Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

I am so excited for all of you!  This is such a hard yet rewarding road to travel for all of you and your recruits. I remember the day I saw I had a letter coming and I went to mailbox 3 times to check. Then I got the letter and opened it really fast and it said, “Not sure if you could read my address. Here it is again”.  Little did he know, I had called his recruiter for help because I couldn’t read his address. The post office had stamped over part of it. And the recruiter had me take a picture of it and text it to him. Then he sat around the office and passed it around to all the other recruiters trying to read it. Then he he called me and said “Ma’am, his handwriting has not improved yet but we all agree it’s ship 10 Division 357. Here is the rest of the address we looked it up for you!”  Sometimes, these little memories are the best!  (I also posted it here and had the mommas trying to read it too. And the Mavy Mom Posse was formed…

“Navy Mom Posse” that was supposed to say

Tammyrunbikelovefaith- 40 min?!!! Woohoo! I hope I get that in a few weeks!

1StepForward -- That's AWESOME!!  One of the perks of 900 Div is you can likely see your SR in the weeks leading up to your PIR week!! (Usually the 2 weeks before but can be more)

Shanny -- And then there are those like my kid!  He was stubborn and more introverted than in school and tended to keep to himself till the last few months of his assignment.  Then he'd open up and make a friend or 5 just in time for them to all leave (Or he'd leave).  He'd try and keep in touch for a bit but then life!  He has finally caught the vision at his last 2 assignments.  He made some good friends at his battalion and they have really kept in touch and then at his current assignment he made some friends right away and has really been happier than he was at his first 3 assignments.  (And he really came to love Italy and CA!)
Navy Mom Posse is always ready and is open to find more lost puppies should the need arise!

tammybikerunfaithlove -- That doesn't really go away.  Sorry.  The good news is MOST of the time you can pick up a phone or send an email and you'll get a reply quicker than BC but there are still times... BAM!  That's where having a group here that you have connected with is helpful (Or on one of the FB Pages...) You can vent and they get it.  Those "See Ya Laters" Just always suck no matter how long it's been!!  A 40 min Phone call is AWESOME!! I'm glad you were able to ask all your questions and get him to share.

WooHoo - Phone calls, Letters!! It is good to read the chatter. I will be busy again tomorrow but feel free to post and someone will share. 

I thought I would post the link to this blog over here, since I noticed one of the BC Moms had "liked" it. There should be a link to it in our Letter writing page up in the upper right (be sure to click all - and check out that information.) But here it is - 

BC letters and questionnaires - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links - I have the October group up now too:

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

1StepForward - I laughed when I read, "Not sure where he gets his eyes on the prize attitude. Sure didn't show it at home."  That is EXACTLY what I think about my son.  The kid who said, "Mom, why are you on me about my grades?  As long as I get all D's, I will graduate high school." (face palm) is now calling and saying, "Mom, please pray for my test tomorrow.  I want to keep my GPA up."  I'm thinking, "Who is this kid?"  But I'm REALLY happy about the change!  :-)

MomofJoseph - The passing standard I think is a little higher than a D, I believe. Not to mention, if they don't score higher, they might have remediation, and no one really likes extra study time!!

1StepForward:  you can tear a few pages out and put them in with your letters. But be careful with the ink on the pages. Make sure it doesn’t rub off. Don’t send a whole book at once…. As for a pencil, I don’t know how you could send one in a letter without being noticed. He could just use the pen he has for writing letters. 

1StepForward - I agree with Shanny. Our sailor was in BC for Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays and there was no care packages allowed.  If the ink looks like it might rub off you could try to photocopy. 

Chipmunk - YES, the passing standard is definitely higher than a D!  I'm just amazed that my kid whose goal was D in high school is now striving for an excellent GPA in Nuke school!  (He has matured a lot in the last year!)

It's Battle Stations week for my SR, I am going to be a mess until I heard from him. I also got a letter from him today saying he qualified as expert marksman and got the best score in his division so he is now the Recruit Weapons Petty Officer! So exciting!! 

tgcunny - congratulations to your son!

Tcgcunny- wohoo congratulations! 

MomofJoseph -- Plus the lower they are they may also get IT to adjust their mindset!!

