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:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED.  Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

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:

Latest Activity

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.)

N4M Merchandise


Shirts, caps, mugs and more can be found at CafePress.

Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by CafePress.

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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First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition

First things first.....New Moms.... Take a Deep Breath in....... Let it out...... Take another one......... Let it out....... Repeat continuously!!!  Just keep breathing and it will all be OK!! We haven’t lost a mom to Boot camp yet, we won’t start with you.

If your Recruit has not left yet: have him or her leave you a voicemail message so when you just can't stand it you can hear their message (Over and Over and Over, Just don’t listen to it till after they've been gone for at least 24 hrs. You’ll know when it’s time.), Sneak a note of encouragement in their wallet and ask them to leave you a note at home so you can find it there. One of the Moms suggested setting a time of day that they would be thinking about/ praying for their SR. That way they would always be connected. Also have them call as soon as they land in Chicago. It will be your last "Visit" until the call home around week 4 or 5. Also talk with them about who they want to be told about and when, should something happen back home. I know this is an uncomfortable topic but with COVID it is important to know. They likely would not be able to come home unless it is for Their Immediate family (and not always then, especially with COVID!)

Other things to take care of before your Recruit leaves: Please go read this page! It is Very Helpful and has a complete list of all the things you may want to consider before they leave. Keep in mind it was written some time ago and the box is no longer shipped home (take the Charger for their phone!!)and a few other things may have also changed but the basic gist is still there. https://navyformoms.ning.com/forum/topics/things-to-do-in-the-last-...
If you have time I would get Power of Attorney’s for: any real property, A financial power of attorney and a Medical Power of Attorney There are many places that you can get the forms for free Online and then you just have to get them notarized. I also suggest they open an account with Navy Federal Credit Union if you have a location near you. (the article goes into why and what all they will need otherwise) If you also have the time I strongly suggest you look into getting a Civilian Passport or at least getting all the paperwork filled out if they are going to a Long A school (nuke or corpsman). Most of the time they can and will travel “on orders”, However if they are stationed overseas they will need a passport to travel outside of their “Station Country” (and Europe has many wonderful countries to see but some are smaller than many of our States!!). If they have to travel under an emergency or something happens to their orders they will at least have their Passport to allow for some greater ease.

Now on to ROM/P-Days and what the first few weeks may hold.
Day of Departure/ MEPS/ Flying out-- After they Swear in (You May no longer be able to attend this ceremony. :'(   Please be sure to check with your local MEPS office) they will be transported to the Airport to fly to Chicago (unless you live close by in which case they are bused.) Shortly after arrival they will make the “I am Here Call” This usually comes Very late at night or Early morning (Ours came at 1:30am Mountain time) It is Scripted “"I made it. I'm here. I'm fine. Look a letter in about 3 weeks. I will try to call in about 3 weeks. Love ya. I gotta go." I advise just talking over your SR (Seaman Recruit) and telling them you love them and are proud of them and you KNOW they GOT THIS and OH Yeah… You LOVE THEM!!! Don’t expect an answer but know they will have heard you!

Quarantine Begins

They will go straight from the Airport to Great Lakes. Upon arrival there they will make the phone call and be divided into 2 types, Fully Immunized for COVID, or not.  They will be given a Duffel bag with their sweats and basic clothing. They should get a hygiene kit with a toothbrush/paste, shampoo?, soap, razor and unscented deodorant. Gals should take some hygiene products if they think they MAY need it in the first 3 weeks of BC. They should be able to get stuff if needed but better safe than sorry. IF they are worried they can bring those from home but they should take them in a Ziptop bag since they may end up in the box and they don’t want them to get all over anything else in the box!! (Like cell phones!!!)
IF they are Fully Vaccinated They will begin P days so you can skip to that part of this blog.  If NOT: They will be in Quarantine for the next 14 days at an on base location with a small group of other recruits of the same gender.  They have been assigning Div numbers (Division Numbers are the Smaller group of SR’s that train together. A Training Group (TG) is all the Div’s scheduled to PIR on the same day, but you still likely will not know an address until the form letter arrives following ROM.  They have been given their Blue Jacket (Training manual) in the initial gear so they have material to begin studying but they will not be tested until they are done with ROM .  They have time to read and write so you may get letters sooner than previous years.(Sending them with an envelope and a couple of stamps would be a good idea so they can mail the letter home right away!). Everything they brought from home will go in a box that is placed in storage. I suggest if they bring toiletries that they bring a Ziptop baggie to separate liquids from their phones and clothes.  I have heard that some have been permitted to keep books. That may be a privilege earned. They are also given some basic exercises (planks are the new standard but we have heard that some still do curl-ups as well.  No Running!!!) that they are permitted to do, if they choose (Encourage them to Choose!!) but the RDC's do not use that as IT during this time. (IT- Instructional Training, Intensive Training, Incentive Training = change your attitude or do better or you get to do this exercise to get the message home. Not really punishment but can feel that way at times.) After 14 days they will be moved to their regular Ship at RTC and they will visit Medical and Dental & finalize processing paperwork (P-days) and begin the next 6ish weeks of training!! About 3-4 weeks (usually on a Thursday) you should get the form letter with the address.  At this point you can send all the letters you have been writing!! (Number them and make a copy somehow just in case they get lost) Keep sending letters if they get placed back into ROM, (NO CARE Packages!! Regular mail will forward but Sandboxx letters may not) About 4 weeks after they have left is the first earned phone call.  Bootcamp is still 8-9 weeks if there are no cases of COVID for that individual Division. but if anyone tests positive anyone in the bunks closest to them (The Ring of Fire) go back into ROM and it may take longer.  This is the Navy so EVERYTHING posted here is subject to change until it isn't!!

