Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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. 

JNMnavymomOH - when did he write the letter?  Maybe he was "thinking" he would be separated when he wrote the letter.  But when you talked with him on Tuesday things had improved and he will pass?  If he is separated he will call you to tell you that.  Hang on to the hope that he's still good to go.

I'm heading to Colorado tomorrow for a wedding on Sunday.  I'll be checking in but might not be as active.  Nice thing is my veteran's (son and his wife) are also flying in from MI so the whole family will be together.  I can't wait!

Tootie - My son was also not vaccinated.  He is about 1/2 way through BC, and he's never mentioned quarrantining or being behind at all, so I don't think that he did.  As far as I know, he's on track to graduate on time!

B'sNukeMoM - so the letter was written a week ago.  In it he writes that he probably wont tell me these things on the phone call. He believes that if he is separated I will be disappointed in him as I believe in him so strongly.  That he has failed me and he can't bring himself to tell me that over the phone.  Man, I was never so fast to shoot off a letter thru sandbox.  I know it won't get to him before Friday, but it made me feel better knowing that I was able to get it sent to them in time for them to send it out tomorrow. 

Safe travels!  I have never been to Colorado, but I hear it is beautiful.

Tootie - my son was not vaccinated, and the recruiter had told us many times that he would have to quarantine but there really was nothing different for him than anyone else once he got there(other than an extra shot or two). 
The recruiter had told us that he would do the “life as a sailor” classes the first two weeks (as part of the quarantine) but I don’t think he knew exactly what he was talking about. We got the Sandboxx info with address 5 days after he got there. We immediately started sending letters and it took a while but he got them all!

Our son just passed battle stations and will be spending the next two weeks, the LAST two weeks!!!! of BC doing the “Life as a sailor” classes. 
Can’t wait to see him in 14 days!!!

Hang in there! He is our first-born and this has been the weirdest, hardest, 2 months of our lives. But the call yesterday was so so good!! 

B'sNukeMoM️MMN --Welcome to Colorado!  This weekend will be sunny and Mild (Mid 70's) (Perfect Jeans and T-shirt weather!) You will want a jacket or fleece in the early mornings or evenings but the rest of the day should be warm and pleasant!  The last 2 days were quite chilly and wet as a cold front moved through and we had scattered showers.

JNMnavymomOH --  1) come visit!! It's simply lovely here! May -- you may get snow still. Aug-Oct are my Favorite months in CO but if snow is your jam... Nov-May will Suit. (April is our snowiest month of the year!) June and July are also wonderful along the front range.  Not super hot during the day or too cold at night.
2)  Oh Hon!!!! I hope he calls or sends a letter ASAP!!! I know the letter to phone call lag can be rough.  I hope he's well and still on this journey but if he's not;  Thank him for being willing to even try!!  He's still one of the few and for that we are proud of him no matter the outcome!!! Most kids won't even TRY!!

Ladies -- It's good to know that several of you are saying that quarantine is now a thing of the past!  We'll add that to the knowledge base and hopefully no other moms will ever have to go through what our "Covid Moms" went through!

WHOOP!!!
WHOOP!!!
WHOOP!!!
ATTENTION ON DECK!!!

WE HAVE A SAILOR!!

Congratulations to MadreBee and her Sailor!!
BZ  You made it!!!

CBMom - Yes he has struggled that is for sure, as have I.  He didn't actually tell me anything other than it was fun and he'd like to do it again.  He said "we had battle stations".  I said "yeah, and?" He said "I suppose you can no longer call me a sailor recruit." And that they would get to sleep for about 10 hours that night.  He was really looking forward to that.

Congrats to another new sailor...  lol  my sailor loved battlestations.. and when we got the call, he never actually said the words 'I'm a sailor".. we had to ask him if he passed and he said yes.. argh.. kids.. we were about to board a delayed flight and had been sweating bullets, he had to find a third phone that we could hear him on..

CONGRATS to all the new sailors and their mama's :) 

JNMnavymomOH & Trey -- They don't know that phone call by that name.  We use those terms to distinguish the various calls home.
"I'm Here" -- The scripted short call home.
"I'm still alive" aka "Proof of Life" call -- The one that comes about 4ish weeks in. 
"Earned calls" -- Any calls made from week 5-7. 
"I'm a Sailor" call -- The call made following BS21. 
(Bonus calls may now also come in the 2 weeks following BS21 but they don't seem to be a regularly scheduled thing... At least I have not noticed a pattern)

My sailor also said BS21 was a ton of fun and He'd love to do it all again (Just not the rest of BC) and he would not tell me anything about it.  Once when he was home we got to talking about his service with family and they were asking questions... He replied that he couldn't talk about it.  I then pulled up the video on YouTube and showed it.  He reply..." Well, Damn... I guess you have your answers, but I have still been ordered not to talk about it."  He did answer a couple of questions about the VIDEO because he was talking about the video NOT about BS21!!  I also pointed  out that we were putting him in an unfair place since he was in fact ordered not to talk about it and we did back off.  My niece was really curious because he was/is her favorite and she wanted to know what happened to him because he had changed so much!

BelovedbyHim- Thank you for that post - made me feel better. I tried to tell him I watched on YouTube also and he continued to say as well he can’t talk about it. I’m glad they are taking it seriously it’s just weird they can’t talk about it when it’s on YouTube but I get it…

JNMnavyMomOH- yes mine was exhausted too and said they still weren’t going to get to sleep for a bit but would get to go to bed earlier. We were hoping to get a call after the PFA yesterday but didn’t so hopefully next week. Hoping no news is good news. 

MadreBee - Thank you for replying to Tootie!! And Congratulations, BZ to your new sailor!

We look forward to hearing the stories when all of you return from PIR!

Amouse - Thank you also for your reply to Tootie.

Trey - I had to ask my son the same thing!!

JNMnavyMomOH - Oh My, I will be praying for your son tonight!!

Thank you thank you!!  I feel so much better knowing he probably is not quarantined and wont' be delayed.  Congratulations to all the new sailors (and to you Moms)!  I'll be praying for all those still in BC along with mine!  This is like something I've never been through so it's nice to hear from others going through the same thing.

JNMnavymomOH - so if I choose to sign up for SandBoxx they will not send a form letter?  Doesn't the form letter have their PIR date on it, Division, TG, etc?

Tootie - The new information that we have is that Sandboxx App will send you the division # & Ship # and with that we can help you find the PIR date and address. I think the form letter is online, I am not sure.

Be sure to also familiarize yourself with the RTC website - Recruit Training Command Home Page (navy.mil)

Chipmunk - thank you!  My son has to opt in for Sandboxx though, correct?  When does that happen - at the end of P days?

Tootie -- Yes it is our understanding that your SR has to opt in to Sandboxx.  We have heard of some moms getting notified the day after their SR arrived. (Melissa -- Didn't you get your Sandboxx email on P2?) IF your SR DOES NOT opt into Sandboxx, then it is our understanding that the form letter is still mailed on W1TD1(Week 1 Training Day 1) and will take 3-10 business days to arrive.

This is a Change from how RTC has done things for years so it is still very new and there are tons of variable.  YOU can still choose to pay for Sandboxx and use that if you want but they will not notify you sooner of the address as far as we know.

The Sandboxx email has the address and DIV. Once we know that we can help you determine the PIR date if that info is not also included in the email.

As always, No News is Still Good News.  This means your SR is progressing as expected and there is nothing to be concerned about form RTC's point of view.