Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

Today is Friday and I'm wearing RED!!! Honestly, first time I've worn RED to support  TROOPS!

Janet - We all started once with wearing RED on Fridays, most of us after we came to this site! 

Hi everyone! I am new here and trying to navigate all of this. My son arrived at BC yesterday. I am so empty and am on the roller coaster. Just a couple of general questions..

-are there threads where I can see if someone is replying directly to me?

-if my son arrived there yesterday, I won't know his PIR date until I get that form letter, right? I am absolutely guessing at the moment and trying to count ahead 10 weeks, but I won't know which PIR group to join yet, is this correct?

LMCinTN - Welcome!!! Give me a minute and I will try to answer some of your questions for you. 

LMCinTN - if you will read my discussion that appears right above this comment wall - How to send PMs (Private Messages) to friends on N4M & some OPSEC/PERSEC info, that should help you navigate. Sorry, I did not hyperlink it for you. 

When you send a friend request, that person (if they have their profile set up as such) should receive an email notification that you have sent a friend request. However, when they accept, you will not receive an email notice. You need to go to your profile page and look in the upper left under your user name for Friends. Click on that and it will take you to their picture. 

This group page is a public page, such so that more of our member can see your questions and reply but also so those new Navy loved ones can locate us easier. 

Depending on how you have your profile page set, it will also be public, or private to members only, or private to your friends only. You can also lock down other information by moderating your comments on your profile page to only show things not as personal, you can also turn off from showing your recent activity. 

I will reach out to you privately in a bit but let me post this here for others as well. 

Form Letter - I am trying to remember, I think we generally said to count forward 8 - 9 Fridays from when your SR (seaman recruit) left. (Some divisions don't form as quickly as others, so it just depends on their arrival time.) - So now, I would say 10 - 11 weeks. 

If your SR just left yesterday, you might be looking at a Sept PIR date and that group has not been created yet. The admins (B'sNukeMom has been setting them up recently) wait until the divisions are posted on the RTC website.

You may start writing letters now and save them for when you receive the form letter. Also, be sure to still keep your phone close by you and your ringer on loud. Sometimes the SRs have to call home for more information, but mostly we go by, "No News is Good News" because it means they have passed their initial physical fitness requirements and they are not set back in any way. 

For our new members - be sure to send Friend requests to those in your PIR group, or any of us on this group that you want to connect with. 

Here is the link for RTC Bootcamp website - (click on the blue letters), be sure to familiarize yourself with that site and the information available there as well!!

Okay, if your SR left later in the week, I would not count this Friday as part of their week 1, start with next Friday and count forward 10 Fridays. So, if they left this week, it is possible their PIR might be August 26, 2022 - If there are any setbacks for any reason or depending on how the TG (training groups) fill up, it might be pushed to the next week (and I think the 1st Sept PIR is on a Thursday due to Labor Day weekend, but I do not know for certain.)

Feel free to join the August PIR group for now. 

Good Evening Everyone!! 

I know we have several new members on this group and I just wanted to encourage you - The nights can seem the quietest, the most lost without our loved ones in our house and sleeping in their beds. We who have always watched over our babes, or laughed with our siblings and fallen asleep together - we can feel like a part of us and our identity is gone or cut off from us. Some of us may be dealing with a wide range of emotions, proud, sad, angry, hurt, lost - it can even seem not fair. 

May I encourage you, in the midst of your own struggle to remember that your loved one is struggling as well and that is where we take on a new purpose - the support from afar - learning how to send our love, our encouragement, or good wishes via prayer, and in letter writing. For me, I write a lot of emails, so I would just email my son every night. It might not have been long but it was something and when I opened up my email to him, there was his smiling face to encourage me. Once I had his address then I printed out the emails and sent the paper copies to him while I had already sent the emails for him to read at a later time if he needed. I always added a handwritten note to my printed letters.

