Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

G'sNavyMom - NO, the parking garage is right next door to where you will be entering into the Great Hall. 

Oh wonderful! Ok, thank you for all this Information. Greatly appreciate it!

G’sNavyMom- we drove our rental, used the shortcut and had no issues, line went by fast. But try and be early so you have time to buy division merchandise. There is a line for merchandise, so me and my son waited in our seats while my husband got the division calendar I wanted. Seats do fill up fast so keep that in mind. 

Eds Mom Danielle, get ready to be pleasantly surprised when you get to see that boy. He is going to be alot more mature especially right after book camp. Those towels will be perfectly folded and promptly put away. It's one of the perks we are shown as a Navy Mom, first time I seen mine get up from the table with his plate and cup and rinse them and put them in the dishwasher I almost passed out. I am sure you will be very happy and almost in awe what the Navy can do in 10 weeks that we can't do in 18 years.

G'sNavyMom -- We drove in and it wasn't a problem at all.  I prefer the flexibility of having my own car vs having to wait for a ride to arrive.  If you do go early, just know that you are sitting for a LONG time on Hard bleacher seats.  Bring a "Situpon" or a folded jacket to provide padding.  It's fall so cool mornings are the norm... Layers will be your friend.  Enjoy your PIR and be sure to tell your sailor that you are to collect hugs from all of us from him! 
I can't wait to hear all about your wonderful visit next week!!! (Don't feel like you need to check in during your weekend... spend those precious moments focused on the moment... we'll still be here when you get back!)

Hey Bootcamp Moms --
With talk of a government shut down looming large, you may be wondering if this will impact your sailors. The Short answer is yes.  This article may provide helpful information on what to expect. https://veteran.com/government-shutdown/

IF your sailor has an account with Navy Federal Credit Union, their pay will be covered.  NFCU has a policy in place that all Active duty are covered for a period of time in the event that a government shut down impacts pay.  In 2018 they covered 3 pay periods.  That was the longest shutdown.  NFCU knows they'll collect those funds just as soon as the govt resumes payroll and that it's all really just paperwork/shuffling.  If your Sailor does NOT use NFCU, they need to check with their financial institutions to see what options are available.  They need to prepare now in case the proverbial Sh** hits the fan! 

This is NOT fair to our service members but then nothing about government is designed to be fair! Encourage your Sailor to put something away for savings so they can better withstand this kind of nonsense.

So excited I got a postcard from my son.  He admits things are different but he is doing well.  Figured out he will be graduating November 22, right before Thanksgiving.  Will he have a long weekend with us or will he be going to his A school right after?  Will he go to A school and come home for Christmas?  So much to think about.  We have decided to drive out as holiday week is going to be a s### show.

KLsewso --Maybe and Maybe.... Since PIR that week will be on a Wednesday, you may get Wednesday, Thanksgiving, Friday and maybe the following Saturday (Maybe even through Sunday so plan for him to leave on Fri or Sat be happy if you get more!! ) Driving is a wise plan.  Figure out where you want to eat Thanksgiving meals at now and make those reservations.  You will likely have to return him to base every night by 8 or 9 pm (Remember on time is Late in the Navy!!) so keep that in mind as well.  They have a limit on how far they can travel. 

As for Christmas -- Most A schools shut down over Christmas holidays.  They don't want to have to babysit a bunch of new Sailors so this is the only time they are allowed to "Go in the hole" for leave time.  Depending on the A school they will get anywhere from 1-3 weeks of possible leave.  Some A schools split the leave time so you either get 10 days including Christmas or 10 days including New Years, others just want them gone until they are ready to resume classes.  It's best if they return the DAY before their leave is up just in case of bad weather.  IF they are delayed due to weather beyond that, they need to contact their command as soon as they know there is any possibility of a delay. They really need to do everything in their power to be back on time and that includes planning for possible weather delays.

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

PIR NOVEMBER 2023

PIR OCTOBER 2023

PIR SEPTEMBER 2023

**REMINDER** BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 2023, RECRUIT GRADUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY (NO LONGER ON FRIDAY), EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN GRADUATION IS ON WEDNESDAY.

