Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

PIR: MARCH 2025

Come on people! We need more people in the May PIR group!! It's lonely in there. ;)

AZ_RACCOON - It's hard to get people to join N4M.  I suggest everyone reach out to their recruiting office and tell them about this site.  Ask them to let parents know about us!

This site is all about helping each other, but sometimes we all have our own personal loads. So, the more people who know how to reach out to new members, the more likely we are to have participation here. 

Be sure your personal settings are set to members or friends only in the privacy section of your profile. You can also set email notifications to receive a notice when new members join. 

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR MARCH 20, 2025

Question...

When attending PIR in March what should I wear. I'm guessing it will be cold & windy.

I would normally be able to figure it out, except for the fact that my husband is a retired Navy Chief - Corpsman. So, his daughter asked that he wear his uniform to her PIR. So, now I have to match him. But, also the PIR is in the morning. So, that's quite the conundrum...

Please help.....

indeed.. and the building for PIR is cold inside as well as we were there in late Sept. Everyone was all over the board dress wise.. we wore jeans. others better stuff.. jacket for sure. I bet a nice warm pantsuit would be good.. can add to it to be spiffy but still block drafts..

I second the dressing warm AND comfortable shoes because you will have to do some walking.  Like Trey said, a nice pantsuit would work alongside your husband in uniform.  Layers is helpful and a warm coat!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

PIR: MARCH 2025

Ditto on the PIR dress - especially comfortable shoes! You will be on a hard metal bleacher, so you can always sit on a coat for a cushion. But I highly recommend either a long skirt, or dress slacks so you don't have to worry about anything inappropriate showing while on the bleachers. I think there may be some floor seating in chairs for VIP, but I can't recall. 

Cpurple2 - I am so excited that your husband is going to wear his uniform.  When my son graduated, there was still covid protocol, so we only got two tickets.  My husband and my father-in-law went, and my FIL wore his Air Force uniform.  As soon as they saw him, they escorted him and my husband to the VIP section.  It was in the bleachers, and in the center.  I was watching the live stream and I could see my husband and FIL!!!  I was so happy that he wore his uniform and they got such great seats!  

Happy 1st Day of Spring!

Cpurple2

Not sure it helps but our daughter's PIR was in November 2024. Most people were casually dressed (a lot of navy mom/dad t shirts etc) but would advise layering and wear something comfortable. The bleachers are uncomfortable after a few hours and if you are near the doors it is drafty but you are shoulder to shoulder packed in there. 

Hope that helps.

Congrats to you and your sailor!

Staci - Did you see that I sent you a friend request? When you reply, would you please let me know you did, by posting a comment on my profile page or sending me a private message. Thanks!! 

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

PIR: MARCH 2025

I got my phone call from my daughter last night, it was awesome!! She is doing really well for the most part and it was great to hear from her. She is currently sick along with just about everyone else, but other than that she is good.

She unfortunately had a mean girls situation before they were assigned to their current ship. There was a group of girls that called her "mustache". Luckily she doesn't have to be near them. She didn't let it get to her as she has dealt with bullies before. I hope that those girls grow up a lot from this process and choose not to treat others that way. My daughter knows how to handle that type of behavior but sadly there are other people that would really be negatively impacted by that. I hope that behavior in those girls doesn't continue. I am grateful that my daughter is doing well though.

She passed the swim test on the first test, which she wasn't sure she was going to be able to, so that was amazing to hear! She also said that she's great a shining boots and has lots of people asking her to help them with that, I thought that was kinda funny!  She gets to carry the flag around for her ship, which she really enjoys and that surprised her. She did say that there was one day that it was really windy and it was hard to hold on to! That would be a sight! She is assigned as an APO which she isn't thrilled about because she said she isn't great at it. She said that she would prefer to be EPO and help other recruits study. I think it's good for her to do something out of her comfort zone though.

It was so so great hearing from her and I look forward to the next call! 

AZ_RACCOON - Yay for phone calls!  Ugh, I'm sorry she had a mean girl situation - I just don't understand why people feel the need to bully others....Good for her that she is the bigger person and can let it go.  Hopefully these girls will get weeded out or understand that a serious attitude adjustment is needed.

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

PIR: MARCH 2025

AZ_RACCOON -- YAY!!!! Phone calls are the BEST!!!  It's almost like you feel you can breathe again and you didn't know you were holding your breath before!! 
I'm sorry there are Mean Girls there.  I hope, they will either get weeded out or they will encounter their own "mean girl" who helps them adjust their attitude!!

Phone calls really are the best!! I was waiting all Saturday and Sunday, I had my phone on me at all times with the ringer turned up, I didn't want to miss it. I don't want those girls to experience their own mean girl situation, but I do hope this experience helps them learn and grow and gain some humility. They're all supposed to be a team and support one another, and I hope that clicks for them soon. 

