Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Hey guys!  Last week I had the pleasure of attending my son's PIR (Wed 12/14).  All the advice and information that everyone has shared on this site has been life saving!  We decided to drive from Dallas, Texas to Waukegan, IL instead of booking a flight because we didn't want to risk dealing with delayed and canceled flights! And it's a good thing we did, because on Tuesday, many many flights out of Dallas were canceled due to several tornado warnings in North Texas.  My ex, my Sailor's dad, was due to fly up early Tuesday morning and was to attend Sarge's Meet and Greet with us, but his flight was canceled due to the tornado that touched down just north of DFW airport.  We were in panic mode for a few hours before he was able to get on a new flight later that afternoon.  Unfortunately, he didn't make it to the meet and greet, and apparently a lot of folks that were flying in that Tuesday morning had similar problems, because Sarge said there were a large number of RSVPs that no showed.  So we drove up from Dallas to just north of Saint Louis on Monday and stayed the night, got up early Tuesday morning and drove the remaining 4 hours to Waukegan and arrived around 11:30am.  We (my father and I) went straight to pick up our tickets, didn't have to stand in line, and then did a little (okay, a lot) of shopping at the NEX.  We checked into the hotel, showered up and rested a bit, and attended the Sarge's meet and greet.  It was informative and very emotional when the Sarge paid tribute to the Vets.  The sarge does such a phenomenal job to put on this social event.  He addresses everyone by first name and personally engages with just about every person who attended.  We were lucky enough to get reserved seating up in front of the stage and met some families of sailors in our sailor's division (001) which was really cool! It was fun to finally put faces to the names.  The food was great, the personalized Navy memorabilia was great, and my dad purchased a personalized flag for me!!! We got to PIR super early using the Sarge's short cut, and didn't have to stand in line at all!  We sat right in front of the Div 001 sign in the drill hall, however, I wished we had sat closer to the center of the hall because we had a hard time seeing our sailor.  PIR was everything everyone has said it would be and more.  After they called Liberty I rushed down to hug my boy.  Apparently I had a hard time letting go, because my dad, his dad and his granny were waiting patiently to get their turn! We were all in tears.  I cried during the Navy Hymn - it was my paternal grandparents' favorite hymn...my grandpa was a Navy Seabee at the end of WWII and my grandmother, his wife, just passed away in August at 92 so it was pretty emotional.  We did waste a lot of time getting photos (which my sailor ordered a ton of and cost us a small fortune...LOL), and so I would suggest that if you can, have your sailor send them home!  My son had a ton of plans that he wanted to do after PIR when we spoke on the phone the week prior, but in the end, he just wanted to eat lunch out and then order dinner (chinese) in and hang out and relax - in sweat pants!  All in all a great experience, although the weather was horrid, and it went by so fast.  So grateful to have had the opportunity to go!

sounds wonder lapdja.. we are near Dallas as well.. didn't even think about the tornados delaying flights..  Tough drive though, kudos.. Sarge is a lovely man.. I always use his taxi service. but my sailor is in San Diego now and never wants to see Chicago again, or snow.. lol.. yes to the pictures, our sailor did something similar and pricey, but he did send home the shadow box one at least..  Hugs.. where is he off to next?

He's already in Pensacola.  He left RTC at around midnight after PIR and his flight departed Midway at 0600 in the morning.  He's decided to stay on base for Christmas so he can let others go home and to save his leave time for after A school.  

lapdja -- Thanks for sharing.  I'm so glad you had a wonderful time!! I though you were last week!   YIKES about the tornadoes!!! This time of year it's so iffy to travel at all!! Driving you worry about road conditions, Flying you worry about runway conditions or tornadoes or trickle down delays or ......  Not that any other time is easier though!  I'm so glad you got the extra long hug!! The others didn't die waiting but you might have!! Mom privilege!! the First and Longest hugs!!
I agree on the photos!! They are great but expensive.
Tell your SR's to mail them home.  For anyone who is still waiting for their SR to ship or if they are in early days, Write and share this info!!  I know at one point there was a page that had the pricing but the Exchange website is down atm and I cannot find that page.  I'll share when I find it, unless someone else succeeds first.

