Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

AxolotlMom - 😂 Blue hair…matches that Navy color scheme anyway! Good job getting everyone in the same place for photos - years from now, you’ll look on that blue hair and smile.

Darlene - When my son was in boot camp, I wrote him a letter every day. Nothing long or in-depth - just a here’s what happened today kind of letter. I always included some sort of inspirational index card that I found on sale at Target. He told me later that he shared them with his division buddies when he saw they were having a bad day.

Once a week, I sent him a newsletter that included scores from his favorite sports teams, photos of us and our dogs and sometimes a word search or a bunch of trivia about things that interest him.  I printed it front and back on one sheet of paper, because they don’t have a ton of space to store things. He really enjoyed those and said it made him feel less homesick - less like he was missing out on things.

He wrote me on Sundays, but it was always very short - not a lot of time for that. I treasured every one that I got! Stay busy - it helps!

Darlene & anyone else - Here is a link to BelovedbyHIm's Welcome to the Navy Blog - Welcome to the Navy! Everything will be ok! (revised) - Navy For Mo...

She is usually on this group page but has been taking care of things on the home front so she asked if I would share it. 

 AxolotlMom - I am glad you were able to take a step back and just be thankful that you had your entire family at home, even if one of them had blue hair. It took me a long time to be less bothered about things like that, and I still have issues, so I know where you are coming from. You will come to treasure that picture very much! 

Darlene and Axolotmom - My Sailor graduated from RTC in early November. I wrote letters nearly every day too. I would use a writing tablet sized piece of paper and I thought this worked really well in folding several pages and not too much bulk. I didn’t decorate or put anything on the envelopes to draw attention to them at all. I wrote a bit about what was happening but also I would write weather forecasts for Great Lakes, jokes, sometimes a short funny story I would copy from different short funny story websites I would find. I tried to send a calendar picture like from a page a day or desk calendar as something fun as my Sailor had a bulldog calendar he was using before he had left for RTC. I know I recall writing so much and then being surprised at the beginning that he hadn’t yet gotten any when we finally had that first call. But then they started showing up. 

Darlene and Axolotmom - I have to admit too though, I wrote a lot of ‘cheerleading’ and encouragement in most of the letters as I felt part of what was hardest about RTC was not having a sense of how my Sailor was handling what I knew were probably big emotions with every success or setback and just hoping he could move through it all and not be overwhelmed by a discouraging thought or feeling, especially if he was tired. 

I also really liked watch RTC videos on YouTube, every video I could find I would watch and rewatch just to have a sense of what he was experiencing. That might not work for everyone but I liked it as a way to picture what was happening. There was also another site I came across that someone had listed for several weeks what activities were happening each day essentially nearly to battle stations and I liked that too, thinking in a ballpark way what he was maybe doing that week or that day. 

I also like the idea and sentiment behind the blue candle lighting and I found this to be helpful too in focusing positive prayer and energy in my Sailor and all the recruits’ direction. 

Thinking of you both and your soon to be Sailors! 

Lara - Thank you for sharing. 

Ladies here is the link to our Blue Candle discussion - Blue Candles - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

Darlene - I am glad that you have had a phone call, and it sounds like your SR was doing well. So does the Sandboxx App also send you updates on the recruits?  That was not an option when my son was at BC. We were old school with the mailed-out form letter which took about 2 - 3 weeks for us to receive, just so we could have their mailing address. 

Since they don't have much time to write, questionnaires are always fun to send.  Then they can just check the box.  Here's an example - use your imagination and change it up to fit your SR's personality:

Questionnaires and encouragement

I remember one of my questions to my SR was "What are you looking forward to when you finish up boot camp?".

His response: "Peeing standing up!"  He said they had some "idiots" in his division that couldn't manage to pee inside the bowl so their whole division was made to pee sitting down.  I lol'd at that one!  And he said it was someone's job to stand in the bathroom and make sure they sat down!  OMG

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

PIR APRIL 2024

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Everyone - Please join me in saying hello to londack86!

londack86 - this is the Comment Wall area and really the best place to ask questions, as more of the members received email notification from posts here than elsewhere on the safe. 