1StepForward -- Start adding one or 5 to every letter.  That way it's easy to store but won't be contraband.  Honestly the fact that he thinks he'll have down time is sweet.  They only have 1 holiday and depending on where in training they are they may spend most of that time studying.  Is that what he did for relaxation before he left?  DO NOT Send NEWSPRINT!!! It will rub off.  He's SOL on the Pencil.  There is no way to send that without him getting caught and it's just not worth it!  You can print them off on plain paper and he can use a pen to work it out.

tgcunny -- Congratulations on the Expert Marksmanship and the PO Promotion (at RTC).  I can't wait to hear that you have a Sailor!! This means you are only 3 weeks out from PIR!! Are you able to go??

Good Morning Ladies. Welcome to any of our new members we are glad that you are here.

1StepForward- Hey, That is awesome that he wants to be so prepared and what great skills to have later on yes.  :) I sent mine two or three photos 4x6 and he wanted more. Lol

MomofJoseph- That's awesome!! It's so great to see them change and mature along the way!!!  :)

tcgunny- Whoo Hoo that is awesome!!! Let us know when you do hear. Prayers for them all to finish strong!!!

CBMom- Hey and how are you doing today? 

Staying busy is key and keep your phone on you at all times and that ringer on loud. You just never know when a call will come thru.

Happy Taco Tuesday!!! 

Good morning, Party and everyone else!!

What are you goals for today? Are you working on any projects? Anyone made a Blue Candle or a decoration for inside your motel room. If so, be sure to post them in the discussion up above Blue Candle, so we can have them to share with future BC Mom / loved one members. 

1StepForward - Your "odd" one is exactly why he was selected for his rate. I can see why he wants the puzzles to help him keep his mind calculating and engaged!!

Well, my washing machine is singing its happy song and I still have clothes left in the dryer!! - It was a busy day yesterday. 

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

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

1stepforward  all I can say is WOW!! That's so impressive! He will clearly go far in his navy career! So cool. 

Chipmunk  - great question! No projects here yet. I have in my amazon cart an anchor that I will purchase eventually.  Silly, I know, but I'm afraid if I buy it too soon, something will go wrong at bootcamp. Clearly I know I'm not that powerful - only God is - but I'm holding off.  

I'm still on cloud 9 since talking with my SR Saturday night. Hope this can hold me for 6 or more weeks - however long before we get the "I'm a sailor" call.   Trying to keep myself focused on my job, on excerise and just managing every day life stuff and not focus on the time between now and PIR. Being connected here and with other military Moms is such a blessing! I was just texting with my friend (Army mom) - she's been such a wonderful support to me. Her son is in Syria. She said she just reached out to see if she could be helpful - but she had no idea that she needed this also - to process some unresolved difficult feelings from when she was in this phase of her kid in bootcamp. Back then she felt so alone and no one got. So it was helpful for her to not only be there for me, but to realize we are all on this crazy rollercoaster ride together. 

Have a blessed week ladies! So grateful for you and for sharing this journey! 

I come back from a long weekend to a letter from my son saying that he and his girlfriend want to get married. They're 19. for the love of all things holy *facepalm*

tgcunny  That is sooo awesome!!! Wow.  Good for him. I hope you get the call soon.  Praying for your son! 

nursekim  ... oh man!  You're not alone ... while my son hasn't been that direct about it, he and his GF (who is a week behind him at RTC right now) have been talking about this - both 18.  I'm like..... ummmm... what's the rush!?!?! Ugh... 

nursekim & tammybikerunfaithlove - I guess I need to get my act together and create the discussion information I have been gleaning from some of the other "seasoned" moms and get it posted. 

Just a quickie - If your kids are both sailors and they get married, especially beforehand, there is no guarantee that they will get stationed together. 

Nursekim - If your son's gf is not going through BC, she needs to have a very clear understanding - harsh reality wake up of what Navy life is like. And more than that, a great support system as well. 

Tammy - I am glad that you have another friend who can be supportive of you, even if her son is a different military branch. I had a couple of those going through BC, and they were my breath of fresh air. 

Just staying busy whether you have a special project or not, is good and healthy. For those of you sending off your only or youngest, this is a good time to develop new habits and expectations as you move into a new season in your life. 

Hi everyone!!! Sorry I have been so quiet on here- I have been reading all the posts just soaking it all in and learning so much as I process the transition for my son. Graduation is coming this month- seem like he’s been gone forever! Tough week here because school is starting at home for his siblings- this will be the first time we are going through ‘first day of school’ without him. Just seems so weird!

Question- does anyone know what ‘pizza night’ is? My son referred to it in his latest letter asking me if I knew what it meant. I think they are worried if it secretly means something bad is coming for them. :(

thanks!!!!

not sure where your recruit is at in BC, meaning week. but after my son finished battlestations, he mentioned pizza. But no guarantee.. they could have it as a reward for doing good, or they got lucky and the galley imploded.. mine said the food was past awful and more than one got food poisoning. they never should have let so many contractors take over jobs in the navy..

