Feeling so helpless and frustrated...

[Andysproudmom]

I can't seem to shake this feeling of dread.  I have gone all week without a letter from my son who is in bootcamp and I can't help but worry that it's bad....REAL BAD.  All of his previous letters were so upbeat and he has wanted this for so long but I'm getting information from other mom's in his division that their son's are saying they aren't doing good and they may hold back the entire division 2 weeks before PIR.  I know that if I haven't received a phone call telling me there is a delay than it probally hasn't happened but I just can't shake the feeling that it IS going to happen.  I wrote him a letter this am and so did my husband saying to stay strong and just keep your head and heart on your goal and that you will make it and that if it happens 2 weeks later than so what.  The important thing is that he gets to his goal but I wish I know what is going on.  I'm so worried about him and know that this will be a huge set back for him.  I know it's a part of growing up and that if it was easy everyone would do it.  I'm just torn right now.  As mom's I'm sure there are people out there who understand how it feels to watch your child stumble and fall and not being able to do anything to prevent it because it is that stumble and fall that will ultimately help to mold them into the adult that they will be but it still rips your heart out.  I know I'm babbling and I apologize for that. Night shift worker and only 4hrs of sleep today.  Gotta go and find caffiene now.  Thanks for listening and please pray for all our children.  Nanci

[lemonelephant]

The RDC's sometimes threaten that the entire division will be held back, but that is very rare and unlikely to happen.  It is possible, but unlikely--my Sailor's TG had 2 orphan divisions, but I don't know why.  I have not seen that since then (nearly 4 years ago).  Know that "No news is good news!"  If he really were to be held back, you would be called, so hang onto that and keep writing him and encouraging him.  The recruits must get to the point that they care more about the whole division than about themselves as individuals.

[cinder]

What lemon elephant said is so true you hear all the time about threatening to hold the whole division back but I have never seen it done.

[Andysproudmom]

Thanks so much for your thoughts.  I just needed to gripe I suppose.  And t thanks so much and my thoughts and prayer will include your loved ones on deployment.  Right now I can't even imagine what that is going to be like. Please thank your sons for their serivce.  Here's to keepin the faith!

 

[Leisa Ship13 Div309 Grad 9-28]

Big Hugs!

[Craig]

veteran moms - Have any of you ever heard of an entire division be set back in training?  I've been doing this forum stuff for about 6 years and never heard of them doing it.  Do tell...

[lemonelephant]

There were 3 orphan divisions in my Sailor's PIR almost 4 years ago (Divisions 383, 388, and 390), but I have never been able to find out how/why that happened since the site was pretty young at that point.  I saw from comments that some in one or more of those divisions arrived the same day as my Sailor, so it could be that there was some mix-up in how divisions were formed for the TG before and it was corrected in my Sailor's TG. There has not been a TG since his when there have been any orphan divisions.  (I define an orphan division as one with a division number that is not in sequential order with the others within the TG when a typical TG begins with an odd number and ends with an even number for the divisions, not including 800 and 900 divisions.)

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

Been on the PIR groups for a year now...and have never seen a while Division set back. The other two or three that have been on for 2+ years have never seen it either. 

lemonelephant...I bet it is as you say...a mix-up...kind of like when RTC skips a week of PIR and the 900 Divisions can get a little mixed-up and or they skip a TG number but there is a 900 for the missing number like this:

Mix-up:

904 ended up with 906...but I am sure there is a reson for it...it just "looks funny" to me!

           PIR: Dec 29, 2011           TG 06 - 10 Divisions (021-028, 904 & 906)

            NONE on December 23, 2011 per Recruit Training Command

            PIR: Dec 16, 2011           TG 05 - 5 Divisions (017-020, 905)

            NONE on December 9, 2011 per Recruit Training Command

            PIR: Dec 2. 2011             TG 03 - 11 Divisions (009–016, 802, 803 & 903) 

Then they did this one like this...which "looks" more "normal":

                   PIR: Mar 02, 2012           TG 16 - 09 Divisions (075 - 080 & 914–916)

                   NONE on February 24, 2012 per Recruit Training Command

                   PIR: Feb 17, 2012           TG 13 - 07 Divisions (069 - 074 & 913)

RTC says this in their Family Guide under the Pass-in-Review section: (it is about purchasing airfare but refers to setbacks): (Bold and italic mine)

While a division’s graduation date will not change, an individual Recruit’s graduation date may change based on performance, which is why we suggest families purchase refundable tickets when possible.

***On a side note...don't buy refundable tickets...3-4 times the cost. Insurance is good...even if for some reason your recruit does have a setback...the cost of the transfer plus the new ticket is still less than a refundable ticket would be.