Amanda,

Thank you for the friend request!!  I look forward to sharing this roller coaster journey with you.  If there is anything I can help you with please don't hesitate to ask!!

Amanda,

I see you recently joined the Moms of Daughters 2 group and I want to welcome you!!  We are a close, friendly, supportive group of Moms and look forward to getting to know you and your sailor.  I see you are new to N4Ms and your daughter is in boot camp now?  Please feel free to jump in and join our conversations on our group page.  You can ask any questions you may have, talk freely about your feelings, fears or concerns, or just chat about life.  We are all in different phases of our daughter’s Naval careers - from newbies to those whose daughters have been in for several years - from officer to enlisted!!! We support all our sailor girls and each other as well. Not just during the Bootcamp days but the weeks and months following, as they go off to school, first duty station, or first deployment.  Let us support you when you're missing her, lend an ear when you need to vent, and celebrate with you when you want to brag!!  Again, Welcome Aboard!!!!!

Be sure to make the changes below.

I hope to see you in Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones).

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. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/culinary-specialist-3345791 has more info for you.

Since your Sailor will stay in GL for INDOC, you will have extra time with your Sailor PIR weekend. Plan to leave late Sunday or on Monday if you are able to do that.See PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend to help you know how to plan your weekend. 

(Those with the CS rating who will be on Subs go to Fort Lee after GL and then to Groton for BESS.  If your recruit has a contract for CSS, then you will also want to join Sub Moms and check out Naval Submarine Base New London Facebook Page.) 

Make at least change 3 at the bottom of OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile) (clickable link) and change the Privacy Settings for this page from "Anyone" to "Members." 

Since you have a recruit, you can change "Thinking about joining" above to “Enlisted” or “At Boot Camp now.” Either is appropriate, but if you make the change to “Enlisted” now, then you will not have to change it again.  

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

Join the group, DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in January. You will meet others with loved ones who left today or this week who may be in the same TG and have PIR together. 

I also invite you to join Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) and to check out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) there.

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

Be sure to join your PIR group once you get The Form Letter, which now arrives 9 to 14 business days after the recruit's arrival at the RTC in most cases. Let me know when you know what division your recruit is in. I will have more info for you.