navymom16

Welcome to NAVYForMoms!

You will find this site very helpful and full of members who are eager to answer your questions. Browse around the site and check out the forums, groups, blogs, photos, videos, and even the other member profiles!

If you haven’t already, please make sure that you review our Community Guidelines to learn the “Do’s and Don’ts” of the community. Also, check out this Internet OPSEC Safety Video and this Survival Guide for NavyForMoms Newbies that was created by one of our members.

Enjoy your time here! I look forward (along with the community) to reading more about you! :)

-Erin

Welcome to Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones). I look forward to sharing this journey with you. Be sure to check out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) for information on what to expect and to help you prepare for PIR. Start with OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile) and Arrival and What Happens at the RTC and read 1 or 2 pages a day and then go back to them as you need the info.

What is your recruit's rating (job/specialty) or field going to be? There are groups for most ratings and/or "A" Schools and knowing that will help you to better plan for PIR weekend.

Take care and blessings to you and yours.

The Form Letter arrives an average of ten days after the recruit's arrival at the RTC and will come in a plain envelope in your regular mail. Some will have it 7 days after arrival (a few earlier than that, but not many) and most will have it by 14 days after arrival. It will tell you your recruit's address and PIR date and other important information. Keep it in a safe place.

Arrival and What Happens at the RTC within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) will let you know what is happening and what to expect.

Since your recruit has a contract for Culinary Specialist (CS), join CS (Culinary Specialist) Moms. You will also want to check out Joint Culinary Center of Excellence Facebook Page and Joint Culinary Training Directorate (JCTD).

The Rating Information Card for CS can be found at https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/enlisted/rating_info_cards/cs.pdf. (If you get the security warning, it is safe to go there.) That indicates that “A” School is approximately 9 weeks long, but it is about 5 weeks after arriving at Ft. Lee.

All Sailors heading to “A” School for CS spend at LEAST one week at Great Lakes Naval Base for Naval Indoctrination (INDOC). These are classes on how things are done in the fleet, which most get at “A” School, but since Ft. Lee is an Army base, this INDOC must be done before the Sailors arrive there. Sometimes Sailors going to Ft. Lee are in the THU at GL for 1 to 3 additional weeks before flying to VA because Ft. Lee must not have additional quarters for those who are not ready to begin classes.

Since your Sailor will stay in GL for INDOC, you will have extra time with your Sailor PIR weekend. See PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend to help you know how to plan your weekend.

The Form Letter will give you his address where you can send letters. Do NOT send care packages to him while he is at the RTC. Save those for "A" School and after. Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit will tell you more on what you can send and what you should not send.

Don't forget to make the changes below.

Click on OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile) and the Page will open in a new window. Read the Page and follow the directions at the bottom to make change 3 (see the words in bold) so that this page is no longer visible to EVERYONE (Anyone) with access to the web. Don’t forget to click the “Save” button at the bottom.

There may be other changes you need to make as well, so read and consider each of the changes.