Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

And then there is UTC - Universal Time Coordinated (My husband said it is actually French), I think this is what Anti M means by worldwide but I don't know for sure. I just know my sons would refer to it when they were doing online gaming across the globe. 

I always add 12 after 12 noon for my evening military time. I use to clock out at 1600 so that was 4 pm and helps me remember as well. Half the clocks in my house it seems like are set up with 24 hour time as it is my husband's preference and my boys especially pick up on it. I still have to calculate in my head. 

Instead of explaining what I just looked up and found here is website - UTC, GMT, and Zulu Time Explained (thoughtco.com)

Anti M-- I realized that I wrote it wrong although when DH and I were discussing it I kept saying it correct.  I just got distracted with another part of our discussion and typed the wrong time.  AND I Never got local and world wide correct! No matter how many times both DH and Sailor have tried to explain!  I Just stick with local or make them convert to "Normal People" time!
I have found that learning the Phonetic Alphabet has saved my bacon when speaking to folks on the phone all the time!! I occasionally forget a letter and make up a word but it's usually close. (Golf/Gulf. India/Indigo, Juliet/January, Victor/Violin).  If you really want to impress your kids learn it and then write them a message that way!
Indiatangosierra alpha romeoechoalphalima CharlieHotelAlphalimalimaechonovembergolfecho

BBH- Thank you. I was looking for that post to help her and I posted a link but it wasn't the exact one that I had wanted. lol It was the post where you were more specific with the dates. :)

How is the puppy feeling today?

NewMilMom- I know right? It can be a lot at times.  :) I try not to count down either but it's always in the back in your mind when they have to return back again.  You are very welcome and peace and joy back at you.

Shanny- Hope your day turned out ok. It is ok to have one of those days. Mine will be coming soon enough. :) BNH's.

VintageGal- Hope your day was awesome and you guys had a great day!!!

I did some more wrapping and took care of some phone calls. My Sailor and I went out this afternoon and got his dad his gift, came home, cooked dinner and had an enjoyable evening. Hope yours was to.

Anti M- Yes you are right. My Sailor was telling me about it today. LBF mentioned it in her post yesterday about hearing about it to. So I asked mine about it today. He missed rank again by 2 points he was not a happy camper this morning. Hopefully this new way will be better.

mom2blondies- It's good to see you on here. I could never crochet so that is wonderful to hear. You made me laugh about your comment from your oldest. Have a wonderful day tomorrow!!

Ldcga2- It was good to see your post. Glad you are writing now it does help.  :)

Have a peaceful and restful sleep ladies. Good Night.

Good morning Ladies, I have been up since 2:00, caught up on all your post, read my devotions and packed my suitcase. Guess I am getting out of here just in time, temps falling 30 degrees. Tomorrow morning is suppose to be about 2 degrees, yuck.

Shanny, I wish I could get to you so I could help you with your crafting. My sister isn't craft either but she is getting better Everytime we do one together. I work with the pre kindergarten and kindergarten class to make Christmas and mother's day gifts. I volunteer my time but it is so rewarding. If you can get a class of 4-5 years old to follow directions I am pretty sure I can help you out.

NewMilmom, your post brought tears to my eyes. I pray you can live in the moment and not think about the days ahead. I have always been a planner, trying to make everything perfect for everyone. Boy is our Lord teaching me a lesson this year. He has put a wrench in all of my plans and taught me what really is important. Funny it is the same things you mentioned. Simple togetherness and go with the flow.

Tadpole, I am happy you found your way here, my son was at the tail end of Covid in BC but many of these Ladies have seen about everything imaginable. They have persevered and are filled with first hand knowledge to share with you. Just remember we are here for you, we all handle emotions differently but share the same Love and respect for our Sailors and our Sailors to be.

belovedbyHim, so grateful your puppy is improving. I know they are very much a part of our families. Prayers things continue to looking up for You.

partyofseven and Vintage so happy you are enjoying the gift of having your son's home with you as well. Squeeze the heck out of them.

I am hoping someday for those precious grandkids too,  my greatest hope is for my son because my daughter or step daughter doesn't look promising.  I had my children later in life so don't know if that will ever happen but God gave me lots of kids to love anyway.

MaterNauta - That picture would definitely be very nice. I don't honestly know anything about flag codes when it comes to being done in a photograph. Hopefully someone else knows. I do know that all other flags have to be held or flown slightly lower than the USA flag but I would not know with regards to pictures. 

Mom2blondies - my daughter crochets and knits - taught herself much as you after a short lesson from someone. Her MIL also knits and crochets, so I am "off the hook" in that regards. I love to sew when I can find the time and space to cut out patterns! I also like counted cross-stitch but have not done that for years. 

Northwoodsmom - Hugs and prayers!!  

Good morning Warrior Moms!

