Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

 jog6 - I can only say what happened during our weekend.  My son opened his box and brought out everything that was in there.  The rule is they can only bring back what they went out with, or at least it was the rule for my sons RDCs.  His bookbag included his headphones and phone.  He returned with his headphone and his phone minus the bookbag.  He sent that and everything inside home with me.  

I got the extra day, but not sure how.  I wasn't going to question it.  However about 60 Nukes got on a military flight in Milwaukee to go to Goose Creek.  My son did not inform me if there was an option for me to meet him there, but I would assume not.  If they fly commercial, you should be able to meet them and hand them things.  My son said he didn't really have room for anything as his bags were full.   

MomofJoseph - Thanks!

FYI - In general on commercial flights when the military are flying under orders, the airlines allow them extra bags. However, they already have their arms full, and as I recall, they were not allowed to wear their backpacks because while they issued them at BC, they are not regulation for wearing with their dress uniform, which is how my son flew, so they had to wear their seabag, carry, their garment bag, and their backpack, and most of them were carrying their orders in their hand as well. 

I am sure if they were traveling otherwise, as most of them did during the majority of 2020, they are limited to only having their issued items. But the extra baggage is something worth knowing. Some airlines also allow them an extra bag when they are traveling for vacation, so be sure to double check with the airlines during holiday travel. 

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

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 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).

Woo hoo!  I have a sailor!  Just got the call!  Can't wait to see her in two weeks!! 

Rosanna, congratulations, I am so happy for you. You must be so excited. Prayers these next 2 weeks fly until you see your daughter!

Roasanne - BRAVO ZULO to your sailor!!! So happy for you!!! 

Congratulations!!!!  

awesome news rosanna...

Rosanna - Congratulations to your sailor!!! BNMHs to you!!!

Great news, Rosanna!!! Congratulations!

Thanks everyone!!

Congratulations Rosanne!!!

MomofJoseph, Chipmunk, and JNMnavymomOH - thank you so much for all the information. You were very helpful!

I also got the call today - I've got a sailor!  So proud of him!

(And very thankful we get to see him at PIR since they changed the vaccination requirements!)

jog6 - Congratulations!!! And I am so happy that you will be able to see your sailor!!

jog6 - Congratulations to you and your sailor!!  And same for us-I cried when I saw they lifted the mandate!  So excited!  See you 11/23?!

jog6 - woohoo!! Congratulations!

On my way to PIR! I can’t wait!!! 

Melissa - Enjoy every minute!!

Today's PIR happening live now:

LIVE PIR 11.10.22

BZ to all the new Sailors!

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

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Information regarding use of the Sandboxx app while in BC.  Click on the link:

Sandboxx app while in BC

jog6 and Rosanne - CONGRATULATIONS!   I can't wait to hear all about your experience at PIR!  

Hi all - I have just a moment but I have this reminder:

If someone reaches out to you on this site and wants to contact you via their personal email, please do not reply to them but get the username and let the admin know. 

This is a follow up to Chipmunks post below.  I do my best to weed out "spammers" but occasionally a fake person will get through.  I just had one this morning that I approved and immediately they sent a personal message to Chipmunk and it was obvious they were not a Navy family member! 

Thankfully she knows to let me know and I could delete them immediately.

If you see anything suspicious or you are ever just concerned about a message/post please send me a message right away and I will look into it.

Thanks!

I got a call from my SR in Div 001 this past Saturday morning.  He told me his division was the first division in 12 years that passed Marlinspike on the first try!! He also said they are working really well together as a team and excelling.  I'm so proud of him.  He sounded so much more excited and comfortable on this call than he did on the previous call.  He sounded confident and just happy.  He had the RDC assessment on Monday and I haven't gotten a call that he didn't pass.  He told me he wasn't worried about the run, so I've just been praying and praying everything went well for him.  I cannot wait to go to PIR.  It's getting closer!!! 12-14-22!!!

lapdja - that's great news!  Glad to hear things are going well for your SR.

lapdja - Congratulations!

B'sNukeMoM - thank you for clarifying!  I was thinking I had done something wrong because I have exchanged personal emails with 2 moms on this site.  But we did it after we had communicated a lot on here, and it was clear we were actually Navy moms.  :-)

lapdja - so happy to hear your SR is excelling and doing great! It won't be long now!

found this on the FB page for GL.. haven't tried it yet.

https://www.applocker.navy.mil/#!/apps/A3E45417-7665-4E93-B703-659F6B34C404

lapdja - Awesome news on your SR! It's so great to hear them happy!

jog6, congratulations, safe travels enjoy your time with your Sailor.

lapdja - I am so glad you had a wonderful call!

Congratulations jog6!!!

Good Morning and Happy Friday.  I want to give a big shout out to both my son and DIL who are Veterans.  Thank you for your service!

And I've got my RED on today too!

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

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

TorpedoMom - Welcome to the BC Mom and Loved One's group!! We are glad to have you aboard. Please don't hesitate to come say hello to everyone. Be sure to look at the discussions above, there are a few that might be of interest to you as you prepare for your SR's upcoming PIR. 

Please join me in also welcoming OnWatch to our group!! We are glad you are here, please come and introduce yourself. 

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

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

Re: Traveling on orders post PIR 

My son had to take all of his issued gear with him to his first duty station.  So he had sea bag, back pack, garment bag, and laptop bag [we gave him that when we met up after PIR.  Since then, when he travels, he has the sea bag, laptop in his back pack, and another large bag.  He just traveled from overseas to the US and the sea bag as well as the large bag were checked, no cost, since he's traveling on orders.

Just FYI

Got back last night from PIR! What a beautiful ceremony! Here are some details about my experience with PIR:

I used Sarge's Taxi service and Clifton, our driver, was fantastic! We used him for transportation to and from the airport. We had 5 of us so I filled out the form and texted Sarge to make sure we could fit. There were 4 bags so it wasn't an issue.

We stayed at the Springfield Suites which was convenient since the meet and greet was across the street so we could walk

I used Uber to get back and forth to the gate to pick up and drop off my Sailor from the barracks. He had to stay on base and had to be back by 9pm, but it's really 8:30 since it's a 30 min walk (they can't double time) from Gate 8 to the barracks.

Sarge's Meet and Greet starts at 5, but it says food is at 7. That wasn't the case. We arrived about 5:45 and there was a huge line for food. They had plenty though. There were vendors there selling personalized apparel as well as bracelets.

I was lucky that one of my sailor's division mates didn't have anyone coming to PIR so we were able to use his tickets and all 5 of us could attend PIR. My sailor arranged all of that.

Springfield Suites had a free shuttle to and from PIR. I signed up when we checked in. The 6:45am shuttle gave us plenty of time and no waiting in line to get into the gate.

My son bought A LOT of photos and frames and there was a long line at NEX to pick them up. There was another line after that to pay. I waited and got all the photos while my sailor went and got his stuff out of the barracks. We just made the 11:45am shuttle back to the hotel.

I brought some comfortable clothes for him to wear in the hotel room so he could relax. They really don't have room to take a lot to school with them since all the uniforms fill the bag so I took most things home and will ship to him later.

They get phones back after PIR which was a big deal since they had all been separated from their social accounts for so long!

At PIR, there is a sailor standing with the division number so you can sit across from that sign and try to find your sailor so when they call liberty and there is a mad dash to the kids, you kind of know how to get to your sailor. It was still pretty crazy!

I hope this helps and please ask any questions you like!

Happy Monday!