Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Happy Monday All!  One week closer to PIR!

I have the December PIR group posted.  Here's the link:

PIR DECEMBER 2022

12/02/22 PIR - 4 guests

Reminder from Sarge regarding Meet N Greet dates in November due to holidays:

PIR NOVEMBER 10, 2022 IS ON A THURSDAY

MEET AND GREET WEDNESDAY 11-9-22

PIR NOVEMBER 23, 2022 IS ON A WEDNESDAY

MEET AND GREET TUESDAY 11-22-22

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

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

Hi everyone!  My son is leaving for RTC in two weeks.  I was wondering, when parents of SRs are divorced, do they send form letters with division information to both addresses?  Or only one?  Can he list my address to receive the form letters that list his division and address information and any updates?  Or will I have to rely on his dad (who he currently resides with) to relay that information to me?  I already talked to both my son and my ex-husband about Sandbox, but not sure we're all on the same page about using it yet.  Being a mama bear, I've researched so much about RTC and bootcamp, so I can be well informed and not caught by any surprises.  I just don't want to miss out on any communication from my SR or his status.  The ex and I are flipping a coin to see who gets the "I've arrived at bootcamp!" call when he gets there.  

Hi all! @lapdja, we are also divorced and share custody of our children. My son decided that he would use my information for all calls and correspondence including with the Red Cross. My SR’s father relies on me to disseminate the information and he’s fine with that. I’m the one who does all of the “kid stuff” so it made sense for us. My ex also doesn’t use Sandboxx, but I have chosen to use it almost exclusively. My SR has gotten all of the letters even before they had someone to give them out in BC. Hope this helps!

lapdja - it is up to your son as to where he sends the form letter.  Hopefully you can all talk about it before he leaves and get it figured out. But as long as you and your ex are good then hopefully there's no issue with sharing the address with one another!

Also good to discuss whether or not your son wants to be notified of any "bad news" that may happen at home while he is at boot camp.  Some decide they don't want to know so as not to mess with their training.  It's just a good idea to talk about it before hand.

And also, important to discuss with your son who he wants to go to PIR.  He has the ultimate say but you all should discuss.  Many of the PIR's lately have been large divisions so they've only allowed 3 guests.....we do have a few with 4 still but not as many as in the past.

And I just re-read your comment about you and the ex flipping a coin regarding the "I'm here" call - sounds like you have a good sense of humor with each other.  I'm rooting for you to win the coin toss - wink wink.  

Oh yes, me and my ex have a great relationship and share just about everything with each other.  But I'm a scrapbooker and I've already started a scrapbook for him and want to make sure I get a copy of the actual form letters to include in his scrapbook.  I told him that if he gets the I've arrived call then I get the I'm a sailor call!! LOL

As far as PIR goes, hopefully they will allow 4 guests when he graduates so that his dad and his stepmom can attend and me and my husband his stepfather, can attend.  We've already agreed that we'd split the tickets two each....hopefully they won't limit us to only three tickets!!! If my husband isn't able to go (he runs his own business and may not be able to take off) I will be taking my father, my SR's grandfather.  I'm glad they also stream them online as we have a huge family between all of us!!!  And they will all want to be able to watch.  A friend of mine just attended her grandson's PIR this past Friday and said it was amazing and emotional.

It's possible you could be looking at a 12/9/22 PIR (although it could go either way - before or after).  They don't have the 12/9/22 PIR listed yet.  But good news is the 12/2/22 PIR is a smaller one so they are allowing 4 guests.  Fingers crossed the trend continues through December!

My husband and I downloaded an app called CallU or something similar it records all phone calls.. we did that for his Boot time so we could listen later or use it to try and make out because of call quality.. it creates files that can be shared so he could get the call. record it and then share with you..

lapdja -- Just the one letter as far as we know.  With the new addition of Sandboxx they may allow for 2 notifications.  If they choose to use Sandboxx remember there is NO Form letter mailed.  (I'd let your hubby get the "I'm here" call.  The "I'm a Sailor" call is the much more exciting and fun call!!!! Plus you get to talk longer!!!)

Melissa - Thanks for sharing that information. 

For anyone that might need this information from the pages to the right - When Will Recruits Be Paid

Even though the recruits do not receive their paycheck right away, they should still have the NEX card that is issued to them for making their necessary purchases. Sending other NEX cards through Sandboxx is fine but not necessary. If the SRs do save them they can use them at their A schools. 

Thank you Nursekim, you post was very informative, and I loved reading it!

Please join me in welcoming Gail to our group!!

Gail - welcome to the group! 

Lapdja - Another tip... have your son call your cell and leave you a voicemail before he ships off... it's nice to have that to listen to when you are missing his voice while he's at bootcamp. Also make sure he has his phone well charged the day he leaves and has his charging cord with him. It can often be a long day of travel to Great Lakes and until he arrives at the final airport, he can communicate with you throughout the day in any downtime he might have. My son texted me about his travels throughout the day - and then one last call when he landed in Chicago (all before the "I'm here" official call). 

