Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

lapdja, here are a few things I made for my basket, I had them in a wooden crate with a anchor attached. I made them all but then Covid hit and everything got canceled so I kept most of them but gave a few away.

@northwoodsmom - wow, those are amazing!  Thanks for the information!  I'm going to get creative this weekend!

New members - be sure to read the discussions in the queue above!!

Good morning everyone. I am trying out new technology with my computer. And I will be copying and pasting this message to probably all the groups so those that are in various groups with me will probably get duplicates of this. Yesterday I had a radial angiogram done so that means my right hand is being a good little hand and not typing or writing and healing well. Everything went well with the angiogram and the doctor was able to determine that the stents that I do have are still clear but there were some other things that he's needing to keep an eye on. he will be starting me on a new medication so that will be a different challenge but the thankful part is that I am not looking at open heart surgery in the next couple weeks. So for that I am very thankful. I need to do some more resting today so I am going to bow out for the day from Navy from moms and hopefully I can catch up this weekend.

That's good news, Chipmunk! My prayers are with you as you continue to deal with this, but I'm happy the result of the angiogram was positive. Get good rest!

Lapdja - Woot Woot!!! Bravo Zulo to your sailor! I loved getting that phone call!! 

Tootie - praying for your SR's healing and his ongoing positive attitude! 

JNMNavymom - how's your sailor likely nuke school so far? Is he settling in and making new friends? 

cheri - I agree with belovedbyHim - he should get it checked out so that his pushing through running doesn't do any serious or permanent damange if he already has a running injury. Praying for his healing! 

bootcamp0924 - what a beautifully written summary of your PIR experience! Sounds amazing!  If she's staying at GL for school - has she told you about 'mass exodus"- the schools there eseentially close down from 12/16 to 1/2 and most sailors get leave - they even allow them to go into the negative. My son is there - I'm counting down the minutes till he gets home in 2 weeks. 

Northwoodsmom - WOW - love what you made! So talented! 

Chipmunk - praise God for the good news! hope the new med is something you can easily adjust to. 

Chipmunk - Glad you're healing well! 

Bootcamp0924 - Great summary!  

Finally going to do mine:

We drove to Great Lakes on Monday and checked into the Navy Lodge. We also had a kitchenette, and I agree the full-size fridge was great to have.  On Tuesday we went to Walmart for some groceries, and then went to the Nex to pick up our tickets.  We went around 1:00 and there was no line for pick-up. 

We went to Sarge's that evening, and it was fantastic.  We prepaid and were seated at a table with two families - one from PA and one from CA.  The food was plentiful, the Veteran's tribute was awesome, and the baskets were fun!  We tried but didn't win anything.  We brought a Southern NJ themed basket with local wines, Tastycakes, saltwater taffy, Wawa coffee and an NJ mug.  

Wednesday morning, we left the hotel at 6:15 and used Sarge's shortcut. We were parked in the parking garage by 6:45. Highly recommend it if you choose to drive! 

Seating was a little different for us, as our daughter won an award.  We were told to the Events Coordinator desk when we arrived, but we missed it because we were shuttled to the left through the random check line.  We went through the museum and to the hall and asked for directions where to go, but the sailors at the door did not know.  We saw a sailor coming towards us, we thought to help us.  Then our jaws dropped because it was our girl!!  BEST HUG EVER!  She said she wished she could have taken a picture of our faces when we realized it was her.  She sent us back in the right direction.  We got back to where we were supposed to be and were seated in a room to wait until they took us all together to a reserved seating section.  We didn't get a chance to shop at the stands, but it was ok.  The whole PIR was so amazing - the music, the ceremony.  These "kids" who they turned into sailors in 10 weeks!  I couldn't be more proud!!

We also learned about "expect the unexpected" - our daughter told us her orders changed and she wasn't staying in GL after all, she was going to Ft. Lee VA flying out on Friday.  So we revamped our plans for the weekend!

After PIR, we waited for her at the Nex while she went to grab her things.  Then she picked up her coin and we were off to lunch.  She requested Mission BBQ which was only about 15 minutes away in Gurnee.  We went back to the hotel where the first order of business for her was to take a shower alone (LOL) and put on some comfortable clothes.  We ordered pizza from Giordano's for dinner, and it was delicious.  We had to have her back by 8:30 (so she could be signed back in by 9:00).  

