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 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:
In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.
**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.
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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VBSS Moms
Information
A group for moms of sailors on VBSS teams.
Members: 11
Latest Activity: Jan 15, 2018
Discussion Forum
This group does not have any discussions yet.
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by kim ann on April 19, 2010 at 7:53pm
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Helen, hope you have heard from your son to put your mind at ease, it can be a tid bit frightful as a mom waiting, but know that it will all come out fine. They almost always come out laughing about it, and have such fun stories. Do know, they may not always tell us everything, but that is the name of the game with military! Just rest assured, they are well taken care of, are not alone, and have some really great training. Least they are not sent into situations that they are not prepared for, nor alone! Many of them double, triple, quad, etc, duties, and it isnt always at the same time. So dont worry about them getting their jobs done either, (another military thing!). As I see it, it keeps them doing what interests them, and out of trouble with drinking, driving, or other such bad situations! Plus, later on, looks good on resume's!! I am sure he will enjoy ship life, and once he gets out on the seas for weeks at a time, he will probably enjoy it more, nothing like the thrill of open water, and the prospect of 'using that training'!!
We're all here with ya, so your not alone either! Guess all us mom's have to go thru our own sort of 'schooling'!! Keep us informed....
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Comment by Wallstreet's Mom (Denise) on April 5, 2010 at 10:17pm
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Hang in there Carolyn! And as Kim Ann said, your Navy Mom friends are here for you!
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Were here for ya Carolyn. I am sure it is hard, and would never try to down play that. I sent both of mine in at the same time, and from a rowdy, noisy house down to zilch was hard for me, I am not sure I could of survived it any other way tho. You do know the routines this time a bit better, so I hope it goes quickly and gets easier for you too. Otherwise, we are here for you whenever....
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Well, sent one of my VBSS boys out. Time for more fun...getting to try their hand at what they love best, with many others. They are so thrilled to train now with other countries and learn a few new techniques...wonder what mine is going to "teach" them?!!! He's a few things up his sleeve am sure! Then off for More wild adventures...
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Wow! Some new moms on the page! How exciting! I look forward to getting acquainted with you!
The Tiger Cruise was amazing. I am working on getting my pictures sorted out to post and adding my blog posts. We didn't get to see any VBSS work other than a couple of photos of the team. The Benfold team had almost 50 boardings on their deployment. I know they'll miss it while they are back in port.
Welcome new moms!
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Denise, how was the Tiger Cruise? I know Mother Nature tried to put a little ripple into the waves, but you surely had the chance to go ahead and have fun, didn't you? You will have to give us the run down! I SOooo want to go on one, but I dont know that either of my two will let me! Funny, how around others, they 'roll their eyes at the thought of what mom does, or could do', but when no-one is around, they are thrilled with each little thing like a small child!
Carolyn, I am like you, and feel very protective of my boys, but I feel I can honor and help them more by knowing what I can. Of course, some things (more than not!) I am not privy to know, and in that way, ignorance is bliss! Sure hope your trip to FL was one of great fun? Sure would love to be there too, we have SNOW again! Urgggh! I am SOoooo wanting spring!
My second son has now completed his VBSS too! He even got honor grad in his class! So, the competition between them has begun...again! Actually, they are not really competitive between them, but now when they wrestle...lets just say I will need a new rule "take that outside"!!!
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Sounds like a very beautiful family Helen. That is wonderful! Closeness is such an awesome thing. I understand that concept, with twins...cant get much closer than that! Same thoughts at the same time and all!!!! Both are ported near each other, when not deployed. So congrats to your family.
As for OC spray...it was an 18-20% concentration (civilian use is around 3%), so it is strong. The wetter and cooler the day...the better! Johnson's Baby shampoo, eye drops, and a towel to dry off ASAP when given the chance was said to help. As for the training, very intensive. Alot of PT to ready them in the beginning, alot of training with guns, hand to hand combat, alot of scaling walls, boats of all kinds, fast speeding....list just goes on and on. All for the better, to learn the most they can. Be trained for whatever may come up...Dont fret tho, they do not let them go untrained to the max, they care alot about each and everyone of them, not to mention the safety of the entire crew and ship...it is their utmost best!!!
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Glad to have you come in with us Helen. And Congrats on all of Matt's accomplishments. I am sure he must be a 'thrill-junky' like all our VBSSer's are! He will do well, and will surely love it. Now for moms thrill....may not be exactly the same, and yet we cant be prouder of em!
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No problem, it is fun to see the different experiences each has, and in a way, we live thru them with you too! So we get excited and thrilled too! Congrats on having all your sailors home soon! Yes, I did forget to mention to bring lots of kleenix! Lol. And charge that camera, video camera and such, you dont want to forget them! Altho, I did get so wrapped up in the moment watching, that I forgot periodically to take photos off n' on! See, I told you how we get so excited in the moment along with you! ;0}
Good job, gather all the car info, and anything else that you may remotely think they will need. As I had mentioned, depending on the day of who is there at the gate, as to what you will need. But if you stay informed with the ombudsman, and FRG, you really shouldnt have much problem. Try and have their numbers handy also, if you have some really involved members. It sure helps. Good Luck, and Fair weather! Eww, wish I could be there! Ha!
Denise! How awesome! I have always wanted to go on the TC! Unfortunately I cant, for several reasons. I know you will just Love it! Go and have lots of fun for the rest of us, and tell 'ALL' when you get back! We will prob hound you to death for info! Lol!
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Comment by DLC73 on February 28, 2010 at 7:32pm
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Thanks, Kim Ann. We are trying to make sure we get all the information to Amanda so that we are allowed on base (my biggest fear!). I haven't heard from her for about a week or so, but I've emailed her the license numbers for our car and for my parents -- they are hoping to be out there for her return, too.
I do remember the PIR and how proud we were at that time, so I'm sure that same feeling will be there again (at that time I was hoping she wasn't going to pass out at the Pass In Review -- about four sailors did!) We are looking forward to seeing the ship come home! I just hope that I can keep the mascara from running :) Thanks for all the help; it's so nice to have others who have been through the experience before let you know what to expect. I really appreciate it.
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