Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

tgcunny-- YES!!! Oh Dear heart... Enjoy and soak up every second!! I'm Excitedly waiting with you!! Since it's now Thursday I am sure your call is coming soon!!! {{{{Hugs while you wait!}}}}
Share with them about those struggles!! Added to being young and just getting started, He will be gone, depending on his job, maybe gone a LOT.

CBMom  -- We didn't get to 34 years without a LOT of hard work, tears, fights, love and forgiveness!  There is NO promise that there is any one thing that guarantees a long and happy marriage! If they DO decide to get married, ANY OF your kids..., They will need YOUR support.  Be there for them. Support them, DON'T Take sides!! It's easy to believe that your child can do no wrong but really.... You know them!  Don't get involved in their spats beyond encouraging them to work it out together or with a counselor. Remind them to forgive each other for the little things and to avoid temptation AT ALL TIMES!!! When they are apart, hanging with Opposite sex friends is a VERY bad idea!!

Another consideration for you all to share with your young single sailor if they do get married young and it doesn't work she may get part of his pay and if there are children involved, they will get most of his pay.  I always pray for the best but since my DH was an officer he had to council his enlisted (Some were as old as he was) when they were dealing with these issues! It was heartbreaking to hear of the hardships that the sailors faced when the inevitable break up letters and divorce letters started to arrive on every deployment. (I use he and she but it happens in the reverse if the Sailor is female and the spouse is male. (Child support is Expensive!)

Chipmunk--- You are welcome to copy and save any and all of this to add to your blog/post/message.
I hope Anti-M can chime in on this topic a bit more too!

1stepforward  - I was taking a sip of my coffee when I read your comment (for anchors, not marital advice) and almost spit it all over my desk! LOL  Thanks for the chuckle to start my morning. 

Chipmunk - thanks for the offer to put something more specific together. Of course I'd love that - but only if and when you have the time. You are so kind! 

Speaking of relationships - my son's GF sent me a letter - it's arriving today according to informed delivery. Rather excited to hear how she's doing. Wish my son would write more but....  I'll just be patient for now. 

belovedbyHim you are so right about the kind of work it takes to get to 34 years. My hubs and I just hit 23 years and still going strong - but not without a few bumps in the road, especially once we had kids. Even now - as I struggle with letting go of our first born and trusting God's plan for him, and struggle through the roller coaster of physical and emotional changes as I make my way through peri-menopause - I sometimes joke with my husband that it will be a miracle if he stays with me (sometimes I can get so angry for no reason at all or at the littlest thing!).  But our success is built on love, mutual respect and good communication. We married later though - and for both of us, that helped a lot. If we had met when we were in our early 20s, we would've never gotten married - we were soooo different then - which is what we try to explain to our kids. Not that it can't work at that age - clearly it can - just depends on the two people and how they approach it and how much work they put into it. 

Happy Thursday ladies....we are sooo close to the weekend! 

Good morning! My son left for bootcamp Tuesday. Trying to get a rough idea of when he would graduate but not sure if that is even possible to do until he makes it through the P part of bootcamp and then gets assigned a ship. Also, his recruiter tried to tell me Sandboxx was free but everything I've seen shows this is NOT true.

Laura  Welcome!! I'm also another recruit mom (My SR arrived on 7/11 and has a PIR date of 9/23)  And you're right - there's no free version of Sandboxx. Also keep in mind, you might get an address for your SR from there and while it's often accurate, it's not always accurate. So hold off sending your SR any letters until you get the official form letter from him (2 to 3 weeks after his arrival). This group is great for information and lots of support/encouragement!  

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

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

Hi Laura - the Sandboxx app is definitely not free.  Be sure to read the info I have posted regarding Sandboxx.  Here's the link:

Sandboxx app while in BC

Remember - Sandboxx should only be used while in boot camp.  It is NOT recommended for use after.

And Laura - you're most likely looking at an October PIR.  Be sure to join that group - the link is posted a couple posts below.

tammybikerunfaithlove -- Just a reminder that the NAVY highly frowns on communications between Sailors of the opposite gender unless it's directly related to training.  Relationships can and have gotten SR's into a whole heap of Hot water.  I do believe they are also not permitted to send mail directly to each other. 