Hello everyone, our family had a great PIR weekend with our son. It was so great to see him, we got there early and had to sit in the bleachers for several hours, but no complaints here. I was just happy to finally be there, and to see his face. Which was a lot thinner than I expected, my sweet boy. When it was over it was a mad house and hard to get to him, my legs were shaking as I walked toward him. He was originally flying out on Saturday morning, but didn't actually leave until Sunday. We were so excited and very happy we booked our room for the whole weekend. He was still the same kid, just more aware of his surroundings and the rules. We also went to the airport to see him off, he's doing great. Bootcamp being over is such a relief for these kids, and he was already looking forward to A school. He has his phone now, we can text and he also facetimed me yesterday to show me his room. I feel so much better, saying goodbye was so much easier. We will probably drive down in a couple of weeks to see him. 

Sandra - Isn't PIR awesome? I'm so happy you had the extra day with your son and that you are feeling good about where he is now. It's never easy on us moms, but we get through it.

Sandra - this brings tears to my eyes. I'm so happy for you and your family. There's many emotions for our Sailors/SR's and for us too. So happy for your Sailor. We are GL bound in 2 days. Friday can't come fast enough. I miss my boy so much💙

G'sNavyMom - Wishing you and your family a wonderful trip to PIR. It's going to be an amazing time. Hard to fathom until you actually experience it in person. Safe travels!

joe-mom - thank you very much. I'm emotional now, I can't imagine how I will be at PIR. I'll report back after we return home.

G'sNavyMom- Its going to be an amazing wkend for you and your family, I hope the information I sent you helped, it was very detailed. Whoever created it did a good job

Sandra - thank you very much. Yes, the information you sent is so helpful. I appreciate you very much! 

joe-mom, yes PIR is awesome. We didn't take video because my son purchased it, which was great we enjoyed not having that distraction. 

Sandra - so happy for you!  Sounds like you had a wonderful time.  I can almost hear the sigh of relief in your typing!  😄

G’sNavyMom - have a fantastic trip to PIR!  Excited for you and your family and especially your SR!

Hope everyone is doing well and having a great week so far!

Sandra -- I'm so happy that you had such a great time!! Bonus days are always Amazing!!

G'sNavyMom -- Safe travels and Fingers crossed for bonus days for you too (Even though the odds are slimer than slim!)  Enjoy all those hugs!!

 Northwoodsmom I cannot wait to see what they were able to do with him LOL  after 24 years of trying to get him to write legibly somehow they got him to write like a person and not a gorilla!!  I could not believe his handwriting on the last letter.  I can't wait to wrap my arms around him...these next 5 weeks are going to be lloonngg!!

This may be a silly question.  Back story...we are campers, if I cannot take my RV with me I don't usually go, so other than a trip to Canada 10 years ago I haven't needed a passport LOL Here's the question, passports for military...does he have to get his own passport? I would think yes if he is traveling on Leave for fun, but  I don't know!

belovedbyHim I keep rereading your post about Christmas Leave as if I cannot believe what I am seeing!  I thought we would not see him until after A School!  I am very excited to hear there is a possible break for the holidays!!  I just looked up "Go in the Hole" and now understand the policy.  This site is such a great resource!!!  Thankyou everyone!!

Hi all - Happy Wednesday!

Eds Mom Danielle - a passport is highly recommended.  If he's in a foreign port and off duty and wants to travel he WILL need a passport.  My son's command made it mandatory....

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

PIR NOVEMBER 2023

PIR OCTOBER 2023

PIR SEPTEMBER 2023

**REMINDER** BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 2023, RECRUIT GRADUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY (NO LONGER ON FRIDAY), EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN GRADUATION IS ON WEDNESDAY.

B'sNukeMoM Thank you!

So wonderful to hear PIR stories.. and those heading out this week and shortly.. hugs all around.. I don't miss BC time for sure but seeing him that day was one of the top 3 moments in my life.. probably number 2.. number 1 was the day I held him first lol before the Navy got in the way..

Trey - I agree 100%! You nailed it.

Eds Mom Danielle -- Yes... Have him get one ASAP!!! They may or may not need it and they always have to get Command permission to travel to a foreign country (Including Mexico and Canada).  They do not need their passport to travel "On Orders" but if they get stationed overseas and want to travel to nearby countries (Europe is common!) or if there is an emergency and they need to travel quickly, having their passport is very useful!! (Get yours too!! You never know!!!) Have them go ahead and schedule an appointment now... They can always reschedule later is needed.  They can do this at their A school location or when they are home.  DO NOT wait till they get their Command orders!! It's a Nightmare then! 