This doesn't have updated pricing but here's some info.  The link we have shows pricing from 2018....

Photographs and cruise books may be purchased only by the recruit prior to their graduation from boot camp; however, if your recruit did not order a DVD of PIR, the Navy Exchange Photographic Services Office will accept orders on the day of graduation.

Please verify with your recruit that a DVD has not been ordered by them prior to placing your request.

To order a DVD of your Recruit's PIR, please contact the Navy Exchange Photographic Services Officer at (847)578-6205 and provide the following information:

Recruit's Name
Division Number
Date of Graduation (Pass-In-Review) Ceremony
Return Address (Sorry, No P.O. Box or Overseas Addresses Please)
Daytime Phone Number
For prices and additional information, please contact the Navy Exchange Photographic Services Office at 847-578-6205.

Here's the link we have on here that has 2018 pricing:

Division T shirts & pictures

Is there a group I should join here for Pensacola A School moms?  Wondering about sending care packages.  

thanks!

Hi lapdja! I have a sailor at A school in Pensacola now. I have sent him some packages already and he has received them no problem!

lapdja - here's a link to one of the Pensacola groups:

Pensacola FL A School

Good Morning Everyone!! Sorry, I had a slight plumbing issue with my washing machine, just now having a chance to say Hi!

AgnesB - Thank you for sharing your Christmas BC experience with others who are going through it this year. It helps to know that others have learned to make adjustments through the difficult times. 

lapdja - I am so glad that you were able to see your new sailor!!! Wow, I guess I missed the news about tornados near DFW - We also drove, although we are a few hours closer.  Yes, that line at the photo Nex can be long. My sailor had actually picked his pictures up prior to PIR, because he knew we were coming to see him, but many people do have their SR mail them home. 

Besides the Pensacola FL A school group, you may also join the Beyond BC - it is a great group to just stay connected with other Navy family - we have members whose sailors are still in school and others who are at their new commands, so depending on where your sailor ends up, you might make a connection with someone there as well. 

B'sNukeMom - I love the Snoopy pictures but I don't know if my granddaughter would even know what to think of all of the snow. They get very little! I forward them to her every so often. 

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

lapdja, congratulations to you and your son. My son and his big ole heart did the same exact thing, gave up his chance to come home so others could for two years straight.  He then didn't get to come home for 3 years. I was very proud of how he put other before himself until my empty arms ached for him, his Grandma passed away and she never got to see him as a Sailor and his Grandpa is almost 92 and hasn't seen him since he left for MEPS. It was definitely time. Thank our good Lord He Blessed us this year and we have him home after 1069 days! When you give up your chance to come home you might be sacrificing more than you thought about. It is definitely a honorable thing  I just wanted to let others know just what you might be sacrificing!

Welcome Charlotte -- This is the main page where we post most of the Information.  We are here to help you navigate this Navy Boot Camp experience.  If there is anything we can do to support you please just let us know.

lapdja -- I agree.  I encourage every sailor to go home at least once a year if they can manage it.  You just never know what the future holds and while it's admirable to "Let the others go first", Make sure you are on the list to go!   My son isn't going to be able to come home for the holidays but we got to see him this past Oct, so he's taken duty for other guys on both Thanksgiving and Christmas so the guys who have kids can spend it with their family.  He does see that it's very valuable though to come home and see his family from time to time and it gives him a break from "Work" and lets him relax!  Also If you haven't already, Come over and join us on the  Beyond BC group.  You'll see lots of familiar faces and they may be able to connect you with the P-cola folks.

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

LOL!!

Charlotte - Good morning and welcome! I posted a message on your profile page for you as well, but hopefully you see this first. 

Beachymom - this is the info from RTC - hopefully you'll be getting your text soon!

And here's the discussion on the Sandboxx app:

Sandboxx app while in BC

Hello All,

I received my "I'm A Sailor Call" PIR 01/06/2023 Almost there!!

WooHoo Cheri39  congrats to your sailor... and you..

woohoo cheri39! 

cheri39, congratulations to you and your spanking new Sailor. I am so happy for you. Enjoy every minute of your time together.