Our original Thanksgiving plans didn't pan out, so hubby and I made a run to the grocery store, while she took a bath with a bath bomb from Lush (her favorite). We ended up with a Thanksgiving chicken with all the trimmings, and everything worked out fine!

Friday we met her at the airport and got our gate passes when she picked up her boarding pass. We spent the day there together walking around, checking out the stores and having lunch.  We left her about 1/2 an hour before she boarded so she could just chill and focus a little before her flight.  She didn't want to board the plane crying right after saying good-bye.  Actually did ok with tears at the airport, knowing we could now text and call anytime.  But when we got back to the hotel, and I started to repack the bags we brought because she supposed to be staying in GL, the tears started to flow!  

We have texted every day, FaceTimed and had phone calls with her, and that has been wonderful!  

And Bootcamp0924 - I'm right there with you!  Hooyah DIV 416!!  

Rosanne - thanks for sharing your PIR experience too!  Glad you have frequent communication now ~ that's a great feeling for sure ;-D

tammybikerunfaithlove – She will be coming home during that timeframe too.  I am counting down as well!! ☺ She told me that she does not mind going in the negative (hole) because she is ready to come home.  She said that she cannot wait to feel the carpet under her feet, (LOL).  She cracks me up.  Is your son taking the shuttle to the airport?  She bought her ticket today for the 0730 shuttle.

Roseanne - thank you for sharing your experience! I wish I could have met you and your family while in GL.  Congratulations to your daughter!  What a great accomplishment! I wish your daughter the best of luck in her Navy journey.

Chipmunk – I am glad to hear that all is well.  May you continue to find relief and get better every day.

Lapdja – ☺ As far as the baskets, the families got really creative.  What I can remember from that night, I saw money, blankets, mugs, navy memorabilia, popcorn, alcohol, hot sauces, BBQ sauces, etc.  So very happy and excited for you! 

Tootie – I too, pray for your SR’s healing!  May he get better and better every day.

Northwoodsmom – Jaw drop!  What a creative mind you have! ☺

B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN – Thank you for this incredible site to share these moments! 

belovedbyHim – ☺ Her photos were here when I arrived home.  Her division photo was included, thank goodness!

Rosanne -- Thank you for sharing!! I'm sorry you didn't get more time but I'm glad for the time you got!  What a wonderful thing to get to see her get an award too!! Yes, you have ever right to be proud!! Congratulations again!

Bootcamp0924 -- YEAH!!! I'm glad you got the Div photo and didn't have to pay extra!

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

Thank you B'sNukeMoMMMN for the Merry Monday wish. I wasn't feeling it, but that made me think I should try harder. Have a good week everyone. Safe travels to all who have to navigate winter roads on their way to work!

B'sNukeMoM, oh my gosh you nailed it perfectly, Love it

Northwoodsmom, right?!? lol!

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

Be sure to RSVP for Sarge's Meet N Greet.  It's held on the Thursday night before PIR.  Here's the link:  

Sarge's Meet N Greet

Good Evening Everyone!! I have been a bit under the weather and not able to be on here as much. We have a couple of new members - 

ChampsSWCCMom &mathrocks - Please join me in welcoming them to our group. Feel free to share your questions, concerns, ups & downs of BC. 

Chipmunk - I'm sorry you have not been well - I hope you are feeling better soon!

Welcome to ChampsSWCCMom & mathrocks!  This is a wonderful group of encouragement.  Let us know where you are on your journey and hopefully someone here can answer your questions. 

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Happy Wednesday!  Chipmunk - I hope you are feeling better soon.  Don't overdo it!

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

Per Sarge, no Meet N Greet on 2/2/2023 as he has surgery appointments that week.

Welcome ChampsSWCCMom &mathrocks!

Chipmunk hope you are feeling better every day.

Hi to our newest moms on this journey.. feel free to ask anything or just vent.. 

Hi everyone!

It's Hump Day. It feels like such a long week!

Welcome in ChampsSWCCMom &mathrocks!

Thank you everyone!! I am doing my best to just rest, and drink lots of fluids!  I am grateful for everyone that helps out on this group / site and all the posting that B'sNukeMom does - she is one awesome Admin!! 

