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
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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Anyone with Sailors/Soldiers/Marines in War Zones and Combat Areas
Information
For parents and loved ones of deployed and deploying military personnel...Aghanistan/Iraq and any and all war zones. Please introduce yourself on the main comment page.
Members: 116
Latest Activity: Jul 14, 2020
Anderson Hall is in San Antonio, on the campus of Fort Sam Houston...the place where future corpsman will learn their trade.
"Doc" Christopher Anderson served with Marine 1/6.
(He also went to Basic and to FMTB with my son. TDM)
Corpsmen on the job in Afghanistan:
Helpful Links:
It provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration.
Absentee Voting Link Get info here on registering to vote and absentee voting.
Navy Individual Augmentee Information "IA"
Ombudsman Registry Find your sailor's unit and contact information
Seabee Info Web site Answers to many questions about deployment, etc even if your sailor is not a Seabee.
Fleet and Family Deployment Navy Facebook
Online Program Helps Military Vote Absentee
Guardian Angels for Soldiers Pets Facebook Page
Dogs on Deployment One-Stop Resource page for military members to turn to for advice and direction to all pet-related needs. They also are looking for fosters for pets whose owners are being deployed.
****Red Cross and Help for the Military, Emergency Notificaton Link to the Red Cross Military Assistance page, on the left is a list of links to important sites, including the phone numbers if you need to notify your deployed loved one of a family emergency. This note: Beginning June 13, 2011, at 8:00 a.m. EDT, all military members and their
families can use one number- 877-272-7337 (U.S. Toll Free) to send an urgent
message to a service member. The change means that all military members and
their families can use this single number to initiate an emergency communication, regardless of where they live.
Coaching Into Care works with family members or friends who become aware of their Veteran’s post-deployment difficulties—and supports their efforts to find help for the Veteran.
This is a national clinical service providing information and help to Veterans and the loved ones who are concerned about them.
Defense Center of Excellence information and help for TBI and PTS for active military, vets and their families.
After Deployment... This web site is VERY useful to service members, family and loved ones after the return of a loved one from deployment.
VAWatchdog.org Very useful links for our vets and their families.
Secondary PTSD Resource Link For families and loved ones of a soldier/sailor/Marine/airman with PTSD.
Facebook Support for OPSEC An online resource for OPSEC regs and questions concerning safety in social media web sites.
Graphic Novel Helps Corpsmen Cope with Combat-related Stress
Links to those sending packages to our deployed sailors/soldiers/marines/airmen:
Molly's Adopt A Sailor Group Join the group, or just read for ideas on what to send to your deployed kid.
Jacob's Program Another group of volunteers sending packages to our deployed folks.
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To all who drop by! WELCOME! please post below so we can get to know you. If you send a message around to 'all members' , we CANNOT respond. So, please introduce yourself below, and remember to not share dates or specfic movements by any military unit on the board! Thank you!! and again WELCOME!!
Discussion Forum
Son in Spin Boldak
Started by rysony. Last reply by rysony Mar 14, 2012. 40 Replies 0 Likes
Care Packages - lists of items, how to order priority boxes and how to fill out customs forms
Started by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom. Last reply by millon4 Oct 2, 2012. 29 Replies 1 Like
Sailors in Afghanistan with boots on the ground
Started by Ruth, Gun's Mom. Last reply by TexasDocMom Sep 18, 2010. 18 Replies 0 Likes
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Comment Wall
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Comment by TexasDocMom on November 17, 2011 at 12:58pm
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From a facebook Navy mom:
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Chief!!! one of those sit down at the computer mornings when the dogs think I've gone out of my mind! shouts of joy and tears for you!! Love that story about the store...in my town, that'd be Spanish, so that's what I'm picturing in my mind....you in the middle of all those folks who want to support you, babbling in spanish and tears rolling down your face...
The friends we make on this board are priceless. I came on this board when it started and today there is a core group of women that I share such a tight bond with...some with their kids out of the Navy now, some with deploying kids as we speak....and we "talk" every single day, so many ways. And yes, this experience is life changing for all of us....
Susan, Chief...whoever would like to, but especially those with kids in rural remote areas of A, please send me addresses, I have had some folks ask for some...I always suggest anysailor.com, anysoldier.com, and anymarine.com but they know I'm on this board and want "real" people to send to...It might not get there for Christmas, but January will be bleak there as well...
Such a happy day today on this board...thank you all for sharing your time and support with one another....
