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

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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!

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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.

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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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My son left for BC on Thursday, April 20th. Anyone else have a son/daughter who left around the same time? I am just trying to see how long it is taking to receive THE BOX & The Form Letter. I know the sight says THE BOX can arrive within a few days to 2 weeks, but I am just hoping to get an average time it is taking. I am anxious since we didn't receive the I'M HERE call. We know our son arrived to Chicago ORD because he sent a text. He said he would call one of our cell phones, but we didn't receive his call. I know there are many factors that could have prevented such. Just having a horrible time dealing with this departure thus far. I am trying to get as informed as possible and also trying to stay busy while he is in BC. I am thankful to have found this website to help express my feelings and to share what this experience is like with others who are in the same situation. It is so hard not hearing my son's voice, seeing him, and even telling him to get things done. I find myself crying throughout the day because I miss him so much. I know that many who have been through this faced some of the same emotions as I am having. I just want some additional advice as to how to deal with missing him and not being able to communicate with him for such a long period of time. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated. Anyone who has a recruit who shipped out around the same time (shortly before or shortly after) please share your thoughts. Thanks!!!

Views: 580

Replies to This Discussion

MomL-I have already started writing him. That was one way for me to feel somewhat better. Did you get the form letter fairly quickly? Or did you contact his recruiter for his address. I have heard that sometimes the address the recruiter gives you and the one your recruit sends can be different, and then there's a delay in receiving mail. I would hate for that to occur. I just want to be able to send him letters as soon as possible. Did you ever use the app Sandbox? The app will send pictures and letters to your recruit. There is a fee. I was just looking into that as well. 

I got his address from the recruiter, but the form letter came the same day. There was no difference in the address. The form of the address should be:
SR last name first name
Ship number, Division number
Address (ex. 3515 Sailor Drive)
Great Lakes, IL. 60088

I have not used Sandbox. I have a colored printer, and it has worked well.

My son left on March 7th and I hit his form letter March 17th. I sure hope you get yours soon!!

Do you think the recruiters mind that we ask for it? Did you get THE BOX much sooner? I sure hope I get everything soon too. 

Yep, I sent my son letters every day. What a great encouragement it is for them. And tell positive thing no ' we miss you' stuff. He has been in the Navy almost four years and enlisted for more. Time goes fast but BC is hard for most.
My daughter left on April 17 and I got the box on Friday the 21st. You should get yours mid to end of this week I'd say! Hang in there, I'm feeling the same as you. I'm not sure I ever cried as much as I did when she left. I'm trying to keep busy with projects and looking forward to PIR.

Navymamabear-Oh I hope it comes soon. I know only his belongings will be in there but at least it is something of his. I know you are feeling the same way. I am trying to keep myself busy, but it is incredibly hard to not think of him. I have never cried so much. My heart is broken. I know it is only 8 weeks, but right now that seems like eternity. Where did your daughter leave from? What is her rate? How old is your daughter? Do you have any other children? We have a 17 year old daughter who is here at home. We also have a 21 yr old son who lives about 600 miles away. Let me know when you get the Form Letter too. Hugs to you!

I have to keep telling myself each day that she made this choice and I have to deal with it, but I am heartbroken over it, yet proud of her at the same time! It's a crazy feeling that I think only a military mom can relate to.  I do have 3 other children at home, so they keep me busy, ages 8, 11, and 15. My SR is the oldest, she's 18 and graduated high school last year. She left out of Phoenix, she's an OS, and will be at A School in Great Lakes. I'm glad we have each other on this sight to talk out our feelings, because I truly don't think anyone else understands. Hugs!

Navymamabear-I know what you mean by having to tell yourself this is their choice. I am proud that my son is did this, I am just so sad that he is not here with us. I know what it is like to have military ties. When my husband and I were first married he was in the Navy. He was deployed and it was extremely hard not seeing him or talking to him. Back then they didn't have email available either. So I would only hear from him via phone calls when he was in port, or an occasional MARS-GRAM. My sister was in the Navy and she made a career out of it too. She retired about 10 years ago I think. I am so happy to be able to find people on this site who are going through the same situation as I am. I wish I had someone here to speak to face to face and do things with. I think that might help even more. I think many people look at this situation and think...Geesh, it's only 8 weeks! I am sure 8 weeks will seem like nothing once our recruits ship off somewhere for even longer. I am here to listen to anyone who needs help getting through this. I know I feel better expressing myself here.

So you live in Phoenix? My oldest lives there. He moved there a few years ago, when we were still in Chicago.

Again, please keep me updated on when you receive your Form Letter. 

Yes, we are in Phoenix. Originally from Chicago suburbs, so it will be nice that my SR has family up there when she's there for A school. I can't wait to get the form letter and find out when her PIR date is! I'll let you know when it comes. Hoping soon! It's been a week today since she left.

Where did you live in Chicago? 

We use to live in the southwest suburbs. Near Aurora - Naperville area.

Oh I know where that is. We lived in the far north suburbs in Antioch, not far from Gurnee. When did you move to Phoenix? We used to live in Phoenix too. We lived in the north suburbs back in the late 90's. Near Pinnacle Peak & 35th Ave.

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