Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

bhmom - if you are into aquariums you might like to visit - Shedd Aquarium 

Field Museum of Natural History - Explore the World at the Field - Field Museum

Museum of Science and Industry - - Home - Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (msichicago.org) - ( You could spend all day here!!) The Aquarium and Natural History museum are a little smaller as I recall. We took a trip there years ago with our children. 

Be sure to eat some Chicago Deep Dish Pizza! 

There used to be an American Girl Doll store there

Navy Pier - Home | Chicago's Waterfront Destination | Navy Pier

We did not do any of this when in GL for our son's PIR. His PIR was on Thursday and he flew out early on Friday morning to SC. 

I would double check, I thought one of the reasons that they had switched PIR to Thursday was so that the sailors could be there on Friday with their families, but that still may only apply to those who are staying in GL for their A school and not those who are flying out. 

MomofJoseph, thank you. It is coning fast and we are so excited. We cannot wait to see all the new Sailors and cannot wait to see our daughter. She said she lost between 15 and 20 pounds already.  I can't imagine. She was pretty fit to start. Heaven help anything that tries to get in her way now. I love it!

Chipmunk, thank you so much. I love your suggestions. Science and Natural History museums are some of my favorites.i literally spent an entire day at the one in London. The Navy Pier I do really want to see also.

We are hoping our SR gets more time but she sounds pretty certain she is flying out Friday so we will take what we can. 

Have a great day and all my best to you and yours

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

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

PIR: OCTOBER 2024

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

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

PIR: OCTOBER 2024

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR 10.3.2024

Congratulations to our new sailors and {{{BNMHs}}}  (Big Navy Mom Hugs!!) to their families!

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

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

PIR: OCTOBER 2024

If my son ships to Boot Camp on 10/29, will his PIR be December 2024?

kyleh - it could be January since boot camp is 10 weeks now.

And always make sure room and flights/cars is changeable/refundable.. lots of things can happen that pushes that date back.

Once he arrives at boot camp, I'm assuming they'll give him the definite date?  Understanding, of course, that "definite date" could change :)

You can go to https://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/Recruits

And print out the training schedule.   It's top down, left to right,  don't skip the blank boxes.(each column is 7 boxes representing a week of training).  This will give you a PIR date with no problems.   You can then adjust as you learn more.   Please note that the day he leaves MEPS and travels to GL is 0day.  Do not count that day. Day 1 processing Day 1 will be 10/30. That is the first day you want to pencil in.  If you need more help let me know.

So the one that says Night of Arrival/Moment of Truth is Day 1?

And holidays are just a regular day?  Thanksgiving & Christmas they'll do whatever is listed on that date?

If your SR is going to be there over a holiday those are hold days.  They do not train on those days.  They may have a special meal to mark the day but not much else.  You will count those as extra weekend days.  I'll try and get on my computer this weekend and see if I can help you guesstimate the schedule.   Please note, it's not set in stone for your SR but the schedule does not vary much.  Your SR can get set back or delayed fir about a million different reasons that we have no way of predicting.  The Holiday period is a rough one to be in BC for just because of the added hold days.  With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years it's about 11 weeks instead of 10.

Happy Monday!

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

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

PIR: OCTOBER 2024

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

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

PIR: OCTOBER 2024

Good morning / afternoon to our new BC Moms. I think some of you found the main room chat area, but unfortunately, most members don't see that unless they are logged in. I was offline yesterday, sorry. 

This Comment Wall on the BC Mom group page is the best place to come post messages, questions, your ups and downs as members will receive an email notification when someone posts and then they can as they are able. 

If you are viewing information on your mobile device, it may be easier to put it into desktop mode to scroll around and see the full screen page. 

Brenhubb & SO@gonavy! - Welcome to the group!!

Here is some other information if you haven't read it already - Sandboxx App for BC

 Here is the Link to the OFFICIAL USNavy BootCamp Training Schedule. https://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/Recruits/COs-Welcome-Letter/

Please ask if you have any questions about training days and hopefully BelovedbyHim can help you out, she is better at that aspect of BC than I am. 

Welcome to the Navy! Everything will be ok! (revised) - Navy For Mo... - This is her blog post that she usually shares with new members, if she hasn't done so already. 

To all the families in the path of Milton and dealing with the aftermath of Helene please know you are in our thoughts and prayers! I heard some of the recruits were able to call home in advance of the storm. I hope you all were able to connect. 

Stay safe, Stay Strong! We are thinking of you.

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR OCT 10, 2024

Happy PIR day!

SO@gonavy!  - I sent you a reply via our personal message option and also one to your profile comments. Hopefully, that will help you out. 

Thank you all for the welcoming messages. Good Morning new mom's! It has been a hard week. 

Congratulations to all our new Sailors and their families! Enjoy your time together today! Well deserved celebration and rest! 

Ladies, This is a Regular Announcement, However with the events of the last few weeks it's helpful to have!: Please put this information in your Phones:
I have a contact labeled {sailor ICE} with this phone number and text number as the phone number under the contacts, then I have the needed contact info in the notes section. The info in Italics below. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it or have to remember where or what you need! In the event of an emergency I can just pull up the info on my phone and hand it off if I’m not able to think clearly!!

