And He's Off!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jody Gabbert on December 8, 2014 at 9:01pm

Our son's box did come FedEx 3 days after he left on Nov 17 from our home in Houston.  I did read somewhere that the Navy sends a box, even an empty one as to keep the process exactly the same for every recruit and the recruit pays for the shipping of the box by weight.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike on December 9, 2014 at 1:41pm

Well, my son will be getting to Great Lakes later today. I dropped him off with the recruiter yesterday; he spent the night @ a hotel not far from MEPS & the airport.
Now it’s wait for a call, a box, and a letter, we are confirmed @ Navy Lodge on the predicted PIR date and will make flight reservations after PIR confirmation.
This is a GREAT site for information thanks admin guys for setting it up and keeping it current. Reading about what Great Lakes is like now is awesome for me; I reported there in January 1977 & retired almost 13 years ago.
I currently work on the Norfolk Naval base and can tell you the youth of today are much, much better prepared than I ever was. Well, at least much smarter than I.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jay Thompson on December 9, 2014 at 2:36pm

update on "The Box".....it arrived today with every single item he left with inside. So much for the plan of tossing everything. Without actually speaking with the boy, I'm guessing he wasn't given a choice (no independent thinking from a recruit?) and he just shoved everything in the box. I did tell him to do what he's told, go with the flow, find the path of least resistance, etc so for anyone out there thinking of doing what I did and have your son toss everything upon arrival...forget about it. That hideous sweater he wanted to get rid of? Nope. He's stuck with it. His Aunt will be soooo happy (snicker)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Blake Owen on December 9, 2014 at 2:41pm

I figured as much when I saw my son's DEP shirt in there. He wasn't planning on keeping it because he wore it out. The Navy will change policies over night and twice on Sunday then reinstate them the next day.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Weintraub on December 9, 2014 at 2:49pm

Hi Mike,

My son is also off to Great Lakes today. He is flying out of Charlotte, NC around 4:45 eastern. I can't wait to get "the call" this evening. I'm not sure who is more excited, my son or me!

I have a question for you. Where did you find the predicted PIR date? I'd like to go ahead and book a room as well but was waiting until I have more information. Thanks. 

Mike said:

Well, my son will be getting to Great Lakes later today. I dropped him off with the recruiter yesterday; he spent the night @ a hotel not far from MEPS & the airport.
Now it’s wait for a call, a box, and a letter, we are confirmed @ Navy Lodge on the predicted PIR date and will make flight reservations after PIR confirmation.
This is a GREAT site for information thanks admin guys for setting it up and keeping it current. Reading about what Great Lakes is like now is awesome for me; I reported there in January 1977 & retired almost 13 years ago.
I currently work on the Norfolk Naval base and can tell you the youth of today are much, much better prepared than I ever was. Well, at least much smarter than I.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Blake Owen on December 9, 2014 at 3:17pm

Guessing a PIR date is a crap shoot. My son's recruiters and I agreed that he would probably PIR on Feb. 6th. His Form letter proved us wrong and he is graduating two weeks sooner than we thought.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Weintraub on December 9, 2014 at 3:25pm

That's what I was thinking but figured I'd go ahead and book a room with the understanding that I can always re-book upon more accurate info. 

Blake Owen said:

Guessing a PIR date is a crap shoot. My son's recruiters and I agreed that he would probably PIR on Feb. 6th. His Form letter proved us wrong and he is graduating two weeks sooner than we thought.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike on December 10, 2014 at 9:33am

Jim;

I work on the Norfolk Naval base, a few months ago I had a sailor come thru my office who had just finished his shore duty tour pushing boots @ Great Lakes. Because of the federal holidays 12/25 & 12/26 along with 1/1 & 1/2 being non-training days & based on my sons arrival date of yesterday (12/9), he predicted Feb 13 for a PIR. Its still a guessing game, so I am prepared for either 2/6 or 2/13. The Navy Lodge has always treated me well so I'm going with them for lodging.

I hope your call came last night, ours did around 10pm local. It was clearly a reading assignment, but still good to hear his voice. I'll arrange flights when the letter comes confirming a date.