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday!

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

 PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 22

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

Happy Hump Day All!  Another day closer to PIR!!  

I'm finding myself in a strange mix of emotions. It's been awhile since I've felt sad... after the first couple weeks I was able to settle in for the ride... sure I missed my son, but I was okay.  This week I keep finding myself getting so sad because I miss him so much - even though I know I'm going to see him in TWO DAYS!!!  That sadness is mixed in with a lot of joy and excitement because.... well... TWO DAYS!  :)  What a roller coaster. 

tammy - so close!!!!!  And so excited for you!!!!!

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

Be sure to RSVP for Sarge's Meet N Greet.  Here's the link:  

Sarge's Meet N Greet

REMINDER FROM THE US NAVY RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND FACEBOOK PAGE:

Everyone who is planning on attending a graduation ceremony MUST personally obtain a ticket, which will be distributed at the Recruit Family Welcome Center the week of your recruit's graduation. Tickets are free of charge, but you must have valid photo ID to obtain your ticket (driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, or, for minors, a student ID, driver's permit, SSN card, birth certificate,) AND you MUST also have your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.

WELCOME CENTER ADDRESS/GPS: Navy Exchange (NEX) Burkey Mall, 2650 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60088 (Do NOT use generic terms such as NEX, Recruit Training Command or Naval Station Great Lakes).

 *** COVID PROTOCOLS ***
Recruit Training Command continues to operate in a COVID environment in order to protect the safety of both trainees and staff while meeting mission demands. This policy is subject to change as leadership continues to monitor the spread and impact of the Coronavirus. Therefore, the following protocols are in place:

• 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 able to attend, and will NOT be issued tickets to attend. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
• To ensure the health and safety of all, every person attending is required to observe social distancing protocols while inside all RTC facilities and throughout graduation ceremonies inside midway ceremonial drill hall. REMINDER: Policies regarding the graduation ceremony can change at any time due to changes in our health protection status and policy. Please travel with a mask in case the requirement to wear one while attending the graduation ceremony is implemented. For those unable to attend we invite you to watch the ceremony online from home. 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 at rtc.pao@navy.mil.
• Each sailor is allowed a maximum of FOUR GUESTS, (THREE GUESTS when 11 or more divisions are graduating,) on base for the graduation ceremony. No exceptions, and children 2 & under do not count toward the guest limit.

RTC Facebook page posted info regarding the 2022 Thanksgiving Adopt-A-Sailor Program - see below.  

PER RTC FACEBOOK PAGE....(Regarding Thanksgiving Liberty)

Divisions set to graduate 11/23 will have the option to spend Thanksgiving day with their family before being shipped to A school.  They will not transfer until Friday or Saturday of that week.

Tammy - excited for you!  Looking forward to your post-PIR report! :)

tammybikerunfaithlove -- {{{HUGS!!}}}} you cannot control how you feel but you can control what you focus on.  Allow yourself the grace to be sad, For all the reasons real and imagined and then move forward.  The good thing about feelings is that they do eventually change! (If they don't then, Please seek professional help.  No one should have to go through life feeling only sad!)
In 2 days you'll feel a whole other mix of emotions and you may even cycle back through sadness as the let-down of PIR weekend sets in.  That's ok.  Just move through the feelings.
I'm so happy that you have made it this far!!  Enjoy the Navy Journey!

belovedbyHim - thanks for the hugs and the beautiful words! Funny thing about seeking professional help... that's me... I'm the professional help LOL (hard but usually rewarding work).  I'm looking forward to PIR, to Sarge's and to just hanging with my sailor, along with the hubs and my daughter. 

Hey Tammy --- Sometimes the Helpers need some help too!! No shame there.  Sadly depression is so stigmatized that folks don't want to ask for it when it's needed and there is medication if you can't get past the sadness that is more than just feelin blue about missing your sailor.  We can only see the words on the pages and I'd hate to think we missed something that had gone deeper than just the normal Boot camp Blues. 
I addressed my comment to you but it applies to all our BC moms!  If you are still desperately blue after a week or 2 please speak up!  You may just need to vent but it may be that there is something else at play.  We are here to support you all either way

I'm glad my post was helpful and informative. I will try to remember to put it as a blog post. 

CBMom I took a chance of booking the OHare Hilton not knowing where he'd fly out. I got lucky!

Welcome lapdja and Gail

Tammy, enjoy PIR!!! I can't wait to hear how it is! I didn't realize we lived close- I'm in Dracut, MA. I'm a crier and I cried so much more than I thought I would when we left Chicago. I had to leave him once again. Even though I knew we would be able to text/talk, it was hard for a few days after I got home.

