Well he is nuke so we are going to have to wait til at least Christmas the I assume. The navy appears to be completely different than other branches.

How long is nuke school now days? My brother was a nuke in the 90s and it was 2 1/2 years of training... My daughters friend who is also at BC is going to be a nuke.

hasn't changed much- still a long haul: https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/enlisted/rating_info_cards/nukepower.pdf

Thanks. I remember by bro made it and went on to subs in Kings Bay. Not sure I could do a sub. My daughter sees her friend at church on Sundays and in some training. They both graduate BC the same day 11/7. We are fortunate as she will be going to San Antonio for A school and we live 90 minutes away.

My son is going sub Miahael, nuke power and his A school will be in Charleston SC. I cant complain too much since we live in Florida, It could be worse.

Just got the first phone call from my son, so excited

We live in Miami, so we have to go buy some warm clothes to watch my son graduate next month LOL

I know I still remember mine from back in 78'

yes john im not looking forward to it, I live in miami where it is always warm lol. Before that I was in the military and was in the desert, so I havent been in the cold in years

My daughter arrived at RTC on Oct 6th. Got the call from her at 2315 that night. I got her box today from FEDEX now just waiting on the form letter so we have an address. Seems Navy Boot camp has changed a lot since i went through it.  1986 Co. 356.... 

Daron, yes it has changed alot since then, When they closed the other RTC's they puT alot of money into Great Lakes. The RTC side was completely redone and all new buildings built. I was in basic there June 1978 co.106 Div.17. Be proud of what your daughter is doing and will accomplish. I will be up there for a graduation of my sons best friend on Oct 31st. This will be exciting to say the least.

from RTC:

If your Sailor is graduating on Wednesday, 26 November, your Sailor will be granted liberty that day as well as Thanksgiving Day, 27 November. Please understand the following:

Your Sailor WILL NOT be granted overnight liberty.

Your Sailor may reasonably be assigned duty for several hours on either Wednesday or Thursday. If assigned duty, your Sailor will have to return in order to meet this commitment.

Does the comment stating that "If your Sailor is graduating on Wednesday, 26 November, your Sailor will be granted liberty that day as well as Thanksgiving Day, 27" mean that they will NOT have any liberty either Friday or Saturday?

correct- they will fly to A-school on Friday as I recall

What if their A-school is Great Lakes?

then they may get the weekend....must be at base each night and may have duty/watch at some point

Thanks so much for the quick answer! 

Adopt A Sailor Form Adopt-a-Sailor-Form.pdf

I was shocked but thrilled that I've already had 2 calls from my son. One last saturday which was only 10 days since he left! And another yesterday. Have already sent a few letters, now just waiting for one from him so can hear more about his experiences in more detail since the call time is so short. PIR is 12-05-14 and have just booked a room. Thanks to all the discussions and reviews here, have chosen one close to sarge's meet and greet. One question I do have is about wheel chair accessibility. My dad would love to go but due to the amount of walking that will be involved, is not sure he can handle that. Does anyone know if there are any restrictions on wheel chairs at PIR ? 

Paul: from RTC's website:

Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis when guests check in at the Visitor Center. There is limited handicapped-designated seating on the drill deck. One family member may accompany a handicapped family member in this area.

I just heard that the PIR 10/31, this friday the captains cup winner was the spec ops group Div 821. if you are attending this Fridays PIR see ya there and also at Sarges meet and Greet tomorrow.

Here is division 355

willie we are just getting ready to leave for Chicago. from Indiana. maybe we will see you at the Sarges get together tonight. we only have a 4 hour drive. Looking forward to watching 821 graduate tomorrow. Several awards for that Spec Op group this go around very proud.

to Phillip- middle of the night...no more than 20 seconds long and very scripted

And when you get "The Box", open it in a well-ventilated area!

Luckily for Division 907, it was the Public Affairs Officer who gave them Sexual Assault Prevention and Response training today. Since they did such a good job during the discussion, RTC decided to post them on Facebook.

Before my son left, I used to think all these 'boo-hoo' people were just taking things to the EXTREME! LOL!

Sad to say, while I'm not actually boohoo-ing, I AM stalking facebook and any websites I can find for the possibility of a picture or news re his division and/or progress...

Ship 12/ Div 75 PIR 1-30-15

Congrats to all Dads for "lending" Uncle Sam your child for service, starting out as Seaman Recruits!

The first weeks of no communication will be difficult for you. Send as many letters and packages as possible. When your Seaman is allowed to receive your communications it will be like Christmas in February.

The greatest gift my Seaman Recruit gave me was after the Boot Camp graduation and we were celebrating in Chicago. She said "Pops, I want to apologize for what I put you through when I was in Jr/Sr high school." (She was good bad, not evil.)

My QM1, (Navigation Petty Officer 1st Class), went to GL in January, 2011 and is now moving back home to start her college career while remaining a Navy Reservist.

