Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

REMINDER - This week's PIR is Wednesday, 12/14/2022.

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

PIR DECEMBER 2022

belovedbyHim - and they fired Niumatalolo - 15 seasons he coached Navy.  I always like him....

Last PIR for 2022 is tomorrow - 12/14/2022.  Do we have anyone here going?

Gingergirl74 - Welcome aboard!! We are glad you have joined us!

Hello all, I just wanted a little bit of advice, My son is in GL in week six of basic, and it has been very challenging for him to the point that he is second-guessing his decision to join. over the past two weeks, he has lost a great aunt and a very close cousin. I have written a letter to inform him, but I haven't sent it off yet. I was just wondering has anyone had to go through this? I am trying to figure out if it's best to send the letter now or wait until closer to graduation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

cheri39 - First of all my condolences to you and your family!!

Was your son aware of any possible health issues before leaving for BC or was this unexpected?  This is always a tough call. Whenever possible, we try to encourage families to talk about these tough things before they leave for BC, but we also miss that opportunity as well, so my apologies for this. Only you can know what is going to affect your child, but many prefer not to say anything, others believe their child should know. The circumstances of the passing can also be difficult and your SR many not have an opportunity to process everything either. 

cheri39, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. BC is really tough on some of the recruits and alot of them at one point or another second guess their choices but give it a couple weeks and that will mostly change for the better. With all the stress they are under I would definitely not add to it with bad news from home. My son was in A school in SC when his Grandma passed away from Covid and I waited even then to tell him knowing with the pandemic he wouldn't of been able to come home anyway. I would personally tell him face to face if you can. Prayers to you both for comfort!

cheri39 - I am so very sorry for your loss.  I actually had a conversation with my son before he left for BC and asked him if we had any bad news (loss of family, pets, close friends), would he prefer me to let him know while he's there or wait until after BC.  He told me that he would rather not find out until after BC because it would make him feel bad that he couldn't be home for everyone.  Since there's nothing he can do but worry and be sad about it there, I would lean towards waiting until after his graduation to tell him - especially since he's a little discouraged anyway.  Just my opinion though - you know him better than anyone and what he would want. Prayers to you and your family.

cheri39 -- I am so sorry for your loss.

As for your SR not being sure if they want to stay or not.  Telling him of these losses may give him "reasons" to leave.  You know him best, Is this a case of truly being in over his head and in the wrong place or is this something that he really wanted for a long time and it's just harder than he thought it would be with the communications limitations.  Sometimes being away from home for the first time like this is a bit overwhelming but then when they get into actually doing their job they love it, Then there are other cases where they really don't fit and it's not going to get better.  We have another mom who is dealing with that.  Once they complete Boot camp it is just about impossible to "Quit" the Navy without long term negative consequences before their contract is up.  You know your son better than we do and this is a decision that only he can truly make.  Remind him that you'll still love and be proud of him no matter what he chooses.  Most folks don't even try so he's got that going for him.

Due to a change in COVID-19 status, as of Nov. 10, guests attending the weekly graduation ceremony are no longer required to show proof of vaccination to gain access to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes.

However, with the removal of mask wearing and vaccinations, guests should take whatever precautions they deem appropriate for themselves based on their personal risk factors. Vaccinations and subsequent boosters are still strongly recommended by the CDC. Disposable masks are available at the front desk of the RTC visitors center for guests who may wish to utilize one.

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).

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

• 6:30 am: RTC gate opens to guests.
• 7:00 am: Ceremonial drill hall doors open to guests.
• 8:45 am: All guests must be seated. Ceremonial drill hall doors close, no further entry for guests.
• 9:00 am: Pass-In-Review commences.
• 9:20 am: Divisions arrive.
• 10:30 am: Pass-In-Review concludes.

*Please plan on arriving at least 1.5 hours before the ceremony, which begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.

Congratulations to our new sailors!!! For those of you with PIR's in January, today's ceremony is a good opportunity to watch and see what to expect from your sailor's PIR. Or go back and watch the previous videos, you can always fast forward. 

RTC Bootcamp website

Wow!! They have updated their website, I guess I haven't been there for a month or so. Be sure to check it out if you haven't already. That was my go-to source for information when my son was in BC, up until the week before PIR when I found N4M!

Live streaming of our graduations begin at 9 a.m. CST every Friday. Videos will also be available for viewing afterwards as well on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand and our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/RTCPublicAffairs/community​.

Family Brochure

We have a new Family Brochure. 

Save this if you did not receive one in the mail, it gives motel information and more. 

cheri39 - I hope our comments help you with your tough decision. May you find comfort and peace during this time of family loss. 

Happy Wednesday and Happy PIR Day!

