Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Melanie -Welcome Aboard! We are glad you are here and asking questions.  One thing you will learn about having a child in the Navy, is you do not assume anything! :-)

That does not mean you can't try to plan but if you make reservations, especially airline reservations, be sure they are refundable or changeable!!

It is best to wait until you receive the "form letter" or whatever electronic means - Sandboxx App for BC - they are using now to notify family of which training group (TG), Division and ship number a SR is assigned to. There are many factors which can affect your SRs actual PIR date. The first being when they are actually assigned to a Div upon arrival at BC. Other factors are injuries or something else that can delay them, in which case they should be able to notify you of the change. 

Hopefully, someone who has attended more recently can share the latest on how they notify the families of the SRs PIR date. Mine came by paper mail and as I recall it was about 3 weeks from when he had left home. 

Melanie - I would hold off for a minute until you get that official letter.  Anything could happen.....

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

Thank you both for all your guidance. All of your links have been very helpful and have guided me through this process. Thank you again. 

Melanie - You are welcome!! I used to be the biggest family planner - whether it was a short weekend trip, or a 3-week family vacation. Everything had to fall just perfectly in place. My son knew this very well, to the point that he did not write me one Sunday, so that he could go to medical to be checked out for a cough. He knew how important it was for him to graduate on the date that I think we were actually given by the recruiters!!

Needless to say, the Navy has taught me how to be a lot more flexible, and I plan even less than I probably should now. And my biggest lesson came not with getting to PIR, but after PIR was over and nothing happened for my new sailor the way anyone had shared on this site!! 

You're in good company! The excitement is all there, we want to see our new sailor, but there is a lot between now and later. We will help you learn to navigate these new waters, as best as we can. 

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR APRIL 10, 2025

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

I hope someone got a phone call this weekend!! Or letters in the mail?  Be sure to come share with us!

Praying for our SR's to have the physical strength, self confidence, perseverance and mental strength to push through these last few weeks! Since my Son is not a letter writer, I am anxiously waiting for my next call. I always appreciate when you all share your responses from your SR's. May Godd Bless our SR's and our families.

NavyMomThrower - Have you gotten ANY letters from your SR?  I know that's super-challenging to have to wait for the phone calls!  I hope you get one SOON!!!

Praying for all of the SR's and families!!  My son wrote 2 letter because he was not a writer either, but we wrote twice a week!  He did say getting the letters from us was so nice.  The calls were always what we lived for and when they came we knew he was okay.  Stay strong and know he is okay and will get through all of this.  You will get the call soon!!

Few are letter writers these days, so I very much suggest you send an easy questionnaire, make it funny or whatever, but it's easier for them to fill in blanks and circle answers - and send it with a postage stamped envelope (I think they have to fill in their return address.) They really don't have much time and are wiped out at the end of the day.

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

Welcome to any of our newest members. Be sure and come here to the comment wall and say hello. Let us know what stage of the Navy journey you are in. This is the best place to ask questions and hopefully get the most replies. Most of the veteran moms on this site are not members of the PIR groups, but we do our best to reply when you post here.

If you are on a mobile device, if you put it into desktop mode, it might help you navigate each of the group pages a lot easier. 

Welcome Aboard!! We are glad you have joined us!!

My son has been out of the Navy for almost 2 years now. During his six years as a Nuke, he met his wife, also a sailor, got married, and is now a father. He is using his GI bill to further his education. He joined the Navy reserves after his enlistment was over. 

My kid has been in for 2 years now, and being our youngest, it was a shock to be empty nesting years earlier than we had planned! He realized college wasn't what he wanted to do with his next 4 years and that he could attend college part time with his GI bill, so that's his plan. It's been interesting but, though he was quite mature for his age when he went in, he's had to learn a lot of adulting already and I'm proud of him for so many reasons.

Check out the new stamp design USPS is releasing on 05/16/2025.

OMG.. gonna have to ask my post office when they will get them

Hi all - Happy Wednesday!

That stamp is awesome!  I'm going to have to get me some too!

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

You can pre-order the Navy Stamps on USPS website and they will be delivered when they become available.

S.O. Contract:

Moms whose sons have an S.O. Contract headed to BUD/S there is a group for you.

It is called, BUD/S and SQT (Stages of a S.E.A.L.)

Interested:

Send a friend request to NavyMom(J) for more information.

(Click on the highlighted links.)

Melanie - thanks for that info on the stamp!

Here's the link to pre-order:

Navy 250th stamp

I am definitely going to need to check out the Navy stamp. Thanks for the link, B'sNukeMom and Melanie and AZ_RACCOON for sharing!!

Yep -- I was coming to say you can order online and they will deliver them to your home as soon as they are available!
https://store.usps.com/store/stamps

Happy PIR Day!

Watch it live now:

LIVE PIR 4.17.2025

Happy PIR day!! Only 3 more weeks now until my daughter has hers!

so exciting.. being there was just amazing..

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

Oliver's Easter Egg Hunt!

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

Happy Tuesday!

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

Happy Wednesday!

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

PIR: JUNE 2025

PIR: MAY 2025

PIR: APRIL 2025

MomofJoseph,  thank you for asking. Yes! I got my Easter letter! He also wrote his Sister! I, like everyone else, am patiently waiting on "The Phone Call". I am standing in prayer that he and the rest of 189 are doing well during these last 15 days, and we will all be there to hug'm up and spend time. He already had me broke in with not being quick to call or text as he was growing up, but it was ok then because he lived here.  Now I know that if I don't hear from him it's a good thing. 

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR 4.24.25

Happy PIR day!! 2 more weeks now until I get to go to my daughter's PIR!!!