Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Welcome to our newest members! We are glad you have joined us. This Comment Wall area is the best place to introduce yourself, post your questions and just share how you are doing on this BC journey. 

Good Morning lol!

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

Here is my discussion on the Sandboxx App - click on the link:

Sandboxx app while in BC

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF BOOT CAMP IN TIMES OF COVID

(as put together by belovedbyHim). Updated 1/28/2022.

The Expected timeline will look like this:

Day 0 -- Travel, Arrival and "I'm Here" scripted phone call

Week 1&2
Day 1-14 -- ROM (Restriction of Movement/ Quarantine-- Lots of studying and waiting) Unless they are Fully Vaccinated (2 weeks after final shot) in which case they skip straight to Week 3.

Week 3
Day 15-21 Arrive Onboard RTC and begin P-days (P-days- Initial Processing Days) including 2 days of P-hold (Weekend)
Day 21-- Complete P days. (Initial PFT & Run)

Week 4- First week of training 
Day 22-- Begin training and mail form letter out. Look for it to arrive around 1-2 weeks later

Week 5 -- First inspections and tests (Dental May be this week or next... Not Confirmed)(Form letter/ Personal letters usually arrive this week)

Week 6 -10 -- More training, Drilling (Flags and Marching), Fire Fighting training, Marlinspike (Line handling- How to tie up a Ship to the Pier) and weapons lessons, Confidence chamber( May or may not be happening yet, we don’t know for sure).. Warrior training in here somewhere.

Week 11 & 12 -- Stressful!! They have all their final inspections, PFA, Drills, BS21 and Tests. This is the lead up to the end!!

REMINDER FROM THE US NAVY RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND FACEBOOK PAGE:

Everyone who is planning on attending a graduation ceremony MUST personally obtain a ticket, which will be distributed at the Recruit Family Welcome Center the week of your recruit's graduation. Tickets are free of charge, but you must have valid photo ID to obtain your ticket (driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, or, for minors, a student ID, driver's permit, SSN card, birth certificate,) AND you MUST also have your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.

WELCOME CENTER ADDRESS/GPS: Navy Exchange (NEX) Burkey Mall, 2650 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60088 (Do NOT use generic terms such as NEX, Recruit Training Command or Naval Station Great Lakes).

Update from RTC - the Mask Mandate has been removed but you are still required to show proof of vaccination. 

* * * New Guidance on Revised Pass-in-Review Policy * * *

Recruit Training Command is lifting the masking mandate. There is no mask requirement for recruits, staff, and guests attending Pass-In-Review. Each recruit can invite two guests (max, no exceptions) to attend in person to maintain capacity limitations. (Children 2 & under do not count toward the guest limit.) 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. This policy is subject to change as leadership continues to monitor the spread and impact of the Coronavirus. 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.

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

Just the breakdown of training weeks and it's a bit incorrect. There is no more initial two weeks of ROM; Battle Stations is done in the 8th week; final PFA in 9th week or even going into graduation week; and the final two weeks are basically life skills classes. 

Even though Battle Stations is done prior to the PFA and the recruits call home to say they're a Sailor, they still have to pass that PFA in order to graduate or they will get set back in training to another division that already completed their Battle Stations. 

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

UPDATED TRAINING SCHEDULE (3/31/2022)

The Expected timeline will look like this (no more ROM when they arrive):

Day 0 -- Travel, Arrival and "I'm Here" scripted phone call

Week 1,2,3
Day 15-21 Arrive Onboard RTC and begin P-days (P-days- Initial Processing Days) including 2 days of P-hold (Weekend)
Day 21-- Complete P days. (Initial PFT & Run)

Week 4- First week of training 
Day 22-- Begin training and mail form letter out. Look for it to arrive around 1-2 weeks later

Week 5 -- First inspections and tests (Dental May be this week or next... Not Confirmed)(Form letter/ Personal letters usually arrive this week)

Week 6 -7 -- More training, Drilling (Flags and Marching), Fire Fighting training, Marlinspike (Line handling- How to tie up a Ship to the Pier) and weapons lessons, Confidence chamber( May or may not be happening yet, we don’t know for sure).. Warrior training in here somewhere.

