Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

LMCinTN:  I believe it is just the first 2 shots (or 1 if it is the J&J)  when I went to tour my son's ship last week they just required the first 2

LMCinTN - I concur with Shanny - currently boosters are not even required for the sailors, so I don't think they are required when attending PIR. When the information was first put out I don't believe the booster shots were available and all I see on Recruit Training Command Home Page (navy.mil) is it just says to show your vaccination card. No booster shot mentioned. 

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.

No booster is needed.

B'sNukeMom - Thank you for the verification!! 

Help me welcome another new member - nursekim - We are glad you have come and joined us. Remember that there is never a dumb question, we have all been in your shoes and we are here to help and encourage you as best as we can, as well as answer any and all questions as best as we are able. 

Sending BNMHs {Big Navy Mom Hugs} to everyone tonight as you do your best to enter into a restful, peaceful sleep. As much as you may be missing them, remember they are missing you as well and they are facing a new environment, new persons in charge of them and new seaman. Send your love and hugs to them through your thoughts and prayers. 

Nicole0704, tammybikerunfaithlove & nursekim - Hi Ladies! Welcome to the best place for Navy Moms. All these mothers are a Godsend to you because they will be the ones who help hold you up , so you can hold your SR up! All of us here GET IT because we've been where you are now. No judging, no expectations, no funkiness. Just listening ears, great advice and possibly friends you'll keep in touch with when your SR graduates and YOU head over to Beyond Bootcamp. 

Good Morning Everyone!! 

I have a busy day ahead of me, so I won't be on much, but others are around. We will answer as soon as we are able. 

JNMnavymomOH - I am glad to hear that you received your "I'm Here" call. I was talking to my son, and he said they tell the recruits they only have a minute to talk. I gathered from what he said that he wrote out his script or at least read through it to decide what he wanted to say. He shared that some of them might have gotten 2 minutes in. I am sure a lot of it is nervousness, not wanting to sound homesick on the phone - they have people standing around them and it is a new situation for them. 

Over the years, I have learned that every member, while we experience most of the general things, may have a slight variance to how it actually happens or in some cases doesn't happen at all. 

Letter writing is good. My son was also at BC during the summer and was there during 4th of July. I so hoped that he would be able to see some fireworks, but I don't think so. I remember going to a local concert / fireworks display and when they played the Military Theme Songs - YouTube I stood for the Navy, in honor of my son, I was so proud of him. 

I will also call him, even if he can't answer his phone, every time someone would play or sing at church - Lee Greenwood's God Bless America - one of his favorite songs. It was my way to help him connect again and remind him that his service was appreciated. 

 What is RED Friday?

Go to the link above to find out the story. 

belovedbyHim, thank you!  I know the new Navy Moms see us as strong moms now I only wish they could of known the true mess we really were at the beginning. You were a life saver in my darkness of despair! Love you so much along with all the others.

Hi everyone! Thank you for the welcome! My 18 yr old son arrived on Tuesday. I got my call at 11pm and it was exactly how I thought it would be...I almost laughed. I said I love you twice over him and I hope he heard me. All I heard him say was "I love you."

I've only cried a few times so far. He hardly spent weekends at home lol so we are adjusting. I'm super excited about everything he is going to learn.

His recruiter prepared us for what his going away would be like and I'm so glad to have found this site so I have more info on what he's doing. 

nursekim - We are glad you have joined us and came to say hi! This comment wall area is the best place to post for more of the seasoned moms to see. 

When those of you waiting for your form letter, receive your PIR information, be sure to go to the Groups page and join your PIR group.  B'sNukeMom posts those fairly regularly throughout the week as she is able. 

I also want to say that all of us who have been through BC have learned that everyone handles the adjustment to our lives that goes along with our loved one leaving for BC in different ways. There is no one right way to deal with our loved one leaving, so no matter what your experience, it is okay to share. 

For those of you who have SRs who will fly out to their A school might find this discussion of mine helpful - What PIR weekend may be like for those flying out of GL - Navy For ... - Some things may have changed or adjusted from when my sailor went through, but the most important thing is to stay flexible. 

Welcome ProudMomma to the group. We are glad you have joined us. Be sure to come say hello. 

