PIR 30 December, 2009 "Navy Boot Camp Graduation"

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark on November 29, 2009 at 5:30pm

Michelle,
That's very cool. Nice to meet you. Are you planning to attend the graduation? We have four going... My wife Ashley, My oldest son and my brother. What's your son's name?- I'll ask david about him when he finally is able to call us. I've gotten three calls so far- The first two were in week two when he called needing more info and names for his clearance. Then we got a very short message on our recorder. He said that they had been in some trouble so they weren't able to make a call longer than a minute. We were so upset that we missed talking to him. His letters are great and he seems more comfortable and confident each time.
Mark

michelle said:

Hi Mark, my son is in the same division as David. I have gotten a few letters and 1 very quick phone call but not a lot of information. Our boys may know each other.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark on November 29, 2009 at 5:34pm

Rodriguez,
Nice to meet you. If I get David on the phone, I'll try to ask about James and let you know if I hear something. I look forward to hearing from you again. Thanks!
Mark

rodriguez said:

My son is also on ship 09, div 038.....His names is james rodriguez

michelle said:

Hi Mark, my son is in the same division as David. I have gotten a few letters and 1 very quick phone call but not a lot of information. Our boys may know each other.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark on November 29, 2009 at 5:39pm

Paul,
I know that you've personally been through this before yourself... We've sent our son, David lots of letters. And strange as it may sound, I've been sending him chapters of a short story that I'm writing as well. What we haven't sent him is photos. In your opinion, will photos make him more homesick?- We'll bring plenty of photos at the graduation.
Mark

Paul said:

1/2 way there for the 30DEC PIR group. Getting excited about the trip to Great Lakes. I asked my daughter what she wanted to do on Libery. Her response was "Go to the mall" , Watch Star Wars Movie's in Hotel room while eating Reeses and drinking Barq's root beer. (we'll bring Civilian cloths for her to lay around in) Sounds like she is missing the simplest things in life right now. She clearified that they can only mail letters on Sunday. That explains getting letters every Thursday for our house once they started arriving. She spends nights during the week writing them whenever she gets the chance leaving Sunday to get all her other things done after church. I hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul on November 29, 2009 at 8:36pm

Hi Mark,
Send plenty of letters, I have included various photos of ourselves especially the dogs in precarious postures. Anything that will give them a sense of the outside world as I call it. My Daughter was at medical one day and told her mom when she finally got to make her phone call that she was able to see about 10 Minutes of CNN. They are totally cut off from the world except what we or there RDC's tell them. My photos are typically printed on her letters, I use the High Resolution Paper which can print to near photo quality. I have also printed comic trips on separate pages for her to share with others. If your son is a sports fan. Send him the sports scores. I embed everything as part of a letter. (Some RDC's may make troops do push-ups when they receive contraband) They havn't really defined what they can or cannot receive but my Wife is sending a package of envelopes, Index cards to study with, and more note paper. Cassandra asked for the items so if she has to do push ups for it, she can get stronger for doing the extra push-ups, she asked for the items in case they don't make another exchange run soon.
After Boot Camp they will be calling more so the daily letters will phase out. Cell phones will be back in their pockets except at the "A" school classrooms. Hope this helps. It should be getting easier for them now. Anything you send to help them thing of other positives things they will appreciate.


Mark said:

Paul,
I know that you've personally been through this before yourself... We've sent our son, David lots of letters. And strange as it may sound, I've been sending him chapters of a short story that I'm writing as well. What we haven't sent him is photos. In your opinion, will photos make him more homesick?- We'll bring plenty of photos at the graduation.
Mark

Paul said:

1/2 way there for the 30DEC PIR group. Getting excited about the trip to Great Lakes. I asked my daughter what she wanted to do on Libery. Her response was "Go to the mall" , Watch Star Wars Movie's in Hotel room while eating Reeses and drinking Barq's root beer. (we'll bring Civilian cloths for her to lay around in) Sounds like she is missing the simplest things in life right now. She clearified that they can only mail letters on Sunday. That explains getting letters every Thursday for our house once they started arriving. She spends nights during the week writing them whenever she gets the chance leaving Sunday to get all her other things done after church. I hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by michelle on November 30, 2009 at 10:29am

Thank you Mark for the greeting. Yes I am planning to attend graduation along with my husband and my 2 daughters. Justin began dating a girl about 2 weeks before he left for bc and is very demanding that we bring her (he has put her name on "the list" and left off one of his sisters-ouch). After the way she has acted over the last couple of weeks, she can find her own way. I don't need her drama in my life. Luckily a friend of mine whose son is also graduating on the same day (division 37) wasn't using all 4 of their spots so I was able to get my youngest daughter on her list. Justin's father has been added to another person's list so I hope that works out for him. He decided this after Justin left. I've only gotten a short 4 minute phone call on 11/23 and a couple of letters.
Paul, I'm pretty sure I know your wife from navyformoms. If I'm correct, she's a great woman.
Rodriguez-good to meet you also.
I've found very few people on-line in division 38-it's nice to have some contact with what may be going on with them. Looking forward to hearing about whatever you can share.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul on December 3, 2009 at 10:06pm

