Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Happy Wednesday!

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Good Afternoon!! 

How are we doing over here? It has been a little quiet. I wanted to bring your attention to one of our discussions above                 Blue Candle 

 We have several moms in our Beyond BC group talking about turning on their Blue Lights for their sailors who are out to sea and it reminded me to share the above with you all, since most of these ladies had made their Blue Candles while they had SRs at BC, some of them during Covid restrictions when several were set back for more quarantining.  

We got the call from my son last night saying he arrived and we'll  be receiving a letter in 2-3 weeks. Bittersweet that call was. Am so proud of him but also sad and praying he does well and we see him at his PIR in 10 weeks.

Proudmomof2 - BNMHs (Big Navy Mom Hugs) We all understand what you are feeling and those roller coaster emotions!! Do not hesitate to share your daily ups and downs if you need to. We are here to support you.

Proudmomof2 - hang in there!  That call though...whew!  If you son signs up for Sandboxx, you'll likely get a text from them in a few days with his address, DIV and ship #.  Once you have that, you can go on the RTC website and figure out his PIR date.  The time will go by faster than you think.  Best of luck to him!

Tootie - Thanks for sharing!! I hope things are working out smoothly for your SR. 

Proudmomof2 - they will give him the opportunity to opt in to Sandboxx at BC - he would just have to know your cell phone number (I made a card for my son with important phone numbers on it to keep in his wallet - he didn't know anybody's phone numbers by heart b/c they were all just programmed in his cell phone lol!) My son didn't know about Sandboxx until he got to BC and he signed up - so maybe yours will too!

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Today's PIR happening right now.  Here's the link:

LIVE PIR JAN 20, 2023

Hey y’all! Thanks for the warm welcome! I finally have time after a busy week of work to catch up here. My SR son graduates in 2 weeks. Got a letter yesterday telling us that he was awarded with a Sharpshooter ribbon during their firearms qualifications. He was proud of that. Me too! Now we just wait for the I’m a Sailor call which now seems to be in week 9. Maybe just a temporary change. Who knows.

TexasGir! - congratulations to your SR!! Things can change quickly at RTC with their schedules so the best information comes from your SR, if they know. And if you find out something new in the timeline, be sure to share with us as that is what helps BelovedbyHim keep her timeline updated. 

All the best as you prepare to travel. 

Proudmomof2 - I am going to answer your question here instead of in the discussion above. You asked if you could send birthday cards to BC. Yes, you may but no glitter, no music cards, nothing to draw extra attention. And something I did not know, no stickers on the envelopes. Here is a link to one of our pages on the upper right side of this group page. 

Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Proudmomof2 - I feel for you regarding that "I made it" phone call.  My son went to BC in Sept 2021.  I told him when he called that I wasn't going to even listen to what he said, I would just say, "I love you" over and over.  But the script was different that what I expected (things like a mandatory two-week quarantine - which was different from what the recruiter had said) and I was so baffled that I forgot to say, "I love you."  I cried for two days thinking he didn't know I loved him.  :-(  Turns out - he did!  :-)  But those emotions are so BIG!

Please come and let us know how you are doing!  (Also, make sure to sign up for Informed Delivery with the USPS.)  Big hugs!

Good Morning Everyone!! 

Please join me in welcoming Dani_NukeMom to our group. I believe her loved one is still deciding on joining the Navy, so she might have questions about preparing for a loved one to leave for BC.

Remember to check out the discussions above, you can also View All or do a search in the discussions. As well as read the pages in the upper right and comments on the left of this page. I use my computer for this site, and it is easy to navigate for me but if you are on a mobile device, you might need to put it into desktop mode. 

Thank you for the welcome! I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and learning as much I can. 

Dani-NukeMom - be sure to ask any questions that you have. The more you post here, the more others will reply. Has your loved one actually joined and is the DEP program, or just thinking about it still? And just a reminder, this group page is publicly visible, so remember OPSEC/ PERSEC, but you may also reach out privately. 

Thank you so much, I will definitely have many questions! The decision has already been made and my son will be joining very soon. When he gets back from MEPS, I will hopefully have more information about BC and the Nuke program. I’m so emotional about it all at the moment! 

Dani_NukeMom - here is some more helpful information for you - Sandboxx App for BC - we have a little bit of an update as to how the form letter is being sent out there as well. 

I don't see the other post we have about discussion with your SR what sort of emergency information they want to be notified about when in BC, but if you can have that discussion with your SR, do so before he leaves. 