Once they are onboard RTC they will transition to Training Days. Usually denoted as W1TD1 (Week 1 Training Day 1). The first day there they will fill out the form letter that gets mailed home. That letter along with any letters written in ROM will be collected and mailed the next business day (Remember we do not count Sat, Sun or Holidays except as ROM Days). Usually the form and first letters arrive home between 21 and 28 business days since departure, HOWEVER there are reasons it may be delayed. Lots of reasons that are NOT cause to panic. It is hard but Repeat after me... No News is Good News!! Again! No News is GOOD NEWS!!!  Repeat daily, hourly, Minute by minute as necessary! Shout it if you need to or whisper it as a prayer! Whatever gets you through. The Form letter will give you the address and PIR date! Time to Mail all the letters you have been writing! I know how hard the waiting can be but calling the recruiters is not advised. They may have the wrong address and letters sent early may not arrive in a timely fashion since the Mail Petty Officer has to be trained and until that happens mail is set aside to be sorted later and sometimes that later is MUCH later!! The first few weeks are honestly the hardest part of BC! Your emotions are still raw from letting go of your Child and knowing that for better or worse they will be changed by this experience and add to that the Communications Blackout that is imposed and it can be quite overwhelming but trust us that they know you love them, they feel your prayers and you will get a chance to send letters!

Around week 4 you will get the first call home. They may be homesick and there may be tears so be prepared and be strong. (You can come here and cry later, to quote my favorite wizard,”I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”  It’s ok to cry about missing your baby, even if they are mostly full grown!! (We are over 7 years in and I still cry on occasion—Navy Mom Allergies!!!) The call can come on ANY day of the Week at any time from 8am-8pm-ish Central time. Calls will not come on Sunday Mornings but they can come any other time. Keep Phones charged and ringers on LOUD at all times while they are in BC!! Answer ALL Calls!! Yes telemarketers may call but you can hang up on them!! You don't want to risk missing a call from your Recruit!  Keep a notepad handy of all the questions you want to ask so you don't forget!

In the meantime while you are waiting through the “Great Silence”, write letters!!! Write all the Letters you can! Take all the raw emotional letters and save them for a BC burning/shredding party at the end of BC and get ready to send positive and encouraging letters. There is a whole file here on letter writing. Read all you can and watch the videos “The Making of a Sailor” videos to get an idea of what your SR’s are going through.
This whole experience is a huge roller coaster of emotions. We have been where you are now and we know what you are feeling. Just remember you are stronger than you feel… You raised a young Man or Woman who was willing to put duty to country over self. They are strong enough to take on this challenge because they were shown strength from home! You have raised the 1%!! Be proud of that and welcome to the Family!!

TLDR:

The Expected timeline will look like this
Day 0 -- Travel, Arrival and "I'm Here" scripted phone call
Day 1-14 -- Vaccinated Recruits: Skip to Day 15. All others: ROM (Restriction of Movement/ Quarantine-- Lots of studying and waiting)
Day 15-21-- Arrive Onboard RTC and begin P-days (P-days- Initial Processing Days) including 2 days of P-hold (Weekend)
Day 21-- Complete P days. (Initial PFT & Run)
Day 22-- Begin training and mail form letter out. Look for it to arrive around 1-2 weeks later)
All of this is assuming no exposure to COVID with additional ROM
Training typically occurs for 5 days and they have 2 days for the "Weekend". 1 is "Sunday routine" and SR's will have an opportunity to attend Religious services if they choose.  This day MAY NOT be on the actual day- Sunday.
Normal PIR will be 10 Fridays after departure from Home but it can be less by 1 but it can be extended by ???? (lots!!) It just depends on how many times they get caught in the “Ring of Fire” but do not get COVID. IF they get COVID, Once they are recovered they will not be removed from training again even if they are in the “Ring of Fire”. (so there is that small silver lining for our moms who’s kids have gotten sick)
** If your SR is FULLY Vaccinated (2 weeks past final injection) then you can subtract 2 weeks for ROM from this timeline.  8 weeks of BC instead of 2.**

Views: 8508

Comment by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on February 5, 2021 at 2:36pm

Hilltop - be sure to join the boot camp group - I left the link in the welcome message on your page.

