NAVY BOOT CAMP

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Comment by Joe on March 4, 2009 at 1:18pm

You're pretty safe that the Graduation for Training Group 20, Division 144, won't change, since there is a graduation planned a week before and a week after. What you have to worry about is will your Seaman Recruit get held back? Most make it through, but there are problems like failing some part of the medical, failing the run, or being a discipline problem that gets them held back. Probably not your son, but a percentage don't graduate on time. You might wait to buy tickets until you hear from your son and see how he feels about being able to graduate on time.

There are never any guarantees, but your fifth person will probably get in because it is a small graduating class, only 7 Divisions. Your recruit will give them four names and four names only. The web-site says please don't ask for anymore. You bring your fifth person with you to check-in and if you're like me last Friday they'll be able to go in with you. I've heard that they sometimes have to wait in the visitors center until they verify there is enough room, but we didn't have to do that. (and my fifth person wasn't even a U.S. Citizen, but a German Exchange Student.)

I don't know for sure about a Steak House, but there are lots of chain type restaurants out near the Gurnee Mills Mall, which is just another 20 minutes or so North (away from Chicago.) We went into Chicago and got Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza at Giordano's and the best Hotdog I've ever had. If you like a really packed Hotdog get one "Chicago Style" from Gold Coast downstairs inside Union Station. Both of these are off Jackson street witin a block or so of the Sears Tower.

Good Luck!

Comment by Arnold on March 4, 2009 at 12:38pm

Hi all,

My son is in boot camp now Div 144 USS Kearsarge. We are very eager to attend his graduation, listed as April 3, 2009 friday.
We have not received anything official from boot camp, as yet.
Question? Is it safe to plan and make reservations for that time? Also what are the chances of getting another ticket to attend, I have 5 family who want to go. Also, what's the best steak house in the area, Chicago or nearby?
Thanks,
Proud Dad!!
Arnie

Comment by Robert Mayo on March 3, 2009 at 4:31pm

Went to PIR 2/27/09. Had a great time seeing my son graduate form Div.109. I spent most of my time sitting in airports with delays and cancelations, but would do it again in a heart beat. Congradulations to all the new sailors and their proud parents.

Comment by Joe on March 3, 2009 at 10:44am

We were at PIR 2/27 also, and I think I even saw Bob's son standing in front of the Division 108 sign. Our daughter was in 109 and was the tallest girl in the Division at 5' 8" so she was way in the back during the formation.

The whole thing was just great. We also were delayed going into Chicago, but sounds like Bob had a worse time of it than us. The navy has 561 new sailors and we couldn't be prouder.

Comment by Bob on March 3, 2009 at 9:45am

It ended up taking us 24 hours to get from Spokane Wa to GL for PIR we ran into delays because of blizzards. Our plane getting hit with lighting and being diverted to Indianappolias IN. Then having to rent a car back to Chicago stopping at Midway airport to pick up luggage and finally getting to the Navy Lodge at 0430. We were afraid to take a nap or even lay down for fear we would miss the PIR so we went to eat at the FUll Moon resstraunt and then to the base until they started letting us on at 0630. But I would do it all again in a heartbeat to watch my son PIR. There were alot of buttons popping in the hall that day what a sight.

Comment by Bob on March 3, 2009 at 9:23am

we went to our son's PIR on Feb 27. It was wonderful and we got to spend three days with him. He was selected Honor recruit out of the 108 division. He is off for Charlston SC on Wednesday. I can't begin to tell you all how proud I was of him. If you were there he was the Hornor grad who missed the right face to leave. That's my boy!!But I am still proud of him.

Comment by Robert S. on March 2, 2009 at 6:46pm

Paul, when my son was in bootcamp he told me he did not have any extra room for anything. He hardly had room for letters. In fact, he sent letters back home to free up space. I bet it was because there wasn’t enough room for it.

Comment by Paul, Bobby's Dad on March 2, 2009 at 3:26pm

We received the "Box" this past Saturday. It suprised me that Bobby's planner that he received in the Delayed Entry Program was inside, I expected him to be able to keep that. We also found out his PIR date would be on 4/17/09. One week down several to go.

Comment by steve on February 28, 2009 at 2:01pm

yes,in my last letter,since he asked for my advice i told him to just pay attention and learn and by the time he got to the end of his second week the first things he had learned would start coming a little easier and so on and soforth. He is not used to the short nights. I told him that once he got thru boot his schedule should mellow out a bit. Just hoping to give him some sort of light at the end of the tunnel !! I need to go dig out the letters i sent home 33 years ago and see if i was in the same shape..lol

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on February 28, 2009 at 12:24pm

I think second thoughts are pretty common for the first couple of weeks....when he realizes what he is accomplishing, things should start to look up. It's tough for a lot of kids in that they do not realize what "attention to detail" really means and this seems to be a stumbling block for many. Give it a couple more weeks and when he starts to see the light at the end of tunnel, I'm sure things will be much more upbeat.

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