Hi Laura -- Deep breath!! It will be ok.  No Sandboxx is NOT Free and if you do choose to use it be sure to use all of it in BC because you DO NOT want to EVER FOR ANY REASON Use it after Bootcamp!
I left you a link on your page to my blog (Or click on my photo and select my blog posts from there)  I Give you a break down of what the weeks should look like.  To figure PIR Count 10 Fridays, Unless you SR leaves on Thursday or Friday -Then it likely will be 11 but may be 10 if they are in a Push Div.  So you are Looking at ~Oct 7.  You won't know that for sure till you get the form letter but that should give you a good guesstimate.
The Day he Left is P-0 or Travel Day.(Tuesday). Wed would have been P-1. Today will be P-2.  Tomorrow P3.  Sat and Sun will be P-hold. Next Tuesday will be P-5. That's the Biggie day!! They have to pass the run this day to move onto training.  If all goes well then Week 1 Training Day 1 (W1TD1) Should be next WED.  This is the day they mail the form letters.  Those can take another 5-10 days to arrive. (the 3 weeks of the "Great Silence")

Regarding the Recruiters.  We tell you not to call them for several reasons.  1-  They are really not supposed to give out that information due to OPSEC. The Navy considers the SR's Adults and will not disclose info without the SR's permission and even then.... 2- They don't always KNOW.  Sandboxx IS Free to the Sailors.  They don't know that you paid for the postage to get the letter back so they think it's free!! They also may not know what DIV your SR is in.  Stuff happens in those first few weeks that can cause a change in DIV for many reasons.  3- Their job is done!  They are there to sell the Navy to young people.  While I don't fault them they are Salesmen (And women) first and foremost.  for many of them, once your Child leaves MEPS to go to RTC, The are done and moving on to the next future Recruit. There are AMAZING Recruiters who will keep in touch and check in on the family but they are few and far between.  Just know that it's not personal but it's the Nature of the Job.  They are evaluated on how many kids they recruit that actually make it to BC!  When your future is dependent on How and what someone else does, you will work hard to make sure that you keep them motivated to finish but once they have you will move on to the next one (Or 10!) to keep them going.  They don't always have the time to respond to you.

Ask ALL Your questions.  Give voice to your fears.  Shout your triumphs!  We understand better than almost anyone what you are feeling!  We've been there. Done that... Got the Grey hairs and wrinkles to prove it!! And we are delighted to offer Aid and comfort to those who are just starting on this journey.

Welcome Laura! You will love the support you get on this site. We are all in this together;) My SR’s PIR is 9/30.

This Mom is bursting with pride and relief! I got a call from my Sailor yesterday and we talked for about 40 minutes. He sounded so good. He's kicked a$$ on all his tests and is on track for PIR next week. I can't wait to see him and give him a giant HUG. The past 9 weeks have been a rough ride (for both of us), but we've made it. I thank God for my resilient, driven, compassionate, and kind son. He is a light in my life and an example of unflagging determination and faith. 

Thank you for your clear headed advice and counsel! I read through these comments when I felt lost, anxious, and at my wit's end, and I found solace, hope, and some laughs. I appreciate your generosity!

All the best to your sons and daughters, and to you, Navy Moms. 

1StepForward -- Oh Dear... What did I say? 

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ATTENTION ON DECK!! WE HAVE A SAILOR!!!
JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING Athenasbow's SR ON A JOB WELL DONE!!!! BRAVO ZULU!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Athenasbow!!! Hoping we are having similar joys in a few weeks;) Enjoy the moments next week!!!!

Good Evening!!/ Morning by the time some of you read this. I won't be on a lot, but I will try to read and keep up.

