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**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

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In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

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Am I the only one here who's totally relaxed about sending my child to boot camp?

There are a LOT of posts from mothers worried/stressed about their sons or daughters going to boot camp, I'm just looking for a little reassurance that I am not the only one who has no problem with my child leaving?

I've helped him study and "encouraged" him to keep up his PT so that when he goes he will be ready to take that test and make E-2 right away. I'm very comfortable with letting him go.I feel he's ready. I'd send him tomorrow if I thought he was ready for the test and was sure he could still get the same job.

Is it because we did this once already, sending him off to college last summer (2008)? I was just as relaxed then, too. A hug and a goodbye, a minute of tears as I watch him leave, and he's gone. Out of sight, out of mind, except for letters or phone calls.

Is it because I went to boot camp myself, I know what it's like, so it holds no fears for me?

Mostly I'm eager to hear about what he learns, how boot camp has changed from my experience, fun and outrageous stories, and to hear of his future adventures.

So, is there anyone else out there who feels the same way I do: pride that my son is ready to make a major step towards independent adulthood with a touch of relief that he isn't going to stay home forever?

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Usually they start boot camp the same day they report to MEPS, often at 11 p.m. or later.

Recruits usually spend the morning at MEPS completing paperwork and physical exams, then swear-in in the afternoon (3 p.m. -ish). They are taken straight to the airport and take an evening flight to Great Lakes. Great Lakes in-processing is open 24 hours per day, processing recruits even at 2 a.m. if that's when they arrive. His first day of boot camp would be on the 17th or 18th, depending on what time he arrives at GL. There is no waiting around. Recruits start training the moment they step off the bus.

Occasionally it takes longer for recruits to process at MEPS or there are no available flights or there are flight delays. If they finish the process too late in the day or can't fly out that evening they may be held overnight at a hotel. Then recruits are flown out the next morning to arrive at Great Lakes that afternoon. Even if that happens his first day will be on the 18th.

However, that is part of "P Days" (processing days) and does not count towards the 8 weeks of training. The 8 weeks begin when all processing is complete and a division is formed. It can take anywhere from a couple of days to a week.
My son and I have been working together to help him in the military. My son had taken the asvap test and scored very high on it "this is nothing new for my son to do well on a test" My son aced the first 4 line test on the asvap and the last 2 line scores. I remember when my son was in strings playing the violin in middle school. His teacher called me and said he needed a better violin, myself as a single parent couldn't afford the expense and I told the teacher that. I was called a week later and told that my son was going to be first violin in the schools first recital. I can still remember watching my son come out and watching the other students tune the violins to my sons "practice violin" I am a bit nervous about my son leaving but I know he will learn more from this than anything in his life, I know he will come back a changed man and I know he will serve our country well
Your son will do very well! Good job, Dad! We're proud of your son right along side you!
Hi Proud Dad, This is wonderful, I am a proud Navy Mom. Lesli
I am sending my youngest off to BC next week- right before Christmas and while I have a little reservation about him not being here for the holidays, I know this is the right thing for him and it is the right time. I will miss him terribly, worried about how he will do while there and I am so looking forward to graduation (PIR). My husband is retired Navy and my father is retired Army so I have been a part of the military my whole life. I share your sentiments. It is an opportunity for him to grow, mature and learn new things- to be an independent adult.
I would feel the same when the day comes. Right now my son is in an interesting situation or maybe not. Have any of your sons or daughter been told that there aren't any job openings in the navy right now? My son signed the permission papers to have the physical exam and to take the ASVAB 3 weeks ago and was told there were no jobs when he walked in the door. The recruiter said ,"they" look for openings to come up in the next 2 weeks to 2 months. I am not sure why that time frame. I am a NEW mom to the military, with only past experience being men that were drafted for the wars, so if anyone has anything to offer for advice or has been in this situation before, I would like to hear from you. I had no idea any military branch could not have openings. Times have changed so I think anything is possible?
My response is just be patient and tell your future sailor the same. The Navy is experiencing a very unique situation at this time: mostly due to the economics - enlistees are staying in and more folks want to become sailors due to the stability of hte military so their numbers are great right now. Makes it very easy for the recruiters; however, very frustrating for them as well - ast least that is what my son's recruiter is saying- they want to get recruits in but can't because there are not jobs. My son has been waiting to get to MEPS since August! so just hang in there!
The main reason why they are looking at that time frame is because there's where you find the most "drop-outs." There are few "new" openings created (which happens once a year - in September I think). So the people who make the assignments look for slots where a sailor has either changed his/her mind, failed to meet some requirement after entering DEP or got hurt or in legal trouble. Or failed the background check.

So they search for these newly vacated slots and shoehorn-in those who missed the initial opening of jobs. It's hard, because it has to be an opening the recruit is ASVAB qualified for.
Kim this information in not unusual. At this time with so many people out of work all the services are getting all the people the want to sign up consequently there are no jobs available. Hard to believe I know. Tell your son to keep on his recruiter. My son went through a similar situation. He was told that it could be a year. I know that there are people waiting for positions to open up so they can go to Boot Camp. He went so far as to sign up for the Reserves and as soon as he did a position opened up and he signed up and will be graduation 12/30. Tell your son to be the fly in the ointment, and keep trying.
thanks for the comments. I thought about suggesting my son look into the reserves. He told me this weekend he may talk with the Marine recruiter this week. I don't know. I thought the Navy was the right fit for him. I just don't know. He is one of those young men that needs direction and was excited about the Navy 3-4 months ago. I still believe he would go tomorrow if someone called and said "let's go." He just isn't a self-motivating person. He is like many of the other sailors that parents have written in about. The fact that many of them start something and don't know what it is to finish. I pray that the recruiter will do his job and let him at least hear something from him...... Thanks again for the input and have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year....... Hope to be a Sailor's Mom one day soon
Kim- my son is considering the same: talking to the Marines. Not sure how i feel about it as well- I also feel teh Navy is a reall good fit for my son. He intends to go back to the recruiters office after the new year - we will see hwat happens.
That happened to my son. He had taken his ASVAB and entrance PE with the Coast Guard when they dropped the ball with him. He then contacted a Navy Recruiter, went to MEPS to meet with a classifier only to find out there were no jobs. Two weeks later, he was back at MEPS and signed papers to go to corpsman school but there only was one spot available and he had to agree to leave 15 Dec.

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