This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
FIRST TIME HERE?
FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO GET STARTED:
Choose your Username. For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either). Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username. While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!
Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!
Join groups! Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself! Start making friends that can last a lifetime.
Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak
All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.
Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)
Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC
...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.
OPSEC - Navy Operations Security
Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind. In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships." OPSEC is everyone's responsibility.
DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.
DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."
Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:
Events
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021
Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.
Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.
Format Downloads:
- Graduation Info
- PDF – 2.7 MB
- PNG – 2.3 MB
- JPG – 3.4 MB
- Printable PDF – 2.0 MB
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Navy Speak
Click here to learn common Navy terms and acronyms! (Hint: When you can speak an entire sentence using only acronyms and one verb, you're truly a Navy mom.)
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Navy.com Para Familias
Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com
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Holly4
- Female
- Fallbrook, CA
- United States
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Holly4's Page
Profile Information
- I am here to support my
- Niece/Nephew
- Stage of (Sailor’s) Navy career?
- At Boot Camp now
- When I heard “Navy,” I...
- was proud and encouraged it
- Our Navy experience so far...
- is challenging and exciting.
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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) to change "Anyone" to "Members" 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.
If she stays in GL for "A" School or training, then she will check in on the day of PIR. but will then have daytime Liberty the rest of the day and also each day of the weekend. If she flies out, then she will most likely fly out the Saturday after PIR. See PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend to help you know how to plan your weekend.
What is your recruit’s rating (job/occupational specialty) or field going to be? There are groups for most specialties and/or "A" Schools and knowing that will help you to better plan for PIR weekend. I have info on all of the ratings and fields and the PACT programs.
Take care and blessings to you and yours.
The Page, Saving Money PIR Weekend, has information on hotels, transportation to GL, and more.
The Grad Pack that came with The Form Letter should have some suggestions for hotels with contact information.
The Navy Gateway Inns & Suites is located on the main base, about 1.5 miles from RTC. Only those with military IDs can access the base to stay there. http://dodlodging.net or 1-877-NavyBed (1-877-628-9233).
The Navy Lodge is located 1.9 miles off base from RTC and guests of graduation are allowed to stay there. https://reservations.staydod.com/hotelSearch.do?action=View&pro... or 847-689-1485.
There are also hotels in Vernon Hills, Gurnee, and Waukegan. We stayed at the Hotel Indigo-Vernon Hills in 2008. Here are other places that people have mentioned (listed in the order I found them and I added the links for your convenience; I do not recommend or endorse any particular one): Ramada Inn Waukegan (some like the place and others do NOT), Hampton Inn in Libertyville, Residence Inn Waukegan, Red Carpet Inn in North Chicago, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham at Wadsworth Waukegan, La Quinta Inn & Suites in Gurnee... That should give you some places to try.
The discussion, Recommended Places to Stay, within PIR Reference Information may give you some ideas. Check http://www.tripadvisor.com/ to see what others have said about any hotel you are considering.
Hotels to avoid Red Roof Inn in Waukegan (illegal activity at times) and Sleep Inn in Lake Bluff (bugs).
Divisions 291 and 292 are brother divisions and train together and will have Battle Stations-21 (BST) together, so look for others with loved ones in either division. Write to your recruit and ask when Battle Stations-21 (BST) will be so you will know when to expect the "I'm a Sailor!" call.
You may want to check out Mom's of Daughters 2. Even though she is your niece, there may be some info there that will help you as you support her.
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.
If you would like information on your recruit’s rating (job/occupational specialty) or field, then let me know the rating or field. There are groups for most specialties and/or "A" Schools and knowing that will help you to better plan for PIR weekend.
Take care and blessings to you and yours.