Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Just a reminder: If you are not familiar with RTC (Recruit Training Command's) website and all the information you can locate there, here is a link to the website - 

 RTC Bootcamp website

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

PIR APRIL 2022

PIR MARCH 2022

Good Evening Everyone!! I hope all are well. 

B'sNukeMom - that warm beach looks very inviting. I don't think we got warmer than about 16 degrees today and we have at least an inch or more of sleet on the ground with more predicted to be coming in. 

Hi everyone! I didn't get my regular every-other-Saturday call from my SR last Saturday. The last time I talked to her was the first week in February, and she said her new division is full of girls who just can't seem to wrap their heads the concept of working together. So I can understand Lila's son's frustration. I think the ship may have had that phone privilege snatched. Some folks just have to learn the hard way!

Ummi - Now that your daughter is back to being in a division, she is not likely going to have the same phone time as she did. I think when my son was in, he called at 3 weeks, then 6 weeks and after BST. That was it.

Yes the calls I have gotten were the "I am here" call, then a call from the security clearance day looking for extra info and the 3 week call.  Sad part is I don't expect a call now until I get the I am a Sailor call which could be 6-7 weeks away.  Unless the division gets a real teamwork moment and they manage to "earn" a call.  So now the real tough wait begins and whole lots of letter writing!!!

Chipmunk -- I feel ya... Well I would if I could feel anything!! We got up to maybe 10 today!! My folks are out of town so we had to go out tonight to check on their house (It's all good) but man... I feel for those who have to be out in this stuff. It's 10:30 pm and it's down to 3 degrees and expecting to be colder!! This is crazy cold!! (I hope all your sailors and SR's are warmer than here.)

Lila - Stay hopeful, you might still get a 6 week call!  Definitely lots of letter writing, that is for sure and your SR will appreciate it. 

BelovedbyHim - The cold is no fun and the sleet on the roads makes travel even more difficult than snow. 

From Navy Dads (as shared by another mom on here)

⚓️STAY ANCHORED IN THE TRUTH⚓️

NERVES WILL BE RATTLED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS!

Recommend to limit your time watching news reports as they will hype things and will cause most to fret and worry more than normal.

Do not listen to others' speculation. Speculations turn into rumors. Rumors feed fear. This just makes people worry more.

Do not call your sailor and let them know how scared you are over the issues going on in the world. They need to be focused on their school, their ship command, or wherever they are currently at. Your fears could be a distraction they do not need.

The U.S. Navy will not rush anyone through training. An untrained sailor would be more of a danger and hindrance to the fleet.

The U.S. Navy will not recall all sailors and put all ships to sea. We have had forces in place for a few weeks, but they are just there as a show of force. The U.S. Navy will not put all their eggs in one basket so to speak.

DO NOT POST what you think is OPSEC. All the admin are aware of what is and is not OPSEC and we have post control for a reason. We will control the narrative on this topic.

Finally, say your prayers as in reality, this will be all you can do as the family of any service member. Remember they took an oath and now are adults having to do adult things.

STAY ANCHORED DURING THIS STORM AND SUPPORT YOUR SAILORS

Hold fast to what anchors you.  Pray for your Sailors and SR's Pray for other's service members.  Come here to share and be encouraged. This too shall pass!

May PIR group is up:

PIR MAY 2022

May PIR's:

May 6, 2022 TG-21   (165,166,167,168,169,170,171,172,920)

May 13, 2022 TG-22 (173,174,175,177,178,179,180,921)

Good Morning Everyone,

I have been sick all week so I have not posted this week. I am feeling much better now, thank goodness. I did not stay glued to the tv either. It does not do you any good, it just stresses you out more.

Keep everyone over there in your prayers, don't mention what's happening to your loved ones while they are in bc or even A school. Believe me they are talking about it amongst themselves that's for sure.

For your loved ones that are still in boot camp keep your letters full of pride, support and love for them. Keep encouraging them and being postive with a light upbeat tone in your letters.

Let's all pray that it will end sooner rather than later.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and someone will answer you. No question is ever dumb.

Keep your phone on you at all times and that ringer on loud you just never know when a call will come thru.

God Bless and have a great day everyone!!!