Hi ProudMomma, welcome!  What a great name you selected for yourself. Many of the Moms have chosen names that reflect our kids' initials, our hobbies or interests, nicknames from years ago, what we aspire to, where we live, or our faiths. But we have all become YOU, Proud Mommas! Be sure to view the documentary  "Making of a Sailor" Its from 2018, so some stuff has changed a bit, but it was really helpful to me as a new Navy Mom.

https://youtu.be/pDwLsrmDBF0

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

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

PIR JULY 2022

Good Morning Everyone!

B'sNukeMom - Thanks!

May everyone have a wonderful Sunday - Here is some information about Phone Cards and Phone Calls - The SRs do not call on Sunday due to chapel worship, however, I do recall that during the height of COVID, they had started having multiple chapel services to allow for more distancing, so I would just say, keep your phone handy still. Once my sailor was in A school, I actually had a few calls from him while in church service because he would forget the time zone difference. 

Also, Lemonelephant mentions the "box" being sent back home with your SRs belongings. That is no longer the case. They hold the boxes at RTC now and return them prior to them leaving for A school.  

Good morning everyone. Happy almost 4th! The last 2+ weeks have been an absolute roller coaster of emotions for me/us since my SR left for BC. Yesterday, however, was a turning point in this journey: not only did I get the first letter from my son, but we also got our first real call. I know all the experienced moms know how this feels, but wow. Hearing his vulnerable voice on the other end of the phone, wanting to reach through the line and give a hug, wishing time could fast forward 8 weeks…all the feels. I hung up proud, but worried like all of us mommas do. Get this…The best part was he called back 10 minutes later to say he only had 2 minutes but wanted to let me know how much he loved me and ‘I’m gonna make it, Mom’. Yes, you are. Yes. You. Are. 
So I have my motivation to carry until the next letter and next call. I know he’s fighting through this and staying strong- it’s the very least I can do here at home to do the same for him, right? 

Thanks to all of you for your support on here. 

LMCinTN - BNMHs!!  (Big Navy Mom Hugs!!) Yes, You are going to make this too!!! If I could just reach through cyber space and give you a hug, I would.  

As BelovedbyHim shares - "We haven't lost a mom to BC and we aren't going to start now."  You have your marching orders and that is to keep those letters coming. I would share some things with my son about what was going on at home. We had lots of friends from church who had military understanding and they offered to write letters to my son. I would suggest that you share the "letter writing guidelines" that are above and to the right with them though. 

It really helped me to not feel like I had to be the only one showing love and support. 

BTW - I have welcomed several new moms whose SRs have similar rates. I think some of you have posted on a group page. 

Also, I know we have some new members at least to the site who are from the same state. Be sure to visit each other's profile pages (click on their icon) and also read my discussion - Private Messages - Creating & Sending + OPSEC

Also be sure to connect with each other in your PIR groups. I don't join each one of those created but our admins can help as able. 

Goodmorning all, I've really been struggling with my son shipping out last Tuesday. It's an overwhelming feeling. I have been reading all the comments & it does give me some comfort, so thank you all for that. I know I'll get through this but geez it's tough. Does anyone know if my son shipped out to greatlakes last week will his graduation be September? I don't have too much details, but I'd like to start planning since I'm in CA. Thank you ladies <3

Hi Nicole0704! My son left Tues the 28th...same Tues as your son? Their graduation should be in Sept. My guess is Friday of Labor day weekend or the next. We won't know until we receive our form letters. I'm opposite of you in Mass and I'm excited to start planning too! What job did your son choose?

Can anyone tell me what would hold up my letters from getting to him? He’s been there for 4 weeks & he’s only received 2/6. He’s getting homesick & wants letters & I can’t even tell him they’re coming.

Yes, he left on the 28th as well. My son originally chose a builder as his job, but his recruiter offered him to go to boot camp earlier, which he did so his job might change. 

too funny! My son wanted to be a Seabee but no jobs were available. His 2nd choice was Master at Arms. He was offered to leave early too but he was able to keep his job.

Hi Broadwaydancer5, I started writing to my son on an app called "sandboxx". You do pay for your letters , but they are sent over night and you can attach a picture. 

Yes! I sent 2 now from there. He got the first one & my second letter I hand wrote. My second Sandboxx letter is being held up because of the holiday, but hopefully this past week he got more of my handwritten ones. 

