Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Happy RED Friday - I've got my RED on.

Awesomeakmom - wonderful news!  

Here's the link to watch today's PIR - going on now:

PIR MAY 6, 2022

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

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

July PIR group added the 7/22/2022 PIR.

Today is our first PIR that is back to welcoming 4 guests.                   

                             REMINDER

* * * New Guidance as of May 6th, 2022 - Revised Pass-in-Review Policy * * *

Starting with the graduation on May 6, 2022, the number of guests allowed will increase to four. If you have already submitted your guest security access form listing two individuals, please have additional guest information ready to provide to your recruit when they call. All guests must have a ticket including active duty personnel and veterans. (Children 2 & under do not count toward the guest limit.) COVID-19 immunizations are still required for guest attendance. 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 issued tickets and will not be able to attend graduation. 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.

Here's hoping you get a phone call this weekend - but remember, there are NO guarantees!

If you don't, just know that your SR is thinking of you ;-D

I got this message from the American Red Cross today and thought that others may like to see it so you would have the information for when your SR heads to the fleet..

Each May, our nation reflects on the tremendous service of our heroic men and women in uniform and honors the sacrifices of America’s fallen service members on Memorial Day. Here at the American Red Cross, our mission was born on the battlefield through Clara Barton’s care for Civil War soldiers. Today, we are proud to continue Clara’s legacy of service by supporting the U.S. military community from the time service members take their oaths to when they navigate their lives as veterans. I am deeply inspired by the strength and selflessness exemplified by our military members and their families – and I am profoundly thankful for the compassionate support you show them as a part of our Red Cross community.

Gail McGovern
President and CEO
American Red Cross

P.S. If you are a servicemember or veteran experiencing hardship, don’t hesitate to text GETHEROCARE to 90999 and it will be our honor to assist you.

You can check out all of the services here: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/military-families.html

Hey there!!! I haven't been on in a few months due to having to work 10 hr days 6 days a week but it is over (for now). there was an accident at work (guy in critical condition) so they cut us back to 8 hours. I finally get a full weekend! Yay.  

Well I just found out that my sailor had his BESS today. He texted me his certificate. Proud Mama here. Now to A school.

I hope everyone is doing well!!!

love4Leo25, how awesome, congratulations to your son. Glad you will have a extra day, six days and long hours are gruesome.

love4Leo25 - Sorry to hear that you have had a rough work schedule! Hopefully the employee gets better, it sounds serious. 

Congratulations to your sailor!!!

Hello Everyone and welcome to our group. We are glad that you are here.

love4Leo25- Hey and oh no. Hopefully your coworker is starting to get better. 

Kudos on your son's accomplishment. Whoo Hoo. 

Hopefully everyone had a great day yesterday.

Good Morning Everyone!! 

Hi Partyofseven!

I hope you all had a special day yesterday. Did anyone receive a surprise phone call this weekend? 

Did we have anyone at PIR this weekend? If so, please come share your experience when you are able. I think this was the first PIR where 4 guests were allowed again. 

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

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

                           REMINDER

* * * New Guidance as of May 6th, 2022 - Revised Pass-in-Review Policy * * *

Starting with the graduation on May 6, 2022, the number of guests allowed will increase to four. If you have already submitted your guest security access form listing two individuals, please have additional guest information ready to provide to your recruit when they call. All guests must have a ticket including active duty personnel and veterans. (Children 2 & under do not count toward the guest limit.) COVID-19 immunizations are still required for guest attendance. 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 issued tickets and will not be able to attend graduation. 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 RSVP for the Meet N Greet on Thursday.  Here's the link:

Sarge's Meet N Greet

Good Morning Everyone!! 

Welcome to our new members. This is the best location to post and ask your questions as more members follow this feed than the discussions above. 

The more you chat the more those veteran BC moms who still follow are likely to reply. Let us know how we can help, come share your emotional ups and downs, we are here to encourage and support you!

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

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

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®

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to our group. No question is ever dumb and someone will answer you.