Jim Weintraub said:

Hi Mike,

My son is also off to Great Lakes today. He is flying out of Charlotte, NC around 4:45 eastern. I can't wait to get "the call" this evening. I'm not sure who is more excited, my son or me!

I have a question for you. Where did you find the predicted PIR date? I'd like to go ahead and book a room as well but was waiting until I have more information. Thanks. 

Mike said:

Well, my son will be getting to Great Lakes later today. I dropped him off with the recruiter yesterday; he spent the night @ a hotel not far from MEPS & the airport.
Now it’s wait for a call, a box, and a letter, we are confirmed @ Navy Lodge on the predicted PIR date and will make flight reservations after PIR confirmation.
This is a GREAT site for information thanks admin guys for setting it up and keeping it current. Reading about what Great Lakes is like now is awesome for me; I reported there in January 1977 & retired almost 13 years ago.
I currently work on the Norfolk Naval base and can tell you the youth of today are much, much better prepared than I ever was. Well, at least much smarter than I.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Weintraub on December 10, 2014 at 3:44pm

Mike,

I also received "the call" last night. He called around 9:30 pm. And like yourself, we were happy to hear from him. I think the call lasted about 1 minute. 

I'll assume today he is enjoying a lot of yelling and such. Hopefully all the yelling I did over the years helped him prepared for basic. (just kidding). 

Mike said:

Jim;


I hope your call came last night, ours did around 10pm local. It was clearly a reading assignment, but still good to hear his voice. 




Jim Weintraub said:

Hi Mike,

My son is also off to Great Lakes today. He is flying out of Charlotte, NC around 4:45 eastern. I can't wait to get "the call" this evening. I'm not sure who is more excited, my son or me!

I have a question for you. Where did you find the predicted PIR date? I'd like to go ahead and book a room as well but was waiting until I have more information. Thanks. 

Mike said:

Well, my son will be getting to Great Lakes later today. I dropped him off with the recruiter yesterday; he spent the night @ a hotel not far from MEPS & the airport.
Now it’s wait for a call, a box, and a letter, we are confirmed @ Navy Lodge on the predicted PIR date and will make flight reservations after PIR confirmation.
This is a GREAT site for information thanks admin guys for setting it up and keeping it current. Reading about what Great Lakes is like now is awesome for me; I reported there in January 1977 & retired almost 13 years ago.
I currently work on the Norfolk Naval base and can tell you the youth of today are much, much better prepared than I ever was. Well, at least much smarter than I.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Patrick Alex Abercrombie on December 11, 2014 at 12:18pm

My son shipped out from Tennessee on 04 Dec. We got "the box" on Tuesday, 09 Dec. It was a little disconcerting to get everything that you last saw him in and with all packed into a box. Anxiously awaiting the first letter from him. Hard on us, but this is all he has ever wanted to do. Can't wait for PIR

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Blake Owen on December 11, 2014 at 9:22pm

Oh my, that last part made spit coffee on my screen. LoL

Jim Weintraub said:

Mike,

I also received "the call" last night. He called around 9:30 pm. And like yourself, we were happy to hear from him. I think the call lasted about 1 minute. 

I'll assume today he is enjoying a lot of yelling and such. Hopefully all the yelling I did over the years helped him prepared for basic. (just kidding). 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Blake Owen on December 11, 2014 at 9:30pm

I know what you mean Patrick. Looks like they are making everyone cram everything in the box and send it home. Even his underwear! I used to change his dirty diapers so figured I'd be okay picking them up. LoL

You should get that form letter from him soon. If this is all he's ever wanted to do then he will do well. He will more than likely excel in training. It will be over soon and you be seeing him march through the roll up door at the drill hall!

Patrick Alex Abercrombie said:

My son shipped out from Tennessee on 04 Dec. We got "the box" on Tuesday, 09 Dec. It was a little disconcerting to get everything that you last saw him in and with all packed into a box. Anxiously awaiting the first letter from him. Hard on us, but this is all he has ever wanted to do. Can't wait for PIR

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page