Week 8 – Battle Stations (done prior to final PFA).  Your SR will call home to say they are a Sailor but they still have to pass final PFA in order to graduate.

Week 9 – Final PFA

Final 2 weeks – Life skills classes

Hopefully this is a little more accurate now.

My son is scheduled to graduate in May and I received my form letter within 10 days of him arriving. So, he began receiving my letters within the 2 week mark.  A 30-minute phone call came within 2 weeks as well. Also, his dental exam was completed before I received his phone call.  

Awesomeakmom - thank you for that info.  I think I will need to make a few more adjustments to the schedule!  Trying to get it straight now.....

Welcome Awesomeakmom, so happy you are here with us. Seems things are finally moving a little faster. Thanks so much for keeping us up to date. Congratulations on the phone call and letters.

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

Good Morning Everyone!! How are our BC Mom and Loved Ones doing today? I have been off a lot due to family matters and also traveling to see family. 

Be sure to come share any news, questions or feelings that you are dealing with. 

Awesomeakmom - Glad to hear that you received the form letter so quickly & had a phone call!!

Happy Monday - another TG has been added to the June PIR group.

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

Good Morning Everyone!! 

How are we doing today? 

For our newer members, I am one of the moms that stuck around after my son's PIR and have been active on this site helping any new members as I am able. There are several of us who do so as well. When you post a comment or question, we see it in our email feeds and we answer as we are able. 

My sailor was at BC during the summer almost five years ago now. They have had a lot of changes since then, tickets are required to be picked up prior to PIR, Covid shut PIR down for many families, new restrictions are in place as to attendance, BC has been extended so that you might receive the "I'm a sailor" call before they have completed their final run. 

All of these things can be frustrating, nerve racking, hard to deal with - especially if you are someone always used to being in control of your child's schedule, a person who plans a lot and organizes things. We have a saying around here 

"Semper Gumby" - Always Flexible. 

Your child will always be your child, but their life, their schedules, their time off, is at the mercy of the Navy. Learning how to bend, so that we don't break is important. Learning how to plan for travel or events that might have to be changed or cancelled is paramount when dealing with anything related to your SR or sailor's PIR and future liberty or leave time. 

Your SR (soon to be sailor) will always be your best source of information regarding leave time, ship underways or deployment. Help them understand that their communication to you is valuable and helps you to rest easier as well. 

And when you are struggling with any of this Navy Life - This is a good and encouraging place to come to and share.

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

Thank you for letting me join with this group.

Week 8 is the scariest for me. Just received a call from my son that he was asmo'd for two days in firearms and firefighting, but will return back to his group. Crossing my fingers that he will pass and graduate with the rest of his group. All I can do now is to pray and pray.

I am new and try to familiar with the layout. There might be some typo errors.

4Seas7Winds - Glad to have you here, welcome!! I had not seen your post here before I left a message for you. 

All the best to your SR as he navigates these Navy waters and figures out his groove at BC. Hopefully he will be able to return to his division.   The links to the PIR groups that I mentioned in my message to you are also posted below your comment here. 

4Sea7Winds, happy you are here with us. Prayers for your son to make it through. Don't worry about the typo, we all are guilty of them even if it is auto correct. Navy Moms get you no matter what. Welcome to the group!

Good Morning!

I hope everyone is doing well today.

Just a reminder, especially with the timeline change and the "I'm a sailor" call coming in after BS there is still a final PRT (Physical Readiness Test) that has to be completed to my understanding. This uncertainty of actual completion to BC can be hard on us loved ones planning to attend PIR. 

Be sure to book refundable or changeable flights, or better yet, drive if that is reasonable. Book hotel rooms that have late cancelation policies. I believe most of them in the area do as they know how common that is, but always call the hotel directly and speak to someone on the frontlines, and read the fine print if booking online. 

For those with loved ones yet to leave for BC, make sure they can meet those new PRT standards. My son went out running about 3x or more a week in the early morning before school, because he knew he needed to build up his endurance, since he had changed his after school activity from sports to robotics. Also, your body just needs to be conditioned properly for running as well. 

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

Good Morning Everyone!! I hope all are well. It has been quiet on here, I hope you are chatting in your PIR groups. Be sure to come here with any questions that you have. 

