Comment

Comment by diannep on December 5, 2011 at 8:50am

JudyAnn:  So glad you got the calls!  Don't worry about her putting on the 8 lbs...I can assure you it is ALL muscle weight and they look better than ever at PIR.  They are in phenomenal shape then.  Even if they left in shape!

Boy, when she finally opens that box, better pinch your nose!  Dirty clothes boxed up for that long????  UGH!  HA!  Maybe she has a surprise in there for you...other than dirty clothes???  :-)

Yes, most are not prepared for the emotional up and down of bootcamp...not only for them, but for you!  It is hard, but just know it gets better by about traiing week #4 (which is about bootcamp week #5 or #6).  That is the turnaround week where they start feeling better about things.

As far as them being warm, this was the time of year my son was there 2 years ago.  He said the powers that be are great about making sure they are warm, even when going outside.  He said he was never cold (and he's a S. FL boy!).  They bundle them up like you can't believe!  He complains more about being cold in VA where he is stationed...and that is because he doesn't dress for it...I think he is in denial that it can get cold up there :-) 

Good morning, everyone!

Comment by Mrs. David's mom on December 5, 2011 at 6:59am

OK, I jealous!!  No phone calls for me.

My son is on Ship 12 Div. 049.  Anyone?

Comment by BDee76(Ship 03 Division 048) on December 5, 2011 at 2:49am

JudyAnn,

Thank you so very much for all the information, it settles my nerves consideratelly actually. Yes my daughter is also ship 03 division 048. All I've heard from her is the short letter on back of form letter. Its funny cause she 2 said the food was good..lol. I'm so glad it sounds as though their division is working together well & setting goals...so happy. I'm sure my daughter hates the water drinking thing...lol, although before she left I told her to start drinking more water & she was but not that much. Thanks for info reguarding the password as well, sending out letters tomorrow so put that info in her letter. So thanks again so much for the information, it helps to have any info but really helps when you know its from same division your SR is in.

Comment by JudyAnn (IT A-School) on December 5, 2011 at 1:22am

Hey Everyone,  My daughter left on 11/22.  We are in the Northwest.  I have 4 girls and she's the second one to leave home - but what a difference when they leave to move across town and leave to go to a land far far away where their blip is off mom's radar!!  I am of an independent nature and have raised all my girls to be that way as well so I have no doubts about #2's ability to survive this first part of the adventure.  She was so excited to "get my life started" and I was just as excited for her to get after it as well... but holy cow!  I was not prepared for the emotional tsunami!  I was outa balance for at least a week. I waited anxiously for "the box" and was squealing like a kid at Christmas when it came last Monday...only to be caught up short by a note on the outside that said "Mom, Don't Open Please"  WTH!!!  Grudgingly, I put it in her room, dang kid.  I re-geared and directed my enthusiastic anticipation for "the letter" which arrived on Friday afternoon.  My letter is also missing the parking pass password...more on that in a minute.  Best surprise of all was Friday morning when...she CALLED me!!!  She needed info for her security clearance paperwork.  I couldn't hear her at first, until she musta finally started kissing the receiver then when I finally heard her say her name she thought my cell dropped the call cause I was having a silent shocked meltdown. Its a miracle I answered the call at all because my rule is that if the caller ID doesn't recognize the incoming number I don't answer it and if the caller doesn't leave a message then I don't call back!  My guardian angel was whispering in my ear that morning!  We had lots of time as military phone calls go and yet not enough.  She then got to call her dad and her sister and then CALLED ME BACK AGAIN!!  She got emotional (as did I of course) during her first call but she was giggling the second time...said she called her sister at school (Jr in high school) and made her cry.  Sister said later "Mom I wasn't crying...I was bawling"  :-)  Those two are the closest in age and I nick-named them Heckle and Jeckle years ago because of how they sound like a couple mag-pies when they get on a role.  So then her form letter comes Friday afternoon that included a short note on the back but then tonight SHE CALLED ME AGAIN!!!  I'm feelin pretty blessed right now...don't think my feet have touched the ground for the last hour :-)  She had 'bout 20 minutes on the phone and we did a conf call with sister #3 and made her cry again...  Anyway... I got a ton of info for y'all  :-)  

My daughter is Ship 03 Div 048 as well.  BDee... isn't your girl in there too?

