Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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.

Catching up on posts! 

Welcome Kristin!

Congrats JNMnavymomOH  MadreBee and your Sailors! 

Tootie, congrats on your SR being in a 900 division! My son got there June 28th and didn't PIR until Sept 16, so he was definitely there a little longer. YMMV though. I was able to see my son in the 2 PIRs before his on youtube..it was awesome

JNMnavymomOH

CBMom enjoy PIR! I can't wait to hear how it was!

Tammy! I'm so glad you had an amazing time! 

Loving the pics! 

JNMnavymomOH I forgot to say I hope your SR Passed! 

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

PIR SEPTEMBER 2022

Good Morning Everyone!! I have had some busy days so just wanted to say Hi!! 

For our newer members, the more you chat, the more we reply so don't hesitate to post. 

Welcome to all our new members! 

Be sure to scroll back a few pages and you'll find lots of valuable info posted. Also read through the top "Answers to Common Questions". 

And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have!

So glad tomorrow is FRIDAY! And... I finally own a red shirt! Bought one from the NEX last weekend! Glad I work from home so I can wear it!  Happy Friday Eve all! 

CBMom - have so much fun tonight! My son's GF's parents and sister are there tonight. They are SOOOO excited to see their girl tomorrow. And, God willing, my son will see his girl for a few hours before he has to return to A school and she heads to the airport for her A school.   Enjoy that big mama hug with your sailor tomorrow! 

Tammyrunbikelovefaith- Thanks!! Driving home from Sarges now back to the HR hotel. Such a great night! Won 2 baskets but not Sarges though his basket was sooo cool- I mostly wanted the coin so I’ll have to see if they have them available  at PIR tomorrow. Time for bed! ..if I sleep!!

Congrats to all who PIR tomorrow!!  

My son was set back again. His retest was Monday but he only just called me tonight to tell me.  I know there is nothing that can be done, but this back n forth rollercoaster, waiting until the last minute is stressful.  

CBMom - Have a wonderful time tomorrow!! They should have some coins available for sale. 

JNMnavymomOH - Oh man, I am sorry!! That unknowing of what is going to happen is one of the hardest things with the Navy and just life in general, I think.

Welcome joe-mom to this group!! We are glad you have joined us. 

JNMNAVYMOMOH- My heart aches for you reading this. He will get there! Sending prayers and good vibes the next pass will be the one to clear him. 

CBMom, so excited for you, enjoy every second and give a big hug to your Sailor from all of us!

CBMom - Congratulations!  Today is going to be so amazing!  Enjoy every minute of your time with your new Sailor!

JNMNAVYMOMOH - Hang in there...I know this must be so hard but praying that it all works out for him in the end. Sending lots of positive thoughts and virtual hugs your way.

I received the Thanksgiving letter in the mail yesterday - I was so excited just to see the envelope that my son had addressed lol!  

Thanks Tootie! Feel like you are all here with me! I remember how excited I was to see his writing on the form letter even though there was no dialogue just the address. BelovedbyHim and Chipmunk and Tammyrunbikefaithlove- I am front row waiting!

Thank you also Northwoodsmom!

CBMom - FRONT ROW! So awesome. Going to be incredible! I didn't get a coin in my basket from sarge :(  I did find an empty chinese food take out container (clean - the kind you might put a small amount of rice in). I wonder if it was supposed to be in there? Oh well - my son bought himself a bunch of coins. You will have opportunity this morning (as I'm sure you know by now) as well as at the NEX to get coins. Definitely give him a big hug from all of us! I felt you all with me in my joy last week too - truly Navy Family! It's such a blessing! 

JNMNavyMom - I'm soooo sorry. That hurts my heart to hear. Have faith though - he will get there. They will work with him and he will beat that run! Praying for him and praying for your mama heart! 

Welcome Joe-Mom! This is an incredible group - it is a huge part of what got me through the weeks of BC. 

I'll be watching PIR online today - my son's girlfriend graduates today. And then he gets to see her once he gets liberty until she flies out to Pennsacola. Grateful they get some time together since it will likely be a few more months before they see each other again. I can't wait till she gets her phone back so I can congratulate her.  

CBMom - Take it all in!!!  

Tootie - That is great! My son graduated in the summer, so I am not as familiar with the way Thanksgiving works for some at RTC, but I believe B'sNukeMom posted something recently for anyone else that wants to scroll back and find out what you are referring to. Seeing their handwriting does something to your Momma heart, I agree. 

Tammybikerunfaithlove - I hope you are able to spot your son's GF. 

Here is the livestream link for anyone that would like to watch - I always recommend that you at least watch a live stream or one of the recent video replays (then you can FFwd) so that you have an idea of what to except for PIR. 

RTC Public Affairs - YouTube

JNMNavyMom - I'm sorry to hear about your son's setback. It's so hard not knowing what's going on with them. I kinda know what you're going through - my son almost didn't pass initial MEPs physical because of a misdiagnosed heart condition. Made it through eventually, but then RTC never received the correct documentation from MEPs, so he was ASMO'd during P-Days and got pushed back a week. We weren't sure what was going on for about 3 weeks! Hang in there - he'll make it. Prayers for him and you!

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

 PIR DECEMBER 2022

PIR NOVEMBER 2022

PIR OCTOBER 2022

Today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR SEP 30

CBMom - Hope you are having the best day! Congratulations!

JNMnavymomOH - praying for your son!

 tammybikerunfaithlove - Hope you can see your son's GF!

Welcome all new peeps!

I'm more of a lurker than a poster, but I try to chime in now and then.

