When will I know his divison # and graduation date?.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Fahy on August 24, 2011 at 3:30pm

In about 2 weeks, maybe 3, you'll get a form letter with that information and the password for the parking pass. My daughter has PIR this Friday and I can't wait to get there. Hang tough, it's hard early but it gets better.

Permalink Reply by Mark Byrer on August 24, 2011 at 3:39pm

It should be about 8 weeks, my son left August 11 and his graduation is on October 7. We received a box with his clothes and cell phone last week and last Saturday we received a form letter with his ship/division number, graduation and address. Hope this helps, I know I still have a few questions.

Permalink Reply by Frank Pesek on August 24, 2011 at 3:42pm

Hi Ron,

My son had his graduation (PIR - pass in review) on July 1st.

You should expect to receive a very brief - 30 seconds - phone call from your son later tonight or tomorrow. It's the "I am here" call. However, this is not guaranteed so try not to be anxious if you don't get that call.

You will also receive a box in about a week containing your son's personal belongings. The Navy gives him everything he needs for basic training. Your son would have provided the Navy with the mailing address for the box so I am just assuming he will give them your address.

As John mentioned in about two weeks - maybe a little less - maybe a little more - you will receive a 4-page form letter. This letter has a lot of information about what to expect. It also has some blank spaces that your son will fill in with his mailing address, the date of his PIR and his initial list of guests for the graduation ceremony. They typically limit the recruits to only 4 guests. They have up until about 10 days before PIR to submit changes to the list.

At around 4-5 weeks you can probably expect to receive your first letter from your son. And possibly a 15-20 minute phone call. The phone call is not guaranteed. Lots of things can interfere with your son's ability to both write letters and make phone calls. These things are considered privileges in basic training that must be earned - not only by the individual recruit but also by the division as a whole. If the division is not performing well the RDCs can and will restrict phone calls and letter writing time.

With my son I got the 30 second "I'm here" phone call. At around 5 weeks I got his first letter. The next time I heard his voice was after they passed the final test in basic training: Battle Stations. That was about 3 days before his PIR. So it was a long - and anxious! - time to wait.

A few words of advice:

1) this sounds trite but it is so true: no news is good news. The only time a recruit is absolutely permitted to call home is if he has problems - health related, injury or other reasons that would cause a disruption in his training. So do your best to just mark time until you hear from him.

2) write - write - write - write letters...as much as you can. Start now. Don't wait until you get his mailing address. Just keep the letters tucked away then when you get his mailing address send them. I was very surprised to hear how much those letters from home really meant to my son. He's not a very emotional guy by nature but he said those letters were like the best candy he's ever had. It is just about the only connection they have to the outside world and home. So write as often as you can - even if it's only a few sentences.

Come to this website often - it really helped me get through my son's basic training.

Good luck to you and your son!

Permalink Reply by Bryan Benoit on August 24, 2011 at 8:29pm

My oldest son was on a plane at 1:30 p.m   bound for Great Lakes . I am just like all the other fathers we sit here waiting for that 30 second phone call. I found a lot of very great info on this site i must give you all a very big hand for it .

Permalink Reply by JOHN H. on August 24, 2011 at 11:10pm

You can always ask his recruiter who will know in a matter of 2 or 3 days.  He will give you the exact way to address the envelopes and then you can surprise your son as he won't be expecting any letters yet as his letter to you hasn't arrived yet.  :)

Permalink Reply by Brad on August 25, 2011 at 10:28am

This is interesting to me. My son left on the 16th and will (hopefully) graduate on the same date. I wonder what they have your son doing for those days while he waits?

 

To answer the original question, we received a form letter about a week later with information. His box of stuff sent home should get to you in a few days.

Mark Byrer said:

It should be about 8 weeks, my son left August 11 and his graduation is on October 7. We received a box with his clothes and cell phone last week and last Saturday we received a form letter with his ship/division number, graduation and address. Hope this helps, I know I still have a few questions.

Permalink Reply by Tampa Bay Ron on August 27, 2011 at 8:05am

Thanks guys. I did get the 30 second phone call, it was great to hear his voice. I look forward to talking with you all and maybe meet some of you at PIR.  Good luck to your sailors. Fair winds and following seas.