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Comment by Much Trouble on November 17, 2011 at 8:08am
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Chief...WOW! You have been waiting for this time since the day he left! Now that it is finally here, I bet it doesn't seem real. Have a safe trip, and when you see that boy, give him all the hugs you need, then give him one more from his Navy moms. Yes! Pictures, pictures, pictures, please! We want to SEE that he is back home...and when things calm down a bit, we need YOU back here. You have grown so much and have so much to share with the new Moms...please don't just disappear! YOUR train is safely pulling into the station, but if you look over at the ticket counter, you will see lots of confused, crazy Moms. Come back and be a guide!
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Also, fresh and warm gloves and socks. Lots of socks, they toss the white cheap ones. My son did bring home the Fox Socks. They fill like clouds on your feet. (yes, I tried them on, after several washings.) And decent bath soap. I sent Dove. Don't laugh, they itch from the dry/sand etc. Lotions in the winter boxes. My son told me about a Marine that would put butter on his face so I sent the big jars of yellow cream from Sam's for him. Chap stick or whatever they like for their lips. Decent toothpaste, new tooth brushes. Nail clippers. Warm caps.
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When my son was in Iraq, he was the same way. Now, in Iraq they had big bases, and it was pretty built up in some of the area. He said they would get so many packages, they would dump them on the floor, everyone would take what they wanted out of them and toss the rest. Afghan is more rural, remote...like Iraq in the beginning, I would guess, so they don't have the base stores, etc to shop in. My son did call me for dart board repair stuff and new darts. Every place he went, he'd fix the dart boards. I sent photos, and took a video of me walking the dog around the neighborhood , looking at the houses, making comments. He loved that. We were on myspace then, I loaded my photos with home photos. I do house concerts here in the back yard with local musicians and put them up on youtube, he saw his backyard! I sent books...when he sent back his stuff, so many of the books came back...I asked why? they were supposed to stay there for others. "I haven't read them all yet". If your kids are artists, or maybe someone else is...I bet sketch pads, pencils, markers would be great and able to use all the time. Don't forget lots of plastic baggies, all sizes. Salsa, lots of salsa. Buy it already wrapped up at costco or sam's...wrap it in bubble wrap. Salsa makes everything tastes better. If they're doing their own cooking, send spices, chicken rub, stuff like that.Pasta, flavored rices. Hard candy. Batteries for electronics. Christmas cd music...
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Oh Julie...I can relate! My son is married...and has 4 older sisters. In addition, the small town he is from has several groups sending boxes to our local guys, and he was on everyone's list. In addition, he was in an area that got huge shipments of donated stuff. However, as "Mom" I couldn't send nothing! I was the babysitter while my DIL worked, so I would have the kids draw pictures and write letters that I included in my boxes. I'd also send photos, the local newspaper (or clippings about people he knew) and that kind of thing. I am thankful he didn't lack anything important, but I did feel shabby until I realized that is the real home he missed. I'm sure you will come up with lots of ideas...the Dollar Store is a wonderful place to browse looking for ideas. (Little puzzles, hand-held games, something silly but meaningful to him.) Good luck and keep posting...that is how we get each other through this horrible time.
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Comment by Jeanette on November 16, 2011 at 8:09pm
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Just sent out Christmas packages yesterday and included an advent calendar. I almost didn't get him one this year because someone said to me "Why are you sending him a calendar? What does he have to look forward too". Then I thought that I have gotten him one every year since he was born and this year will be no different! Anyway, hope I did the right thing.
Love the idea of a cake in a jar. Guess I'm going to have to get another package ready :)
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Comment by Jodi-alumni Ship 4 on November 16, 2011 at 9:47am
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Good Morning. I am here to support my nephew who is currently deployed with the Marines in Afghanistan. My son is a depper in the Navy but won't leave for bc until August 2012. As this is my first time of sending care packages I've been looking around for ideas. I found some good information from your group so I thank you-and I'm sure my nephew will also.
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I do understand the emotions about Christmas away from home. But...if the CO or FRO said specifically to not send Christmas trees/deco, etc. I would definitely follow their "advice." Not to mention, these guys are very mobile and they might not even be able to take anything like that with them wherever they end up at Christmas. The felt tree can be rolled up in a pack, the thoughts and love will be there, and they, being the military professionals they are, will be good with that. Keep your home tree up to share with them when they come home, they are not at home in Afghanistan, they are at work. If they are someplace where they can celebrate and no holds are placed on Christmas deco, then that's good, but if so, always do as the CO and FRO "suggests". Keeping their troops safe and not antagonizing the local folks is a priority with the commanders and it's one we need to support.
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Comment by DJones on November 13, 2011 at 8:27pm
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My poor son said where they are they are having a hard time getting mail to them. The last unit was lucky to see mail once a month. that is so ridiculous. Those guys rely on it for a morale booster. I think I will get one of the trees also and send it
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