Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Lara - There is no rest for those weary travelers. You may be aware but for others, they keep the recruits up for 36 hours or so, just to see how they can handle that pressure. 

Everyone have a wonderful day! Start writing your SRs now.

At some point, you may receive a call from the American Red Cross, just reaching out to new military families, so don't be surprised.

Here is Sandboxx App for BC  information and a link to Informed Delivery - USPS

NucMomTami, wait until you do your first grocery shopping run . I remember grabbing all his favorites only to realize I forgot he wasn't there to eat or drink them.  He loved chocolate milk, I managed to drink about half of it but ended up throwing the rest away. It takes a while for our hearts and brains to catch on.

lol be nice to the Red Cross guy .. I kept getting a call and reacted like the guy was a telemarketer.. I apologized for a few minutes once I realized who he was and why calling.. 

Sometimes my brain/heart still haven't caught up.. Been two years.. 

NucMomTami -- Yep... the excitement/anxiety/nerves keeps them from getting a good nights sleep, then they are up for the next 2 days... They just don't get to catch up for the next 10 weeks!! (Unless they get their wisdom teeth out... then they are SIQ and are allowed to sleep due to the meds. It stinks for those who DON'T... No Rest for them!! In fact they pull extra duty!)  Glad he was able to catch a Nap on the plane!

Today is our 10 year PIR Anniversary!!Time really does fly!! I spoke to my Sailor today.  He's getting ready to leave for deployment and spent the last few days getting all his gear assigned and ready.  He was just home for 2 weeks and he is couch surfing since his stuff is in storage from his last station and he leaves so soon. 

I still remember those early days when I was a hot mess. I couldn't stop crying and worrying and this site was an absolute life saver!!
So to all you new moms... It will be OK!! You will get through this!! We will NOT abandon you!! One day, you will look back on this and realize that this is the "Easy" part. 

Ask all your questions, vent all your frustrations, whisper all your fears... We are here, we care and we may just have the answers you are looking for.
Then come back and Share all your Joys, Shout all your Celebrations and let us Revel in the Bravo Zulu's of your sailors Navy life!!  Just as the tides ebb and flow there will be good and bad but you Never have to Navigate alone.

Northwoodsmom -- I forgot about the grocery shopping!!! Standing in the aisle with tears streaming down my face because I didn't need to buy his cereal any more!!

Welcome rmarie25!! I left information for you on your page.  Please take a minute to introduce yourself and tell us a bit about where in this Journey your child is at?

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

PIR NOVEMBER 2023

PIR OCTOBER 2023

PIR SEPTEMBER 2023

**REMINDER** BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 2023, RECRUIT GRADUATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY (NO LONGER ON FRIDAY), EXCEPT FOR THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, WHEN GRADUATION IS ON WEDNESDAY.

rmarie25 - Welcome to BC Mom and Loved Ones Group. We are glad you have joined us. This is the spot - the COMMENT WALL where you want to come and share your start in this Navy journey, ask questions and share your ups and downs. It is the best place to post and have others notice your comments / questions. 

Ladies, This is a Regular Announcement: Please put this information in your Phones:
I have a contact labeled {sailor ICE} with this phone number and text number as the phone number under the contacts, then I have the needed contact info in the notes section. The info in Italics below. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it or have to remember where or what you need! In the event of an emergency I can just pull up the info on my phone and hand it off if I’m not able to think clearly!!

If an emergency (such as a serious illness, death or birth) of an immediate family member takes place then military families can initiate a request for Red Cross emergency assistance. The message will be verified and then delivered. If the emergency requires leave for a service member, the Red Cross will verify the emergency to the service member’s commanding officer. Eligibility for emergency leave will ultimately be determined by them. Throughout the process, the family member will be able to track the progress of the message from anywhere in the world online, by phone, through our mobile app or in person.

