Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Here are the links to the current PIR groups.

PIR: January 2021

       January 07, 2021 No Graduation

       January 14, 2021 No Graduation

       January 21, 2021 TG 09 14 Divisions (065-078)

       January 28, 2021 TG 10 14 Divisions (079-092)

PIR: February 2021

       February 04, 2021 TG 11 6 Divisions (095-102)

       February 11, 2021 TG 12 13 Divisions (105-116, 807)

       February 18, 2021 TG 13 14 Divisions (117-130)

       February 25, 2021 TG 14 12 Divisions (131- 144)

Please note: Your recruits original graduation date may change due to additional quarantine during training. Your recruit will let you know if this happens.

Mrs. BelovedByHim's Blog

 Read my blog to give you an idea of what the first few weeks may look like.. First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition 

These sites will give much needed info as well please read.

• Phone Cards and Phone Calls
• Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit
• When Will the Recruits be Paid? and Information for Spouses

This site will give info as to what is needed to pass and what happens if the PFA isn't passed, and how the form letter is sent and when.

See Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) and Fitness Improvement Training (FIT).

Good Morning All, Hoping this Day finds all well!. this month moving quickly as usual..

So good to see a lot of New Comers to the site. Welcome all! I posted some sites to get you started. Very good info on these sites and maybe it can answer some questions you may have. Have a Great Day!

Party thanks for the scripture!

Prayer for the Morning:

Almighty and holy God, I want to glorify you and bring you praise in the choices that I make, the people that I influence, the words that I speak, and the actions that I take in this coming year. I know that I am not guaranteed a single new day, but I want each that I live to be a day I have lived for your glory and honor and praise. In the name of Jesus  I pray. Amen

Good morning everyone!

My SR is 24 today!  Miss him!  

M2B:  Those phones stink!  Happened to my SR when he hung up with us and then quickly tried to call his sister (she was at the my parents house).  She waited for 30 minutes and then a VM showed up on her phone from him.  The saddest message ever! He sounded so sad to have missed talking to her, so sweet. Three days later he called her and they talked a long time. 

I love the idea of having a special message on your phone in case you miss them!  Doing that today for both my military guys! 

Party and Phoenixmom: Thank you! :)

Have a fantastic day everyone!  17 until PIR!  

Good Morning everyone!!!  Just stopping by to say hi and Welcome all of our new members!!!  Please feel free to ask any questions you have!  Someone will always answer!  If it gets lost in the chatter please ask again as no one will ever intentionally ignore you!

Warriorprotector:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR SR!!!!

warriorprotector- Good Moning.

Happy Birthday to your son!! Whoo Hoo. I hope he has the best day that he can. Mine graduated right before his when he went thru bc.

But it's still sad when they have birthdays and were not there. So I always try to send a little something to recognize his day!!!

I'm counting with you and DoriBry!! 

Have a wonderful day as well!!!

Morning all,

Warriorprotector -Happy Birthday to your SR...mine was in boot camp for his birthday as well...I had his address at that point so I mailed a simple birthday card that had a plain white envelope so not obvious a birthday card.  He of course didn't receive by his birthday but, it let him know I hadn't forgotten him & his special day...Like any Momma could forget that! 

Missing his birthday & not getting to go to his PIR due to Co-Vid SUCKED! I so wanted to be there for both of course to celebrate him.  All I could do his PIR date was pretty much cry at missing that very important day & yep, I was a work.  Those damn Navy allergies!

Oh my I never thought to leave a message on my phone in case he called & I didn't get it!  That is a Wonderful Idea!!!  He would call his Dad 1st anyhow as Dad is retired so home for the most part... Pretty sure to get Dad vs. Mom at work but I did tell him CALL I don't care if in meeting or whatnot I will answer!!!  Let them make an issue of it -- I dare them!!  And he Knows I am not one to mess with when it comes to my babes... As my middle dd says "You aren't normal...You're CRAZY INSANE Momma" ... That's me! 