BelovedbyHim has been around longer than I have and she is so helpful with all of her timelines and information as well. 

Welcome CandiceK - to this group! We had a couple of other members join recently. We encourage all of you to come here to the comment area and post a hello, share with us where you are at on your BC journey. This is where we do all of our chatter.

Good Morning Everyone!! 

I am feeling a little better, but still resting a lot and taking it easy. 

I just wanted to remind you that if you changed your profile name after you joined the group, please come share here. I don't have any way of reaching out to you personally if I can't search for you in the group. 

One day closer to PIR!!

Chipmunk - I'm glad you are feeling better.  Tomorrow's PIR would have been my son's graduation had he not been injured.  I'll be watching and cheering on his DIV 952!  I have not heard from my son in almost three weeks but if my calculations are correct next week will be his last week in RCU so hopefully I'll be getting that call from him that he is moving to a new Division.  I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Oh and welcome to CandiceK!

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

Thanks for the warm welcome. The community aspect of this site is encouraging and helps me to feel less isolated during the process. Hope everyone has a good Thursday!

Tootie - I am glad that you are still looking forward to watching PIR tomorrow, even if your son is not finishing. Wow, 3 weeks, that is a while to not hear from him. We are all hoping that he is mending well and will finish strong!!!

mathrocks - You are welcome!! Community and encouragement are definitely the things we try to focus on here.  Feel free to ask any questions. Be sure to read through the pages in the information in the upper right. There are videos listed in the upper left of this page and directly above in the discussions are some we keep in the queue but always feel free to view all and see what has been shared in the past. 

I view this site on my computer, but some that view it on their mobile devices have a harder time, so we generally recommend that you put it into desktop mode, if you are having difficulty seeing everything. 

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,).

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).

USPS Informed Delivery - Sign up and receive an email from the US Postal Service showing what mail you will be getting each day (if available in your area).  

Informed Delivery®

Here is my discussion on the Sandboxx App - click on the link:

Sandboxx app while in BC

**Only to be used while in boot camp.

Here's a video posted online (6/13/22) that shows the 10 weeks of boot camp:

What US Navy Recruits Go Through

And if you are interested in seeing what happens during the "Confidence Chamber" aka gas chamber here is a video link:

Boot Camp Gas Chamber

Some of this info has changed a bit over time but it's still a fairly good look at what happens from Recruit to Sailor (A Guide to PIR):

From Recruit to Sailor

Happy Thursday everyone.

-Welcome in CandiceK! 

-Chipmunk, I hope you continue to feel better each day ☺

-Tootie, hang in there.  Three weeks is a long time, but I am sure he will be calling you really soon.  Keep your phone near. He will pull through!

Tootie-- {{{{BNMH}}}} I know that while you are going to be cheering them on, it's also bitter sweet in that you have to wait that much longer to see your son!  It's not easy to accept the delay and you are doing so with grace! (Although we'd understand if you wanted to just lay down and kick and scream too!!)  I hope that you hear from him soon and that he's on the road to complete recovery!!

mathrocks -- Welcome.  You didn't say when your SR left but I have created a timeline that is on this page if you scroll up that should let you figure out where in the process your SR (Seaman Recruit) is.  If they signed up for Sandboxx you should have gotten a message with their Div, Address and PIR date.  You DO NOT have to use Sandboxx to communicate.  You can send letters via "Snail Mail" for much less but it also takes a little longer.  Your SR cannot access the internet so remember that anything you say in a Sandboxx letter is akin to a postcard.  Anyone at Sandboxx can read what you wrote.  IF there is anything we can do to help you through this time just let us know.  There is a great group of Moms here who are super helpful and encouraging and while no one of us knows everything, collectively we know most things!


Hey Ladies (And Gents).... Pardon the short commercial interruption but I just learned this and think it's cool!!  If you tell Alexa to "Thank My Driver" the last delivery person will get $5 at NO COST to you!! This is a promotion by Amazon but it applies to UPS and USPS as well.  Not sure if FedEx is on that list.  Even if you don't have an Alexa device you can download the App and use that (Then after the holidays just delete it!)  Since I know many of us are still doing a lot of our shopping online, I thought I'd share.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled evening!!

Today's PIR happening now:

LIVE PIR 12/9/2022