To best prepare for an emergency, please have this information ready when reporting an emergency message:

· The service members name, rank, social security number and unit address {SR Davy Jones, 123-45-6789, Great Lakes Naval Training Center Ship 99, Div 1904.} {In Fleet This would be their Ship Name and number}

· The name of the person with the emergency and the nature of the situation {King Neptune, Hospitalized in critical condition}

· The name and contact information for the medical authority to contact regarding the status of the emergency {Doctor Jack Sparrow, Barbados General Hospital, 555-123-4567}

To access these services through the Hero Care Network, create an account and send the message here or send through the Hero Care app by texting “GETHEROCARE” to 90999 or call a Hero Care specialist at 1-877-272-7337.

Please have this discussion before your sailor leaves or ask in an early call or letter (Reassure them that all is well at home but you have learned you should have asked sooner.) No one likes to talk about the possibility of death but it happens and it’s easier if you have a plan for how to handle these situations. When you can, ask if they want to know about anyone not parent or sibling while in boot camp (They likely will not be allowed to leave anyway), ask if they want to come home if it’s a parent or sibling (In Boot camp, It will likely be short, 2-4 days at most) This is very rare and I only know of one case where it has happened in BC but again, better to be prepared! 
The Red Cross may reach out to you while your SR is in BC. This is normal and nothing to be surprised about. They want to make sure you also have this information available and know that they are there should you need them.

Welcome to KLsewso & aslrebecca -- Please say hi and introduce yourselves.
This is the place to chat, ask questions and get the most support.
I have left information on both your pages and hopefully that will be helpful for you.

welcome all.. hi aslrebecca.. will be neat to hear how he handles boot then.. 

Hi everyone I am planning my son's party for this weekend and he leaves for BC Sept. 11th.  When he first told me the day he calmed me down and said "I'm going to be ok mom this is something I want to do."   So proud of the maturing he has done in the last few weeks and he is already physically fit (has been doing something similar to American Ninja Warrior for 10 years).

KLsewso -- The ANW course will be helpful but remind him to work on his Push-ups and the run.  He can take his own Running shoes.  They should be in good condition but not brand new.  If he needs replacements, today would be a good day to get them so he can break them in before he leaves!
What an awesome Day to leave.  My Sailor joined because he remembered seeing me in shock on 9-11 and he never wanted to see me that way again. (He was a little kid and he doesn't realize that if anything happened to him, the tears I shed that day would be nothing next to the tears for him but I appreciate the sentiment.)  Enjoy these last days and try and make them happy ones. (You can cry after he's gone.) Write him a not of encouragement and tuck it into his wallet to read when he "Really Needs it!!". He'll know when that is.  Then have him call and leave you a voice mail-- Don't listen to it till you "Really need it!!" Again, You'll know.  We all handle this time differently but in the 10 years my sailor has been in and I have been a part of this group, that pattern has been nearly universal!  There will be a time you just can't take it any more and knowing you have those things can help ease that just a bit!

alsrebecca -- Ohhhhh I can't wait to see how he feels about actual Yelling!! 
Yes the fact that you are a Navy Child/Wife will be somewhat helpful (As it will be for your SR) but it also means you KNOW the realities more than most.  I was also a Navy wife.  Desert Storm was an Eye opener.  Hubby had just returned a few months earlier from Deployment and was on a new ship.  Their deployment date was moved up.  He left when I was 3 months Pregnant, Arrived home a week before her delivery and was gone again before she took her first steps. (a week after he left).  The silences were the hardest since he was on Amphibs. They had to get close to shore!! He was the Assistant CHENG. and was in the Oil Steam powered vessels where it was 130 degrees at times.  They did 15 min rotations in Ice vests!

KLsewso & alsrebecca-

Enjoy & Congratulations!

Welcome aboard KLsewso & alsrebecca - We are glad you are here!! This is the best place to come and chat and get to know others that have SRs currently at BC or have been around for a while. And when BC is over we have other groups for you to join as well. My sailor finished his enlistment as a Nuke but he married our Sailor gal as I refer to my DIL, so they still live halfway across the country from me. 

