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**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

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RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED.  Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021

Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.

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My son leaves November 10th for training in Great Lakes.  I'm unsure of all the terms at this point, but he is enlisting and will choose a path for training later.

I'm excite for him, and thrilled that he's chosen the Navy since his father, and both grandfathers were in the Navy.

I'm so overwhelmed with emotions, but I know I have to be calm and collected and show him that I am confident in him and his decision.

Please fill me in with any information that has been useful to you.  I need guidance and a plan on how to deal with being away from him without much contact.

TIA!

Views: 173

Replies to This Discussion

tia, I have 2 sons in the navy, twins, one left for boot in november of 2014, the other in january of this year. i was not prepared for the level of grief I felt when my first son left, it was overwhelming and took me by surprise. It's so final, not like they are going to college and coming home at Christmas.. Going to PIR in January made it easier for my second son, he was able to see what the end result was. His brother was, and is, an amazing young man after boot camp, the ceremony is emotional, take tissues, the hotels hand them out too! If your son is in boot over Christmas, he will have the opportunity to participate in a day away from boot where they are bussed to another location, (my son went to a church in Indiana for the day) where they are fed, allowed to play games, call home. He was grateful for the break and we loved the phone calls. Your son won't be permitted to call home for the first couple weeks, and after that, it's hit and miss. He can write letters and is encouraged by his RDC's to do so. He will appreciate any letters from home. DO NOT send food, drink, musical cards, or anything that will bring extra attention to him, just plain letters or small cards. He won't be permitted to have the food/drink, and musical cards can get him in trouble with his RDC's, depending on if he gets caught with them, and their view or mood that day. We attended two graduations so if you have questions about hotels, what time to leave for PIR and what to expect afterwards let me know. Both times, we only had hours with them on day of graduation because they both were shipping to schools away from base and had to be back on base early that evening. They become such amazing young adults in this short time away, you will be so proud. Your son will have a big learning curve in boot, they all do, and will have some of the best times of their lives their as well, it's not all bad. Both my sons graduated with unmeasurable respect and love for their RDC's at the end of this experience, (for the most part!) On day of graduation (Pass in Review, PIR) go early, dress for the cold, seriously. You may have to wait at the gate and in line for a very long time, it is a very long walk from the gate to the inside of the graduation hall, without cover from the weather. I seriously don't know how the elderly did it. Take the hotel shuttle, it's so much more convenient and drops you off right at the gate, vs. having to wait in a very long line of cars being inspected and parking. Pick up the return shuttle in a side parking lot to the right of the NEX, they come and go continuously for quite awhile following PIR, your sailor will be able to ride with you, providing he doesn't have watch duty directly after PIR. If so, you'll have to wait several hours before he can join you. One last thing, when the graduation ceremony is over, and Liberty call is made overhead, be prepared for a stampede from the bleachers onto the floor, everyone is wild to get to their sailor asap! Good Luck, God Bless, and write if you have questions! Leslie

Leslie - my son leaves November 5th 2014 for boot camp. I've been wondering about the holidays. So it sounds like there isn't a break for Thanksgiving and just a one day break for Christmas. Anything else you can add to help me plan and prepare? I've never been through this before. Thanks!!

Katie, first let me congratulate you and your family foe having a son who has the maturity to make a great decision & the courage to see it through. You will all get through to the other side of boot camp just fine! Your son may graduate the first week or so of January. Prepare for weather related delays no matter how you plan to travel. Thanksgiving wasn't a big deal on base and the recruits seemed ok with it. They came to quickly respect that their RDC's were also sacrificing time away from family to be there. Three weeks into it and your son will be part of a bigger picture, they help each other get through. They do get homesick. My sons were not prepared for that, we tried to talk about it before they each left but for whatever reason, they didn't want to talk about it too much, maybe it made it too real. They said that letters helped, ALOT! So write, send newspaper and magazine articles because they are so out of touch with the outside world. My boys had many recruits borrow their articles. The calmer we were, the better they were. The first night in Pittsburgh waiting to board for boot the next day was the worst they said. It was real and no turning back. They had their phones so we talked a lot that night. One of my sons roomed with a kid who didn't have any underwear. My son had packed an extra pair and was able to help this kid out. They went through another physical while there and had to stand around in their briefs for quite awhile so this kid was very grateful. Just letting you know they begin to have new experiences right away. We had planned on graduation as soon as we got our letter from our boys. It's a form letter that they fill in the blanks. If you haven't seen the blogs about the "box" prepare yourself for getting your sons things in a cardboard box about two weeks after leaving. They are supposed to neatly fold & place things precisely, one son was able to manage, the other just pitched it all together & it was apparent he was stressed at that time. They both came out of boot saying navy boot isn't nearly as tough as marines and army. This coming from two very established geeks who were as thin as toothpicks when they left. Having said that, they were very challenged at times but made it and are such great young men. Let me know if you have specific questions that I might not have covered in this or my earlier post. Good luck enjoy this time you have now. There can be time together after they get out of school depending on what & where they go. Best wishes!

Leslie - you and your words are such a salvation for me! I will print out your response and keep reading it as the date comes closer. It is helpful to know that he won't be home for Christmas - now I can start planning. And I will enlist my entire family to write him letters and send him magazine articles - good idea.

I may have more questions so I hope you don't mind answering a few more questions!

Thanks again - best wishes to you too!

Katie

You are very welcome! If I can help you please ask. Tell your soon to be recruit that my once recruits/now sailors have thoroughly enjoyed school and are doing very well. There is much to look forward to!
Thanks so much for your post, Leslie.
Finding this site has made me feel so much more
Comfortable and informed about what will happen in BC!
I found this website was a godsend! It helped me to know what to expect in little ways and with the logistics of planning for PIR. I had to come to grips with my grief over their leaving in time. Still not there entirely but when you see your son after BC a bit more filled out and within incredible military bearing, you'll be so proud! And it gets better after that! Good luck to you and your recruit!

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