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

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

How's everyone doing today?  1 day closer to PIR.  Any questions or concerns?

Amouse - Thanks!! I wasn't sure how many we had headed that way. May you all have safe travels, and a wonderful time with your sailors. 

For all of our new sailors and families - Congratulations!!

When you all return from PIR, please come share your experiences here in the comments and then copy them to PIR Weekend Experiences - Post Covid - so they can be easily available for us to share in the future. 

Remember to change the status on your profile pages from at Bootcamp to Enlisted!! Celebrate their success. 

If you haven't joined us in Beyond BC group, we would love to welcome you!

If you have a sailor flying out of GL this discussion might be helpful -  What PIR weekend may be like for those flying out of GL   be sure to scroll to the end for more recent comments. 

I will be leaving tomorrow, driving in.  I am only about 4.5 hours away.  I will be packing tonight when I get home from work.  I am also working on his backpack, just in case he does fly commercially to A school.  I got to see a few pictures of my Sailor in his working uniform from a post on FB.  The Allied Blood Bank or something like that had some pictures from 391.  He looked so good, I almost didn't recognize him, is that horrible?  He looks so thin. I just wanna hug on him, but I read that this is unacceptable.  No PDA, even from a mom.  A really long hug is acceptable for the first time, but nothing else.  So, we can't interlock arms or have random hugs while we are out and about.  Which all he really wants is food and some boba. Still not sure about the food part though.  I know that these next 7 hour are going to just drag, because I want it to go by fast. Safe travels to the others.  Looking forward to Sarge's Meet & Greet and getting some Navy swag.

CBMom, let me tell you when he called, I cried.  Then I proceeded to walk out the back door at work and let out a really loud HOOYAH!!!!  He laughed at me.  I pranced around at work so excited just to be able to see my son.  This journey has been a hard education, but also a blessing.  My son has never been challenged this way before, so I wasn't sure how things would turn out.  I know that I can use his/our story to encourage others and I hope it does just that.  Thanks to everyone for reaching out and praying, thinking, sharing words of wisdom and encouraging me.  It really is appreciated and means more to me than I could ever say.  

Oh JNMnavymomOH, I am sooooo happy for you!!!!!  Yes, that hug will be the best - cherish it!  Enjoy your time with your son <3

JNMnavymomOH - Enjoy that hug - it's a been a long time coming!  Congratulations!!

Melissa - Congratulations!!

Both of you have a safe trip and have fun! (take tissues)

Amouse - Do you have a sailor graduating this week too?  If so, Congratulations! (sorry if I missed you - having a hard time going back and following the conversation thread lol!)

JNMnavymom- Awe!!! So wonderful-it is a great story and it will help him get through A schoool too.  And you hug that young man as much as you want! Yeah he hugged me back the first time and then kinda stood there other times but I didn’t care I just kept hugging him. He will likely be different once he’s off base with you;)

Be sure to RSVP for Sarge's Meet N Greet.  It's held on the Thursday night before PIR.  Here's the link:  

Sarge's Meet N Greet

So excited for all you Ladies heading to PIR. Prayers for safe travels and a wonderful time. Bless you and your Sailors!

Good Morning Everyone!! I just wanted to say have a wonderful day. 

Please join me in welcoming  Beachymom⚓️ to the group. She just joined as is waiting for her son to leave for BC. Feel free to share any pointers with her please. 

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

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Beachymom - Welcome to the group! Best of luck to your new recruit!

Beachymom - Hang in there!  This group is so wonderful and provides so much encouragement along the journey, so we're glad you are here!

Hi, Beachymom!  My son graduated from BC almost a year ago, and I was just thinking this morning about some of the things that he/we did that were helpful. 

1.  Make sure he takes a charger when he goes to BC.  The “I’m here” call comes from their cell phone so they need to make sure they have enough power to make the call. 

2.  Have him take a list of phone numbers so when he gets a chance to make phone calls, he has the numbers available. 

3. My son volunteered to be a flag-bearer at graduation to make it easier for us to spot him during the ceremony, which we really appreciated.  (Once they started practicing graduation, he wrote a letter and drew us a picture of the formation and where he would be standing.) 

Make sure to ask questions of this group.  I would have never made it through BC without these amazing women.

Hi Beachymom... welcome.. my sailor is home right now on leave before going to C school and I have already done Halloween and Thanksgiving meals lol.. 

There is lots of good info here and all of us to help you out.. we get the sadness and all..  Big Navy Mom Hugs (BNMH) 

Beachymom - here are a couple of things to look at before your son leaves for boot camp:

Updated info on the Fitness Assessment that they must pass in boot camp (click on the links:). 

Navy fitness assessment

Recruits - prepare yourself

Beachymom - It is good to have you here and posting. Some days, especially on the weekends, it can be quiet, but don't hesitate to post, or ask questions, someone will see it and reply. 

Hi Beachymom!  Welcome!  This is a good, encouraging group. My daughter is in Week 7 of boot camp.  It's hard when the leave, amazing when you get the first "real" phone call (not the I'm here call).  Hang in there!  

Please join me in welcoming cheri39 to our group as well!!

Welcome cheri39 and Happy Friday everyone!

Can't wait to see pictures of the new sailors today!

Welcome cheri39 and Beachymom, so happy you joined us here. 

Red Friday, got my red on.

