Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

JNMNavyMom oh my heart hurts with you. This is such a tough journey. Prayers for strength and speed for your SR today! 

LAPDJA & Northwoodsmom I absolutely LOVE your wreaths! You should sell on ETSY - I'd totally buy! :)  Really wish I had that kind of creativity and talent! 

Fawnface Woot Woot!!! Bravo Zulo to your sailor!!! So exciting! 

Good Morning,

I have just read that we can send Contacts and solution, I guess for Graduation. Is this correct? I copied and pasted it below. 

"The exception is that about 3 to 4 weeks before PIR you can send contacts and a small amount of solution. Writing "Contacts for PIR" in the corner of the small box or padded envelope is useful, but not necessary since your recruit will have to open the package in front of the RDC."

JNMNavyMom - sending lots of hugs your way today and praying for your SR - hang in there!

Junebugg - My understanding is that is correct. I would send a note though to your SR and ask them if they want you to send it to them. 

*Disclaimer* - I do not have first-hand knowledge on contacts, only what I know has been the case in the past and what Lemonelephant was able to glean when she wrote those pages. 

JNMNavyMom - prayers for your son.

Best wishes to anyone attending PIR today.

Remember your RED shirt today. My son's FRG (Family Readiness Group) sold Red Deployment shirts with our ship for a fundraiser. Every time I wear that shirt when my son's ship is out whether for a short excursion or a longer one, it takes on a totally different meaning. 

JNMnavymomOH, I am praying for your son today (and for you).  My heart is with you and I will pray for you every time I think of you.  Big hugs!!!!

Today's PIR happening now:

LIVE PIR 10.7.2022

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

When my son was in boot camp we were allowed to send him his contacts for PIR.  In the end he decided not to have us send them and he just wore his glasses.  We took them with us to PIR instead.

Hi moms! My SR is due to graduate on 11/10. When should I book flights and hotels? I looked up the drive time and it's 12 hours which is way too long to be in the car with 3 kids and an ex-husband! Any advice?

I would think/say 3-4 weeks and make sure you pick refundable options..for hotel and airplane.. The local hotels can fill up fairly quickly, when you think about how many sailors graduate each Friday..

Melissa - I would definitely look into booking now.  We usually fly Southwest because they have a very generous change policy.  Otherwise make sure you check refundable options as Trey said.  Hotels will usually let you cancel up to 24 hours prior to your reservation - just be sure to confirm when you call.  ;-D

Melissa - We drove about the same distance as you. We left on Wed after my husband got home a little earlier from work and stayed part way, then we drove almost 8 hours on Thursday, pulling in with enough time to get our hotel and go to Sarge's Meet n Greet. For us, it was a lot easier to have the flexibility and even 5 years ago, it was still cheaper than flying. 

If you do fly, then as Trey said get refundable or changeable tickets. And watch for the "window" of cheaper prices, whatever that might be, I am not sure. 

Motel - I booked ours as soon as I figured out where to stay and after I had received the family brochure in the mail. I think that is posted on the bootcamp website now. I also made sure I could change my reservations. When I talked to the motel directly, they seemed very understanding of possibly needing to change your dates. Make sure you verify the cancellation policy though. 

Melissa --Book Now if you manage it.  Make sure your plane tickets are changeable/refundable.  Only you can decide if the cost of driving vs flying makes the most sense.  Just over a Month away!!!

we too use southwest because the airport is closer to us and we have a credit card to get points with them.  and yea, especially if you use points/miles the changeable is easier but almost all them seem to make more effort if you call..  Hotels sometimes have two prices so make sure of refund/change dates, naturally it tends to be the higher one lol..

southwest and I'm sure other airlines start varying their prices. closer you get more expensive but super early isn't always cheapest either.. we book and then check flights almost daily/weekly to catch a better deal..

Totally excited, my recruit has been in RCU since middle of August. They have scheduled his run tests for next Friday, slides back into a division and PIR Nov 4!!!!

Cindy@FrostyAcres - Yay!!!

Thank is so awesome Cindi..  

Cindi - that's fantastic news!

Cindy@FrostyAcres - All the best to your SR!!!

JNMnavymomOH - Staying hopeful for your son!

Cindi@FrostyAcres -- Praying that everything goes well and your SR finishes on time!!!

Cindi praying all goes well with the run!!! That's exciting. 

JNMnavymom any updates from your son? Praying for good news!! BNHMs! 

Melissa - I echo what others have said - get at least the hotel booked. They fill up quick. Most are great about letting you cancel within 24 hours - sometimes less (Navy Lodge you can cancel up until I think 4 pm the day of checkin) because they know it's the military and things change. 

Happy Happy Mom here - I got my first call from my SR this morning!! He sounded really good and talked for about 30 minutes.  He told me they pulled his wisdom teeth and they only gave him one day to rest after - but he said he's doing good now. He's in the 952 DIV which is why I think they got a early phone call since they were on hold for a week.  I feel like such a weight has been lifted off of me after hearing his voice and knowing he's alright!  I was in Target when he called and I dropped everything in the middle of the aisle and ran to my car to talk to him...haha!  Glad to have you all to share all the good and bad news as I get through this journey. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Tootie, so happy for you!