My drug of choice is food so I bought a Sprinkles cupcake from a vending machine at the airport, ate a giant cookie and a pint of Ben and Jerry's over the last few days. It actually helped and now I can be "normal" again.\

I second what belovedbyHim said .I hope you start feeling a little better after your sailor gets their phone back. If not, definitely seek help. I waited so unnecessarily long to get the help I needed and it was a lifesaver.

BNMHs!

You ladies are amazing!!! thank you nursekim and belovedbyHim!! I'm a mess today. It's been a rollercoaster of a day. I know the next few days will be filled with lots of joy followed by some sadness after another 'see ya later'. I will re-evaluate my mood after some time has passed. I think I'm okay - but... this whole life change and my first born leaving the nest... maybe I'm not. But I'm open to help and I'm open to whatever that might look like. I simply LOVE that you are so attuned to the possibility. That's what makes being on here so incredibly special and important in this journey. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I will give an update after the dust has settled - I'm sure I'll be beaming with pride and joy on Friday. It truly amazes me what these young adults sign up for and go through just to get to where they are going. We need a world filled with more people like them! As mom's we have so much to be proud of! 

BNMHs to each and everyone one of you. THIS is a journey - not for the faint of heart - and we are blessed to have sailors who are sacrificing so much to serve our country.  Such a blessing, even in the moments of difficulty. 

My son called on 9/20 to say that they passed battle stations. He said it was fun and he would do it again.  He also said that he cried when being capped as they were playing "God Bless the USA"  All he has to do is pass the final run.  He has worked so hard, I am so proud of him.  I am a Navy Mom!!

Thank you ladies for being on this BC ride with me.  I appreciate all the advice.  I hope to be able to help a new mom like you have helped me.

tammybikerunfaithlove, special prayers for safe travels to Chicago, I am sure you got absolutely no sleep. Remember to live in the moment, enjoy all your son's accomplishments and embracing every minute you have together. Don't think about the days after just take one day at a time. Give that Sailor a hug from all of us and thank Him for protecting our Freedoms.

JNMNavyMomOH - Congratulations!!! So happy for you!!! I know it’s been tough for him but you all did it! Way to go!!! I’m glad you got a couple details from him/ my son would not give me 1 detail -“we’re not supposed to talk about it mom “ I said I know you were capped- it’s on the website and you tube but I got “we’re not allowed to talk about it mom” I sure hope he can tell me some details during his military career. 

WHOOP !!
WHOOP !!
WHOOP !!
ATTENTION ON DECK!!!
WE HAVE A SAILOR!!!!
Congratulations to JNMnavymomOH  and her sailor on a job well done !!
BZ!!

JNMnavymomOH  - so happy for you and your sailor...

BZs... and BNMHs...  

JNMnavymomOH - Congrats to you and your sailor!

BZ to all the new sailors!

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

tammybikerunfaithlove

Congratulations JNMNavyMomOH! 

I saw that there was a PIR video posted on YouTube a few days ago. It’s not a duplicate from last week. Any idea what this one was? 

Good Afternoon Everyone!!

JNMNavyMomOH - Congratulations!!! And yes, please stick around and share, encourage, answer questions with our newer members. 

Speaking of new member - please welcome Tootie and if anyone can answer her question in the discussion above, it would be most helpful. Her son just arrived at BC but is not vaccinated yet, and she is not sure if he has to do 2 weeks quarantine or not.  - I am not sure anymore what the protocol has been. 

For all of our recent new "sailor" moms - please come join us in the Beyond BC - I might forget someone but Amy, Nursekim, CBmom, JNMNavyMomOH, Tammybikerunfaithlove, and anyone else who has received the sailor call or been to PIR, please come join us. 

I am in the middle of not only Momma duties, but also G'ma duties so I won't be on much, but I am trying to keep up. 

Gail & Tootie - this area on the Comment Wall is the best place to post your questions, share your concerns, emotional ups and down and just chat, as more of the members see the comments posted here. 

Thank you! Yes, if anyone has the answer as to whether or not unvaccinated recruits have to quarantine before P-days, I would like to know.  Just want to be prepared if my form letter is two weeks delayed!

I believe there are several of you that might have sailors headed to THU (Temporary Holding Unit) before they are moved on to their A schools. This group was started by another mom which might be helpful, if nothing else for you to connect and be able to share your own experiences there. - Hurry up and Wait-THU - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

Tootie - my son was not vaccinated when he went in on 6/30.  he did not quarantine.  Also, if he signs up for Sandboxx, you will probably not be getting the form letter.  

Thanks everyone.  My son letter arrived and now he thinks that he will be separated after the final run. Which is not what he thought when he called on Tuesday.  So not sure what to think, but we will wait for the call.  Why does it feel like it is difficult to get a proper answer from his command?  This back n forth is giving me a headache.