Today's PIR - live:

LIVE PIR 12/14/2022

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Good Afternoon all, @ Northwoodsmom, and Chipmunk thank you for your condolences. Both deaths were unexpected. I had a surprise 30-second call on yesterday evening from my son to let me know that he was moving to another ship due to something with covid, but he sounded upbeat "finally" so I guess that was my confirmation that I need to keep him in a good headspace. 

awesome for the quick call.. sounds like you did make the right choice.. they have enough going on there. I bet they had enough get sick that they must be reorganizing the ships..

changing ships may also be good for him.. I know my son who got washed back found himself in a better division..

Thank you for your kind words Belovedbyhim. My son is very athletic. It has been his dream as a child to join the military so I was somewhat thrown by his moral. I've never really had to yell at him much, so I guess it was all new to him. He watched many YouTube videos before leaving home so I guess he was under the impression it was all going to be a breeze. I tried to prep him as much as I could before he left from my own experiences. He also "fell in love" a few months before leaving lol, so I am just thinking he has been very homesick. However, he was able to call home yesterday for a quick moment, and he sounded good so I am going to keep it there for now. Thanks again

cheri39 -- I'm so glad he's sounding more upbeat.  Yes, it's not uncommon for them to get overwhelmed by the "Home sickness" and of course "Falling in LOVE" right before they leave is also hard!  And there's no telling what or IF she's writing and adding to his stress!!
That does however add a small wrinkle.... If you know her, You may need to talk to her about NOT telling him of these losses, If you don't know her well and think there is any way she could learn and might share, It would be better for you to inform him.  What you DON'T want is for him to learn this information secondhand and with no support available.  You can contact the Chaplains at RTC to ask for their support in sharing this information if you feel it is necessary. (847-688-2405) or Red Cross (1-877-272-7337).  You do not need to be a person of any particular faith to ask that they be present when your son is informed of these losses.  They can just be there to provide a listening ear if you decide that you should

@cheri39 my son finished PIR on Nov 23rd.  Approximately 2 weeks before during battle station week, I got a call from his his dad's family saying his biological father was not going to make it & had just a matter of hours.  I prayed & wondered what to do.  I knew I had the choice of getting in touch with the Red Cross.  I chose to wait because we all don't know our timing.  I told his fathers family I would tell him, but not today.  The next day I sent him a letter via sandbox to call his dad & I gave him the number so that he had it right away.  I didn't tell him his dad wasn't doing well, I thought it should come from his dads family.  So after doing this I told his dads family that I told him to call home & that I wasn't going to be the individual to bring him out of one of the most important events in his life. Its Dec 14th now & his dad is still alive. I later explained to my son that I could not bring myself to tell him something that was not in our hands.  He thanked me.  Maybe have the immediate family write him a letter via sandbox to let him know & make sure to tell them to tell him that it is important for him to continue & to continue for those loved ones that passed on.  After all, I think the 2 loved ones that passed on would love love love to see him finish if they were still with us. & even looking down from heaven they would not want to see him not finish his dream. Much love to your son & you, cheri39! 

TorpedoMom-- First off..... WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!! ATTENTION ON DECK... WE HAVE  A SAILOR!!! Congratulations!!!
Are you going to be at PIR?  I hope he's able to come home for the Holiday stand down!

Second, Thank you for sharing your first hand experience with a similar situation.  I'm glad his Bio dad is still alive and I hope he's able to go see him as well.  You are correct that we Never know when something unexpected will happen and our lives here will end.  That is one of the reasons we post periodically to have that conversation with your Child, especially before they leave, but if not then, for sure as soon as is reasonable.  Use wisdom in bringing it up but it's an important conversation to have and then repeat as they progress through their career.  It's hard to come home if they are deployed or stationed over seas, being clear on who they will come home for vs who they just want to know but maybe not right away is very helpful.  It's sad to miss these big life events but that's the nature of their career.

TorpedoMom, congratulations to you and your son. Hoping you get to go to the PIR. So very happy for you.

After 10 wks of BC, I proudly watched my son PIR on Nov 23rd! He finished right on time! Though he will always be my little baby boy he went into BC a boy and came out a very much respected man! He is now a Sailor in training in another State. As mothers we are given the responsibility to protect our children.  Often, protecting our children includes keeping bad news from them.  There was no way I was going to pierce my sons heart during his time in battle stations by telling him his biological father had little time left. After battle stations I did tell him during his 'I'm a sailor' phone call.  I also reminded him how he would feel if his dad lived passed Nov 23rd. He decided to wait it out. & his dad is still alive today! It was only through prayer that everything worked out. Our children in BC are dedicated to serving our Country and they train them to know what to do even during the toughest times.  Decisions decisions decisions during the most crucial moments are also what they are trained for in BC!!  I am now a proud proud mother of a United States Sailor! 

TorpedoMom -- Awesome and you are right, Sometime the best thing we can do is keep our mouth shut.  I didn't realize that was his PIR date, I thought that was his BS21 date.  Either way... Awesome job and I hope he's loving his training phase!

