Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

AxolotlMom - I just use the text editor to bold the name - makes it easier to see who the response is for ;) My son arrived on Feb. 14 (last year) and my first letter was postmarked March 6, so I'd say at least another week before you see anything. I believe they're all encouraged to sign up for NFCU - my son did as well and he already had an account here.

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.)

AxolotlMom - Int the comment box here, where you type replies (at least on the computer) you can highlight with the mouse your text and then tell it to Bold, Italicize, strike through or underline. 

As for NFCU - They also offer an Easy Start or some sort of CD for NFCU members, who have a direct deposit from DOD. (Dept of Defense). When my son had it, it was maxed out at $3,000 but it had the highest % yield of anything which he could get at the time. So, that is another perk, and it is just easier for them to deal with money worldwide with NFCU from what we were told. They will also "lockdown" an account if they think there is suspicious activity, so I always recommend keeping a back up bank account. - At least from things my son shared with me based on his experience or other sailor friends. 

Snailmail was about 3 weeks from beginning of BC as I recall before my son's first letter arrived. He said he was only allowed to write on Sunday and put his letters in the mail on Monday and I received them on Thursday. 

AxolotlMom -  On the computer or on a Phone if you put this page in desktop mode you will have editing options.  You can make your text big or small bold, italics, strike through or underline. 
You can also add bullet points if you want and adjust your alignment.

As for letters from Bootcamp, it usually takes at least 3 weeks before the first letter arrives. 4 weeks is not a reason to panic either.  The first phone call home is usually around week 4-5 as well but since calls can come at any time always answer all calls!! You can hang up on scammers (or vent your frustrations on them....)

NFCU (Navy Federal Credit Union) is AWESOME!!! Not only will they get paid early, NFCU has historically helped cover their missing pay when the government has shut down, so they still get their regular pay. They have service centers at nearly every Navy base world wide.  They have very favorable rates and both Checking and Savings accounts earn interest.  They only loan to members so the rates are favorable and typically less than almost anywhere else.  USAA is great as an insurance company and for SOME banking (Loans mostly) but for day to day service for our Navy members you are hard pressed to beat NFCU.  I have been a member since 1988 for full disclosure.....

belovedbyHim thank you for your tips :)  I set up a checking and savings account thru NFCU yesterday and will eventually transfer stuff to them. I'll keep USAA for insurance. I appreciate your comments :)  I'm not super worried about her writing, heck i am not even sure she WILL write. I know she's doing what she needs to do to get where she wants to be. And I'll see her in May. I just keep writing her and that in itself makes me feel better. Kinda like when i'd text her and she'd leave me on read when she was in college because she was busy. She'd always text me back when she had time. Writing is a bit more effort though LOL  This group is wonderful. I'm glad i stumbled upon it!!!

AxolotlMom My daughter left February 5th,I received my first letter from my daughter right at the beginning of week 3. I live about an hour away from Great Lakes, though, so it doesn’t seem to take long for mail to get here. She writes regularly, usually when she should be asleep. I’ve already told her to get her rest, but I guess the writing is therapeutic for her. I receive letters throughout the week, mainly just quick recaps of what she’s doing. She seems to write the longer letters on Sundays as everyone already confirmed. Received first phone call from her on Saturday! That’s when we both realized that 20 minutes really isn’t a lot of time lol. 

Happy International Women's Day!

Be sure to check this post out from our pages in the upper right of the desktop screen - Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire

If you scroll down the information page, there are links at the bottom for encouragement ideas and then also questionnaire options to send to your sailor. 

ya'll!!! she called me! we got to talk for nigh on 20 minutes. she sounded so good! she is doing well. she said her division gets in trouble from time to time, but she personally hasn't. she did get caught talking during watch, but when the drill sergeant? questioned her about the order of command and she got them correct, the person in charge said she was lucky she knew them!  but yeah, she is doing good. i asked her if she had cried yet, she said no, but she felt like it a few times. all the boys look like egg heads cuz of the haircuts. and she is in a special division where she gets to hold a flag during graduation, so i was told to look for that certain flag...oh it was nice hearing from her. it really set my mind at ease. i know it's gonna get harder for her, but she can handle it. she sounded so good!!!! :)

AxolotlMom - WooHoo for phone calls!!! 

Looking at the BC website & graduation information I am not seeing a 900 division listed for every PIR date. However, there are some, so if your SR is assigned to a 900 division you might find the following page from above helpful. *Note the 800 division is now integrated into the other divisions, so scroll down for the 900 information.

800 and 900 Divisions - Navy For Moms (ning.com)

AxolotlMom - Those phone calls are the best. Very happy for you!

Hope all the BC moms out there are doing well!

Happy Monday!  Hope everyone remembered to "Spring Forward"!

Axolotmom.. wow.. so awesome.. glad she is doing well..

BNMHs

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

Chipmunk it looks like her division is 921 set to graduate on 2 May. I found some helpful information on that 900 navy mom page. She's short 5'2 and I didn't know they sorted by height. I also didn't know that they have to do extra duties after graduation, so they don't get liberty as quickly as the other recruits, but it's okay :)

About how many recruits are there in each division? I'm trying to guess how many people will be at the PIR. 

Hi. I am a brand new Navy mom. My son left on Tuesday.

yea, size sorted.. it just depends on how many divisions are graduating that week. I think there were about 800 hundred sailors when mine graduated in 2021.  not sure of size. that probably varies as well but it looked around 20-.30 at the end in my son's division.

