Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Please join me in welcoming Shebamom to our group. We are glad you have joined us. Please come say hello and share a little of how your Navy journey has been so far. 

I first found this site almost 6 years ago, about the week before PIR and have stuck around since. 

BennyLj2023!!! Thank you! Poor kid has been in BC since October! 

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

 PIR AUGUST 2023

 PIR JULY 2023

 PIR JUNE 2023

Hi 

  Thank you for allowing me to join. My family has served in every branch but the Navy so navigating my son at basic has been a challenge. 

    I do have a question about a text message I received for Sandbox for letters from my son. Can anyone tell me if this is legit?

Today's live PIR - here's the link:

LIVE PIR JUNE 2 2023

Shebamom - Yes, the Sandboxx text message should be legitimate. Be sure to read this post about it and the newest updated information we have with how it is being utilized at BC now - Sandboxx App for BC

Also, be sure to scroll back through some of the recent pages of posts here, as we have had several other newer members also ask about the Sandboxx app. 

Sandra-

When my kid left for BC, I was sad...but I realized that this was his decision and it would be good for him.  His life consisted of:school, work, video games until the wee hours of the morning, sleep until (or later), I got home from work.  In one of his phone calls, he told my husband that he wished that he joined sooner!

He's been in since October due to stress fractures of both legs 2 x! We are proud of his persistence, dedication and maturity (and funny stories)!

Also, if you are using a mobile device to view this site, be sure to put it into Desktop mode, as it will be a little easier to navigate. I use my laptop and I can see everything easily, and post easily but we are old school here, so the mobile devices can be tricky.

And Shebamom - welcome to the Navy!! My husband was Army, so FYI we refer to basic training as bootcamp here or BC. It will probably take some getting used to, but before long, you will pick up in the lingo. When you have a chance, start reading through all of the information above. Some of it probably needs a little updating, but we do our best as we all volunteer our time to stay active on our various groups here, to keep everyone connected. 

Can anyone tell me what the Training Group numbers, say, 924, 800, etc. are? Is it a special group of say, Marching Band or something like that?

Good Morning Patti  - Have your read this page from those listed in the upper right? - 800 and 900 Divisions - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

I am thinking they have eliminated the 800 divisions as those were for SR training for Special ops and I think for security reasons they have now been integrated into the other divisions. The 900s division is for anyone that will be participating in the PIR, I think 1-2 weeks prior to theirs. They could be musicians, flag bearers, or even "catchers", I think. Lemonelephant put many of those pages together and is fairly thorough with her information. 

Welcome Shebamom!

patti - First of all, prayers for your son as he, hopefully, nears the end of his long BC journey. I know it's been frustrating, but it sounds like he's handled it with grace. Second, I find it so interesting that many of our boys are cut from similar cloth: smart but didn't care for school; huge into gaming; main social life was through friends met through online gaming; recognized that traditional college was not for him; needed structure. My son has had the same reaction as yours to joining the Navy - loves it and has no regrets. He's only 9 months in, but so far, so good. 

I realize that not everyone on this forum has had a great experience with the Navy (or any branch), and I wish your family members well in what remains of their Navy journey and beyond. Hope they all find a path that brings them joy and contentment.

patti - Chimpunk gave you correct info.  There is no longer an 800 division.

Here's the link to the 900's Division which will give you some info on what they do.  My son was a "body catcher".  They will work the 2 PIR's prior to theirs also.

900s Division

@Shebamom - Same boat as my kid! I think he'll love it, too. And hey, Navy was all his idea, not that I'm complaining about that :-)

B'sNukeMom - Thanks!! I forgot we had a link for just 900 division. I clicked on the first one that I noticed. 

FYI - I knew about "body catchers" because I have been on here long enough to read comments by B'sNukeMom several times about her son to know there was such a thing, and to see them at PIR.  - We have a good community here and everyone is welcome to participate for as long as you like!

joemom, it IS interesting about our guys.  I'm glad that they found their niche. Best of Luck to them all!

Thank you all for clearing up the questio of the 800-900 TG. 

add my sailor to the list of gaming friends and other geek stuff. he is into Warhammer hard right now.. Got his associate's but the cost of college was more than we could handle and it seems the Navy has given him a structure needed that we couldn't. We homeschooled too.