It has been so crazy at work with end of year wrap up that I haven't been able to comment at all!  I have been reading everyday and adding prayers for all of you.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate this group, it can be very lonely as a military mom!  

Have a beautiful day!  Big hugs to all, especially our new moms!

MaterNauta: try this website, they have a whole section dedicated to flag etiquette www.aflag.com

Mrs. NorthwoodsMom I meant sorry for Typo.

Good Morning everyone.  I hope you all have a wonderful day!

MaterNatura, the flag placemen tin the photo looks like it complies with code.  Nice choice of display.  

Party, I went looking in the Navy advancements instructions and the newest thing I can find is in 12/18.  There's a new way to weigh the performance evaluations which gives an edge to top performers.  Evals are a lot different than when I was in, so it is hard to pick it apart.  School evals are different than fleet evals, and carry less weight.  As it should be, although this doesn't affect those with an auto-advance in their contract.  Also, looks like the spring advancement quotas are low, so not many will make it.

Anti M - I think it was the advancement quotas that my son was referring to when he said he only had a 5% chance of making it. Nuke slots are also affected by star-reenlistments as well. 

Good morning Everyone!! As per my normal, I have been on but posting individually elsewhere and I have to go get presents wrapped. Sun is shining and my day will be dark sooner than I wish. 

Just a reminder: If you have a sailor now - go to your My Page and in your profile setting be sure to change their status to Enlisted. They have advanced and this helps us as we are checking in on new members. - Also, I highly recommend that if they are at their school or out in the fleet that you make sure your profile is at least set to member view only or friend only. If it is still on public then anything posted on your my page is visible to anyone searching the internet. Just a little PERSEC reminder.

If your status is "headed to BC" and they are now in GL at ROM or RTC be sure to change yours to "At BC now."

Have a wonderful day!!

Chipmunk, Warrior Protector, and Anti M: *Thank you* for the feedback!!! I also found this one for our beloved Navy. I don't know if it's the perspective, but the Navy seems to be slightly lower than the United States of America flag. I will do that (keeping the Marines flag slightly lower. 

BTW, this link has the U.S. Flag Code: 

https://www.military.com/flag-day/us-flag-code.html

Have a glorious Wednesday. 

Early morning before everyone up with just pups, birds and momma is the only calm moments... after pups and birds fed that is...hee hee..

Lots to do & last minute errands.  Hallmark ornament I ordered online I have to pick up a finally came in plus need to pick up my Noelle cake I ordered for 1st time from little local area French bakery. Need to finish making the Dolce de Leche for neighbors, make my buttermilk pie s & if I get really ambitious cheese cakes for a couple special neighbors. 

And to make a birthday dessert for oldest birthday is tomorrow. 

Tomorrow vet will reassess my poor horses issue... meaning we may need x-rays and I want to make sure he feels it is safe to move him as planned on 27th to another friend to board a bit aways.  More driving for me but he'll be in a great place and friend where he is now is taking to boarding her boy at local boarding facility.  She's in her 70's and they are thinking they will sell place soon... they want to be able to go between 2 kids son and 1st grandbaby here and daughter in another state.

I didn't crochet or knit gifts for anyone this year...I haven't done any of it for awhile now sad to say.  Used to do alot for charities and  baby caps for the military hospital not to far away.  Life just seemed to get a bit to cluttered and complicated with being pulled in to many directions.  I was also volunteer teaching loom knitting and simple crochet for our local before and after school care program staff and kiddos. 

Have a wonderful day! Stay safe.  Hugs to all. And damn if momma not seeing her sailor leave house without 1 hug!! 

I see we  have quite a few New Comers to the site, Welcome Please come Introduce yourselves to the Group. We have a lot of info for you, in fact I will list a few sites down so you can read. We have a Great Group of Ladies/Mommas/Admins that will be able to answer your questions.

First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition

Boot Camp First Weeks Timeline

Informed Delivery®

Anti M:. Can you translate something from a patch my sailor sent me a picture of?  They just dropped it off to him in his room (he is in ROM waiting to go to his ship). He thinks it is incorrect based on his paperwork he was given when he left A School and the paperwork he got from his chief upon arrival. 

so the patch he was given has his name and then ABEAR. The ABE is his rate. But the AR we think is Airman RECRUIT.  His paperwork from both A School and his chief say he is ABEAN. So ABE is his rate...  the next A I am assuming is Airman. Can’t figure out the N?  He had a meeting with the LPO today and he looked at it and told him he would need to go get new ones done. 

Shanny, Airman (E-3) is abbreviated AN.  So an E-3 ABE would be an ABEAN.  Yes, he needs to update his patches/name tape.  It's not an uncommon out of pocket expense, especially because E-1 up to E-3 can go so fast.  Even if the first set is issued, he probably has to order new ones himself.  He should ask his LPO to help him out if he's in ROM.