When they arrive at RTC it may be awhile before they are able to call you. My call came in around 11 pm at night, it is later for others. They will be reading off of a script, thus we refer to it as the "scripted" call. You can say I love you, but they won't be abel to reply to you, but also try to pay attention to what they tell you about when they should be calling you next. 

If you did not get a calling card beforehand, the SRs are able to purchase them from the NEX with the allowance the Navy provides for them there. 

Dani_NukeMom - Welcome!  I'm so happy you found this site before your son left for BC!  I found it after my son left for BC but before I got his first letter.  This group of ladies helped me so much!!!

Now my son is in Nuke School in GC and is set to graduate from Power School soon.  Please reach out on this page or the Nuke Mom page if you have any questions.  

Good Morning Everyone!!

Looking at our little weather forecast chart above, GL seems to be getting snow today!! Your SRs should all be bundled up with their weather gear. 

Remember to check out these two sites as well for pictures and information.  (1) U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command | Facebook

 RTC Bootcamp website

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Per Sarge - NO Meet N Greet on 2/2/23.

There is a Meet N Greet tomorrow, 1/26 and then the next one is 2/9/23.

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

PIR JANUARY 2023

Hi,

My daughter leaves for BC on February 15th. I have not been emotional because I had suggested the military to her. My Grandfather and his entire family were all in the military. She decided to apply and the rest is history. She will be going to Pensacola after BC for aviation electrician. 
Suggestions on phone cards, and how lightly packed should I send her? What is not worth sending? And is $50 enough?
Sorry for all of the questions. My Grandfather passed away when I was young so besides some medals and flags I inherited I am lost.

I would not worry much about the phone card.. I tried to send one with my sailor but it didn't work right.  He told me that he just picked one up at the NEX and used that.. No cash..Very light pack.. only clothes mine took was what he was wearing.. I do think they get to keep their own running shoes now.. We put our phone numbers on a piece of small paper. There are posts that list more specifically and other moms and info at this site will help more..  Big Navy Mom Hugs.. know we are here for all support...

Hi Valkyrie - Welcome Aboard!! 

My son did take a little bit of cash, but I would not suggest more than $20.00. But Trey's sailor was at BC more recently than my son. If you are interested in getting your daughter set up with a Navy Federal Credit Union account, you can do that ahead of time and she can go ahead and sign up for their Early Start Savings CD, I think it is. It is a special account that earns a higher rate that your daughter would qualify. If you do set up a NFCU account, I would still keep her other local bank account open as well. But her DOD - Dept of Defense checks will go in earlier to NFCU, also there are other benefits for our military that are not often offered by your personal bank. You can check that out between the two banks before your daughter leaves. 

Make sure she has her driver's license, and if so, when will it need to be renewed. Depending on what her schooling and job entails, she may or may not be able to easily get her ID renewed. How easy is it for her to renew her DL if she is away? If you do not have a POA, are you able to be joint on her accounts or able to discuss accounts, even for things like cell phones, car insurance. 

If she worked last year, has she gotten her taxes filed?? That would probably be my greatest priority suggestion for someone leaving at this time. 

Trey shared some good advice. 

Valkyrie -- Welcome!! Please read my blog to give you an idea of what the first few weeks may look like.. Welcome to the Navy... Everything will be ok!  The First part is some things to do before your SR leaves IF you Can, It’s NOT ESSENTIAL!  Up and to the Left is a link to all the Navy Lingo! It is titled Navy Speak and you can find it here. We are here to get you through the “Great Silence” of the next 4 weeks (ish) and the 10 weeks of BC (ish). You will come to learn that No News Is GOOD News and everything is Needs of the Navy. You life will be Hurry Up and Wait and it’s ok to make plans but they are subject to change until after they have happened so it’s best to embrace the Motto: Semper Gumby!! (Always Flexible!!)

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

Today's PIR happening now:

LIVE PIR JAN 27, 2023

Congratulations to all of our new sailors!! I am also wearing my RED today - 

Thank you for all of your support on my sailor’s bootcamp journey. We officially have a sailor ⚓️

SantaFeMom - Congrats to you and your sailor! 

SantaFeMom - Congratulations!!! BZ!!

SantaFeMom, I am so happy for you and your Sailor, congratulations. I hope you get the big hug real soon!

SantaFeMom.. congrats to your sailor and you.. got your plans for going to PIR?

SantaFeMom - So Happy for your call!  Congratulations to your new sailor!!!