This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.

FIRST TIME HERE?

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO GET STARTED:

Choose your Username.  For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either).  Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username.  While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!

Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!

Join groups!  Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself!  Start making friends that can last a lifetime.

Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak

All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018. 

Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)

Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC

...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.

OPSEC - Navy Operations Security

Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind.  In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships."  OPSEC is everyone's responsibility. 

DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.  

DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."

Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

**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).  

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

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.

Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.

Format Downloads:

Latest Activity

Navy Speak

Click here to learn common Navy terms and acronyms!  (Hint:  When you can speak an entire sentence using only acronyms and one verb, you're truly a Navy mom.)

N4M Merchandise


Shirts, caps, mugs and more can be found at CafePress.

Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by CafePress.

Navy.com Para Familias

Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com

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Carla Street

Information

Care Package Ideas!

Themes, recipes, all kinds of ideas plus mailing tips and tricks.  It's fun to have them here in one place, so come get ideas and share yours!  

Members: 1291
Latest Activity: Dec 16, 2023

Carla:  I am a moderator for Navy moms on Yahoo, but also through the years have done troop support for all branches. I also have started and maintained hometown troop support, and send from our little community in Spirit Lake, Idaho - that has been very very cool. So, if you have ideas you want to share, bring it on and read and enjoy and use!  My email is crlstrt5@msn.com if you have any questions or comments.  Feel free to share these in other groups or with friends.

Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom I'm co-admin and been sending care packages since 2008!  The best method is using the flat-rate priority boxes from USPS.  There's a two-dollar discount when sending to an APO/FPO address and you can send up to 70 lbs - that's 7.7 bricks!  You can order a free carton of 10 or 25 of the large-size boxes to be delivered to you at USPS APO/FPO flat-rate boxes; or call them at 800-610-8734 and request the "military pack" of six assorted boxes, customs forms, tape and address labels.  It can take two weeks or more for mail to arrive, and much longer if your sailor is deployed.  

Tips:  To save space, remove things from original packaging and put them in Ziplock bags.  Don't pack fragrant items such as soap or fabric softener sheets with food as the odors get absorbed.  Use clear tape or USPS priority tape to seal.  Put a copy of the address IN the box.  Storage space is limited so send accordingly.  Notes from friends, children, anyone saying Thank You for serving on deployment are passed around and treasured.    Per a Navy survey on Facebook, the top two items that Sailors ask for are cookies and beef jerky.  Send enough to share!  More info at USPS military mail FAQ.

For your sailor, two great checklists for deployment planning are the Single Sailor Deployment Readiness Checklist and Pre-Deployment Checklist for Family Members, prepared by JAG.

Just how does your care package reach the ship?  Watch!  Video: Underway replenishment

And if you've got the bug and would like to do more, please consider joining "Molly's Adopt a Sailor" (MAS) here on Navyformoms.com.  Every month they adopt a deployed ship or unit and send the service members themed packages.  It's a super-fun and friendly group and you'll make great friends while sending much-needed and appreciated love and support from home.  I learned how to send care packages by joining the MAS group before my corpsman was first deployed!

Discussion Forum

No Packages During Basic?

Started by Cali Navy Mom. Last reply by Cali Navy Mom Nov 30, 2023. 4 Replies

Submarine

Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Bandmom Mar 2, 2020. 1 Reply

Submarine

Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Proud Mom Feb 25, 2020. 2 Replies

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Care Package Ideas! to add comments!

Comment by Susan mom to Niko on July 19, 2010 at 1:22pm
test any candy by putting in the oven on a cookie sheet... you will be surprised at just how quickly it can melt! remember the temps are over 100 degrees where these packages are going and sitting in a closed box in the sun it gets even warmer!!
Comment by mom98366 on July 16, 2010 at 8:53pm
I have used the mini tootsie rolls. They have them at Walmart in bags of 400. It is the one chocolate that makes it through the heat and is easily shared with buddies. They are the same size as packing peanuts and work well.
Comment by AngiePNMx2 on July 13, 2010 at 11:00pm
You also can use bags of candy like gummy worms etc. to put around the jars
Comment by Susan mom to Niko on July 13, 2010 at 1:16pm
I pack them into a box as tight as possible... with socks and undershirts tucked in around them! You can never have enough socks and undershirts!!
Comment by Maureen62 Proudmomofasailor on July 7, 2010 at 3:32pm
Lisa...That was a wonderful list that you put together. Is that for sending a care package to a ship or over seas ( Sandbox) as well ?
Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on June 12, 2010 at 12:34am
Carla, I started looking into it and there is no definitive answer that I can find - yet, but I"ll keep at it.
Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on June 10, 2010 at 2:35pm
Don't forget that a few pages back there was a caution - Comment by Susan mom to Niko on June 1, 2010 at 12:08pm
Just be careful when sending those to Afghanistan... they have what they call optical brighteners... makes it easier to spot anything washed with them with the night vision... I would have never thought of that until I was told that some of the soaps moms send have to be dumped..."
Should be fine for ships though? You can order them online at Amazon.com (costs more); free sample http://www.trypurex.com/Purex_3-in-1_Free_Sample/
Comment by AngiePNMx2 on June 10, 2010 at 2:02pm
I can only speak for the IKE carrier but the only thing that gets dumped is biodegradables...Each department has trash recepticles divided by plastic, paper, Even in the galley they make you clean your trays off in this way so nothing makes it the food slop....They compact plastics and metals into hockey puck shaped pieces and stored then when they reach port they take it off and it goes to a recycling center. The IKE just got a award for being a "green" ship. The only way I know this I went on a tiger cruise last year and saw how they handle things. It would be nice to know if more or all ships are doing this in the Navy.
Comment by AngiePNMx2 on June 9, 2010 at 10:28am
Lisa...what a great list...I would suggest that you put it up in the discussion forum so it doesn't get lost with the comments and end up clear back on page ?????. That way down the road when someone else comes along looking for idea for care packages it will be available to them.
Comment by TexasMomof2 on June 9, 2010 at 9:33am
Lisa, thank you for the time you spent on this and for sharing! many ideas I hadn't thought of...... I had read a while back about the Purex but for the life of me, I can't find in the stores. :o(
 

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