Staying busy is key when you are in the first stages of boot camp while you are waiting to hear from your loved one.

The mail app is great. You can see what mail you have coming every day. I still use it and mine has been in almost 5 years now.   :)

Have a great day everyone!!!

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

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

Good Morning Everyone!! 

Good Morning Everyone!!

PIR - It is finally here!! - For anyone attending this week, congratulations, may your time with your sailor be wonderful!!

Live streaming of our graduations begin at 9 a.m. CST every Friday. Videos will also be available for viewing afterwards as well on our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/RTCPublicAffairs/community​.

For those of you with upcoming PIRs, I highly recommend either watching a live viewing or the replay to help you have an idea of what to expect. 

Remember to have extra cash for purchasing items beforehand in the Great Hall. 

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

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

Final PIR group for July was added.

Today's PIR happening live right now.  Here's the link:

PIR MAY 13 2022

How is everyone's weekend?  I hope that some of you have had phone calls or letters arriving. My letters generally came in on Thursdays. 

Always remember to keep your phone nearby you, and your ringer on loud and answer all calls as you never know when your SR or sailor will call. This time at BC is really hard but it is just a small step in training them and us for what life is like in the Navy. When we say these things and repeat these words, it is because we have experienced just that. Unexpected phone calls during times of worship, a doctor's appointment, in the shower! Calls from unknown number that happened to be my sailor able to call using another shipmate's phone who had international calling when he did not. 

Anyone started any special hobbies while their loved one has been gone? 

I just wanted to check in and say hello to everyone!  I know it has been a long time since I last check in on this board…. 

for those that don’t know me…. Hi!!!  I’m Shanny!  We are coming up on my sailor completely his 2nd year in…. Seems like just yesterday we were talking about the ship date finally coming up!  I can’t believe it has passed so quickly. So, my sailor left in July 2020 so the middle of the COVID mess and all the unknowns as things changed weekly. So glad things are changing again and you all have graduation to look forward to now! 

I was reading a post on another board and someone was asking about contacting the Red Cross while their recruit was in BC. And I wanted to reach out to all of you and encourage you to have the conversation with your SR before they leave for BC. Find out what their wishes are, would they want to be notified in the unfortunate chance that someone was seriously sick, injured or passed away.  Would they want the Red Cross to be notified so that their command could notify them?  Would they want to wait to get the news after PIR?  Would they want you to notify them in a letter or wait for a phone call?  This is a hard conversation to have, and I hope it is never a reality you need to consider. But please think about having the conversation with your recruits. 

Shanny, This is a good point!! Thanks for sharing!!

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to our group. We are glad that you are here.

If you are just starting the boot camp experience with your loved one staying busy is key. Start writing now so when that form letter comes you can mail your letters off right away.

Boot camp is for us as much as it is for them while they are getting stronger so are you.

Mine has been in almost 5 years now, I stay on and help out the new families that join us.

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 want to answer every call as you never know when your loved one will call and you don't want to miss a call from your loved ones.

Good Morning!

Wow one more PIR last week with 4 guests!! 

When you return from PIR, please be sure to come share here your experience and let us know all about it!

If you have a sailor now, please feel free to come join the Beyond BC group. 

We now have a Sailor!  Seeing father like son, our son is fourth generation and 1st grandson to serve in the Navy, many veterans in our family! how incredible proud we are. That was the longest 10-weeks we have ever had to endure. We got double whammied! First to leave the nest and then not be able to speak to him. My son has found his faith again and he has much more love towards us and his life back home. He is now at A school soaking it all in. ❤️❤️Thank you navy moms for your support!

Congrats for the new Sailors... that 10 weeks is tough, and we did the double/triple whammy.. only child/leave nest/homeschooled..  was brutal.. but ours is in A school now and love the contact..

Still hard to not see him but still blessed he will be able to call and text!!

is there a rule about posting any pics of our son in uniform fri. Graduation on Instagram? I’m private to only certain people, not public. 

osubuckeyegirl!! Congratulations!!