Welcome to our new members!!!!  (I am not the usual welcome committee lol but I know Chipmunk is visiting loved ones and not sure if she will be on)

I’ll try my best but I know I’ll be wrong on some things!  Anyway, I’m Shanny. My son left two years ago this month for boot camp. (I can’t believe he is starting year 3 already!). The ladies here got me through some seriously crazy times with bootcamp and going into the fleet   And just so you know, I have made lifelong friends with the moms here. They are amazing! 

so, the mail…. My understanding is that the mail can be unpredictable at times. Each training group trains people to handle the mail. And while they are being trained, mail delivery can be messed up at times. I started typing every letter I sent. Then I numbered the envelopes. That way my son could tell me in his letter back that he received letters 1, 2, 4 & 6. Then I would resend what he was missing. Others have used Sandboxx. I never did. The biggest issue with that app is that nothing you send is private. While it may be faster, you are giving a company whatever information you send to your SR. So if you use it, use it for encouragement not for anything private or personal. And no matter what. NEVER use it outside of bootcamp. It puts too much sensitive information into non-military hands. 

as for guessing PIR dates, we have moms who have it down to a science!  Sadly, I am not one of them. I am a COVID bootcamp survivor. Our dates changed all the time. For initial quarantines to being pushed back because elf exposure…. We never knew when PIR really was until we got the call that bootcamp was done. It used to be count 9 Fridays starting from the week your SR arrived.  But bootcamp has been extended and I’m not sure what it is now..

sorry I am no help. But I wanted to make sure to say hello. And let you know you are not alone. You have found a great place full of supportive moms (and some dads) just like you. Please know that no question is a stupid question. Someone will try to answer, if we can’t, we will find someone else who can. 

Oh and I post on my phone and make all kinds of hilarious and inappropriate at times mistakes lol. I have no patience for rereading my messages but get extremely made and my typos and strange autocorrects. Please forgive me

@Shanny...we call that fat fingers LOL

@Q's Momma...thank you for sharing your son's dates 

You new Ladies are doing such a awesome job helping each other out, it really touched my heart. Actually you are suppose to count 10 Fridays from the day they arrive but if your recruit comes in on a Thursday or Friday you might have to add a extra Friday. That being said it might not mean a thing. My son went in early 2020 which was right at the beginning of the Covid Pandemic, so the first month went pretty smooth on that factor but when he got there he had to wait for his division to fill up, it was right after the holidays so his original 8 weeks turned into 10 weeks. There are so many factors like holidays and recruit numbers that might change things also so please stay flexible. 

Good Afternoon Nicole0704 and nursekim - I am going to take a guess that your PIRs will be Labor Day weekend or the next one, based on the new 10 week BC time. You may feel free to join the September PIR and if you find out from your form letter that it is actually in August you may join that group. 

My son left for BC the last week in June, 5 years ago. His PIR was the last weekend in August, but BC was 8 weeks. Some SRs that arrive earlier in the week, might get put with another division and pushed through to the previous PIR group. 

Nicole0704 - we call this the emotional roller coaster. Different moms handle this time differently. For some of us, it hurts, but we stay busy enough with other things, other kids, or projects that we manage to make it through. Others will be like BelovedbyHim or Phoenixmom share - "They were a HOT MESS!" - No matter what, we manage to make it through and while it might not get easier, we get stronger. My mother told me when my husband was gone for a two-week summer training, and I was feeling sorry for myself, and very down - "... just keep in mind that while you miss your husband, and he is not here to help you with __ (our two year old), that you have family around you to support you. Your husband has no one. He is out working in the hot summer and heat, listening to drill sergeants yelling at him. Don't you think he misses you?" It wasn't necessarily what I wanted to hear, but it did give me a different perspective, and it managed to help me through my son's BC days. 

As for flying to BC, I would definitely plan for changeable or refundable tickets and motel rooms - only AFTER you at least have the form letter. I have become much more adaptable to the "flexibility" aspects of Navy Mom life - almost to so, that with my older daughter who is used to my A-type personality, plan out everything, be in control of everything, that I can't plan a trip to see her unless I give at least a month's notice - which is hard for me, not knowing what my sailor's schedule might be. 

LOL - I was reading messages in my email feed and responded to the first ones but did not see the rest of the replies. I am at least glad my last post ended up here where it was supposed to. Sometimes they do not post at all and sometimes they are on the previous page. 