Happy Valentine's Day!! 

londack86 - Have you received any mail from your SR (seaman recruit) yet? 

You might also appreciate reading this discussion which Darlene posted. Boot camp - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

Also, read through the last few pages of comments from this group, as some people replied here to Darlene as well. 

Happy PIR Day!

Watch it live now:

LIVE PIR 2.15.2024

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

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

PIR FEBRUARY 2024

welcome londack86.. 

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! Sorry I’m getting back to you so late, but work has been a bit hectic the last few days. My oldest daughter left for BC last Monday, and I’ve been a mess ever since. Earlier this week, A friend of a friend who’s also a Navy Mom recommended the Navy for Moms Facebook page to me, but I don’t have Facebook so I searched for Navy Moms and this site popped up. It’s been a god send, knowing I’m not struggling alone and there are others out there like me who have questions and just want any inkling of information. I haven’t heard from my SR yet, but did receive an address through Sandboxx. Is that address accurate? I already have a stack of letters I want to send lol. Any advice, encouragement or suggestions to get through this are welcome and appreciated. I know “no news is good news” but as a parent we worry anyway when our babies leave the nest. Thanks again! 

londack86 -- Yes the Sandboxx address is correct. (A newish change.) I am also on the FB pages but I prefer this site for New Moms in BC. Much less Drama!!!! 
If you want the Official RTC Site and want to join FaceBook you may find this one useful. U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command

This is the Official one and from time to time they post photos of SR's in training. DO NOT ask for your SR's DIV however!!

SR= Seaman Recruit    DIV= Division (training group)

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!!)

londack86 - Welcome!  Seems like yesterday I was writing something very similar.  Our sailor graduated 11/9 and this group was a terrific resource and a great comfort.

Writing everyday helped a lot.  Also reading the weekly update in Sandbox gave us an idea of what the recruits were doing.  I assure you all of the tough days of missing them are worth it when you get to graduation and see your recruit march in!!

BNMH (Big Navy Mom Hug) to you!  Hang in there!

londack86 - You are not the only newbie in this group or on this site. The more you post and just say hi the more interaction there is, especially here in the Comment Wall section. 

As BelovedbyHim shared, the Sandboxx address is correct. You may choose to pay for mailing stuff through them or just send through the regular PO mail. One thing to remember about writing letters and sending through Sandboxx - your letters are visible - it is like sending a postcard. So, we recommend you only use Sandboxx during BC. Here is the link to a post by B'sNukeMom - 

Sandboxx App - And it will still take a bit for the division to get a recruit mail petty officer assigned to gather and distribute mail so you may send as many letters as you want, but keep in mind they only have limited space for storing them and it may take a bit before they start receiving your letters. 

Here is the link to the Navy Bootcamp website - there is a lot of information there as well. - RTC - Bootcamp website

My kiddo leaves on Tuesday...so this weekend we are going to play board games, card games (she enjoys this and i am more than happy to oblige), then on Monday we are going to an escape room and just having a family day in the city (we live in a small rural community, so it's always an adventure when we go to "the city"). My kid is generally calm and collected but i'm FINALLY starting to see a bit of excitement and dare i say apprehension from her, but she's ready :)

AxolotlMom - It sounds like you have some good family memory times planned!! One of the things we suggest is writing a short note and sticking it in your daughter's wallet or maybe Bible or other religious text that is allowed at BC. Tell her it is for her to read when she absolutely needs it. It is just a short note of encouragement so that during those long weeks between communication she has a little bit of home with her. And often the SRs will do the same and leave something for their parents, or a voice message. 

Something a friend of mine did with one of her children was she told them a specific time of day, in the evening, when she would be thinking just about them, so that each day they knew at that specific time that mom was thinking about them and praying for them. Not that you would not be at other times, but it was a connection moment for them. 

(((BNMHs))))

Hello londack86 and AxolotlMom! The BC experience is a bit different for every mom, but for me, it started off slow (missing my son terribly and writing letters like crazy) and then flew by in the last few weeks. Sandboxx was great for weekly updates, but we mostly sent letters through USPS. I couldn't get enough of "Navy stuff" while my son was in BC - read a lot of content and watched a lot of YouTube videos. PIR day arrived before we knew it, and it's still one of my favorite days ever. You have much to look forward to! Prayers for both of you, and for your sailors.

