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
RSS
Comment Wall
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Comment by TexasDocMom on June 19, 2011 at 11:58am
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Welcome, Kelly! Is your son a corpsman? it sounds like it with the ship deploy and now Afghan....we are a rag tag bunch, some come and go...but the spirit is the same of all that are here, we know your fear and your sleepless nights and we know your joy when home coming is around the corner. Please do take a look at the back posts, the discussion area and the links above, and know that if you have a question, or a thought..or a scream, someone will appear shortly to share it with you. You are not alone, when it comes to this group, we're a bunch of busy bodies and we appear as soon as the notification is seen.
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Comment by Much Trouble on June 19, 2011 at 11:35am
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Hi Kelley and welcome to our wonderful, terrible group. Wonderful because of the amazing strength that is shared here, and terrible because no ones wants to "qualify" to join. I was raised in the military and two of my daughters had joined before my son went in. I was an old pro at this stuff...until my Seabee got his orders for Afghanistan. Suddenly, I felt as though I had rocks in my stomach. I'm so thankful I found this group...they got me through with a minimum of stress. Make yourself at home and read over our back posts. I'm sure the others will be here soon to welcome you.
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Okay...did some research and picked the brains of a couple of military folks I know.
I was told that if any one is being informed by any military personnel, whoever it is, that a vet will be penalized, in any way, for being diagnosed with PTS, that person can be disciplined. Anyone. The person sharing this with me is vehement about making sure you moms and dads know that your son or daughter will NOT face discrimination or be punished in any way for getting the help they need. If you or anyone you know feels like this is happening, it needs to be reported up the chain of command. It has to stop. It has to stop with your child and with anyone else's child in the military, it is too critical for these young vets to get help. No matter what each of those vets think, there is help, it will not affect their permanent records with the military and it will not lower the respect of anyone with whom they serve or any of us who support each one of them I was on a cell with a shake connection, and if you need more info, this person will hunt down where to take it.
Second, I asked about Lori's son's situation. I was told PTS detection and screening are done in Germany and Bethesda on all wounded coming in from war zones. Lori, if you think your son needs more screening, treatment, please reach out to the links above and/or to the ones LyndaN shared. I attempted to use the 24 hour email thing, and was told :
Thank you for your inquiry. However, we are not in a position to provide feedback. If you need further resources through the DCOE please contact us.
I had asked them to visit our group and perhaps leave some information here. Each vet or family member needs to contact them yourselves.
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Comment by mikes mom on June 17, 2011 at 12:14pm
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Susan please don't ever be affraid to post and if you ever are then may I suggest to PM one of us... Don't go through this alone.. I remember how worried I was with my son when came home..They are our sons : ) My heart hurts for them all..
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Karen...I think any towels or washclothes would do....and I sent old soft pillow cases because it's HOT there! Susan, wonder what your son thought about packages while on patrol? he had to carry it back to base? ha!!
Don't forget Foxsox.com...and there's another one (with even more expensive socks!) but I can't remember it right now. Those foxsox feel great!! and they wick the water and sweat away...but they are terrible in wet areas like rivers/ponds, etc. For those areas send the socks from Walmart...white to help with foot fungus issues ( just my thought from my mom who was a Navy wife who raised sons..). I'd also send some of those foot powders. Also maybe those Nike water sandals for times with no boots needed..?? feet need air!
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Susan, first of all, I will call my son tonight after he's off work, and ask him his opinion on the first step to take. He feels very strongly about PTS victims getting help...and his concern started when he was deployed and the changes he saw in his Marines that were redeploying concerned him. He said about the same thing, that they were being told they'd never get a good job, that people would look down on them, etc...and he told me with all sincerity to "get your Navy moms on this, get them writing letters...." (before his actual deployment he had a tendency to poke a little fun at us...sorry...he's a guy. He changed his mind, he knows how support helps us now!) So we did. And others were doing the same thing.. a LOT has changed since my son returned in 08, he says there are signs up all over bases, encouraging these guys to get help. There are so much better programs in place. I would highly suggest you check out the Dept of Excellence link above and contact their 24 hour hot line to ask their advice as a concerned loved one. Be aware, there is secondary PTS that affects family and friends of a PTS survivor. Another thing we can do is start a group, private if you like for those who need to talk about this. We can do it here, or on facebook, keeping it totally private. Here we can add links and discussions, so maybe that would be best. Let me know, I'll either start it or help you do so.
One of my son's assignments since deployement was with the Methadone Clinic at Lajuene. PTS is hand in hand with pain meds in addiction issues for returning vets....it was a real learning experience. The military works with those folks, and wants to get to these young warriors before it reaches this level.
And never ever worry about personal messaging me, or Debby or any of us when you need to talk...we are here, and you are not alone. We worry about the same things you do....and it doesn't stop after deployment.
Debby started this Transistions group...I think PTS is a transistions issue. Only 4 of us in the group right now, so a little privacy there. http://www.navyformoms.com/group/Transistions
Please check the links above, and if you find information on other sources, please share it with me so I can add the links. This is an issue that affects ALL of us, here on this group as moms and as Americans who do not want to see another group of vets sitting on street corners like so many of our Viet Nam vets. I am so sorry you are dealing with this, but thankful you are the intelligent woman you are, seeking help and sharing with us. There is help out there. We will help you find it. You are not the only one, and you are not alone in your search and battle.
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That has been my problem with all the wonderful help out there...the one needing it probably won't seek it. Would the person be willing to seek non-military counseling? That is a possible option. Also, maybe you should check out some of the sites TDM has listed. At least one covers the whole family. (Remember...if it is serious, a smudged record is better than a lost life.)
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Comment by vettespace on June 17, 2011 at 8:41am
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Susan, if there's anyway someone can talk to this individual and encourage them to seek help, help is very important and the sooner the better! I'd even consider contacting this person's chain of command (or trusted friend) to get them help. Times are changing in the military and there's a lot of help and focus being placed upon this.
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The Admins for Navyformoms.com were notified and agree that the post promoting the Scion Care Packages is not appropriate for our group. They are contacting the member who posted it to ask that it be removed.
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I'm a little uncomfortable with allowing corporate promotions here. I do not endorse this package thing, nor would I send it to my son if he were deployed. The "free hour of internet" service makes me very nervous about people I don't know being able to pin point locations of deployed military personnel. I'm turning to the admins at Ning here on N4M's for their thoughts and their OPSEC coordinators to look at this. I also do not think our military needs a bunch of car swag to clutter up the mail when it's already so hard to get packages from families to them as it is.
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