Laura - I am so glad you found your way to our conversation. Your address will come in the form letter, which should arrive in 2-3 weeks. Occasionally, you will receive a call from your SR before you receive your form letter. If so, be sure to ask him what his Ship # & Div # is. If you get that information, we can help you with the address and we can also give you the link to the security form which is also available on the RTC Bootcamp website

Athenasbow!!! - Congratulations to your son!!! Thank you so much for sharing and letting us know that you have been following along. 

Just a reminder - for those of you that Have a new sailor that has passed Battle Stations or you have been to PIR - be sure to come join us in the Beyond BC  group. It is a group to allow you to stay connected to others with sailors all over, they are the ones that come and help answer your questions, and will continue to support each other through our Navy journey. 

1StepForward -- Ahhhh... Got it! I was worried I'd upset you for something I said.  Yes. I remember well how lost I was and how kind the ladies here were to me!  I was gone from here for a few years after my sailor completed BC but came back when I saw a mom post and you could just hear the tears in her post.  She sounded as lost as I had been and yet also proud and just... All of it.  I felt compelled to answer and I have just stuck around since because they just kept coming and then.... Covid and ... Well I couldn't leave those poor moms!!!  So here I am.  Trying to encourage you to put on your big girl panties and KNOW that it will be ok No matter what but yet knowing that you are hurting and missing your baby and trying to adjust to a new life that even if you knew it was coming, still left you feeling unprepared!!  If I can offer a kind word instead of a harsh reminder... I'll always choose the kind word.  I do try and share some realities as well but I don't want to scare you all either! So some of my posts may use more words just to clarify the tone and meaning so it's a little easier to deal with.

belovedbyHim - are you referring to contact during bootcamp? Or even after bootcamp? They know not to even try to connect during BC. They wrote each other letters prior to heading to GL so that when they missed each other, they'd have letters to read. 

Athenasbow - WOOOHOO! Congrats to your sailor! That's exciting news! 

Happy Friday Ladies!  I have a letter coming from my SR today - so excited!!! 

Happy Friday! I have two letters coming today AND I believe he did BS last night! Hopefully I’ll get that call this afternoon! 

BelovedbyHim - We’ll we are so thankful you came back!!! I honestly talk about this group every day and how supported I feel. It’s like we are all on a ship together taking a journey:) Ok maybe multiple ships but going to the same place - since some are ahead and some are behind. Journeys are always easier with other people. 

tgcunny - I can’t wait to hear about your SR and BS!!!! Sailor coming! 

Tammybikerunlovefaith- Those are some remarkable kids - writing letters to each other beforehand. I hope they can figure it out - sounds like they really care for each other.

1StepForward - I felt same reading Belovedbyhim’s remarks to Laura. Good to be reminded of what we’ve been through so far. I realize I’ve also been holding my breath during this Great Silence time. It’s terrible- I just want to hear his voice so badly. 

Laura - You are one of us now. You might be on your own ship but we are all nearby and traveling together. Best to talk to everyone when you are feeling lonely or need some support. We are all here;)

Good Morning Everyone!!

Those of us that have been around for awhile, enjoy reading your posts and encouraging you all as well. I am also thankful for BelovedbyHim - her story reaches out to a lot more of you than mine does, so I am always happy when she shares. 

tgcunny - waiting in anticipation with you as well. 

Chipmunk- you are a lifesaver ring are you kidding me! You were the first one to reach out to me. I’m so thankful!! Sorry I did not include you on my last post. 

Happy Friday - I've got my RED on!

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

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

CBMom - No offense taken. I was referring to my story because I am one of those few, that did not shed tears, I think I got a little teary eyed when talking to my sister, but that was partially because I had lost my mother earlier in the year and could no longer call her. My story is just not as dramatic as others. I did look at it like him going to college (almost) because I knew that he had almost 2 years of schooling before going out to sea. Now that I am five years into this journey, have a sailor DIL now, and my youngest who still yearns for his brother to be back home, knowing my sailor, laments a little not being able to return home - his wife reenlisted and hopes to continue - I no longer look at it the same way as when he went to BC. 

But I do my best to help reach out to the new moms and connect with all of you. I love the ship analogy and that is sort of how we all work with this group, with the Beyond BC group that I started over a year ago and just in general on this site. We all have our journey, but we are all connected to the larger whole. 