Comment by DrMom on February 10, 2021 at 7:02pm

Is this information on arrival for ROM for new recruits still correct? Are they still going to Ft. McCoy? 

Comment by Chipmunk on February 10, 2021 at 11:51pm

DrMom - Yes the SRs are still going to Ft McCoy - at least that is our latest knowledge. Also, I think I saw you had joined the BC Mom group - be sure to go there and introduce yourself if you haven't done so already. That is the best place to ask your questions, down in our comment wall where we doing our daily chatting. 

Comment by Jayme0209 on February 12, 2021 at 8:15pm
What is the ring of fire?!?
Comment by DsMom2020 on February 12, 2021 at 10:05pm

Hi Jayme. The ring of fire are all the SRs (sailor recruits) in the bunks immediately around ;& above or below) an SR that develops symptoms of illness. They all get quarantined (ROM - restriction of movement). After ROM, they get out in a new division since their old one continued training without them.  I am not sure if they are all ROM’d for 14 days, or if the “ill” person is Covid negative, if they get to get out of ROM early. 

Comment by Proud Mama on April 30, 2021 at 7:06am

I am new to this group and honestly I have never posted anything ever online, but I am desperately missing my son who is expected to graduate on May 6, 2021.  We were getting letters quite a lot at the beginning, back dated from the time he was quarantined  but the last  one we received was one week ago dated 2 weeks before that.   My question is, does the training get more intense during the last couple weeks?  The last call we got was almost 3 weeks ago too.  Just wondering if you moms remember receiving less during the last few weeks of training?  Biting my nails over here but so very proud, after reading about xxx and all the extra stuff he has been assigned already.  I can’t believe they won’t let us see these ‘kids’ graduate.  Have the graduation outside for goodness sakes and have me a mile away, is still better than a video a day later.  These kids didn’t even get real high school graduations, so I know this is more for me than it is him.  Just bittersweet emotions over here, frustrated I haven’t seen my son since the end of Feb and who knows when I can give him a proud Mama hug.

Comment by Chipmunk on April 30, 2021 at 8:36am

Proud Mama - First off welcome aboard to Navy4Moms!! And I see you joined the BC Mom group, that is great!! - To answer your question, yes, things get very hectic towards the end as they have Battle Stations (BST-21) right before their PIR. 

Also, with the two weeks of ROM, many of the SRs (seaman recruits) were able to write letters during that time and then mailed them when they got assigned to their ship and division. After they are in training, in the past, they were only allowed to write once a week and those letters were mailed out on Monday. So, generally, we only received on letter a week from our recruits. 

If you find out the actual day & date for his battle station, DO NOT post it on the public groups as that is considered ship movement and we are being trained as Navy Moms ourselves to pay attention to OPSEC and PERSEC. 

Here is the link to the May PIR group which you should join as it is a private group (you will have to wait for a site admin to approve you) but you may talk a little more freely there and ask more questions privately.  PIR May 2021

Yes, it is sad, frustrating, irritating and a lot more words that have been shared about no live PIR, but there really is not a practical way for them to do it even outside with watching from a mile away. And all attendees in the past had to be vetted and multiple one on one contacts when coming onto RTC, which made the possibility of viral transfer even worse than it already is. (Not that I agree with their decision - just trying to share a picture of what it was like.) - There are several divisions that have recently been disrupted again due to positive testing, but as long as you do not receive a phone call - other than your "I'm a sailor" after BST-21 (which they don't call it that, since that is our N4M term) your son should be finishing up on his projected PIR date from your form letter. 

Comment by belovedbyHim on April 30, 2021 at 2:31pm

Proud AIRR mom -- I See that Chipmunk already answered but I just wanted to say EVERYTHING you are feeling is NORMAL!! You are almost at the end!! Keep those phones handy since you can expect a phone call anytime from Sunday -Thursday letting you know that he's a Sailor and has completer this phase of training!  I STRONGLY Encourage you to come over to the boot camp moms page

Comment by lmftnavymom21 on August 12, 2021 at 1:46pm

thanks for this info- this is keeping me stable today!

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