Do we have anyone getting close to PIR date? If so, let me know and I will send you the link for the Beyond BC group. 

Good morning all⚓️Chipmunk my SR is approaching PIR! He will be heading to SC as a Nuke. 

Lara - Those first few weeks are the hardest!!!  I did the same thing about trying to figure out what Day he was on, and calculating when he might possibly graduate.  I figured if all went well, he would graduate the day before Thanksgiving.  If anything slowed him down, it would be 8 days after Thanksgiving.  I prayed and prayed and he graduated the day before Thanksgiving 2021.  I think I would have gone crazy if it had extended longer!

I think in a week or so, you should get the PIR info.  Hope it comes SOON for you!

Lara - I think the general rule of thumb is to count 11 Fridays, starting with the Friday after arrival, unless your recruit is selected for a 900 division, which adds an additional week. My son was in a 900 division, so he had 12 Fridays after arrival - they have an additional week in p-days to fill a particular 900 division. Of course, the other general rule is that there are no general rules…😁 Hang in there! It will go faster after you hear from him!

G'sNavyMom - I sent you some information in a private message. 

Lara - The ladies gave you some good information - Hang in there and ask questions or post as often as you wish!

Here is information on Sandboxx App for BC  - there is updated information on the new way they are sending the form letter notices. 

Also, this is in the discussion queue above as well -but Private Messages - Creating & Sending + OPSEC

Lara, BabySharkMom & NucMomTami -- I have all your SR's on roughly the same schedule.  The holiday weekend may have thrown you on the schedule but don't let it.  Here is a break down of the first week.

Tue Aug 29 Travel Day -- Day 0

Wed Aug 30 P-1  (no sleep since their plane landed on Aug 29...) Initial gear issued, Haircuts, Paper work and Medical.

Thurs Aug 31 P-2  (~6-8 hours of sleep finally)  Usually still in shock at being at BC. Paperwork, Medical, Moment of Truth, more paperwork and more medical.

Fri Sept 1 P-3 Paperwork, Medical, Moment of Truth, more paperwork and more medical. (Right about now they are wondering what the heck they have done...)

Sat Sept 2  P-hold.  Up early, some yelling and some PT but no "Official" training.

Sun Sept 3 P-hold.  Up early, Religious services if they choose. More yelling and training but no "Official " training.

Mon Sept 4 P-Hold- Holiday Routine.  Up early, eat, folding and refolding and making and remaking bunks, ensuring all gear is marked and squared away so the yelling will be a bit less on Tuesday...

Tue Sept 5 P-4 Paperwork, Medical, Moment of Truth, more paperwork and more medical. Possibility that the run and initial PFA happens here.

Wed Sept 6 P-5 PFA happen here for sure.  At this point they are IN the Navy!! (Sorta) Getting out is no longer an Option, it is an ordeal.  You should have heard from Sandboxx , usually via text, if your SR opted in with the address.  (We DO Recommend this). You DO NOT have to use Sandboxx to send your letters however.  Regular Snail mail is cheaper and gets there just fine. 

Thursday Sept 7 - Week 1 Training Day 1 (W1TD1) Your SR is in their Div and has moved all their gear to their Ship and berthing compartment.  Starting today, Training begins in earnest!!

For our moms in waiting... Holiday routine is different depending on where they are in their schedule.  If they are in Processing days over a holiday... they likely won't notice much difference other than they won't get poked and prodded at Medical and they won't have any paperwork to fill out. The Yellings pretty much continue unabated... (They are not Personal, they are to train your SR to obey a command immediately.)
In training weeks 1-7 they likely won't notice much change, it's much like any other Sunday.  In Weeks 8-10 they are a bit more relaxed, They are either stressed about the Final PFA, BS21 or they are past those and able to not feel as stressed.  I won't say they get to relax, because that just doesn't happen until sometime in A school or beyond... Rate depending!
Also a lot of how those P-hold days are treated by the RDC's will depend on how the Div is doing as a whole.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are both Quite Different and we will discuss those as we get closer.  For now just know that all Federal Holidays are Hold days. 

belovedbyHim - Thank you, thank you for the information.  Very helpful and honestly, comforting.  It’s nice to have an idea of what our SR’s are doing each day.  Lara and NucMomTami - hope you are both doing ok and settling in to the new normal.