To all of our new members, I so appreciate Shanny and Northwoodsmom sticking around and encouraging all of you and covering for me! I do have a free moment, so wanted to share, I did not realize they had posted already. Ummi has also been posting recently and a few others. Partyofseven hasn't been able to be on as much, but she also has helped out on this group. 

Q's Momma - It sounds like you have gotten your form letter and so my calculations for the others should hopefully line up with the Sept 9th date, based on my son's situation. That said, Northwoodsmom is correct that sometimes there are "push divisions". Wow - you have a long way to come but I also need to make sure that I keep in contact with you, if I ever should get the opportunity to come to Hawaii!! - I would suggest for you that, if at all possible, give yourself a couple of extra days before and after PIR so that if there are any flight issues you can deal with those and not miss out on PIR. At least when my son was at BC, most of the motels were very understanding of the changeableness of PIR and many had a day of reservation cancellation policy. My point, the hotels are likely to be much more flexible than the airlines. 

Broadwaydancer5 - Did you receive a call from your SR or a letter from him? If you received a letter, it is likely that there is just a cross in time with the mail. In other words, they will tell you in a letter - since initially at least, they can only write on Sunday, that they have not received any letters, but once the mail starts coming in, those letters will soon catch up to them. So, just keep writing. 

 Here is the information that Lemonelephant posted several years ago - Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire - she explains a little bit of the delay, but like Shanny said - be sure to number your letters. Also, I think Sandboxx, might get to GL faster than USPS mail, but once at RTC, it still requires the mailroom petty officer to be trained and deliver mail to the divisions. 

Here is B'sNukeMom's Sandboxx App for BC post. 

For those who have not signed up for the USPS Informed Delivery - here is the link to that page - Informed Delivery (usps.com) . 

I wrote emails to my son, and then I printed those out and mailed them with a handwritten note added to each one. I also gave his address to others who wrote him. Be sure to share with them the guidelines from the Letter writing page above. 

My letters usually arrived on Thursday of each week. And almost every one of them started out with "I only have ten minutes to write!" 

I did not get a call, as I’m just the gf! Lol! But he was on watch duty so he couldn’t call his mom last weekend either. I have received like 7 letters from him. But he said he hadn’t received anymore after the 2 the second week I sent. I’m hoping when I get his letter this week it will say he got more of them! I sent a Sandboxx Thursday night saying I had sent 6 that way he knows that I am at least writing! He’s just going into week 5 of being there so I was worried they got lost since the mail room should be a little more organized with them having trained the mail recruits. I’ve been doing well not having him here but knowing he’s sad & lonely is making it very tough & upsetting that my letters aren’t getting to him as quickly as I’m writing them. It’s been weeks.

Broadwaydancer5 - Let's hope that mostly, he had not received your first letters when he wrote his letter. We had a lot of that happen when the SRs were dealing with the covid ROMs and set backs. Some moms did not even receive their form letters and we had people all over the place trying to help them figure out what division their sons were in. 

I recall you were the GF, but you are just as welcome here and being willing to let his mom receive the calls is very kind and considerate!! Just keep writing, praying and loving even from a distance!! 

That's me!!!  Two years later, still waiting on the form letter!  Then they stamped over his address so I had everyone looking at it trying to read the address. Then I sent a picture of it to his recruitment office and all of the recruiters sat around trying to read it lol good times

Thank you!! He said he’d call his mom then I would be the next call, so hopefully he’ll get some calls for doing well. He’s a leader for his group, so maybe. 

Shanny - I could not remember if that was you or Katharine - I remember we had to go looking for her "lost puppy". 

Braodwaydancer5 - As the MIL to my sailor daughter, I am thankful that I have a wonderful relationship with her. They did not meet until on the same ship together so all through BC and his schooling, even his first year on the ship, I was always the first call home. As their relationship evolved and they became husband and wife, the first calls went to his wife, but she was already keeping me informed of things going on with my sailor and their ship, so I never had any feelings of jealousy. It is important for both moms and girlfriends to keep communication lines opened as best as possible. You both love the same man and allowing him to honor his mother, is a way for you to honor her, as well as sharing information with her. Hopefully, she will sense your kindness and gratitude to her as well and keep the lines of communication open with you. 

