Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

WHOOP
WHOOP
WHOOP
ATTENTION ON DECK!!
WE HAVE A SAILOR

CONGRATULATIONS to SantaFeMom and her Sailor on a job well done!

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

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®

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).

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

Map to Graduation Ceremony:

Map to Graduation

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

Just a heads up - I'm going to have limited computer access tomorrow through Sunday.  My dad passed away on the 18th and I'm heading to Washington to help out with some of his things.  Y'all hold down the fort please....

B'sNukeMom - So sorry for your loss.

B'sNukeMom - My condolences to you and your family. 

SantaFeMom - I hope you are able to attend PIR. We look forward hearing about your visit. Remember to share here in the comment section, but also please feel free to add your experience to our discussion PIR Weekend Experiences - Post Covid . Also, if you have any questions about PIR, we will do our best to help answer them. 

Good Morning Everyone!!

Here is the information and the links for watching PIR LIVE

Our graduation ceremony will be live streamed Friday at 0900 Central. Use either our Facebook or YouTube link to view.

I always encourage anyone who is planning to attend PIR, try to watch either live or on the video replay the PIR a week or two prior to your sailor's. It will give you an idea of what to expect. If you watch the replay then you can FFwd through parts of it. 

I also just saw some information posted on the RTC FB page, about relocating some of the divisions from Ship#12 to Ship #11. Hopefully this link works so you can see it posted. - (2) Facebook

And

Frequently check the RTC FB page for any updated news or pictures - (2) U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command | Facebook

As well, my go to information was RTC Bootcamp website  I did not know about this group until a week before PIR, they have updated their site and there is a lot of information there. 

Newer Members: A heads-up message for you. After a post in another group, it occurred to me to mention this. If your loved one does not have their driver's license before they head to BC, for some rates, they might be okay, but not for Nukes.  

My son's recruiter was adamant that he had his DL before heading to BC. I don't know if he realized that Nukes had to live off site (part of the time) and needed not only a DL but also a vehicle or not, but he was surprised my son still did not have his DL yet. (See post on Nuke Moms Group).

There are other reasons to make sure your loved one has their DL, especially if they live on a base that is very large and has minimal public transportation. Some sailors, especially if they are deployed a lot, can get by with using Ubers, Taxis, etc., but that is no guarantee. At least if your son/daughter has their license, they have more flexibility and freedom when they need it. 

Good Evening everyone!! I hope you all have been having a wonderful Saturday. I have been spending the day with my youngest!!

Did anyone get a phone call this weekend? 

Proudmomof2 -- YEA!!!! Aren't those phone calls the BEST!!! I Hope he's doing well and that you are hanging in there!  Only 7 more weeks to go!!

I lived for those phone calls.. always wanted more and longer talks lol..

Proudmomof2 - WooHoo!!  I am so happy for you!! 

I know this is silence hard to get used to, but as I remind our new Navy Moms and other loved ones, this is training for us as well.

I always leave my ringer up on high and I answer all calls, but I especially answer the ones that show they are coming from my sailor. Even in church!!! Even when the pastor is praying!! I have gotten up and walked out of the church service more times than I can count on my hand over the course of the years that my son has been enlisted. His schedule can change on a dime, especially when it comes to what the ship is doing. He wants to talk to me as much as I do with him, so when he knows I won't be able to just call and talk to him, he calls me for a last chat until the next time. 

Good Morning Everyone!!

We are one week closer to your PIR date!

B'sNukeMom - I hope things went well for you that last week. 

Hi all - I'm back.  Physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted but I did get lots done. 

The March PIR group is complete now.

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

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

Click on the picture to enlarge:

My dad was in the Navy from 1956-1959.  He went in at 17 years old - his mom signed for him. He was in 11th grade.  His dad was pissed because he lost his farm help lol.  I found these pictures while going through dads stuff - he looks like a baby!

The first picture is his boot camp graduation (in San Diego back then) and the 2nd is from his "cruise book" on the USS Boxer.

April PIR group is now up.  Here's the link to join:

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

B'sNukeMoM, he looks like he is about 12. Great pictures and memories. I wonder where he got the nickname from. 

B'sNukeMoM-- WOW!!! He looks so young!! (Don't they all though!) He was a Cute kid though! (I know... It's your Dad and you don't think of them as ever having been kids!)

B'sNukeMom - Thank you for sharing!! Your father was very young and very young looking!! He served honorably and we are thankful for his service.  I still treasure my father's Army picture. 

I appreciate you posting the information about the RTC reorganization!

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

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

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

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

Today's PIR happening now:

LIVE PIR FEB 10, 2023

The flyover in the Super Bowl this weekend is being done by an all female team.  You can read about it here:

All Female Flyover in Super Bowl

Happy Weekend Everyone!

May calls come in and may the best team win! 

All Female Flyover, that sounds wonderful, thanks B'sNukeMom for sharing. 

Dawne - Welcome to the BC Mom and loved ones group. We are glad you have joined us!

Just a Friendly Reminder - 

Booking travel plans for BC, is one of the first lessons that we as moms learn, we no longer set the agenda. PLEASE remember to book all flights and motel rooms with changeable options. 

We drove 12 hours to PIR so that we did not have to fly, but I did not even book our midway motel stop until about a day before I had my "I'm a sailor" call. Back then, that call came on Wed afternoon before PIR. 

Then even when my son was going to A school, I knew to book a motel room which I could change the date, however, once we got there, I could not add an extra day. Unknown to my sailor, he had been given an extra liberty day.  We just had to roll with what we could do, but because we drove, I could adjust a little bit and I had not booked my motel for our route home, until that morning. - Not the way I used to plan our trips, but flexibility has had to become a new part of my personality. 

Congrats to the Kansas City Chiefs - Super Bowl Champs.

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

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

PIR FEBRUARY 2023

FYI - Per Sarge - NO Meet N Greet this week (2/16).

Welcome to our newest members  -  Claire & NCJay

We are glad you have joined us, and this is the best location to post your messages. The more you post the more we will reply. Please come introduce yourselves. 

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen! 

I see Valkyrie has posted a new discussion above.

I just want to encourage are newer members, be sure to come post in this comment wall area or in your PIR group. This is the place where you will start making connections. The Navy Loved One journey is not one to go alone. We are a family, and your questions may be "Old Hat" in one sense to us, but they are new to you. Your feelings are new to you, but someone has been through similar feelings as you. We all deal with our kids heading off to BC in different ways, but we all relate. 

This is also your training ground as well. We learn what OPSEC/ PERSEC mean, we find out what it is like to be without communication for months on end, because we have to wait for the Form Letter, or now for some the Sandboxx App notice.