CBMom and others -  Why your sailors might not want to display affection in public, while in uniform - 

Every SR, I believe has to memorize the UCMJ - 

UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice)

The primary one that applies is explained in the following article.

"In Uniform" rules - PDA

I recall my son telling me that he could not give us hugs at PIR, and especially for his brother not to "gallumpf" him. Because in public, in uniform, he could not show any PDA.  - I do notice that there are cases when it is slightly acceptable, as long as moderate. When liberty is called after PIR and everyone floods the floor, well, no one seems to be paying any attention. 

But hopefully, this helps you all understand why they might be standoffish. I thought it was interesting that the right hand has to be free at all times, so they are able to salute.

Welcome cheri39! 

Northwoodsmom - good reminder!  I need to get myself a red Friday shirt!

Chipmunk, thanks for sharing that!  Only 19 more days 'til I get to see my girl at PIR!

Welcome cheri39 and Beachymom! This group is an amazing resource!

Here's the link to today's PIR happening now:

LIVE PIR 11.04.22

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

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

YouTube is having issues today - here is another link from RTC:

https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/30255#.Y2UgMAlZpX0.link

Welcome beachymom and cheri39! You've joined a wonderful group of encouraging Navy moms. 

So eager to see (and yes, hug!) my son at next Thursday's PIR! Feels like it's flown by and been an eternity all at once. Best of luck to all graduating today!

Don't forget we change the clocks this weekend!

Latest update from RTC:

COVID Message Board

* * * The Latest Guidance - Revised Pass-in-Review Policy * * *

Due to a change in COVID-19 status, as of Nov. 10, guests attending the weekly graduation ceremony are no longer required to show proof of vaccination to gain access to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes.

However, with the removal of mask wearing and vaccinations, guests should take whatever precautions they deem appropriate for themselves based on their personal risk factors. Vaccinations and subsequent boosters are still strongly recommended by the CDC. Disposable masks are available at the front desk of the RTC visitors center for guests who may wish to utilize one.

Recruits graduating in the next few weeks are being given the opportunity to phone home to notify their families of this change in policy so they may make changes to their guest access lists over the phone. If your recruit graduates in December or later and you want to change the guest list based on this change, it is recommended you mail a new Guest Security Access Form to your recruit. This form may be found at www.bootcamp.navy.mil under the Graduation tab.

Hello everyone!!

PIR was wonderful.  I posted all about it on the PIR forum.  Thank you so much for everything.  My son is now at Nuke school.  He and about 60 other Nukes took a military flight out of Milwaukee this morning. Got an unexpected 2nd day with him.  It goes by so fast, that is for sure.  

JNMnavymom, so happy you got a extra day with your Sailor. Gosh that is alot of Nukes. Prayers for your son's success and for safe travels for you both.

JNMnavymomOH - Thank you so much for sharing your story with us!! That is wonderful that you got an extra day. You mentioned that he called to tell you. Had they given them their phones back yet?

So glad you got that extra time.. those hugs are so wonderful..

So they got their ditty box on Friday morning.  When my son called he said that they might not have to give their phones back.  Yet when I picked him up the next morning he said they made them lock them up.  They are unable to bring back anything that they did not leave with.  

does he have his phone now that he is out of GL?

Yes, my son has his phone and he is at Goose Creek, SC. He starts INDOC tomorrow and then A school begins in earnest.  So not sure how much he is going to be able to use it or if he gets to use it, how much he will communicate with me.

JMNnavymomOH - So wonderful that you got an extra day with your son (you deserved it!)  Good luck to him on his next chapter!

JMNnavymomOH - Hooray for the extra day!  So happy for you and your sailor!!!  Looking forward to reading about your PIR experience. 

JNMnavymomOH - How wonderful that you got that extra day with your son! Prayers for him as he starts Nuke A school. If all goes well, my son will be joining him in GC next week. Such an exciting time for them.

JNMnavymomOH - What a blessing that you were able to have an extra day!  My son's PIR is the day before Thanksgiving so we are hoping for extra time as well.  He will also be going to GC for Nuke School after PIR.  

Regarding phones and their ditty boxes:  I read somewhere that it was better for the sailors to give their boxes to family at PIR than to wait to receive them at the airport.  Can someone please explain how that works?

Also, what is the purpose of the door anchor and where can I find more information on how to make or purchase one?

joe-mom - HI!  I am also a "joe" mom.  :-)  So exciting that your son will be at GC soon!

jog6 - Congrats that your son is graduating the day before Thanksgiving.  That is the day that my son graduated last year!  I have no idea how they will do it this year, but for my son, he didn't fly to GC until the Tuesday after T'giving.  We were able to stay in GL until Sunday with him.  He arrived at GC and started INDOC quickly, but didn't start A school until January because they took a break for Christmas.  (But we were thrilled about that!)

MomofJoseph - Hello to you, too, fellow "Joe" mom! I was wondering if there would be a delay in starting A school because of the holidays. So did your son get to come home for Christmas? We are SO hoping to be able to spend Christmas with our son...

joe-mom -- Obviously, I have no idea what the Navy will do this year, but YES, my son was able to come home for Christmas!  I had heard that they get a 2-week break and they have to work one week and then they get leave for one week.  But in our experience, he was able to come home for the entire 2-week period (plus 3 bonus days because we all got COVID after Christmas and they told him to stay home longer!)  :-)