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
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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, 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
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Comment by Cindy (Proud mom of my Sailor!) on December 4, 2010 at 10:25am
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Bless all of you that made that happen!
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Comment by Linda (Seth's mom) on December 4, 2010 at 2:40am
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Today approx. 800 pounds of stuff was sent to Sasebo, Japan for sailors aboard the USS ESSEX that would otherwise be forgotten this Christmas. It was a very blessed day.
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Comment by Sunshinestar8181 on December 3, 2010 at 1:06pm
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newhorizonsship-- of course! That's why I posted it here. =)
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Comment by D~W~G on December 3, 2010 at 11:01am
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Love the 12 days poem can I use?
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Where do I get addresses of groups or sailors/soldiers in middle east to send to?
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Sending packages to sailors on my son's ship who don't receive anything...mail or otherwise. I am sending them to the Chief Petty Officer, and he will distribute them, already made contact with him.A wonderful business in a local town is going to take care of the postage. So blessed. Well anyway do any of you have any ideas of what to send sailors that I do not know. thanks
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Comment by Susan mom to Niko on November 18, 2010 at 4:02pm
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Love the poem.... great rewrite!!
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I had to fix day 11, cuz well it was late and I noticed the major grammatical errors and the fact that line1 &2 didn't rhyme. You'd think I'd do better being a teacher and all. ha ha
Those eleven pipers piping remind me of sailors.
To leave them freezing while working would be such a failure.
Now make your water piping hot and fill your cups with care,
I’m giving you some hot chocolate and I know you’ll love to share!
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You ladies sure got me thinking. with google & some imagination this is what I came up with...
Now in the song, it's partridge and pear -
Yet when I looked, my trees were all bare.
So I ran to the store at a hurried pace.
Pears they had plenty, but no birds in the place!
Did you know two turtle doves are
Extremely hard to find?
So here are Turtles ‘n Dove—
The chocolate candy kind!
Hens are chickens
If they are French or not!
So here is some chicken soup to eat
Just make sure it’s cooked at the proper heat!
The calling birds have all flown away.
They're visiting the South to see the view.
Instead of a call, they left these few things,
Some pens and some paper – a gift just for you.
Only five golden rings?
They really are something.
Five ugly golden rings
I got at the store for almost nothing!
Six geese a-laying some eggs quite unique.
I looked at them close and what do you think?
They are filled up with candy!
Here are six for you, isn't that dandy?
The seven swans were swimming and having such fun,
That when I called them, they wouldn't come out, not one!
I called until my face, it turned blue,
So instead I bought these squirt guns for you.
The maids were all milking,
Milk foaming like suds.
And then they all vanished
Just leaving "Milk Duds".
Nine ladies dancing was a beautiful sight,
I applauded so loud, it gave them a fright!
They ran away quickly, leaving a cane or two,
So I picked them up especially for you.
Ten lords a-leaping.
Who could reach the stars first?
To send back to us
These delicious "star burst".
Those eleven pipers were piping remind me of sailors.
To leave them freezing while working would be such a bummer.
Now make you water piping hot and fill your cups with care,
I’m giving you some hot chocolate and I know you’ll love to share!
Twelve drummers drumming each on their own drum.
But twelve drummers drumming wouldn’t be all that fun.
The noise of their drums would surely hurt your head,
So eat all these cookies I sent you instead!
Day 1: can of pears
Day 2: Turtles candy & Dove candy
Day 3: Cup of Noodles (chicken flavor)
Day 4: pens and paper
Day 5: 5 cheap rings
Day 6: Plastic eggs with candy
Day 7: squirt guns
Day 8: Milk duds
Day 9: Candy canes
Day 10: starburst
Day 11: hot chocolate
Day 12: cookies
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What is the deadline for sending Christmas packages to the Middle East?
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