The first week they were there they were on 'P Holding' because of the holiday so processing happened the second week and the training starts this Monday I believe is what I heard.  So Monday is 1/1 for PIR of Jan 27.  They were not given a PIR password to include in the form letter so none of us got one...we'll have to make sure our SR's follow up on that for us.  The food is good...she said she'd put on 'bout 8 lbs (oh dear) but they are making them drink - get this - 8 - 32 oz jugs of water every day!!  My first reaction was DANG that's 256 oz of water a day - they are gonna drown my kid!!  She said they had been doing mostly drilling, folding and some classes.  Her Div had received a compliment from RDC about their good drilling which has sparked them into deciding they want the special awards so they all committed to working hard together in their drilling and at passing inspections.  My girl got a phone card for making her bunk which is in addition to the phone time she had these last 3 days!  I was getting all excited about another phone call but she informed me that her next call home was going to be to her sister - Jeckle.  She's breaking my heart!  Lets see... they got shots on Saturday...she said the one in her hip and two in each arm and was still sore when she called this evening...but she's alive :-)  She said they were living in sweats but get their uniforms this coming week.  Today, Sunday was a 'holiday' day until 1pm so they had some free time...all the girls were taking long showers and got to shave so she said she felt "shiny and new" now...lol.  They still had to climb back into unwashed sweats though as they had not been allowed to wash them since it was the only set of clothes they have at the moment.  I asked her what she thought about her underwear...all I got was a grunt under her breath that sounded something like "yah, those" but she did say they were washing out their undies at night...at least the girls are :-)  She has a pair of the oh-so-fashionable BCD glasses too but I didn't have time to find out if they were the new updated style that was expected to be brought into use anytime or if they were the old old style.  She had cut her hair to regulation length before she left so we could all see it... she had gorgeous long (really long) thick (really really thick) hair so she did it in stages and we discovered that she can rock a bob almost just as good as she can her long tresses so that was good :-)  She said the hair cutting really changed the looks of some of the SR's though.  I asked her if she was staying warm enough cause her blood runs as blue as mine does and we are the two in the family who are always cold... she said they keep the temp in the ship at 70 degrees and that the fans are motion triggered so whoevers on watch at night makes sure to walk past the sensors regularly.  She said some were sleeping in their sweats, but she was doin good by just keeping her socks and a T-shirt on.  If any of you were worried about this issue... I can assure you for my girl to tell me she is plenty warm at night - coming from a kid who preferred to sleep under two heavy weight sleeping bags in a room she used a space heater to keep it feeling like a sauna that knocked you over when you opened her bedroom door - for her to report she's good is HUGE :-)

I think that's about it... If I remember anything else I'll post of course :-)  OH There is... When you get a call from your SR from GL RTC the caller ID shows it beginning with 827-688-....  You'll want to answer those numbers :-) 

Can't tell you what a wonderful release and peace I've felt since her call this evening.  All her sisters and I have letters for her ready to go in Monday's mail and I think that experiencing her ability to call us has kinda helped to dispel that "iron curtain" feeling.  Hope the info I've shared has been helpful.  Really look forward to getting to know everyone! 

Comment by diannep on December 4, 2011 at 6:52pm

Laurie:  There is a very good possibiity that all of your group can attend PIR.  So don't dismiss that yet.  We still don't know how many divisoins are in this PIR group (should know tomorrow), but I have seen groups with 13 divisions where the extras all got in. Some may have to wait until others are seated, but they usually get in.  Your new sailor would be so excited!

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on December 4, 2011 at 6:18pm

You are welcome :-) I believe the contact solution is supposed to be 3oz or smaller and it will need to be that size in order for them to take it with them on the plane if they fly out to A-school. I am sure they can have there contacts at A-school. I have never heard otherwise. As for females you can send basic makeup and we even sent a hair straightener to our daughter but that was only after she requested it and she was in the performing division so I wouldn't send those type of items unless they ask for them.

Comment by Mrs. David's mom on December 4, 2011 at 4:04pm

Lala, thank you for the advice about traffic lanes going in.  I am a professional at choosing the SLOW lane!!!   We'll be coming from Arkansas, so Indiana won't be a problem.  Well, assuming we don't get lost!!!

David was told he could bring one pair of contacts with him for use at graduation.  So, he's ready.  Can they wear contacts once they get to their A-School's?  I was under the impression they could. 

Leaglen, I think they all arrived on 11/22.  Yes, they missed Thanksgiving and will miss Christmas at home, too.  They won't be home but they will be surrounded by new friends!  We will probably miss them more than they miss us!  David would rather be with a bunch of friends than his boring parents anyway!  He is also having a birthday without me!  Tuesday he's turning 23.

 

 

Comment by Laurie on December 4, 2011 at 3:49pm

I am very thankful to be only 3 hours south of Great Lakes. We actually have a pretty big group going for PIR. They all want to see him even if they can't go to graduation. We are planning to all go eat together or hang at hotel afterward. Hope you all that are driving a distance have clear weather. I just can't wait to see everyone with faces of pride while we watch these young men come into the hall for graduation. Makes me smile thinking about it.

Comment by BusyLifeHappyWife on December 4, 2011 at 1:38pm

*box.

Comment by BusyLifeHappyWife on December 4, 2011 at 1:38pm

Hi. Looks like our SRs arrived same day 11/22. Any of you get the form letter yet? I received the Bo's but no letter. I'm so frustrated.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 105
• 106
• 107
• 108
• 109
• …
• 114
• Next ›
• Page