Thank You Mrs. Anti M  for that information. Hope you ARE FEELING BETTER! Merry Christmas to you!

Just received my Ornament

Anti M:  thank you so much. I kept googling it but couldn’t get anywhere with AN. SN I found but not AN. So I assumed what it meant and wanted to make sure!  He came out of BC E-2 and out of A School E3. Does that seem right?

C’sMom:  did you get the weather bulletin?  We just got one for snow amounts and hazardous road conditions..  and so it begins. Be careful out there! (And anyone traveling!  I know we have other Michigan Moms and families!)

PhoenixMom:. In case you are still on...  I LOVE your ornament!!!  So cool!!!  Argh will have to sit down and write you!  

Shanny, yes, that's a reasonable advancement progression.  E-2 would have been Airman Apprentice, so the SR was a very early entry in his record.  Nothing unusual though.

There's also FN for Fireman.  Not firefighters, but snipes, those who work with the guts of the ship.  CN for Constructionman, the Seabees.  HN for Hospitalcorpsman. 

I don't think I forgot any, but the Navy changes up ratings now and then.

Shortcake, your son must be waiting with my friends son, he is from the UP, he was on a plane and all of a sudden they came and took him off because they were over booked. He was so distraught, my heart hurts for all of them at GL. They can't go home and they can't move on, kinda stuck in limbo. Hope your son gets to move soon too.

Thank You shanny!

Well the fun just keeps coming...  we are having horrible winds as a storm front approaches I guess. Just saw a garbage can go rolling down the driveway. Looked out the back window and the tarp was blowing across the driveway with the bungee cords still attached but broken in half. The rope I used to secure it to the fence all snapped. Called my son and asked him what to do because he has a trickle charger attached to keep the battery good. He said leave it uncovered until the winds die down and whatever happens happens. Argh

Tadpole ~ Welcome! we’re glad you’re here. Please feel free to ask questions and say what’s on your mind at any time. The admin and Navy mom veterans have a lot of information to give. My son graduated BC a couple of months ago and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be to have this kind of support during this journey. There’s quite a few of us whose sailors have been out of Boot Camp, even for a couple of months now, who stick around because we love the camaraderie and enjoy welcoming new moms. We know how tough this time can be on our mama hearts. Talk about a roller coaster! I felt like the more I knew, studied, and watched videos of their experiences, the more comfort I felt. I hope that you find comfort in that as well. 

(((((BNMH))))) Big Navy Mom Hugs

Phoenixmom ~ hello! Sounds like you’re enjoying your new kitchen and making some memories :) I love your new ornament!  

Northwoodsmom ~ It sounds like you have your labor of love project all tied up for your school babies <3 Have a safe trip and a wonderful time seeing your dad. My heart goes out to the both of you. Enjoy your time together. 

Partyofseven ~ sounds like you had a wonderful afternoon and evening with your son. :) i’m so happy for you! 

NewMilMom ~ we’d love to see your new ornament. I hope your horse recovers soon and feels like itself again. So over here it’s not so much they’re not talking about the absence due to alone time with his fiancé. My daughter, being her mom‘s little sidekick, put a bug in his ear so hopefully we’ll see him a little more before he leaves. 

Warriorprotector ~ BIG HUGS :) yes, it’s a friggn lonely feeling. Trying not to be dramatic over here but I’m having one of those days. BBBBNMH!! 

Belovedbyhim ~ how’s your pup doing? It awful when they can’t tell you what’s hurting them. 

Shanny ~ Hold on to your hat! Stay inside and stay warm :) 

Chipmunk ~ I hope you’re having a good day :) i’ve had a few pity parties but I think that’s to be expected when you have certain expectations. my daughter can read me like a book though so I’ve gotten a lot of hugs from her.

just an FYI to all the mamas... when you know your sailor is going to come home try to set your expectations low... that way, time you actually get to spend with them is a plus. It’s mainly because he has a fiancé and she apparently is in very much need of alone time. I totally understand, but it doesn’t mean that Mom isn’t having her own little pity party deep down inside. My daughter looks out for her mama so she told him - you ought to spend some time with mom. He did go to Williams and Sonoma the other day and bought me a mama bear mug that is super cute. I really feel like he’s being pulled in different directions so I’m just trying to stay quiet. My daughter and I had a great day yesterday and she was venting as well because she misses her brother. Again... have low expectations

The other day we went to Zia records and walked around for a bit. We didn’t make it to the antique mall but maybe some other time. And that’s the end of my ramble... 

Anti M, MaterNauta, Beloved, LadyBlueFire, Doribry, Proud and grateful, Mom2blondies, Shortcake, C’smom, B’sNukeMomMMN, Imlaotvhe, ldcga2 ~ BBBBNMH and a Merry Christmas Eve Eve!! 