BNMH to each of you!!!  

Prayers for each, happy phone calls & letters to arrive today!!!

Warriorprotector:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR SR!!!!

Warriorprotector-Happy Birthday to your son! And thank you for the daily countdown to PIR! We are getting close to single digit days!!!!!! 

Warriorprotector-Happy birthing day to you and your son!! Birthdays are special for us too as the memories come flooding back like it was just yesterday that we were holding that little bundle in our arms, exhausted yet so in love!! 

My SR 21st bday is the end of the month and going to try to get him a card today in hopes that it reaches him by his birthday. I was just going through the mail rules posted by Phoenixmom (thank you it was very helpful!!) to make sure I passed on all of that info to family as well. My brother wrote back, "Well I was going to send him a letter but if he can't have glitter in it, forget it!" Haha! 

mom2blondies - had to chuckle at your brother's comment on the glitter...similar to what my middle dd said when I gave her the guidelines & STRICT instructions NOTHING on the outside of envelope either...I typed the address on the envelopes & gave those to her just to be safe.  She did put stickers inside on the paper she wrote her letters to him as she was determined to do something creative...hahaha...she did write him in some creative styles too that were funny.  She said I was sending the boring stuff day to day blah blah so she wanted him to have something more "fun".  she's a special kind of brat! 

Thank you for all the birthday shout outs!  This has been a loooong day for this mama!

M2B & NewMilMom: All our family/friends sent him Bday cards last month so he would know we were all thinking of him.  His younger brother was going to send one with confetti (and he's been through BC himself) and he had to give me his word he wouldn't do that or I wasn't going to give him the address. LOL!  He behaved, but told me all bets were off once he got to A-School.  Brothers!  

I do put funny things I find that will make him laugh it my letters and found a cool logo for his rate.  But I really have fun with the postcards I send through MondayDelivery.com.  I love uploading old fam pics and keep it all light and encouraging.

My dd loves to send him long missives about her remote school life...he laughed on one call saying when he opened her card he said out loud "holy essay!"  It was a trifold card and she filled every square inch with a mice type narrative. 

My latest was a picture of two massive meatloaf's I made just like I always did for my family of five.  I would be lucky to have leftovers with my two 6'3'' sons.  Well, I need to retrain myself.  We (we're down to the three of us now) had to Bubba Gump our meatloaf for 6 days... ML with mash and greens, ML with mac and salad, ML sliders, MLsandwiches, ML with tots and gravy, and ML turned into spaghetti sauce.  I will not be making ML until next year!  I had tried to freeze half and my hubby took out of the freezer trying to be helpful with dinner.  Yikes!  

DoriBry:  The countdown is real!  :)  I hold my breath every time my phone rings (as does everyone at every stage of this journey), because things can change at anytime with ROM and the dreaded "ring of fire."  

Good morning! 

Warriorprotector ~  Happy Birthday to your SR! I hope that he told some buddies so he was able to get some extra birthday wishes! ((((BNMH to you on this day))))

Mom2blondies ~ BNMH! You had me in tears!! I'm so glad that you were able to talk to you son and also that's a genius idea to record an outgoing message! He knows his mama loves him!!

Whoooo these Navy allergies are a doozy! 

NewMilmom ~ Mama bears unite! Have a wonderful day! My Sailor cub has a birthday on this week! I'd like to have a cake sent to his room :) trying to make that happen! 

Doribry, Mama Bear, Mamabear, and to all of our BC parents ~ Thinking of you all as you wait for letters and phone calls! 

Hello Phoenixmom, Partyofseven, Chipmunk, Shanny, Belovedbyhim, Northwoodsmom, Anti M, Katharine and to all of our Navy parents! 

Have a bright and sunshiny day! Looking forward to hearing of more calls, letters, and "I'm a Sailor!" calls! 