Q's Momma - I can't remember if I posted my discussion above about flying out of GL recently or not. If you have trouble finding it above, I will post it here for you.  Do be sure to come join the Nuke Moms Group- You will want to join us and connect with information that we have there for you as well. Most likely your sailor will fly out early on Saturday morning, but maybe not. Those sailors staying in GL will probably have a holiday standdown on Labor Day weekend. If your sailor flies out of O'Hare or one of the other local airports, you have a good chance to go to the airport and spend time with them at the gate before they leave. But know that they will likely leave for the airport in the very wee early hours of the morning, and my son's flight went out at 0630 in the morning!! 

Also - PLEASE NOTE: Just because you receive a form letter with a PIR date, that is not set in stone!!! Stay flexible, plan still for changeable airline flights. 

Nicole0704 -- You are in the right place!  It's ok to be feeling overwhelmed! We are here to help you get your bearings and Navigate the next few weeks!!!  My Sailor is a SeaBee Builder (BU). Feel free to PM me if you want more info on this AMAZING Rate!!  He would have known before he left if he had a different job. They don't usually change rates at BC unless something major happens to cause them to need to re-rate.  (Usually a spec-ops where they cannot meet the requirements)  Otherwise that can happen at A school usually for the Nuke rates.
For you and nursekim Your timeline should look something like this:
Tuesday June 28-- Ship out Day 0
Processing day 1--3 June 29 - July 1
P- Hold Weekend July 2 & 3, Holiday P-Hold July 4
P-Days 4 & 5-- July 5&6
Assuming no Quarantine then Training Week 1 Day 1 would be July 7.  Your weeks would then count forward on that same day of the week.
You are looking at PIR on Sept 9 or Sept 16 if for any reason P-days take longer (there are a bunch of reasons why this may happen that are not a reason to be concerned.)  The only way to know 100% is to wait to hear from your SR but this will give you a rough idea of when to expect that your SR should have PIR.

Broadwaydancer5 -- Mail can be delayed for several reasons, and yes sometimes it does get lost or "Rerouted".  That's part of why we suggest a copy at home and numbering the envelopes.  99.9% of the time it shows up though.  It is usually just a matter of letters crossing in the mail. Try and send "Snail Mail" letters more often and if you use Sandboxx do that only once a week!

Shanny -- You did a wonderful job!  You'll get the hang and even if you don't just continue to be encouraging and that will be enough!

Q’s Momma -- That's going to be a tight timeline but you may get extra time with your sailor depending on where is A school is!

AWWWWW I remember how worried we were for our "Lost Puppy". We also had our "NM Posse" ready to go to GL and take on the Navy single handed to get info on what was happening with all the new SR's!!

Good Morning Everyone!! Happy Independence Day!! 

As I have shared, my son went to BC at the end of June, 5 years ago. Fourth of July was always a special holiday for him. We are not allowed to have fireworks in our area, so the various towns, churches, ball fields, symphonic orchestra, all put on large displays. They occur over several nights as well. With several young ones, we usually would find a location to watch the fireworks from a distance - sometimes, due to our landscape we could see displays from several of the surrounding cities also at the same time. 

My son grew up loving the displays and listening to all the patriotic songs as well. His favorite though was Lee Greenwood's - God Bless America - There are several YouTube versions of this but here is a recent one that was done. God Bless the U.S.A featuring Lee Greenwood, Home Free and The Sing...

Feel free to share a favorite song, or holiday memory of your SR and this special day. My SR had nothing special for 4th of July, it was treated like a "holiday" or Sunday but no fireworks for him. His duty has called him to stand watch most every 4th of July since then. It is one of the sacrifices that they make for our freedom. 

Hi All, Happy Foutrh of Julv!

Well got a call from Bud about an hour ago, he said Mom Im officially out of the Navy today! Never heard him so Happy in a long time! All his paperwork was submitted again and was completed. It Happened really quick! So My Son in Law will be flying to washington with my Grandson and will be driving Bud home with his things. Not sure when this is happening but im guessing soon! Just thought I would let you all know.

For those dont know it is officially 5 yrs my son has been in, didnt re-.enlist said he had enough. So he will be home soon.

Congratulations to all of you new Moms out there, keep your head up and be positive, its a long ride ahead!!