Years ago, my husband was in the reserves and once he was gone for two weeks (not the 10, I know) but our oldest was 18 months, I had a miscarriage a couple of months prior to his leaving in the summer and I was feeling sorry for myself. My mother, helped to give me some perspective. She reminded me that while I was feeling sorry for myself, I still had family around, I still had my toddler, I still had a job and friends I was able to work with and see every day, whereas my husband was working hard, out in the summer sun and heat. That was way before cell phones and we barely had email (but he had no access), and we still had calling cards as well for our phones. My struggles and emotions were real, but I did not have to bear what my husband was. I am forever grateful to my mother for helping me look beyond myself, to pray for my husband more and to remember that my connection with him transcended just the physical. My own mental, emotional and spiritual health was just as important to him if he was close by or far away. 

So, when you lay your head on your pillow tonight, find whatever comfort you need close by, but also know that his sleep and rest (which they get very little of, especially if they are standing extra watches) will be much better if you are at rest and peace in your own sleep, offering your own love and care through the miles to them. 

BNMHs {Big Navy Mom Hugs} and Love 

First things first.....LMCinTN... Take a Deep Breath in....... Let it out...... Take another one......... Let it out....... Repeat continuously!!! Just keep breathing and it will all be OK!! We haven’t lost a mom to Boot camp yet, we won’t start with you.

The Processing Days.
P1 begins the Day of Arrival and continues through the night and into the next day. So If your SR (Seaman Recruit) Swore in on Tuesday then Wednesday counts as P1. As you count the P-days DO NOT count Saturday or Sunday or Federal Holidays—Those will be P-Hold days. In My example it would look like this P1- Wed, P2- Thurs, P3- Fri, P-hold- Sat & Sun, P4- Mon and P5- Tue. On P5 they take the initial PFA. (It can be P-4 if they are in a Push Division) Assuming they pass the PFA They will then move into their Ship (Berthing space).  "Weeks" can "Begin on any business day so don't get stuck thinking that their week will always start on a Monday.  PIR however is Nearly Always on a Friday (Thanksgiving week is the exception)

This is Phase 1 of boot camp which begins when recruits first arrive on board RTC. The new recruits will begin filling in their paperwork; they are given further medical and psychological evaluations and receive their inoculations; and receive an initial set of PT gear; are interviewed; and will be assigned to a division. When P-Week is over, Boot Camp officially begins. Phase 1 can be as short as 4 days to as long as 2 weeks, but are seldom over 11 days. (See Arrival and What Happens at RTC and https://www.mypoints.com/emp/u/videos.vm.)

LMCinTN --
This marks the transition to Training Days. Usually denoted as W1TD1 (Week 1 Training Day 1). This is the day that they fill out the form letter that gets mailed home. That letter is collected and mailed the next business day (Remember we do not count Sat, Sun or Holidays). Usually that letter arrives home between 14 and 21 business days since departure, HOWEVER there are reasons it may be delayed. If they didn’t pass the initial PFA, If they were on P-hold waiting for others to join to fill the Div/ TG, If they were waiting on paperwork….. If Ma Navy was just not feeling it that day…. Lots of reasons that are NOT cause to panic. It is hard but Repeat after me.... No News is Good News!! Again... No News is GOOD NEWS!!! Repeat daily, hourly, Minute by minute as necessary!! Shout it if you need to or whisper it as a prayer! Whatever gets you through!! The Form letter will give you the address and PIR date!! Time to start making plans!! I know how hard the waiting can be but calling the recruiters is not advised. They may have the wrong address and letters sent early may not arrive in a timely fashion since the Mail Petty Officer has to be trained and until that happens mail is set aside to be sorted later and sometimes that later is MUCH later!! This is honestly the hardest part of Boot camp! Your emotions are still raw from letting go of your Child and knowing that for better or worse they will be changed by this experience (even those who don’t complete it are changed!) and add to that the Communications Blackout that is imposed and it can be quite overwhelming but trust us that they know you love them, they feel your prayers and you will get a chance to send letters!

