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:
Events
**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:
In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.
**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.
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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Now Your Sailor is at Dam Neck
With the N4M website growing in popularity and new billets being added to the IS program we have seen a substantial increase in the number of new members to the IS group. Welcome all of you. We have found ourselves over the past few months answering some of the same questions many times. It is wonderful that families are so involved with and supportive of their sailors, and want to know so much about what they face as they go from Seaman Recruit (SR) at boot camp, to SA (Seaman Apprentice) at Dam Neck, to IS as they exit school.
I hope in this discussion area questions about A school, C school, the Dam Neck Annex, and the Virginia Beach area can be addressed. Let me remind everyone that in the Navy there are basic rules of thumb. First, hurry up and wait...they ask you to hurry so you can sit around and wait. Second, nothing is etched in stone...base commanders change, instructors change, equipment and technology change, rules change, and orders change; that's what the Navy and our National Security need at that given time. Third, please understand that we all have come to this website for support, comfort, friendship and answers; we can not answer things we do not know or that should not be put on the internet.
Please remember that these things are subject to change:
At the time of this posting, when your sailor leaves boot camp if you can meet them at the airport, they will be allowed to bring a cell phone, a laptop, and a small personal music device (iPod or similar). You do not have to face the "kid in a box" again. Although your sailor will have a lot more freedom at Dam Neck, the first several days are busy (actually all their days are) with getting processed into the school, going to medicals to hand them their medical records, finding their way around, and in the meantime being active sailors. They will be put on a duty section where the sailor must remain at the barracks except to go to the school building, get something to eat, or if scheduled for an appointment. I have been told that duty is every fourth day now. If they are on duty, they will be assigned duties to perform, if their duty section leader assesses them and feels that they are not performing up to standard their duties may be reassigned. They may also have to stand watches.
Also, if you were not able to attend PIR or spend time with your sailor after graduation, be aware there is a strict rule that while they are out in uniform they cannot be walking and on the cell phone at the same time. Since they march in formation to and from the barracks and school that cuts into time as well. They will do PT (Physical Training) several times a week, either before getting ready for school or in the afternoons after classes. They must keep their rooms in ship shape because they do get inspected. They do their own laundry and do general cleaning around the outside of the barracks. Do not expect them to answer the phone every time you call just because they are on hold, waiting to class up. They are still kept busy.
Dam Neck is a small base just south of the main Virginia Beach. It has it's own beach as well. The MWR (Morale, Wellness, and Recreation) building has a bank of computers where your sailor can send emails or go online. They also have a projection TV, a room with gaming consoles, a small theater (there is a larger IMAX theater at Oceana, NAS), a coin operated laundry room, pool tables, lounging area, and a very helpful staff. There is a small NEX store (a larger NEX mall at Oceana), and a Chapel which has 2 or 3 services on Sundays, maybe Saturdays as well. There are I believe, 3 softball fields, a track, a walking/running path, tennis courts, and I think I remember some outdoor basketball courts. For those of legal age there is an enlisted club as well I think. A sailor is considered "legal age" on base if he/she is of legal age in his/her home state, is the way I understood it.
Phasing up: The first week at Dam Neck your sailor basically has no liberties. Once they arrive at Dam Neck though they can call, text, email the address to you and you can ship clothing, any small electronics they did not take with them, and some food stuffs. Your sailor will be told to send any parcels certified. I can tell you as other moms can too that what they mean is ship it insured. Certified is for documents and letters. If you send it USPS-insured, it will get sent to the NEX for pick up. If it is not insured, only the minimum postage paid on it, the parcel will be sent to the school building and security will have to have your sailor name off all the items that are in the parcel. Believe me Chris and I had to go through that and if there is food stuff in an uninsured parcel, they give the sailor a big frown. :( They do not like food at the school.
POVs (Personally Owned Vehicles) :
When Chris phased up to being allowed his car on base we checked with Fleet and Family Services at Oceana and they gave us the hours of operation for the Pass and ID office at Oceana. To bring the vehicle on base (or even one visiting on base) a pass must be issued for the vehicle. If it is during the weekend and you are simply visiting, those passes can be issued at the gate but ONLY if the Pass and ID office is closed. Otherwise ALL vehicles must go to the Pass and ID Office. A couple of moms have posted more current information about vehicle registration below. (Sorry I'm having trouble making my Admin tools work properly, or I would paste the links here)
After approximately 6 weeks at Dam Neck your sailor will be phased up to full liberties where he/she can leave when their liberty begins on Friday and remain off base until Sunday night. All liberties are considered a privilege that can be recalled at anytime the Navy decides they need your sailor more. Also if they are scheduled for duty over the weekend they will either have to swap with someone in advance or they will have to remain at barracks during that 24 hours. Plan visits accordingly.