USPS informed delivery tells me I am getting my first letter from my girl today.  Can't wait to get home and read it.

Rosanne - So exciting!!! I am glad you are getting a letter. 

We have a lot of lurkers on this site, but we are always glad to hear from them. At least I do. I feel like I am talking to an empty wall at times when no one posts. But we also all have busy lives as well. 

Roseanne - that's exciting! I can't wait to get a letter!

Patience is a virtue!

Lurking is totally fine!  Just don't ever be afraid to jump in with any questions you may have....someone will be able to help!

LMCinTN - If you drop your son from your insurance does that affect your premium? I don't know if this is an issue or not. 

If that is not an issue, you might have to just wait until open enrollment and not add him back on your family plan. I know this is not what others would post and say, but at the time when my son was just out of BC, my husband would not remove him from our policy, despite what I told him. When I called our insurance company directly, they told me that they would defer everything to Tri-Care. In due time, my husband finally just did not add him on as a family member on our family coverage - and we had changed insurance as well. 

You might try calling the insurance company directly. (HR in my experience has not always been helpful to the employee.) Or seeing if you can go higher up the chain of command. They are looking for a proof of life circumstance change to cover their liability. Before the laws changed, I don't think this was so hard. 

Another option, do you have an ombudsman for your son's A school, that you can reach out to and ask if they can help in anyway?

Rosanne - woohooo - STAMPS IN THE HOUSE! It's such a great feeling! 

B'sNukeMom - love that Charlie Brown meme - sooo can relate - esp. in the early weeks of BC! 

LMCinTN - I just reached out to my insurance to do this same this week (still waiting to hear for confirmation). I explained on the phone and via email that they don't have official insurance cards - that they just show their military ID when they need medical care. Then I sent a picture of my son's ID. I'm hoping that's sufficient. I'll keep you posted. 

I got to see my sailor's GF in the PIR video - she is upfront as a flag so it made it easy. Then her mom sent me actual pictures! She looks so good and her smile is so contagious!  Funny... I held it together at my son's PIR - but watching hers, alone in my office - I got all the feels that I held back last Friday - just overwhelming pride for both of them. This isn't an easy journey - but it's moments like this that make it all so very worth it! 

CBMom hope you enjoyed the best hug ever! 

LMCinTN - If you can't get HR to drop him, at least call your insurance company and let them know he has TriCare and they are not primary. BelovedbyHim, might have more insight, as she is more familiar with TriCare. 

Tammy - Definitely a Proud Momma / Momma in Love moment!

LMCinTN - you might try getting a copy of his orders for proof of life event. I work in licensing and personal lines ins. and they usually need something official in writing showing the person is enlisted. I don't do group health insurance, so that may be different. I would 2nd whoever suggested talking to the actual ins. company in case they have a work around. Unfortunately, even the littlest things are now difficult to accomplish in the world of insurance. :(

AgnesB - Thanks for sharing! I agree - Insurance is becoming more and more difficult to deal with. 

LMCinTN - You are now the designated most knowledgeable person on this!! I will do my best to keep track of this information, but I am glad you figured out at least a plan of attack!!

LMCinTN -- They are just being stubborn. Keep pushing back.  If you can have him scan his orders (His name and the Navy Logo and a date should be fine.  You don't need to give them more than that) You can submit that if they need "Proof" but the truth is they DO NOT need proof.  You have told them he has other coverage and that is all that is legally required.  It may or may not reduce your insurance rate.  That may be part of why they are arguing.  Just keep asking for the next person up on the chain till they agree.  Tricare WILL push to have them made primary despite what you or the insurance company say.  That's their Job... to reduce costs.
https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/ADSMandFamilies

LMCinTN -- Sorry... Just now getting through all the emails from the last 2 days... Yep, it's not that you can just "Say" that you want Tri-Care to be Primary.... They are forced to be Secondary by the "rules".  Please do let us know if going on this site works. 
Honestly there is NO reason for these HR companies to be so Difficult!! I'm sure most of it is out of Ignorance but it's annoying every time I hear of a mom (or dad) having this issue!

Tricare has two sets of rules, one for active duty, and one for dependents.  Active duty are not allowed to have any other insurance, and are expected to deal with it not being on other family plans.  Dependents can have other insurance, in which case Tricare must be secondary.  I'm on Tricare for Life, which is just Medicare with Tricare as the part B +.  

If one of your sailors is having an issue, they should call Tricare directly. In my experience, they're very responsive, and are used to helping new sailors making the transition to the Tricare requirements.

LMCinTN, I know that you are hard at work with this insurance thing but just wondering if anyone told you to not remove your recruit until he becomes a Sailor. That does not happen until PIR. I know we all want to get our ducks in a row and do everything just right but   Occasionally things happen beyond what we expect. It is very important to keep them on your insurance until PIR  just in case. Your a awesome Mom working so diligently just wanted to put this out there for anyone who doesn't know this. Prayers for your recruit/Sailor. 

LMCinTN - glad you got that solved! Insurance companies are such a hassle.  I worked with medical billing for 10 years. It's a headache!

Got TWO letters from my girl yesterday! She's doing well. Says it tough, as she expected, but she's digging deep and handling it. She was made section leader.  So excited for her and her journey.

Rosanne - That is wonderful!! If she is a section leader, it will be easier to spot her during PIR. Keep in mind though that things can change at the last minute. It doesn't mean that your SR did anything wrong, but the RDC might decide they need to move people around for various reasons. That happened to my son. 

LMCinTN - I am so glad that you were able to hopefully get this issue resolved.