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

**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:

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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Sean's mom(Angela)

Mass Communication Specialist

Information

Mass Communication Specialist

For those with Sailors who are MC's in "A" school or assigned a duty station.

Members: 106
Latest Activity: Oct 9, 2019

http://www.dinfos.osd.mil/index.asp

Mass Communication Specialists are concerned with public affairs and visual communication. Their role is to present the US Navy to Naval and civilian audiences, through a variety of media. MCs write and produce both print and broadcast journalism, including news and feature stories for military and civilian newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations. They record still and video photography of military operations, exercises, and other Navy events.

Great link from a guy who describes "A" School at FT Meade:
http://civiliantosailor.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html

More info for those of you who have sailors getting ready to head to FT Meade:
Go to the link http://www.dinfos.osd.mil/index.asp for DINFOS. There is an ACADEMICS Tab>Course Offerings. A list of classes appears for 2010. Above the list a paragraph with a link to ATRRS. Click on the link. You may be asked to authenticate the certificate. It is safe to do so. After following those directions a page will appear with drop down boxes. Fill in the boxes for Fiscal YR (20XX, the YR searching for), School Code (212), State (MD)>search courses. You can then select each course and see the details for when those classes start & end.

Discussion Forum

Future MC - leaving for BC in 4 days

Started by Celticwoman2. Last reply by AKL5225 Jul 26, 2019. 3 Replies

Navy MCs make "first of its kind" documentary

Started by ridewaves. Last reply by ridewaves Aug 29, 2011. 4 Replies

MC "A" School blog

Started by ridewaves. Last reply by 2byzmom Aug 18, 2010. 3 Replies

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Mass Communication Specialist to add comments!

Comment by NavyMom93 on October 23, 2014 at 8:53am

I would second what gracie21 has said.  You will be able to have contact with him, but my son was very busy over the entire course of DINFOS. They can have their cell phones, but not during school. I did not talk to him much during the week, maybe a message or two on facebook, but we fell into a routine of him calling me every Sunday.  We always talk for hours then!  I agree with gracie, support, don't distract and don't put any added pressure on him.  My son did find DINFOS demanding, as well as adjusting to military life.  He has loved being at Ft. Meade and he will graduate next week, then he's home on leave! 

Comment by gracie21 on October 23, 2014 at 8:26am

My son started A school in mid July last year and graduated in early Jan the following year. He was the distinguished honor grad of the class.  They are also eligible for the Bobby McRill award.  If your Sailors thrive on recognition, the opportunity is there.  Besides their studies, they have to stand watch, and will be given leadership rolls for many things.  There is more going on than just going to school. We traveled there last Sept so that we could spend a weekend with him.  We already had a vacation scheduled in Virginia and decided it was so close that we would drive up for a weekend.  Even though he should have been free Friday after school, he had to stand watch.  We were able to pick him up early Sat am and had to return him Sun around 5.  He had to seek written permission just to do that.  We were happy to see him and I was happy to see his living arrangements.  Also:   It's quite a distance to walk to DINFOS if you don't have transportation.    That takes quite a bit of time each day too.  My Sailor got a vehicle about 6 wks into it and it helped a lot.  Good luck.  My son loved his time at Ft Meade but it was demanding and academically intense.  My motto was support but don't distract and don't add pressure or expectations for my personal needs.  They carried enough of a load as it was.  Hope this helps.

Comment by Dede04 on October 22, 2014 at 11:33pm
Gracie said that so incredibly well. My husband graduated A school mid September. It was difficult to see him. I went there once a month...unless he was swamped. One time I skipped a month because he was stretched so thin that I thought he should rest. It sucked but he graduated with his class and didn't get recycled( failing out of the class you came in with and then having to be permitted in another class). That extends his 6 months there so believe me waiting and understanding and seeing him every month or less is in your best interest too.
Comment by gracie21 on October 22, 2014 at 11:03pm

Wow, it's nice to see activity in this group.  My son is a MC and I longed for others to chat with here in this exchange.  I want to just share something mainly for the benefit of the gal who wants to visit for 1-2 wks to share an anniversary.  "A" school for MC's is very difficult.  They must phase up before any type of weekend liberty is granted and many times they may only leave Ft. Meade with other liberty buddies.  I doubt that you will have much time at all with your boyfriend.  Once in the Navy, you will learn quickly that birthdays, Christmas, any type of special occasion will most likely be missed by your Sailor. A school is so difficult that I would not have wanted my son distracted from his studies.  Many fail this program and must face dismissal or if lucky, be rerated for another job.  There is very little time for personal outings and relaxation.  It is intense.  I just don't think your Sailor is going to have the time to spend with you, nor the ability or liberty to do so.  I would encourage him but not distract.  He will need everything he has to complete this course and continue on as a MC.  It is a great opportunity.  I'm sure you want to see him make it!  Good luck on the journey. Please tell him to pay attention to detail ALWAYS.

Comment by Joje on October 22, 2014 at 5:37pm

Welcome heyma313!  We are planning to attend the Meet and Greet.  MommaJ - there are four of us now!  We are all in together ;) I would love to know what to expect for Christmas if any of the Veteran moms have info!!

Comment by heyma313 on October 22, 2014 at 4:31pm

Hi All, does anyone have any information on Thanksgiving and Christmas at Ft. Meade. My son's PIR is 11/21/14. I was wondering since my SR is graduating the week before Thanksgiving, will the base have dinner or something where he and the other newbies won't feel so alone?

Comment by MommaJ on October 22, 2014 at 2:17pm

Hello Ladies, I just found out, about your group, from a veteran mom on the PIR 11/26/14 group.  My SR started, at RTC, on Oct 1, and will be heading to Maryland for A school.  Laura, and Joje our SR's are all in together! 

Comment by heyma313 on October 8, 2014 at 3:41pm

Good Afternoon Ladies, I just received my form letter from my SR (ship 04 DIV 17/ PIR 11/21/14).  He will be at Ft Meade for A School and will be a Mass Communications Specialists.  Looking forward to sharing our experiences.

Comment by Joje on October 7, 2014 at 12:03pm
Laura - I meant to ask in my comment - when did your son arrive at RTC?
Comment by Joje on October 7, 2014 at 10:06am

Hi Laura, My son arrived on 10/2 and is also MC!  Looks like we will have 8 months or so together as moms :)  I haven't received the form letter so I'm not sure what my son's PIR date will be.  We are guessing that it could be 11-26, but more likely 12/5 since he arrived on a Thursday evening.  Welcome!

 

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