Hello All,
For the PIR 30 Dec09 group, my daughter had received her first pay (direct deposit) into her account on 1 Dec 09. Next pay date is the 15Th, like clockwork.... Your sailors are earning 2-1/2 days leave per month. We have encourage our daughter not to use leave after PIR if given the opportunity and to save it all for after A school so she can come home before she goes to her first duty station. We'll prepared to pick her up and drop her off each day after BC graduation because of the extra days we will have with her due to the mid week grad date. If your booking hotels, some or all may charge an addition 11% surcharge. I have heard some people are getting rooms at the Navy lodge for about $65.00 by providing your sailors info. Be sure to do your homework. Hope to see some of you there. Paul B.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul on December 5, 2009 at 4:12pm

To the PIR's 30DEC
My recruit was told to call today to verify if they plan to take leave or liberty(Female DIV 33). We already planned for her to take liberty and to save leave, She took advantage of the situation to get too make a phone call. It was great talking to her. They are finishing up "Hell week". Tuesday 8Dec will be day 5-1 for their group. Completed weapons. Passed another PT test. Confirmed that she has not been getting into trouble for the letters ie small photo's, news stories I've printed for her and the Package we sent with paper, envelopes, and index cards she ask for. Pretty much stated if they are not allowed to have it the RDC's take it when they open it. All possitive and getting ready for a test on Monday. They had to rush with the call because they were headed to get their H1N1 shots. another week down! They will be done before we know it. Have a great weekend to all.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Christopher on December 8, 2009 at 5:39pm

Today is my son birthday.
He first birthday away from home
I now he is ok with the Navy family
God bless him and all the Navy family

No call since November we only receive 1 call and 2 letters so far.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark on December 8, 2009 at 6:21pm

Christopher,
I hope your son had a great day today. I'm sure that It'll be a memorable birthday for him. I guess the saying "It's the first day of the rest of your life" really applies. Good luck and God Bless your son!
Mark

Christopher said:

Today is my son birthday.
He first birthday away from home
I now he is ok with the Navy family
God bless him and all the Navy family

No call since November we only receive 1 call and 2 letters so far.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shane Snyder on December 8, 2009 at 8:46pm

Christopher:

Try to avoid getting too down about not hearing from your son, I know they are really busy now that they are on the downhill slope of basic. We were getting letters from Sean almost weekly and have received a couple of phone calls and then for the last 2 weeks nothing. I had been really looking forward to the weekly letter I think as much as Sean is looking forward to getting the letters we send. This is the first Holiday season that Sean has been away from home and him away from us. I am sure they are in good hands and are doing great.

Shane

Mark said:

Christopher,
I hope your son had a great day today. I'm sure that It'll be a memorable birthday for him. I guess the saying "It's the first day of the rest of your life" really applies. Good luck and God Bless your son!
Mark

Christopher said:

Today is my son birthday.
He first birthday away from home
I now he is ok with the Navy family
God bless him and all the Navy family

No call since November we only receive 1 call and 2 letters so far.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul on December 9, 2009 at 8:33pm

I hope everyone's sailors are progressing thru the boot camp process OK. My wife had been forwarded a link to a traffic cam site today for the Chicago area. We looked at it this evening and could see snow sticking on the roads, what an awsome site (haven't been up north in over 5 years). One camera actually caught a gas station price sign at Waukegan ($2.59) I can handle that price, providing its correct. We still have quite a few gas stations here on the Mississipppi Gulf Coast that never reopened after Hurricane Katrina devistated our area. Still showing Summer of 2005 gas prices, sure beat todays :-) I pray that all our sailors get well and continue to gain the strength to complete the first part of this life changing journey. We are getting excited about the trip to graduation. Our thoughts and prayer go out to all.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Shane Snyder on December 9, 2009 at 9:09pm

I saw the same thing on one of the webcams from the Great Lakes area. I wish that it would warm up here enough to snow we got down to -2 degrees last night in Eastern Wa.

Paul said:

I hope everyone's sailors are progressing thru the boot camp process OK. My wife had been forwarded a link to a traffic cam site today for the Chicago area. We looked at it this evening and could see snow sticking on the roads, what an awsome site (haven't been up north in over 5 years). One camera actually caught a gas station price sign at Waukegan ($2.59) I can handle that price, providing its correct. We still have quite a few gas stations here on the Mississipppi Gulf Coast that never reopened after Hurricane Katrina devistated our area. Still showing Summer of 2005 gas prices, sure beat todays :-) I pray that all our sailors get well and continue to gain the strength to complete the first part of this life changing journey. We are getting excited about the trip to graduation. Our thoughts and prayer go out to all.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• …
• 9
• Next ›
• Page