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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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
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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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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, 2024
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 Joanie Tyler's Mom(133 Bees) on May 14, 2011 at 7:12pm
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Thanks Marcy...I'll try that link.
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Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on May 9, 2011 at 5:43pm
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Sorry Joanie, I don't know. Are you a member of Molly's Adopt a Sailor project? Molly has almost 900 members and they do so many mailings in general, someone there may have an idea about an insured shipment to an individual. http://www.navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject
The moms there are so nice and will help if they can :)
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Does anyone have any ideas about filing a claim for a package (with computer) that was mailed to Guam 60 days ago and has not arrived....Was mailed in USPS Priority Box and insured...mailed to FPO in Guam. Our Fleet and Family Support claims this should have arrive in 2-3 weeks, but it hasn't...We get no info when we try to trace through USPS...I have completed a military inquiry on the Military Postal Service site...Tyler has executed a trace thru the Guam base post office and still nothing. Any advice?
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Carol, I created a discussion as you suggested, good idea! Tonight I'm working on putting together the free photo book. As the website says, it's easy. I'm manually arranging the photos rather than letting the software do it, so taking a bit more time. There are a lot of options for backgrounds; I'm using the "torn pages" one. Wish I could see the outcome first before it's shipped off to the FPO address though! Then again, I can buy a second one, and may do that for family here :)
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Hi gang, I just heard about this USO offer, looks good!
Friends and family can create a free Rocketlife 20-page (60 photo), cargo-pocket size personal photo book and the USO ships it to any APO, FPO or MPO address, all for free!
http://www.uso.org/uso_rocketlife_photo_books.aspx
or go directly to http://uso.rocketlifeproduction.com
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Comment by ruth on March 30, 2011 at 8:15pm
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I love this site . It give me so many ideas to send. what ideas do yall have for easter. for guys. my son is far away from home and now his phone is dead and all I can do is send care pkgs and email.
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Comment by Cindy D on March 30, 2011 at 1:53pm
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My son is leaving on his first deployment next week. I need all the ideas that I can get. I am going to read through all of the old posts. Thanks for being here!
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Comment by duhhuh58 Ship 10/Div 267 on March 23, 2011 at 7:58pm
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i had to fill out 2 forms but didn't have to put all of my info and my daughters info
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Comment by AngiePNMx2 on March 23, 2011 at 12:35am
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Mikes mom....No be very generic....i.e. baked goods, personal hygene , books , cards, clothes.
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Comment by Susan mom to Niko on February 9, 2011 at 6:44pm
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Hey Christine... see if you can pack all red items or pink items... or theme it with some of the kids valentines... I bought some 'super heroes' valentines... had all the nieces and nephews sign them with their names... then packed the same super hero fruit chews, found a towel and washcloth with the one of the heros, etc. was fun for my sailors to open... and they are my heroes!!
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