This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
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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:
Events
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
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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Questions,Questions & more Questions!
Views: 503
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tabitha on
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Hello Becki, we have all felt like you at some point in our journeys. Your next step will be getting all of his belongs in "the box" it will come by UPS. Then after about 14 days you will recieve his form letter. Once they are allowed to make phone calls around the 3rd or 4th week, he will call you from a pay phone there. He is able to get a phone card up there so no worries. It's a bumpy ride but so worth it. Our sailor just recently graduated so it's still all very fresh. Hope this helps and just know we are all here for you and each other. This site has been amazing for me and I hope it will be for you as well. Blessings to you and best wishes for you and your SR.
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Permalink Reply by Becki on
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Thank you so much! I anxiously await “the box” I’m very grateful to all the moms that have offered their wisdom and support!
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Permalink Reply by Phoenixmom on
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Hi Becky, next will be the Box with his belongings and his phone. Did he take a phne card with him? if not he will need to purchase one at the NEX which is the store they have on Base. The Recruits will get a card with money on it so they can purchase hygeine ect. the form letter will come after the box is received which is 9-14 business days of arriving. I will put some sites to read ok and if you need or have any questions please reach out and I will do my best to help and get you info.
Arrival and What Happens at the RTC and Ship/Division--How it Works.
How long is the "I'm here!" call and when will s/he be able to call again?
See Phone Cards and Phone Calls.
When will "The Box" come?
It will usually arrive by FedEx within a few days, but it can take up to 2 weeks at times.
The Form Letter will arrive in your regular mail around nine to fourteen business days after the recruit's arrival at the RTC since it is not mailed until the day after the recruit passes the first PFA, which is on about the fifth business day after arrival (later if the division that your recruit was tentatively placed in upon arrival did not fill until a later date). See Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) and Fitness Improvement Training (FIT). You can find a copy of the current form letter in the Page, The Form Letter. The brochure that is included from MWRGL about hotels and other things is at RTC Friends and Family Brochure July 2017 rev.pdf. The form letter includes your recruit's address, so now you can mail out all the letters you have been writing. There is more on this in Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.
The Form Letter will also tell you the date of PIR, so you can start making plans for your trip. There are many hotels in the area and there is information in the grad pack and on this site about them. If you fly in, renting a car will make your life easier. Also, if you are flying, some airlines, such as Southwest, will allow you to change your flight if something happens without a charge, so you do not have to book refundable tickets.
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Permalink Reply by Kaitlin on
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Hi Becki! I am far from an expert my son just left on July 9th. I got the first scripted call, then they mailed his cell phone home in a box with his clothes and other things. I just received his form letter this week so I can write him letters now and I know when graduation is. I'm waiting for my phone call that typically comes at the 3 week mark. Your son can buy a calling card there, I asked if I should send him with one and I was told no. From what I read here no news is good news. The waiting part is hard this group helps me feel like I know what's going on. I hope I helped a little I'm a newbie too!
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When you receive his form letter it will have his address to where you can send letters and his PIR date. when you receive form letter you can send him a phone card as well but make sure it is activated. as of Now he is working on his Pdays I will post that also . this site will guide thru what is happening now.
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Becki I can say that eventually it get easier, but in the mean time you will get stronger, and please a glimpse of your loved one reach out if you have questions. I will give you a site where you might just get a glimpse of your loved one.
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Permalink Reply by CarlaB on
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Hi Becki, and welcome aboard! Congratulations on raising a future sailor!
The next thing you will get will be the box with his clothes and cell phone in it. For me that arrived the Tuesday after he left, which was a Thursday, so somewhere in the week time frame.
Next will be the form letter/PIR clearance form. This is sent after they pass their first PT test. I received it just over 2 weeks after my son left. This will have a form in it listing the people that your son wants to have attend graduation and you will need to fill it out and send it back to him in 7 days. This HAS to be done for you to get into graduation. The form letter will also provide you his final mailing address so you can start sending mail. Don't send anything before this because they can get moved around.
We got our first phone call the weekend after he was there three weeks. They will call from a pay phone and will need a calling card to make the call. If he didn't take one along, DON'T WORRY! He can buy one in the NEX. My son took one but was leary of it not working so he still went and bought one.
Ask all the questions you need to, this group is great!
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Thank you for ALL the info and words of support! I appreciate so much. I’m not so good with 1 step at a time. I’m gonna Get Better though!
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My daughter left July 10th for boot camp and I felt the same way. This has been my experience so far - we got her box that had her clothes and her phone in it on the 16th and I did not get a letter from her until yesterday. I have not gotten any phone calls from her as of yet. Right now you just wait. If you need anything else feel free to ask. Hugs.
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Congrats on your letter. I know it must have meant a lot toget! Thank you for your support and your knowledge!
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Here is the site.
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