Sons leaving to BC Sep. 18

[JohnsMom SHIP-09 DIV-003]

Looking for others leaving that day.. & there families that are in my area Gilroy,CA

[MrsH]

Hi all!  My son left on Wednesday, Sept. 18th as well. His box arrived on the 20th, but probably because we live outside of Chicago. I have more anxiety than I thought I would. I'm so proud of him, but I miss my baby:(    I'm used to talking to him on my lunch breaks. Ugh... When his box arrived, I stood at the front door sniffing his t-shirt for awhile. I can't wait to find out what ship/div he's in. He'll be in the GSM program.

[lemonelephant]

You may want to check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvKAhmgkoj4 and http://www.navydep.com/forums/showthread.php?t=433. They will give you an idea of what is happening.

You may want to join, or at least check out, Boot Camp Mom's, PIR Reference Information, and New Members Stop Here. Once you know his PIR date and/or division number, watch in Boot Camp Mom's and/or at http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group for that.

Here is the fact sheet for GSM (http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/Graphic-Elements/Rating-Factsheets/GS-Gas-...). There are no groups of just loved ones in GSM, but you may find some in these groups:  Engineers, Snipe Moms(enginers), and/or Snipe Moms.  You will also want to check out  Great Lakes A School   Q&A, GL A-school moms, and Training-Support-Center-TSC-Great-Lakes   Facebook Page.

(Group names and links within this reply are clickable links. To join a group, click on the group name and after the group page opens, click on "+ Join..." in the upper right.)

[MrsH]

Thanks lemonelephant!

[lemonelephant]

You are very welcome.

[JohnsMom SHIP-09 DIV-003]

I cant wait for all that info either..

[lemonelephant]

Yes, send the phone card back (make sure that it is activated so she doesn't have to do that and waste time) or you can keep it for later and get calling cards (actually a phone number and PIN) at http://callsforrecruits.org/. Ronny and Anna provide those through that website if you email and ask for them. They will email you around 12, but will send more if you need them. Each PIN that is provided is a onetime use number.  If you do that, be sure to make a donation to the site.

Ask her about the credit card before sending it, she may have signed up with NFCU and not need it or she may need it to pay for her photo package, Keel, and DVD.  That is the only purchase that she would need it for before PIR.

Watch the video I referenced above.  Two other videos you can check out are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd7_yp0Hkwc and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3WopRtV2F4&feature=relmfu.  You can also check out the videos on the RTC site at http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/videos.asp.

"No news is good news!" Here are some things that you do know: she is safe; she is physically fit or getting there; she is learning new things that will help her throughout her life; she is being fed well; she has any medical and dental needs taken care of; she is making friends, and you know where she is since she is at the RTC. If there was a problem, you would be called and that is not a call you want to receive. You have placed her in the best hands of all--those of God and the US Navy.

[JohnsMom SHIP-09 DIV-003]

Maybe that was an accident. My sons cc & pn cards didnt come back.

[thelostairman]

My brother left from Atlanta on the 18th. We got his box on Friday. Still waiting on his post card. Wish it would hurry up.

[lemonelephant]

From http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/contact_recruit.asp, the address you will mail letters to is:

SR Last name, First name MI

Ship 2 Division 901

3600 Ohio Street

Great Lakes, IL  60088

Your SR will be in TG 01, which will have PIR on 11/16/2012.

Join the group, PIR 11/16/2012 TG 01. There will later be a discussion within that group for that division. Since your Recruit is in a performing division, you may also want to join the Group, 900's division sailors. There will be information on there that relates to your situation. Here is a site I found that explains about 900 Divisions, The Requirements for the Navy RTC 900 Division

There are 3 types of 900 divisions. There are the Band/Bluejacket Choir/Drill team, otherwise known as Triple Threat (the musicians, singers, and drill team), the Sticks (those who carry the state flags), and the Ship Staff/Honor Guard (the body snatchers, those who guard various things...). Three 900 divisions perform their duties at each PIR, the 900 division(s) from that TG and if needed one to three 900 divisions from the next one or two TG's. Each 900 Division performs in their own PIR and in the PIR for one or two TGs ahead of their own. They may also have performances in the community--that happens mainly for the Triple Threat though.  I believe that Division 901 is Ship Staff/Honor Guard.

Ship Staff is in charge on PIR day. They greet and welcome the Officers and their distinguished guests as Sideboys, they play the role of "Body Snatcher" walking up and down the rows of Sailors, watching for and sometimes catching any Sailor about to or going down. (They lock their knees sometimes and pass out). They help the Navy Corpsmen in the back room, they Guard doors and perform a myriad of tasks behind the scenes and in front. It is their job to help make sure all goes smoothly. The Honor Guard Drill Team (they're the ones with the yellow ascots) also does a rifle performance at the beginning of the ceremony.

Watch the RTC’s fB page beginning 2 weeks before your SR’s PIR and you may catch a glimpse of your SR if they post pics.

(The group names and sites mentioned within this reply are clickable links.)