Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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.

 Another link - Wear your RED SHIRT on Friday! - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

Welcome to all our new members!  You'll find it helpful if you are able to take some time and read through the comments.  Even if you only go back a few pages, you'll find lots of info regarding the happenings in boot camp.  

I also try to keep the "Answers to Common Questions" up above current.  The last couple of years it's been crazy though and things can change at the drop of a hat.  If your SR gives you info that is different than what we post then please let us know so we can update!

The main thing to remember is to be flexible lol!

Today's PIR is happening now.  Here's the link to watch:

LIVE PIR 6/24/2022

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

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

PIR JUNE 2022

Question:  One of our new members mentioned elsewhere about timeline and their SR is doing a 2 week quarantine / ROM/.

Calling all of my COVID moms - did that extend your SRs BC  time an extra 2 weeks - when they had to ROM? Or did Day 1 still start as the same with BelovedbyHim's schedule above? 

I am just trying to remember - Thanks!

Our 2 week ROM was built into BC. But that was in 2020. He didn’t have the gas chamber, firearms training, and a few other things. He was there a total of 8 weeks and that included ROM. If they got sent to ROM after BC started, then it extended their BC by two weeks. 

My son went in Fall of 2020, if I remember correctly they started with 2 week ROM and then had 8 weeks of BC, so total of 10 weeks. 

What I recall is some of the delays in training meaning changing their PIR date occurred depending how far they were along in the training or how many times they ended up being quarantined.

Thank you all for the warm welcome!  I am a letter writing fool right now!  I am stacking them up waiting for the form letter with his address so I can send them LOL.  Not knowing how long he had quarantine and when he actually started P-days makes it hard to be patient but that is what we get to do now... learn patience

warypryncs - Yes, for all of us A type personalities and planners - BC teachers us that we have to be flexible and bend so we don't break - it really is okay to plan a trip or holidays at the last minute and even then, something might change in the middle of it all!!

Some of the moms recommend numbering the envelopes, & letters inside so that your SR knows what order to read them in. You might even want to make a copy, take a picture or if typing them on the computer, you can save them. I wrote emails to my son and then I printed those out, and he still had the emails as well after BC. 

Ladies - Thank you!!! 

navymom57 - I hope this helps. 

I have tried to post this on everyone's wall but just in case I missed someone:

Welcome!! Please read my blog to give you an idea of what the first few weeks may look like.. Welcome to the Navy... Everything will be ok!  The First part is some things to do before your SR leaves IF you Can, It’s NOT ESSENTIAL! Up and to the Left is a link to all the Navy Lingo! It is titled Navy Speak and you can find it here. We are here to get you through the “Great Silence” of the next 4 weeks (ish) and the 10 weeks of BC (ish). You will come to learn that No News Is GOOD News and everything is Needs of the Navy. You life will be Hurry Up and Wait and it’s ok to make plans but they are subject to change until after they have happened so it’s best to embrace the Motto: Semper Gumby!! (Always Flexible!!)

Q’s Momma -- Just a Comment on Sandboxx -- It's fine to use in during Bootcamp but please think of it as a post card.  NOTHING you say on there is private.  Also it is treated different from regular mail.  If they are moved that is the last mail to get rerouted.  After Boot camp, Forget you EVER heard of this app.  In the fleet (And at A school) they will have better and more secure forms of communication! 
My Sailor was on his way home from deployment.  Because he's a Seabee they FLY to and from.  Well, a GF of one of the bees decided to send a "Booty Call" Sandbox complete with dates, times and Explicit content.  The Bees who were already en route were held at a layover location in a hanger for 3 days, eating out of a vending machine till there was no more food and sleeping on the hanger floor.  (The Bee was on that flight) . The other bees were held up at their locations and we were not told when they would be returning.  We had made plans to go out to welcome him home and were already en route when he called to tell us that he would be delayed for a while.  He didn't know how long but at least a week.  Unfortunately we were unable to rearrange our plans to reschedule our trip.  They arrived back unannounced in the middle of the night and many had to call and wake up family or friends to come and get them.  They didn't get a normal Homecoming all because one girlfriend wanted to send a sandboxx instead of an email or text!! 
Don't EVER, EVER, EVER! Use Sandboxx outside of bootcamp!!

Q's Momma - I did not even know about Sandboxx when my sailor was at BC. It is a nice option, but the handwritten notes are very heartwarming!! 

Q's Momma -- As I said, it's fine to use in BC.  Those letters get to them in 3-5 days vs a week to 10 days via USPS.  Sometimes they need a Quicker word of support at BC.  Just don't use after BC.  (So you don't buy too big a package of "messages") 

This is also a reminder for all the other BC moms as well!! It's part of the process of learning OPSEC and PERSEC!! 

Please don't feel that just because we comment to you that you are in any trouble or have committed a Major crime.  We may point stuff out here to help you learn.  (Major stuff usually is posted as a PM)  This is a Learning page and you are all in A boot camp of your own.  Navy life is an adjustment for the whole family!!