Shebamom -- Welcome.  I'm another of the experienced moms who has stuck around to help our new moms get their sea legs and bearings.  The end of this month will mark 10 years since my Sailor left for BC and I still remember it clearly!  This is your place to cry, vent, laugh, rejoice, ask any and all questions!! This is Your Bootcamp into becoming a Navy mom!! All questions not specific to your PIR/Div's you can ask here.  If you post something that isn't OPSEC or PERSEC we will let you know, This is the place to make those mistakes and know that they can be corrected so that in the Fleet you know what NOT to share.

The Training timeline is posted above on this page.  If you all learn that something has changed please let us know so we can continue to pass on correct information.  We do not have a "Secret Spy" channel into Bootcamp. All the information shared here is gleaned from you all (Boot camp moms who have been through it) and confirmed with RTC for major changes.  During COVID things were changing on a near daily basis.  That has slowed but we are still reliant on you sharing on here as well as the little bit we know from "How it's normally been done".  Since several of us have stuck around we have seen many of the same questions and answers over and over... That is what we share.  We are moms who love our kids but we also remember how it felt to be lost and scared, proud and overjoyed, bewildered or just to have a small question... We accept you all as you are and hope that by the end of your child/loved one's journey you only have good memories (Or at least more good than bad.... this is real life after all) and that you Know that you are part of an amazing community of Military Loved ones who never leave a man behind and always support each other.

joe-mom -- Interesting observation!! SPOT on too!!

Trey and others - Your sailors will be able to use their GI bill once they are out of the Navy. And while in there are other options for tuition assistance as well. Sometimes our guys need time to just figure out life and what it is they really want to do. It may also mean they will do another 180 on you, but in the end our hope is that they will be happy, productive adults. 

Diahn - Be sure to keep us posted and updated!!

Oh Yes!!! And keep those phones close by and ringers on loud!! I never turned my phone off, I answered calls in church, even the doctor's office. If it is spam, just hang up! But as I recall my first call from my SR on his calling card showed up as not from one of the IL area codes but overseas, so just answer the phone.

And if you think you really might miss a call or not be able to take it, some people change their voice mail message to let their SR know they are thinking about them and maybe hint to call another loved one. 

Well - that’s the first time I have uploaded a photo on here…Sorry it’s sideways! Ha!

Diahn - That is good to hear!!! And a visit to A school - how great!! Thanks for sharing your tidbits. 

As for the photo, there is a way to click on the picture and edit it before you actually post it, but it might be harder to do if you are posting from a phone vs on the computer. Yours is not the first sideways picture we have seen. 

FYI - "IT" is Intense Training, which just means getting extra exercises, like push-ups or such. You might also hear your SR say something about "getting hits".  As I recall, this means they have gotten marks against them for something like how their made their bed or their uniforms not being just so. It has nothing to do with physical hitting or abuse. In other words, hits are like a demerit or mark against you. 

Chipmunk -Thanks! I’ll figure it out eventually. ;)

His A school is about an 8 hour drive for us, and near a nice beach, so it’s not a bad trip!

Also - the recruits may call IT getting beat. Same thing - no physical contact…they just feel beaten afterwards. My son said his division chose to be a strong division over a smart one…meaning they got a lot of beatings. :D

Diahn -- HAHAHA!!!! They CHOSE to be strong rather than smart.... HAHAHA!!! (we all know there was minimal choosing happening there but yes... They could have been smarter. ) My Sailor was part of the "Air Chair Circus".  According to his RDC they were all a bunch of clowns and his favorite "Consequence" was air chairs. (sit without a chair or wall! It's hard to do!! Sailor estimates that he could do it for 30min before he'd fall on his backside.  His thighs were ripped though.)

@Patti, thanks I am hoping for the same outcome. I have so many questions. Do they get to take their own running shoes, will it be possible to send him with a calling card if needed. Will he need to sign up for sandbox and anyone who would like to wright him, sorry so many questions. 

Thanks

Sandra, they go to BC with only the clothes on their backs. When they need new shoes, you can send it to them-black ones. You and he could sign up for Sandboxx, but it costs a few $ to send. My family and friends just sent snail mail.

