Leaving for boot camp Oct 24

[Shelbie's Mom]

so my daughter gets a call today from her recruiter asking if she would like to leave for boot camp Tuesday. She gets 2 hours to decide. This year has been a wild journey to get here. She enlisted in Jan 2017. She wanted a HM rating but it was full, so she went with a GM rating to leave in Aug 2017. Well in August we get to MEPS and low and behold she is sent home on a medical delay for what turns out to be a very large (football sized) spider bite. Her new ship date is set for Jan 2018. Can’t be to upset because I will get her for the holiday. This leads us to today. She is offered the new ship date with a new rating of HM, herr dream job. So it appears we will be returning to MEPSon Tuesday October 24. Ready to get her journey started. She has a light on her face of pure joy. She is ready and we are so excited for her. Wish us luck that she actually gets on the plan this time.

[Natalie]

My son's report date was also changed to October 24 from October 30, but without his consent. I am way behind the 8 ball in figure out what is coming.  I thought that after boot camp he gets to come home from Christmas. Now I'm getting the idea that this is not correct. His A school is at Great Lakes, so does that mean he will have the weekend off for graduation - I guess Dec. 22 - and then be back at it Christmas week? I'm so confused

[Phoenixmom]

Stand down is generally ten days to two weeks.  They earn their leave days at 2.5 each month, so they have about five right out of boot camp.  With a little math,  you can figure out how much they will have around the holidays, and about how much they will have when they finish their A school.  Yes, they can borrow forward, but usually no more than a week or so.  If they are in a long school, they should be okay.

[Phoenixmom]

Next, what happens of they do not take leave during the stand down?  Well, they will be strongly encouraged to do so, because honestly, the staff wants time off too!  The fewer students on base, the more time those stationed there have open to them.  It actually is doing the staff a favor to go away.

Those who stay may be moved into another barracks for the stand down.  This way the other barracks can be closed, saving heat, electric, and water costs.  So if they pay for wifi in their room, guess what, they won't have access to it.  Yes, they will work, and probably will do stuff which sucks like snow removal.  

There has not been official dates released quite yet, but sounds like they should know soon.

[Phoenixmom]

Students are not required to go home during stand down, many stay for a number of reasons. My husband and I were going to be PCSing mid way through stand down, and he'd already be authorized automatically for the detachment and report dates, so he did not take the leave to go anywhere, and saved the extra week or so.

If your sailor lives within 300miles of base or just doesn't want to come home yet for whatever reason, he will not have to borrow leave during stand down, and he will not attend any classes; however, he will be subject to all regular liberty hours and rules, and he will have duty more frequently (about every other day as opposed to the usual every four days, just depending how many stay) to cover all the necessary watches.

[Phoenixmom]

If your sailor wants to travel more than 300 miles for the break, or wants to have the freedom of no watches and no liberty rules so he can be where he wants when he wants alone and overnight, he will HAVE to take leave. He can borrow I think up to 10 or 11 leave days to do this, since he won't have many saved up by then (if you want to calculate, it's 2.5days/month of active duty, including bootcamp). If he is in a Long A school, like ET/FC, I would advise him to go ahead and take advantage of that because he's so early on in A school and will not have another opportunity for leave except in emergencies until he graduates school, so he'll make it up and earn more leave in no time. If he's in a short a school at Great Lakes, he may want to save some of that borrowed leave for when he graduates, so he can come home again between duty stations if he wishes.

[Phoenixmom]

It's very likely that they will try to give your sailor the opportunity to request leave. They really want as many people to go home as possible during this time, and when students stay, some staff has to stay, and they have to manage them and everything, which they hate, so if they can make it happen, they will, and they plan the RTC graduations around stand down for a school, there is a 2-3 week gap before they'll start pushing divisions again because they know no one will be there to process them into A school, but that doesn't guarantee leave. I think your son will make the cut off though, he'll have a week by the time standown starts, and he can borrow ahead, so if anything, he should be good for the 28th departure, but I won't make any promises to you.

As far as advance warning, there's no saying with the navy. Typically, chits are approved by the end of the week of submission in Great Lakes, but stand down is a whole different story because they're processing so many at once. Unfortunately, you may find yourself booking last minute, but if you didn't know already, many airlines have military fares available by phone reservation even for leisure travel. Another option is to check with the airline's change/rescheduling policy, if it's pretty lenient, you might consider booking a flight now, that you could change to about when you expect your sailor to graduate a school if the plans fall through for stand down.

[Phoenixmom]

Shelbie's Mom I wish your New SR (Seaman Recruit) all the best in her Journey, and welcome to the site. here you can get answers to any questions or concerns you may Have. Their are a bunch of Great Ladies that are more than welcome to help you out. Welcome again!

[Shelbie's Mom]

I would love to know this answer also, but I am sure we will not know until closer to their PIR date. I have heard from other conversations on here that most of the sailors are getting leave Dec. 22 - Jan 7. Not sure if that will apply to those who haven’t started A school yet. I hope that I don’t have to say goodbye to her and that she will have to spend Christmas in a new town San Antonio TX by herself, not knowing anyone for the holidays. Will just have to wait to see what the Navy has planned. From what I understand the waiting is the hardest for us Moms.

[Blakesmom]

I received my box and letter today. I had mixed feelings opening my “kid in a box”. According to my letter, his projected PIR fate is December 15th. Just passing along for any loved ones who had a SR report in the last week. I’m a newbie so still wrapping my brain around all this.

[Natalie]

I know what you mean about the box. My son's arrived last Friday. It was weird. So glad to have the PIR date ( my letter also arrived today) although this makes the 3rd time I've had to rearrange my work schedule. My head hurts!

[Phoenixmom]

Hi Blakesmom, I can understand the mix emotions, I was a total mess, I had received my sons Box, and his Graduation pictures the same day. I had to sit for as moment, just couldn't do it, all I did was cry.....My son went in July 5th 2017, he graduated Sept. 1st 2017. he attends Great Lakes A school. every emotion you can feel I was on it, I felt like I was Mourning and my son was in BC. So I totally understand what all you Ladies are feeling. Just keep close to the phone at all times, you never know when a call may come thru!

[proudwinavymom]

Hi,

My son's RTC grad date is 12/15/17.  We live close by Great Lakes.  His A school is in South Carolina.  Will he be sent to SC the next day.  Christmas is so close.  I am wondering how to plan for him to come back home for the holiday..  Any advice.