Welcome to
Navy For Moms

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

Add an Event

**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:

Graduation Info
PDF – 2.7 MB
PNG – 2.3 MB
JPG – 3.4 MB
Printable PDF – 2.0 MB

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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.)

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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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How to prepare for deployment!

Information

A group to prepare for deployment of our loved ones.

Group Admin: Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

Members: 100
Latest Activity: Jan 8, 2022

Get ready for deployment!

Use this group to help prepare your Sailor and yourself too. Learn what we can do to help them, and encourage each other through this time of change and transition!

Discussion Forum

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Comment Wall

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You need to be a member of How to prepare for deployment! to add comments!

Comment by Debbie on June 18, 2014 at 4:50pm: yes, but it only shows 1 card for ship calls. Can they all be used on a ship?

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on June 18, 2014 at 4:29pm: *by "that page" I meant that link :) https://shop.aafes.com/scs/Product.aspx?deptid=42000

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on June 18, 2014 at 4:27pm: Hi Debbie! Looks like this one at the bottom of that page is the minimum - one card, 300 minutes, $15.00. You can also purchase the cards at any NEX, but a person has to show their own military ID to be able to make purchases there.

Comment by Debbie on June 18, 2014 at 3:01pm: Can any of those cards be used on ship (see comment 3 down from this one by Marcy) Is there any place to get them for less time?

Comment by Debbie on June 18, 2014 at 2:57pm: Marcy, thanks for the checklist,priceless!!

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on January 20, 2014 at 10:50pm: One more important note: review this Single Sailor Deployment Readiness Checklist with your son, and discuss having a Power of Attorney naming you filed with his bank in case there are any issues that need addressing while he's gone. http://www.vp4.navy.mil/deployment/Single_Sailor_Deploy_Checklist_F...

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on January 20, 2014 at 10:34pm: Here are a couple of things for starters!

Be sure you are added to your son's ship's Family Readiness Group, and Ombudsman list. To find them, go here: http://navyformoms.com/group/whatsanombudsmanandhowtocontactthem/fo.... The FRG and the Ombudsman are your his command's official liaisons with families, so this is important.

Next, you can order a refillable AT&T ship to shore calling card for him to use to call home: https://shop.aafes.com/scs/Product.aspx?deptid=42000 You can have the card sent to your home and keep it; all your son needs are the numbers on it.

Now, start gathering stuff for sending care packages!

The USPS will send to you, for free, a pack of 10 or 25 FPO/APO large size priority boxes; and you can mail up to 70 lbs for the special military rate of $14.85 when you send to an FPO address. Here's the link: https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDo... and go to "Select Format" at right to choose 10 or 25.

Be sure to use the nine-digit ZIP code when mailing to his FPO address or it won't get delivered.

This group has a ton of good ideas in the Comments and in the Discussions, it's a fun group :) http://navyformoms.com/group/carepackageideas

Popular things to send are meal-replacement protein bars; flavored additives for water i.e. Gatorade powder; favorite cookies and snacks that can be shared with buddies; and things the ship's store may run out of, such as shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, disposable razors or razor blades, deodorant. And of course holidays, sports events, birthdays, seasons = theme boxes! :) There are lots of ideas and inspiration in that Care Package Ideas group.

You will have to complete a simple Customs Form with each box you send, just keep it simple: "snacks," "personal hygiene items," "magazines." Under "If undeliverable" write "deliver to ship's chaplain," always safe :)

Hope this helps get you started! It's an exciting time for him and for you. One more thing - be prepared to keep your cellphone with you at all times because you never know when he'll be able to call home!

Comment by Dmaeship12div410 on January 19, 2014 at 6:00pm: My son is going on deployment soon for 9 months. I could sure use some advice since this is my 1st experience.

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on October 3, 2013 at 10:49pm: Welcome Ryguysmom, and that's why we're all here on N4M to support each other. It IS hard, and emotional, and for me, faith in the Navy coupled with my son's happiness with his experiences, new friends, travel adventures and work satisfaction have made MY experience a wonderful one that offsets any worries and concerns. Regarding what to send with him - I'd recommend joining this group http://www.navyformoms.com/group/japanmoms you can ask them for their thoughts about what to pack, and get to know other moms like you. Please share what you find out...and I'm sending you a Navy hug and good thoughts to your son!

Comment by Ryguysmom on October 2, 2013 at 12:55pm: Hi all,I am new to this so please bare with me.. My son leaves for his 1st deployment in a couple of days to Japan for 3 years... As a mother I am struggling with all sorts of emotions, worry being the biggest one... LOL...How did you guys deal with it? I know he will be fine and the Navy will take good care of him, but he is going to be in a foreign country and soooo far away from home... Also does anyone have any suggestions as to what to pack that they dont have access to in Japan? He is allowed to take a big suitcase, so he will have a little room. Thank you..