As for posting pictures, I would check with your sailor first and find out what his preference is. But the most important thing is to make sure you have cut and pasted out his name on his name tag. I found that if I just painted over my pictures, that when they opened up in the new window, it would still show the name and then "paint" over the name as it was loading. So, I learned how to cut out the name and then copy in black or the uniform color. 

Some places will also specify that you should not post the picture from identifying locations as well, so a plain background is better. 

osubuckeyegirl, congratulations, so happy for you. My son called alot during the first month or so but the more intense the training got the less communication we got., Just wanted you aware of this Incase you didn't hear from him for awhile so you don't get upset and worried.  Congrats again!

OSU buckeyegirl:  CONGRATULATIONS to you and your sailor!  

the return of communication is awesome!  My son is in the fleet now and when they are in port o hear from him just about every day. Granted it’s usually random snapchats but hey it’s something!  

as for posting pictures, I try to cover the name on the uniform if there is one. But other than that you can post what you feel comfortable posting. I try to keep mine to my private pages and not post on public pages. Also keep in mind what your sailor’s job may be. If it’s a spec ops job make sure you ask him what his preference is. They tend to want nothing posted online

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

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

PIR MAY 2022

Hello!

My son is about to graduate June 3rd.  He will remain in the Great Lakes for A School.  He hasn't been able to get answers there at RTC, and I've not been able to either, so I'm hoping someone here with sailors in A School can maybe help me out.  I need to know what items to bring for him when I fly up to his graduation.  Obviously some civ clothes.  But are they allowed to have other items?

Laptop?  Books?  Electronic devices besides their phones?

Anything strictly a "no no?"  I'm so paranoid from boot camp restrictions that I don't trust bringing anything.  

MiamiRae - am sure there are moms on here that know more than I do, but my son was able to have his lap top and civilian clothes at A school. He in particular wanted his regular underwear, socks and running shoes. Just keep in mind that when they travel from A school to next place they won't have the ability to haul a lot with them so I got the impression "less is more". We were in the covid - no PIR - group so shipped stuff to him. Sent study snacks in with his clothes. Shipped the laptop with UPS and it got there OK. 

MiamiRae - I agree with what AgnesB says. The is a group for GL on here and also you may join the BeyondBC group as well. I will do my best to post more for you tomorrow. I have heard that in GL, I believe they are allowing them to wear civilian clothes when out and about versus their dress uniforms while at A school, but I would still not send an entire wardrobe! Also, they may either gain or loose weight in BC and so some of them don't fit into their clothes anymore. Mine at least wanted a couple of pairs of shorts and t-shirts for sleeping in. Extra white t-shirts and underwear for wearing under his white dress uniform. His running shoes for PT, and since ours was flying out, and back when they sent their box home, we brought his cell phone & charger, his Kindle, and he bought his laptop once he got to A school, since he only had a desktop at home to work on.  

Keep in mind that all accessories must be black, so an umbrella, watch, even I think an extra duffle bag should be black. I recommend bringing a collapsible duffle bag with clothes versus a suitcase. They will not have a lot of storage at A school and may not be able to carry a lot when traveling to their duty station - it depends on how they transport. 

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to our group. We are glad that you are here.

MiamiRae- Good Morning and welcome we are glad that you are here.

Mine had his PIR way before COVID. We also flew up to GL as well. I bought him a bag that had a few things that he had wanted and I put some things in there that I thought he would want.  :) He went thru the bag and took what he wanted and I took the rest home.

Once he gets to A school and gets settled you can send him a package with more of the things he wants if you want. That's what I did. 

I took him his laptop, other moms have mailed it to them and it worked out fine, I also sent him books, charger, I even sent him his switch at one point. They all have a way of making everything fit and what they don't need they will either send back home or give it to their friends while they are there.

Yes and that's still true about the watches must be black, my son's bags were ok because he just used the regular Navy issued ones. 

If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask. And you are almost there. Whoo Hoo!!!

Have a great day everyone!!!