LMCinTN - Trey's guess is as good as mine. Sorry!

Be sure to check out the Blue Candle discussion a couple of the ladies have posted their purchases from online in the discussion above. 

Hello, I was looking at some of the site pages and have a question about staying at the Navy Lodge.  The page mentions that all the rooms are non smoking.  Does anyone know if there is an outside smoking area?

LMCinTN - my sailor had pizza the night of BS. Said everybody was happy 'cause the food in the mess was totally lame.

Trey and Ummi - thank you for the pizza info! Nice to know it isn’t something sneaky and awful! :)

Amy - We did not stay at the Navy Lodge, so I do not know for sure, but I suggest you just call them and ask. I know, I called the hotel where we did stay, and they were very gracious answering my questions. 

tammybikerunfaithlove -- For sure, All Military families go through a similar roller coaster.  We may joke about the "Chair Force" or that Marines just keep the beaches of San Diego safe from the fruits and nuts of LA or that all the Army knows how to do is March, Shoot and Digest MRE's... But the honest truth is that they are a Band of Brothers! Both Within their own branch but all Firmly Rooted in the Tree of Liberty!  They all have written that same blank check to this country and should Uncle Sam ask it of them, They will water that Tree with their Life's blood.  (I pray daily that they NOT be asked to make that sacrifice Knowing that some will none the less!)
** See My comments below** and add, if they are both serving they will likely not get stationed together and that can really mess things up for one or both of them!

1stepforward -- That explains so much!! He very well may find boot camp easy by comparison.  Just keep sending them in every letter.  As many as you can fit on a page (Front and back) and he should be good!

nursekim -- AYyyyeeee... KIDS!!! BTW-- I was 19 when I got engaged.  My parents wisely insisted that I live on my own for a year while working, Planning a wedding and going to school.  I did 2 of the 3 really well.  I was just over 3 months shy of my 21st Birthday when we got married!! OH so Young!!!  We Celebrated 34 years this past Spring.  My Advice... Tell them to wait till he's at least an E3. Depending on his Job he may not be given the flexibility to bring his spouse below that rank and they are literally living on less then poverty wages!  My DH was an officer and WE qualified for public assistance!  We would never have taken it because we were able to budget and really watched our spending but those were some tight years for sure!  I was able to find work and we luckily didn't get moved around (all of his service was in San Diego) but if that's not their experience it will be a tough go!  If she is a Go-Getter and is willing to work hard and support him 100000000000000% and they both know that they will have to work hard to protect their marriage and to remain faithful and true to each other then they might have a chance.  However if either of them is unsure.... I'd council waiting a bit longer.  If it really is love it will only grow despite the physical separation.  If not then it was just physical and psychological lust and loneliness and that is not the basis for the strongest of marriages.

LMCinTN -- YES!!! You are finally in your PIR Month!! I'm pretty sure that Pizza is a good thing!! I Know it's not served in the Galley at RTC  so I believe it's the "reward" meal for doing a good job!

Happy Wednesday all!

Ah, mil to mil marriage.  It's beyond tough, although the dual BAH is soooo tempting.  

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

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

Thanks everyone! Still waiting for the call. Several divisions called yesterday but they have lots of divisions going through.

Belovedbyhim- we sure do get to go to PIR and I CAN'T WAIT!! Since his A school is in Great Lakes we get to have him all weekend. I am so looking forward to that. 

We are in a similar situation also regarding his girlfriend. They have not mentioned marriage but he did say that she plans to move to where he is at so they can be close. They are 18 and I think they are precious together but I don't think they are ready for those big decisions. Then again, I had my fist kiddo at 18 and did just fine and am currently working on my masters degree. It's just scary because the struggle was very real and I hate for them to go through that instead of waiting a bit before they make the leap. 

Tgcunny- So happy for you hoping you get the call soon. Ugh we are week 3 starting today. I can’t wait to be fine with the Great Silence. Past few days have really hit me hard. 

It’s hard to know what to say to these young ins about love and romance. But I like the idea one of you said about waiting to 21-if it’s love it’s love and will get them through. And then 34 years of marriage later they’ll still be happy like BelovedbyHim:) My son asks too and I agree with NurseKim and 1StepForward - it’s hard to not chime in but support them in deciding. Plus if I do make a suggestion, he seems to do the opposite lol.