Tootie -- YEAH!!!! Phone calls are AWESOME!!

Btw-- if the Navy sticks to it's schedule (And they usually do in this case....) You may very well get another call next week around the same time frame, assuming they earn it. It's not 100% but that is not uncommon.  Either way... Don't be handling priceless objects 'd arte next week.... They don't like it when those get dropped!! (Crossing everything that you get another call soon!)

Good Morning Everyone!

Tootie - WooHoo!!  Here is information on 900's Division . We no longer have 800 divisions, so scroll down through the information to find what you are looking for. 

If anyone is able to offer Maxine encouragement, she has posted two discussions in the general area Failed 1.5 mile run and Prep . Thank you. 

Got my son's ship and division update from Sandboxx.  I guess that means I won't be getting a letter in the mail and need to fill out the form for PIR and send it to him by getting it from the RTC Website correct?  I read all the info on Sandboxx, not sure if I'll be using it or not.  Maybe I'll just try it once to see how it works.  Today will be day 7 since he's arrived.  It's my understanding he is still finishing up with processing and will soon start his assessments.  Before he left for RTC he was running a 7.5 minute mile, so hopefully he'll do okay on the physical assessments.  I miss not being able to call him up whenever I want to, or having him call and text me 20 million times a day....Mom, MAMA, mum, MOM, MOMMA, mum.....lol.  I really took all that for granted!  What I wouldn't give for one of those texts or calls right now!!!  Whatcha doing mom?  I'm at work D, just like any other week day, whatch need?  Um, nothing....just calling to say hi.  Gosh I miss that!!!  I can't wait til PIR and his first letter or call home!  I can't wait to see how he's liking it and what he's learning!  I'm so excited for him.  Looks like they created another division in this PIR group, because he's in Div 001.  

lapdja - here are the links for the forms:

SECURITY ACCESS FORM - 3 guests

SECURITY ACCESS FORM

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

I get that.. I too was dying for just even a one word call or text when he was in boot..  I would re-read older stuff.. keeping busy does help.. big navy mom hugs

USPS Informed Delivery - Sign up and receive an email from the US Postal Service showing what mail you will be getting each day (if available in your area).  

Informed Delivery®

REMINDER FROM THE US NAVY RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND FACEBOOK PAGE:

Everyone who is planning on attending a graduation ceremony MUST personally obtain a ticket, which will be distributed at the Recruit Family Welcome Center the week of your recruit's graduation. Tickets are free of charge, but you must have valid photo ID to obtain your ticket (driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, or, for minors, a student ID, driver's permit, SSN card, birth certificate,) AND you MUST also have your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.

WELCOME CENTER ADDRESS/GPS: Navy Exchange (NEX) Burkey Mall, 2650 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60088 (Do NOT use generic terms such as NEX, Recruit Training Command or Naval Station Great Lakes).

lapdja-- He is the FIRST training group of the New year if he's Div 001.
Yes get the security form from the links that B's posted and send that in.  Only you can decide if the cost is worth it. 
You may want to let him know that you really appreciate now the random texts that used to bug you. All those Mom, Ma, Momma, Mommy, Mum, MAMA.....texts that asked nothing but spoke volumes.  Hang in there.... He's being fed, dressed and sheltered and he'll be just fine!! We are here if you find yourself adrift and just need to hold onto something stable for a bit.  Only 9 weeks left.

lapdja, I miss my son's " hi mom too"  I had him record it on my phone when I am missing him. Those two little words mean the world to me. Hang in there, stay busy, it seems a long time but it truly isn't. Thinking of all of you.

Tootie - Hooray for your phone call!  So glad you got to hear his voice! :)

lapdja - hang in there. Just keep sending letters and notes. You'll cherish that first letter from him all that much more!

Good Morning Everyone!!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

From the RTC Website (October 2022):

Sandboxx Information

Recruit Training Command (RTC) allows recruits and their families to regularly communicate. All RTC families will receive the recruit’s mailing address and information about graduation. The general information is also on our website www.bootcamp.navy.mil located under the “Graduation” tab.

Recruits may regularly receive letters from families via USPS or other mailing services. Another alternative is communication through a private company, Sandboxx. Should your recruit opt-in to the Sandboxx service, you will receive a text message and/or email with a link to create a profile. Once you create a profile, you will have expedited access to their mailing address, division number, and graduation date, in addition to recurring updates about what your recruit is experiencing during training. The information is FREE to access once you have registered.

I thought I would get to report tonight that I would be going to PIR this week.  My son called a few hours ago to say he is being set back again.  His time was worse this week than last week, or so he believes.  My heart keeps breaking.  His frustration and disappointment is mounting.

Oh JNMnavymomOH - I am so sorry to hear this!!! 

JNMnavymom - I’m so sorry to hear this. I know how hard he’s worked. A friend of mine, her daughter, could not pass and was there about 6 months. She worked at it and she finally passed. As long as he keeps trying they will help him to pass. I’m so sorry it’s taking so long. My heart goes out to you both. Will continue in my prayers.