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

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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.)

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 JuliaM on November 18, 2014 at 11:13am: My son just finished bc and planing on coming home for xmas. Can anyone tell me if December 25 will be deducted from his accrued time off?

Comment by Anti M on November 17, 2014 at 8:11pm: Apprentice Technical Training, about nine weeks. Think of it as electronic prep school. They need it before they can jump into A school.

Comment by littleman14 on November 17, 2014 at 7:09pm: Thanks for that information . I will tell him to get the plastics containers. What is Att? My sailor is an FC

Comment by Jose on November 13, 2014 at 2:59am: My duaghter is staying at GL for A-school and she has been put on hold. Her schooling is for gm does anyone have any info as to how long she might be on hold for?

Comment by Anti M on November 10, 2014 at 4:18pm: Having spent a few years living in barracks... they vary, even the same ones will change rules now and then. Training command barracks are always more "bare bones" than barracks in the fleet where sailors live for a year or three. The new Live Ashore ones by the big bases are more like suites with common living areas and mini-kitchens. Great Lakes, not so much. In fact, the very barracks I lived in is still in use there.

Like a dorm? In a way, yes, but they do not get all the luxuries of a dorm room.

Basically, there are three or four to a room. They try to group them so they are in the same school, on the same schedule.

They get a rack, which are usually bunk beds, a desk, a locker which is a big wardrobe with a chest of drawers in it. (sometines the drawers are out). There may be a shared mini-fridge, but that is really variable. Some allow a coffee maker, some do not. We had a shared microwave in our common lounge (until someone left it filthy, then it was taken away).

:Personal bedding, usually yes if they put it away during the day. Electronics, yes, but don't rush to get a TV if the roommates already have one, same with game systems. Remember, they have to haul everyting when they move. Keep it light. They can watch TV on a laptop with Hulu or other such programs. They will not have wifi unless they go in with other roomies (usually). Most of the time the policy is they can leave the big electronics out if they have a special request chit approved for specific items.

I used a laundry bag which was issued in boot camp, and hung it in my locker. A hamper is bulky and cannot be left out.

Food: Sealed snack food is usually okay, those plastic disposable containers are perfect. If there gets to be a bug problem, food can be banned, so always check on what is current after your sailor checks in.

Comment by Anti M on November 10, 2014 at 4:17pm: I replied here, in a general way, so if anyone had questions for any of the school barracks, they could see an overall answer.

Comment by adpsmom on November 10, 2014 at 2:35pm: jaron'smom- I accepted your request and I would appreciate any information you can give!

Comment by adpsmom on November 10, 2014 at 11:16am: My son leaves for BC on Jan. 7, 2015, and he will stay at the GL for A school (rating - GM). What is the housing situation there? I read somewhere that they can have their own blanket that they would put away during the day, as well as their own towels. I am wondering if it is somewhat set up like a college dorm room? Do they bring a tv for the room? What about a clothes hamper? Also, if they have food snacks, how are these stored? Just trying to learn as much as possible so I am prepared? i would appreciate any help.

Comment by Anti M on November 9, 2014 at 9:56am: Training Service Command. That is all the A and C schools, other any other training/school (ATT, PACT, pre-BUDS) at Great Lakes. Basically any student sailor cannot use the Gateway or Lodge except for graduation. Most families do not use the Gateway unless they themselves have military ID.