Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)
Information
To everyone with a loved one at the RTC or soon to be there, we say, "Welcome!" To those who are sticking around after PIR to help those who are just beginning this awesome journey, we say, "Thank you!"
This is a place to talk, ask questions, and share stories. It is our desire that this Group will provide the information, encouragement, and support you need while your loved one is at the RTC in Great Lakes. Enjoy your time here and feel free to Comment and join in the Discussions. Be sure to check out the "Pages" to the right, located under the pictures of the Members, especially OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes To Your Profile), (Click "View All" to see all of them.)
Members: 9191
Latest Activity: 1 hour ago
Answers to Common Questions
Are there any official RTC sites?
Yes, check out https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand and http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/index.asp. They will have lots of information for you. https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining also has items at times.
Can recruits take anything to BC with them?
Recruits should go with what they have on their backs, their cell phones, and not much else. (See Things to Do in the Last Month Before Your Future Sailor Leaves for the RTC.)
What will the first day be like at BC?
See Arrival and What Happens at the RTC and Ship/Division--How it Works.
How long is the "I'm here!" call and when will s/he be able to call again?
See Phone Cards and Phone Calls.
When will "The Box" come?
It will usually arrive within a few days, but it can take up to 2 weeks to come at times.
I got my recruit's address from the recruiter. Can I trust it?
Double-check the address the recruiter gave you against those at http://bootcamp.navy.mil/contact_recruit.asp, but we strongly encourage you to wait on the form letter before sending mail to your recruit.
When will the Form Letter come and what is in it?
The form letter will come a week or so after "The Box" arrives--10 days after arrival is the average, but it can come sooner or up to 2 weeks after arrival. (You can find a copy of the current form letter at 3. The Official Form Letter from Boot Camp.) This form letter is full of info and you will need it to get the vehicle/gate pass if you are driving onto the RTC for PIR, so keep it in a safe place. It includes your recruit's address, so now you can mail out all the letters you have been writing. There is more on this in Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.
The form letter will also tell you the date of PIR, so you can start making plans for your trip. There are many hotels in the area and there is information in the grad pack and on this site about them. If you fly in, renting a car will make your life easier. Also, if you are flying, some airlines, such as Southwest, will allow you to change your flight if something happens without a charge, so you do not have to book refundable tickets. Plan to arrive the day before PIR so you won't risk missing this very special event and go to Sarge's Meet and Greet (go to Events on the right or in the tab above and move the calendar to the day before PIR and then locate it) and maybe part of another Meet and Greet (Ramada Inn has one and sometimes Flanagan's). If your Sailor's "A" School or training is in GL, plan to leave late Sunday or on Monday and if your Sailor will be flying out, then plan to leave late Saturday or on Sunday to have the most time with your Sailor. (This may need to be adjusted if PIR is not on Friday.) See Saving Money PIR Weekend and PIR Day and Liberty During PIR Weekend.
Sarge has a taxi service and he is a wealth of information and has a Meet and Greet at the Sundance Saloon in Waukegan the night before PIR. His cell number is 847-212-0246. His M&G and services have been getting great reviews. Find Sarge on N4M as OldSarge.
Once you know your recruit's PIR date, be sure to join the group for that. New groups are posted on here or you can go to http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group for that once it has been created.
How do I know who my recruit plans to put on the Access List?
The form letter will also include the names of up to 3 or 4 people, depending on the size of the TG, that your recruit plans to put on the Access List about 10 days before PIR. If the names on the form letter are not the same as those who will be attending, write to your recruit and give him/her the names that should be listed as they should be written. Recruits sometimes write “Mom, Dad, Bro, Sis” or other similar names to save time and give them more time to write a short note to you (one recruit wrote a single letter on each line); don’t worry your recruit will write the given names on the Access List when the time comes. If you are concerned that your recruit may not know someone’s given name or the correct spelling of someone’s name, write to your recruit and give him/her the names as they should be included on the Access List. Nicknames that a reasonable person would associate with the name on the ID are fine, but it is best if the names on the Access List match the ID’s of those who are attending. http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp will tell you how many guests your recruit is permitted. Children ages 2 and under do not have to be listed, but all others must be on the Access List in order to attend PIR.
How do I get the vehicle/gate pass?
About 11 days before PIR the link to download the vehicle/gate pass will be posted at http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/upcoming_grads.asp. You will need to enter the password from the form letter using all capital letters and then print the vehicle pass and handwrite in the information to fill in the blanks. You can print off more than one vehicle pass if your Sailor's guests will be arriving in more than one vehicle or just to be certain that you know where one is.
What will happen PIR weekend?
See PIR Day and Liberty During PIR Weekend and http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/pdfs/FamilyGuide_v14Mar2013.pdf.
Donna is not on the site much now and lemonelephant will be helping out along with many others who have begun this journey before you. (Donna, we are forever thankful that you started this group that continues to help so many.)
Be sure to check out the Pages to the right (under the pictures of the Members) for additional information. (You will need to click "View All" to see all of them.)