I do have a question I am hoping someone can answer.  Are we allowed to share our SR’s ship and division?  The Facebook groups seem to have conflicting information.  Not wanting to violate OPSEC/PERSEC but would like to connect with other Ship/Div parents if possible.

As always, thank you in advance!

I just shared with a few family members so they could write my sailor but that was it.. some FB groups do group up by division, we ran into one for ours. basically we all were looking for phone calls saying they are sailors lol..  I wouldn't broadcast it but probably okay for certain situations.. it's not like once they are in fleet. everyone knows where BC is held.

BabySharkMom - One of the reasons that we recommend you join your PIR group is so that you can ask there about things that are a little more sensitive, such as Ship & Divisions. 

NucMomTami  -- Wisdom teeth are 'usually' Week 4.  As for if they will pull them or not... Yes.  They will pull them if they are likely to cause a problem out in the fleet (Certain jobs will always have them out), they won't if they aren't a problem or aren't a problem now... My Sailor kept his for almost 7 years.  He just had them out before his duty station to Cuba.  {{{BNMH}}} I'm so sorry you had such a distressing dream.  I've had similar.  They are always upsetting/discombobulating!!  I Promise he's being well looked after!!


BabySharkMom-- Yes and no.  Yes, you can share with individuals but NO Do not post it in an "Open" page. There are PIR groups on here that you can join and connect with others (Like Lara and Tami) or you can look for the Closed 'PIR' Groups on FB.  However... Do not post your SR's Name... (The Last name will be there but avoid first names) also be aware of what you are sharing.  While the FB groups and the ones here, try and vet their members, every now and again someone slips in.  This really matters if your SR has a Nuke or Spook rating! IF they are either of those... For you, Less is more!! You are best off not joining too many groups.
For friends, family and former classmates -- I told them to contact me and then I message the address and included the Rules.  They had to agree to the rules before I sent the address... (No care packages, no musical cards, no glitter anything, anywhere! no newsprint.)

aslrebecca -- A qualified yes... I'd stick with plain envelopes to start.  You don't want to send anything to draw attention to your SR and that includes colored envelopes.  After the first 3 weeks things start to calm down some and after week 5 it's much better.  I'd write and ask before I sent one.  Maybe include it in a plain envelope or place the art on one side and your letter on the other.  It's not like they won't be allowed to have the letter because of it but if the RDC's need a reason to "motivate" the SR they may use it.  Also make sure that any "Sketch" has the drawing Fixed.  You don't want it to smudge onto their hands, clothing or gear. That would result in a 'Hit' and they may get 'beat' as a result! (No physical violence involved! A hit is a mark against them.  If they get in enough trouble they can be set back in training.  Getting 'Beat' means doing extra IT (Intensive Training) such as push ups, air squats, sit up's and similar exercises. They are most commonly issued to the Div as a whole not to an individual SR because when one shipmate fails, they all fail!

Diahn -- Yes(ish).  Count 10 Fridays if they leave M-Wed.  Count 11 if they leave Th-F.  Some Monday Ship dates may only have 9 if they are filling a Friday Div. If they are in a performing Div they may have 11 waiting for enough SR's to arrive to fill the performing Div. (900's now I believe)

Good Morning Everyone - just to pop on and say - 

Wisdom Teeth - My son was one of the few that did not have his pulled - while others were SIQ (sick in quarters) he was having to stand extra watches, including ones in the middle of the night and not able to lay in bed and work on studying material. So, while getting wisdom teeth pulled is a bummer, there are some benefits, and they are used to doing it at BC!

