Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Hi all!  Sorry I've been a little out of touch but just wanted to drop in and say welcome to all the new Navy moms and give a little encouraging "hang in there"!  Anyone here have sailors graduating tomorrow?  If so, congratulations!!  

Thank you to all of y'all for your kind support!  If I do go through BC again with my younger son, I know you'll be here for me and that gives me much comfort!  :-)

And joe-mom, thanks for the perspective regarding PIR.  I actually didn't get to experience PIR live (we watched it on livestream).  My husband and my father-in-law went in person and my younger son and I stayed at the hotel.  (Long story....)  Anyway, it would be cool to experience PIR in person.

MomofJoseph, I really would love to go, missed ours because of Covid. From what I heard they are full of emotions and beautiful. Definitely not the same on a screen but at the time I was so thankful for whatever we could get!

MomofJoseph -- There is a really unique feeling being in the drill hall during PIR!! I'm so sorry for all of you for whom Covid took that opportunity away! Of course it's still 10000000000000000000000000000000...*%(*just keep adding 0's) his choice to serve or not.  If he has any doubts better to wait or not than go and face that challenging environment.  Even the kids who are "For Sure" wanting to serve have had their moments when they questioned what the He** they did!!  (There is that old saying that NAVY stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself!! My son keeps telling me that and then he goes and re-up's twice so far!!! HAHAHA!!! Silly boy!)  Just know it's all good either way!

REMINDER - NO PIR today or 3/10/23.

Good Morning Everyone!!

How are we doing? 

For those of you that feel like this time of silence or not hearing from your SR is one of the hardest things you have ever gone through, that is okay. What is important to remember though, is that as hard as it is for us, it is also hard for our SRs and later our Sailors. 

There may be many times during their service that they will be without any way to communicate to you. They may be able to receive an email from you, but then not be able to reply for various reasons. This time while they are in BC is a time of training for them, but it is also a time of training for us as well!

Stay strong, hold the course, reach out here if you need to, but know you are not alone. 

Hi All!

Well, we did hear from our son, yesterday! He has been in RCU since December.  He is now in Phase 3 of recovery, but my question is, does anyone have any idea of his approximate graduation date? What happens next? Anyone have any experience with this? 

Patti - so glad you heard from him!  Unfortunately you will not know his graduation date until he is placed back into a Division. Once he is cleared to return to training, he'll be placed in a new division based on where he left off. Once he is assigned to a new Division, then you can look up his PIR date on the RCU website.

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

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

Patti...I meant you can look up the PIR date on the RTC website.  Here is the link: https://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/Graduation/Training-Group-Graduation-...

You just have to know his new DIV number once he's assigned to it. He will get a call to tell you when he's cleared and going to a new division.

Thank you! You have cleared it up for me. Thanks!

Patti, I am so happy you have finally heard something. Tow months is a long time. The best news is he is moving forward and will be heading to a new division. Everyone's experience is so different and that is why they say" Sempre Gummy" stay flexible. Even after BC they can experience setbacks however preserving through these build character and as my son's commander told him makes better Sailors. God Bless you and your son as he strengthens and preservers.

Thank you, Northwoods Mom!

Semper Gummy - I LOVE it!

He is persevering and building a good future for himself.  I guess, I'm just edgy, as we have a wedding coming up and he's in it. His older sister wants him in the wedding party.

patti -- Semper Gumby is going to be KEY!!!  As for the Wedding... We make our plans but the Navy has a way of throwing Monkeys into the wrench!  His sister may need either be willing to be UBER flexible or accept that he may not be there for her planned event.  There are TONS of reasons why he cannot get back in time. This should not stop you from making plans and trying to include him but just be aware that his life is not his to control any longer.  Sadly, for as long as he is in, It's Navy First and foremost and everything else will be and remain a distant second.  
I am glad that he was able to call and hopefully he's back on track quickly and able to be home for his sister's wedding!

Tootie - Thanks for sharing!! I appreciate your knowledge with regards to RCU. How is your son doing?

Patti - The summer my son went to BC, his oldest sister was getting married a couple of weeks before he left. He was able to be in that wedding, his younger sister got married the week prior to his PIR. He was not able to be in that wedding and we did not even trying to figure out a picture of him or anything, we just knew enough ahead of time that it was not going to happen. 

Some people will make life sized poster pictures of their military loved one in uniform if they can't be there in person. Others just know that they have a loved one serving in the military and leave time did not work out. 

I don't know when the wedding is planned and how close you all would have been to your son's A school for him to have gotten leave, but there can still be restrictions as to how far they can travel at the beginning of their A school. I share that, to just keep in mind, again - Semper Gumby as the others shared. 

Proudmomof2 - That is wonderful news!! I know you are proud of your son and you can't wait to see him!!

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

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

Chipmunk - thank your for asking, my son is doing well - although not thrilled that he had to move back in with his parents for 6 months lol!  But he is doing all the right things to heal and be ready to go back in July.  It's so nice having him home for a while!

Tootie - I am sure that readjustment was a little difficult for your son, but I am glad that he has a positive outlook. I don't know if he is able to work with a physical fitness trainer or not while he is home but that might be something to look into, during rehab. And also, working on proper running techniques to help prevent any future injuries. 

Proudmomof2 -- I don't know why but I didn't see your post!! Congratulations to your son!!  I'm sure that your heart just swelled with pride!!! That's just awesome!