LMCinTN --

Around week 3 you will get the first call home. They may be homesick and there may be tears so be prepared and be strong. (You can come here and cry later, to quote my favorite wizard…”I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” It’s ok to cry about missing your baby, even if they are mostly full grown!! (We are over 9 years in and I still cry on occasion—Navy Mom Allergies!!!) It does not mean you are weak or not proud!!). The call can come on ANY day of the Week at any time from 9am-9pm Central time. Keep Phones charged and ringers on LOUD at all times while they are in BC!! Answer all Calls!! Yes telemarketers may call but you can hang up on them!! You don't want to risk missing a call from your Recruit! Keep a notepad handy of all the questions you want to ask so you don't forget!

In the meantime while you are waiting through the “Great Silence”, write letters!!! Write all the Letters you can! Take all the raw emotional letters and save them for a BC burning/shredding party at the end of BC and get ready to send positive and encouraging letters. There is a whole file here on letter writing. Read all you can and watch the videos “The Making of a Sailor” videos to get an idea of what your SR’s are going through.

This whole experience is a huge roller coaster of emotions. We have been where you are now and we know what you are feeling. Just remember you are stronger than you feel… You raised a young Man or Woman who was willing to put duty to country over self. They are strong enough to take on this challenge because they were shown strength from home! You have raised the 1%!! Be proud of that and welcome to the Family!

LMCinTN-- you are looking at a Labor day PIR. (That's the same weekend My Sailor did) UNLESS they were put in a PUSH DIV.  You will not know until you get the form letter but I think you can join the Aug PIR group and if you find out later it's Sept, then switch.  Or you can ask your questions here and more folks can see and answer them.

belovedbyHim & Chipmunk - DANG LADIES, that was some GOOD advice! Brought back memories of when my girl was in BC. Thanks for being there for the new Navy Moms.

Ummi - You are welcome!! And I am so glad that you are here to encourage our new moms and loved ones as well. You have a lot to share also with all that your daughter went through and persevered. 

Ummi -- Thank you.  It's all part of a joint effort!  If by writing this blog (Which I posted in parts here but once I get timeline confirmation I'll start posting the blog link) I can make it a little easier for others I'm happy to do so.  I still remember that night 9+ years ago when I was feeling so lost and my DH found this group for me!  I stayed up for hours reading everything I could find.  The Mods here at that time were encouraging, helpful and supportive! (They even told me How I could go to MEPS to see my Sailor Swear in and how to go wait with him at the airport!)  After his PIR I decided that if I could ever help anyone else I would.  My blog is one way I can ease the fear and the worry of the unknown!

Good Morning Everyone!!

I had a busy weekend and another busy day before me. I hope our fathers had a good day yesterday and for those who have SRs in BC, remember that while they may show their emotions differently than us ladies do, they miss their kids as well. They are also welcome to join us here or on Navy Dads - Navy Dads is not as active as we are, but they have good information and approach things from a Dad's perspective. 

For those of you who have attended PIR, or have received the "i'm a sailor" call - please feel free to come join the Beyond BC - Navy For Moms (ning.com) The Beyond BC group is a place to receive answers to questions or to just stay connected with the Navy Mom community. 

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

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

Hey! I was wondering what the estimated time was that I could visit my bf once he gets to A School. He'll be in Pensacola. Am I not allowed to visit until Phase II? What is the estimated time of getting to Phase II? I know a lot of places are different, but just trying to get estimate, so I can plan accordingly.

belovedbyHim - thanks for updating the timeline and putting together the Blog.  I posted your timeline up above and I "featured" your blog post so it shows up on the main page! Very helpful info ;-D

B'sNukeMoM️MMN -- Thanks.  I was holding off posting the link till I knew if it was "reasonably" correct.  If I learn that there are Major changes I'll edit it and be sure to let you know as well.