Q's Momma - here's my discussion on the Sandboxx App with a response from RTC:

SANDBOXX App for letters to boot camp

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Q's Momma - Welcome to BC! It's YOUR BC, too! Regarding Sandboxx, it's got pros & cons. Some moms find it convenient and easy because it gives you a format, "stationery" and a way to send pix (you keep the originals). I found it a great idea, but a bit expensive. So I wrote my own letters to my Sailor when she was in BC and numbered each one on the outside of the envelope, and took a picture of each page. That way if it got lost I could remember what I said and reproduce it for her. You'll figure out what works best for you, but keep those letters coming because SRs really do look forward to them. But don't expect replies to each one... the RDCs keep these kids BUSY!  If you run out of things to say, look further up on this page to the section When will the form letter come? and click on Letter Writing and Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit. If you wanna send anything else to your SR, resist the urge until you find out from him/her EXACTLY what, if anything, you can send. You don't want to get your SR in trouble by accident because it might cause the whole ship to be penalized.

Oh My Ummi -- That reminds me of the story I read when mine was in BC.  A Mom sent a singing card to their SR.  The whole Div had to do IT while the SR who got the card sat in a chair opening it to play and closing it to reset till the battery died!!
Do NOT send your SR anything that makes noise or has glitter or newsprint that can smear ink onto their hands or uniforms!

Ummi - Thanks for sharing!

Here is the link she was talking about   Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire   -  but do be sure and read through the information pages in the upper right. Lemonelephant put those together for this group when she was able to spend more time moderating it. She helped a lot of us through this BC process as well as others that are not as active as the baton is passed on.

If I recall correctly IT stands for Intensive Training and generally means doing extra exercises and such. Your sailors might also refer to it with another slang term that I can't recall at the moment. 

May you have a wonderful day today everyone!!!

If anyone makes a blue candle or other decorations, be sure to post a picture in the discussion above and down here in the comments. Just remember that if you put your SRs last name on something, do not post that here or in the discussion. 

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to all of our new members. We are glad that you are here.

BBH- Thanks for the update and it's good to see you back. :)

No question is ever dumb and someone will answer you. We are here for you every step of the way. 

I began this journey almost 5 years ago and I still help out. I remember my first time like it was yesterday. 

It's definitely a roller coaster of emotions but you will get thru it as your loved one will to. Boot camp is for us as it is for our loved ones, while they are getting stronger we are to.

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

Staying busy is key and it does help the days pass away. I wrote to mine twice a day and when my form letter came I had letters already ready to send out to him. They want letters they want to hear from you. Keep it upbeat and keep the encouragement going.

Sign up for the mail delivery app. It is the bomb and you can see what mail you have coming every day!!

God Bless and have a great Sonday everyone!!!

Good morning, I seen where one of the moms noted that when you share a picture of your lantern or anchor make sure it doesn't have your recruits name on it. 

You might be already aware of this but if your technology deficient like I am I have a tip that will help. Don't laugh at me but I just discovered this. When you pull up your picture you can edit them. In the edit there is a mark-up, just pick a color and erase the name.  Okay Ladies I am letting my age show, but just in case there are more of me I just want to help! 

Good Evening - I see several of our BC members online but no one posting here, so I hope you are connecting in your PIR groups!!

Northwoodsmom - That is great advice!! 

Hello! My future sailor has been at BC for almost four weeks. I got a phone call from him last weekend (which was heaven), but I haven't yet received a personal letter. I'm anxiously awaiting one. I've summitted the form to get my ticket to PIR and I've made my flight/hotel/car reservations for that weekend. I plan to attend Sarge's Meet n' Greet and I hope to see some of you there. 

This BC learning curve is a steep one (for all of us). I wish each of you peace, calm, patience, and faith to get us through this journey. Have a good night! 

Athenasbow - They have to train a mail room petty officer from their division, I believe, before the personal mail starts flowing to and fro. - It seemed like forever before I had my first personal letter. My mail always arrived on Thursday, except for the week when he went to medical for a cough on a Sunday and did not have time to write that day. When my son was in BC, they were only allowed to write letters on Sunday. 

I hope you made all of your reservations with changeable or refundable tickets and motel cancellation. 

Enjoy Sarge's Meet n' Greet! I have yet to meet in person any of the people I have met on this site, but I enjoyed meeting the ones that I did at Sarge's Meet n' Greet. We were seated according to our sailor's division. After 5 years there are still a lot of my N4M friends that I keep up with as best as I am able to in my groups and with PMs. 

Athenasbow -- Be watching for that letter this week.  4 weeks is the normal time frame.  Did you think to ask you SR for his address when he called?  If so you can go ahead and mail out all those letters that you have!  It's awesome that you got a phone call already!! THIS is why we advise you all to keep your phones handy and ringers on LOUD!!

September 2022 PIR group is up.  Here's the link:

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

FYI - due to the size of the 9/2/22 PIR group only 3 guests are allowed.