After Graduation

[Davontesmom]

How long can my sailor leave off campus after the ceremony?  I received my letter only 3 people can attend :-(( so of course, I have angry family members.

[Concernedad]

So to clarify, your bunk mate tells you he has three tickets. One for his father, mother, and grandfather, but unfortunately, he has no ticket for his grandmother. You, on the other hand, are only using two of your tickets.

Some of you are stating, without question, you should tell this fellow recruit who you have trained with and sweated with and come to trust, "too bad! Grandma is screwed!"

I was very proud of my son for allowing other family members of a fellow shipmate to attend.

Now, if it's purely against the rules, that's another matter. (it wasn't at the time of his PIR.)

And I'm not suggesting he should meet someone through a chain letter and add their name to the list.

Common sense here.

[lemonelephant]

There has been a change in the command at the RTC since your Sailor had PIR and policies are being more strictly enforced than in the past. It was always frowned upon to add people that the recruit does not know (and it may have been against policy, but no one told the recruits they couldn't do it for a shipmate and no one really checked to see if the recruit knew the people s/he put on the list), but now it is not permitted for a recruit to add people to the Access List unless s/he knows them and the recruits are given that instruction and they and thier loved ones must abide by it.

There are several discussions on the site about this.  Here is a link to one: http://www.navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms/forum/topics/adding-g...

[Saipan]

Unfortunately, common sense isn't so "common" anymore.  Too bad it can't go back to the good ol' days huh?  I'm glad yours got to at least help someone else though.

[lemonelephant]

When is PIR?  If it is 03/15/013, join the group, PIR 03/15/2013 (I have seen that there are 4 guests though).  If it is 03/08/2013, then join PIR 03/08/13 TG 17 - 10 Divisions (105-112, 916 and 917)--the good news is that 4 guests are allowed although some letters went out saying 3 guests (see http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp).  The PIR's this week and next have a 3 guest limit; those groups are PIR 02/08/2013 TG 13 - 14 Divisions (089-100, 806 and 913) and PIR 02/01/2013 TG 12 - 15 Divisions (077-088, 804, 805 and 912). As others have said, no extras can attend and they are not permitted to be added to another recruit's list for the Access List.

See PIR Day and Liberty During PIR Weekend within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) to give you an idea of how Liberty will work.  What will your Sailor's rating (job/specialty) be?  Where your Sailor goes for "A" School or training will determine how much time you have PIR weekend.  There are also groups for most "A" Schools and/or ratings.

You may also want to join, or at least check out, Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones), PIR Reference Information, and New Members Stop Here. There will be a lot of great information and support for you in those groups as well as in the PIR group. Be sure to check out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) and Discussions within the groups.

(Group names 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.)

[BunkerQB]

My husband and I have only been to three military bases recently - Travis Air Force Base, West Point and Pensacola. At each base, our car was searched (with trunk opened) and IDs for all occupants reviewed.  At Travis, we had to sign in at the Visitor Center first before proceeding.  I feel comfortable with the level of security.

Regarding the old policy of adding a name to the guest list on behalf of another recruit, I presume a recruit would only add a name on his/her guest list if the "extra" guest was a family member of another recruit (maybe even a recruit whom he has befriended or that the parents have bonded within the PIR group).  It is possible (although I have not heard of it) that there is some mom masquerading as a Navy Mom in order to establish a relationship with some gullible person in order to gain access to the base at GL. 

It is really too bad that recruits w many family members can not be put on a "standby" list. And recruits with w fewer than the allotment can not donate his "extra" guest into some lottery system.  Then it becomes the responsibility of the recruit who is lucky enough to get "extra" slots to revise the names on his list before the deadline. 

I am sure many of the changes are because of the cut in the budget.  With the current schedule, it makes very little sense for a family to spend three to four thousand dollars to go to GL for PIR (to accommodate everyone who wants to go). There are other opportunities to have a wonderful get together with your sailor (like homecoming, or special "welcome home" party at home). Just my opinion.

[lemonelephant]

BQB, with the number of vehicles entering the RTC on the day of PIR, they check to see that the vehicle has a vehicle/gate pass with the correct PIR date and then check the ID of each individual to see that they match up with the people in the vehicle. Vehicle registration and insurance are also subject to being checked. Some vehicles may be randomly inspected, but not every one. Those who walk in must present ID. Once the visitors get to the Visitors Center, their ID's are checked against the names on the Access List and those not on the list are instructed to go to their vehicle and urged to leave the RTC.

The policy is in place to close what was considered a breach of security, so although you feel you have a good solution, until the policy is changed everyone must abide by the policy that is in place.  It has also been brought up that by allowing the numbers in the Drill Hall that were previously permitted that there was (or may have been ) a fire code violation and the policy as currently enforced helps to keep the numbers within acceptable limits.

Thinking about your lottery system: this would not always be a good option because the recruits who believe they have extra slots would need to give them up early enough for the “winners” to be able to make plans to attend--some who are not on the list choose not to make the trip while others do go to GL and spend time together after PIR. Well, what if 2 weeks before PIR (right before the Access List is finalized), a recruit who gave up his/her slots found out that family members that s/he did not think were able to attend are actually able to come? Now they can’t attend because the recruit gave up the slots.  hmmmmmm

[Angie]

Doesn't' matter what the old policy was...there is a new policy and that is all there is to it!

[lemonelephant]

Exactly!

[BunkerQB]

I think we have exhausted this subject to death. Whatever.

[Davontesmom]

Thanks for all the replies, you guys have been very helpful.

[diannep]

After reading all of this....I think I need a nap already...exhausting...and it is only 7:45 a.m.!  :-)

[Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons]

Me too, nap time )