I believe he can purchase a calling card at the NEX.

Sandra, I just have a second - but if you wish to buy a calling card beforehand so he can activate it, then you may do so. Look at a CVS or Walgreens and ask for Payphone calling cards. Otherwise as Patti said, they can buy them at the NEX and they give them an allowance there to purchase such things. 

I am glad Patti mentioned black as all accessories, including wallet and watches need to be all black, I think Navy blue was okay for a wallet. If he wants to wear his running shoes, even if he can't use them at BC, then he will have them in his "box" to be able to take with him straightway to A school. 

Several sources said you can take your own running shoes to Boot Camp. They will either use them or they won't, I figure. My son's running shoes are grey (just what he happened to have) and are size 13 Wide, with inserts for his high arches. I was told they give you a choice if you want the issued shoes or not. It's good either way, he had them and needed to wear something on the plane, anyway.

Any grand ideas on a graduation gift? I feel this will be a bigger deal than high school graduation for us but he doesn't need a watch nor a knife, and he's not a collector, really. I don't know what's really practical, seeing that he'll be leaving for A school right away, either.

Happy Monday!

Diahn - I fixed your picture for you ;-D

I am on vacation countdown to see my new grandson.... Saturday can't get here soon enough!

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

 PIR AUGUST 2023

 PIR JULY 2023

 PIR JUNE 2023

Hi all, 

  New Mom hanging in there! Thanks for all the support I have received from this group.

   I heard a rumor from a former Navy spouse, that the basic recruits have to do pushups for every letter received. Any truth in that statement?

TravelinMom - Even if your son is not a big collector, if you are able to go to PIR, you can always purchase some of the challenge coins that are only available there. They are small and you can later make a shadow box or get a small keepsake box for him. They will be small but something for him to share with his family later on. 

More practically, if he does not need a watch, help with a laptop, or gift cards for food places, or gasoline cards, if he is in a place where he is driving. Honestly, my son was not big on needing anything and our trip to PIR was our gift to him, as well as every trip we made to his subsequent graduations (he had 3 for his schooling). 

Shebamom - I would not be concerned if your SR got IT (intensive training / pushups, etc.) because he got a big stack of letters from you!! The pushups will do them good and so will the letters. That said, I did not go wild with letters to my son. I wrote him emails every day until I had his form letter (back then about 3 weeks), and then I copied them to a Word Doc, printed, sent a handwritten note at the bottom and mailed them. I continued to do the same throughout BC. I also shared his address with friends from church, and instructions on no glitter, no newsprint, etc. They do not have a lot of room to store their letters or cards, so news and love from home is good, but try to keep it not bulky.

Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire

B'sNukeMom - I am right there with you. I am on a countdown for my grandbabies to come see me. Although, it really is easier for me to go visit them (less for me to clean and straighten up) but we are hoping to see some extended family that has not seen my newest one yet. Safe travels!!

B'sNukeMom - thank you for fixing the photo! 

Shebamom - I wrote my son a letter almost every day and he didn't mention that they got IT for any of them - I imagine it depends on their RDCs. They got "beat" plenty and when I saw him last weekend, he and his buddy were laughing about how many pushups they had to do - and were both totally grateful for all the letters they received from family.

TravelinMom - we struggled with that as well and in the end didn't get him anything. We did have a flag flown over the US Capitol building on the day of his PIR (You can order it through your senator's official web page) and in fact, he got us Challenge coins and photos. He was just so happy we came to see him and spend the day with him, I don't think it ever occurred to him there should be an additional gift. :)

Thanks for all the thoughts on this. We're definitely going to graduation, likely all of them. We were planning on the challenge coin as well. Hubs has some, himself. Thanks again!

our visit and later A school visits were the main gift.. we would take him out to buy clothes or anything else he needed and paid for dinners.. 

Sandra -- Do they get to take their own running shoes? Yes.  They are NOW allowing them to keep their own running shoes.  They should be in Good shape, Newish and already broken in.  Ideally they will be black, grey or white.  
Will it be possible to send him with a calling card if needed? If you can find one locally Otherwise DO NOT stress yourselves over it in his limited time home!! They can buy them there with the money they are allotted for personal purchases.