{{{{{BNMH}}}}}}

Mom2blondies & NewMilmom - I had to chuckle as well!! So, this Navymom did not find N4M until the week before my son's PIR date. I knew nothing about what not to do, other than what I found on the RTC website. I think I knew not to send packages, but I still mailed him some of the solar sunglasses for him to see the Solar Eclipse that was going to happen while he was at BC. I bought a large sized card and then put it in between two pieces of thin cardboard, so that the paper solar glasses would not get bent. Took it to the post office to get weighed and hand stamped, I think.  - I asked my sailor not too long ago about that and he said he didn't get in trouble, but that the RDC did have a good chuckle, because they never got to go out and view it. - I am sure the RDC was shaking his head and thinking "Another ignorant mom, what does she think we do all day? Play school?" 

I also had some of those Highlights smiley face stickers and I pasted one on the back of every letter I sent! As well as colorful postage stamps and return address labels.  -Yep, I broke all the rules except for glitter and newsprint. I don't like either one so that was good. 

More pictures posted by RTC on their Facebook page today!!  I think it was under 10 photos and the divisions flag weren’t as prominent as they were last time!  I did see 083 though!  Hope someone sees a loved one!

Shanny: Going to look when I get home!  Please!!!!!

Thank goodness for Informed Delivery!  Saw a letter from my SR, words from him on his Bday! Yea!  What could be better, can't think of anything! :)

Hey VintageGal, I hear your Having a wedding ? Your Son! WOW! was this a surprise to you or it was in the Happening already? CONGRATULATIONS!

So Next week we should be getting I'm a Sailor calls coming through, as this week there are no PIR's (graduations) Starting up next week.  so have your Phones close!

LETTERS!!! Finally! Got one from my SR and his GF. She is RPOC of her division and loving it! She said she is getting in trouble for smiling too much which I figured! This girl is ALWAYS happy, energetic and smiling! My SR gave me the run down from arriving to getting through ROM to finishing P days an then said, "I know it probably doesn't sound like it but I'm really having a lot of fun." 

NewMilmom, I'm finding I'm writing sort of in journal format. Then I print it out once a week and mail it. I'm trying to also find fun things to include and making picture collages that I can print on one page. Oh, I went and got him 2 birthday cards today. One from me and dh and one from the dogs, cat, bird. I'm going to have them each sign with their paw print and write him a message from them. He'll think it's corny but that is the point. If it makes him smile that is all that matters! 

warriorprotector, I'm laughing about the meatloaf! You certainly got creative in using it up! 

Who has SR PIR this week?? So exciting! 

mom2blondies:. Wooohooo for letters!!!  I always got mine on Wednesday or Thursday. And I mailed out a letter every other day!  I included local gossip, news headlines-which he shared with the other guys and then the RDCs would discuss some of them and they couldn’t figure out how the recruits already knew lol oops. I sent pictures in every letter. I put them into a word page and resized them then wrote around the pictures. He probably had 30 pictures of his dog by the time I was done!

also just a note here...  about 7-10 days before PIR, include in your letter that it is the last one you can send because of timing with mail delays. Your mail will not always get forwarded or returned somehow. So they recommend 10 days before but o sent my last 8 days before and he got it. Fill that one with support and encouragement. Tell your SR you love them and all that. And you are counting the days until you can talk to them. But make sure they know it’s the last one so they don’t think you forgot or got too busy!

Warriorprotector-- Happy Birthday to your SR!!! I Hope he kept that info to himself this year!! If the RDC's need a reason to "Beat" them that is always an excuse!  I know my son said his goal was to get through BC without the RDC's "KNOWING" his name. The less attention at BC the better!  Birthday letters are the Best!!!

mom2blondies-- I'm glad you heard from both your SR and his fiance.   That's Awesome!!

Just a note on sharing News from home.  Try and limit what you share of Unrest or natural disasters.  There is Nothing they can do about either and both can cause anxiety. It's fine to share after the fact to reassure them you are ok, but telling them about hurricanes or incidents like DC, they can't do anything and it may just stress them out.