There is a reason I put that term in Quotes.  Usually it's someone up the Chain who "helps them Adjust their Attitude" either through IT or in the fleet through Disciplinary "Corrective" measures.  (They don't belittle them but they make it clear that they have a lot left to learn and they shouldn't be too cocky!) 

Gotcha, that makes sense.

AZ_RACCOON - So happy you got the call!!!  The mean girls will not last if they continue that practice.  

I still keep my phone with me at all times and the ringer turned up so I don't miss a call! : )

AZ_RACOON - My sailor's been in 4 years already and I STILL run for her calls! BRAVO to your daughter! Bullies want a reaction and when they don't get it, it tends to knock them down a peg. Your girl's a smart cookie. She let's it roll off her like water off a duck's back.

AZ RACOON - My sailor‘s been in almost 5 years, and I still keep my phone programmed so that I don’t miss his calls. What I did, is put his contact on bypass mode. That way I can have my phone silenced when I’m at work or on do not disturb, but if he calls, it rings through. I also assigned a special ringtone to his text and phone calls. It’s a NAVY song. It doesn’t matter how long they’re in, we don’t want to miss those phone calls!!

AZ RACOON - So glad to hear you got a phone call. My SR also carried one of the flags and so they had to be present for everything. I don't know how to explain that other than at times not everyone in the division was all together but those with flags or other leadership jobs had to be and so might not make phone calls, etc. Since it seems they are using their cell phones to make calls (?? please verify), they don't have to wait for the phone banks now. 

You might find this information helpful. Recruit Petty Officer Positions - Remember to put an "R" in front of the acronym letters. So, RAPO for your daughter. 

My son told me that the different positions were often changed several times throughout BC. So, just because your daughter starts out doing RAPO, she might switch and do something else. 

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

PIR: MARCH 2025

I believe that they still have to make their calls where the phone banks were, so they still had to wait their turn. Yes, they get to use their personal phones, but in a controlled environment. 

My daughter did make it sound like there was a possibility that she would end up changing jobs. She is hoping that she would get REPO. 

DsMom2020 - That's a great idea about setting your phone up that way. I do hope that most calls come in on the weekends or the evening. I don't have my phone on me while I am at work, I am unauthorized to bring a cell phone in where I work.

My son is out of the Navy now and I STILL run for his calls lol!  I actually talk to my DIL way more than I talk to him.  She and I talk almost every day so at least she keeps me filled in on what's happening with him.  Even my youngest son, when he calls I drop everything to talk to him.....it never changes!

For those of you that have gone to Sarge's meet and greet, do you know if they have gluten free food options available?

AZ_RACCOON - It's been so long since I went to Sarge's (2012) I honestly don't know.  I'm pretty sure ours was pasta and it was buffet style.  Hopefully someone who has been more recently will chime in.....

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

PIR: MARCH 2025

I am thinking the same thing with regards to Sarge's Meet n Greet, it was buffet and seemed to be pasta based. (2017)

No worries, I'll try and find someone to reach out to. My recruit's older sister will be coming and she has celiac disease so she can't have gluten. I was just curious if there will be any options for her so we can know if she needs to eat separately. Thanks!

Welcome Aboard to our newest members. We are glad you have joined us in the BC Mom and Loved Ones group. This is the best place to ask questions, here in the Comment Wall on our page. More of our members will see your posts here and be able to reply as they are able. 

If you are using a mobile device to access N4M, you may find it helpful to view this site in Desktop Mode. I am old school and I use my computer, and it is a lot easier to navigate the pages, move from one group to the other, and see the information that we may mention here, like all the links to various other information pages in the upper right. 

Feel Free to ask any questions or just share how your journey so far has been. 

AZ_RACCOON - looking at the reservation page on  Navy Family Social The only Meet and Greet for Navy Boot Camp gradu... for the meet n Greet, there is a place for adding special instructions. I would think you could put a note there and either ask if there is a Gluten Free option or not. 

Also, unless it has changed since 2017 - the owner of the event center, offers his facility to Sarge for free or a nominal charge. To help offset costs, he does sell the drinks for the meal, they were inexpensive, but we did not come prepared with a lot of cash for our trips, so just be aware of that. Otherwise, there is no cost for the meal, but I encourage people to make a donation as they are able to. 

AZ_Raccoon, we att3nded Sarge's Meet and Greet in November. There was a wide variety of foods, including salad, vegetables, pasta, fried chicken etc. It was a pretty good mix of things. Sarge doesn't charge but requests a reasonable donation. It sounded like he was getting pretty close to shutting it down due to a high volume of no shows for which he and his family were eating the cost of by all accounts. Hopefully that is no longer a problem. I hope you and your family can attend and enjoy.

Good luck and congrats to your sailor.

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR MARCH 27, 2025

Congratulations to all of the graduates today!!

Job well done Sailors and families!  Enjoy this very special day!!!

I just check my USPS informed delivery and I will be getting a letter today, I am so excited! The first letter!!! I never knew about informed delivery until I was on this site. Thank you so much!