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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 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.

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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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Hello Everyone, (newbie here)
I’ve finally received an address as to where to send letters to but have come across an iOS app called SANDBOXX. I welcome any thoughts and your experiences with the app if anyone has used or uses it currently. I will also send snail mail as it is a more personal experience.

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Replies to This Discussion

If you received the form letter, then send letters. If not, then wait on the form letter before sending letters since the address MAY or may NOT be correct.

Loved ones and recruits like the Sandboxx App. It gets a letter to the recruit the next day or two days after depending on when the letter is sent. 

Three Sailors on Leave between "A" School and their first duty stations earlier this year told me that they loved the Sandboxx App. Letters sent through the app arrived the next day or the day after that depending on when they were written rather than about 8 days after a real letter was mailed. One got news of his sister's new baby the next day and the first real letter about it was 8 days after that.

They recommended sending one letter a week with the app and sending it early in the week and also sending real letters every day. They especially recommended the app for news that needs sharing quickly. They said to send a letter through the app if you know that your recruit has a big test coming up and ahead of the Official PFA and BST to get a little bit of extra encouragement.

See Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

Again, if you have not received the form letter, then wait on the form letter before sending any mail through any means to your recruit. The address available to the recruiter can be wrong up to 11 business days after the recruit's arrival at RTC. The form letter now arrives 9 to 14 business days after the recruit's arrival at RTC.

Check your My Page.

My son graduated boot camp on Nov.2 ad is currently in A School. During boot camp, his girlfriend and I used Sandboxx frequently, as well as snail mail. He loved them both, but snail mail took days and days to reach him. Sandboxx was very fast and we loved the fact we could share our feelings to him so quickly.

Kasmakll my only regret with the sandbox app was I wish I had started using the app sooner. My recruit agreed. You are able to add photos to your letter. Snail letters took a full week each way. If my son asked a question he had to wait at least two weeks for the answer. My son also found it difficult to find time to write home. He had a job and studied hard leaving very little free time. The benefit of being able to send information the next day was worth the extra money for us.

I hand write letters normally because I feel like that is more personal. I use Sandboxx when I need to get my son a quick answer. My son also only gets time to write 1-2 letters a week and I want to keep him encouraged.

We used Sandboxx and loved it. Letters got to our SR within 24-48 hours and there is a return envelope attached, so it is easy for them to return a letter to you. We also used snail mail, but it seemed to take forever. I will say, our SR loved the photos we sent too. You can send one photo file with each letter. 

I am using SANDBOXX and really like it. I still send snail mail but love that I can know with SANDBOXX tracking that he is getting at least those letters each week and the other mail will get there when it does

kasmakll, I love Sandboxx and started using it solely towards the end of boot camp.  I’m really saddened to hear by our new sailor that many letters he did not receive.  To quote him he said the mail was messed up there and I said why, he said I think because they get too much.  It appears every Sandboxx letter he received.  I mailed a letter before Veterans Day and he never received it.  

I used Sandboxx when I needed to answer a question my SR had asked. I bought several credits (1 credit = 1 letter) so I could send several more. I also hand write letters because I want him to have my handwriting & see something familiar to him. Also I can send small things in a mailed letter; memes, a picture..I watercolored him an aircraft carrier on a bookmark size card. With Sandboxx you can send a picture, I wasn’t prepared for that but wish I had been. Good luck!
I used it for the first time on yesterday and fedex delivered around 10am this morning!

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