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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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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Navy Speak

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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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I got a phone call from my son yesterday. The excitement inside to see IL come up on my phone was overwhelming.  His voice was so sad and not what I was prepared for.  I was strong for him and told him everything would be fine. Told him he was strong and he could do this. He said he had made a few friends. I asked him if he was home sick and he managed to get out a yah. So hard to hear him sad.  I keep telling myself it's just hearing my voice that hit him so hard and that he is fine. I tried so hard to make him laugh and lift his spirits. Said he had gotten all my letters they were required to open them in front of someone to prove there was no unacceptable pictures or anything inside. I kept telling him the first few weeks are the hardest and it will get better he will start to get into more of a routine and all. I was so struggling to lift his spirits I forgot to ask if he was going to be able to call again?  

So here I sit struggling with how to help him and how to know if his sadness was just homesickness or what. He is usually so happy go lucky and I'm not use to hearing him so down it's gut wrenching.  Any other mom's/dad's out there encounterd the same? Any words of encouragement will help!

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My husband left on 4/8 and has called twice so far, but i missed both calls. I am really hoping i will get his call this time.

It is extremely overwhelming for them and for you!  After my kiddos first call, I thought I was going to need paperbag to keep from hyperventilating! lol

It's all good!  Hearing your voice is probably harder for them than anything!  samm3991 said it well!  They do sound like the 12 year old from camp!  It does get easier and better each time.

My son graduates next Friday.  It has been the longest and the shortest weeks of my life.  It has also been the hardest and yet the easiest too, as I realize he is becoming the man we raised him to be and doing it ON HIS OWN (which is the hard part for this control freak mamma!) lol

Take a deep breath and strap yourself into the roller coaster ride of a lifetime!  (thanks lemonelephant for that perfect analogy of Navy life!)

You can do it!  And he can too!  Enjoy the journey!

My son just left for bootcamp this week...Ive only received his 2 minute call to left me know he arrived safely and that he will be sending his things home. I could hear the fear in his voice...heart breaking. My husband whom was in the National Guard said I better stay strong the next call will be worse. And reading your post confirms that and brings tears to my eyes. How long after he was there did you receive this call? Hope you and your son are doing well. Your in my prayers. Wendy

My son left on the first and I haven't received his box or a letter just the scripted phone call.  Very frustrating

My daughter left on the 6th as well, my son did boot camp 4 years ago, call the recruiter, I already got address to write and graduation date, but I am frustrated because the info is so sparse...like NOTHING about graduation...and I know from before that we need a pass to attend.  A little confused yet, but I guess there is still time...

It is best to wait on the form letter before sending letters. The password for the gate pass will be in the form letter.

You have probably gotten the form letter by now, so go to http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group for her PIR date.

I Got the box yesterday but no phone call as of yet.  I opened the box and there was most of his stuff.  His shoes, cell phone and shirt and pants.  I thought it was odd that his wallet was not in there.  Anyway of course I broke down had a good cry, smelled his shirt for a few minutes and then just went to bed.  Remembering the saying

 

Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow..;....

 

Have a great day everyone

Our son went through boot camp in the dead of winter at GL IL and graduated this past Feb '14 

They really look forward to your letters and cards so keep them coming.   Remain positive and upbeat.  I sent our son Navy-related jokes (clean ones) that I could find on-line, including those relating to the rating he was pursuing.  After he gets more used the daily routine, very little sleep, and what is required to stay on the "good side" of the DIs, he will feel better.   Hopefully, his shipmates will work together to "learn the ropes" and pass the many uniform and compartment inspections. 

The hardest part is never getting enough sleep, the close quarters with guys you just met, getting used to the chow, no phones or electronics of any kind, and having to eat, shower/etc., get dressed, all in a constant rush - very stressful.  The DIs are constantly on your case and finding fault is their goal - but they are "forming" your son into a Sailor.  Eventually, he will know precisely what he needs to do to stay out of the DIs line of sight and criticism....at least most of the time. 

But when you see him graduate at PIR ceremony in his uniform, see the proud smile on his face and the maturity he's gained, you'll both know it was all worth it.   Once boot camp is over it's all downhill.  He can then have his laptop and cell phone and will feel "whole" again. 

So keep encouraging him, don't tell him how much you miss him or what he's missing not being home, and let him know how very proud you are of his decision to serve, his commitment, and just keep letting him know that he CAN DO THIS. 

He will get through this and be glad and proud that he did. 

I finally received 2 letters from my son today. He left 4/21. His letters were so upbeat and positive! From everything I have been reading I was really getting depressed.
He is enjoying everything except the weather! I really needed this!

My son left for bootcamp on Jan 28, 2014. He went through PIR on March 28. I remember waiting for those phone calls and practically camping out by the mailbox for letters. The whole time he was gone I got three phone calls and 5 letters. I wrote almost everyday except when I was recovering from surgery. I still remember his voice. He was sick. It was hard for me. But hearing his voice during the "I'm a Sailor" call and then that first hug after PIR made every moment worth it. The support on here helped so much. Now he is in A school and we are in contact frequently. I still love the support on here. Nobody quite understands like another Navy mom :)  Hang in there.

Well, we (his Mom) received his phone call yesterday and he got to talk to his Dad, his step-dad, his mom, and little brothers but I had the dumb luck of leaving their house to go home and MISSED it by 20 minutes!  I was excited for them all though and they each gave me a run through of what he had to say and how he was doing.  He was also homesick, but trying to hold it together while he was on the phone.  Seems he is doing really good and is some sort of team leader....I didn't get just what type.  Guess I'll find out later.  He promised to try to call next Sunday (the 18th), so if he does manage it, I am going to stay at their house until it is too late for him to call.  I'm not missing another one.

I am so very proud of all our young men and women who decided to support our great country by joining the Navy.  I had two brothers who served in the Navy during WWII and the Korean conflict and another grandson who was serving on an attack submarine in Honolulu, Hawaii (can it get any better than that?)  Unfortunately, he broke his neck while home on leave and is now a quadriplegic but is so very proud of his Navy service.  The Navy really does take care of it's own.  They have really been there for him.  He is one of the reasons why this grandson decided to join the Navy, and he is also going to try to become a submariner.

I'm new to this site...still trying to figure out how to navigate all the info.  It would be cool to talk to other moms and moms from my son's division.  He is Ship 13, Div 205.  We got our first real call yesterday.  He went in on 4/28. We received his box a few days later.  We got the form letter last week.  Yesterday's call was heartbreaking.  He is sick and injured and sounded really down.  We are writing him tons of letters so I hope that he will receive them soon and be encouraged.  We only got a few minutes to talk to him.  His time got cut short.  I hope the next call he is feeling and sounding better!  He was not his happy self!  It's so difficult to hear him like that.

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