I know that when my son left 9 years ago (FB just reminded me that 10 years today he went to MEPS for the first time and signed up and was in DEP for a little over a year!)  That the NOT KNOWING was just eating me up!  I was a hot mess!! At some point someone posted a link to a page that described in decent detail what they were doing and when.  It was pointed out that with all the men and Women that had to go through this process it would be very regimented!  Each Training week would include the EXACT same thing on the EXACT same Training day for every Division and so it was possible to know what was going to happen and when.  I have tried to keep my blog a little bit vague for OPSEC and PERSEC reasons but just knowing what to expect helped me to release some of the worry and anxiety. It also helped me to know better when to expect letters and to plan for possible phone calls or when I KNEW there would likely NOT be a phone call. 
The patience and information and kindness I got here was literally the light that guided me out of that dark and lonely place!  I am happy to shine a light to those following along now so that they can chart a safe path in these turbulent days ahead.

Broadwaydancer5 - I realize this might not be the answer you were hoping for and not much different than what you have received elsewhere on this site, but we are glad you are here and asking questions. Even with my sailor who is out in the fleet, trying to plan things is very often last minute because of ship schedules, or other schedules. 

Generally, we drive, even halfway across the country because it is cheaper to take several of us for that time at a cheaper rate, but also because we can wait almost until the last minute to plan specifics. - And I was a huge planner before the Navy!! - If you fly, be sure to buy changeable or refundable tickets or look at insurance, all of which can be more expensive. When booking hotels, always look at the cancellation policies!!

This goes for those of you planning to attend PIR as well! Which we also drove to. Of about 5 ? 6 trips out to the east coast to see my sailor, we have only flown twice, and both times we had to buy tickets with less than a week before traveling probably, but it was because we could not make the plans any earlier for various reasons, we needed to be able to travel in less time, and we still took 4 of us. 

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

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

    Reminder - Mask Mandate is still in effect for PIR

**NOTICE FROM RTC 6/1/2022*** - MASKS ARE REQUIRED AGAIN

Lake County, Illinois, has moved to Community Transmission level HIGH.

Effective immediately, everyone must wear masks indoors at Naval Station Great Lakes, which means all guests attending the graduation ceremony are required to wear a mask while indoors for ticket pickup at the Welcome Center and while indoors at Recruit Training Command. The number of guests allowed has increased 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. REMINDER: Policies regarding the graduation ceremony can change at any time due to changes in our health protection status and policy. 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.

Happy 1st Day of Summer!

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

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

Have your RSVP'd for tomorrow's Meet N Greet?  Here's the link:

Sarge's Meet N Greet

Here's a video posted online (6/13/22) that shows the 10 weeks of boot camp:

What US Navy Recruits Go Through

Reminder that the 8/19/22 and 8/26/22 PIR's are only allowing 3 guests due to the size of the training groups.

Ladies - be sure to check the settings on your cell phone.  You may have it set to "silence unknown calls".  Turn this feature off or your SR's call may go directly to voice mail!

Good Afternoon everyone!! I hope all are well. Have we had any "I'm a sailor" calls come through yet?

If you can make it to Sarge's Meet N Greet, it is an enjoyable time!! Be sure to RSVP because that helps them to plan on having plenty of food to go around. Please consider bringing cash for a donation, when I was there, we did have to pay for our drinks (Sarge will explain) so be prepared for a few dollars to cover that as well. 

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

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

Last PIR for June tomorrow - do we have anyone going?  I can't believe how fast this year is going by!

If you are interested in seeing what happens during the "Confidence Chamber" aka gas chamber here is a video link:

Boot Camp Gas Chamber

Welcome to all of our new members!! We are glad you have joined us. This is the place to come ask questions, share your ups and downs of this BC Journey, and just find support and encouragement from those of us who have been where you are. Some like our Covid Moms went through a lot more. 

Northwoodsmom recently shared this with regards to timelines, " As a Covid Navy Mom survivor there was nothing scripted we could of followed. Just went with the bumps and bruises through the nightmare!"  

