Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

WOW!!! BC Moms--- That Welcome letter is AMAZING!!! We didn't have anything even close to this level of "Official" information when my sailor started nearly 11 years ago!!  Now you get the day by day break down!! This is Amazing.  Keep writing those cards and letters but remember NO glitter, Noise or Newsprint!!! (They have mostly all made the switch to Whites!!)

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

PIR JULY 2024

PIR JUNE 2024

PIR MAY 2024

B'sNukeMom - Thank you so much for sharing that information from the RTC website. I had not noticed it!

Chipmunk - looks like they updated some information.  Nice to have!  And just a reminder to all - I'm heading out to MI to celebrate my grandsons 1st birthday so I'll be gone for a bit.  I'll still check in but just not as much!

Have a great time Chipmunk! 

Happy PIR Day!

I'll post the link as soon as it's up.

You can watch today's PIR here:

LIVE PIR 5.9.2024

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

PIR JULY 2024

PIR JUNE 2024

PIR MAY 2024

They've made the switch to their dress whites and they all look so sharp!

Happy PIR DAY!!

AxolotlMom - Thanks, but B'sNukeMom is the one who gets to go see her grandbaby. I have to wait a bit before I can see mine. :-(

Happy Friday!

sitting in Chicago -Midway for my layover. Kind of bummed I haven’t seen any new sailors.

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! Thinking today of all of our troops, and especially of our Sailors in the fleet and new recruits. Hoping all us moms have a beautiful moment or two of relaxation and peace! 

Happy Mother's Day - Lara, and everyone else!!

Good Evening!! I believe we have had some new members join this group. We are glad to have you here. If you are viewing this site on a mobile device, we recommend that you put your phone into desktop mode or log in on a computer. I personally prefer using my computer so I can see the full page for each group page, or my profile page. When you are on this group page for BC Mom and loved ones, you will find a lot of information above this Comment Wall area, as well as pages to the right which may answer a lot of your questions about BC. When you scroll down the page, you will find the Discussion area, that section is not followed as closely as this Comment Wall area is by our other members. This Comment Wall is the best place to say hi, or ask questions, or share your emotional ups and downs. More of our members will see your posts here. 

Welcome Aboard!

My sailor has finished his enlistment and is now in the reserves, but I stick around to help with this group and several others on this site. 

Congratulations to all the new Sailors and their families! Enjoy the time together this weekend and the well-deserved celebration!! 

Thinking too, about all the Seaman recruits working hard to move forward through Boot Camp. Sending positive vibes to them to stay strong in Heart, Mind, Body, and Spirit. 

Wishing all Navy moms a pleasant and restful evening! 

Good morning everyone!! How are we doing?

Please do come and say hello! This is the best place to connect whether your loved one is at BC already or is still going to be leaving sometime in the near future. 

For those with loved ones at BC you have made it through another week and are closer to the end in sight!!

Hello everyone!  I am so excited that I was able to find this group.  I really appreciate all the information!  My son left for BC on May 7th so he is just getting started.  I am excited for this path he has chosen!  While all the other family members were crying and telling him goodbye before he left, I was smiling and telling him how proud I am and for him to keep kicking a@@.  Don't get me wrong, I am still worried and am going through a roller coaster of emotions (I am his mother, that's what we do) but with groups like this and meeting other strong women going through all the same emotions that I am currently, it's a blessing for sure!  Every day is a new challenge for him, however I also know in my heart that he will embrace each challenge cause that's just who he is.  I cannot wait to see the new him after BC.   A couple of questions I have is regarding graduation - any tips on what hotels are best? should we arrive on Wed or earlier (we will be driving)?  any tips on what we should do doing his liberty? Any other tips or advice you can give me?

Hi ProudmamaMRD3! Welcome aboard! I was so proud of my son as well- he graduated just over a year ago and is doing great! You should definitely arrive the day before PIR in time to pick up tickets to graduation. My main advice for hotels is to make sure you make a flexible reservation - there are many hotels close to Great Lakes and they all seem to welcome Navy families. I believe we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and it was an easy drive over to the base. They've changed liberty since we were there - we only had the day of PIR with our sailor before he shipped out to A School, but we just let him decide what to do. We ate, went to a park to see the lake, and then hung out in the hotel so he could have a private shower. He talked our ears off with all of the stuff he'd experienced and then took a very peaceful nap for a while.

My main advice would be to write often and get others to do so as well. The advice I was always given was to answer every phone call, even if you don't know the number, but that may be outdated now that I heard they will (may?) be allowed to use their cell phones to call. Don't be surprised if your son cries during his first call home. (I was shocked - my son has never been an overly emotional guy and when I answered, he just sobbed. He said he was fine, just so glad to hear my voice.)

The main thing is to breathe deeply and remember that No News is Good News! Welcome again!

ProudmamaMRD3 -  Welcome!! Diahn has shared some great information with you. Here is a discussion that I started after Covid, where some of our members shared their thoughts after PIR. PIR Weekend Experiences - Post Covid

I encourage any members to add any updates to this discussion for future reference.  

