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
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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 December
Information
This group is for N4M members that have a loved one leaving for bootcamp in Dec..I will leave the year open so that even future Deppers leaving in the month of Dec of any year can join...Lets share stories, information, concerns, and questions
Website: http://www.navyformoms.com/group/deppersinbutnotyet
Members: 521
Latest Activity: Oct 2, 2022
Hello everyone and welcome to the Navy!!! This Group was started for the loved one of DEPPERS leaving in the month of December (although everyone is welcome).......What year you say? Well ......any year!
If you have December 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 December, ...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
What makes December boot camp different?
Started by Arwen. Last reply by Velvetenor Nov 10, 2019. 89 Replies 20 Likes
12/10/18
Started by pilots17. Last reply by rebecca Dec 20, 2018. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Son Left 12/13/17
Started by Janice. Last reply by Danita Dec 28, 2017. 13 Replies 1 Like
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by Purplemom (Ship 3 Div 084) on November 12, 2010 at 3:28pm
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My husband already told our son that if the opportunity to go to church is offered to take it. He told him it may be the best sleep he gets during BC. LOL!
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Comment by Lynne on November 12, 2010 at 2:04pm
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So funny, but so true and my son wanted to go to church during PIR weekend because the chaplain always pointed to the balcony and reminded the recruits that boot camp does end and someday they too would get to sit in the balcony like the sailors and my son wanted to sit in the balcony....I thought that was so funny...
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Comment by Arwen on November 12, 2010 at 1:29pm
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Let me tell you a little secret about church at boot camp.
Far more recruits go than are actually religious. Many go for what else is offered. I had an atheist friend who went for the donuts and soda that are left out on a table at the church, two items recruits can't get otherwise. There is also another, unusual attraction for recruits to go to church services.
Recruits are pretty sleep deprived, and if they choose stay in barracks Sunday and holiday mornings, the ONLY thing they aren't allowed to do is sleep. Most chaplains don't care if recruits sleep in the pews, so many choose to go to services - to sleep. There are as many snores going on in church as there are prayers, LOL.
So, if your normally non-church going recruit tells you that s/he has been going to church, don't get too excited. They may be there for the Zs.
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However on the bright side their lives are so regimented they are thrilled with any Holiday schedule...that four hours in the morning where they get to sleep till 6AM and then have church time, ironing time, and letter writing time is like gold to them...you can have Christmas at PIR...it will be okay...it will make it tougher in some ways Daysleeper...but many recruits lose track of time because each day is same as the last...except church day...so when you are writing letters don't make too big of a deal about them missing the holidays...the bigger the deal you make of it...the worse they will feel...keep your letter positive and focused on PIR and encouraging them and your belief in them...
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Daysleeper, only senior recruits (and not all of them) get the nice dinner at the Vets Hall, those in their 6th or 7th weeks, nearly ready to graduate. Junior recruits (processing through 4th week) aren't eligible.
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Recruits will NOT be allowed leave (or liberty) on Christmas. The day is barely recognized. They get the morning off to go to church, study, or write letters, but after lunch they get back to training. They do get a nice dinner, though.
No visitors, no phone calls.
By the way:
"Leave" means the same as paid vacation, 72 hours or longer.
"Liberty" is time off, such as getting off work at the end of the day or weekends, is usually less than 72 hours.
I have a longer explanation about what December recruits will go through, and how it's different from the usual boot camp experience, in the discussion forum (above).
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Comment by battlebuddy on November 12, 2010 at 1:53am
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Well tomorrow morning JTW's recruiter is doing a home visit. I already feel sorry for him having to deal with "me" and all my questions. I am going to try to go easy on him. Does anyone know if the recruits in BC will be allowed to "leave" on Christmas eve or day? I have a co-worker in Arlington Heights who said she would love to have him over if they are allowed to leave.
Wish Mr. Recruiter luck....he is already ....my husband will be home so he will make mom behave..... <3 Happy Veterans Day <3 Grandfather Air Force WWII, Husband Army 8 years Infantry. Son BC in December! Very proud of the wonderful men in my life...I have been so blessed!
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Comment by mamawalrus on November 11, 2010 at 10:02pm
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Smichelle@my son Leaves Dec 8th and also BUD candidate. Where are you all from? We are in Albuqurque.
Bev618@my prayers are with you and your family. This will become a lifeline, support group and a place to laugh and share our BC timeline as our sons/daughters start their journey. I hope you can use "us" to get you through the tough times while your son is away.
BBwinthemoon@wow you have your hands full......applause to you and prayers as well.. hang in there and you are doing a great job.
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There isn't a lot they can do to prepare for the cold. The Navy issues very, VERY warm parkas (Chris said they were almost too warm, even when the temperature dipped below zero), boots with wool socks, scarves, ski masks, warm hats, and thick, lined gloves.
The barracks are very new, and cozy. Recruits live, study and eat in the same building. They can go days without ever leaving the hallways of their "ship." (each barracks building is called a ship, and is named for a famous Navy ship). They only go outside to go to medical, the store, or special training such as swimming, weapons or firefighting.
The #1 danger is ice. The Navy does its best to keep the sidewalks de-iced, but sometimes at Great Lakes its a losing battle. They need to learn to walk on ice. Imagine walking across a soapy floor. Chris, having lived in Colorado for a large portion of his life, had no problem, but recruits from non-icy areas of the country fell a lot. Many were even injured badly enough to be put in the medical division until they healed.
The secret to walking on ice is to step STRAIGHT DOWN, to keep all motion vertical. and take small steps. Do not be in a hurry. Any horizontal movement of the foot is likely to result in a slip.
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Comment by BBWinthemoon on November 10, 2010 at 6:34pm
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Smichelle, my son leaves the first week of Dec as well and is also a BUDS. Hope that we can chat.
bev618, so sorry to hear about your health, my sister was just diagonsed and just had a double masectomy, she is doing well, but on top of my oldest leaving, 2 younger ones at home i am now also caring for my niece and nephew while my sister recuperates and gets ready for chemo! have a great trip and keep us posted.
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