Tootie-- How's the saying go.... God laughs when we tell Him our plans.... I'm sure your son didn't think he'd be back home and he really did try his best!! I agree that if you can swing it, working with a trainer to rehab and hopefully prevent future issues would be well worth the time and money.  Please remember to share as the time grows closer to his leaving to remind us.

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

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

May Everyone have a Wonderful Weekend! I am wearing my RED!!  Some Fridays, I just wear a regular red shirt but when my son went out to the fleet, the FRG (Family Readiness Group) had t-shirts for sale. One in particular was a Remember Everyone Deployed shirt with our ship on it. So, whenever my son's ship is out floating on the waters, I like to wear that shirt as well. 

A word of caution - there are text spams, at least I assume they are spams - but I receive them every so often for different ships that are offering discounts on T-shirts, or hoodies. Be sure to delete and block those. Most FRGs associated with the various commands will do their own fundraisers and will have shirts for sale as well. 

Good Morning everyone!! I enjoyed a little bit of Spring Break time with my grandbabies, now it is back to my regular routine. 

How is everyone adjusting to the time change? I recall one time change my sailor was standing the night watch. I don't remember how they "split" the difference, I just recall, he was hopeful his replacement did not forget. 

Good Morning, All!

 My SR is hoping to be graduating in April, if all goes well! We are looking forward to this! It's been a long time coming, so prayers and positive wishes....please! 

Thank you!

Patti - that's great news!  I'll be praying all goes well!

Patti - Sending up prayers for you and your SR. That is very good news!

I'm back from Michigan and hoping to get caught up soon!  In the meantime here's the links to join your PIR group:

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

Good Morning Everyone!!

Welcome back B'sNukeMom - we look forward to hearing about the baby shower!

Welcome to our newest member  - Diahn - we are glad you have joined us. Be sure to come here to the comment wall area and introduce yourself. Let us know what stage of BC you are in our how long your SR has been there. Feel free to ask any questions, share your emotional ups and downs. This group is here to offer you support and help you to grow as a Navy Mom - we are in training as well. 

Patti - staying very hopeful for your son and offering prayers. 

Good morning and thanks for the kind welcome! My son has been at RTC since 2/14 and was placed in a 900 division, so had an extra week hold. It’s been a tough few weeks without hearing from him at all, but we finally got letters last week and a phone call on Saturday, so I’m feeling more settled now. We were a homeschooling family and my boys were always right with me - my youngest is in college about an hour away and my oldest is my SR who was living with us before he shipped. I’m so proud of him, but man…do I ever miss him!

Diahn - Welcome!! You have entered a new season of life and become a Navy Mom! There is a lot to process and a lot of emotions to deal with at the same time. This is why we are here, for the BC roller coaster ride and even afterwards. 

Be sure to read this article from the pages on the right if you haven't already. - 900's Division (the article still discusses 800 divisions, however, I believe those have all been integrated into the other divisions now.) - Some other posts you might find interesting or helpful - 

Blue Candle

PIR Weekend Experiences - Post Covid

Private Messages - Creating & Sending + OPSEC

Here are some other general links to information on this site or elsewhere: 

RTC Bootcamp website

Christian Navy Moms

Prayer Wall

Informed Delivery - USPS

Be sure to join your PIR groups - B'sNukeMom posted those below. 

The following group, I request that you not seek to join until after you have received the "I'm a sailor" call (we refer to it as such, your new sailor will not. It is the call after battle stations), or you are headed to/ or returned from PIR.  Beyond BC

Diahn - Welcome!  This group offers so much support and encouragement, so you have come to the right place!  Bootcamp is definitely hard for us Mom's but hang in there - it gets better and it will go by faster than you think. 

Hi all - Happy Thursday!

Chipmunk - the baby shower was a huge success!  Little Oli got so many nice things - they are now ready for him to arrive.  We had such a good time - C and I got the whole room organized, all the baby clothes washed and put away, the many, many books (you can really never have too many books lol!) on his book shelf.  Closet organizer put together, bins for drawers, so much fun stuff!  He's due in May and our plan is hopefully to go back sometime in June.  That will give B&C a few weeks to settle in and bond with him first.  It snowed a bit each morning - looked beautiful and would melt by mid afternoon.  I handled the cold weather quite well - although we didn't venture out much lol!  Now I'm just trying to get caught up on everything here at work.....ugh!

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

PIR APRIL 2023

PIR MARCH 2023

Anyone with PIR tomorrow - try to make it to Sarge's Meet N Greet if you can.  Here's the link with the info:

Sarge's Meet N Greet

May PIR group is not up yet - I'm waiting for RTC to post dates.  As soon as they do I'll get the group up.

hi Diahn. I too homeschooled my sailor.. I just had the one so the empty feeling was strong and still is to a degree. Welcome to a great support group..  

Trey - we have an Empty Nester group.  It's not real active but still, come on over and join.  Here's the link:

Empty Nester

I have the May PIR group up now.

Here's the link:

PIR MAY 2023

Diahn - here's the link to the 900s division group:

900s Division

Good Morning Everyone!!

All of our best wishes to our newest sailors and their families!!

I am sporting both my RED and my Green today! I especially like to wear my red shirt from my son's ship on the Friday's when they are out to sea, so I had to be creative today with my color scheme. 

Welcome monwojo - To our group. We are glad you have joined us. This is the best place to post your questions, share your ups and downs, and receive encouragement, as you begin this journey of being a Navy Mom.