Security - especially on this site - I posted it yesterday, but my discussion above about PMs & OPSEC, explains some of how this site works. The easiest way to tell how much of your stuff is visible is to log out (I am on my computer, so it is easy to recognize) and then go to N4M. Come to this BC group site, click on your avatar / profile picture and see what your profile page looks like when you are logged out. If you can see information about yourself, then you need to adjust your privacy settings. At least put them into members only. After BC, and making a few friends, most members, especially if their sailors are in sensitive areas should lock down to friends only. 

There are other things you can do with your privacy, do not have any latest activity show on your profile, set your comments to be moderated. Don't share pictures. 

When my son was in school and then out in the fleet, my other children did not even know the dates for his travel home plans. No one knew his flight schedule except for me, and maybe my husband. Even when we were visiting, or just traveling in general ourselves out of town, I wait until after we have been there before I post anything. It is hard for those big moments, like PIR, and A school or other graduations, because you have questions and need answers. As much as possible, share those in the private groups or in private messages, or ask a couple of weeks in advance or very generically. 

Another good rule of thumb - If you know that your sailor will have a secret or top-secret clearance, then watch what you say and post - not just here but on anything, especially FB! 

We have public groups here so that people can find information and make connections. But we also are learning how to be wise here as well. 

Speaking of those random folks who find their way in - 

If someone, especially if you have not seen them post several times on the groups - share their personal email with you and want to tell you something privately - Notify admin. - If you scroll to the bottom of this page there is a place to Report Issues. 

No one should be sharing personal emails, cell phone #s or last names, in any public spot on this site and a person's comment wall on their profile page is public unless they moderate it  - and they can still choose to allow a post to be visible.  There is a little blue x in the upper right of every post that you make and you have the option to delete a post, even if you put it on another persons comment wall to delete your post, if you don't think it should be there. 

Read my discussion above - Educate yourself. 

This is just the "teacher" coming out in me. No one is in trouble or has violated any rules. And that is the best time to share knowledge and wisdom with regards to OPSEC/PERSEC because there isn't something for the "wrong" eyes to see and focus on. 

Hello everyone, I am officially a Sailor mom. I just got the call, when I saw it coming in it was an unbelievable feeling. I can't even explain the feelings I have right now.

Sandra - Congrats, very happy for you and your sailor! Such a great phone call. I'm sure he sounded exhausted after being up all night, but it's a happy exhaustion.

WOO HOO... yea Sandra and her Sailor... it's an awesome ride of emotions.. we know them though.

Thanks, he was so exhausted he couldn't remember the march to the phones. 

aslrebecca -- That is Beautiful!! He may not be getting Beaten and certainly not for mail but it does draw attention and the goal of every SR is to do as they are told and fly under the radar!

WHOOP
WHOOP

WHOOP
ATTENTION ON DECK!!!

WE HAVE A SAILOR!!!
BZ TO SANDRA AND HER NEW SAILOR!!!!

yea, they have been up and super stressed for quite the while.... 

aslrebecca -- remind me what week he's in?

Sandra -- I remember a mom sharing that her new Sailor called her the next day.  She was panicking because she wasn't expecting a phone call but he had told his RDC's that he didn't call home the day before so he was allowed to call home that day. He didn't remember calling home and talking to his whole family the day prior.  Yep... They can be VERY tired.  The good news is they get to sleep now and sleep proud! (The beating have finally ceased... (ish))

Thanks, so proud of him. He is in week 8

Out of curiosity, what exactly is the 900 division? My son wasn't in it, but I'm still just curious..

Babyshark-

I know that the night before he graduates, you attend the Sarge's Meet and Greet. It's fun when you sit at your division's table and talk with other parents. We met another family that lives about 19 miles away from us! Their son and my son were roommates at BC.

