Protecting your recruits from all the nasty bugs and things out there-- The "Shot Line" at RTC-

http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=92344

First letter will be a few weeks.....

Heard our son's voice on Saturday, about half through now.  So good to  talk to him.  Doing well so far.

So my 18 years old daughter Kenzie has been in DEP for awhile now. She initially went in S-PACT scheduled to leave in April, but was able to change to MA with a ship date to basic on February 9. Recently she has lost motivation and called me up expressing a desire to complete the form to request discharge from DEP. We talked through it and she also talked to some other people and she has, at this point, decided that joining the Navy is still the best thing to do. As a Navy Veteran, I am very proud of her for making the decision to join the Navy and think that she would really enjoy it. I think she simply struggles with the same issue that anyone who joins the military struggles with.. the fact that no one really knows what it is going to be like and what happens if you just hate it. I also think that the 4 year commitment is a bit difficult for kids her age because it seems like it is a long time... we all know it isn't.  So, I guess I am looking for anyone else that has been through this, how you handled it, and just any other suggestions that anyone may have in case she does this again in a few weeks. Ultimately it is her decision, but as her parent I feel like I am obligated to try and guide her in making decisions. 

Thanks,

Tracey 

I didn't send a phone card with my son, his recruiter said he didn't need one.  From what I've been reading, he does, ugh !  Is he allowed to call collect, or can I send him one with one of me letters ?   

Ruth,  He will not need a calling card. When they are given permission to call home, they use a phone provided to them at no charge. Please keep in mind the calls are very short with limited information, but just to hear their voice makes you feel better. 

Shewww, thanks Joseph !!!  Yes, just to hear his voice will be enough :-)

If you haven't already done so, "like" the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command on FaceBook. They took pictures of the different Divisions and posted them on their FaceBook page. My son is in Division 080, he was way in the back but still great to see them in their uniforms. Enjoy !

I was given this idea from a friend of mine who's son went to boot camp before my son.  One day I sat and just googled Inspirational quotes, motivational quotes.  T started writing down one after the other, different magic marker colors or just plain black on a sticky that will fit easily on a letter.  Quotes such as, One Day Closer... You got this !  Strive for Progress, Not Perfection. Every Morning is a chance at a new day ! Nothing is Impossible, The word itself say I'M Possible.  I attach one to like every other letter.  My son said those simple stickie notes have made such a difference, he looks forward to what the next one might say.  After hearing that, I wanted to pass along to everyone else here.  Best suggestion I received ! It's the little things to keep them motivated, feeling positive :-) 

My son shipped to Great Lakes on December 15.  Got a phone call this morning; the good kind.  My wife and I got to talk to him for about 30 minutes.  He sounded really good.  It made our day because we weren't expecting to hear from him this soon.  He is on Ship 11 Division 101 and his PIR is scheduled for 02/05/16.

We've only received letters twice from our son who is PIR 1/29/16 as well.  We received one, then recently two more at the same time.  He said they are just so busy that he doesn't have much time to write.  We are getting a phone call tomorrow though which is nice.

Got a phone call today as well.  A good thirty minute conversation really made our day.  

Meet and Greet Thursday night is the only "pre-PIR" event

I have a question and I'm not sure the best place to ask it.  My son went in APACT, therefore he does not have a rate.  This may have been a mistake as he was offered several rates by the recruiter but none of them matched the ones he had researched.  He also was too anxious to get in and APACT went in December instead of March so he jumped on it.  Water under the bridge but my question is about after PIR.  He is supposed to go to Pensacola.  Since he is APACT, he won't go to an A school.  According to this site, he goes for about 3 weeks then given his first assignment.  Shane heard though that he will be in Florida for 4-5 weeks.  Any definitive on the Florida stay or is it hit and miss?  I've seen posts where people have been assigned a ship in record time after boot camp too.

Well, he says they told him Pensacola, but as you said, everything is subject to change.  My career has been the same and I actually enjoyed the challenge of a chaotic schedule.  