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

LIVE PIR 8/5/2022

tammybikerunfaithlove -- Only at BC.  They can send word through you but they cannot write directly to one another (At Boot Camp)

tgcunny  -- 2 Letters!!!! WOW!!!! I am still hoping that you hear soon about your sailor.  (Just know that No News is STILL Good News.  Sometimes they are so tired they choose not to wait for the phone to be available!)

CBMom -- Yep.  I liken it to we are all in our own boat but on the same sea.  I have already charted a course through boot camp and so I can help others navigate those waters too.  Chipmunk took a different path (not harder or easier or better or worse, just different) and so she can help those who are similar to her.  Other's in our group found their routes and with all of us sharing what we experienced it will help at least one other mom to also Navigate these Navy waters.  When your sailor goes to A school... There will hopefully be moms there who can point out the "reefs and shoals" and let you know where to find calm waters or safe harbors.  And again when your sailor is in the fleet... You will be encountering so much that is known and unknown that just having someone that you can shout a "Mayday" too that will understand and know how to help is useful. 
I find that this page (compared to the FB groups I'm in) there are no egos. We are just wanting to encourage and support each of you as you need it.  We want you to get to BS21 and PIR and Say "I'm ready for the next adventure".  This is the Choice you Child made.  You may or may not have had any say in it but here you are.  For at least the Next 5+ years You are A Navy mom.  Even when your sailor leaves You will still have been shaped by this experience and I for one Hope it shapes you all for the better!

Athenasbow - BNMH to you and a BIG salute to your new SAILOR! HE DID IT! YOU did it! Overcame your fears, overcame functioning in the dark, overcame sporadic communication, and now you know the meaning of Semper Gumby! Keep that motto as your Sailor moves on to A school. It gets easier from here (he's got his phone back!) what with more regular communication, and once he gets his orders you'll again know where your child is. I'm happy for you both!

I HAVE A SAILOR!!!!! My son said his division scored second highest out of the 12 divisions. So proud of him and his division! 

tgcunny - WooHoo!!  Bravo Zulu to your new sailor!!

BZ to all the new Sailor's!

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

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

PIR AUGUST 2022

1STEPFORWARD:  care packages for bootcamp?  Don't send anything to bootcamp unless your SR specifically asks for it. And even then, only send what they asked for. If they are asking,  they have received permission from their RDC to ask for that item. We had someone earlier say their SR asked for their running shoes due to an injury. She had received permission and instruction to have them sent. All packages must be opened in front of the RDC. And there will be punishment if they receive things they weren't given permission to ask for. 

As for in fleet, I have sent whatever I wanted or thought he needed. The USPS does have a list of things that cannot be sent to FPO addresses. 

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Attention On Deck!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO tgcunny  AND her SAILOR!!!!
BZ!!!

1StepForward -- Shanny is Spot on!!! Do not send anything other than letters with your love (and Pics, puzzles, jokes, riddles... band-aids, moleskin) Unless your sailor asks for something Specific and then only send that item!

BelovedbyHim - Great advice! It’s so good to know that I will still have this group to rely on after BC. I can’t think that far yet- too far on the horizon-can’t see an island yet but it’s good to know it’s there and that there are others sailing beside me:) I agree with you about the fb groups- there is an entirely different tone here. 
Tcgunny- CONGRATULATIONS!!! How did he sound when he spoke to you? Was it super hard? So glad to hear they worked together and came in 2nd. Proud Momma on board here!!! 

JNMnavymomOH - Oh poor guy. Prayers for sure. I know my sons recruiter said the run was super easy but I’m a runner, a slow one , lol, but a runner and it’s hard to do that run if you are not a natural runner. Taking off a few minutes is harder than many people think. My son was most worried about that run and we even did an 8k together just before he went to BC. They will get him there. I saw in the videos looks like they will run with him to support him and help him keep pace? I’m sure he is getting faster though. They will likely be having him do some sprinting to increase his stamina. Running is mostly mental so he needs to tell himself he can do it and play mind tricks like counting/singing to himself. Ugh so hard to be away from him when he is crying and in pain. I bet he finds the resolve and gets through it will your support and the support of his crew and RDCs. Hang in there and please keep us posted. This is likely just a temporary setback, which will make him even stronger when he’s successful:) It sounds like to told him just the right things too!

