Need some advice/help

[Ulon (Bud) Haynes]

I sent this once thru "message to Group", but have no idea where to see it, so am re-sending in the blog post:Our son Jeff graduates 15 May 09. We received a letter from him today, requesting checks to pay for his photo, yearbook, and video to be taken at graduation. Can anyone tell me if he can receive blank checks in the 8th week, to pay for these items? The way his letter reads, the items are on hold pending payment. From the other messages I have read in Navy Dads, they have to be paid for in advance. Is that true, or can we pay for them when we arrive for graduation? Any advice/help on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

[Ulon (Bud) Haynes]

Thanks to all for the responses. We may be able to get this done yet! Looking forward to seeing Jeff and all the sons and daughters graduating 15 May 09. God bless all of them for their commitment to their country and their families; and God bless to all the families behind these fine young sailors.

[Michele - FL Navy Mom]

Hi Bud, my son paid for his with his Navy Fed account. My son PIR'd 04/24 and I am looking at the paperwork that came with his pics. According to the paperwork, they only accept money orders -- no personal checks or credit cards. BUT, there is a phone number here 847-578-6205, I would call them and speak directly to them. It may be that you can pay for them and pick them up at PIR on the 15th. Good luck, I hope this helped.

Michele

[Leonard]

Bud, I'll second what Lee said. We had our son set up with an account with Bank of America before he left for basic. He had online access, debit card, the works. We thought we did the right thing, but when he got there they strongly urged him to open an account with the Navy Federal Credit Union and have his checks direct deposited into that account. He did, and that's how he paid for his photo's, etc. But, I will say that you can get video's of the PIR after the fact. You can order them while you are there. As for getting checks in time when he's in the 8th week, mail seemed to take about two to three weeks to get to our son, so I don't know. Have you tried to contact the command there. I had a couple of situations that they were most helpfull with when Nathan was in basic. Here's the url of their web site. There is contact information for families.

http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/index.asp

[Lee]

Bud, all I can tell you is my son ordered them and paid for them in advance through his Navy Fed account. My son said it took a couple of weeks for him to get his check card from the Navy Fed, but he had it in time to pay for everything in advance.

[NavyDads Admin (Paul)]

Perhaps someone with some experience here can help....Bud is running out of time rapidly...I cannot offer any advice here expect to say that I ordered the DVD of PIR about a week after I got home with no problem............