Appointees, have you received your PTR yet? If not, the feeling you’ll get when the PTR arrives will be the same as every officer receiving their PCS orders. There is excitement, anticipation, and paperwork.
Here are some suggestions:
For the appointee: Get organized. Not only for I-Day but for your remaining days at home. Ever used a Julian calendar? I’ve included one here with I-day circled. As of 29 April, I-Day will be 62 days away.
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The PTR is your first foray into Navy paperwork. There is a saying that the military runs on paperwork, so here is my pitch from the administrative side. With all the attachments contained in the PTR, consider downloading them to a flash drive and then print them at FedEX or Office Depot. You’ll run the home printer dry if you print everything. Read and follow instructions. If instructed to print your name, then print! Let Mom and Dad have a gander at the pay charts, your Mid Store Issued gear (if included), and all the other documents. They will find them interesting and know that you are being well taken care of.
Make sure you get your SSN correct on all the forms. It takes forever to correct an erroneous SSN. Be careful when filling out your supplemental medical data form. Double check your no/yes responses. A long-ago medical form asked, “Do you have vision in both eyes?” There were some embarrassed appointees when the corpsman handed back the paper to those that checked “no.” Also, make a copy of the immunization record form. Submit your paperwork correctly and on time.
For DM and DD: When your plebe to be receives the PTR email, play it cool. Let them peruse all the attachments. I guarantee you they will have some questions for you. You may hear, "I didn't know that", once or twice from them. If they ask you to make copies of the attachments at FedEx, try and do it together then stop off at Mickey D’s or Baskin Robbins for some ice cream. Time is running short for the simple pleasures. Where has April gone?