Good Morning Everyone!!

CBMom - one of the reasons that I created the Beyond BC group was that during the PIR shut down, we had several members in this group who had been around for quite a time through all of the ups and downs, and I did not want them to lose that contact going from this group and scattering to many different groups. We also wanted a place where we could discuss life after BC is a member needed to share that, ask questions, or just post what their own daily life. 

I am not on FB, but the little my husband has shared and even things that I have heard here, I wanted to make sure that my focus when posting is always as encouraging as possible, helping you all to remember not to compare your or your SRs situation with another, because while there are similarities nothing is going to be exactly the same way as another member's experience. That is why I I liked the "ships in the night" analogy. 

JNMnavymomOH - Those phone calls are hard but doing the best you can to encourage is all you can do. Our SRs and sailors need to know that they can be honest and transparent with us about the things that scare them, the fears they have, the frustrations they are dealing with and that they will not be judged, you are still proud of them and just encouraging them in any way that you can.

When they are in school, in the fleet, at a duty station, sometimes they need to be encouraged to stick up for themselves and go to their chief with issues, or even go visit a chaplain (whether they are religious or not). Finding that new balance in our Navy Mom role, between encouragement but not being overly expectant in performance is also a hard happy medium to find at times. It is just a matter of practice and doing the best that we can at that moment. 

My son did not have issues with the running, but there were other things during his schooling that we had to really listen first and then encourage with constructive resolution ideas. 

Thank you all for your posts about marriage in the Navy. Luckily his GF (civilian) is not ready and she said she wrote him to tell him that. My son was born to 2 people who just love to love, so I wasn't surprised but I hope I can convince him to wait a bit. 

He is RCPO for his division and his thumb hurts from the cutlass lol

Welcome, Laura! The women here are so amazing. I don't post a whole lot but I read every post.

Congrats Athenasbow and tgcunny!!

JNMnavymomOH...I hope your SR can get his run in time. 

I've been writing some good dad jokes in each letter now. I steal them from guys I see on FB. I hope it's a little something to make him laugh and share with others

nursekim - That says a lot about your son's gf if she is willing to say she thinks they should wait. While distance can make the heart grow fonder, it can also change many things about couples as they experience different things and become involved in different people.  

It is always good to hear from everyone, even if you just post a hello and say you are reading and gleaning!

Reminder:  Once your loved one has completed BC and PIR, be sure to change their status on your profile page to Enlisted!!! It is a great way to honor their achievement, but it is also very helpful to those of us that follow the new members. 

We just get a notice that "so and so" has joined BC Mom group. For those that have common names, when I am searching through the member list, if I see someone's loved one is enlisted, I know that I need to keep searching for the correct new member. Updating your profile page, helps myself and others out when we refer to it for various reasons. 

Well said Chipmunk!

1Step Forward - If you are posting in your PIR group, it will not show on this group page. Each group on this site has their own page (s) with a comment wall where items post. And if you are using your mobile device there are times when I know others have had issues with their comments not posting, so it is best to just log in (or you don't even have to on this group, since it is public) and see if your comment posted. 

CBMom - Did you post and then delete? It is fine if you chose to do so, I just wanted to reach out to you. The message still came through in my email feed, but I have been in a car driving for over 10 hours - somehow, our stops always take longer than we think they are going to and I really need to go to bed. Since it is now past 1 AM, my time. 

Another reason for creating the Beyond BC group was so that issues going on in the fleet could be shared there and not post them here on this group page, where so many of you all are dealing with emotions that are already very raw. 

I will try to write more in the morning when I am not about to fall asleep but I wanted you to know that I saw your post. 

Stay confident in your son, and stay hopeful for a positive outcome!