New Navy Mom

[Nizzi929]

Hello , my daughter is at Great Lakes. This is her 2nd week. I am familiar with the other branches of service but not the Navy. Is the bootcamp pretty much the same as the other Armed Forces?

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

I would say, no. I am sure a real Navy vet will be along to let you know even better :-) I'm a mom :-) I have been on the site for two years now helping out with our PIR groups.

Once you get your Form Letter with your daughters info you will know her address, PIR date, who she wishes to invite to PIR (Pass-in-Review - the official graduation ceremony), and their will also be a confidential Password for a Vehicle Gate Pass that she will have filled in on the letter. There will be a lot of other pertinent info as well.

When you find out the PIR date we have PIR GROUPS on here for you to join and connect up with other members. There are alumni moms (veteran, seasoned, whatever! Moms who have been through this) on there to answer questions and lend support as well.

Here is the link to the current PIR groups we have now:

N4M GROUPS: Listed By PIR Date thru June 21, 2013 (Boot Camp Gradua...

Boot Camp Moms is a great one to join now:

Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Most of Navy BC is held indoors, even PT.

The Navy is the only branch that has the Female recruits cut their hair to a standard length.

All personal items with the exception of a wallet with proper ID and some small personal pictures, calling card (no cell phones or clothing stored like the other branches), and Bible are sent home or discarded (that's why some wear old clothes and bring absolutely nothing with them). That's down to even your underwear. Everything is issued.

The Recruits do not leave the base for a Liberty day before Graduation like Coasties do and possibly other branches.

The Compartments in their Barracks or "Ships" have red lights in them much like on a real ship.

I would venture to say that each branch of the Military designs their Basic Training to prepare them for that branch of service. The tight quarters, red lights indoor training, yes down to even the grey paint everywhere reflect shipboard life.

They have to simulated Ships to test Shipboard skills as well. In fact their "final" is done on a Ship simulator the USS Trayer. The training event is called "Battlestations".

Communications for BC is snail mail and calls granted home when allowed (can be earned and taken away) and done on pay phones with calling cards. It's a prelude to the communications that you will have with Ship life.

That's all I can think of...hope there will be more folks to come along to give info!

Best wishes to your daughter and Welcome to N4M's!

[Nizzi929]

Thank you for the information. And the welcome!

[lemonelephant]

There will be some similarities to the basic training by other branches of the Armed Forces, but there will be differences as well related to Navy specific tasks and ship life.

Arrival and What Happens at the RTC (clickable link) within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) will let you know what is happening, but you will also want to check out the other Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) and be sure to check out the Pages and discussions in your PIR group as well.

[Anti M]

I don't think it is as physical, no long runs for miles wearing packs.  The other services don't do the swimming thing either, that I know of.  There's more classroom to basic than you'd think.  We lost more girls to exams than to failing the physical fitness tests. Long time ago though, it has changed somewhat.

The Army lets them go on leave after boot camp, and visit home, the Navy does not.