Just had a brief phone call from one of Shane's fellow recruits.  He said Shane was tied up but wanted us to know that he was being assigned to Pt. Mugu in SoCal.  I am as jacked as can be and can't stand waiting now for PIR.  

Our son graduated on 8 Jan 2016, a wonderful but chilly ceremony.  He is now at Goose Creek waiting to class up next week. We were able to visit him at Goose Creek on Sunday following boot camp. We flew back to Atlanta from Chicago then drove our car to Charleston on Saturday night. We were able to spend several hours with him Sunday mid day prior to driving back home to NW Florida.  It was worth the trip for all of us.  

Does anybody have any information on what items we can give to our sailors after PIR, or before they depart for A School?  I have read that we cannot give them items right after the graduation.  What about later when we get to spend time with them?  Will they be able to take things back with them to pack and take in their duffle bag to A School?  What about laptops and other items?  Do we ship them to A School or can provide them before they leave for A School? 

Doug,  If your sailor is going to A school in GL's, he will be checked out of the recruit command when you take him off base for liberty.  You will be able to give him all his "stuff" at that time, and they can take it back with them.  If he is going to out of state A school, you will have to give it to him when you meet him at the airport before he flies out.  You will have to meet them VERY early in the morning.  They usually arrive at the airport around 1am in the morning but don't leave no earlier than 5-6am.  But anyhow, they can take everything with them at that time.  Hope this helps!

I believe he is headed to Pensacola for A School.  Do they typically fly out of O'Hare or perhaps Midway?  Would the USO be the best place to meet him, has anybody done that?  I understand O'Hare has a USO that is pre-security screening.  

We are flying in and out of Midway for the 1/29/16 PIR but our departing flight isn't until the evening.  I have no problems with meeting him early at the airport, but I am wondering if mailing the items is the better way to go.  He wants his laptop and cellular phone.  On a related note, anybody have any issues with laptops or cellular phones being stolen in A School?  I realize it is a military base, but nevertheless.....

I guess I should have read the family RTC guide link here first.  Looks like nothing at all after PIR, even later when they return from their short liberty.  I guess it boils down to whether we want to get up at O dark thirty and meet him at the airport or trust the USPS later...

Doug, My son is currently at Corry in Pensacola...this is my experience with the whole PIR thing in GL's.  We stayed at the Navy Lodge prior to the PIR and through the weekend afterwards.  I HIGHLY recommend taking the shuttle to the PIR that is provided from the Navy Lodge...if you stay elsewhere, some have shuttles, but you can take a taxi, which is also recommended.  The traffic is very congested and the shuttles and taxis zip right in and miss most of it.  Anyhow, we went to the PIR and where able to take him with us afterwards until about 730pm I believe.  We then went back to the hotel and got some sleep in preparation to meet him at O'hare around 1am.  They do in fact meet up just below the USO.  Parents are not able to go into USO because of the shear number of Sailors there, but there are plenty of areas to hang out.  About 5am, the Sailors will be given their boarding passes and will start checking in to fly out.  Parents can receive a pass to go thru security and hang out with them until they leave.  I know it is a pain to get up early, but being able to spend that extra time with them is worth it.  So most of the kids flying out to Pensacola typically fly out very early, like 6-8amish.  If you have any other specific questions about Pensacola, or GL, feel free to ask me!   

Brian, thanks for the info.  We are staying at the Marriott nearby and I called them to confirm they have a shuttle bus that will run to the base.  That is good to know that they will be able to leave shortly after PIR.  We plan on taking Shane, and one of his fellow sailors, out to eat somewhere nearby and probably to the mall.  We will have to decide on O'Hare depending on what he wants.  We can always go to Chicago afterwards and kill time until we fly out of Midway later in the day.  

Please note that your sailor may depart from either O'Hare or Midway, not sure there is a way to know until you meet up with them after PIR, there maybe. O'Hare is about a 30 minute drive to GL and Midway is about 1.5 hours . . .  Since we stayed at the Courtyard near GL, it was a short drive to PIR, but a long drive to Midway, where he was departing from.  Since we knew he was going to Charleston, SC, we flew out of Atlanta and then drove to Charleston Saturday evening. We were able to spend time with our son Sunday before driving home to NW Florida.  It was nice because we were able to see where he was going to school and drive around the area and explores some with him. He won't be able to get his car for about  4-6 weeks after arrival. 