If an emergency (such as a serious illness, death or birth** Major Hurricane or Flooding....) of an immediate family member takes place then military families can initiate a request for Red Cross emergency assistance. The message will be verified and then delivered. If the emergency requires leave for a service member, the Red Cross will verify the emergency to the service member’s commanding officer. Eligibility for emergency leave will ultimately be determined by them. Throughout the process, the family member will be able to track the progress of the message from anywhere in the world online, by phone, through our mobile app or in person.

To best prepare for an emergency, please have this information ready when reporting an emergency message:

• The service members name, rank, social security number and unit address {SR Davy Jones, 123-45-6789, Great Lakes Naval Training Center Ship 99, Div 1904.} {In Fleet This would be their Ship Name and number}
• The name of the person with the emergency and the nature of the situation {King Neptune, Hospitalized in critical condition}
• The name and contact information for the medical authority to contact regarding the status of the emergency {Doctor Jack Sparrow, Barbados General Hospital, 555-123-4567}

To access these services through the Hero Care Network, create an account and send the message here or send through the Hero Care app by texting “GETHEROCARE” to 90999 or call a Hero Care specialist at 1-877-272-7337.

Please have this discussion before your sailor leaves or ask in an early call or letter (Reassure them that all is well at home but you have learned you should have asked sooner.) No one likes to talk about the possibility of death but it happens and it’s easier if you have a plan for how to handle these situations. When you can, ask if they want to know about anyone not parent or sibling while in boot camp (They likely will not be allowed to leave anyway), ask if they want to come home if it’s a parent or sibling (In Boot camp, It will likely be short, 2-4 days at most) This is very rare and I only know of one case where it has happened in BC but again, better to be prepared! 
The Red Cross may reach out to you while your SR is in BC. This is normal and nothing to be surprised about. They want to make sure you also have this information available and know that they are there should you need them.

In the Event of a Major disaster they can get word to your Sailor that you are safe and that you will connect when you are both able. 

Brenhubb -- Welcome.  My sailor was teasing me the other day, I was asking for clarification on something for this site and he said, "Mom, are you still on the Boot camp page? I've been in for 11 years. can't you move on?"  I replied, Sarcastically, "It was a traumatic time for me... I still can't believe you made me do this!"

Yes, BC is hard.  It's one of the harder things we do mostly because WE didn't choose it!! However, It is also a time of great growth and you learn just how strong you can be!! You also are not ever in this alone!! There is a whole host of moms who have been through this and are willing to share their information and support you as you learn how to navigate this new life.

Hey Ladies! So, I my Son arrived to RTC on 9/23. I haven't gotten any Form Letter although I did recieve a post card with a QR code that just takes you to the navy.mil grad site. No Ship or Div info. So, I called his recruiter and she gave me what she had which was Ship 10 Div 373. Based on his arrival date, I counted out and his PIR should have been 11/27. But based on the info she gave me, 373 is not until 12/5. She said there is no training or grads on the week of Thanksgiving. But I see PIRs on 11/27. Anyone have any incite? At least until I get a letter or phone call (crossing fingers it'll be this week). 

So@gonavy, you should receive a call on early Saturday am.  Ask your Son the date of the actual graduation and his mailing address.  That is what we had to do.  We got the call that he arrived.  Then nothing, until his real first call 3 weeks later.  That is when you told us his mailing address and graduation date.  It was tough waiting.  Just remember he is okay.  Talk soon!

SO@gonavy! - I am glad you were able to post your question. And Seahawks12 has been at BC at lot more recently than I have. I was pre-ticket days. - Here is the link to the graduation page at the RTC site. One of the things the form letter should have in it, or the Sandboxx App was to email you was the form for the Security Access Form. You need to click on the link on the page and print out the form and mail it back to your SR as soon as you have the correct address.

U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command > Graduation

If you can't get the address written down completely make sure you have the Ship # / Name (although I don't think we need the ship name) and Div #. We can help you get the street address. The above may be the same link that the QR code gave you. 

They do have PIR the week of Thanksgiving, it is on the Wednesday prior. Your son may have gotten placed in a delayed division and the recruiter may not have completely accurate information, either. It does look like starting with the Thanksgiving PIR date there are only 3 guests allowed. So, this is the security form that you need. 

3 guest Security Form

If we still don't get your questions answered, keep asking and we will keep searching or asking other members as well. 

Chipmunk, always so happy to see your great advice to us all!

Thank you!

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

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

PIR: OCTOBER 2024

Basic Military Training Schedule and Training for Boot Camp:

Preparing for Boot Camp

Information for after graduation:

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER GRADUATION

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.)

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

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

PIR: OCTOBER 2024

Thanks Ladies! I got a quick call Sunday afternoon. He confirmed Ship/Div and grad date. Although he said no one explained why they were pushed back a week. There was never a packet or form letter sent but it seems like every single recruit is having different experiences and the families are all kind of left to guess. Some got letters before a call, some nothing at all. Some had to ask the recruiter, and some the recruiters had no idea what is going on. I do wish that RTC was more dialed in on procedures for entering and dealing with families. Anyway, I appreciate this page and all of your help! Here's looking forward to a longer call in a couple weeks! :)