Proper public behavior with your sailor - after PIR and throughout their naval career

[Arwen]

Public Display of Affection

In the Navy physical forms of affection such as hugs, kisses, and holding hands while in uniform are known as a "public display of affection" (PDA) and are forbidden.

There is one exception: families saying goodbye to a sailor before a deployment or greeting a sailor returning from deployment or long separation. Boot camp counts under this exception, with limits. One enthusiastic hug of greeting and a quick kiss are acceptable. French or extended kisses are not. Nor are extended hugs, hanging off your sailor, etc.

Hand-holding at any time is forbidden. There is a compromise, and I consider it to be a fairly romantic one. A sailor may offer his arm to his girlfriend/wife/mother, she lays her hand in the crook of his LEFT elbow in a formal escort-type pose. Likewise, a female sailor can take the RIGHT arm of her husband/boyfriend/father with her left hand. In a truely romantic gesture, men may lay their right hand over their lady's hand (to keep it warm, or for skin-to-skin contact). The sailor must ALWAYS have his right arm free to salute an officer or flag, should one show up.

Also, just because you aren't on base, don't assume they aren't looking. RDCs and other boot camp personnel also go to the mall, out to restaurants, to Chicago, etc, and they will be looking for new sailors breaking the rules. Some may actually be assigned this job in popular venues. Even if they run into the recruit by chance and are just out with their own family, they will report the new graduate. You won't likely see them because they will not be in uniform, but they will see you.

And no, they won't punish YOU. They will punish your sailor when s/he returns to barracks. The most common punishment is to have their liberty revoked the next day, or if the behavior is observed on the final day of liberty, new sailors can be retained for an extra week of boot camp. These are not idle threats. They actually do it.

About uniforms

Your sailors will be wearing their dress blues, not their whites, on Friday at PIR and after. If you wear something light colored, be sure to bring a lint brush for your recruit to "clean up" his or her blues. They're wool and pick up just about anything. If you are bringing a pet, bring one of those sticky-tape rollers to de-fur your sailor.

On Saturday and Sunday they will be wearing their service uniforms, which is a khaki shirt and black slacks or skirt.

They start wearing whites the weekend before Memorial Day, so you will probably see them in their whites when they come home on leave after A school.

[Jacqueline Manning]

Thanks.......very good info! Very well put.

[justamom]

Wow! Arwen, thank you so much for this post. I had NO idea about this. I would have gotten him in trouble for sure!

While reading posts on here the other day my husband said to me, "It's not just the boy going through boot camp, we are going through it too!".

So thank you for helping out with "boot camp for parents/spouses!

P.

[wendymm(proud mom of a SAILOR!!)]

Thanks for the info...I had no idea about any of this!

[fonda sue Momof2Sailor's]

thanks for the info, I myself like the fact that they have to conduct their self in a gentleman/ladylike fashion. I've seen way to much PDA to suit me.

[Arwen]

Here are more rules, from the Navy's website

1. Graduating Sailors may not smoke, drive, or consume alcoholic beverages while on liberty.
2. Graduating Sailors must stay within a 50-mile radius of RTC.
3. Graduating Sailors must remain in their complete uniform while on liberty. If they are engaging in physical activity or swimming, they must be in authorized Navy issued workout gear.
4. Liberty expires at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. on Sunday. No overnight liberty is authorized. Due to security checks and transit time, please allow ample time for graduating Sailors to walk back to their assigned ship prior to the end of liberty.
5. Families may not enter the base after graduation and will need to meet graduating Sailors for liberty at the main RTC gate.
6. Graduating Sailors departing RTC for follow-on training the same day as graduation or in a duty status will be granted limited on-base liberty.
7. Graduating Sailors receive an in-depth liberty briefing prior to their graduation day.

[Meadow]

Oh how i remember all the many of rules that the military has!! I was in the Army, so i know how it goes!! I dont like seeing PDA, so i dont mind that rule, but Its kinda weird how they can put a rule on how long a hug should or shouldnt be! Im gon hug my man probably longer than the rules allow! Im rule breaker!

[Arwen]

I don't think there is a rule on hug time (no stopwatch), but if it gets to the point where people want to say "get a room," the hug has been going on for too long, LOL. And of course the rules are more strict once you are no longer in "greeting mode" and you get out in public.

I remember when I was in the Navy a guy from my command proposed to his girlfriend on the beach, in uniform. She said yes and hugged him. They were seen by a chief, who reported him. He ended up at XOs Mast. Once he explained the situation the XO let him off, and said "...but don't let it happen again!" (referring to a proposal hug, LOL)