Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

hi lora.. hope you got the call.. when we got ours we just kept sayiing we loved him and was proud.. 

Lora, B'sNukeMom has a saying, "It doesn't get easier, we get stronger!"  You have joined the ranks of Navy Mom and we stick around, answer questions, and offer support as we are able.

{{{BNMHs}}} = Big Navy Mom Hugs.

I think I was sort of in my own zone for about a week or more before the first letter. I emailed my son so I could see his smiling profile page. Once I had an address (way before Sandboxx App option) I printed the emails and mailed them. 

Lora - welcome aboard! You've got this! My son went through 2 years ago, now, and those first couple of weeks were the toughest, for sure. I wrote him a letter every day he was there, so his first mail day was a doozy!

Make sure you sign up for Informed Delivery with the USPS if you haven't already. There was nothing better than getting an email and seeing his handwriting on an envelope headed my way.

{{{{BNMHs}}}}

Lora - the Sandboxx app is a message service, basically. You can send physical mail through it, but it costs extra and isn't secure. If your recruit signs up for it, you can get their mailing address earlier than by the snail mail form letter they send once they get sorted into divisions. That's what we used it for, and then I just sent letters via USPS. 

Lora - So happy you got the call!!  It's been a year since we got the call!   Write lots of letters!  My son wrote one but that's okay.  He said it was so nice when the mail came and he got letters!!  I only sent mail USPS.  Remember she is safe and her decision was very courageous!!!  She will be able to call in a couple weeks!

Yep, here it is!

Lora - it’s been almost 5 years but I remember it well. Everything reminded me of my son and made never sad. I put it all away. And then a few weeks later I made a tribute table in the family room. It’s still there today! You do get stronger. I think it feels easier. I don’t cry now every time we part. I go visit him as often as I can. He comes home when he can. He was stationed in South Carolina for 4 years so it was “easy” but a long trip. I miss him so much but my pride keeps me going.  

Hi, Lora!  We are so glad you are here!  I'm sitting here crying, remembering boot camp with my son (which will be 4 years in Sept).  Keeping busy certainly helped.  And once the first phone call (not the scripted one) came through, things were much better for me.  I wrote my son every day; he wrote once a week.  I sent most letters by USPS, but if I wanted to tell him something quickly, I used Sandboxx.  (For example, he wrote and apologized for not writing more often, and it seemed like he was feeling guilty about it.  I sent a Sandboxx letter telling him that although I LOVE getting letters from him, his job was to focus on graduating and my job was to encourage him.)

Please feel free to come share, vent, ask for prayers, etc.  We remember how challenging this time was, and we relied on this group for support.  Now we're here to pay it forward!

Lora -- Welcome to the Hardest Job you never agreed to!! Take a Deep Breath.... Hold it..... Let it out.... And again..... And Once More....
It's been 12 years for us!! (Where did the time go!?).  I Was a HOT Mess when my child left. (Middle of 3 oldest boy).  I was not prepared to not be able to call and check on him like I could with my oldest (daughter) and My Youngest was still home so that felt "normal(ish)".  This site was a Life line!! So much has changed with BC over the last 12 years and I wouldn't wish the Covid years on ANYONE!! We are here to help you learn OPSEC (OPerational SECurity) and PERSEC (PERsonal SECurity -- No real names please...). We will help you develop into a Navy Mom who has Mastered... Semper Gumby, No News is GOOD News and Who fully understands what it is to Be NAVY STRONG!!
Posting on this Page will ensure you get the most eyes on your question/concern/plea/rant.  You are encouraged to join your PIR group to talk with other moms at you stage of BC (Boot Camp) but please remember that if you want to hear from those who have already been there, done that, got the grey hair and wrinkles to prove it.... you need to post here.
IF you scroll up you will see a rough timeline. Warrior training may or may not still be a thing but this will allow you to "Guestimate" when your SR (Seaman Recruit) will be "Graduating" (PIR = Pass In Review).  
You can also go to this link and Print out the schedule here... https://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/Recruits/
This is the same schedule for every recruit.  You read it Down the Columns and then across.  You can Pencil in the first few weeks dates but please remember that the July 4th holiday adds a "Hold" day to their schedule. Once your SR calls or writes you can ask them what their (W/TD) Week & Training Day is and that will confirm for you the rest of the schedule.  If there is anything that changes their PIR date they WILL call.  For the First 3 weeks, while YOU and your Momma Heart want them to call, you really DO NOT want a phone call. (The first week it's likely that they need some item of information that they cannot find or do not know... These are BUSINESS Calls and while you can tell them yo Love them and are proud of them, they cannot chat and they are likely on speaker!)
You are in the right place!! 
We haven't lost a Mom to Bootcamp yet, We won't start with you!!!

