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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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New to this my son left August 2nd 2013 for boot camp
Views: 284
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by MomSeanEM2 on
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Your son will be just fine. Was he anxious to join? Did you get his "safe arrival call from GL" My son was very excited about going in. They actually took him sooner than he was supposed to go. Just keep your phone with you at all times in case he gets to call. When you receive his form letter he will give you his address and info about PIR. My son said the first week was the roughest. First they keep you up for roughly 48 hours with no sleep. In his first letter he said what the heck was I thinking but he also told us in his next sentence he knew that he made the right choice. We sent letters of encouragement that he can do whatever he put his mind to and that we were proud of him for serving our country. My son has been in 2 years now and is loving it. He met a nice girl also in the navy and once out of BC you will be able to speak to him often. Just keep busy with hobbies. I work f/t go to the gym and worked on my doll houses. Believe it or not it does go fast. They always say on here "now news is good news" chin up be brave for your son I am sure he is doing great. Best of luck to you and your son. You are crying because you are proud of your son and his decision. :)
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Permalink Reply by Colleen SHIP-13 DIV -309 on
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My son left on the 1st... and I am still a wreck, he was my last baby to leave as well....I truly have no good advice....I feel like my heart was ripped from my chest, but I keep telling myself that it is going to fly by ...I have written 3 letters already and am just waiting for my recruiter to call with his address and away they will go... I think that will help a little..... I am keeping busy, I have read THREE books since wednesday.... anything to keep my brain busy. I tried cleaning his room this morning (I am forever traumatized) and for a few minutes I knew he was safer there than where i could get my hand on him..LOL.... I guess I'll just tell you what everyone has said to me.... "It get's easier...."...... I don't buy it yet ;)
Stay Strong
Colleen
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie (S-PACT/Yokosuka,JP) on
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My son left August 2nd as well. He called me from the airport before he flew out of OKC, but that is the last I have heard from him. I never got the "I made it safe" call. I have no idea why he wouldn't have called, but I do know that he was ready to get out in the world and prove himself an adult. He's 18, and was trying to act like he doesn't need his mom any more the last year of high school. I wonder what is going through his mind now? LOL!! I just hope that when he is allowed to write home that he does. I'm a little broken hearted that I didn't hear from him upon arrival. I have 3 other children at home. His older sister who is in college and two younger sisters, one who is special needs. I tear up on occasion too, but I stay busy enough that I can kind of keep my mind off of him some too. In some ways I'm making myself feel better by telling myself that at least in this situation they can't really get into too much trouble wheras when you send them off to college they have free reign and could potentially get themselves into all kinds of crazy situations. I'm sure they will all be just fine. The Navy knows how to handle these kids. I hear others talk about how grown up they are when we see them in 9 weeks. I can't wait to see them!!
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Permalink Reply by Navymassmomship13div313 on
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I think once we get the form letter with all his information then we can at least write to him. The day he was leaving the house the night before he was sworn in he called my cell phone and sounded teary eyed . He talked to his dad as well he did cry but the only reason. Hedid is because he had to say goodbye to his dog. The next day when we went to meps to see him sworn i asked him is there anything he wanted me to bring to him at graduation . The only thing he said can you bring Mr. Beefy (dog). I told him will try to find a hotel in the area that allows dogs. My son all the way up to the phone call home remained positive, smiling and joking around. It is mom and dad having a very very hard time :(
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All your SR's will be just fine. Have faith in them and yourself. Give them a chance and remember, "NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS" I won't say they are having fun but everything will be good. I know my sons first week he was thinking about his room, tv, video games and saying to himself, "what the f did I get myself into." He got through it just fine and so will you and your SR. You wait and see that form letter will come with the info you need to know for PIR and they get to write a comment at the end. Ours was short, "I love you and miss you all very much" Believe me as much as you miss them they miss you. They are missing the comforts of home really bad right now. I am speaking from experience. here. Your SR and his shipmates are all on the same ship and they are counting on each other. His bunk mate or other SR in his division is probably already his best friend. My son was best friends with a boy that as soon as they started hanging out together the other SR's called them salt & pepper. They were always together and supporting each other and all the other SR's. They stick together and help each other.
