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 as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

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

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.)

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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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How to Communicate with a Sailor on Ship Deployment

Share your tips and experiences and help those facing first deployment!  What's worked best for you?  Types of calling cards, phones, email, Skype, and so on.

Ship-to-shore calling cards are used when calling from the ship. The cards can only be purchased in the ship store, NEX or online (I have no experience with this site so not recommending it) Purchase Ship to Shore calling cards online  My son purchased his at the NEX and reloads them on the ship.

Also get info about the cards here AT&T Global Prepaid Card for Ship to Shore, and for other AT&T military calling cards and services: AT&T Military
NOTE:  Ship communications occasionally enter a condition called "River City," a euphemism for Restricted Communications (RC).  This condition may happen for mundane reasons, i.e. OPSEC  (Operations Security) during ship movement, as well as for more serious reasons, like notifying next of kin in the event of a death.  So if you hear "River City," there is not necessarily need for concern.  Just think OPSEC, and wait to hear (don't post about it).   Today's Sailors and their families are used to being a click away, so it's something for everyone to become adjusted to and accept.  Limited online access at sea (Navy Times)

Views: 1684

Replies to This Discussion

Momrat329Permalink Reply by Momrat329 on April 12, 2010 at 10:26pm
Does anyone know about how long it takes for mail / pkgs to get to them while the ship is at sea?
Permalink Reply by ANTHONY'SMOM on April 9, 2017 at 9:59am
Please make sure you put the right address.. I put the wrong box # and it's been over a month and he hasn't gotten it
Permalink Reply by 10mileloop on June 18, 2017 at 12:16pm

Packages take from 3 weeks to a month..use small boxes instead of one large box. I use the large priority boxes from the P.O you get a discount for military and they hold a lot of stuff for how small they really are..

2 in the servicePermalink Reply by 2 in the service on April 13, 2010 at 6:24am
Thanks to Marcy for starting this discussion and thanks to Missing him for such good information. I am new to all of this and N4M has been the right place to come and listen to the voices of experience and learn. Thanks again, I may have more questions soon..
Ray RayPermalink Reply by Ray Ray on April 22, 2010 at 9:40pm
My son would like to strike for corpsman. He is undes seaman and it has been 6 weeks waiting for him to get his orders. He had heard it would be good to get on a gator ship b/c there is a bigger medical staff that he could possibly get to know and help them out? Marcy, What is your son going to do on the ship?
Permalink Reply by Riley9698 on February 1, 2017 at 10:38am
My son is a petty officer on Uss Somerset. He does a little of everything from what he has told me. This is my first deployment, feeling scared, I mean at first I actually didn't really think anything of it, but now for the first time it just got real. I don't know if anyone out there can relate.
Permalink Reply by plattecountymom on February 1, 2017 at 4:56pm

My son is on the Comstock which is traveling with the Somerset and the Makin Island. Is there a reason you are feeling scared, has something happened that I haven't heard about? We keep in contact with my son through FB messenger and have not heard from him for the past ten days and I was wondering if something was going on. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by U2navymom on February 2, 2017 at 2:29pm
Remember no news is good news.
Permalink Reply by plattecountymom on February 2, 2017 at 2:57pm

That is exactly what my husband says, he was in the Navy. I know the Navy is doing everything they can to keep them safe.

Permalink Reply by hvmom on March 3, 2017 at 11:59am

I'm new to the group - My son is also on the Somerset and this is my first experience with deployment.  It seems to get more real every day.   I can relate.

Permalink Reply by plattecountymom on March 3, 2017 at 12:41pm

Hi Hvmom! This is my first experience with deployment as well and I am ready for our sailor to be home! It can be really hard not being able to talk to them for extended periods. Thank goodness for facebook messenger.

Permalink Reply by hope4answers on March 3, 2017 at 3:40pm

Right in there with you. My son is also on Somerset. No news is good news, & sometimes some of the details after it's over, mom really didn't need to hear like free diving without a net. One day at a time ...

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