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR JULY 3, 2025

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

hi lora.. I think it was around week 3 for us. you might get a paper with ship/div before or after the call.. I think we got one way after. I think there is something about sandboxx where you can get it earlier but that was after my time in boot camp .. probably one of the newer moms can help out with that..

Lora - It was 3 weeks for  too.  It was early 6am on a Saturday.  We never missed a call because I had my phone on me at all times and still do still today : )  That is when we ask him for his  address ship/div.  We received the  card with address info much later.  It was damaged in the mail and came in a little plastic bag damaged from the post office.

Lora - got the call at about 2pm. Might have been around week 5 but in 2020 they had a two week quarantine at a nearby hotel before actually starting boot camp. Never got the card in the mail. He was sad thinking we were too busy to write him when everyone else seemed to be getting letters from home. 

I got a picture texted to me by my son of a paper that said How to contact your recruit with the address ship # and division # before I got the card in the mail. So you might get that from your son or daughter within 2 to 3 weeks. 

Lora - My son went to BC 3.5 years ago.  We got the first letter on Day 13 (form letter with info about PIR and his mailing address).  We got the 1st phone call on either Day 20 or Day 27 (I forget which) at 11:30ish Eastern Time.  The second phone call came on Day 41 around 2:00 pm Eastern Time.  The last call came on Day 58 (the I'm a Sailor call) around 10:00 CST and he graduated on Day 59.

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR JULY 10, 2025

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

Just got back from Great Lakes for my son’s PIR. It was perfect in every way!! Since he was there for 6 months (fractured hip) we decided to drive out from the west coast so we could bring our dog. The dog is 15 yo and my son didn’t think he’d get to see her again when he left. Surprise! We rented a VRBO in Libertyville (cute town) so we’d all fit and be able to relax and cook as needed - his two older brothers drove with us. Because of the July 4th holiday and since he was on hold awaiting his orders he ended up with 5 days of liberty, 2 of them were overnight! Our new sailor dictated what we did. Day 1 (PIR) was a nice dinner - he “just wanted to eat steak and ice cream w/his family”, day 2 was hanging out and catching up during the day then 4th of July festivities in Libertyville. Day 3 was the Griffin museum in Chicago and deep dish pizza, day 4 was Navy Pier & the bean. Day 5 was shopping for a laptop for A school, sneakers and noise canceling headphones. Was really tough saying good-bye but at least he has his cell phone back so can text and even facetime from within certain areas of the base. Can’t wait to see him again in another 6-7 months after A-school. 

Watching his baby brother push through this has given my oldest son the motivation to join the Coast Guard to try and become a rescue swimmer. He was a high school and collegiate state champ swimmer, and is certified by the red cross to train lifeguards and others in basic lifesaving skills (CPR etc) so it feels like he would have a fighting chance. If anyone has experience in this space, would love some guidance about where to start before engaging with a recruiter….here we go again!  

Hang in there new Bootcamp moms. You’ll get to this point too and it will all be worth it! Stay strong for your recruit 🥰

Staci - what a wonderful visit for you!  Congrats on the PIR and I'm so glad you got extra days with him!  I'm so glad you had such a good time and that the whole family - even the dog! were able to make it.

Thanks ladies! We always say “everything happens for a reason” and if it wasn’t for his delay in RCU he would not have graduated when he did and we likely wouldn’t have had 5 days with him. Now we sit and wait until he gets his orders for A school. 😁

Staci - Thank you for the update!  That is all so wonderful!!  I know you are proud of your Sailor and your future Coast Guardsman!  I loved hearing about your experience at PIR!  Thank you for sharing with us!!!

Staci - So happy you had the best time with your New Sailor!!  I always say everything happens for a reason!  Sometimes you don't know why it happened until later and then everything makes better sense.  So excited for your Sailor's next adventure  to GC A school!!!

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

Congrats on your time together and sailor's PIR! Truly exciting and a relief, too!

Yes.. thank you for the wonderful update on your pir.. is he waiting for orders to fly out or is he staying out? Such a sweet trip.. things happen for a reason.

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

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

PIR: SEPTEMBER 2025

PIR: AUGUST 2025

PIR: JULY 2025

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR JULY 17, 2025