BelovedbyHim: my son was in during the riots in Wisconsin (Kenosha)  he said the RDCs told them about them because it was close to where they were (like 30 miles or around there)  he actually asked me about it in a letter and I couldn't figure out how he knew. Never occurred to me to look at a map. But I agree. You know your SR. Mine needed to know about news and weather events because that is just him and he needed to have that connection to the outside. And local gossip-which of his friends broke up. Who got married, etc. I absolutely would not share with him about DC though. I think that would be too upsetting to him to have no sense of control over that. I'd probably even deny politics exist right now. And he loves that stuff 

WooHoo!! Letters!!! My mail day was on Thursday. 

Good evening everyone!  It must be a Red Letter Day! Pun intended. I finally got the form letter! I was actually surprised at how excited I got when I saw his handwriting.

He verified his PIR date of Feb 25. And he slipped in one line that he will write as soon as he can and he has 2 letters to send that he wrote in ROM.  Happy mom...

I had written and sent 2 letters before I read the warnings on this site that the letters sent before getting his division number and perm. address might not get to him.  So I stopped until today.  So I have resumed letter writing. 

Thanks for sharing your stories.  It does help me to know I'm not the only one looking forward to contact. 

Mama Bear --- YEA!!!! SO glad you got his for letter and know the PIR date!!! Now you can join that group as well!! We still encourage you to write the letters just don't mail them till you have the address!!

Shanny, Yes, Kenosha is only about 30 miles from Great Lakes. Some RDC's, A School Instructors, and others, on both bases, live in Kenosha. I know because my son was an A School instructor at TSC at the time, and living in Kenosha. I think both bases were also on lock down.

Sunday through Wednesday during the riots (they were not protests), those living in Kenosha were told to stay home on Monday and Wednesday. I could guess they were told what was up when several of the RDC's were gone.

Mom2blondies and Mama Bear, yeah right those letters and form letters are like little miracles. You treasure them and they keep in you in the clouds for days. I only received 2 letters and because my son was such a lazy writer I had to write over 3/4 of the letters myself and leave a paragraph for him to fill out. After a year mine are still displayed like a child's artwork on the refrigerator door, I read them when I am missing him and have no communication.  Enjoy them.

My Mom & Dad called this past weekend and said they got a letter from my son. They were thrilled.  We have only gotten a couple of letters from him, but was tickled to hear he is writing to other people who care about him. I got my hair cut yesterday and the gal that cuts my hair used to cut his when he was in grade school so always asks about him. She said him writing to his grandparents was a total "mom win". I guess we all need to hear that some days!

I have enjoyed the comments on giving others instructions for writing to our kids in BC. When my son called I asked him if he had gotten mail from other people. He said my folks wrote him a two page letter about the birds they feed & the deer in their yard. He said my husband's mom sent him a Christmas card that said "hope you're having fun" with a Panda Express gift card. He wanted to know where she thought he was! We got a good laugh out of it, but last couple of days I've been waivering between grateful she's thinking of him & irritated she can't follow instructions. When I gave them all his address I was very specific about not sending him anything that would draw attention to him. I even bluntly told my Mom, NO stickers on the outside of the envelope. Her reply was "how will he know the letter is from me?" End result though is she has refrained from stickers on his letters, but my husband got extra stickers on his birthday card. It's like she has a sticker quota.  My MIL grew up with a dad and sister career military, two children in the military & now two grandchildren in the military. She acts like she is an expert on all things military so it's hard not to say something when she colors outside the lines. I've enjoyed reading about some of the other missteps regarding communication. It has really helped me get back in a more grateful place.

Good Morning All, whooooo Hooooo! for letters being received! what a great start to the week. Hoping everyone is doing well this Morning!

NorthWoodsMom you are so right on point about the letters, Although my Bud hardly wrote but a few lines, but it was nice receiving them.

