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RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021
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Views: 261
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chipmunk on
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heather0901 - Welcome aboard!
Wow! That is a quick ship out!
#1 your son needs to make sure that he will be able to pass the preliminary Physical Fitness Assessment but he should really be able to pass the test for his age bracket so that he knows he can do it. Hopefully swimming and floating are not issues for him. These are some of the things that will set back recruits.
#2 if it is possible to find a pay phone calling card at a place like Walgreens or maybe CVS then see if you can purchase one for him to take so that he can get it activated before he leaves and know how it works so that he will be able to use it to call home.
#3 They are no longer sending home the "Kid in the Box" or doing Gate passes. So, your SR (Seaman Recruit) needs to take his charged cell phone with him and a phone charger and also a very limited amount of clothes or jackets - just what he wears to the airport, as these will all be packed in a box and stored at RTC (Recruit Training Command). These will be returned to him at some point after PIR (Pass in Review - graduation). Ask him to please call you when he lands in Chicago as this will be the last opportunity you will have to talk to each other for several weeks. Also, he needs his cell phone to call you from RTC. This is the very short, 30 - 60 second scripted call which we refer to as the "I made it" call.
Due to the current condition of COVID-19 all attendance at PIR has been suspended, so I will not explain the ticket information for getting onto RTC for PIR - it is explain in other areas of BCMom group.
#3 Your son may have a simple black watch and I think it is also suppose to be black but a wallet to carry with him. He may also carry a small sized Bible and my son was also given a breast-pocket sized small memo notebook by a retired Navy man at the recruiters office. He was told this would become his pocket brain and now my son relies on multiples of those notebooks. But I wrote in phone #s and addresses for him. He only barely had time to write to us but it is important for them to have phone numbers because they are only allowed their cell phone to make the call when they arrive at BC (which that call may not come until very late in the evening or early next morning of their arrival), otherwise they use pay phones to call. Calls are at approximately 3 weeks, maybe 6 weeks and after they get through Battle Stations before PIR.
I also sent a few stamps, actually I think I folded up a small SASE but send a few stamps. Stamps are harder for them to get ahold of, I think, than notepaper and envelopes. The other thing you may send with him is a small square or pads of "Moleskin". It is a cushion for things like bunions on the feet. The dress shoes especially but even the sneakers do not always fit well and my son rubbed blisters.
#4 Make sure your son knows how to properly trim his toenails. I know this seems silly and I thought my son did but they were told to trim their nails almost to the quick so that they did not have any nail that could scratch someone in their swims. It turns out, he had cut his nail so short he started to get an ingrown toenail and self treated it so he did not have to go to medical and get set back. Ironically, when he got to A school they were instructed in INDOC the proper way to trim their toenails and he was not happy with his BC instructor for, in his opinion, giving improper instruction.
I will stop there and let you digest - hopefully others will reply as well.
Chipmunk
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Permalink Reply by heather0901 on
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He was originally scheduled to go 6/2 when we left MEPS last Tuesday. And the recruiter called him Thursday and asked if he would be willing to leave 3/19 instead - and he said yes. Then the recruiter called Sunday and said it was off. Then called back Monday and said it was back on. Then called back yesterday morning and said it was off again. Then messaged him later yesterday to say that he needs to come in tomorrow for a meeting with him. So at this point I’m really not sure which direction this will go...
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Heather0901 - We joke about the "hurry up and wait" with the military, but in your situation and timing with everything else, it has got to be difficult. I am not one that does with this type of back and forth uncertainty, so I am sure it is not easy for any of you. Hopefully your son's meeting with his recruiter will give some direction as to the course of things currently.
If it had been my sailor, waiting would have been nicer, there were a lot of things that would have been nice to have had him home to help with, but that is not the case for everyone. Sometimes we have recruits who have quit jobs to go in early and then set back for one reason or other and it is a strain on various things.
I don't know if your son is still on your medical insurance but at least in our case, we left our son on until we knew for sure that he had completed BC and would be going on to A school. Something to think about, because nothing is certain, just because someone heads to BC.
Keep us posted.
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He had a full time job that provided his medical insurance that he quit on the spot last Thursday because he thought he was leaving in a week. So right now he doesn’t have any medical insurance. I am contacting my HR dept at work in hopes that I can add him back for now. Does the navy provide any medical coverage for him while he is at BC or does it start after his PIR and he gets to A school?
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Oh man, that is tough!! I wondered about that with a job.
It is my understanding that they do have medical coverage while in BC, however, if they are separated and sent home, they loose their coverage - as I understand, so that is one of the reasons we did not drop our son from our family insurance plan until after he had graduated.
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Permalink Reply by Maestra on
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Welcome! I have a son in Boot Camp (BC) right now, so I'm just a couple of steps ahead of you on this roller coaster of a journey. This site and the various groups here have been SO helpful!
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He did leave for boot camp today. He was told he will be quarantined for two weeks once he gets there. I’m guessing we will still get the “I’m here” call later tonight. Not sure how the process will go from there with the two extra weeks added. Please keep him and the other two boys he’s flying with today in your prayers. It’s so hard to see them leave to begin with and it makes it even harder with all the uncertainty going on right now. So glad I found this group as you all are a wealth of information and support. Thank you!
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Heather0901 - BNH = Big Navy Hugs!!!! Did you ask him to call you when he got to Chicago if it worked out? I hope you still get your "I'm a sailor" call as well. This part was the hardest for me and then when my sailor called late at night, the call was so scripted, I thought it was a recording. I kept saying, "I love you, I love you" that I didn't hear what he was saying. I only knew it was not a recording because I heard him ask, "Is that everything?".
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He was able to text me when he landed at airport in IL. First time he’s ever flown and he thought it was the “coolest thing ever”! Hoping he gets a chance to call before he leaves airport and on way to RTC.
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heather0901 - I don't know if you received another call from your SR but keep you phone close by you, if you have not received the "I'm Here" call. My call came in around 11 pm or so as I recall.
It was my son's first airplane flight as well!!! Since then, he has flown several times during his schooling to come visit us, but I was so nervous about him flying and knowing what he was suppose to do.
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Permalink Reply by AmyB508 on
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My son leaves for boot camp on Thursday. I will drop him off to the recruiter office tomorrow afternoon and he will fly out on Thurs. No one is allowed at the swearing in :( I am so nervous sending him off, not knowing if I will or will not be seeing him graduate in June.
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AmyB508 - I am sorry to hear that you will not be allowed to go to the swearing in. I don't know how close you live to an airport, your might still be allowed to see him there, but it may depend on the guidelines in place in your area.
Your recruit, should be able to have his cell phone, hopefully one of the personnel could take a picture or even a selfie of him shaking hands. Just something. Be sure to ask him to call you when he lands and before he boards the bus to GL, if he has time.
Let's hope you will be able to see him graduate in June!!
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