Have you received your form letter or a message from Sandboxx App yet?  You should receive a pamphlet with information on hotels. 

Here is the link from the RTC website for all information pertaining to graduation - U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command > Graduation

It looks like the hotel information may be online - check here: navylifegl.com/rtc

As Diahn said, Flexibility is the biggest key to having a wonderful experience at graduation. You will want to arrive the day earlier, as that should make it easier to pick up your tickets. And to attend Sarge's Meet n Greet. 

Be sure to read the information above the Discussion area and you will find the link to Sarge's Meet n Greet sign up. If you are having difficulty seeing the information on your mobile device, be sure to put it into desktop mode. Otherwise, let us know and we can copy and paste it here. 

Hi and Welcome ProudMama... Glad to have you aboard.. After wading through everything be sure to ask any questions or followups.. We have not lost a single mom yet.. Say anything you need to get off your chest to those of us who understand and don't judge....

Good morning All - I heard from my son yesterday!!!!!  HUGE rush of emotions when it happened.  He even sent a quick picture of himself with a small smile - melted my heart.  Not sure he was supposed to do that, so I hope he didn't get in trouble, but I sure appreciated it!!!  I now know his division, ship # and graduation date, so the info posted above makes more sense to me now.  I am SOOOOO looking forward to the next contact with my son!!!!  Deep down I know he's fine and taken care of but a hug from a loved one can mean the world when going through challenges in life.  I truly appreciate all the welcoming comments you all made and appreciate the information. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!  I hope you all have a blessed week!

ProudmamaMRD3 - PHONE CALL! - Yeah!! I am so glad that you had a call from your SR, (seaman recruit) and that you have his address information and can look up his PIR date. 

ProudmamaMRD3 - Congratulations!! I couldn’t believe how wonderful it felt to hear from my son in that first call. It is such a relief to hear their voices and how awesome to catch a glimpse of his picture too! It helps too, I think, to know that in having reached that first phone call, that you know he has made it through some really difficult weeks of adjustment and he is finding out every day, how to be successful at boot camp. Good for him!! He’s moving forward every day!!  

Welcome to our new members - boymom5 & RedPhoenix74

We are glad you are here. This is the Comment Wall area that I shared on your profile page. It is the best place to come say hello and ask questions. 

RedPhoenix74 - I saw your post in the main room chat which is not always noticed by our members for some reason or other. 

Yes, you should wait on mailing any letters to your SR (seaman recruit) until you have their address and form letter from RTC. The recruiter does not always have accurate, up-to-date information, and even when letters are sent early, they have to wait to be delivered to the SRs until a recruit mail room petty officer can be assigned / trained to pick up and deliver the mail for each division. 

There have been some changes to how the form letter and SR addresses are sent to families since my son was at BC. I believe if your son signs up for you to be notified by email with the Sandboxx App then you will receive a digital form letter versus a paper copy in the mail. You do not have to pay for letters through the Sandboxx App but you will get his address a little quicker. 

Here is a quick link to our information on the Sandboxx App for BC

Just a reminder, we have a lot of blue underlined words on this site. Those are hyperlinks to other pages of information, other groups, or to open up a new window for a discussion. 

Hi to our new Navy moms coming on board..

I’m having major issues with the site and can only post from my phone/tablet.

 Trying to get it resolved ASAP

Good Morning!  I'm still having some computer issues but I think I'm getting closer to figuring it out....

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

August PIR group is started:

PIR: AUGUST 2024

PIR JULY 2024

PIR JUNE 2024

PIR MAY 2024

B'sNukeMom - Whatever you did, Yeah!! My computer screen is back to normal instead of in the funky, odd font style!!! 

I hope they manage to get you all up and running with all the things you need to help keep us all going here. 

We are also glad to have you back from vacation, but I know it is hard to say good bye to that little bundle of joy!

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.)

Hi to all the Navy moms out there! Sending positive vibes and prayers to all the recruits as they hopefully too, are able to have a few moments of respite to rejuvenate for the week ahead. 

I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing weekend! 

Thankful for all in this group who have shared their experiences.  We received our "I'm alive" call this weekend (along with our first letter!) and were much better prepared for the emotions of our recruit based on the other posts here. Much appreciated!

Hi Masaleza.. that's awesome news. nothing like a phone call or letter, or both.... glad to help out..

Masaleza - I am so glad you were able to talk to your recruit and get a letter! It is such a relief to finally hear their voices again! Be ready for other phone calls! I was surprised how many calls ultimately I had had by the time boot camp was over, which was a true blessing! 

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

PIR: AUGUST 2024

PIR JULY 2024

PIR JUNE 2024

PIR MAY 2024

Masaleza - That is wonderful news! I am so happy for you!

Here is a link to one of the information pages that is on the upper right side of this group page - Letter writing and fun stuff/questionnaire

Those of you with SR at BC may find this helpful when sending letters to them. My son always said he only had just a few minutes of time to write to each week. I did not know about this site then, but several of the members have said their SRs really enjoy the questionnaires.