MY Sailor is a SeaBee -- a dirt sailor.  Always stationed on land... His first command was Sicily Italy!! He didn't have a passport.  He could go to the mainland but he could NOT go anywhere else!  Not to Greece, France, Spain, Germany.... all these wonderful countries a day or less away and he couldn't visit because he didn't have his passport.  He came home on "Surprise Leave" but Didn't think to make an appointment and because he wanted to surprise us he didn't tell us so... We didn't advise him (19 and knew it all..... HA!) He had to Come back at Christmas and call to get an "Emergency " Appointment at the Passport office and got chewed out when he got back to command for not planning ahead. We got our Passports to go visit him and took a 3 week vacation to Italy and London while he was there!  I just realized the other day that our passports are expired so that just got added to the list.  Sailor is on deployment but if something happened to him it would be tricky to get there.  If something happened here at home, He could get a civilian flight back but having his passport will make getting through customs easier!

Trey -- Yep!!! Top 3 for sure!!

Eds Mom Danielle -- On the topic of Christmas Leave.... My post is Common but that is not to say it is 100%!!! Do NOT be surprised if it changes!! (That said... Buying changeable travel tickets may not be a waste of $$... Just check on change fees and compare to short notice travel costs.....)

I also love hearing all the PIR stories but I will admit I am so jealous. Having that once in a lifetime  experience stolen for us because of  Covid still tears at my heart. At least I got to watch it live streaming there were a lot of moms who never even got that. I really think when a ship does their Tiger Cruises or Family days they should make sure to invite those families first, just my thought.

Northwoodsmom -- {{{{{BNMH}}}}} I know that time was so hard on all of you but you were resilient and had a toughness that was amazing to see.  Because of your shared bond, Beyond BC was born!! So much was lost in 2020!!! Graduations, Weddings, Births, Deaths, Funerals, PIR... There is no way to make up for those major life events!!

Well tomorrow is the day. We are in Jacksonville. I head to MEPS in the morning to see him swear in and I’ll head home without my first born, I gave him the option for me to sit with him at the airport or not. Luckily he chose not. I’m tired and worried I won’t sleep well tonight.

He’s a nervous wreck but when we stopped at the recruiting office they reassured him it was normal. We spent the afternoon at the mall here hitting his favorite stores (all the geeky ones lol).  I sat in the lobby with him watching reels he wanted to show me and telling me a prank he and one of his friends want to pull on another of their friends (the one he is planning with arrived at Great Lakes a week after him.). I’m grateful he’ll know someone there and hope it helps him get through. 

Big Hugs Travel.... seeing him swearing in will be cool.. we couldn't because of covid, but they are usually put out on youtube, not just during covid. I sent the link to other family member..  Hate to say but good call on the airport..  leaving him at the hotel for us was bad enough.. would not have been able to see him get on that plane. 

Congratulations and safe travels to everyone at PIR today and this weekend! 

So my son is at BC now. Day 9 but not really. Got two calls yesterday to say moving him to another division with same graduation date. But was two days behind. For a “complication” don’t know what that is. It was a 1 minute call. Second phone call was that division was full so PIR will be a week later. Another week added in not seeing him. Ugh, I think the hardest part is the letting go and not having control to check up on them. He is straight out of HS. Also just to be clear I am not a helicopter mom. Just one that likes to know he is okay. 
anyway have no idea what this “complication” could be. 

Just got another phone call saying he was pushed back a week due to paperwork being lost. ? He said he would explain later. But confirming PIR date. and that it is like he is only on day 3 even though he has been there for 9 days. So I guess all is well. 

Lisa - My son had a similar issue. Got a call from him during week 1 of BC saying that MEPS had neglected to send some of his medical paperwork to Great Lakes, so he was being ASMO'd for a week. I had the same reaction as you - another week that I have to wait to see him??? It was fine, though, and he ended up loving his new division.

TravelAddictedNavyMom-Its going to be ok, its not easy but it will get better. I can say that now, but I wasn't sure it was going to be when our family went through it. Come on here read other moms stories, we can all relate to your situation in some way. Write lots of letters, I wrote everyday. Its helps, its almost like you are having a conversation with your him.