Visits: You may go to Dam Neck and visit your sailor. There are many places available in the Virginia Beach area. They vary in prices, availability, services, etc just like anywhere else. I stayed at the Navy Lodge right there on the Annex and found it very nice. The room was clean, there was a small kitchenette, and more than enough towels. There was also a small play area for younger kids, charcoal grills out back and picnic tables. It was just about a slow five minute drive over to the barracks so Chris was able to leave the room just before midnight and be checked in, in time. He came back over early the next morning. If you are out and about on the base (the MWR, riding around, the NEX, etc) your escort (sailor) must remain with you. Except for traveling directly to and from the Navy Lodge they should be in the car with you also.
School: The school hours and days may vary by holidays, mandatory medicals, Instructor's meetings and things of that nature. Most of the time school begins at 8:00am and runs til lunch break, they march back then to barracks or the galley, have their meal and then march back for the after noon session. On some Fridays they may be excused around lunch time, and those not on duty can usually begin their liberty if they have earned it.
Both A school and C school are very competitive and demand a lot of study time. If a sailor fails a unit they can sometimes retake the test but they will be put on mando (mandatory study time), or they may be put on hold and have to be dropped from that class and wait until another class makes it to that unit. It is not unusual for students to go back to the schoolhouse after evening meal and study until, 9:00, 10:00 or even later at night.
A school is 13 weeks long. it is a general over view of Intelligence specialties and whatever else they learn. (Who knows?) C School is job specific. Near the end of a school a sailor has the opportunity to make his/her "dream assignment" known. The Navy will then release a pool of job openings by the specialty and/or location of the job. The highest ranking student in the class (highest grade average) is allowed to choose first. The second highest gets to choose second and so on. These are only preliminary choices that may be changed later. That happened to my son. He picked DC and the instructors began talking to him about the area and 3 weeks into C school his orders were changed to go overseas. Again, nothing is etched in stone.
Depending on the specialty that the sailor trains in during C school determines the number of weeks that his/her C school will last. One specialty school lasts about 6 weeks, another I believe, lasts about 15 weeks, and then Strike and a couple of other more classified areas train for I think about 8-12 weeks. Those, I am not as sure about since my son starts shutting up on some of it and there is not so much info out there on those couple of specialties. Everything in IS is a "need to know basis" and that's stuff I don't need to know. There is more info on all this in Ellen's discussion about the IS rating in general.
When a sailor completes A school there is a very brief and very informal graduation for them. I understand that when C school is completed the "ceremony" lasts a little longer but still informal. I understand that family may attend. I will post more about this after I attend my son's graduation soon.
The one thing I can tell you is that I asked a few moms whose kids were already out in the field and they have all said that their sailors like what they do. It is a field that is vital to our security and gives them a wonderful background for other jobs after coming out of military service. Please tell your sailors thank you for their service and congratulations, they've earned it.
It sounds as though there are a lot of negatives here but it not really so bad and there is free time. It’s just better to be aware that they are still in the Navy and are basically on the job 24/7. Will post more later about the VB area.
I hope in this discussion area questions about A school, C school, the Dam Neck Annex, and the Virginia Beach area can be addressed. Let me remind everyone that in the Navy there are basic rules of thumb. First, hurry up and wait...they ask you to hurry so you can sit around and wait. Second, nothing is etched in stone...base commanders change, instructors change, equipment and technology change, rules change, and orders change; that's what the Navy and our National Security need at that given time. Third, please understand that we all have come to this website for support, comfort, friendship and answers; we can not answer things we do not know or that should not be put on the internet.
