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 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:
In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.
**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.
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
Badge
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: 1291
Latest Activity: Dec 16, 2023
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
No Packages During Basic?
Started by Cali Navy Mom. Last reply by Cali Navy Mom Nov 30, 2023. 4 Replies 0 Likes
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
Comment Wall
Comment
-
Comment by NCali on March 23, 2018 at 12:36am
-
Hi everyone!
I found a company that can send a care package for free to your sailor if you are short on money or you don't have time to shop and send something to your sailor.
The company is www.operationgratitude.com
I am out of job and I ask for a care package for my son and I got a package sent to him and I also got an email saying that they will be glad to send packages to the other sailors in the unit.
This is what I received from them (short version of the emial) and I want to share with all of you.
Hello N.....
Thank you for requesting a care package from Operation Gratitude!
We would like to send a care package to every member of their unit as well! If you can provide us with a roster of those they serve with, we will gladly fill a box for each of them.
Please submit a Request Package form for each one on the Operation Gratitude website or if it is a large unit send the attached Roster Request form with the new names only and email the form directly to me.
We understand that deployments may get cut short and/or that units may get moved to a different base. Please notify us immediately if there is a change of address, location or return date.
Thank you for the opportunity to express our appreciation.
We hope that you can let other units know about our program so that we can support them as well.
Respectfully,
Kelly South
Senior Manager Military and First Responder Engagement
Phone 424-488-6079 Monday - Friday 9 am - 4 pm PST (West Coast)
I called Kelly and she said that I only need to get the First Initial of the sailor and the last name in order for them to receive a package, with the understanding that they are in the same unit because all will be in the same address, she said also that she does not need the rank (for privacy factor).
Feel free to reach out to them if you want your sailor and his unit receive something unexpected :)
Ask your sailor for their shipmates info and this organization will do the rest.
Hope this info can help!
-
Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on February 28, 2018 at 11:02pm
-
tmdtwins, care packages are generally sent to deployed service members in order to send some love and cheer from home, as well as sending items that may not be easily or readily available.
-
Comment by tmdtwins on February 28, 2018 at 7:19pm
-
So when do care packages get sent? I thought only cards and letters should be sent to boot camp.
-
-
Welcome Amanda. You have joined a very large family. Number one do not send anything to your son at boot camp except letters every day. My granddaughter told me don't send anything with sparkles on that they get on the floor cuz we have to clean them up haha. Once your son is there and you find out what group piece in or division you can actually join the group from his graduation date and then you will be meeting all the moms and dads that you will be meeting at graduation. I suggest when you go to graduation you book your rooms at the Navy Lodge they are really inexpensive and everyone is there.
-
Comment by S’mom on December 1, 2017 at 12:56am
-
Hi. I’m new to this group. My son starts boot camp in December. So excited to be here!
-
Comment by Pooh'sMom on November 28, 2017 at 6:42am
-
My son told me in NO WAY send anything that would single him out. Not even a stick of gum in an envelope. I did cut and paste photos, and after BC he told me for every letter with a photo, he had to show his Chief for approval.
-
Comment by NavyMom2013 on November 27, 2017 at 11:50pm
-
I numbered my son's letters on the back so he would know what order to open them.
-
-
The best way to keep him from being seriously teased about it is to just send regular white computerized papers in simple white envelopes. Nothing may be included in the envelopes beside the paper(s), not even perfume.
But . . . you can go online and copy pictures or local newspaper articles from the internet to paste onto the regular white computer paper. I copied and pasted a lot of squirrel pictures holding machine guns, etc. One I found was a bomb on a forklift where the forklift rolled off of the concrete deck and it stayed intact. It gives them something funny to laugh at and lets them see what is going on in their local home town newspapers. Look online for your local newspaper. I sent him a letter every single day for a total of about 90 pages for the 7 weeks. The others were shocked how many letters he got, sometimes several a day.
His challenged brother forgot the rules and sent a homemade card in a red envelope. When his boss was trashing him, he came back with "my brother is mentally handicapped" and he was left alone after that.
They mostly love hearing what is going on with their family and friends. Keep paper with you all the day and jot down like a diary anything that is going on even what seems meaningless. It makes them feel connected. They don't hear about news such as weather or anything else going on in the country. If you send cookies, they will throw them away. NO BOXES.
After boot camp graduation I flew to Pensacola his first station and was able to spend more time with him. This meant a lot to him.
I also sent him a schedule of what they would be doing each day. One recruit told mom to not do that because he wanted to learn it when the others did. My son liked it. They know nothing about Ricky Heaven which is a small fast food court and very little about battlestations where they work together to pass the final test on a makeshift ship. Research this before he goes. Good luck. PS When you find out the section he will be in for graduation, go to the balcony and sit in the section next to the one in front of him so you will be able to take pics from the side. The most fun is when they come back from deployment. Flags, signs, fun, fun, fun. But with all of this, remember they have to be Navy Ready and they still have watch to do so don't get frustrated if you get only a little time with them. That's why I went to his first station.
-
Comment by 9699mom on November 27, 2017 at 10:49pm
-
My son is leaving for BC on 12/14. I read on the sample "form Letter" that the recruits cannot have any food items sent to them. I am just needing someone to verify this for me. I was wanting to send enough cookies to share once or twice, but now think this won't be possible. Can anyone help me on this? Thank you
-
Comment by IslandGal on November 9, 2017 at 6:38pm
-
I totally ditto Grandma D! Write every day. Get siblings, grandparents, anyone to write. My son said he got so much mail and it was awesome. Send sport scores, music and movie stuff, any news ( they don’t get any there). I sent comics, puzzle pages, jokes and riddles, anything to fill a page. ( but no newsprint-it gets on their uniforms. Make a copy of it and then send, just an FYI.
© 2024 Created by Navy for Moms Admin.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Care Package Ideas! to add comments!