Still learning to navigate this group. I think I got it now.

Good morning to you too. My group at bootcamp is PIR 04-22-22 and we were just stressed out last week due battleship. I got the call "I'm a sailor" I did a "happy cry' together with other members.

Relaxed just for a couple days, then we are on another push re final PFA which should be sometime next week.

Thank you for all your support from this group. 

Prayers /||\ 

4Seas7Winds - So glad you all are getting your calls. This new routine with the BS first and then final PFA has got to be difficult. Because you want to shout, "I have a sailor" but it still is not official. 

All the best to all of our SRs and almost sailors. 

We have another group on this site called Beyond BC which you may join after you have a sailor. Also be sure to look for groups specific for your sailor's job as well. 

This will help you find groups on this site for your sailor's rating (job).

N4M GROUPS: Listed By Navy Job (Ratings) - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

4Seas7Winds - you are so close now!

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

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

PIR APRIL 2022

My baby just left! TEARS, but complete excitement for him. Not only is this something he has been working towards for several months, but at just 18-years old, he has his whole life ahead of him!!!

Much love to all you mama's out there! Virtual hugs. ;)

He's got this CaliMom! Keep your phone handy!  (And I also responded to you over in the June PIR group.)

CaliMom - BNMHs!! {Big Navy Mom Hugs!!}  My son was 18 also, just out of high school when he left as well. There are so many emotions that we feel as moms - I think the hardest thing for me though was that my mom had passed away earlier that year and so I could not share my tender heart moment with her, so I called my big sister who had 2 in the military - I knew she would understand when others might not.

Good Morning Everyone!

One more day closer to PIR for those of you in the final stretches. 

CaliMom - How are you doing? Did you get your "I'm Here" phone call? If not, take heart - sometimes circumstances arise and they are not able to get that done. 

I have been sharing this video elsewhere but thought I would here as well. My son left for BC shortly after his HS graduation, and one of his sister's weddings. Another sister got married the week before his PIR and he could not be there. His younger brother was starting HS and it was a tough time for him with his big brother gone. Tougher than I think I realized. My son's enlistment was longer than some, but I still expected him to come back home when he was finished. Instead, he found a wonderful woman to join our family as his wife. His brother sang this at their wedding. It has a brief clip in it which connects it to our military mom hearts.  

Petra: Love

@Chipmunk - Thank you! Doing okay today! (keyword today) Little brother is having a hard time adjusting, but he's on spring break so we're keeping him busy, which keeps us busy too! Double benefit! Our Recruit sent a text at 6am this morning saying he was getting on the plane to get him to Bootcamp, so I would expect the "I'm Here" phone call sometime today?

Thanks so much for checking in. I love your story and hearing about all the families and how wonderful things work out. Very hopeful he will make some life-long friendships and maybe meet a future daughter in law? We'll see. THANK YOU!!!! 

Check out this discussion above - Blue Candle

Ideas for remembering our loved ones! 

Keep yourselves busy, plan a new project, read a good book that your SR might be interesting in hearing your write about in your letters,  

I emailed my SR every day until I had his address. Then I copied those emails and printed them to send off. I actually did that for all of his letters, so that he had them in his email for later. 

Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire

Copy quotes, scriptures, song lyrics, anything encouraging to send, especially when you don't know what to say. Many of the moms recommend numbering your letters and envelopes, so when you send off a batch after you get their address, they know which ones to read first. 

(Remember the blue letters on this site are hyperlinks to other information. Click on them to find groups, other information, etc.) 

CaliMom - They can call or text after they get to the airport in GL (Great Lakes) area, before they get on their transport to RTC (Recruit Training Command) / Bootcamp. 

They will be kept very busy and your "I'm Here" call may not arrive until late tonight, or in the early morning, so keep it charged by you in bed tonight as well. 

There are videos in the upper left of this page that might be worth watching. You can watch them first and then see if they will help your child at least understand what is going on. 

Recruit Training Command Home Page (navy.mil) - This is the home page for bootcamp. Lots of helpful information. Only thing I knew about until a week before PIR when I found this site. 

Enjoy spring break!

CaliMom - I didn't get my call until around 2 am.  Good luck to your recruit!!!