Please remember that these things are subject to change:
At the time of this posting, when your sailor leaves boot camp if you can meet them at the airport, they will be allowed to bring a cell phone, a laptop, and a small personal music device (iPod or similar). You do not have to face the "kid in a box" again. Although your sailor will have a lot more freedom at Dam Neck, the first several days are busy (actually all their days are) with getting processed into the school, going to medicals to hand them their medical records, finding their way around, and in the meantime being active sailors. They will be put on a duty section where the sailor must remain at the barracks except to go to the school building, get something to eat, or if scheduled for an appointment. I have been told that duty is every fourth day now. If they are on duty, they will be assigned duties to perform, if their duty section leader assesses them and feels that they are not performing up to standard their duties may be reassigned. They may also have to stand watches.
Also, if you were not able to attend PIR or spend time with your sailor after graduation, be aware there is a strict rule that while they are out in uniform they cannot be walking and on the cell phone at the same time. Since they march in formation to and from the barracks and school that cuts into time as well. They will do PT (Physical Training) several times a week, either before getting ready for school or in the afternoons after classes. They must keep their rooms in ship shape because they do get inspected. They do their own laundry and do general cleaning around the outside of the barracks. Do not expect them to answer the phone every time you call just because they are on hold, waiting to class up. They are still kept busy.
Dam Neck is a small base just south of the main Virginia Beach. It has it's own beach as well. The MWR (Morale, Wellness, and Recreation) building has a bank of computers where your sailor can send emails or go online. They also have a projection TV, a room with gaming consoles, a small theater (there is a larger IMAX theater at Oceana, NAS), a coin operated laundry room, pool tables, lounging area, and a very helpful staff. There is a small NEX store (a larger NEX mall at Oceana), and a Chapel which has 2 or 3 services on Sundays, maybe Saturdays as well. There are I believe, 3 softball fields, a track, a walking/running path, tennis courts, and I think I remember some outdoor basketball courts. For those of legal age there is an enlisted club as well I think. A sailor is considered "legal age" on base if he/she is of legal age in his/her home state, is the way I understood it.
Phasing up: The first week at Dam Neck your sailor basically has no liberties. Once they arrive at Dam Neck though they can call, text, email the address to you and you can ship clothing, any small electronics they did not take with them, and some food stuffs. Your sailor will be told to send any parcels certified. I can tell you as other moms can too that what they mean is ship it insured. Certified is for documents and letters. If you send it USPS-insured, it will get sent to the NEX for pick up. If it is not insured, only the minimum postage paid on it, the parcel will be sent to the school building and security will have to have your sailor name off all the items that are in the parcel. Believe me Chris and I had to go through that and if there is food stuff in an uninsured parcel, they give the sailor a big frown. :( They do not like food at the school.
POVs (Personally Owned Vehicles) :
When Chris phased up to being allowed his car on base we checked with Fleet and Family Services at Oceana and they gave us the hours of operation for the Pass and ID office at Oceana. To bring the vehicle on base (or even one visiting on base) a pass must be issued for the vehicle. If it is during the weekend and you are simply visiting, those passes can be issued at the gate but ONLY if the Pass and ID office is closed. Otherwise ALL vehicles must go to the Pass and ID Office. A couple of moms have posted more current information about vehicle registration below. (Sorry I'm having trouble making my Admin tools work properly, or I would paste the links here)
After approximately 6 weeks at Dam Neck your sailor will be phased up to full liberties where he/she can leave when their liberty begins on Friday and remain off base until Sunday night. All liberties are considered a privilege that can be recalled at anytime the Navy decides they need your sailor more. Also if they are scheduled for duty over the weekend they will either have to swap with someone in advance or they will have to remain at barracks during that 24 hours. Plan visits accordingly.
Visits: You may go to Dam Neck and visit your sailor. There are many places available in the Virginia Beach area. They vary in prices, availability, services, etc just like anywhere else. I stayed at the Navy Lodge right there on the Annex and found it very nice. The room was clean, there was a small kitchenette, and more than enough towels. There was also a small play area for younger kids, charcoal grills out back and picnic tables. It was just about a slow five minute drive over to the barracks so Chris was able to leave the room just before midnight and be checked in, in time. He came back over early the next morning. If you are out and about on the base (the MWR, riding around, the NEX, etc) your escort (sailor) must remain with you. Except for traveling directly to and from the Navy Lodge they should be in the car with you also.
School: The school hours and days may vary by holidays, mandatory medicals, Instructor's meetings and things of that nature. Most of the time school begins at 8:00am and runs til lunch break, they march back then to barracks or the galley, have their meal and then march back for the after noon session. On some Fridays they may be excused around lunch time, and those not on duty can usually begin their liberty if they have earned it.