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Next PIR isn't until 1/6/2023.

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Beachymom - It's possible that he did sadly there is no way that I know of to confirm that information.  You may be in for a long wait.  Maybe reach out to sandboxx and see if they have any information?  It possible that they can fix a typo but I really don't know.

Beachymom - I have to agree with BelovedbyHim, it is really hard to tell. This is all new for most of us with the Sandboxx text messages. We are used to the snail mail, and it would usually take about 3 weeks before we would receive our form letters. 

Did everyone see this update on the FB page ?

Friends & family of RTC,

Due to a recent reorganization, we are relocating divisions into new ships (barracks). Although recruits will be afforded opportunities to call and provide their new addresses, below is a list of where the divisions are being moved to and where you can reach your recruit moving forward.

SantaFeMom - No, I had not noticed this. THANK YOU for sharing! 

I am hopeful all the Christmas cards that have already been sent will be forwarded to the new address. It looks like the recruits are “moving “ on Saturday to their new barracks. 

SantaFeMom -- Yes, I saw that last night but then by the time I got home and started on a project, I had forgotten.  I'm sure the mail room is well aware of the "Confusion" this will cause for a bit and they are prepared to adjust mail as needed.  I just hope it doesn't cause delays in delivery!!  (Hopefully there is NO cash or other "Gifts" sent in the cards!!)

BeachyMom-- YEA!!!! I'm so glad you got the text!! There are a million and ones things happening in this first week so it's not uncommon for there to be all kinds of delays or changes.  Yes, there are some things that are volunteer and others that they are Volentold for.  We can speculate as to why but really it almost seems to be random from our view point. 
Just so you know, According to my Sailor... NAVY stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself!  You will have to wait for communications to find out for sure why he ended up in a 900Div.

Beachymom - Proof of life is definitely something to be excited about!!  Here is information on the 900 divisions. - 800 and 900 Divisions - Navy For Moms (ning.com) - To my understanding they no longer have the separate 800 divisions, so scroll down past that information to the bottom.  

The 800 divisions were for our "special" SRs as I refer to them, I think they now incorporate those rates into the general BC divisions. If anyone has a SR that falls into this category feel free to reach out privately to B'sNukeMom, myself, or BelovedbyHim, we can direct you to more information. 

Ladies -- Have you seen the Great Lakes 12 days of Christmas posts on FB?  They are a Hoot!! https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand/

Good Morning Everyone!!  I hope your Monday is starting out well. We have sunshine, so I am thankful for that. 

BelovedbyHim - That is a hoot!! Thanks for sharing. 

How are all of our new members and those with SRs doing? I just wanted to remind you that this time especially can be very hard not having your loved one home. Thankfully my son went through BC during the summer, so I don't have a lot of words of advice what to write to your recruits about at the moment, but I would definitely focus on asking them questions, showing your interest in what they are doing. You may use BelovedbyHim's timeline to field questions. Or you might try sending one of the questionnaires.  Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire - check out the link to that page on the right. It is also okay for you to send an extra letter in your mail to your SR that they might share with a shipmate who is not receiving mail. And you may have children draw Christmas cards, or a picture. Just remember - no glitter!! And no newsprint as it can smudge. 

What are you doing to take care of yourself?  - If you haven't checked out the Blue Candle discussion above, do so.  Christmas has a lot of preparation time in and of itself, to help you stay busy, but have you read a good book lately. Watched a Christmas show, put together a jigsaw puzzle, started working on an old or new hobby project? What about an indoor workout routine? 

I cannot get out walking as much as my husband and I were doing when we had more daylight hours. I knew I had to do something, and I don't like getting out in the morning to go driving to work out at a gym, so I decided to look online for some ideas. I found a couple of low impact cardio routines that I have worked through and actually am combining to make a comfortable option for myself. 

Remember, we are here for you. Feel free to come share as often as you need to. 

Our sailor was at RTC 2 Christmas ago. We went to the other side of the state to spend the holiday with our older son, his fiancee and part of her family. Her brother in law is from Denmark, they had planned to go there for the holidays, but thanks to COVID they were not able to. Instead he cooked a traditional Danish dinner and introduced us to some of their traditions. I was surprised, but it really helped me to celebrate in a different way than normal. Trying a new tradition might help some of you get thru with a bit more cheer. I was feeling blue about what to do regarding a gift for our sailor. We ended up making a donation to a charity that had been important to him. Bonus was we got several notes and a phone call from people asking how our sailor was doing and sharing funny antidotes about him. It was really special.  

Beachymom - Here's the link to the 900s Division group.  My son was also in a 900 division - he was a "body snatcher".  And yes, they are "voluntold"! 

I have info posted over there regarding the various jobs they do.

900s Division

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

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

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