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 as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

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.)

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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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Care Package Ideas!

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Themes, recipes, all kinds of ideas plus mailing tips and tricks. It's fun to have them here in one place, so come get ideas and share yours!

Members: 1295
Latest Activity: Oct 28

Carla: I am a moderator for Navy moms on Yahoo, but also through the years have done troop support for all branches. I also have started and maintained hometown troop support, and send from our little community in Spirit Lake, Idaho - that has been very very cool. So, if you have ideas you want to share, bring it on and read and enjoy and use! My email is crlstrt5@msn.com if you have any questions or comments. Feel free to share these in other groups or with friends.

Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom: I'm co-admin and been sending care packages since 2008! The best method is using the flat-rate priority boxes from USPS. There's a two-dollar discount when sending to an APO/FPO address and you can send up to 70 lbs - that's 7.7 bricks! You can order a free carton of 10 or 25 of the large-size boxes to be delivered to you at USPS APO/FPO flat-rate boxes; or call them at 800-610-8734 and request the "military pack" of six assorted boxes, customs forms, tape and address labels. It can take two weeks or more for mail to arrive, and much longer if your sailor is deployed.

Tips: To save space, remove things from original packaging and put them in Ziplock bags. Don't pack fragrant items such as soap or fabric softener sheets with food as the odors get absorbed. Use clear tape or USPS priority tape to seal. Put a copy of the address IN the box. Storage space is limited so send accordingly. Notes from friends, children, anyone saying Thank You for serving on deployment are passed around and treasured. Per a Navy survey on Facebook, the top two items that Sailors ask for are cookies and beef jerky. Send enough to share! More info at USPS military mail FAQ.

For your sailor, two great checklists for deployment planning are the Single Sailor Deployment Readiness Checklist and Pre-Deployment Checklist for Family Members, prepared by JAG.

Just how does your care package reach the ship? Watch! Video: Underway replenishment

And if you've got the bug and would like to do more, please consider joining "Molly's Adopt a Sailor" (MAS) here on Navyformoms.com. Every month they adopt a deployed ship or unit and send the service members themed packages. It's a super-fun and friendly group and you'll make great friends while sending much-needed and appreciated love and support from home. I learned how to send care packages by joining the MAS group before my corpsman was first deployed!

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Comment by Sherri - TJs Mom on February 18, 2017 at 9:09pm: I have a very unique item that needs to be in every care package. My poor son got white rice with almost every meal and this really helped add a little variety. Any comfort from home means the world to our Sailors. This gift set also includes a survival bag filled with little motivational saying and items as well as a spice refill. Go take a look at Pugtail Originals

Comment by mangofruit123 on January 28, 2017 at 11:29am: Although my son is only 3 days into boot camp and cannot receive care packages I decided to join this group anyway. Gives me something to look forward to in the months ahead. Can't wait to send out my first package to who knows where but for now I will just have to wait for my letter with PIR date and address and sent many many letters of encouragement!

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on January 5, 2017 at 2:19am: WELCOME to all our new members!!! Anybody planning their Valentine's care packages yet? Got some good ideas? Here are some suggestions from the Discussion Forum above... Care Package Theme Ideas

Comment by Dutch1 on January 2, 2017 at 5:25pm: Happy New Year!

Comment by Sarabi2013 on December 14, 2016 at 1:23am: Hello! I enjoy all the ideas and would like to remain in this group!

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on December 11, 2016 at 3:13pm: "Keep it simple" is a good idea when filling out the customs form. Don't detail every item, just lump together in categories, i.e. "Snacks," "Personal hygiene items," that sort of thing, and estimate values - don't worry about getting it to the penny!

Comment by 1ProudMomofNavySon on December 7, 2016 at 3:24pm: I love the ideas you all post for care packages. Please keep the great ideas coming. Thank you for all you ladies do.

Comment by sue on December 7, 2016 at 3:18pm: the customs form is smaller and less detailed than it was last deployment. new form, same basic thing. I had to list things and give money amounts for each, but I didn't put weights individually, and it was fine. ps. I lied about the things and put books, magazine, candy etc. inexpensive things, never mention if you put something nice inside. fyi, it may get stolen or lost.