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
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What I've Learned On This Journey As A "SWCC Mom"
New Moms:" What I've learned on this journey so far (tongue in cheek... kind-of):
- You will always be worried about something. Always.
- You will always be praying about something. Always.
- The motto: "No news is good news" becomes something you say very, very frequently and you'll be thrilled to receive a 2 or 3 word text: "I'm ok."
- Invest in good hair coloring (or hair colorist) if gray hair bothers you as you will be getting more gray hair than you think. Same with antacids from the heartburn you'll most likely get too.
- You won't like not knowing "everything" (where they are, what they are doing, what time they'll be back and who they are with) and eventually you will learn to (begrudgingly) accept it.
- For mom's of the younger "W's:" You'll learn what it means to let go. Holding on and holding tight is always easier than letting them go to pursue their life, their dreams and their journey. This is a hard one.
- You'll find your non-military friends often don't really understand what you (or your "W") is going through. You'll find that you won't have to explain yourself here-- everyone 'gets it' because they've lived it. BJA57 offered the following that is very well said: "I don't try to explain-- to those who understand, no explanation is necessary; to those who don't understand- no explanation is possible."
- You have been 'adopted' by another family when your son joined the Navy. This was a happy surprise to me as I've been incredibly fortunate to make some great friends from this site. We've gotten each other through some tough times. I also want to add: Don't be afraid to reach out to someone if you need it-- or you think they might; we're all in this together and you're not alone.
- SEALS have better "PR" than SWCC. Most 'civilians' have no idea what SWCC is. This used to annoy me until my "W's" brother said, "That's WHY they are the best kept secret in the Navy! DUH!!"
- Talcum powder (to get sand off easily), body glide, butt paste (both for chafing that WILL occur), moisture wicking socks and Smart Feet insoles will help your "W" in BCT. Your "W" may not believe you... send it to them anyway and encourage them to try it.
- White and black fabric pens (from Elmer) will be difficult for them to find in Coronado since just about everyone on base wants/needs them. They use these pens for 'stenciling' their names on their uniforms. We spent most of one day looking for these-- or ANY-- fabric pens in just about every store in Coronado and San Diego. Of course when I got back home, the first store I went into had a lot of them. I bought 10 of each color and sent it.
- YOU are their anchor whether they tell you this or not. As BJA57 said be encouraging, be strong and cheer-lead. They absolutely need to know that YOU know that they can do this. Where the mind goes, the body will follow.
- Words like "DOR," "asmoed,' 'dropped,' 'rolled,' 'class up,' BCT,' CQT' (to name a few off the top of my head) will find their way in your daily speech. "Civilian" friends will have no idea what you're talking about.
- You may find yourself watching "Surviving the Cut" from Discovery Channel (also on YouTube!) to either learn more about what your "W" is going through-- or to simply feel 'closer' to them.
- Plan to go to PIR if you can-- it's an amazing experience. While I'm 'not there yet, the "Mom's" before me have all said to go to the SWCC graduation if you can as it's an unforgettable experience (I'm definitely looking forward to that one)!
- You will be amazed at your sons (and his team members) capacity for mental 'toughness,' physical ability and endurance... and you'll reach a whole new level of 'proud!!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Patsy on
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Awesome definition of what a "W" goes through!! My son has been a SWCC going on 5 one half years. Just left for deployment..his 5th in as many years. Yes the SWCC graduation was amazing..
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