Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

JNMnavymom, my heart hurts for you and your son. I keep telling myself it's in God's timing and there is a reason for this. The Navy isn't giving up on him so they see something very special in this young man.  I am sure you are extremely proud in how he is persevering and not giving up. I sure would love to meet this incredible young man who keeps going and is so set on making this sacrifice to serve his country. He totally amazes me. I am definitely keeping him in my prayers. 

JNMnavymom - My heart is breaking for your son and for you. I'm continuing to pray for you both.

JNMnavymom - Big big hugs to you!  I am praying for you and for your son often.  I know that good news is coming.  I agree with Northwoodsmom that your son is amazing in his perseverence, and YOU are amazing in all of this, too.  I will keep praying.  BNMH to you from all of us!  <3

JNMnavymom - continued prayers for you and your son.

Prayers for you and your son. My son was ASMO'd 3 weeks. Hopefully he will be graduating 10-28. 

JNMnavymom - remember, it's just a setback.  He can do this, stay positive and keep encouraging him.  The victory will be that much sweeter.  He's got this!

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

JNMnavymom-Keep your head up, I can't even imagine your worry and that of your son but my thoughts and prayers are being sent out to you both. BIG HUGS!!!

JNMnavymom I've been thinking of you and your son daily. I'm so sorry he's been set back again. I'm in such agreement with what others have said - and I would remind him of this - They are working with him for a reason! He clearly is showing them some outstanding qualities beyond the run that are wanting them to continue to invest in him and work with him. His perserverence is admirable. I hope that he can use his frustration and turn it into good energy to continue to prove to the Navy that he will make one heck of a sailor!  Everything in God's timing and with His perfect puprose and plan- even if it doesn't feel that way to us.  I will continue to pray for him and for you. BNMHs!!!! 

Today we remember those who lost their lives on the USS Cole.  It is because of this that we now have BS21 training in boot camp.

(Click on the picture to enlarge and read the names.)

There just are not enough words to say my appreciation for your continued encouragement and prayers.  He called me twice today to provide 2 different Divisions.  As he has already completed and passed BS21, he can not be set back to a division that has not yet passed it.  I have reiterated to him that I am so proud of him for his strength and perseverance, his drive and willingness to push himself.  I know he worries that the next time could be the one where they send him home.  I have told him that he is inspiring (to me and others) and to continue to fight for this.  I am emotionally drained, I won't lie.  This waiting until the last minute for changes is hard.  Both with work and travel.  And yet he goes from Div to Div, that has to be lonely.  He is kind of a loner anyways, but this is a whole new level.  I told him today that I wanted to go back on vacation with him.  He said me too.  I said, wait, you wanna go hang out with your mom?   His response:  It's better than being bored in here.  Warms the heart to hear that he misses me.  I am continuing to pray for peace and comfort and strength of determination like his.  

JNMnavymomOH --- I am heartbroken for you both.  I have to give him a great deal of credit though for sticking with it.  A lesser person would have given up.  It shows his character and strength that he's keeping with it!

B'sNukeMom - Thank you for the In Memoriam reminder. As I travel and visit different places, I am more aware of the memorials that are housed across this country, honoring our military, especially those who have died in service. 

JNMnavymomOH - BNMHs!!! Continued prayers for your son and you. May he be strengthened in mind, body, and spirit. 

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

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).

*** COVID PROTOCOLS ***
Recruit Training Command continues to operate in a COVID environment in order to protect the safety of both trainees and staff while meeting mission demands. This policy is subject to change as leadership continues to monitor the spread and impact of the Coronavirus. Therefore, the following protocols are in place:

• Guests 12 or older need to provide proof of IMMUNIZATION (14 DAYS POST FINAL DOSE,) in the form of a covid-19 vaccination record card to attend. If you are unable to provide proof of vaccination, you will NOT be able to attend, and will NOT be issued tickets to attend. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
• To ensure the health and safety of all, every person attending is required to observe social distancing protocols while inside all RTC facilities and throughout graduation ceremonies inside midway ceremonial drill hall. REMINDER: Policies regarding the graduation ceremony can change at any time due to changes in our health protection status and policy. Please travel with a mask in case the requirement to wear one while attending the graduation ceremony is implemented. For those unable to attend we invite you to watch the ceremony online from home. Please continue to follow RTC social media accounts for updates and check www.bootcamp.navy.mil for the most up-to-date information. For specific questions and inquiries, contact the RTC Public Affairs Office at rtc.pao@navy.mil.
• Each sailor is allowed a maximum of FOUR GUESTS, (THREE GUESTS when 11 or more divisions are graduating,) on base for the graduation ceremony. No exceptions, and children 2 & under do not count toward the guest limit.

Good Evening Everyone!! Join me in welcoming Patti to our group. She has a discussion posted in the general area, Graduation Gift Ideas  asking about graduation gifts. You might want to share some of your thoughts with her, or follow the link that B'sNukeMom has posted to information about gift ideas. 

Good Morning and Happy Friday!  Here's the link to today's PIR happening right now:

LIVE PIR OCT 14, 2022

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

Happy Saturday, Moms!

Looking for hotel advice... we are 5 (6 with my SR) and will need adjoining rooms. Can anyone suggest a place that can take a big group? Also, 2 of my teenage sons will have to stay behind since we only have 2 tickets. Will the hotel live stream the PIR? Thank you all! 

