Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

monwojo - I suggest you call the recruiting office and see if they can give you any information, or look information up online. I tried doing some Google searching. Is your son going reserves? That seemed to be what I was finding but I am not sure. 

When you are missing your seaman recruit and the silence is more than you can bear, remember that you are in training as well and you are part of the Navy family. We are here to support you all the way through!!

Congratulations to our newest sailors!! 

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

I encourage you to watch at least one PIR prior to your sailor's graduation, so that you have an idea of what to expect. You should be able to view the replays at a later time and then you can skip portions of it as you like. 

Happy Easter!! I know I am a day early, but I likely will not be on tomorrow.

Good Morning Everyone!!

Did we get phone calls? Any letters?

How did your first big holiday go without your loved one?? 

As my kids have scattered, I miss the days of our times with family and friends, but I am thankful they are making their own memories as well. I am blessed to still have a few kids nearby and that helps.

Happy Monday to all! We missed our recruit at Easter dinner yesterday but had a nice family time in spite of that. We got a nice letter on Friday and he sounds like he's doing really well. He was assigned to honor guard, so I'm very hopeful that in another couple of weeks (April 21), I'll be able to spot him on the PIR video!  It will be a nice treat while we wait for his own graduation!

Diahn - I am so glad that you had a nice family time, even without your SR. My son was at BC during 4th of July, which is actually one of our personal family events (most of the other holidays we were always visiting other relatives.) It was really hard for me to have him gone. Now, I have gotten used to video calls when possible. 

Congratulations to your SR!. That will be so exciting to have a chance to maybe see him prior to PIR and then at PIR. 

Happy Tuesday!  Yes, I'm back from vacation and trying to get caught up - both here and at work. I sure do love vacation but boy it can sure be a challenge when you get back lol!

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

PIR JUNE 2023

PIR MAY 2023

PIR APRIL 2023

Diahm - Congrats on your letter!  And that is so exciting about Honor Guard!  I hope you can spot your Sailor at PIR.

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

PIR JUNE 2023

PIR MAY 2023

PIR APRIL 2023

Please join me in welcoming MamaJess to our group!! 

Welcome BootCamp Moms -- This page is here for YOU!! This is where you can ask your questions, vent your frustrations, express your fears and concerns.  We are here to support you and guide you to the answers or be a shoulder to cry on should you need.  We can share what we experienced so you can find peace of mind that you are NOT alone and you are NOT going crazy.  This page is driven by you and your posts.

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

PIR JUNE 2023

PIR MAY 2023

PIR APRIL 2023

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).

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

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

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.

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®

click on the link

welcome mamajess.. how are you doing? where is your recruit at right now, like how many weeks?

Just thought I would do a fast drive by and say hello!  Welcome to this crazy world of emotions. 

I’m Shanny. My son enlisted in 2020 and is a COVID bootcamp survivor.  My experience was very different than yours will be but I’m here to try to help if needed. He is currently stationed in Virginia on a carrier and works on the flight deck. I can’t believe we are almost 3 years in!

you have found a great group of women. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. There truly are no dumb or bad questions. Chances are, I have asked them myself!  Every emotion you are feeling right now is valid. Just know, we are here and we understand. 

Good Morning Everyone!! 

I have my RED on - how about you!!

Shanny - thanks for the fast drive by!!

MamaJess and others, even if your loved one is getting ready to head to BC, don't hesitate to come here and ask questions. We know what things they should take with them, and what they can get at the NEX. 

Also, be sure to read the pages in the upper right of this screen. I prefer to use my computer, so if you are on a mobile device, put it in desktop mode. Remember to click the view all at the bottom of the list on the right. 

I have to get ready for an early morning appointment but here is the BC website page for graduation -  U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command > Graduation - Lots of info and links to watch PIR Live! 

Today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR 4.14.2023

Hello everyone

Hope you're all having nice day.

I saw the intensive training exercise and we're panicking at how my son(with autism)might cope.
(Once again he's completed a year of Army cadet).
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/what-us-navy-recrui...
At present we're preparing to travel (from the UK) to visit the recruitment center in LA California, in some weeks time.
The officer told us that BC is about 10weeks before deployment.
They said its best if parents are around during this period (which makes sense especially as its also a transition phase
for my son). This means I have to secure a means of staying in the country.

Question for help : May I ask if any one knows of any organisation or referrals eg non-profit or others who could offer me a position in the US.
This helps to stabilize our stay once my son is accepted to the BC and deployment. He's concerned that we don't leave him
behind.

Many thanks for your advice.

NavyM&D - I'm not sure why the recruiter would say that you need to be around during boot camp.  You won't be able to see him at all - you may get a couple two or 3 (if you are lucky) phone calls while he's there.  Letters will come after about the halfway point.  In the beginning he might sound very down in the letters but then the tone will perk up.  It's all a mind game. 

We've had many parents on here that were nowhere near close in proximity to their recruits during boot camp and everything turned out fine. 

If, and that's a big IF, he ends up not completing boot camp and is separated (for whatever reason) that will also take time.  It's a process - they don't just send them home overnight. 

So I think you could stay in the UK and it wouldn't be an issue.  If you are planning on going to PIR (graduation) we of course recommend that you make travel arrangements that can be changed with no penalty (get insurance) as anything can happen - they can be setback for various reasons or again, they may not finish. 

