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 Phoenixmom on April 5, 2018 at 7:33pm: I just ordered his pictures with the Carrier and deployment date so I figured I would put the Carrier Challenge coin with it so it can stand out.

Comment by Phoenixmom on April 5, 2018 at 7:31pm: Thank You Allison, it is good to hear and see your picture it's been a while. how are you doing? I just ordered his shellback and his Carrier Challenge coin from Ebay. These are so nice, they have them for every ocassion, Love it!

Comment by Allison on April 5, 2018 at 7:30pm: Yes, you can just google shellback challenge coin. The destroyer, just (name) challenge coin. Sometimes the ships are a bit harder to find, but someone is probably making one somewhere.

Comment by Allison on April 5, 2018 at 7:28pm: I usually get local challenge coins and ranks from the NEX. However, I’ve also ordered from eBay (for bootcamp ship) and NW Territorial Mint. If you google it, you’ll have lots of options.

If you’re crafty, you can get disks from michaels, wood or metal, and make them yourself. I did this for my husband’s A School class (almost two years ago, time flies!), and it was a hit :)

Comment by Phoenixmom on April 5, 2018 at 4:57pm: The ceremony observes a mariner's transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn't crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthines.

I found it! ok now I understand Thank You Ladies

Comment by Phoenixmom on April 5, 2018 at 4:53pm: LOL! that sounded too funny Ellen0502. Thank You! a Pollywog I need to look that up.

Comment by ellen0502 on April 5, 2018 at 4:50pm: Phoenixmom, Congratulations on your Sailor becoming a Shellback. No more Pollywog in your family. :)

Comment by Phoenixmom on April 5, 2018 at 3:39pm: Thank You Anti M, I couldn't remember the name it was called, Sounded liked a real fun thing they did. And I am thinking of that, can you direct me to where I may Purchase the Coin, The ones we have are the ones we purchased at PIR some ways ago. would it be called a shellback Coin? I would like one also of his Carrier. they just recently sent us an order form to order pictures of him his Carrier and deployment date. I thought it was so neat so I ordered the pictures but need a coin of the Carrier to put in place also. Thank You Anti M.

Comment by Anti M on April 5, 2018 at 2:26pm: Those short little underways are how they ready the ship for the longer deployment. A year is very unusual, while 9 months is not.

Phoenixmom, congrats on your sailor becoming a Shellback! You can get a challenge coin for that if he likes those. The family bought ones are best left at home, for future memories, but they do look nice when displayed.

Comment by Phoenixmom on April 5, 2018 at 10:33am: Hi Bandmom, So Glad to hear you are doing well, Happy to hear your Son is liking what he is doing, I'm sure when he gets out there the time will fly by, My Son is really liking it, they had a big thing for first timers crossing the equator, so that seemed like fun. got in a few words this morning, he is staying busy so that is a good thing. We are keeping our fingers crossed that when he gets back to his Station he will be able to come home for a few Days, and then we plan on taking him back and spending a few days with him up in San Diego. My Eldest Daughter is having a baby any Day now, so he wants to come see the new addition to our Family. You are always in my thoughts as your Son. I will reach out again, Have a Great Day!

To the Mothers who's Loved One's are staying in Great Lakes they will absolutely Love it, My Son thought it was the best thing, that is until he got to San Diego LOL!. But they do Phase up Fast, that is if they follow the Commands, and they they are allowed to leave base with a buddy, so movies, Chicago, out to eat and shopping. and it is great also because they all share the ride.

And also for the Mother's whose Loved One's are graduating A school Congratulations! your Loved One's will be on the next Journey as Bandmom and Mine. Always a Journey and so much more to learn. Best wishes to you and Your Sailor!