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

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

PIR MARCH 2022

Good Morning to all of our BC loved ones!! How are you doing today? It has been pretty quiet over here in this group.

RTC videos - Just a reminder, if you look in the upper left of this page there are two links to videos about BC for you to watch if you would like. Also, the most up to date BC timeline that we have is above under answers to common questions. 

Hi  Chipmunk.  I think lots of folks are preoccupied eirh the happenings in Ukraine.

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

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

PIR MARCH 2022

Sarge's Meet N Greet's are back as of 3/18/2022 PIR.  Here's the link to RSVP:

Sarge's Meet N Greet

Hi Ummi - It is hard to tell, some days and weeks are just busier than others on this group page. Mostly I was letting any newcomers to the site know we are here to answer questions. 

Have you heard from your daughter? Did she give you a new PIR date? I saw that B'sNukeMom posted the link for Sarge's Meet N Greet. I am so happy to hear that he is able to open this back up again. We enjoyed our time attending when our son had his PIR. If you are able to attend, I would encourage you to go to Sarge's Meet N Greet. 

Hi Chipmumk. can you see me now?

Kelly, Yes I can !! Glad you made it here!

RTC website - Recruit Training Command Home Page (navy.mil)

RTC FB page - (15) U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command | Facebook

My new username is now osubuckeyegirl, which you know already lol:)

So, if your SR is not vaccinated yet, I believe they are still doing a two-week quarantine and I am not sure when they are getting their shot. I need to read through the timeline information again. 

Osubuckeygirl - be sure to introduce yourself to the other members by posting here. The first few days and weeks without communication can be very hard. Different people handle it differently so do not be afraid to share how you are doing. 

My discussion above How to send PMs (Private Messages) to friends on N4M & some OPS... - gives some helpful information with regards to how to navigate some things on this site.  

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to all of our new members.

How is everyone doing? Remember no question is ever dumb and someone will answer you.

My son has been in for almost 5 years now it's hard to believe how far we have come since he enlisted.

Here are some tips for you as you begin this journey with your loved one!!

The first few weeks of silence are hard no doubt about it. The key is stay busy and write your loved one every day until you get that form letter. Then you can mail your letters off right away. They love to get mail and they want to hear what's happening at home.

Don't talk about the news or any bad things that may be going on. You want them to be strong and to finsih strong. No glittery cards or musical cards as they will get into trouble for that.

You can't send them packages but you may send pictures, funny quotes and bible verses to let them know that yes you are thinking of them and that they've got this!!

 Boot camp is as much as for us as it is for them. While they are getting stronger so are we!!

Osubuckeyegirl- Welcome to our group. I also left you a message on your profile page. 

***INFORMED DELIVERY UPDATE***

For those of you who have USPS Informed Delivery,  I received an email today that they are discontinuing the App as of 6/12/2021 and you have to download the USPS Informed Delivery Mobile App to your phone.  I just did it and the process is pretty simple.

 This is a great app. You can see what mail you have coming every day!! I love it!!

• Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit

 This is also another fun thing to do. My son loved it and would put in his own comments as well. It helps as they can just answer the questions when they don't have a lot of time to write!!

Welcome again and please don't hesitate to post any time you would like.

That goes for all of our new members. Have a great day ladies!!!

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

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

PIR MARCH 2022

A 3rd training group was added to May PIR.

May 20, 2022 TG-23 (181,182,183,184,185,186,922)

Sarge's Meet N Greet's are back as of 3/18/2022 PIR.  Here's the link to RSVP:

Sarge's Meet N Greet

*** COVID PROTOCOLS ***
Recruit Training Command continues to operate in a COVID environment in order to protect the safety of both trainees and staff while meeting mission demands. This policy is subject to change as leadership continues to monitor the spread and impact of the Coronavirus. Therefore, the following protocols are in place:

• Guests 12 or older need to provide proof of IMMUNIZATION (14 DAYS POST FINAL DOSE,) in the form of a covid-19 vaccination record card to attend. If you are unable to provide proof of vaccination, you will NOT be able to attend, and will NOT be issued tickets to attend.
• In accordance with DOD and local policy and in order to ensure the health and safety of all, every person attending is required to WEAR FACE MASKS and observe social distancing protocols while inside all RTC facilities and throughout graduation ceremonies inside midway ceremonial drill hall. If you are unable to wear a mask, you will NOT be able to attend, and will NOT be allowed into the facility and you will not be able to attend the ceremony. If this is the case for you, we invite you to watch the ceremony online from home. Please continue to follow RTC social media accounts for updates and check www.bootcamp.navy.mil for the most up-to-date information. For specific questions and inquiries, contact the RTC Public Affairs Office at rtc.pao@navy.mil.
• Each sailor is allowed a maximum of TWO GUESTS on base for the graduation ceremony. No exceptions, and children 2 & under do not count toward the guest limit.