Both A school and C school are very competitive and demand a lot of study time. If a sailor fails a unit they can sometimes retake the test but they will be put on mando (mandatory study time), or they may be put on hold and have to be dropped from that class and wait until another class makes it to that unit. It is not unusual for students to go back to the schoolhouse after evening meal and study until, 9:00, 10:00 or even later at night.
A school is 13 weeks long. it is a general over view of Intelligence specialties and whatever else they learn. (Who knows?) C School is job specific. Near the end of a school a sailor has the opportunity to make his/her "dream assignment" known. The Navy will then release a pool of job openings by the specialty and/or location of the job. The highest ranking student in the class (highest grade average) is allowed to choose first. The second highest gets to choose second and so on. These are only preliminary choices that may be changed later. That happened to my son. He picked DC and the instructors began talking to him about the area and 3 weeks into C school his orders were changed to go overseas. Again, nothing is etched in stone.
Depending on the specialty that the sailor trains in during C school determines the number of weeks that his/her C school will last. One specialty school lasts about 6 weeks, another I believe, lasts about 15 weeks, and then Strike and a couple of other more classified areas train for I think about 8-12 weeks. Those, I am not as sure about since my son starts shutting up on some of it and there is not so much info out there on those couple of specialties. Everything in IS is a "need to know basis" and that's stuff I don't need to know. There is more info on all this in Ellen's discussion about the IS rating in general.
When a sailor completes A school there is a very brief and very informal graduation for them. I understand that when C school is completed the "ceremony" lasts a little longer but still informal. I understand that family may attend. I will post more about this after I attend my son's graduation soon.
The one thing I can tell you is that I asked a few moms whose kids were already out in the field and they have all said that their sailors like what they do. It is a field that is vital to our security and gives them a wonderful background for other jobs after coming out of military service. Please tell your sailors thank you for their service and congratulations, they've earned it.
It sounds as though there are a lot of negatives here but it not really so bad and there is free time. It’s just better to be aware that they are still in the Navy and are basically on the job 24/7. Will post more later about the VB area.
Views: 16332
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brenda (son in VA for Intell) on
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It sounds like they have quite a group from PIR 8/21 at DN. My son arrived Wed. also from GL. Said he was on hold until Sept. 8th. He is very excited to start classes. He talked about the phases they go through for more liberty. He sounds a lot less stressed and said he is making some good friends. He likes meeting the other sailors he grad. with but didn't know because they weren't in his division. It is nice that we can contact them if we feel the need. I think I feel the need more than he does. Do you know if they get time off at Thanksgiving?
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Permalink Reply by Mary (Chris' mom) on
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Brenda,
Congrats to your sailor!!! I know how you feel about needing to talk to him more than he feels the need to communicate, but he is busy, and you will need to get used to it again as he goes more and more through school. Once all his clearances go through you may hear from him but you will find that he will become more distant in an odd kind of way. It gets more difficult for them to tell you about problems and difficulties in class when so much of it is classified. It's what they have to go through and we as their families have to go through it also. It helps to make them more dependant on the Navy and their shipmeates as well. He most likely feels the need to call but is either doing watches or duty or meeting his new shipmates, and finally getting the chance to chill.
You know where we are when you need us. We have been through it, are going through it, or will go through it. It's a continuous process so you won't be alone. Have a good evening.
Mary -
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Thanks for all the info. I recently got a job in IS and will only be leaving for bootcamp in about a month.
I have pretty much figured out the whole bootcamp thing but anything after that I was clueless about! So thanks so much for this!
Its really gonna help me once I get there -
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Amy,
Best of luck to you! If we don't have the answers you need, we know LOTS of sailors who at least believe they know it all! LOL!!!! Really, if there's anything you need to find out, this is a great place to find out. We look forward to seeing you here, now, later, and any chance you have to drop by and give other moms some "insider" info. Thank you for serving, fair winds!
Mary -
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WOW what great Info! Thank you so much! My husband will be a grad n go on Oct 9th after PIR. I was wondering how Grad N go's work. Will he get any freetime that weekend? Bc i will be meeting him in VA after PIR and staying at the Navy Inn right there on base until Oct 14th.