You would need to think about that.  If you do come to PIR you might get as little as a few hours with him or you could luck out and it could be a couple of days.  It depends on where he goes after.  They usually don't "deploy" right away.  It's usually somewhere for more schooling - depending on their job.

You're not "leaving your son behind" - he's moving forward with his life.....he needs to make sure he's in the right frame of mind for this - it's definitely as much mental as physical at boot camp - maybe even more mental!

Hope this helps you a little in figuring out your plans....

Navy M&D -- I'm a bit confused.... You currently live in the UK but you are traveling to the US to visit a US Navy Recruiter so your child can enlist in the US Navy? I'm assuming you are US citizens living abroad.  Why did you choose to fly to LA, California instead of somewhere on the East Coast?

BC is 10 weeks, then they usually go to some form of a training school for their job.  Then they go to their first assignment which may or may not involve a deployment.  Usually they are assigned to a ship but not always.  It depends on what the job is.  I'd say if you are going for a first visit to MEPS then Yes, you need to plan to stay stateside until your son is approved for enlistment in the Navy. It sounds like you will have more hurdles to overcome and this is going to be a longer process than you may be thinking. It is rare for a kid to go to MEPS, Sign up, and Ship off to BC the same week. It's rare for them to do it in the same Month!  It does happen but it's rare.  The added complication I see here is that you will need a waiver for the Autism.  That can take a while, so Keep that in mind as well.   

just got a sweet morning phone call!  He's doing better and it is end of week 4 (got some clarification on the "week"  term -- it starts the Thursday of the week they finally get there, not the Monday dropped him off at the recruiters office).  I asked if he ever had someone/RDC yell in his ear, and he said NO and like the boy I know, added the "... because I know not to disrespect"  = lol bahaa okkkkk my arrogant-ish child. 

He also said they did physical assessments and he passed for his age group .... he was worried about the run and passed.  WITHOUT junk food, late nights or back to back days of little sleep and too much video gaming --- I am sure he is surprising himself, with his new set schedule, decent food, and exercise!  

ok, well ... I know from the videos that there are a lot of exciting training modules coming up for him and I think even he is looking forward to it ...  I can see him during the teargas exercise saying 'it didn't even affect me' (did I mention he is a tiny bit cocky).  

ok, going to sleep in a couple hours,  I work overnights and just glad he called me early so I can sleep all day. ALSO, he said they are allowed to call every 2 weeks -- if they behave etc , I'm sure (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡  Nite!

monwojo - WooHOO!!! I am so glad you got an early morning call that worked with your schedule and that your SR is doing so well!!! Thank you for sharing!!

I got the “I’m a sailor!” call yesterday afternoon! He’s in a 900 division, so apparently they go a little earlier than I was expecting - he’s at the end of week 7. He said his team went through with zero strikes, so they were pretty proud of that! Next week I’ll be able to watch for him on the live stream of PIR as he’s in in the honor guard. He sounded great - very proud of himself and his team and I couldn’t be happier for him. Every week has gotten easier for me on this end - only 3 weeks to go before I can give him a hug!

Oh Diahn!! WooHoo! Bravo Zulu to your son!! Congratulations!! They still have to do their final PFA, correct??  We are rejoicing with you!!

@Chipmunk - Yes! Still has to do his final PFA next week. I’ll be able to breathe  easier once that is done!

Diahn - Yes, this slight change to their schedule at the end of BC is different and hard. You want to rejoice but you also know they still have that PFA to complete!! All the best to him!!

Hi everyone...sorry I've been a little out of touch but I'm trying to catch up with everyone's news.  Congratulations Diahn!!  And monwojo - calls are the best!!  Welcome to everyone new here...you'll get so much support from this group!  Quick update on my son - he had a final follow up with his ortho doc last week and his xray showed his tibial fracture is healed and he is clear to start running again.  So he's on a schedule to get back in shape and be ready to reenlist at the end of July (he's so over living at home with me and his Dad and is ready to get back!).  Happy Monday everyone!

Tootie - that's great news!

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

PIR JUNE 2023

PIR MAY 2023

PIR APRIL 2023

WHOOP
WHOOP
WHOOP
ATTENTION ON DECK
WE HAVE A NEW SAILOR
Congratulations to Diahn and BZ to her Sailor

Tootie -- I'm so glad that he is fully healed.  Have they given him ways to prevent this from happening again?  Here's to praying that the waivers process is smooth and he's able to complete BC successfully!  We will STILL be here to cheer him and you on! (I'm sorry he's not loving living with you!  Darned parents and their rules... The Navy wasn't like that!! ;0) )

belovedbyHim - I know right!? - he can make up his bed at bootcamp but not at home - what's up with that? lol!  He is doing physical therapy for strength and conditioning so hopefully that will help to prevent it from happening again.

Tootie -- When my Bee comes home to visit even though it's been nearly 10 years... He's a COMPLETE slob!! I have to constantly remind him that we have a No food or drink (Except water) in the bedroom policy!! I let them eat elsewhere but not in their rooms because I don't want to have to go searching in there for dishes and sliverware!! On one trip home I swore that he was throwing away all my spoons!! Nope... they were buried in his room under dirty underwear and stinky socks!

Welcome MamaBear67!  This is your main page for getting answers to your Navy questions, Support as you transition to a Navy Mom and your space to vent where others get you! 

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

PIR JUNE 2023

PIR MAY 2023

PIR APRIL 2023