Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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LIVE PIR 7.25.24

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Hey Navy moms recently back from PIR.. how was it? I love reliving my trip through others and hearing how things work now, I was there when covid was still causing masks and limited family, which wasn't a big deal for us as it was just the two of us anyway.

Happy Saturday!  On the rare occasion when our recruits are allowed to make a phone call home, that usually occurs on a Sunday, correct?  

most of the time, but you have to be ready for any day. they may get a bonus call for doing extra good, or they get in trouble ASMO and have to call to give you information, mine got washed back two weeks so got a new div number and pir date. 

Ok, thank you!!!!

Rolo’s Mom - I don't know if things have changed (my son was in BC from Sept 2021 - Nov 2021), but every phone call we received from him was on a Saturday, except for "I'm a Sailor".

He called at the end of week 3 (Oct 16th) and he told us to expect his next call at the end of week 5 on Oct 30th.  He called again when he passed Battle Stations (Nov 23rd).

Rolo's Mom - calls are usually on the weekends but you just never know!  Answer all calls you get while your SR is in boot camp just to be safe - you can always hang up if it's a sales call lol!

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PIR: OCTOBER 2024

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Rolo's Mom -- All my Sailor's calls were on a Saturday except the "I'm a Sailor".  However, Yes they can and do call any day of the week for various reasons. It does seem that they may be using their cell phones for "Personal calls" and the Office Phones for "Official calls" but I would still err on the side of answering them all, Just in case. 

Current or Recent BC moms-- Care to weigh in on how your SR called you?  From their Cell phone or From a different number?

We have had a Bunch of New Moms join us (And maybe some are not "moms" but loved ones...)
This is the BEST place for General Discussion and anything NOT specific to Your SR's(Seaman Recruit) PIR (Pass In Review, aka Graduation) Date.  Please introduce yourselves and know that we will do our best to help you navigate this new adventure known as the Navy!
No Question is too dumb and you are in a Safe place to ask and learn. 
We haven't lost a mom to Boot Camp, We won't start with you!

WELCOME to Ljmbooks & E Ouderkirk 

Hi - personal calls were from his cell phone (both Saturday and week day). Official call was from an office phone.

Masaleza -- Awesome to Know.  This will make it a tad easier to know if they are spam calls or not.

Thank you all for the info!!!!

My Sailor called on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. I always knew to watch for the 847 or 224 area codes for Great Lakes! If I hadn’t, I would have thought they were wrong numbers! 

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PIR: OCTOBER 2024

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Anyone watching the Olympics?  The men's gymnastics sure was exciting last night!

I answered every unknown number with "Hi!  Is this Joseph?"  It certainly threw the telemarketers off their game!  LOL.  When they said, "Uhhh," I said, "I'm expecting a call.  I gotta go." and hung up!

brilliant MomofJoseph lol

My SR ask me to send him some running shoes. His PIR is Aug 14th, can I have them sent directly from the store?

Yes, that should be fine.  As long as he is requesting them there shouldn't be any issues.

And they are actually allowing them to bring their own running shoes with them to boot camp now.

Ladies, This is a Regular Announcement: Please put this information in your Phones:
I have a contact labeled {sailor ICE} with this phone number and text number as the phone number under the contacts (1-877-272-7337), then I have the needed contact info in the notes section. The info in Italics below. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it or have to remember where or what you need! In the event of an emergency I can just pull up the info on my phone and hand it off if I’m not able to think clearly!!

If an emergency (such as a serious illness, death or birth) of an immediate family member takes place then military families can initiate a request for Red Cross emergency assistance. The message will be verified and then delivered. If the emergency requires leave for a service member, the Red Cross will verify the emergency to the service member’s commanding officer. Eligibility for emergency leave will ultimately be determined by them. Throughout the process, the family member will be able to track the progress of the message from anywhere in the world online, by phone, through our mobile app or in person.

To best prepare for an emergency, please have this information ready when reporting an emergency message:

• The service members name, rank, social security number and unit address {SR Davy Jones, 123-45-6789, Great Lakes Naval Training Center Ship 99, Div 1904.} {In Fleet This would be their Ship Name and number}
• The name of the person with the emergency and the nature of the situation {King Neptune, Hospitalized in critical condition}
• The name and contact information for the medical authority to contact regarding the status of the emergency {Doctor Jack Sparrow, Barbados General Hospital, 555-123-4567}

To access these services through the Hero Care Network, create an account and send the message here or send through the Hero Care app by texting “GETHEROCARE” to 90999 or call a Hero Care specialist at 1-877-272-7337.