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Hmmm....I'm honestly not sure. I will try to contact my son to see if he can tell me (I know he saw a lot of grad-n-go's coming onto Dam Neck while he was there). While the Navy Lodge is right there (maybe just over a mile from barracks) he will be under pretty tight restrictions those first few weeks. The first week they are not even allowed to wear civilian clothes at all. (You can however leave some civilian clothes with him before you go home, as well as cell phone, laptop.) They are still very limited on space, and before they leave the barracks everything must be put away, because their rooms are inspected very often.
Have you made arrangements for sponsorship when you arrive? A sailor must check you in at the Navy Lodge. Also if he cannot get permission to leave the base I don't know how you will get a base pass at Oceania. It is doable at the guard house on the weekends but for the week, you would need on Monday morning or Sunday afternoon to go to the main base for your pass. If he arrives the day before you he might be able to sweet-talk his roomie or another shipmate who's been there a few weeks to help you with all that.
In all honesty, I know it seems like forever since you have seen him but I would wait until he's been there at least two to three weeks. You might not get to see him at all that weekend or that week. It may be worse than if you had spent 10 minutes with him at PIR. I do hope it works out and congrats to your sailor! Any info you gather on this, would you post it for other moms? -
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I needed more room to clarify the situation with the Navy Lodge. You can make the reservation, and pay for everything in advance, but when you arrive (unless it is the Navy Lodge at GL) your sailor must be present to verify his/her rate/rank, show military ID, and basically verify that you have permission to be there. It is different at GL because they know the sailor cannot leave bc to come check you in (it's also about a three or four mile walk/drive) but for those who are not grad and go, the sailor can verify info after PIR.
Call the Navy Lodge at Dam Neck or Oceania and ask for the number for Fleet and Family Services at Oceania. They may be able to offer suggestions or help get special permission for your sailor to have Sunday to visit with you. I'm sorry, I no longer have their number for you. They helped me when I took my son's car to him at week three. Another one to try is the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) at Dam Neck. Their normal duties are arranging day trips, providing info on local attractions, restaurants, computer and gaming access, etc. for the sailors on the base. They were extremely nice when I took Chris there, before he went to bc. Again, I no longer have that number either. Have a good day, I hope you can find some helpful info. -
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Thank You so much! I just called the fleet and family services and Luckily since i have a military ID I dont need him to check me in. They are so helpful! And i know our lil plan doesnt sound realistic but if i can spend more than 2 hrs with him at grad ill be thankful. Its been a rough 2 months and we have many more times we will be apart so if i can take advantage of any little time i can just see him ill take it :)) But thank you so much for the suggestion! If u have any other advice for me im all ears...Im very new at all of this!
PS...if ur son has any info about grad n go's it would be much appreciated! :)) -
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QuanceWife,
I will be talking with my son Friday (I hope anyway), I will ask him. You can also try the main discussion area as I know there have been a few moms whose sailors were grad-n-go. I understand what you mean about wanting to spend every possible minute with him. I'm not sure if you are referring to the ID being helpful, or F&F services, but I give F&F Services a great recommendation. They are both knowledgable and helpful. Another good point of contact when they are out in the fleet or overseas is the Ombudsman for their ship or base. Once he gets to where he is going after school, you can have him to sign you on to the Ombudsman's list and get updates every so often (usually you make the contact) sometimes it is the ship's phone with a recorded message from the ship's commander. Sometimes it is a volunteer wife. There's another idea...take the class and become an Ombudsman for his base! It's one way to stay in touch! Good luck.... -
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Mary, do you know how much time they get off for Thanksgiving and Christmas? our son will going there on Oct 31st
Kevin -
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Kevin,
No, I'm sorry, I really don't know. My son did not get there until right after the New Year but I do know that most of the schools shut down for a period of time for holidays. If I remember correctly, Chris got out of school early on Good Friday and did not report back until Monday night, then for Memorial Day, I believe they got out early on Thursday and did not report back until Monday night. I don't remember very well because both holidays Chris had duty days. I know he thought about coming home Memorial Day but not only did he have duty, it was his last week of C school and he needed to study for his final and get his packet together for his Petty Officer indoc.
One thing to also keep in mind is how long he may be on hold before he classes up. Units 6, and I think, 9 and 10 are difficult units (platforms). If he is in the midst of those units, he may not feel that he can take extra time away and may feel compelled to stay close to the schoolhouse where he can study. I could be wrong but I think unit 4 is actually the third week, maybe that will help you somewhat. One of the other moms may be able to answer better. Congrats to your sailor! -
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