Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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!!

Darlene - Congratulations to your new sailor!!

londack86 - You are not being a Debbie Downer - you and your SR are just on that Navy Roller coaster and took a big dip!! It is hard to tell how long that climb back up to the top will take but for now, she is still on track!

It is late for me, but I will try to reach out to some other members who may be able to encourage you more. 

Towermom - Welcome to Boot camp moms!! Hang in there! I am excited to hear where your sailor is in the experience! Mine had PIR in early November 2023 

Darlene - Way to go!! What a relief to know your Sailor is on the way to PIR! 

londack86 - Sending positive vibes and hoping your daughter’s condition is addressed quickly and easily. I don’t have info about RCU but I would say, just keep sending letters as much as possible and use that letter time to add in positive feedback- stories of patience and resilience and strength. Remind her she is doing exactly what she is supposed to do when she is there at RCU as the Navy sent her over there for a reason and she is already being and training to be a Sailor just by following their instructions! Send funny pages, a word search, silly stories, anything maybe too, that will give her something to do. I don’t know what others would say, but I would send super flat letters with a single sheet-word search page as an example I would print from the internet—in the envelope, like every day. There is lots of little stuff like that. A short story, whatever. 

Welcome Tower Mom!

londack86 - I had a similar experience. About a week after my son left for BC, he called me at work from medical to tell me that they were missing some medical paperwork from MEPS. I had copies of the documents they needed and sent them over, but it delayed him by a week. He was bummed at first because he had just started getting to know the SRs in his division. Everything worked out though, and he ended up loving his new division. Sandboxx had already provided his original address, but after this little medical hiccup, we waited to send letters until he was assigned to a new division. I wish your daughter well. Stay positive, Mom!

PIR today - once the link is up I'll post it.

londack86 - minor setback - it happens.  Let's hope they can get everything resolved quickly and she's back in training soon.  You should get a new address from her too. Hang in there mama and keep the positive thoughts coming for her.

Here's the link to the RCU group.  Not real active buy you may be able to glean some info from it.:

RCU Ship 4

Here's the link to today's PIR - happening now:

LIVE PIR MARCH 14, 2024

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the kind words and support. She called me again today and I was able to talk to her longer and get more information about what’s happening. She’s in RCU for about 2 weeks under the advisement of the medical team due to iron deficiency, but she’s still very positive and motivated to finish. She gave me the address to RCU so the family can continue to write, and hopefully she’ll be FFD and placed into a new division soon. She sounded really good, said the RDC’s really looked out for her and made her go to medical even though she didn’t want to. Good thing she listened, because now she can take better care of herself and know what’s going on with her body. I’m still worried but more at ease now that I know she’s okay. 

londack86 - I am glad you got some further updated information and a new address. I don't know much about Sandboxx but one of the times we do recommend using it is when they are in RCU. 

B'sNukeMom - thanks for posting the link to the Ship 4 page, I was having difficulty locating it last night. 

londack86 -- {{{{{BNMH}}}}} I'm so sorry to hear your news!!! This may be a time to use Sandboxx because you can get a message to her quickly.  I'm so glad that she has been taken care of and that she will be able to get her iron levels up quickly.  Hopefully she will be back to training soon and not have any future issues!!

Thanks again everyone for the love. I’ve already sent her a Sandboxx letter today, and sent the address to close family who also sent a few Sandboxx letters. She has a big support system and she’s a strong woman. She’ll get through this! I usually only use Sandboxx sparingly, but we’ll definitely make an exception for the next few weeks. 

This is the best time to use up any of the Sandboxx letters you may have bought!!!!

Great news, londack86! 

londack86 - so glad you got an update!  Send those letters and hopefully she'll be good to go soon ;-D

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

Article on Navy Seals and USS Hampton - spec ops training.

USS Hampton article 3/15/2024

So I've been seeing a lot of chatter about giving challenge coins at graduation. Do they still do that?  Also, do they have those for specific ships AND divisions?

Hi all - Happy Monday!

My youngest son gets married on Friday - can't wait!