They all made it through BC though and their sailors are out serving now - You will make it as well, coming here for support and comradery!

My sailor left almost 5 years ago for BC, that time was a training ground for me as well. 

              MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED

* * * The Latest Guidance as of June 23rd, 2022 - 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. The number of guests allowed has increased to four, unless there are 11 or more divisions when the maximum number of guests is three. 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. REMINDER: Policies regarding the graduation ceremony can change at any time due to changes in our health protection status and policy. 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.

Good Evening Everyone!!

I just wanted to welcome a few of our new members - Barbara, waryrpryncs, Q's Momma, and navymom57 - We are glad you are here. There are several new members, the more you post and say hello, the easier it is to get to know others. 

More members follow the posts here in the comment wall and we are here to encourage you, no matter whether it is questions or emotions. 

Q's Momma - First of all, this is the place for you to come share and vent, so have at it!!

Secondly, many of us have had the same feelings about how our loved one will handle boot camp. When my son went to BC, I did not have any videos, but my husband found me a timeline of events they would be doing at BC. Later, I found out it was not very accurate, but it gave me something to focus one - pray for my son and feel like I knew a bit about him. 

Welcome to all our new members. Q'sMomma it is a great help knowing what each of their weeks will hold so watching everything you can to help with all the uncertainty. I also found keeping busy was essential to keep your mind occupied. Making your anchors and blue lanterns and if you plan on attending the Sarge's meet and greet making up a donation basket for raffles is alot of fun. Keep busy with all those letter writings, join clubs like Zumba, book or even craft . The more time you spend staying focused on something else the faster the time will go. 

Remember we are all here for you, we share the same mama hearts even if our journey is sometime different. We will encourage you with compassion and whatever knowledge we have accumulated through our own journey. Hugs and Prayers for each of you.

Q's Momma - if you look at the discussions just above the comment wall here on the group page you will find the Blue Candle discussion which shares ideas and the Blue Candle Poem. 

There is a meet n greet for sailor families in GL that is hosted by Sarge (former military, I believe) who has a taxi service but also donates his time and money, as well as donations for serving the Navy families a meal the night before PIR. 

I will see if I can post some links for you as well. Be sure to read the information on this group page, there is a lot in the Pages posted in the upper right, be sure to click view all.

Remember to Click on the Blue Letters as those are hyperlinks to other pages or information - 

Blue Candle

Here's the link to Sarge's Meet & Greet.  You do need to RSVP if you plan on attending:

 Meet and Greet

Reminder: No Meet n Greet for June 30, 2022, the next one will be July 7th. I believe Sarge had some personal things arise for that weekend.

Be sure to sign up for  Informed Delivery - USPS

This is a service of the USPS and you can see when you should be getting mail from anyone, but also your SR. 

Congratulations to those at PIR 

Live Stream Link PIR

Begins at 9:00 AM if you miss it you should be able to go to Home on that page and watch previous videos or wait for them to upload the current one. 

Q'sMamma, most of the information you will find above where you post in the discussion forum. Blue candles are lit during BC and deployments, they have a prayer that goes along with it. Anchors are decorated and placed on motel doors if allowed during BC graduation and the Sarge's Meet and Greet is the Thursday before graduation where you can meet with other parents with son's and daughter graduating. 

If you need any help, just ask someone on here will be sure to answer all your questions. Getting involved will really help you through this journey. I know people are typically busy with life itself but this helps through those times you aren't. Good Luck

I would love to learn more about the blue lanterns & the prayer that goes with it! I think it is so beautiful & would love to have one for my bf!

Broadwaydancer5 - Just click on the link that I provided below or if you are reading these in your email feeds, I posted it so you should have it come in. I think Shanny posted the prayer in one of the replies to the discussion as well. 

I know a few people buy things from Etsy. I also recently saw some lanterns for sale at our local Aldi's store.