NewMilMom ~ sorry that sentence was an absolute wreck... I meant to say that- it’s not so much due to his silence, but to the absence of our sailor because of his alone time with his fiancé. My daughter said - I would never try to keep my boyfriend away from his parents if he had been gone for months on end. 
My heart goes out to you and I completely understand and validate your feelings right now. HUGS!! 

VintageGal:  it was so hard knowing there were only 10 days and 2 were for travel...  then he tried to split his time at home just relaxing and trying to visit everyone. Then spend time with my "ex"   I felt like everyone was pulling him in different directions so I just sat back and let him know this was the place to decompress. Girl, of he had still been with clothing stealing GF she would have never let him come home. I am sorry you aren't getting all the time you want and deserve. Maybe ask him if you can have a lunch date one day if he can't do dinner. Just the two of you before he leaves?  She needs to remember he has a family who loves him and needs to see him too. HUGE NAVY MOM HUGS!!!

Shanny:  hang onto your hat!  I don't think we are supposed to get that weather, but I know it's going to get really cold and we may get a couple inches over Cristmas.  Maybe they've changed it since this morning.  Today it got up to 50, and now i can hear it raining outside.  

My sailor gave us his new address, so I have a box of goodies and bday gifts (snacks) and Christmas cookies ready to go tomorrow in the mail!  He won't get it before Christmas or birthday, but better late than never.  

Yesterday, he went bowling, and today he got tacos from a food truck.  I think he's enjoying a little more freedom down there.  

C’sMom:. I am so glad he is enjoying his new freedoms!!!  And real food!  That’s what my son loves those first few days. Real food lol it is so I’ve to have the more open communication!  I have been picking up a few things here and there to send to mine as soon as he gets his address for the ship. Just found a great deal on Harry’s razors at Walmart. (Mail order razor blades that he can do once he gets an address if he wants). They had the handle, 3 blades and shave gel for $9. Usually the handle is $8.99. And he loves the gel but didn’t know if he could take his on the plane.  He said he missed real razors and hates the disposable ones from BC. 

My son just texted us, and he wants us to send his laptop, charger, controller and his Adidas sweats.  Lol!  What is the best and safest way to ship this?  

And Shanny, thanks for mentioning those Harry's razors.  Those are what my husband and sailor like.  We are going to text him and see if he wants us to send that, also.  We are sending him for Christmas one of those soft blankets you all talked about several weeks ago.  I kept that in mind for now.  I made sure to ask him if he had room if we sent him something a bit bulky.  He said yes.  

C'sMom:  if he doesn't have any, consider sending him some moisturizing aftershave too. That was one of the things mine complained about when he got home...  his skin was so dry and irritated from the daily shaving and cheap razors. When he left he took an extra bottle with him

C'smom, I mailed all of my packages with the military boxes at the post office. It saves you a couple bucks. Usually they got there in 4-5 days but his Christmas/birthday present took 17 days. I even sent glass jars and they weren't broken. Good luck.

And if you don't have the original box for his laptop, you may want to take it to a UPS or Fed Ex store where they can pack it for you. (That was recommended to me by our post master at the post office here)

Welcome Jneddho1- Here are some links for you to read and look over. We are glad that you are here. No question is ever dumb and someone will answer you.

First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition

Boot Camp First Weeks Timeline

Informed Delivery®

Jneddho1, welcome to Navy Moms,. The ladies are so compassionate and encouraging on here and will help you through this rollercoaster of emotions. They are knowledgeable and have been or going through alot of process you will be experiencing. We look forward to hearing from you of where your recruit is on his/her journey. 

Shanny, he could take the gel in a checked bag.  If he does, double bag it in ziplock bags so if it leaks it won't ruin his stuff. If you want to mail aftershave, be sure it is the kind with no alcohol. Otherwise it's considered flammable and cannot be sent USPS.  Same with perfume or cologne.

Good Morning Ladies and welcome to all of our new moms,

Please keep those phones on you at all times and those ringers on loud. You just never know if you will get a call or not. Keep writing those letters and hopefully letters and form letters will be coming soon.

Phoenixmom- Good Morning and I love the ornament. Have fun baking with the little one and with your family.  :)

Ladies, mine also does that when he is here. Friends first then mom but then we always have our visits before bed so that makes it nice. It seems like after they get settled they will spend more time with mom.

VintageGal- Good Morning, I would just let your Sailor know how you feel and maybe set up certain times you would like to have with him. With us, it's the first night home and the last day he is here is family time. Big hugs to you!!!

Anti M- Good Morning and I hope you are feeling better. Thank you for sharing and letting me know about the rank outline. It is confusing but I am understanding it a little better.

BBH, LBF, Shanny, Shortcake, Good Morning.

Northwoodsmom- Good Morning and safe travels for you as you travel.