Congrats Ruth.  Shane told us he wouldn't be calling until tomorrow and I am hoping he doesn't call now since I am not at home.  Shane is in Div 084 so I am guessing Battle Stations is staggered and maybe he gets done later.  I would hate to miss his call.  Just a few more days and we get to see them PIR, I am also anxious.

Noel- he's going to have to inform you. Sorry to hear but most times in these cases it's a failure of fitness test....

Noel,  Unfortunately, there is no way to contact your recruit.  The only method is through the Red Cross if there is an emergency.  There are a multitude of reasons that he may not be graduating with his class.  This late in the game, my guess is he is having issues passing his PRT, he failed a portion of Battle Stations and will have to go through again with another division next week to "unceremoniously" graduate, or he is having some sort of medical issue.  If he is going through with another division, he will not "walk" with the new division, he will just finish his training and leave.  If he is having issues with his PRT, he will be assigned to a division that is on hold until he passes his PRT.  If it is medical, he will also be on hold.  Either way, my guess is that you will hear from him again before the week is up.  Hope all works out!

I'm sure what he is saying is PFA, which is the fitness test.  Sounds like he didn't pass the final fitness test.  He will be sent to a FIT division until he passes it.  They pretty much take the PFA everyday until he passes it.  Once he passes it, he will go through battlestations with another division, then "graduate" and leave for "A" school.  Again, hope all works out for him!

Steve, we received a letter from Shane and he laid out his schedule for the next week (from when he wrote the letter).  His schedule at the time of the writing, which was 1/16, said that they had Monday off for a holiday, which would have been MLK day, then Tuesday shots, Wednesday division photos, Thursday weigh in, PFA, and personnel inspection.  Friday was firefighting classes and then the gas chamber.  Saturday was Captain's Cup, the fitness competition.  Sunday somewhat off, then he said Monday, which would be today, a final test (written?) and then Battle Stations starting at night.  

According to other posts I've read, they finish Battle Stations in the morning but cannot go to bed.  They stay up all day Tuesday.  Shane said he is calling us on Tuesday, tomorrow, so be ready.  He said presuming they pass Battle Stations, the rest of the week is practicing for PIR.  They clean, polish, study some more, march, and drill.

Noel,  I have a friend whose daughter didn't pass the final PFA just prior to Battle Stations.  She was put in FIT briefly, passed, but missed out on the PIR ceremony.  But, she was able to have a ceremony in the barracks, graduated, and is in A School now in Virginia.  It is a setback, but not fatal.  The Navy has a lot invested in the recruits and they don't want to fail them out if at all possible.  I think I read that 99% of those who have to remediate various tests end up passing eventually.  The stats favor your son's success.

Thank You Guys,

My son miss RIP ceremony cos he didn't pass the final PFA. He battling cold for couple of days.

Question?

If he pass PFA Can we able to see him before he went to A School?

If there is a ceremony at the barracks are we allowed to attend ?

Noel, Unfortunately no, you will not be able to go to the ceremony.  He will basically pass the PFA, do battlestations and be shipped off to "A" school with very little fanfare or liberty. Even a recruit that graduates normally gets very little time to spend with his/her family before they are shipped off....unless they are going to A school in GL's.  I find it odd at how little time you actually get with your kid versus the amount of money it costs to come see them.  Back in my day, we graduated on a Friday, got all weekend for liberty, then shipped off to A school Monday morning.  My best advice to you is to just visit him at his A school.

We finally got our call from Shane.  He passed everything, got his Navy cover, and will be prepping for PIR.  The anticipation was killing me waiting to get the phone call.  

Oh, and he called from the place they call "Recruit Heaven" where he gets to eat fast food for a change.  He told us a good story about one of the instructors who came in, had everybody sit on the barracks floor, and watch him eat Buffalo Wings.  Nice torture technique...