Ship 11 Div 087

[Morgansmom11]

My daughter left on 12/08/15. I received a very short letter form her and got concerned because I'd sent her three letters already and from her letter I can tell that she hasn't gotten mine yet. I also noticed that there are only three names on her list for graduation when I need for there to be four because we're a family of 5 including her. So it concerns me to think that one of her siblings won't be able to attend. I'm trying not to get nervous about anything but it's hard.

[CryptoDad]

If you mailed letters before receiving the form letter (based on an address you got  from a recruiter) they can sit in the mail room for awhile  "Any mail sent to them before they are even in their ships may possibly be delayed reaching them by up to three weeks."- RTC Public Affairs Office.

For the full rules on extra guests using the chapel, click HERE,

[Morgansmom11]

Wow...Thanks hooyashsuzy...I'm hoping that she can get a pass for one more guest her recruiter says that some of the recruits have family far away who don't usually make it to the graduation and that they may be allowed to get one extra ticket. I'm hoping that's the case. I would hate for one of her siblings to have to miss the graduation. 

[Morgansmom11]

Thanks CryptoDad. I'm hoping she gets the mail. I didn't send a letter until I got the letter from her with the ship number and division. So hopefully she gets her mail. I did reach out to her recruiter and told him to check on it for me. 

[lemonelephant]

Morgansmom, there are no tickets. There are names on the Access List and your recruit is only allowed to put the names of 3 guests on the Access List and her shipmates cannot put the name of someone not associated with them on the Access List for another recruit. Both recruits would get in BIG trouble if they were to do that. I wish that recruiters would keep up with what is going on at the RTC and not pass on outdated info. Recruits were able to put names on the Access List for others years ago, but that practice was discontinued in the fall of 2012. Have people who are not on the Access List wait in the hotel and watch the Livestream from there. The message from Captain W. Douglas Pfeifle, Commanding Officer at the RTC, about the limitation on guests can be found at http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/index.html (click the link once you get there).

[lemonelephant]

It is common for recruits to say that they have not received mail when they write their first letter since their first holiday routine is the second Sunday after arrival and although they may have had a Mail Call or two by then all of the letters for the division may not have been received at the RTC at that time. She will receive your letters.

[CryptoDad]

The recruiter is out of touch with current policy if he is telling you that your recruit can borrow against another recruit's guest allowance. That's a sure way to get in trouble. The 3 guest limit is firm. no way around it.

FYI - there are no tickets, just names on an access list.

From http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/ :

In January 2013, the fire code regulations for Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall changed, resulting in a significant reduction of guest capacity. In order to ensure compliance with the new fire code and ensure the safety of our guests, RTC had to limit the number of guests per recruit to four guests for Training Groups with 12 divisions or less and three guests for Training Groups with 13 divisions or more.

The above restrictions will result in empty seating during graduation events and negates my ability to offer “extra” seating for any recruit above the limits that we have had to impose in response to the regulation changes. Every recruit is treated equally during the seating distribution process and I simply cannot offer extra seating to one recruit, which would potentially force me to limit the seats made available to another recruit. I cannot extend special consideration due to factors such as prior military service, size of family etc.

My staff works diligently until the night before graduation to make changes to our guest lists in response to requests from our new Sailors. Our ability to make changes the day of graduation is non-existent, as my staff is focused on providing support in welcoming our guests while also supporting ceremony production. Therefore, I cannot support allowing one recruit to “borrow” seats from another as plans often change and a recruit that expected no guests on graduation day may suddenly learn that his or her family can attend; only to remember that they have given their seats away to another recruit.

Lastly, but most importantly, we can only offer entry to those listed by our recruits as guests. This is due to security and force protection requirements that ensure the safety of our recruits as well as our guests. Recruit Training Command is, first and foremost, a training facility. The health and welfare of the recruits, the staff and our invited guests is my first priority. In light of the above, requests for additional seating will be denied.

In order to involve as many family members and friends as possible, we do offer graduation via Livestream at " http://navylive.dodlive.mil/ ."

Thank you for trusting us with the future of your Sailor. We understand this is a momentous occasion for all of our newest Sailors, as well as their families and friends, and we strive to ensure maximum participation.

CAPT W. Douglas Pfeifle

[Morgansmom11]

Thanks to you all. For the information. I live in South Holland Illinois so we don't need to get a hotel we're only an hour away so we weren't going to need to stay int he Lodge. Is there another way that one other guest will be able to come along with us even if we're not staying in a hotel? I wrote my daughter another letter on today asking her to change the name on her access list since we won't be able to get clearance for her to have another guest. I'm thinking her dad could maybe watch it live and her sisters and I will go to the actual ceremony. 

[Ejsmom]

Gosh, poor dad!

[Morgansmom11]

Cryptodad..he didn't say another recruit can put her name on their list he said that some of the families live in other countries and won't be able to make it and sometimes they may allow recruits to have one additional guest if they see a lot of other families aren't able to make it...I don't want to misquote the recruiter but I am taking heed to all the advice and just had her change the names on the list since I was able to talk to her on yesterday..

[lemonelephant]

Morgansmom, it doesn't matter what the recruiter said, the RTC is the final say and they say that there are only three guests allowed and that won't change even on the day of PIR. See http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.html. It was great that you spoke to your recruit and she knows who to list.