Please have this discussion before your sailor leaves or ask in an early call or letter (Reassure them that all is well at home but you have learned you should have asked sooner.) No one likes to talk about the possibility of death but it happens and it’s easier if you have a plan for how to handle these situations. When you can, ask if they want to know about anyone not parent or sibling while in boot camp (They likely will not be allowed to leave anyway), ask if they want to come home if it’s a parent or sibling (In Boot camp, It will likely be short, 2-4 days at most) This is very rare and I only know of one case where it has happened in BC but again, better to be prepared! 
The Red Cross may reach out to you while your SR is in BC. This is normal and nothing to be surprised about. They want to make sure you also have this information available and know that they are there should you need them.

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch it live now:

LIVE PIR AUGUST 1, 2024

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B'sNukeMom,  Happy Anniversary!  Awesome red shirt!!

Happy Anniversary B's!! Enjoy your visit to San Diego!!

Oh my goodness. Just got off the phone with my son. Oof. Like a kick to the gut. Having all kinds of feels right now!!  

Yes, that first call was hard. It got better as mail correspondence became more regular and he adjusted to expectations.  Hang in there!

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Rolo's Mom-- Are you feeling better today?  Yes, that first phone call home can be... Ooof!! ALL. THE. FEELS!!!  I Promise your SR is going to be ok and so will you!!  The next phone call should be MUCH better!!  It was a Running Joke in our home that "The Beatings will Continue until Morale Improves" (no I didn't hit my kids!) My Sailor said that having that mindset that even when it was tough, It was all a Head game and to just buckle down and do his best with what it was, helped him to deal with not taking the yelling personally, Not giving in to the Homesickenss (Although he claimed to want to leave more than I think he actually did... He'd never been gone from home for more than a week and that was just a couple of times... 6th grade outdoor Ed and Boy Scout Camp once, and Dad was at Scout camp for all but 2 days!).  He did say that once they got going on the "Real" stuff and not just learning to march, salute, and fold laundry the right way, It got so much better! He actually enjoyed BS21 and wished they had done it more.

I know that missing them feels overwhelming at times, but again, I promise when you look back at this time, it will feel so short!!

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PIR: OCTOBER 2024

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@belovedbyHim…yes!  I just wanted to give him a hug!  He was upset 😢. But I know he’ll be ok. It’s the being cut off from us is the issue. I told him it won’t last forever and that he needs to continue to push through. Sweet boy. His dad said he was sick for a week after getting all the “special” shots. I’m sure that didn’t help matters. We booked our lodging last night so that’s exciting!!!!  

Hey Rolo'sMom.. yea, all those shots really don't help, immune system is freaking out, stress, etc.. First calls are rough, later calls usually get better.. lots of letters.. I loved making reservations but for us it was a great thing we used points and navy friendly hotels because we had a two week change.. Navy Moms are limber in many ways..

Rolo's Mom -- Yeah, the "Ricky Crud" is AWFUL!!! They are exposed to all these "Foreign germs", Then they get a full set of Immunizations (Because, Why not add this to the stress of the first weeks?) plus the "Peanut Butter" shot (Penicillin).  On top of all the Illnesses their body is trying to fight off, they are also put in the MOST stressful position they have ever been in, in their LIVES! Add in having NO support from those they love (They do but you can't reach them to give them a hug or a nap or a Tylenol!), just getting yelled at and told that everything they are doing is WRONG and it's no wonder that the first call home is rough!!  I promise it does get better and MOST of them get through this but it's hard on us mom's back here at home.

We understand.  We have been there and survived this too.  We are here for you and have a listening ear.  You are not wrong to be feeling all the feels but turn that to good.  Write tons of encouraging letters. Rally your friends and family to write! Make plans to see your sailor and share those with them to give them hope and confidence that they can do this!! 
Come here to cry and Vent and then Pull up Your Big Girl Navy Panties and move forward!!

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PIR: OCTOBER 2024

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There has been an update to the 9/12, 9/19, 9/26 and 10/10 PIR.  They are allowing 6 guests to each of these PIR's.

WOW!!! 6 Guests!!! This is AWESOME!!!  The Normal was 3 or 4!!

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR AUGUST 8, 2024