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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.
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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.
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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.
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Comparing Navy to college
Hello, I'm new to all of this - my son left for RTC today. I'm wondering how other moms deal with well-meaning friends comparing my son leaving for the Navy to their children leaving for college. I'm so tired of hearing how "it's the same as when my son left for college". I know they aren't trying to irritate me, but I find myself wanting to scream that it is NOT the same. I'll have very minimal contact for 8 weeks, then to A school for about 9-10 weeks (according to what I've read of his rating) and then he could be shipped literally anywhere in the world. While their children are bringing home laundry on the weekends, mine will be unable to come home for the weekends or holidays and such.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had to deal with this. Please share any words of wisdom you may have before I snap on my friends!
Views: 127
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CeCe on
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I'm also new and dealing with the same thing. It seems the only way to deal is smile and change the subject. They will never know and can't know. Some situations we all can have empathy for but this seems to be something that some just can't grasp unless they have gone through it or about to go through it. The best way to vent would be with other Navy Momma's and this site. This site is so helpful. I just read so many of the pages here and discussions.
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Permalink Reply by PT mom on
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I completely understand, I have friends that assume that my SR and I can "talk anytime". I appreciate CeCe's response. I am lucky to have 3 friends who have served and/or have sons that are serving. If no one else understands, I know that they (and all of you) truly do. I hope that you both got your calls and were able to sleep last night.
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Permalink Reply by DocMom98 on
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Thanks to both of you so much. Yes, I received my calls and my son is safely at RTC and we are counting down the days to "the box", "form letter" and PIR!
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Please don't snap on them! Lol. My daughter is leaving for MEPS/hotel on Monday and flying out on Tuesday...so I totally know what you are dealing with. I too often get the comment about boot camp being the same as college...and of course we know that it is absolutely not!! But I focus on "not" allowing anyone to steal my joy or pride that I have knowing that my daughter is my new Super-Hero! I think the others are really trying to be supportive and just want to show that they can somewhat relate.
And again its absolutely not the same! Our children have chosen to be brave Sailors, traveling the world and becoming mature, discipline, responsible individuals, and overall doing something AMAZING with their lives. So no, we won't see them on the weekends, holidays, birthdays etc. But we will survive! I think these next years will create a new type of relationship for us and our children. I'm just starting this process too, but I'm confident that we (parents and future sailors) have made the best choices for our children.
They will be fine...lets work on calming you down :) I hope that helps. And again I plan on being here a lot more so I'm right here with you! We're Navy Moms Now!!
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Absolutely! I've taken the advice from CeCe and simply changing the subject! Seems to be working. Good luck with your daughter leaving tomorrow. My thoughts will be with you both!
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Thank you sooo much DocMom! As I sit here now it is really sinking in that tomorrow my baby will walk away from me and go off to start her new life. Tonight we had a small family dinner so everyone could see her and say their goodbyes. I have not cried and have been nothing but supportive. But right now...I am sad. I know this is what she wanted to do...and I really love it! I have an older brother who went into the Navy when I was 14 and he was 19. So I'm familiar with having a family member serve. I know there will be extended periods of time where we will not speak. I'm ok with that. I know this is great life plan for her and I am sooo proud! But she is my baby...my oldest. She has been with me everyday (she's never been away more than 3 days without me) for the past 19 years and now she's leaving!
I also often wonder if this is the moment that I lose her? What if she falls in love with some other side of life...and stay there? I want to believe that she will come back home after serving...but I'm just not sure. Every now and then she mentions "career" and I cringe a little. I guess I will just have to accept and cope. Either way everything will be fine. I know this! But tomorrow is coming and she is ready to go...so I guess I'm ready for the journey too!!
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Wanted to check on you SailorMa17 since you took her this week. I'm in week 2 and it has gotten easier, but now it seems to sneak up on me from out of nowhere. Maybe a commercial or a tv show. I got "the box" this week and am anxiously awaiting "the form letter" so I'll have his address and PIR date so I can plan when I can see him next! Hope your week is going well.
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