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 Debby on November 13, 2011 at 5:10pm
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Susan I went through a short time where my son's were both in the sand at the same time. its difficult to manage those emotions. You are not alone I do understand how it feels. Right now my little brother is in AFG he's a Navy doctor - trauma surgeon at the moment and although I worry, nothing like I did when my sons were there... I can tell you the ladies here help and although no one who hasnt had 2 in the sand at the same time can understand the trying to give both kids adequate worry time thing.. they are veterans of these war and kids being gone... we are all here for you... and my only advice would be stay out of Walmart when the Christmas music starts playing... I'll Be Home For Christmas ALWAYS left me a sobbing blob in isle 4...
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Comment by DJones on November 13, 2011 at 5:01pm
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I plan on baking some goodies for Christmas, bought him some Christmas videos and some travel games. I still say I should send him a small tree with ornaments. I hate the thought of them there with nothing to remind them of Christmas day. Is this your son's first deployment? My son was in Iraq several years ago. I hope your son stays safe and am so glad I am able to talk with others who are going through the same thing
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Comment by MK on November 12, 2011 at 11:13am
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Susan- as far as the final date to ship all I can offer is this. We were sent multiple emails by the ombudsman with the dates about when to stop mail, and we had to have everything mailed by Nov 15. It probably dpends on where they are, and all that jazz. I would recommend you contact the ombudsman and ask them. There is an organization called Cypress Cares also that sends care packages to deployed troops and she said they were told to have everything out by mid November. Our son had told us mid November since about the beginning of October.
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FPO means "Fleet Post Office" and is used by U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard (U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force use the APO, or "Army Post Office", addresses). There are three quasi-state codes associated with APO/FPO addresses:
- AE (Armed Forces in Europe, Canada, Middle East, and Africa) are allocated ZIP codes 09XXX
- AP (Armed Forces in Asia Pacific) are allocated ZIP codes 96XXX
- AA (Armed Forces in the Americas, except Canada) are allocated ZIP codes 34XXX
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Comment by TexasDocMom on November 11, 2011 at 1:33am
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No dumb questions from worried moms....and an Afhgan mom will be on to answer it. My son was in Iraq. But I do know that depending where they are (and most Marine units are deep in) mail and packages take a lot of time.
I would be like you, going with the website and the FRO....don't worry, he'll get them!!
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Comment by eurekamom on November 11, 2011 at 1:29am
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Hey, I have a dumb question. My son is a corpsman recently deployed to that sandy place you-know-where. The address he gave us has "FPO ______" but on the Marine corps website (the unit he's with) it has "FPO AP _____." I put the AP on it because that seemed more official (being on the web site) and also confirmed this with the family resource person. I think (from my Army brat childhood) that FPO is fleet post office. Anyone know what the AP is? Why it needs to be there? My son hasn't gotten his first letter or package from us, so I'm hoping that's just because these things take time.... any ideas?
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Seven brothers at war Read this to feel pretty darn lucky that we live in this day and age, and do not have 7 kids serving in the military...of two separate countries fighting one another! Their poor mom and dad....
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Thank you Susan. Knowing I am not alone is a comfort. Bless your heart. I know the holidays can get lonely and a bit depressing when you know where they are and what they are doing. I think I've sent a box a week so far and enough to give to all the Marines. I am writing some companies also and asking for donations. I know the USO is so good at the holidays for sending out items. My son told me not to send anything that resembles Christmas as they do not want to offend the Afghans they are with. He was told that by his commander. Sounds ridiculous. I wanted to send him a stocking and a 12 inch decorated tree plus goodies to all the Marines, but he said absolutely not. I can't imagine them not having anything that resembles the holidays.
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lynda n...well my son's been gone 3 weeks and already I've sent 4 boxes. Unfortunately where he is at the moment he cannot get his mail and said probably won't for a month. that's really a shame as those guys count on it for morale support. Where he is going next he may get it once a week he said. He's not sure. At the moment he has cold water once a day to shower and forgot his towel and is using his sweat pants to dry off. I told him I would send a towel, but won't do him good for weeks. I thought of home baked goods, but have to wait until he is at his final destination. Thank you for the support. Much needed.
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Thank you TexasDocMom and docsmom. Nice to know someone else knows the feelings I have. I guess being a former Corpsman and having a husband who's been in Iraq at the peak of fighting and coming home with major issues, i worry more than normal. I just want him home safe and without injury as I am sure all of you do. Wow....3rd deployment? It's been 2 for my son and I have more gray hairs then ever before. Sure is stressful. I know those Marines will take good care of him. Unfortunately they also deployed him still having pneumonia. I worry he'll become sick again in the middle of nowhere. He was home on pre deployment leave and spent all of it in the ER and doctors office. It was viral pneumonia and meningitis. He was so ill. He got home and within 3 weeks was gone. Thank you both for the support. I certainly do need it for this deployment.
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