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
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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DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in April
Information
This group is for N4M members that have a loved one leaving for bootcamp in April...I will leave the year open so that even future Deppers leaving in the month of April of any year can join...Lets share stories, information, concerns, and questions
Website: http://www.navyformoms.com/group/deppersinbutnotyet
Members: 469
Latest Activity: Jul 21, 2022
Hello everyone and welcome to the Navy!!! This Group was started for the loved one of DEPPERS leaving in the month of April (although everyone is welcome).......What year you say? Well ......any year!
If you have April ship out issues/questions etc., need specific information, (or have some to share) or just want to talk to someone that is where you are, with a Recruit leaving for and arriving in BC in April, ...then this is the place to be. :-)
Remember, don't "miss 'em while you're with them!" :) Make the most of every precious moment together before they leave. This will be a big transition for both of you! We'll be here for you every step of the way...
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Things to do in the last month before your future sailor leaves (Click on the link.)
Once your recruit has arrived at RTC, the next stop here is to join the group Boot Camp for Moms (and loved ones) Hangout and ask questions in this group until your form letter arrives.
***New news just out today (9/25/19) from the US Navy Recruit Training Command FaceBook page:
Attention families and friends of RTC: Previously, upon arrival to boot camp, recruits would box up their civilian belongings and ship it to their choice of destination. Our new procedure now has those boxes being stored locally and will be returned to the recruits the day before graduation. The new procedure went into effect this week beginning with Div. 409 in Training Group 52.
Approx two to three weeks after your recruit arrives you will receive the "Form Letter". The form letter will include their Ship# , DIV #, their mailing address, PIR date, and the Security Access Form. The Security Access form needs to be completed and sent back to your recruit ASAP. Keep this letter in a safe place, it has the information you will need.
The date that is on the form letter is the official date for your Recruit's Training Groups PIR (graduation), Things can always change for an individual Recruit (due to illness, injury, failure to pass a final test etc.)! So, we always recommend that you plan, if possible, to purchase Refundable or Exchangeable plane tickets.
After you have received the form letter, join the group for your recruits PIR. There you can ask questions about PIR, training, hotels etc.Those groups will be posted in the Boot Camp for Mom's group.
Thanks for joining us. We hope you will realize you are not alone, and will soon make new friends, plus feel supported and encouraged! :)
**It is very important that your future Sailor be physically fit prior to shipping to the RTC (these are new standards beginning 1/1/2018) and that he be able to pass an initial run test. See Navy Sets New Physical Fitness Standard to Start Boot Camp. "The initial run standard is evaluated on the 1.5 mile run of the first Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) at boot camp. The initial run standard for male recruits will be 16 minutes 10 seconds and 18 minutes seven seconds for female recruits."
Discussion Forum
View discussions in the DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in April forum!
Comment Wall
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Comment by Sealifedifferently-ship11/Div209 on April 20, 2010 at 6:47pm
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Thanks JessicaB - I was going to do this but I got swampped at work... I appreciate it.
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Comment by MamaBear kk on April 20, 2010 at 10:54am
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http://www.navyformoms.com/group/900sdivisionsailors
Duston'sMom (Ship 06, Div 930) ~ The 900 series divisions are known as the performing divisions. Many think this division is for the musically inclined Recruit. Not the case. The performing divisions (900 series) have ALL of the responsibilities of the other divisions during boot camp AND they practice for their PIR (graduation) and the two (2) PIRs prior to theirs. They overlap the duties of the 900 series divisions to encompass the 50 state flags (awesome routines), the color guard, the rifle drill team, the drum corp (also one of my favorites), etc. Some 900 series divisions run two perfomring tasks, others run three - also known as "triple threat." When my son's division was formed, they interviewed their prospective Recruits. The divisions have been (to the best of my knowledge) mixed (co-ed) divisions; 44 males and 44 females. The Recruits selected may have the following: high ASVAB tester, prior leadership skills, etc. The music or band past experiences are a plus - but not needed. 88 enter the division - but in some cases not all remain. If they can't keep up the pace, or just do not have a good fit into the plan - they may be removed and sent to other divisions. In addition, they may also replace those with Recruits from other divisions. They are a proud group and work really really hard. Be a proud mom! Your SR is very proud of the PIR event! You will be amazed : ) ~ kk
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Comment by Blanca (Ship 07 Div 202) on April 20, 2010 at 1:19am
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Thank you so much mamabearkk for all those great tips it helps a lot!
