Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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

PIR JULY 2023

PIR JUNE 2023

PIR MAY 2023

they don't need much.. clothing will be given, I do think they get to wear their own running shoes now but should check.. some pictures, small address book, Mine took a change of clothes with his phone/charger/wallet.. everything was put in a box and stored there until after PIR. their study guide naturally lol. 

Johanna -- They need the clothes on their back, a good pair of running shoes (Not brand new, but newer), their cell phone and charger.  A black or brown wallet with their banking information & Card (Go to a Navy Federal Branch before they leave if you can... It's 10000000000 times easier to use than a regular bank because they are set up to work with Military more than most other places.) They can take a small amount of cash (I can't remember if it's $20 or 50) they should also have a card in their wallet or in a Bible or other religious text with phone numbers and addresses.  Most kids have that info on their Cells and they will not have access to them at BC.  You can also give them a short note of encouragement.  Tell them to save reading it till they NEED it!!! (They will KNOW when that is!).  They can take a disposable toothbrush & razor to MEPS and use the hotel shampoo/soap then throw that stuff away because they don't want to have to put much in the "Box" for storage if they can avoid it. 
Have them leave you a voicemail that you don't listen to till you NEED it!! (You'll know when that is!) It will make the first few weeks a tad more bearable!  If they want to leave a letter for you to read after they have been gone for a bit that's good too.  Everything else will either be provided or they can buy it at the NEX with the "Allowance" they are given.  This includes Phone cards.  It's so hard to find a pay phone phone card since most of them are cell phone reload minutes and not actual phone cards so don't make yourselves crazy hunting for one.  They can buy one at the NEX at BC and call from that.  If you want to look for a video that shows how to use one that's not a bad idea but don't get stressed over it! 
Most of all they should take your love and support!! 

Johanna - Trey and belovedbyHim pretty much covered it, but I will add one thing. My son's recruiter told him he could bring a watch, as long as it fit RTC guidelines. So if your son is a watch wearer, have him check with his recruiter to see what's appropriate. I remember it was pretty basic: black band and face, not digital, no shiny parts... We were able to get a pretty inexpensive one at JC Penney. Ended up being his birthday gift that year, as he turned 18 a week before leaving for BC.

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

PIR JULY 2023

PIR JUNE 2023

PIR MAY 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).

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

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.

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

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

Be sure to read belovedbyHim's blog post.  Here's the link:

Welcome to the Navy, everything will be ok!

hi johanna.. I believe it is just like a regular job, he will fill out tax stuff.. mine didn't mention it being hard or anything I know they have people there to help and answer questions.. if mine didn't bring it up with me at all so someone helped.. just more of onboarding paperwork..

317 new graduates today.  Watch it live now.  Here's the link:

LIVE PIR MAY 26, 2023

Johanna -- Yes, they have withholding just like any job.  They still have to pay taxes just like civilians.  They make poverty wages however so they will get most all of it back come tax time.

Mine got a refund of $2.. lol.. I wonder if he didn't mess up.

I will beg him to use the tax guys on base next year.. instead of calling us afterwards going something didn't seem right ... sigh.. he was tough to homeschool.. didn't like to listen to me.

Good Afternoon everyone!! It has been a busy week and I know we have some new members that I have joined which I haven't had a chance to check in on and say hello. 

Please be sure to come here to our Comment Wall and say hello. This is where we do our regular chatter and get to know you. 

Hi! New here.  Son is newly in BC we're a little anxious and super excited for him and his choice at such a young age! We have lots of Navy and AF family members but he wasn't raised military, so we were surprised he suddenly became so enthusiastic about getting trained for "a real job" as he put it. :-)

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

PIR JULY 2023

PIR JUNE 2023

Thanks. I believe it'll be first week of August due to a delay in starting actual BC (holiday etc)

TravelinMom - we don't have August PIR info yet.  Hopefully RTC will post it soon and I can get the group up.