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Permalink Reply by JudyD on
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R3ramos, I am truly so sorry for your pain. I can tell you it does get better. I know everyone says that. I remember when I was being told "it will get better", I thought there was no way the hurt will go away. One of the things that really helped me get through boot camp was the women on this site. Somehow it really helped know I wasn't alone. The women on this site knew what I was feeling and some of them have already gone through it. When we went to our daughter's graduation on 6/29th and I got to see the pride and smile on my daughter's face somehow it was worth it. I know you are probably thinking that you are just starting out with the whole boot camp experience, I can tell you for me I was able to go through it with the help of these wonderful women here on this site. I have made some wonderful friends here and I still keep in touch with them even though our SRs are no longer together. Hang in there and start writing your SR today. You won't be able to send them yet but it is great therapy. You can do this!!!
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Hey R3ramos - We all understand your situation and we have all cried our selves out when our sons left (pretty much all anyway.) The best thing to do is to take one day at a time and keep busy, busy, busy. My son went to boot camp 4/9/12 and I keep his bedroom door closed. When I get up I think oh I should be quiet so I don't wake him but guess what ... he isn't there. It is a long road for all of us but you will be surprised you too will make it. Good luck to you and your son and stay on the site many moms will give you solid advice and I am sure glad they are out there to help us.
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Well this is day 3 of no contact and the unknow. My husband and I woke up and tears begin to flow again. We are trying so hard to keep each other strong and reading every site possible to ease our minds but it is not working. We are missing him so very very bad. We both did not think it would be this hard. But he is the baby out of our 4 kids. And for the 18 yrs of his life at least one of us whether it is me, his dad or his brother and sisters had either seen him or had contact of some sort with him. And now we have nothing. We feel very lost and alone. I just wish that we had that first letter to atleast relieve some of our worries.
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I wish I had comforting words for you.. I don't.. I could have written your post myself... you hit the nail on the head when you said you feel lost.....and I too, tip-toe by his room in he morning until I remember....I still listen for him at night.... yes, this is tough....
But I understand, and I hope our sons graduate together because I want to give you a hug!
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Permalink Reply by navy momma on
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Couldn't agree more!! Such a difficult thing to go through!!! I knew it would be tough, but i didn't know it would be THIS difficult!!
I have gone through family going to bootcamp before, I come from a military family. But having my baby boy go is a different story....
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R3ramos, We know how you feel. We have all been in your shoes. Believe me as much as you are missing him he is missing you. I am sure he is thinking as many do what did I get myself into. He is also probably saying I wish I could go home right now and sleep in my bed and do what I want.
Just wait for the form letter and you will feel much better when you receive it with a comment at the end they can write and his address. Flood him with happy, upbeat and encouraging letters. Give them news about a favorite sport if he has one. Let him know that you are being strong for him and that you are very proud of him and his decision. I was so relieved when we received our first real letter telling us it was tough but he knows he made the right decision.. Believe me when I say BC will go quick and before you know it you will be going to PIR. Remember "NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS" I am sure he already has a close buddy that he sticks with and they all help each other get through this. For the most part all the SR's work together as a team and help each other in weak areas.
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Permalink Reply by mom2e. CTI on
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My son left on 8/2 as well and like you I can't stop crying. I am trying so hard to not be selfish and stay positive but I miss him so much. I never thought it would be this hard. The moms on this site ha be been great. Their support means so much because unless you are going through this you can't really understand what it feels like. This site has and continues to be a sanity check for me. It makes going through this process alone so much easier. My heart goes out to you. The littler advise I can offer is start writting letters. That has helped me a little. Hang in there and feel free to contact me anytime.
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