Bootcamp PIR - Medical Hold
 

Hello,

We got our first phone call tonight from my son who is at boot camp and will PIR 8/21, he told us he will be on medical hold for 1-2 months at Great Lakes after PIR because he needs to get medical waivers for aviation, he passed the special physicals they receive for Aircrew at boot camp. He got waivers when he joined why wouldn't those be good anymore for after graduation? He said once he passes his PFA then they will send out for his waivers. He is wondering what will happen and what he will do at Great Lakes while on hold and will he get liberty during this time??

THU... so common for Aircrew and the like that they might as well just consider it part of our training pipeline, haha! I was in THU for a little over 2 months after graduation due to a LASIK waiver... the reason his existing waiver isn't good is because that was granted through BUMED (Bureau of Medicine and Surgery)... now it has to be granted by NAMI (Naval Aerospace Medical Institute). BUMED is Big Navy... NAMI is Flyer Navy... and, as your son will come to learn, they do not talk to each other. It can be frustrating because it means staying in Great Lakes for a waiver he already got, but it shouldn't be more than just a check in the box before he continues on.

THU wasn't a bad gig when I was there in 2012... AW's usually got some sort of Admin job or worked Night of Arrival bringing fresh Recruits from the Airport and getting them processed in. He'll have off-base liberty during the weekend, and can take the train down to Chicago or head up to Milwaukee. When I was there, the "A" School side of Great Lakes was not considered off-base, so we could walk or taxi over there.

Looking back, it was a pretty sweet opportunity: I got to know Sailors in the Nuke and Special Warfare community that I wouldn't have otherwise known, and I got just enough time to really explore Chicago before continuing on down to Florida for the remainder of my training. Chicago is an extremely military-friendly city... pretty much every museum is free, so he can have several weekends worth of adventure for only the price of a train ticket and food.

That actually doesn't sound like a bad deal, when I first read OP's post I was thinking 1-2 extra months in a holding unit in GL... NO THANKS GET ME OUT OF HERE lol

There was also something weirdly therapeutic about being at RTC longer as a Sailor than I was as a Recruit... walking around the same areas casually and being able to actually enjoy the base. I think back to RTC and honestly have a hard time remembering the actual "bootcamp" part of it.

^This.. I don't got a damn clue how flight physicals and stuff work..

To paraphrase - MEPS cleared him to be in the navy. Now he has to be cleared for flight status.

Haasino - so during his free time/liberty would he be able to drive a car or no? We live in the suburbs of Chicago and will go visit him but wasn't sure if he would be able to drive a car during this time. And he would have his cell phone and electronics during this time also? Thank you so much for the info..

:smiliesnoopywood1:

He can have electronics and a phone while he's there, and you can give those to him at graduation. Unlike the Sailors leaving Great Lakes for "A" School who only get Friday afternoon with family, he'll also have all-day Saturday and Sunday. I'm not sure about the car... he's not going to be able to get it onto the base, so leaving one with him is a no-go... he may be able to drive a car if he gets Phase II, but since you're going to have to bring the car each time and he won't have overnight liberty for a while, it's not a huge deal.

AWO2 is right.

Don't worry about the car while he's at Great Lakes. Look forward to getting it down to him in Pensacola after he gets phase 2 or 3 liberty.

/r
CTT1

So my son text me this morning, he has been cleared to head to Pensacola, he just now has to wait and find out when he leaves. He was asking me if when he gets to NAS Pensacola if he will start back over at Phase 1 or will he pick up where he is leaving off at Great Lakes? He had PIR 8/2115 and is almost up to Phase 3 at Great Lakes. He just bought a 19" tv last night and we took him his Playstation last night, will he be able to take that with him when he leaves or do we need to go and pick it up and ship it to him.... Thanks, excited for him that he can get started on his next journey.:cheerleader2::cheerleader2::cheerleader2:

It's deffinetly possible they bump him back down, but Hassino might know more about his specific situation. He's not a fleet returnee or anything so he shouldn't expect any special treatment compared to anyone else that shows up there from RTC.

/r
CTT1

His Phase probably won't transfer because the requirements and privileges for each Phase vary by command. Some of what he's done for RTC Phases (NKOs etc) will probably count for Pensacola, but they're likely going to restart the clock on him.

As far as the TV goes - he's travelling on orders, so most airlines should let him check up to 5 bags for free. It's going to be pretty unwieldy to drag a 19" TV around with him though, especially while also having his seabag, backpack, garment bag etc.

He'll be able to take it... but NACCS will revert him to Phase I and he cannot have any electronic devices until he gets Phase II in a couple weeks. His electronics (Minus phone) will be locked up, and he'll get them back after going through the "initiation" required to phase up.

thank you all very much for the info, i think the best plan is to go pick up the electronics and he will just have his phone and an ipad and we will ship all to him once he phases up... Thank you again...:Airplane:

He's heading to NAS Pensacola on Wednesday, excited for him to begin his next journey...