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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.

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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 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.)

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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 September

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

Website: http://www.navyformoms.com/group/deppersinbutnotyet
Members: 601
Latest Activity: Sep 3, 2022

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

If you have September 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 September, ...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 Fitness Standards"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 37 seconds for female recruits."

Discussion Forum

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

Comment by Thetwoj on September 11, 2012 at 1:38pm: Proud MawMaw, It will be okay. The PACT program is not the end of the world. At the end of the day it's better to go in with a specific job and career path. However the PACT (or Apprentice Program) will still give her an opportunity to strike a job, it just takes a couple years. She can't advance past E3 until 24 months. But don't worry, she will get to try out everything on the ship and be sure of what she wants when the time comes.

Comment by karis on September 11, 2012 at 12:29pm: I totally understand deboraho, although mine hasn't left yet.The seperation from our kids is hard especially if we have never been. I know nothing about military life but from what I gather from the groups are that they are so busy they don't have time to think. Hopefully that also means they have no time to miss us and when they finally get to bed they are so tired they pass out. then get up the next morning and do it all over again. Its hard on us who are back home and have all the time in the word to obsess over our kids because that is what we have done with them theire entire life. I hope this makes you feel better and next week when I am going through this you can throw my words back at me . LOL

Seriously take care of yourself and try to relax. Saying good bye is hard but as someone told me this is a new chapter for our kiddos and we should try celebrating that and not being sad making our kids feel guilty for leaving. Cheer up:) We are all in the same boat together and we will help each other through this!!!

Comment by SailorMom59 (son deployed) on September 11, 2012 at 12:11pm: Ya'll are soooo awesome!! My son leaves on the 25th....and this page keeps me sane!! Thank you for all the info, the advice....the togetherness!! THANK YOU!! I am a nervous wreck, and it's so great having this support!!

Comment by karis on September 11, 2012 at 12:08pm: @ deboraho, Have you received your I am here call yet?

Comment by karis on September 11, 2012 at 11:51am: @ Diana(USSBoxer/IT3) Thank you so much! Have a great day as well.

Comment by Diana(PO3/IT3) on September 11, 2012 at 10:47am: Hugs for you MawMaw....your girl is going to do just great. How can she not surrounded by all that love, love, love....

Karis: Yes on the Bible. You could also put the addresses and phone numbers on a credit card size slip of paper and tuck it in his wallet. As for dinner on Sunday night before the swearing in, I don't know of many new SRs who prefer 'hanging with new buddies' than a last good meal with the family. Trust me on this one, they will SO wish they had that last good supper because the next 8-9 weeks will only be those new buddies and pretty bland food. My suggestion: go to a favorite family restaurant Sunday night (you can spend time with him after he checks in. They will have a curfew as they start at 5/6am for MEPS.). Make it light and fun. The swearing in on Monday is very cool. They will bring in the families there with the recruits, of all branches, for a talk before going into the swearing in room. Quite official. At that point, you'll know your son is stepping over the threshold to adulthood.... Go ahead and cry - everyone else does! It's a good thing.

Don't worry about 'if he doesn't follow the rules...'. That's the Navy's concern now. They will make sure he does and give him opportunities to 'show his stuff'. Still, in bootcamp, it's do as you are told...not a time to challenge or question. They need to become a team and rely on each other. When it gets down to it, these 'kids' are training to protect and serve our country. Their safety depends upon following a tried and true set of orders and watch each other's backs. Team work is key. I'm sure your son will do fine. Gotta let him go momma!

Enjoy these next days. Remember you WILL see your son again - in a very short time - and that reunion is special like none other.

Have a beautiful day everyone!

Comment by karis on September 11, 2012 at 9:58am: To ProudMawMaw, hang in there!!!

To Diana(USSBoxer/IT3) - I made my son text his recruiter last night and ask how things would go down on Monday. He said we would need to take him to him on sunday and he would stay the night there. Then the official swearing in would be done Monday morning and we could be there. Whew what a relief. I am so glad that we can go take pictures. I am not craxy about the "See ya later" part. If he can hold it together I will be better, not going to say there won't be some happy and sad tears come out. However if he is a mess then I will be too. I just can't watch others cry :( Just a big crybaby

I will have to ask about coming in the evening on Sunday to the hotel and having dinner with him if that will be allowed but he may just rather hang out with his new buddies and not have to worry about us and that would be fine too.

I have warned him about some of the things I have seen on here about what happens if he doesn't follow rules or forgets procedures or something. It's not that I don't think he can do this but he has always had and issue of remembering everything and doing it someone elses way and not his. He just needs to remember don't give up!

He is not religious but I thought about getting him a bible so he can keep his addresses/phone numbers in it. Someone said that even if they got into trouble that is the one thing they wouldn't take from them. anyone know if that is true?

I also have to remember those phone cards!Thanks for all the moms out there that have made sure us newbies know about the free phone cards to our kids can call home! You all have been a great support system and full of info I would never even think about asking.Good luck to you all with your SR.

Comment by ProudMawMaw(Ship 3 Division 360) on September 11, 2012 at 1:14am: Mom got the call at 11:23. God keep her safe, strong and healthy. Thanks to all of you for listening to the rambling on from this Proud Maw Maw. God bless all the SR's and their families who love them and will miss them. God speed.
Marlene

Comment by Diana(PO3/IT3) on September 10, 2012 at 10:52pm: karis....you absolutely can go to MEPS for the official swearing in. They do have a swearing in at the beginning of the DEP process...but the one just before leaving for bootcamp seals the deal and is pretty cool to witness. Being that close, you can take your SR over there. Just be sure to find out the time they need to be there and be on time. There is usually a place for families to hang out while the SRs complete paperwork, etc. Your SR will know what time the swearing in will be. Stay close as it comes up kind of fast. Your SR will also get their trip info to Great Lakes. You can stay to the end - even to the airport in many cases (but I don't think you can drive them there - just meet up to say 'see you later'.) Don't be afraid to ask questions...... I drove my daughter down to her hotel and meet her at MEPS when she started out last year. I couldn't take her to MEPS once she checked in the hotel because she was now officially under the Navy system. I could meet up with her though - at MEPS and later back at the hotel for dinner before she was flown out the next morning at 6am.

I hope that helps you. You need to be assertive and keep your ears open. Get your SR to ask the questions and give you the info. The Navy does like seeing families supportive in send offs and homecomings and all the reasons to celebrate in between as well as the "down" times when everyone needs uplifting and encouragement.

Comment by durrichShip03/Div354 on September 10, 2012 at 10:08pm: dknight75 - they will get a chance to sleep on the bus which is much better than flying~ our I've arrived call came at 1:30 AM