Will he need to sign up for sandbox? That is up to you and your SR.  On the plus side you will get the address with the Div number (And thus the PIR date) via text message quicker and there is no cost to your SR to sign up. The letter gets there a tad quicker and they get a SASE and paper with every letter sent to them.  On the Minus side... It is expensive if you want to reply or send letters via sandboxx.  

Anyone who would like to write him?  You can share the address with anyone who would like to write him.  Be sure they know the "rules".  NO GLITTER, NO NEWSPRINT, NO MUSICAL CARDS, NO MONEY.  You do not want to do anything to draw attention to your SR.  Also no care packages.  Just first class regular mail in simple envelopes.

patti  -- Their PT shoes can be other colors but it's best if they are plain.  Black, white, grey, blue all are acceptable. Even neon would be ok but it's best to not draw attention. They can buy new ones there but it's better if they bring their own that they KNOW fit their feet!

TravelinMom -- They don't need much and don't have room for much. Honestly it's not needed... This is just like completing training at any job.  If you feel you must do something and can afford it, Plane tickets so they can come home on leave, money for an attraction near their A school, a subscription to books or music......

B'sNukeMoM -- Enjoy your Grandbaby!!! Get in tons of snuggles and all the love you can!!

Shebamom  -- no.  They do not get "Beat" for getting letters from home.  If they are needing extra IT then the RDC's may use any excuse but not for simply getting letters.  When my SR was in we heard that someone got a musical card.  They had been a bit of a troublemaker so the Div had to do IT while the guy who got the card opened and closed it till the battery died.... They are trained to work as a team and what happens to one happens to them all.  You are good to send your letters and love!

Hello, everyone!  I'm sorry but I can't remember which Moms here have kids who have not left for BC yet.  But for those moms I just remembered something to do prior to BC. 

Get their wisdom teeth removed!!!

My son needed his removed, but he said, "I'll wait till boot camp; the Navy will do it for me for free!"  But thankfully, his started bothering him before he left, so we had them removed.  Many of his fellow recruits had to have theirs taken out at BC.

My son had to have his removed at BC. He had to stay in bed for a day or two and then rest for another couple of days.

TravelinMom - for graduation gifts, I didn't know they would sell Challenge coins at PIR, so we ordered some online and he loved those.  We also gave him a fleece US Navy blanket, which he keeps on his bed even now.

The other gift we gave is a little unusual, but he loved it.  He graduated the day before Thanksgiving, and we knew that he would not ship out until at least Friday, so we knew going in that we would get most of Wednesday with him, and all of Thursday (well 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.).  He is a very social kid, so we activated an old pre-paid cell phone and gave the phone number to his friends and asked them to text him.  When he was at the hotel with us, he was able to get in touch with many of his friends.  (He ended up not shipping out for 6 days, and they don't get their phones back until just before they head to the airport so it worked out well.  But some Sailors ship out the next day, so it's probably a waste of money in that case.)  But he was really grateful to be able to use the phone when he was away from base.

My son did not have to have his wisdom teeth removed - I think he is missing one or two like his father. But that meant he had to stand extra watches and get less sleep because anyone SIQ (sick in quarters) from wisdom teeth did not have to stand watch. It was hard, especially at the beginning of BC doing the middle of the night watch. 

Fair points made here. I'm super grateful my boy had his widsom teeth removed at home less than a year ago. (Well, not "at home" but with a local dental surgeon!) 

Turns out he had 5 wisdom teeth, most were impacted, that had to come out and I'm not sure how that would have gone for him. But the point about standing watches when new at BC - that gives me something else to ask him. He's not much of a writer, but I really like using the questionnaire format so I can get answers for stuff. I just sent him one yesterday.

Good point about the fleece Navy blanket. I forgot he already has a Naval Academy one he'd probably like to have when he goes to A school. It was from a Boy Scouts camping trip when we lived in that area, and it's always nice to have useful, familiar stuff from home!

Lots of good ideas here, everyone, thanks!

Hello, on the day my son leaves for BC will he have to get another physical at MEPS? His date is July 12th, will we need to drop him off at the hotel on the 11th?

Thanks to everyone for all the help

Sandra