Lisa-Hang in there, I've heard similar stories and everything was fine. I'm glad he was able to call you to give you an update, I'm sure that helped put your mind at ease

Happy Thursday!

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

PIR NOVEMBER 2023

PIR OCTOBER 2023

PIR SEPTEMBER 2023

**REMINDER** BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 2023, RECRUIT GRADUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY (NO LONGER ON FRIDAY), EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN GRADUATION IS ON WEDNESDAY.

Moms whose sons have an S.O. Contract headed to BUD/S there is a group for you.

It is called, BUD/S and SQT (Stages of a S.E.A.L.)

Interested:

Send a friend request to NavyMom(J) for more information.

(Click on the highlighted links.)

Just a heads up, if your Recruit goes to BC right after the holidays you might have to add another week. My son did not start until his division was filled. Also they did not have PIR every week because of the stand down . There were several weeks February and March with no graduations.  Just something to keep in mind.

TravelAddictedNavyMom -- Good luck tomorrow!!  (Oh and remind him... NO PRANKS at BC.  The Navy DOES NOT have a sense of humor!!! {at least not at bootcamp!}) It's unlikely he'll see or talk to his friend who is also going a week later. Just so you know.  Yes being a nervous wreck is normal for you both!!  Take deep breaths and take it one day..., hour..., minute..., second... at a time!  We are here for you.  Our kids have only themselves!!

Trey -- Actually the swearing in being live streamed IS new Post Covid!  They had photos before but not video at most every location.  It's awesome for those parents who cannot make it to MEPS for various reasons.

Angie -- I think this is in the "Phone call's" link above, but if your SR has a bad connection they can see if there is another phone available but usually if they push in on the cord that helps.  These are old pay phones that are used multiple times a day by SR's in various emotional states.  They are minimally maintained! (Yes we have asked back when MY SR was at GL to get them fixed!! Even had a bunch of us call the Phone company to service them!! That was 10 years ago!) hopefully pushing in on the cord slightly will improve the connection enough. 

Lisa -- So many possibilities for what that complication could be.  It could be paperwork missing or personalities clashing or Venus was in the wrong quadrant of Mars and Zeus was jealous!!
SO...He left on the 19th?  That puts your PIR Either Right before or after Thanksgiving.  Did he give you the "New" PIR date?  It's possible that you "Might" get to see him that week for Thanksgiving. 

Belovedbyhim. Nooo not at boot camp!  The friend they want to prank isn’t in the Navy. They were talking about when they get to A school since they will be at the same one that they get together and send him 2.4 metric tons of corn. My son actually left yesterday with 7 others. His friend gets there Tuesday, his recruiter said if their division isn’t full there is a chance he might get same division but it by no means is guaranteed. They are expecting to see each other at A school though. I’ve done OK. I am happy he did this and want him to start his own journey. I left home and moved 1/2 way across the US so I’m excited for him to get out and start his life.

Actually, talked to the youngest (16 yo) about him looking into being a Navy diver. He’s my scuba buddy and loves diving and is now considering that or looking into welding jobs (already has some experience) or mechanic jobs (he rebuilds motorcycle engines for fun now). 

Today though starts my new normal. Not having my oldest home sharing insta reels while I’m trying to work or ask me 100 times what’s for dinner or when we can go to Disney for Food & Wine. He’s already asked to go to Disney to ride Tron and do Festival of the Holidays when he is home for Christmas liberty. I’m sure I’ll start missing him in a few weeks. I’m used to not seeing them 2-3 weeks at a time when I travel. I know he’s in good hands. 

Trey, there was a way to see him swearing in at Meps? I didn't get to go to meps the local recruiters drove him down a day early and put him in a hotel. 

this may have been related to covid as there were still restrictions at MEPS where only the recruits could go in and such.. it was broadcast on youtube and I believe it was from the MEPS base itself,, which was Dallas for us. Not sure if still done by all but you could check the website for the meps station he used or contact them..

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

PIR DECEMBER 2023

PIR NOVEMBER 2023

PIR OCTOBER 2023

**REMINDER** BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 2023, RECRUIT GRADUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY (NO LONGER ON FRIDAY), EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN GRADUATION IS ON WEDNESDAY.