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:
Events
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
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:
- Graduation Info
- PDF – 2.7 MB
- PNG – 2.3 MB
- JPG – 3.4 MB
- Printable PDF – 2.0 MB
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
Badge
Should a mom go to meps?
My son just graduated from high school - got an 88 on the ASVAB but got a "no" for the nuclear program because his grades aren't great and they are closing down a couple of the schools for renovation for a time. So, he would be going to MEPS to find out what other rating he would be offered. Have any parents accompanied their kids to MEPS and help them with their job choices? How easy is it to change jobs once you enlist in the Navy? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Views: 411
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Anti M on
-
Changing jobs is unlikely. Sure they have a cross-rate program, but basically, you must be an E-5, and cross to an undermanned rate from an overmanned rate. Very few rates are undermanned. They can be switched if a reason turns up they aren't qualified for the rate they signed up for while in boot camp, when the security checks come through, or a medical issue pops up, but they don't get to choose. They get told, "this is your new rate". Needs of the Navy is in the fine print of every contract.
You cannot be in the room when he signs his contract. You can talk to the recruiter with him, when choosing his options, but ultimately at MEPS, with the classifier who assigns the rates, he makes the choice and signs the line alone.
-
Permalink Reply by gindevcass on
-
Thank you for the info - I really appreciate it. Choosing your job (that you can't change) with no time to think about it, seems like he may easily end up with a job that he hates. I'm thinking if he at least has me with him to look at his options might be helpful. Of course all of this is ultimately his decision.
-
Permalink Reply by Concernedad on
-
This will be your son's first giant step towards adulthood. Like Anti said, you can go to the recruiter and ask all the questions you like, however, at MEPS, he will be on his own. And yes, it is possible to get a job he doesn't like.
I'd suggest having HIM do a ton of research before he goes to MEPS.
He can choose undesignated at MEPS, whereas he may have an opportunity to choose his rating later, but I wouldn't recommend it.
-
-
Good advice for MEPS. I agree that he should do a ton of research beforehand so he can make an educated decision when he gets to MEPS. I'm not sure that he is going to do so... even though I have strongly encouraged him to do research as well, now that we know that he can't get into the Nuke program now. He's 18 and doesn't think a whole lot, he just does... Of course I love him, but maybe he's just not ready for the discipline required to be in the navy.
-
Permalink Reply by BunkerQB on
-
LOL. How about Information Technology IT? Transfers skills to civilian sector well. Was this the first time he took the asvab?
-
-
Yes, it's his first time taking the ASVAB. He is interested in IT, but the recruiter said there's no telling what job he would be offered at MEPS. He would have to make a decision right then and there.
-
-
I am not as ready to let them take the giant step towards adulthood, like concernedad. Me? I'd go with him to MEPS armed with reams of research, my laptop, calculator, cell phone - just in case I have to call someone. LOL. Just half kidding.
Maybe he should study a little and take the test again.
-
-
Good suggestions :) I didn't think he could retake the ASVAB for 2 years, but maybe he can. I'll suggest that he check with his recruiter.
-
-
that's great to know. thank you so much for the information.
-
-
I was 22 and not ready for the discipline, but I took to it well. The Navy excels at getting them ready in a hurry. You'll be amazed. They have a lot of experience at turning teens into adults in 8 short weeks.
Heck, I was offered a job I knew nothing about, electronics technician, and I loved it, did well. I knew I didn't want nuke, my schooling was spotty (I was a Navy brat). I knew I'd hate corpsman, or anything like a yeoman (office personnel). Anything technical is probably good, and there are many choices. The Navy trains step by step, so even kids who were so-so in high school can do well.
-
-
Excellent discussion about MEPS. Thank you for sharing it. I have asked my son's recruiter for his line scores and he repeatedly says that he doesn't have them, he just has his score of 88. Does anyone know how we can get his line scores to see what ratings he would qualify for?
© 2025 Created by Navy for Moms Admin.
Powered by
