I am sending you a friend request but it may take me a bit to accept it, because I am limited on my internet connection currently. 

Hi Sally - I see that you have had a few welcomes already. I saw that you had joined the Nuke Moms group and then also the BC Mom's group. I have not been able to log in for awhile due to our weather but I wanted to say a quick hello.

You are quite welcome.  Be sure to come on the main boot camp page and introduce yourself and ask all the questions!!! Your Soon to be SR can come and learn a few things too!! It will help tons when he gets there!!

Welcome!! Please read my blog to give you an idea of what the first few weeks may look like.. First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition Up and to the Left is a link to all the Navy Lingo! It is titled Navy Speak and you can find it here. We are here to get you through the “Great Silence” of the next 4 weeks (ish) and the 8 weeks of BC (ish). You will come to learn that No News Is GOOD News and everything is Needs of the Navy. You life will be Hurry Up and Wait and it’s ok to make plans but they are subject to change until after they have happened so it’s best to embrace the Motto: Semper Gumby!! (Always Flexible!!)

The Expected timeline will look like this
Day 0 -- Travel, Arrival and "I'm Here" scripted phone call
Day 1-14 -- 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 Monday - Friday but we have heard rumors that Saturday’s are now training days as well.
Normal PIR will be 8 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 if kids get sick)

Since you have a son that is getting ready to leave for boot camp soon please sit down with them and have a real good talk about what to expect. 

Since Covid has hit things have been all over the place - they get put in quarantine, they get out of quarantine, they get put back in quarantine. A normal 8 week boot camp can drag on much longer and it can take a huge mental toll on them. It's important that they understand THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY! They need to be physically strong but more importantly they need to be MENTALLY STRONG! 

Let them know that they probably won't even get a letter from home until they are at least HALF WAY through boot camp. NO you haven't forgotten about them - it just takes that long for them to train someone in the mail room so they can get their mail. The first couple of weeks they may question their decision to join - and that's normal! But they need to be strong. This is just the beginning of their Navy career and they need to learn to be FLEXIBLE. 

Remind them they are STRONG and THEY CAN DO THIS. Before they leave ask them HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THIS?

Hi Sally - since your son is going the nuke route you might like to join our nuke moms group - here's the link:

.Nuke moms

And just so you know, your son won't actually be a "nuclear engineer" when he's done with the program.  He will be a "Qualified Nuclear Reactor Operator".  This enables him to run the nuclear reactors onboard the boats...(of course that is after lots of qualifications!).  It's a great program - lots of hard work.  Both my son and daughter in law were nukes too.  Come on over to our group and say hi - we are a pretty active group.  Welcome again!