VantageGal so excited for you and your Family! I would love to see Photos! Wishing your Son the truly best in Marriage, A school and the beginning to his Journey on his duty station!

Good Morning Wonderful Admins hoping and wishing you all well!

Mrs. Party's Scripture for the day:

Prayer for the Scripture below:

Loving father, develop in me humility of heart and graciousness of spirit. Thank You for the example of Christ’s humility – may I become more and more like Him in the days that lie ahead., in His name I pray, AMEN.

Letters!  Whoop whoop!  Good morning ladies! 

Got the coolest letter yet with a sketch from one of his shipmates on his letter.  My dd is editing so I can share with all of you.  It's old Navy style cartoon.  Fantastic!

I also received signs I has made to send to family and friends to hold and take a photo.  Then they will text the photo to our SR on PIR day.  The signs are AWESOME!  I will be able to share after editing out his rate's logo and his initials.  

New Members:  A note on letters...I photo copy all the letters I send so incase one never got there, our SR will get it after BC.  I usually type a letter and then my hubby and DD write all over it, that's why I photo copy.  Same with cards, you just never know what will happen with mail!  

DoriBry:  15 days until PIR!

AgnesB: Even military members/family forget the rules and/or want to do their own thing! LOL! I've had to remind by younger son (active duty) and my father (retired USN)!

Letter mishaps: My SR has a really tight friend group.  Two of the young women in the group (they followed the "rules" but...) have a cute cat that they dressed in a holiday costume and took photos.  They sent my SR a letter with a bunch of loose photos of the cat.  Because their were loose photos his RDC had to have him flip through all the photos.  His RDC looked at him and said, "That's a lot of cat photos.  I don't know if I'm more disturbed because they aren't inappropriate!"  My SR told him his friends were just trying to make him laugh.  Making memories!  LOL! 

Just remember, everything you send will be opened and looked over.  With that in mind, always have people sending mail put their mailing address on the inside of letters/cards since envelopes are torn open and addresses get messed up!  A tip my SR relayed to me.

VintageGal:  

"Gee I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Going to the chapel of love!"

So excited for you and your family!  Enjoy this precious time together! 

Mama Bear:  It's interesting that you are former law enforcement and that you said you were in a form of BC with police academy.  My sailor graduated from police academy August 6.  He was supposed to graduate in the spring, but Covid . . . .  Anyway, because of Covid and State Police being furloughed, and the trickle down of other departments having budget cuts, he enlisted in the Navy Reserves as MA.  That was before the riots, which cemented his decision.  He was hoping the economy might be better when he came back but he also believes the military training will make him more hireable and better trained.  I warned him that bootcamp would be the hardest thing he has ever faced.  But he breezed through it.  I'm thinking after your comment that it was probably his police academy experience.  

You others were talking about the I Love You's.  My son responds with an ILU when it is said, but he is a hugger.  So he often times just randomly comes up and hugs me.  I take that as a physical I love you!  He also has such a sense of humor and always seems to be happy.  I've wondered what being a police officer would do to that, just like some of you wondered what military would change in your sailor.  So far, with boot camp, he's been upbeat, and now that he's in A school, he keeps us in stitches with his texts and snap chats!  I'm also thinking God created him with that personality so he could survive being a police officer.  He will definitely be changed with that job, but I think his personality will also make it easier for him to cope.  

And an update on him.  He said he is classing up next week!  That's even sooner that the Janyary 27 date they gave him before.  

Well, I'm playing catch up again from about 3 days.  I'm partway through, so I may have more comments later.  Gotta go for now.  