Congratulations, Sandra! Congratulations,Sailor!

aslrebecca -- HAHAHAHA!!!! Your Husband will have warned him well! Just as an FYI--- at this point he likely has not received any of your letters!  NOT because they aren't allowed but because of the "System" at RTC.  We have NOT yet heard if this has changed so "Current" BootCamp Moms and Recent Grads... Please speak up if you have more info to share (Or ask your SR!)
The way Mail at RTC works is this... They have P week (If they Opt into Sandboxx you will get the address this week but that is the ONLY confirmed change we know of) At some point in Training Week 1 they will volunteer or be assigned jobs. (Never Again Volunteer Yourself).  Someone will become the Recruit Mail Petty Officer (RMPO). They will then be trained on how to handle the mail Properly. This training and selection process can take into Training Week 2 as well.  DO NOT PANIC... THIS IS NORMAL!! Once that SR is trained they will go to the mail room and begin sorting all the mail that has arrived.  There may be letters that arrived prior to their selection and training that have been set aside.  Those are gotten to as they have the time.  Once the mail has been sorted for that day, it is delivered during "Mail Call". USPS mail can be forwarded if the Ship moves or a SR is reassigned. All other mail is returned to sender.  Mail that arrived prior to the RMPO being trained may be placed elsewhere in the Mail room to await them... Sometimes it gets overlooked.  This is why we suggest that you Always Number your letters and where ever possible make a copy.  Sometimes they show up... Sometimes they don't... Sometimes they are returned to you a year or more after you sent it!  This is similar to what happens in the fleet as well!  Thankfully, Email is a thing now but just know that care packages can and DO go missing.  Some are sacrificed to Davy Jones.... (Fall over board) but some are purloined by unscrupulous individuals.  The Navy is made up of all types from all walks of life.  Do NOT send Cash or irreplaceable items to a Military Post office.
If your SR calls home and is crying about not getting letters but you KNOW you have been sending them... Be reassuring and let them know to speak to the RMPO.  Send more mail but let them know to ask the RMPO if there is mail from prior weeks waiting to be sorted.  They may not know. 

Sandboxx is a WHOLE other can of beans!!! There is an article on this page if you scroll up that you can read. If you choose to use Sandboxx, use up all your letters before the end of BC then forget it EVER existed!!!
Several years ago My sailor was due to return from Deployment when a girlfriend sent a Booty Call Sandboxx letter complete with dates and times (To the minute) to a shipmate.  My sailor was held at his deployment location for just over 2 weeks and came home in the middle of the night to NO fanfare. The sailor who got the sandboxx letter... He and his "Party" got to hang out in an airport hanger sleeping on the ground and eating out of vending machines till they were empty for 4 days!! I don't know what happened with that relationship!  Sandboxx is not endorsed by the USN and it is not OPSEC or PERSEC compliant.  Treat everything on there as if you were writing on a Postcard... Anyone and everyone can see what you wrote and share that info as they please, despite claims that it is private.

The BIG takeaway---- WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!!! Just know that there is a bit of a process so things can take time.

patti -- the 900 Div is the performing Div.  These are the SR's who are Sticks (Flag Carriers), Singers, Musicians, Greeters and Body Snatchers.  They "Work" the 2 PIR's Prior to their own, then some do but most do not perform at their own PIR. (They will perform in their own PIR if that "Position" hasn't been filled in most cases) It can take longer to find folks to fill these positions thus the reason they may be there 11 weeks.  They are NOT held back after PIR unless they fail the PFA.

Oh! How are they chosen to be in that Division?

Patti-It depends on which 900 division they are in. My son told me that when they arrived in Chicago and were waiting in the USO, they were asked questions - who is a musician and what instrument do you play, who had ROTC experience, etc. They also had a chance to volunteer at some point for particular 900 divisions. My son had been in ROTC and had color guard experience, so he was pulled for the Ship Staff 900 division, which has the honor guard, body snatchers, greeters, etc. He was in the honor guard, which marches in with rifles and acts as the stand-in for inspection, rather than having the Admiral walk through all the ranks. He performed two PIRs prior to his own and performed in his PIR.

If you watch a PIR on YouTube, you’ll see many of the 900s - the choir, recruit band, state flags, etc. - including the person who strikes the bell for the dignitary entrances and the one who sounds the whistle.