Welcome to all the New Navy Moms. It is so exciting that the Sarge's Meet and Greet will be starting again. It is a great place to meet other parents going through the same things you are. What helped me the most was creating the basket I was going to donate to be used to offset the cost of the free meal the Sarge offers. It kept me so busy and my minds off me missing my son so much. I would highly recommend going and if possible donating a basket. Here is some of the things I made for mine.

Hi I did RSVP for meet and greet - very excited.  If we do not have time to "make a basket" (I work in two states and go back and forth a lot), can we donate in other ways?  Monetarily or other?  Please advise. All this is new to me.  THANKS

Oh and I also have one other question regarding the news.  My son was aware of the Ukrainian thing before he ever left.  Now in his letters he says they surmise that the invasion has taken place.  And he asks for information.  While I don't intend to give him a bad play by play... I find it hard to refuse to tell him anything.  He is more hungry for knowledge than worried about it.  So while I don't tell him everything I keep it all positive and certain it is going to be resolved etc... I wasn't sure what else to do.  I cannot fully ignore his questions... Are other Moms doing the same??  I always write positive letters so to be certain there is no "downer" letter is my goal.

Lila - yes, a monetary donation to Sarge would be greatly appreciated.  He pays for everything out of his own pocket.

As for the info on Ukraine, I would just keep it very basic.  I'm sure that others will be receiving some sort of info from family members and they will all talk - but again - you don't want him to worry about something that he has no control over.

Lila - For me personally, if my son were to ask me a direct question, especially with his prior knowledge of things, I would be honest and truthful as best as I could be without being overly negative. My sailor was not able to be in communication with me when it happened and is still limited on his time to visit so I don't even know what is being shared with those on his ship. I mostly focus on encouraging him with his tasks and share pictures of the grandbaby / niece - always a bright spot in our lives.

As for the Meet n Greet - Yes, you may provide a monetary gift there at the meal or I believe there is a way to do so when you sign up online. 

Northwoodsmom - Wow!! I don't recall you ever showing us what you had created for the gift basket! Can you post that up in the Blue Candles discussion above? 

osubuckeyegirl, Lila, Ummi - and any others - In the discussions just above this comment wall on this page is one labeled Blue Candles. Some of the ladies put together posts of their blue candles that they made, especially those whose SRs went through BC during the COVID shut down and never were able to attend a PIR (Pass in Review) otherwise known as graduation.

The Blue Candles, decorations for inside your hotel room, and the gift baskets for Sarge's Meet n Greet are some of the ways to keep yourselves occupied while waiting for that form letter. 

Good Morning Everyone!!

Northwoodsmom - Thanks for sharing your picture in the Blue Candle discussion!

Two more weeks until PIR starts back up after a little bit of a lull. Just a reminder, this group page is public, so we do not discuss upcoming battle station dates - If you have questions be sure to ask in your PIR groups, that is what they are there for and to connect with others that are getting ready to attend PIR. 

However, once you have received the "I'm a sailor" call, be sure to come share the wonderful news here with us so that we can celebrate with you. We are the ones that refer to that call after battle stations as the "I'm a sailor" call, your loved one will not likely immediately tell you they are a sailor. My son's first question when he called was, "Are you on your way?" My heart sank and I thought he was calling to tell me that he did not make it. I even sort of scolded him for not telling me he was a sailor. He was so tired and trying to think straight, trying to get some information and I was telling him what colors I would be wearing so he could spot me in the bleachers, and he was telling me where he would be standing in formation. He also did not have his orders yet, so we were unclear as to when he would be leaving GL. 

Semper Gumby - Always Flexible - that is the name of the game around here. 

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

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

PIR MARCH 2022