Welcome to
Navy For Moms

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

Add an Event

**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:

Graduation Info
PDF – 2.7 MB
PNG – 2.3 MB
JPG – 3.4 MB
Printable PDF – 2.0 MB

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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Great Lakes A School Q&A

Information

The purpose of this group is to allow family of new sailors assigned to school at Training Support Center Great Lakes a chance to voice questions to a Student Division Commander

Location: Great Lakes, IL
Members: 2332
Latest Activity: Mar 12

Discussion Forum

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Comment Wall

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You need to be a member of Great Lakes A School Q&A to add comments!

Comment by tpadul on July 19, 2017 at 12:37pm: Are there any moms here that have Sailors that are graduating A school at Great lakes this week or next week and might be flying out to Japan on August 6th from Chicago? I'm wondering if my daughter will be the only Sailor on the flight or if she hopefully will have company?

Comment by Anti M on July 18, 2017 at 8:47pm: As for what to get them for their future jobs, I found advice to new sailors on what to pack for deployments. This is good stuff to know:

https://www.reddit.com/r/navy/wiki/deployment

Comment by Mar3n1 on July 18, 2017 at 5:55pm: @Phoenixmom my son stayed at GL for A school. He was allowed to have his gaming system a laptop a small tv and his phone some civie clothes. His ship is allowed snaks. His buddy on another ship(building) cannot have snacks. They have to be able to transport whatever they have. They get the rules of their ship the first night when they go to their first muster (I think that's what he called it). We bought toiletries and laundry stuff for him while we were there and plan to send some more here soon. There is a lot of close by stores plus the NEX to buy stuff. Unfortunately they aren't aware of the ships rules before they get there so its hard to say what he can have. I opted to bring everything and just take back what he couldn't have but we drove down so I could get away with doing that.

Comment by blackbirdmom on July 18, 2017 at 5:30pm: One thing I forgot: Uber. You can get Uber gift cards. Our sailor and his buddies will share an Uber if they want to go off base to eat.

Comment by tutorlady on July 18, 2017 at 5:29pm: @blackbirdmom. Thanks so much. That helps so much!!!

Comment by blackbirdmom on July 18, 2017 at 5:27pm: Our sailor has been in A school since April 1. He does not have a laptop or tablet, and says he doesn't need one. They are provided with computers during their classes. He uses his phone for social media and Netflix. He does pay for internet. One of his buddies bought a TV but when he went to his new duty station he had to leave it behind because he couldn't take it on the plane. This seems to happen a lot. My advice to those just getting to A school: let them settle in and see what they want or need. You can always send them money to buy things at the NEX. If their ship allows snacks, send a flat rate box of snacks (not chocolate, it often melts this time of year) to them. Our sailor says one of the best things we do for him is pay for his Netflix account. LOL Gift cards to some of the restaurants that are on base or nearby are also good. Just some ideas.

Comment by blackbirdmom on July 18, 2017 at 5:16pm: @Phoenixmom, Some ships will allow them to have non-perishable snacks in their rooms, others do not. They have a limited amount of space, and if they have to transfer to another ship while they are in school, they have to be able to move everything themselves. Our sailor mostly wanted some civilian clothes, especially underwear. Some get video game systems in their rooms, laptops, tvs, etc, but that usually comes later. I would suggest maybe going with him to the NEX for toiletries, tissues, laundry detergent or things like that.

@tutorlady, we brought very things with us to PIR. What we brought was some of his civilian clothes, things that would fit in his backpack, and gave them to him on the second day of his liberty. Later, we mailed snacks to him. Then when he moved ships, we have sent laundry tabs, toiletries, etc. (His new ship does not allow them to have snacks in their rooms.)

Comment by Phoenixmom on July 18, 2017 at 2:18pm: Hi all I am new to this so basically my son will be attending GL "A" School he will be a EM, planning on attending the Graduation for Sept. 1st. is their a list of things that he may or may not be able to take back with him to the grounds. I would like to take him shopping before I leave GL, just want to make sure he has what he needs. is there a list of what job he will be performing to learn more? thanks all, please advise.

Comment by tutorlady on July 18, 2017 at 10:18am: If your sailor will be at GL for A school, what is the best way to "deliver" the things you will be bringing for them: a backpack? a small black suitcase with wheels? I know storage space is limited and A school is relatively short. Whatever is given to them over the weekend will have to be moved again. Just wanting to know the best way to pack for them. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by tutorlady on July 18, 2017 at 7:08am: @AntiM and Ellen5202. Thanks for the help. I really think I might put some money in his account to put towards a laptop from the NEX. I am hesitant to buy something here - not knowing what he needs. If you think that will work for him that is the route I will go.