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Navy For Moms

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:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

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**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

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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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 August

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This group is for N4M members that have a loved one leaving for bootcamp in August...I will leave the year open so that even future Deppers leaving in the month of August of any year can join...Lets share stories, information, concerns, and questions

Website: http://www.navyformoms.com/group/deppersinbutnotyet
Members: 746
Latest Activity: Jul 22, 2022

Hello everyone and welcome to the Navy!!! This Group was started for the loved one of DEPpers leaving in the month of August (although everyone is welcome).......What year you say? Well ......any year!

We are an extension of the group DEPpers/Future Sailors....in, but not gone yet- see the link above.

If you haven't been there, go there now....There is a ton of information that you will need and are probably dying for....like what to send with them to Boot Camp and BC videos! :)

So if you have general information and comments that will be helpful and/or encouraging for ALL new DEP/Future Sailor Moms, then leave it in that main DEPper/Future Sailors Group, but if you have August 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 August, ...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."

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You need to be a member of DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in August to add comments!

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on August 18, 2011 at 10:38am: SheilaD

Well, that's two seperate topics actually! = )

PIR is on one day...almost always a Friday. The exceptions to that are when there is a National holiday on the Monday following or it is Thanksgiving etc.Then PIR is moved up a day. I think Thanksgiving it gets moved up too W. Occassionally a week is skipped.

Staying out there. You have to calculate WHEN your Sailor is leaving for their "A" school...the school where he will train in his rating (job). He could have one school or several depending on his rating (you don't have to go each time, though there are "A" school graduations. Most don't attend as BC is the "bigee", expense, time etc. But some do!)

If they are going to remain at Great Lakes Naval Station they move over their from RTC (Recruit Training Command) the day of PIR (right after PIR, delaying their liberty for 3-5 hours) and then have the rest of the weekend with you.

If they are flying out to another state, they will leave the next morning at about 1-2 AM for the airport ( the Navy will usually make only ONE trip to the airport for all Sailors). Most airlines will allow you a gate pass to go through security to stay with your Sailor until their flight leaves.

These are the basic guidelines...they are ALWAYS subject to change. Mine PIR'd on a Thursday as it was Memorial Day weekend. He was supposed to leave Friday as he was going to Pensacola. Two days before PIR he called while I was flying to say that he was now leaving Sunday.

Luckily I had been warned about this and had booked to stay until Sunday. I figured if things stayed the way they were I would just vacation for a day or two!

Your Sailor is going to be your BEST source...just plan as well as you can and try not to worry about it too much. You'll come to a decision and be at peace with it!

I made hotel reservations right away as most hotels allow change up to 24 hours. Then I made flight plans about 4 weeks into BC.

Comment by Judi(NavyMom) on August 18, 2011 at 10:29am: ShielaD-My daughter leaves Monday! Sent you a friend request.

Philly5inWI also has son leaving same time. Lets stick together !

Comment by ZZsMom on August 18, 2011 at 10:23am: PIR is normally on a Friday morning, unless there is a holiday. We are planning on being in Chicago Thursday afternoon and leaving late Sunday morning. The way I am reading everything most will have liberty Friday until around 9:00 pm then go to the airport early Saturday morning. We intend to sit at the airport with her as long as she is there which is why we aren't leaving until Sunday.

Comment by SheilaD on August 18, 2011 at 9:51am: My son leaves for BC on the 24th (next week!). Gave out lots of blue candles to my family, so we'll all remember to pray for him! We're going to go in for his final swearing in at MEPS in Brooklyn, too. I am meeting with his recruiter today - I just have a few questions to ask, and I prefer to do it in person.

Is the PIR just one day, or do you stay out there multiple days?

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on August 18, 2011 at 9:17am: BTW, The reason I say "most likely" is that sometimes recruits are in a push divison-time is pushed up and they complete BC in less then 8 weeks OR for some IN 8 weeks from the time they actually arrived at BC (I was told 9 weeks for BC because of "P" days-but my Sailor arrived to RTC on March 29th and PIR'd on May 26th-8 weeks. We were waiting to see if it would be the 3rd of June- 9 weeks). Not sure WHY this happens...sometimes inprocessing, "P" days aka known as h*** on earth LOL,takes longer and if it falls in the middle of a week RTC then decides weather to go with the eight weeks from the end of "P" days or to "push" and do it in 7.