Hi Melissa, 

Be sure to check out some of this information that we have on this group page - PIR Weekend Experiences - Post Covid - Navy For Moms (ning.com) (this discussion is recent with some of the moms sharing their experiences, or read through past posts.) 

These are from the pages in the upper right of this group page. Be sure to scroll all the way through the information for motel comments. - Saving Money PIR Weekend - Navy For Moms (ning.com)  & PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend - Navy For Moms (ning.com)  (be sure to scroll through and read information there as well, the first part may need to be updated but there is a lot of good stuff still here.)

As far as a large group, you might need to look into suites, or call the motels. When my son went 5 years ago, they sent us a brochure with the form letter of motels in the area. I do not know if they are still doing that or not. But calling, or doing Google searches also work. - Springhill Suites gets recommended a lot, I think there is a link is the info.

You may also check with the Navy Lodge Navy Lodge Great Lakes: Navy and Military PCS Housing, Great Lakes,...

As far as living streaming in the motel, you will need to ask about that. But RTC does live stream, so make sure the motel offers free WiFi or it can be watched on the replay. 

The RTC website has a host of information on it, and the link for the live stream is in the yellow banner on this page - Recruit Training Command Home Page (navy.mil)

Your sailor will only be able to possibly spend the night with you, if he is staying GL for A school. If he is flying out to his A school, you might want to read this discussion of mine, scroll through the pages for updates - What PIR weekend may be like for those flying out of GL - Navy For ...

Finally, don't forget to read through the information above the discussion area as well.  All the best to your SR!!

Welcome Patti!

Hi Melissa - You should actually get 3 or 4 tickets now depending on the number of Divisions in you in our SRs graduating class. We booked The Navy Lodge (PIR 11/23/22).  We didn't get a suite, but I have heard they have them. I have also heard good things about Springhill Suites by Marriott and Sonesta ES. Some hotels do livestream, several restaurant's apparently do too.  It's also livestreamed on YouTube.  Maybe bring a laptop?  Hope this helps!

I wanted to mention/second about bringing a laptop.. with the right hdmi cable you can hook your laptop to the tv in the room and watch PIR that way if they don't stream it elsewhere. Free wifi is a standard now I think.. or should be.

Good Morning Everyone!! 

It seems that the cold wind of winter is coming to most of us. I am thankful for sunshine! 

Trey - that is a good point about the HDMI cable!! We got stuck on a spring break vacation with a late snow fall. The amusement park which had just opened for the season, closed early and we were stuck in a motel room. My husband's laptop could play a rental DVD, but we had to buy an HDMI cable so we could hook it to the TV screen. 

Rosanne - hopefully you will get a little extra time with your sailor after PIR!

Thanks everyone! I'll make some calls today for hotels.

Another question... My SR will be going to school in Pensacola after PIR. Since he graduates on a Thursday bc of the holiday, any ideas of how much time he could get with liberty? Thanks!

Also, thank you for the HDMI cable idea for my other kids at the hotel!

Happy Monday!

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

Here's a video posted online (6/13/22) that shows the 10 weeks of boot camp:

What US Navy Recruits Go Through

And if you are interested in seeing what happens during the "Confidence Chamber" aka gas chamber here is a video link:

Boot Camp Gas Chamber

Me again... would you recommend rental car or shuttle/Sarge taxi?

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®

Melissa - we used Sarge back in 2012 - no car rental and we were there from Wednesday night to Sunday.  I definitely recommend Sarge.

Melissa - Good luck!

Chipmunk - She's staying in Great Lakes for A School, so from what I understand we will! :)

**Reminder**

THERE IS NO MEET AND GREET FOR 10/20/22.

Sarge has surgery scheduled.

Melissa - be sure to read my discussion What PIR weekend may be like for those flying out of GL - Navy For ... - 

Just because there is a holiday, there is no guarantee that someone flying out of GL will get extra liberty. I would stay flexible and give yourself some extra time in GL, if nothing else than to go to Chicago and see the sites. But most likely your sailor will fly out the next day to FL. So, be prepared both ways. 

RTC has a constant rotation of SRs in and sailors out. Those that fly out (unless they get sent to THU - Temporary Holding Unit, which is another possibility), stay on the BC side, and they have to get shipped out to make room for more incoming SRs. 

Rosanne - That is nice that you should get some extra time.  

We don't rent cars when travelling for several reasons.. every time I have gone to GL, (PIR and two other visits) I use Sarge's Taxi's.. He has several drivers and have never had any issues.. I use them mainly for airport back/forth.. short trips I use Uber. 

We also had Sarge's service drop us at the train station and we took the train into Chicago for the day.  Then while in Chicago we bought a one day bus pass - and the pass was free for our son, he just showed his military ID.  We were able to hop on & off the bus at various locations.  We also did a LOT of walking lol. And this was in December!

Melissa -- I think it's really personal preference.  We rented because we wanted to flexibility to go when and where we wanted.  We also have rarely even taken taxi's because of where we live/grew up.  They are not common in the suburbs/ semi-rural area we grew up in so it's just not our first thought.  I have since been on a couple of trips where Uber/taxi was the better option. For GL-- we rented.  That way when we were driving to the airport at 1 am we were not keeping some one else up late. That's our $.02

Happy Tuesday!

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

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

WooHoo, We have a Sailor!!!!! Div 383!!!!!!

Cindi - Congratulations!! Bravo Zulu!!

Cindi - woohoo!  BZ!

Cindi - just to confirm - Division 383 shows an 11/4 PIR.  You already got the call?

woohoo Cindi..