TravelinMom - Welcome to the group!! This is the best place to ask questions and share your ups and downs as more of the regular members will see your posts here and be able to reply. 

Trey -- HAHAHA!!! Yep. Stubborn kids!!! Mine has run into several self inflicted challenges!! Taxes, Driver's licenses', finally listened on the whole renters Insurance thing...

TravelinMom -- Welcome.

Trey -- actually the more I think about it.... Your sailor did it perfect!! They didn't over or under pay the government!!

Trey - my son had to pay $2 - and my husband did his taxes for him, so we think it's accurate!  :-)

TravelinMom - Welcome to the group!  We were the same way in that we have several military family members, but we fully expected our son to go the college route.  We were surprised that he chose Navy, but it is a good fit for him so far.  (He's 1.5 years in, and currently at Nuke school.)

Thanks, everyone. Yes, he was headed the college route and like a flip switched one day - BLING - Navy! He badly wanted to be a Navy Diver but knew there was no way he'd get to 10 pullups anytime soon, and he wanted to do more than just work out all Summer. Even if he does try out for ND after his 6 years are up, he's pretty darned happy about the rate he chose and I'm confident he'll do super well with in A school. I'd say his Dad and I are more nervous about Mr. Black and White (no grey areas - son) will get frustrated with anything he deems unfair or illogical. I kept telling him, "if you apply logic to each situation in the military or even civilian life, you'll only frustrate yourself!" lol So as long as he can make it through Boot Camp - praying so! - I think he'll be just fine.

My son  was a challenging kid to raise and we butted heads A LOT, is in week five of basic and is using words like 'fun' and it 'isn't as hard as he thought' it would be. He thriving! I am so happy for him and can't wait to see him in July ;-) So ya just never know about these young people.

TravelinMom - We have a saying here on N4M and especially BC Mom - Semper Gumby - Always Flexible. Our military have to learn that as well, but also - "The Navy Way", and a few others!! That is some good advice your shared with your son. 

norcalmaven - I am so glad that you are hearing positive messages from your SR!!  It makes our momma heart glad!

Good Morning Everyone!!

I hope everyone is doing well!! 

As a reminder, this website is much easier to view on a regular computer versus a mobile device, so we recommend putting your screen into desktop mode if you are using your phone. I personally use my laptop and rarely have difficulty navigating the site, other than needing to scroll my screen up and down. 

I posted these links to BC videos, which can be found on the upper left side of this page, on another discussion so thought I would repost here as well. 

Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)

Boot Camp: Behind The Scenes at RTC

norcalmaven - Ditto here about butting heads with my son, but he loved BC.  He definitely called it fun, and once got in trouble for "smiling while being yelled at".  

norcalmaven -- Many young people find BC to be a fun challenge.  A lot of it has to do with their mindset.  If they go in KNOWING that 90% of the yelling is a head game and they accept that part of the process and they don't take any of it personally (And fix their mistakes without question/hesitation) they will find the process can be fun.  I have seen more often than not it's the Headstrong Kids who thrive on routine and structure and not being the one in charge.  
I'm glad yours is enjoying this time and making the most of the opportunity!

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

PIR JULY 2023

PIR JUNE 2023

Hi my son will be leaving for BC in July, I would appreciate any advise I can get. What should he wear, and take with him? Will I be able to be at the swearing in before he leaves?

Thanks

Sandra -- 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!!)

I answered this same question on May 24 but here it is again.
A lot of this info is also in my blog.