Beachymom - My apologies, I have had a couple of really busy days. Something that occurred to me earlier when I saw your question, It is your son might have gotten to RTC at the same time as other friends, but for whatever reason, he may have gotten held back to fill a different division, and that may be why you have had a delay with your letter. 

This new Sandboxx situation with them sending the form letters is all new to us. What B'sNukeMom shared was the best first-hand information that we received from RTC. So, maybe they are still sending out some paper form letters, even though our understanding was different.

Our mantra around here is: "No News is Good News". Keeping hanging in there. 

cheri39 -  Congratulations!! To your new sailor, and to you NavyMom - rejoice! You may change your SRs status on your profile page to Enlisted, if you haven't already and you may come join us in Beyond BC Group!!

Sorry I am just catching up!  lapja I was so excited to read about your experience at PIR and so glad you got that hug! 

cheri3 - Congratulations to you and your sailor!! 

Welcome to Charlotte!

Beachymom - my son was in a 900 division before he was injured and they are there a couple of extra weeks while they fill the division, so that might be the delay in getting your letter. However, my son signed up for Sandboxx and I received the text from Sandboxx but never received a welcome letter.  Not sure if they are doing it differently now but you might not even get a welcome letter.  I just had to download the security access form from the RTC website - it never came in the mail.

No updates on my son yet, but hoping for a call in the next week telling me he's cleared from RCU and going back to a new division - maybe they'll get a call for Christmas weekend - fingers crossed!

Charlotte - Welcome!

Cheri39 - Congrats on having a sailor! Hope you'll be able to attend PIR - it's an awesome day!

Lapja - Sounds like such a great time with your sailor. PIR weekend is amazing, and it's fun to see how much our kids change and mature in just a few weeks.

Beachymom - I had the same experience as Tootie. We used Sandboxx, so we were able to download the security form and all necessary info from their site. Never received a physical letter from RTC.

Tootie - Hope you hear from your son soon. Prayers to him as he heals and continues his training. 

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Good Morning Everyone!! 

Tootie - I am hopeful that you get a phone call soon. Thanks for sharing your Sandboxx experience. 

Some of our new members may be having difficulty utilizing this site because of a mobile device. Does anyone that has an iPhone have any suggestions? 

Thinking about all of our sailors up at RTC and families who are hoping for the Adopt-a-Sailor program to be able to proceed without a glitch.  Please note the recruits are issued cold weather gear even for marching in. 

We received the "I'm a sailor!" call yesterday. Best. Call. Ever! We are so very proud of our son's hard work, tenacity and perseverance that he has learned at boot camp. The maturity in his voice was amazing to hear. 

Everyone keep sending encouraging messages to your sailors. More mail is always a good thing! They will get through this successfully! 

Woohoo mathrocks!  BZ to your new sailor!

Whoohoo!  We got the call that our daughter is a sailor yesterday!  We are so proud of all her work and perseverance!  So looking forward to seeing her on Christmas-I was elated when I read the program is still on!  Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!!

Sue M. - woohoo!  BZ to your new sailor and safe travels to Great Lakes - Enjoy your Christmas visit!

WHOOP
WHOOP
WHOOP
ATTENTION ON DECK
WE HAVE A SAILOR!!!
Congratulations to cheri39  and her Sailor on a job well done

Sue M & Mathrocks - Congratulations to your sailors as well!!!!

WHOOP

WHOOP

WHOOP

ATTENTION ON DECK!

WE HAVE A SAILOR!!

Congratulations to mathrocks  and her Sailor on a job well done!! BZ!!

Tootie -- Crossing everything hoping you get a phone call for Christmas! (And if he's got a new Div with an address that would be a bonus!

Piggybacking on Chipmunk's comment... They do have cold weather gear but when the weather is Dangerous cold they also do everything they can to limit their time outside, exposed to the elements.  They will not be spending much time out in this cold!

Awesome Sauce... BZs.. welcome newest sailors

Mathrocks and Sue M. - Congratulations to you and your new sailors!!!! BZs!