Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

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!

B'sNukeMom - What a wonderful, exciting time for your family. All of our best wishes to your son and his soon to be bride!

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

AxolotlMom - It has been almost 7 years since my son graduated from BC, but at that time, they did have challenge coins available for purchase that had at least the ship on the coin. I don't recall if there was one for his division as well or not. 

Some things were available for sale, prior to the start of PIR and others we stopped by the Photo NEX and purchased there. I would make sure you have both cash and debit card (some places are charging fees for credit cards), & credit cards for your trip. If they do have specific division challenge coins, those will go fast. Something you might want to look into instead for the division is the division picture where they have the division flag, or possibly the T-shirts. Things may be a little different for your daughter since she is in RCU as to when she might be participating in these group photos or creating the division flag, so I suggest checking with her first, if possible, before buying. 

Division T-shirts & Photos - That is the link to the information page in the upper right of this group page. I think it may have something about challenge coins. 

The following I copied out of this page - Navy abbreviations & terminology

Challenge Coin: a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem and carried by the organization’s members. They are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. In addition, they are also collected by service members. In practice, challenge coins are normally presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit. They are also exchanged in recognition of visits to an organization. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin and http://mentalfloss.com/article/12630/brief-history-challenge-coins.) The challenge coin from RTC is available at the NEX and online and those for the Ship the recruit is on at BC (Craig designed them) are available on eBay through pirgifts and there are also different ones for the ships at RTC that are available PIR weekend.) https://store.nwtmint.com/Navy/ has challenge coins for various ratings (although they mistakenly include them in "Rate"), some Navy vessels, and some bases and installations. There are other sites on the web as well. Do not give your Sailor a coin for his/her rating until after graduation from “A” School for that rating.

Chipmunk - Thank you for all that info!  I don't think my kid is in RCU. I mean, I haven't heard from her in a week so maybe so??? I know she's in division 921, so I didn't know if there was a specific coin for that division. I'll look online and I'll also send her a letter asking if this is something she's even interested in. Like you said, maybe a t-shirt will suit her better :)  Thanks again for the info :)

AxolotlMom - You are welcome! And my apologies, I was confusing you and Londack86. 

B'sNukeMoM -- Congratulations and Enjoy the wedding!!!

Happy 1st Day of Spring!

AxolotlMom - our son graduated 3 years ago and he purchased their ship challenge coin when he ordered photos 

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

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.)

Happy Wednesday!  Technically this is my Friday - I'll be off the next couple of days - rehearsal dinner tomorrow and then youngest sons wedding on Friday....Excited it's finally here!

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

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

The June PIR group is posted.  Here's the link:

PIR JUNE 2024

Happy Wedding-ing B's.  May the new couple be blessed and may their marriage be long and happy!!

Happy Day-before PIR for any of our BC Moms who are going!!
If that's you... Be sure to come let us know!

Thanks belovedbyHim!  Just so excited it's finally here!

Thinking of all our troops and especially our Sailors and SRecuits this evening. 

Congratulations to PIR Sailors and families today! 

Axolotmom - my Sailor purchased some challenge coins when he finished Boot camp late last year and I believe he made the purchase in conjunction with his pictures. My husband also had bought some online too. We also had gotten a nice holder (like a wooden tray with grooves) that the coins rest on and I really think it is neat and a nice display with room for other coins. I imagined my Sailor over the years would like a collection like that from his time in the Navy, however long he chooses. 
Something I also did — I took pictures beginning with the start of PIR day (literally pictures of the early morning traffic to get on the base for PIR) and pictures throughout that day and the entire weekend and then afterward I used Shutterfly and made up a scrapbook of the weekend. My Sailor didn’t purchase the video of the ceremony but I had lots of pictures in the scrapbook of the ceremony too. So, just another idea. 

something I have thought I would like as a mom and maybe daughter Sailors might like is a charm bracelet, starting with a charm or two to start with PIR weekend, thrn she can wear the piece of jewelry when she is able. 

Congratulations to all our New Navy Sailors and their families!!! I hope you all have a wonderful time together!!

Lara the photobook is a great idea! 

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

PIR JUNE 2024

PIR MAY 2024

PIR APRIL 2024

PIR MARCH 2024

Happy Tuesday!  I'm back from the wedding and we had a fabulous time!

B'sNukeMom -  beautiful pix!!!