They need the clothes on their back, a good pair of running shoes (Not brand new, but newer), their cell phone and charger.  A black or brown wallet with their banking information & Card (Go to a Navy Federal Branch before they leave if you can... It's 10000000000 times easier to use than a regular bank because they are set up to work with Military more than most other places.) They can take a small amount of cash (I can't remember if it's $20 or 50) they should also have a card in their wallet or in a Bible or other religious text with phone numbers and addresses.  Most kids have that info on their Cells and they will not have access to them at BC.  You can also give them a short note of encouragement.  Tell them to save reading it till they NEED it!!! (They will KNOW when that is!).  They can take a disposable toothbrush & razor to MEPS and use the hotel shampoo/soap then throw that stuff away because they don't want to have to put much in the "Box" for storage if they can avoid it. 
Have them leave you a voicemail that you don't listen to till you NEED it!! (You'll know when that is!) It will make the first few weeks a tad more bearable!  If they want to leave a letter for you to read after they have been gone for a bit that's good too.  Everything else will either be provided or they can buy it at the NEX with the "Allowance" they are given.  This includes Phone cards.  It's so hard to find a pay phone phone card since most of them are cell phone reload minutes and not actual phone cards so don't make yourselves crazy hunting for one.  They can buy one at the NEX at BC and call from that.  If you want to look for a video that shows how to use one that's not a bad idea but don't get stressed over it! 
Most of all they should take your love and support!! 

Sandra -- Part 2... As for seeing him swear in at MEPS or going to the airport... We don't know for sure.  We now live in a post COVID world so random freak outs still happen.  Generally speaking YES.  This happens the morning they are at MEPS (Usually the day after they spend the night in the hotel) The airport has always been up to the airlines to grant a gate pass. Have him ask his recruiter.  It's a lot of you just sitting there with nothing to do while they take care of business but seeing them take the oath is cool. If they are not allowing IN PERSON viewing at MEPS have him ask if they are streaming it.
Every MEPS station is a little bit different so there is NO one size fits all, but it does fit most. 
This is your first step toward learning that the only 100% reliable information has to come from your Sailor/ Seaman Recruit.  We can tell you how it has been and what is commonly the experience of others who have shared but only your Sailor can say for sure.

I have the August PIR group up - here's the link:

PIR AUGUST 2023

I'm sorry to ask what I know is somewhere on this site, but I've been searching for 1/2 and hour and can't seem to find it, even with the search window. I got a text from Sandboxx and the address assigned to my kid was at the 3515 Sailor Drive. It seems early for him to have been assigned anything as, even though he shipped there last week, he was supposed to be on P-Hold due to the weekend and then holiday until probably yesterday. I remember reading 3515 Sailor Drive (I do have a Ship and Division though, but know it can change) was a generic address and not to be trusted, am I right? Since I received something from Sandboxx though it sounds like I won't receive an official letter though. Sorry, if you know where to direct me to further info about Sandboxx and the addresses, do let me know, please.

Here is the link to the Graduation information. If you need the security access form, scroll down and find that tab, open it and then scroll down till you see the button for 3 guest or 4 guest form. 

U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command > Graduation

I double checked in my computer files and I guess I do not have a copy of the old street addresses that were available. I am sorry. 

TravelinMom - Okay, I am deleting that first message, I had not scrolled through well enough - but this is correct -  I am not sure how to reply to your Sandboxx question since it was not being used in the same way as when my son was there, but this is from the RTC website - U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command > FAQ - under Contacting Recruits. 

If you go to the Contacting Recruits tab, open it up, and be sure to use the grey slide bar on the side and open the address all the way up. It does look like our link is broken in our Letter Writing Pages in the upper right here. But if you look at the RTC website, they do have the addresses for the Ship # there. 

Q's Momma  - Thank you!! - Each Ship has a different street address number assigned to it, which is what I was looking for on the RTC website. They have changed their page format and I did not scroll down all the way to find it. 

TravelinMom - I posted the information on your profile page. With that, if you have a Ship # / Div # - Hopefully you can send him mail. If you feel like it is too early, then I would wait to send postal mail or try the Sandboxx. Here is our post on Sandboxx - Sandboxx App for BC

I apologize if I am giving you repetative information but I don't know what you have looked at already. My understanding is that if you are contacted by Sandboxx and sent a form letter through them, then you will not receive the paper one now. You might want to buy a small Sandboxx bundle and just mail a message to your SR to verify his address.