She has grown up quite a bit during her duty. Her successful active duty career included missions to the Med Sea, Persian Gulf, East Indian Ocean, then the North Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and closer to home on training missions in the Caribbean and Southern Atlantic.

She is a Salty Shellback (for going south of the Equator) and a member of the Order of the Blue Nose (for going north of the Arctic Circle).

In addition to her duties in navigation she also volunteered to be the fitness instructor on her destroyer.

Your offspring, who go to sea, will endure days of servile work, sheer boredom, and times with rushes of adrenaline. All-in-all it will be a great adventure in each Seaman's life when responsibility for their own lives and their small, but important part, in the defense of our country.

Best wishes to you and your Seaman Recruit!!

A friend of my son is invited to the PIR. He's in the Army Reserve. He wants to know if its appropriate for him to wear his uniform. Any ideas?

official RTC uniform policy:

Uniform of the Day

All Pass-in-Reviews at Recruit Training Command are formal ceremonies.
Military personnel participating in the ceremony shall wear the seasonally appropriate ceremonial uniform. Military personnel who arrive as guests shall wear the service dress uniform or service dress uniform equivalent. Military members who arrive in working uniforms will not be permitted inside the drill hall.

NAVY:
SUMMER: Summer Whites with ribbons for E-7 and above; Service Dress Whites with ribbons for E-6 and below.
WINTER: Dress Blues with ribbons.

Note: Working Uniforms (NWU, MARPAT, ACU, ABU, ODU) are not authorized uniforms for Pass-In-Review. 

Thank you gentlemen.

from RTC:

Congratulations to this week’s winners of Captain’s Cup. Div. 805 took top honors in the non-integrated divisions while Div. 084 dominated in the integrated divisions.

What is Captain’s Cup?

Captain’s Cup is a fun, friendly athletic event held on the Saturday before graduation. The divisions that are set to graduate later in the week get a free morning to kick back and enjoy some fun competition between the divisions in their training group. It’s like recess for recruits.

Michael- you should get the letter any day

I received 3 letters from my Son yesterday.  He was commenting on how he did perfect on the shake downs and such.  His Senior Chief in JROTC taught him well.  He just wishes the rest of his division would work more as a team.  Very frustrating for him. 

Chad- We received 3 letter yesterday also. Our son said the same thing about his division. very frustrating for him because ever since he was 10 years old he has made his bed washed his clothes cleaning his room. OCD maybe and he like thing structured. I think he will made a good military man and a great leader one day. But I am his dad.

Roy and Chad - Our son had the same experience. His frustration continued through A-school and to some degree continues to this day with his first duty station (apparently, day shift doesn't do much work while he and his buddies on night shift do the bulk of it). I have tried to explain that not everyone had a father like me. A father who taught their kids responsibility, working hard and doing their best are three things that will carry them a long way in this life. It seems that you guys are a couple of fathers who taught your kids the same kinds of things. I applaud you! Bravo Zulu!

Good times!!  He graduates next Friday, the 27th!!  Can't wait to get that call saying he's a Sailor!!

Greg, the "Nasty 9" is the nickname given to the head crew. The head crew cleans the head (bathroom). If your son is the Head PO that means he is in charge of the head crew.

Typically the first 4-10 days  after the new recruits arrive at RTC are called Processing Days or P-Days.  Around holidays and sometimes for unforeseen issues (flight delays, severe weather, etc.) P-days can last up to 14 days.  Although recruits are assigned to a ship and division upon arrival, these assignments are not final and they do not move to their designated ship until P-days are over.   Unplanned events may change that ship assignment.   Your sailor's recruiter may give you an address a day or two after your recruit arrived at Great Lakes with a particular division that may not be final. This is why NavyDads always advises you to wait for your sailor's form letter with his or her correct address.  That letter typically arrives 5-10 days after they have shipped to RTC.

MY SON CALLED SAID THY MIGHT BE ABLE AFTER GRADUATION AND CK IN TO HIS A SCHOOL AT GREAT LAKES BE ABLE TO BE CHECKED OUT FOR LIBERTY ALL WEEKEND AND NOT HAVE TO GO BACK TIL SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY BEFORE 600 IS THIS TRUE HAS ANYBODY ELSE HEARD ?

My son started RTC 3/24/15. I just received his form letter a few days ago and even got a call from him Saturday. It was a surprise to both of us. I didn't think he would be able to call home for at least 3 weeks in. . Even though I didn't get to talk to him long he sounded good and said he was learning a lot. He even said he thinks he has lost 10lbs from all the exercise and running....I'm very proud and excited for him. He graduates on 5/22/15. The letter said he is only allowed 4 people at his graduation but we have a large family. That is dissapointing that we all won't be able to see him graduate but hopefully we will be able to spend a few days with him after he graduates and has to ship out to "A" school. Anyone else have a son/daughter graduating the same time?