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:
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
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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Care Package Ideas!
Information
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!
Discussion Forum
Submarine
Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Bandmom Mar 2, 2020. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Submarine
Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Proud Mom Feb 25, 2020. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Care Package theme ideas
Started by AngiePNMx2. Last reply by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom Mar 8, 2017. 16 Replies 17 Likes
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by Bandmom on February 18, 2020 at 8:46am
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Now that Valentines is over, and Easter is coming, let me give some pointers. My son who came off of deployment last year wanted me to pass this on. Remember when your sailor is deployed, it can take 2 weeks to a month for them to receive their mail. If they are some place warm, Chocolate melts. I packed my homemade goodies in Ziploc Baggies, then placed them in popped popcorn. I added a jar of his favorite seasoning in the first box. He loved it! Another item that was a hit on the ship was Hard Candy. If you sailor has a local favorite, send a large amount. They love to share. My sons ship had a metal bucket that they all put their hard candy in. They enjoyed trying different kinds. Of Course Jolly Ranchers are always a big hit. Peanuts, Jerkey , Sausage sticks, Licorice, anything that doesn't melt. He also said that food that was packed in plastic containers (like Tupperware) ga a plastic like taste, I also sent some cookies once in a round pringles container. They stacked really nicely in there, but they were not a fresh.
For all you new moms, I hope this helps. God Bless you and your sailor.
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Comment by Leighana on February 4, 2020 at 1:11pm
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Thanks! Much appreciated!
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1-800-610-8734. Ask for Military Kit.
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Hello Leighana, In the paragraphs up above, the one from Marcy_corpsman mom has all the info in it. They work great.
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Thank you so much!
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Comment by Phoenixmom on February 4, 2020 at 10:38am
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Leighana here is what I have
USPS Military mailing guide website
PDF]military mail guide - Stamps.com Military & Diplomatic Mail | USPS Edit
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Sorry *flat rate military kit
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Hi Bandmom! Can you please send me a link to the flare rate military kit you are speaking about?
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Thank you BandMom getting my Packages ready to send!
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To any moms out there looking at this group, here are a few pointers. Look up above and get the flat rate military kit that is listed. It works great for sending packages while our sailors are deployed. Also remember chocolate melts! if you sent things like homemade fudge, they will be eating it with a spoon! if you do sent bars to a warm region, my sailor told me that tupperware leaves a plastic taste on the goodies. Cheap ziploc containers work better. I packed my cookies, bars etc. in ziploc bags, then surrounded them with popped popcorn. The cookies were mostly in tact, and they ate the popcorn. I included a bottle of his favorite popcorn seasoning as well. Another thing that worked well was hard candies. My son's ship had a bucket that the sailors put their had candies in, and they all shared. God bless all deployed at this time.
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