It can also do with the way DIV are filled. Other than SPECOPS and the performing DIV (900 div), DIV are filled pretty randomly...usually 88 to start a DIV...as groups arrive from the airport. So the SPECOPS get filtered out and the 900's. Once a DIV is filled they then start the next. So a group could have a few "leftovers" that wait until the next DIV is formed.

Sooooo, that being said...your FORM letter is the best source for your recruits PIR date. I am on the west coast and it took a week to get the box and 11 days for the form letter. Those closer to Chicago usually get there's faster! You can call your recruiter for the info also.

AND it is still a good idea to get the PIR group going!

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on August 18, 2011 at 8:15am: Those of you with recruits leaving August 15th through the 19th one of you will need to get your PIR group started.

It is best to have a new mom from the TG (Training Group) be the creator of the group. You do have to be able to devote time to your group to monitor it and "groom" it. Also, you will have the power to delete inapporpriate posts...OPSEC (Operational Security) is very important and needs to be mantained. So think about this first. Plus, it's fun, and gives you a sense of pride! You will see how much you grow while you go through PIR. You just might get "the bug" and want to remain and help out...you'll definitely want to keep in connection with the firends you make!

Please friend me if you are interested.

We do advise for the creator to appoint a couple of "veteran" moms (moms that have been through PIR and stayed on N4M to help out) and/or a few other moms from the group to be an "Administrator" help out. An admin is allowed to make changes to info in the group masthead and delete inappropriate posts from the Discussion Forum section. Only the creator may delete ANY post from anywhere on the group pages. Individual posters may always delete or edit their own posts. Another reason for an admin is in the event the creator leaves her group for any reason. It has happened on accassion rather early on and groups have been without the nice countdown clocks and persnalized picture for their groups. Can we still function...of course...you get what I mean though!

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on August 18, 2011 at 7:57am: Those of you that had recruits leaving August 8th through the12th the 10/07/2011 PIR group will most likely be your TG. We have reports of Divisons 329-334 so far. It is NOT confirmed yet what the total amount of divisions are for this TG from RTC yet.

(The SHIP is where they reside in BC, the barracks, there are 14 "Ships" and they are all named after real naval vessels. The Division is actually the more important number. They stencil it into their Sailor hat and it stays with them for life. It was the first thing I asked my new Sailor to show me!)

You may join if you like, in fact I encourage you to do so, you may always change to your correct PIR group if it is not yours.

Here is the link for 10/07:

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir-10-07-2011-tg-47

Welcome Ladies!

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on August 18, 2011 at 6:36am: Hello Ladies,

My son PIR'd on 05/26/2011. I have stayed on N4M to help out with the PIR groups and anywhere else that I can!LOL

A couple of you wondered why your SR (Seaman Recruit) pant legs ,or leg, was rolled up when they were returned to you.

There is special machine that they stand on that measures there feet (digital) for shoes and boots, so they role up the pant leg(s), but it is hustle, hustle, hustle and they probably either don't get to roll them down or are told not too and to keep moving.

I'm going with the second because it's Boot Camp and thinking as an RDC would this would be one of my first tests to see if you can follow orders.

Can you imagine the "pull" to want to fix your pant leg?! But then think about it...in the sceme of things it is inconsequential.

Comment by donnac (ship 02 div 948) on August 17, 2011 at 9:50pm: Hi My son left today, we went to the swearing in ceremony at the MEPS in Brooklyn. It was really great spending time with him before he left. He was able to text me before he went on the plane and he texted me when he landed. He called for the last time just before they were going to the baggage claim which was about 7:50 pm eastern time. He told us that that would probably be the last time he can use his phone until he makes his 15 second call to let us know he is there. I'm sitting here with my daughter and his girlfriend and we are just waiting for that phone call. I'm so proud of him and excited for him to start this new endeavor but on the other hand my heart is broken because I miss him so much already. Thanks for listening.