Discussion Forum
Birthday Cards
Started by Irene (ship 12 div 227). Last reply by lemonelephant 10 hours ago. 1 Reply 0 Likes
May 7 boot camp first day
Started by Eaglemom2. Last reply by lemonelephant 12 hours ago. 45 Replies 0 Likes
New Navy mom in need of help
Started by MAB123. Last reply by Sean the Sailors Mom yesterday. 19 Replies 0 Likes
Comment Wall
Comment
-
Comment by jbird (12/159) on March 29, 2011 at 1:24pm -
kelly in katy,
I know our faithful veterans can answer you best but my son has been gone 3 weeks and if he can do it, yours will too. Even if it's learning how to manage without their usual sleep. He'll rest, promise! But he's going to come out a SAILOR, someone who his shipmates can count on no matter what. Your concern for his rest was, and is, mine too of course! We got him covered in prayer too!
-
Comment by HisMom on March 29, 2011 at 1:16pm -
I bet the mailmen talk about us all the time. "Yup Roy, got another new mom that sent her son to boot camp. She put her chair right there by the mailbox. Never leaves it. Sits there night and day. Waiting for her lil' one to write home to say they are doing fine" "I got one too, Joe. Mine pretends she is pruning her bushes. Poor bush is nothing but a stalk and she is still snipping"
-
Comment by ntz4laa (HM Mom) on March 29, 2011 at 1:16pm -
pete758 ~ I asked my SR when she called last week and she said they would be going through BS on Sunday night. Now, there is some controversy on the date because some members of the brother division 126 have said BS on Monday (but we're not sure if they meant BS starts on Monday or calls on Monday). In our PIR group, we're trying to get a final confirmation. But, I think more likely than not we will get calls on Monday. :)
-
Comment by jbird (12/159) on March 29, 2011 at 1:14pm
-
kelly in katy,
he's doing an amazing thing and he's in great hands. Keep in touch here with us, the information is priceless..
-
Comment by MountainMama(ship3 div081) on March 29, 2011 at 1:02pm -
jdmom, I'm glad you're feeling better this week, but as a mom who's been through it, let me tell you that you will have many ups and downs. My son PIR'ed Feb 22 and I haven't been back here much because reading some of the posts take me back to some painful moments. BUT having said that, you WILL make it through. I just wanted to warn you that although it gets easier, a bad day (or a bad week even) can hit you out of no where. It's normal...you're not losing you mind. Knowing that it's going to happen will help you when it comes. Hang in there....it seems like PIR will never get here, but it does and you will see what a wonderful (although difficult)experience this has been for your sailor and really, for you too!
-
Comment by jdmom on March 29, 2011 at 12:31pm
-
Kelly I have just finished my first week without my son. Last week was probably one of the hardest weeks I have ever had, I was just so worried. My son arrived on Monday and I got the box on Thursday and my form letter yesterday. What a difference a week makes. The few lines he put on the form letter lifted my spirits so much. He did say it was crazy and he was up that first day for 40 hours but he was learning a lot. It was very upbeat so it mad me feel great! Even getting the box lifted my spirits especially when everything was just stuffed in which is exactly how my son would do something like that(I think he will have the most problem with folding..lol) Hang in there you are in good hands here with lots of experienced women to guide us.
-
Comment by pete758 on March 29, 2011 at 11:52am
-
ntz4laa (ship 09 DIV 125) I have a SR in the same division. Is it on Monday, April 4th that we should expect our call for "i am a sailor"????
-
Comment by Rebecca M. on March 29, 2011 at 11:39am -
I 'd like to recommend two books
1) Honor, Courage, and Commitment by Leahy
2) When the Eagle Invades the Nest by R. Lynn Green, me
both are available through Amazon
-
Comment by ntz4laa (HM Mom) on March 29, 2011 at 11:23am
-
Kelly ~ My SR shipped on a Wed. The box came the following Tuesday by Fedex, with the form letter coming on Saturday. So, it took about a week and a half to receive the letter. My first piece of real mail didn't come until about 3 weeks in. You can expect to get mail once a week from that point on. Phone calls are never guaranteed. I've been fortunate and have received 4 call since the I'm here call. The 3 week call came at about 3 1/2 weeks and it was for about 20 minutes. I also received a 5 minute merit call (she did a good job at watch). A 60 second call after the tsunami to check on relatives in Hawaii. Then a 30 minute call last Wednesday to verify her graduation list. Now, I'm waiting on the I'm a Sailor call on Monday!
-
Comment by KellynKaty(corps-Mom) on March 29, 2011 at 11:15am -
Hi Mission,Thanks for the info. I am so worried .He is my only child and I have been a stay at home mom his whole life. So, this is very hard for me. So,am I correct that in about 3 weeks I might hear from him?And when does the box come? His recruiter said to call him Thursday and get his address. So, I guess I can start writing then. And I will. So, I guess I just wait for a call or letter or something.. After I got home from the swearing in I came home and went in his room.. It was so funny, it was a total mess. It felt like he hadn't left yet.
I just feel so worried and I know it's going to get worse...
I'll just hang in there and pray alot..
I am glad I can come here and talk to moms.
Have a great day!
Pages (19)
- OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes To Your Profile)
- Arrival and What Happens at the RTC
- Ship/Division--How it Works
- 800 and 900 Divisions
- Phone Cards and Phone Calls
- Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit
- When Will the Recruits be Paid? and Information for Spouses
- What does ??? mean? (A Guide to Navy Abbreviations and Terminology)
- Recruit Petty Officer Positions
- Division T-Shirts, Graduation Photos, The Keel, and DVD of PIR
© 2013 Created by Navy for Moms Admin.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) to add comments!