AxolotlMom - I’m so glad you got a phone call! Those are the best. My son was in division 921 last year - it was the Ship Staff division then. He was in the rifles and performed in three graduations, including his own. I think maybe they’ve changed that to just 2 but I’m not sure. It was so great to see him on the livestream of the PIRs leading up to his graduation. 

Sounds like your daughter will be carrying one of the state flags? That’s so great! The main delay for liberty is just having to back and put their gear away. They move pretty fast when liberty is called - it didn’t take too long :D

As for how many recruits per division - it all depends on how many came through p-days - typical size is about 88, but that’s just an average. I think my son’s division was pretty small - maybe 55-60.

Melissa - Welcome Aboard!! You found the comment wall and the best place to post your hellos, questions, and just how you are doing through this new Navy journey. 

Everyone please join me in welcoming Melissa to our group.

AxolotlMom - I am glad the info was helpful, and I concur with the other ladies. I do see that most of the PIRs for the moment are allowing 4 guests so that means the TG (training group) is smaller. As Diahn said, you should be able to see her on the live stream for the PIR a week or maybe two ahead of hers. Which is an added bonus!

Melissa - I posted a message on your profile page, with a link to one of the other ladies blog posts. Here is also information on the Sandboxx App for BC

And here is the link to the RTC - Bootcamp website

AxolotlMom -- YEAH for the Phone call!!!! That will keep you on cloud 9 for a while!!!
As for "extra duties" Some of that depends on what their "Job" is.  If she's a "Stick" (Flag carrier) then they are usually free as soon as they replace their flags in the proper place.  You will likely not have to wait long.  At least now you are for sure going to get Friday!! When my Sailor had PIR he had to stand Watch so we had him for an hour and a half then he had 4 hours of watch then we got him for 3 hours and then he had to be back and was taken to the airport around Midnight.  We were up all night because that was our only time with him but he was so tired he just wanted to nap for a few hours so we watched him sleep in the airport.  He was gone less than 24 hours after PIR!
There are ~1000 new recruits every week.(Navy numbers, which we all know are really more like guidelines than actual numbers)  Not all of them will complete bootcamp in the 10 week time frame and some not at all but that's the target number. (Some weeks are smaller(winter) and some are larger( summer) but generally speaking... 1000.)

Melissa -- Welcome!!! Breath!!! I promise it will be ok!! You are NOT alone in this process!! I'll leave some information on your page.  Please ignore the first part and scan down to where you can see what they are doing day by day and week by week.  Come here and ask questions, share concerns, Share your joys (As you can see we LOVE to celebrate with you!!) The more you post the better we get to know you and the more answers we can point you to.

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

Looking for information about pictures. When will they be taken, can i order them, etc.

I know most sailors, mine included, bought way more than needed.. there is a shadow box too. I'm sure someone who has been more recent can give more info.

My son also over-bought, and now all those pictures and shadowbox are in a closet at our house! We didn't know anything about that process before he bought the package (I think it was the most expensive one). I would have tried to talk him into buying a less-expensive package.

This link has some info on the picture packages (although it may be outdated):

Graduation packages and pictures

Scroll down about halfway....

AxolotlMom - confirm with your SR before you buy pictures.  Usually they order them there at boot camp.  Then you can pick them up at the NEX on the day of PIR (there will be a line!) or they may have them mailed to you.

yea, us too.. maybe drop him some info in your next letter about not overbuying.. but we do have the shadowbox hanging near our computers..

When my son was at BC, the one pkg deal included the book (which now I can't recall what pictures were specifically for their TG), a DVD of the PIR ceremony, and then the pictures. 

What was not included in the pkg and I am so glad another lady who had been through this once before, told me about the announcement photos.  It was like a graduation announcement card with their picture, graduation date, and envelopes for mailing. I was able to place an order for those at the NEX, and since we were there all day waiting on our sailor, I was able to pick them up when they had them printed out. Those got mailed to a lot more people and I didn't have to write anything on the back of them. I think they were about a 4x6 " size ? 

Have your RSVP'd for Sarge's Meet N Greet:

Sarge's Meet N Greet

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

First PIR for March is tomorrow - do we have anyone going?

Darlene - Congrats to you and your sailor! Now you can relax a bit. PIR day is almost here...

WHOOP!!
WHOOP!!

WHOOP!!
ATTENTION ON DECK!!

WE HAVE A SAILOR!!!

BZ TO Darlene and her SAILOR!

Are you going to get to go to PIR?  Yea!! You Made it!!!

Awesome news Darlene... BZ.... to your sailor  and you for making it.

For our Mom's just starting this journey-- Hang in there!! We haven't lost a mom to Boot Camp yet... We won't start with you!!

yay DARLENE!!!! Super excited for you and your kiddo!!

Tower Mom - Welcome to the BC Mom and Loved Ones group!!

We are glad you have joined us. 

Everyone, please join me in welcoming Tower Mom. 

hi TowerMom.. welcome aboard.. where is your recruit at in the process? We cover everything, esp you..

Hi all. Not wanting to be a Debbie Downer, but I got a surprise call from my daughter today. She’s being pushed back 2 weeks and going to RCU for monitoring for a minor medical condition we had no idea she had. She’s unsure of when she’ll leave BC now or new PIR date. I tried to stay positive on the phone with her, and she says she’s still excited and motivated, but I did have a good cry after the call. I miss my baby and was really getting excited to see her  April 18th. Any encouragement or advice is welcome. I don’t even know what she’s doing in RCU. Should I still write her at the same address? 

Darlene so happy for you and your SAILOR!!! Congratulations!!