PIR: January 2021

       January 07, 2021 No Graduation

       January 14, 2021 No Graduation

       January 21, 2021 TG 09 14 Divisions (065-078)

       January 28, 2021 TG 10 14 Divisions (079-092)

PIR: February 2021

       February 04, 2021 TG 11 6 Divisions (095-102)

       February 11, 2021 TG 12 13 Divisions (105-116, 807)

       February 18, 2021 TG 13 14 Divisions (117-130)

       February 25, 2021 TG 14 12 Divisions (131- 144)

Please note: Your recruits original graduation date may change due to additional quarantine during training. Your recruit will let you know if this happens.

Graduation ceremonies take place on Thursdays and guests cannot attend nor access the base. The ceremony is recorded and the video, along with photos, will be posted by 4 p.m. CT Friday on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand and our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RTCPublicAffairs/community​.

Mrs. BelovedByHim's Blog

 Read my blog to give you an idea of what the first few weeks may look like.. First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition 

USPS Informed Delivery - Sign up and receive an email from the US Postal Service showing what mail you will be getting each day (if available in your area).  

Informed Delivery®

These sites will give much needed info as well please read.

• Phone Cards and Phone Calls
• Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit
• When Will the Recruits be Paid? and Information for Spouses

• This site will give info as to what is needed to pass and what happens if the PFA isn't passed, and how the form letter is sent and when.

  See Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) and Fitness Improvement Training (FIT).

Mama Bear ~  Yay!! Isn't the best feeling seeing his handwriting?! I remember running from the mailbox hands shaking, laughing, and crying all at the same time! Big Hugs to you! Enjoy mailing off your letters! 

AgnesB ~ What a sweet young man! That's so nice that he wrote his grandparents. You know how hard it is for him right now and yet he's thinking of other people. That had to make your heart swell with love and pride. <3 Your hairdresser is right, you did good! BNMH That made me laugh about the Panda Express gift card "where do they think I am?" lol Hang on to that buddy! You'll laugh when you finally use it! I can totally relate with the In-laws! Sending you an extra eye-roll with love from my direction!! lol 

Here's an extra thing to do as you all wait "calmly" for another letter, a happy phone call, when you're having a good cry, and just thinking of your recruit. Do we do that? YES! 

Putting together your blue candle was very therapeutic for us. I bought my supplies at my craft store. Some of us have lanterns with blue fairy lights inside. You haven't put it together already, enjoy! Keep the home flames burning! BNMH!! 

Phoenixmom ~ Thank you! We're all so happy for them. I will definitely post a picture on my page :) I'm happy but can't stop crying! I guess that's a very normal reaction to - my son who turns 19 this week is getting married, moving across the USA, about to pack his must have belongings, sell his furniture for extra cash to send, and basically put a stamp on the fact that he's officially an adult. I felt that way the day he left for boot camp but right now it feels extremely more finite. As I write this through very blurry eyes. 

Sorry I get carried away! 

Thinking about your sailor! I hope all is well with him!  Glad to hear that your grandson is feeling better <3 Your job needs to grant you the "most valuable" award! You are a rock star!!!

Doribry ~ 15 days?! We'll be waiting with you on pins and needles! BNMH!!!

Warriorprotector ~ How cool!! I can't wait to see the sketch!! You had me laughing through my tears with the cat picture story! That's one for the books! lol BNMH! 

"Bells will ring, the sun will shine, whoa-oh-oh

I'll be his and he'll be mine

We'll love until the end of time

And we'll never be lonely anymore!" 

xoxo Thank you!

Mom2blondies ~ I know you're still glowing from receiving those letters! Enjoying the day! BNMH! The funny sarcastic comment from your brother still has me laughing!  "well I was going to send him a letter but if he can't have glitter in it, forget it!" HAHAHA love it! 

Have a great day ladies! Keep those phones close and those ringers on high! 

Oh so I have to share mine too!!!  I chose to do a blue light lantern instead of a candle simply because I couldn’t find blue candles lol. So I bought a lantern and blue faery lights :)

Just thought I would share mine again too just in case we have some crafty mom's who want to give it a try. Mine has been on do much lately I have to get more batteries for the blue fairy lights.