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Hello everyone, I got my son's box 4/13 and his small letter telling us he is fine, it made feel so good to see that, he says he is a section leader and taking a lot of test....I'm so proud of him, no phone calls :(, let me know if any mom has her son in the same div as mine?
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I got my letter today, but no box. My son is Ship 11 division 209 and his PIR date is 6/11/10. It was such a great feeling when i read the few lines he wrote at the bottom. But he is doing well and had a sense of humor. Mom can sleep well tonight.
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Comment by Duston'sMom on April 19, 2010 at 10:46pm
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Thanks for the info MamaBear kk. So, what's the scoop with the 900 division?
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Comment by Shelly/Ethan's Mom Ship07Div206 on April 19, 2010 at 10:37pm
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I got my letter and the box today. Ethan is graduating 6-4. Ship 7 Div 206 I have been on the phone all night booking our rooms and flights. I swear my head hurts. We have 14 people going to Great Lakes for this graduation. I know only 4 people get into graduation but everyone wants to go so they can see Ethan that weekend.
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Your SR will not utilize his first name once he enters GL RTC - except for forms, mail, etc. They only use last names when being addressed or addressing others. This actually carries through A & C School, etc... My friend was in the Air Force for 21 years and last names were all they knew.
With this in mind, if N4M members ask their son/daughter/spouse if they know "ooooo" - they will not have a clue who that is. They identify by last names (and please do not post any last names - respect your SRs' privacy), their ship or division jobs, and sometimes what state they are from, or if a 900 series division - what their performance is (i.e. which state flag, honor guard, drum type, tuba, etc.). ~ : ) ~ kk
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Mail to the SRs while at GL RTC ~ They are allowed letter mail only. No food of any kind. No magazines - but you can include a page or two within a letter. Some SRs wanted the magazine pages copied as the black and white caused less attention. You may send them pictures. They do not have a lot of room so be selective and all appropriate content. In other words, if you think the friends back home will try to be funny with inappropriate material and pictures (and they do) withhold the address and give it to those that will follow instructions. I suggest all white envelopes, no scents, no stickers, and no drawings on the envelopes. Be creative and make cards - ClipArt is free! No musical cards (they cause too much unwanted attention). Mail often. I mailed daily - sometimes twice a day. They crave mail. They will not always respond to your questions - as they are sending what matters to them at the moment. In the beginning their letters may seem depressing - they are homesick. They will improve. Their first four (4) weeks are very very tough. The remaining weeks are also tough - but they have adjusted their priorities, rules, and time management. Be very very positive and send much love and praise. In other words, they can't fix anything that is broken at home - so it is best not to mention any negative situation. You have to be up for them.
I enclosed a pane of four (4) stamps in my letters a couple of times a week. Then they do not run out. My son asked if he was putting too many stamps on his letters, as he was concerned about them getting to us. I told him he could use as many as he wanted, as the stamp count always gave us a chuckle.
Your SR will also be very appreciative if you send them a black and white printed calendar, with room to write in the date boxes, for the current month and the next two months. They get a little sleep deprived and the days all seem to run together. The calendar really helps!
~ : ) ~ kk
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Duston'sMom ~ I left my Kid-In-A-Box packed the entire time of boot camp. I removed the cell phone and the tennis shoes. The remainder of the clothes were in the box until I came home from PIR weekend. My son laughed when I told him I needed something to hug! Now the box is loaded with memorabilia. : ) ~ kk
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