Thanks everyone for the confirmation about Sandboxx! Sent a few letters out the last few days, will be trying to send a letter a day while she’s in BC, rotating in letters from dad and siblings, especially drawings from the littles (toddlers) who she was really close to and loved to color and create art with. I see a letter in the mail today with informed delivery, so that made me tear up a little. Can’t wait to see what it is, even if it’s just a form lol. 

oh yeah. I loved informed delivery and seeing those rare BC letters come in..

Please join me in welcoming Thunder#10 to our group.

Thunder#10 this is the best place on our group page to post your hellos, ask questions, and just share where you are at in your Navy journey with your loved one. 

londack86 - Whoop!! Whoop!! for a letter!!

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

PIR APRIL 2024

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day one...she got to GL late last night. I missed her call >:(  I was sick and was asleep...but on the bright side i have her voicemail of the scripted call...we did text while she was at the airport so i'm not too upset...she sounded soooo sad on the phone though. now maybe that's me overthinking it. 

AxolotlMom -- Don't read too much into it. They are told to read fast and that may be what you are hearing, the change in tone.
I hope you are feeling better.  Try and count weeks not days or you'll make yourself crazy.  Come here for support and encouragement and remember YOU raised a Strong Child!! So strong that they are willing to SERVE!!! Only 1% of the population is even willing to try!! Well Done Momma!!

AxolotlMom - BelovedbyHim is right, it's a pretty emotion-less call. They're also SUPER-tired, so that probably came through in her voice. You have several more (and better!) calls to look forward to. All the best to your sailor!

Happy PIR Day!  Live feed isn't up yet.  As soon as it is I'll post the link.

AxolotlMom - I remember that call vividly! I was traumatized by it! Ha! I had not found this group yet, so I didn’t have any idea what to expect and my boy sounded so scared - I didn’t sleep the rest of the night. Just remember that it’s intentionally chaotic when they arrive and they’re completely befuddled by the time they make that call and they only have like 15 seconds to get through it. Stay strong, Mom - she’s going to be great.

PIR is streaming now:

LIVE PIR 2.22.2024

AxolotlMom - You are not the only mom who has missed answering that scripted call. So, you are in good company here. I thought it was an automated call my son sounded so robotic like. 

I write emails a lot and so my son's picture would always pop up when I sent him an email. I started writing my letters in email messages to him, just so I could see his smiling face, but also it was another way to keep those communications available for later. Once I had his mailing address, I printed out those emails and then sent them to him. I still usually wrote a handwritten message as well.   {{{{BNMHs}}}}

S.O. Contract:

Moms whose sons have an S.O. Contract headed to BUD/S there is a group for you.

It is called, BUD/S and SQT (Stages of a S.E.A.L.)

Interested:

Send a friend request to NavyMom(J) for more information.

(Click on the highlighted links.)

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

Be sure to RSVP for Sarge's Meet N Greet.  

Here's the link:  

Sarge's Meet N Greet

Here's the link to the 900s Division group:

900s Division

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.

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

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

If you all want to see a carrier returning from deployment the San Diego Web Cam is live right now with the USS Vinson returning:

San Diego Web Cam

Thanks guys!  I do feel better about things now. I ordered my RED shirt today so i can show my support for the deployed. Things are quiet at home now, but i have two boxer dogs and two axolotls to take care of now, so that helps. :)

I got three letters in the mail today!!!🥹. I was having a hard day at work and that put an instant smile on my face. 

AxolotlMom -- This Navy journey is a lot like the Ocean... Lots of ups and downs.  Sometimes it's smooth sailing and other times you are lost in the fog and still other times your are tossed about in a tempest!! However through it all your Navy Mom Community is there as a beacon to help you navigate or an anchor to help you hold fast!  You are not ever alone in this Journey!! We get it when others around you just don't quite!

londack86 -- 3 Letters!!! WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!! That's worth Celebrating!! Congratulations!! I hope your SR is doing well!