were you waiting on frames? or pictures? - I believe their frames are made here in the USA. Also, fyi, for others - the frames utilize a Plexiglas or plastic "glass" so you don't have to worry about them breaking when shipped. I purchased my frames at the NEX, but thought that was a wise idea since many of these will be mailed. In case anyone is deciding whether or not to order frames.

@thekellyest and @TexasNavyMom, I saw on 2/9 were only allowed 3 guest because there are 16 divisions graduating. Already excited for this day!

@ReeseMom & @thekellyest I am VERY excited too!! I also saw only 3 guests. Can’t wait!!

Morning ladies...I just received a security clearance call from my son and he said at the end of the call he would be calling home this Saturday (December 30th)!! That's his first real call home and he's on SHIP 06 / DIV 072 if that gives any of you ladies hope for a call this weekend! 

I know of another family getting a call on Saturday and her husband is on Ship 06/Div 071. Both of ours went to BC on 11/28. 

Saturday can't come fast enough!!! 

Good Morning Ladies, Glad to be back. Hope you all had a Wonderful Christmas with your Families.

Welcome to all the New Comers that I see has Joined.

Here is the number for pictures

You can contact the Photo Lab at Great Lakes at 847-578-6205, but do not call them until after PIR. While your recruit is at the RTC, contact him/her to see if s/he ordered pictures and let him/her know what you would like him/her to order.

and website to learn more about Graduation photos.

Division T-Shirts, Graduation Photos, The Keel, and DVD of PIR

US National Weather Service Chicago Illinois

Couldn't believe this morning was -1 to cold for my bones.LOL!

PIR: December 15, 2017 TG 06 - 8 Divisions (037-042 and 906, 907) 4 guests 

      NO PIR: December 22, 2017 & December 29, 2017

      PIR: January 5, 2018 TG 09 - 14 Divisions (043-054, 908 and 909)  4 guests

      PIR: January 12, 2018 TG 10 - 7 Divisions (055-060 and 910) 4 guests

      PIR: January 19, 2018 TG 11 - 12 Divisions (061-070, 805 and 911) 4 guests       

      PIR: January 26, 2018 TG 12 - 12 Divisions (071-080, 806 and 912) 4 guests

this PIR is up and ready to join.

PIR February 02, 2018 TG 13- 15 Divisions, 081 - 094 and 913.

PhoenixMom I wish it was that warm here!

-9F this morning.  I have a cousin in Kenai Alaska and it is warmer there than here in the Midwest.  Course, it's dark too.

Hi Paul! Sorry didn't mean to exclude the dads! the PIR date is 1/26 :) 

Paul that is just plain Crazy, I gotta give it to all the people who have to endure that freezing weather, I don't know how you all do it, one year of that and for sure I would move. BRRRRR! I am enjoying 74 degrees weather in Phoenix it has been really nice, yesterday I seen PA , Maine and New England received so much snow it was unbelievable. My son attends school in Great Lakes and he said he thought he could get use to the weather but he was telling us there is no getting used to it, its just plain freezing. LOL!

Phoenixmom--the thing you have to remember is it's a DRY COLD!

I honestly don't know how you survive the summers!

To guesstimate the PIR date, count 9 Fridays after your recruit arrived to get the most likely PIR (graduation) date,

I hide inside LOL! and you have to have Air condition!

LOL, Great Lakes is not a dry cold, it is a damp eternal wind-blown into the bones right off that lake cold!  I much prefer my mountain west cold, a balmy 25 degrees this morning.  Our cold is a dry cold indeed, which is why we get powder for skiing.  Great Lakes just sucked.  I haven't tried Alaska other than the airport!  Just dark.  

Is there an estimated time when the PIR website will be up for 2/9? Thanks! :)

Good Afternoon ReeseMom I don't have that answer but here is the site. they haven't posted it yet.

Click here to see the list of Training Group Grad Dates and Divisions

Thank you so much Phoenixmom! I appreciate all your help!

I found that Hooyahsuzy had posted this Saturday, hopefully it will help. Thanks Hooyahsuzy!

Heads up! If you're in the Feb. 9 group, there are 16 divisions graduating that day and only THREE guests per recruit will be allowed. Only 3.

I did see that post and when I received his form letter I had noticed only three spots for information.

I'm eager too :)

When you have so many Divisions Graduating then they will have only 3 people they can add on the list. The hall is not very big so they limit the amount that can be invited. but those that go along for the trip may be able to watch it at their Hotel. Many Hotels have a conference room big enough so those that cannot attend will be able to watch it live.

Graduation Streaming Live

Watch our recruits graduate live Friday at 0845 Central Standard Time.
Follow the link and join our chat: http://navylive.dodlive.mil/  ( The video will display under Live Events during broadcast. )

NOTE: There will be times when the number is reduced to three due to the number of recruits graduating

Friends and family of Recruit Training Command, please be advised that as of the first graduation ceremony of 2018 (January 5), we will be adjusting our Recruit Family Welcome Center hours of operation. Our new hours will be Thursday [10:00 AM to 7:30 PM] and Friday [5:30 AM to 8:30 AM]. Please make note, we will no longer open on Wednesday for normal ticketing hours.

just found this info.

The Pass-In-Review graduation ceremony Feb. 9, will contain 16 divisions for that training group. Thus, because of the large number of recruits, the number guests allowed per recruit is reduced to THREE guests only, age 3 and older. All guests, including active duty and veterans, must be on the access list in order to receive a ticket. As a reminder, only guests who have tickets will be allowed on base.

The divisions included in this training group are: 095-106, 807 & 808, and 914 & 915.