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

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

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

MomofJoseph replied to Lancertrackmom's discussion 'A school graduation' in the group NUKE moms
yesterday

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

Badge

Loading…

Get Badge

Any info on BESS...post here

Looking to share all or any info/questions about BESS with other moms and wives of sailors who are already in BESS or going to start BESS. Any info and question answering would be appreciated as we are all in this together..Also ...just come here to BS..lol

Views: 921

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by janlee on February 12, 2011 at 12:09pm
My son left for Groton to start BESS training. I really dont know much about it. But am willing to share what i have learned so far.....which isnt much. I do know that it may not start right away. They wait until classes are filled. Ive heard some say it is 4 weeks long and other say it is 7 weeks long...can anyone answer that??
Permalink Reply by janlee on February 12, 2011 at 1:22pm

Cheri--wow...that helps. I couldnt find too much info on BESS. I just got done talking to my oldest son whos away at college and he said he was talking to my sailor on FB!! He asked him to relay a message to me. He said the classes didnt seem too bad and he was on a set schedule. The instructors seemed nice and he even hung out with one of them (of course...anyone seems nice after being in BC for two months). Im thinking he may not have started his actual classes yet, being subwife mentioned that they take it easy until classes are full. I hope they are able to take it all in. i did read that they cram a huge amount of info into them because of the time restraints of only having several weeks.

He also asked for me to send him certain items:

Clothes (jeans, tennis shoes, winter coat, hats, socks, t-shirts, etc)

computer

phone

Ipod

X-box

He doesnt have an address right now, but should have one next week.

Thanks for your info and i hope mine helps someone. Everytime i get or hear any, i will post...no matter how small.

I was able to find a small video clip on line about BESS (it looked like it was from the 80's..maybe 90's..haha) and it seemed to dwell on how smart the boys are that were chosen for the rates on a sub, and that the schooling can be kind of grueling for them...i wish them all the best.

Permalink Reply by janlee on February 12, 2011 at 1:30pm

I also know the mom of one of my sons roommates and her son told her that they all went shopping and bought food, toiletries, and cleaning supplies for the dorm room. There are 3 boys per room. I've read they are allowed to receive packages. Some moms said they have sent these items to their sons occasionally so the boys dont heve to spend so much of their own money, and because they like to receive packages. They are also able to receive their favorite snacks, cookies, etc...

Cant wait till we can have regular contact...

Permalink Reply by janlee on February 12, 2011 at 6:40pm

Here is  a link to some info i found on line about BESS..its sailors discussing how it was for them and what to expect when enrolled.

http://usmilitary.about.com/lr/basic_enlisted_submarine_school/2016...

 

And another article describing the importance of submariners and BESS.

http://www.jcs-group.com/military/navy/submariners.html

I hope this helps  to understand what our guys are in for.:)

Permalink Reply by HockeyMom on February 12, 2011 at 7:18pm

@janlee,

I was told they start 2/15 classes are to 4/5. for bess.  Hope you heard from your son they were at the Nex earlier today, so I believe he called you, at least I told my son, that you expected to hear from him on Sunday,  Have a peaceful evening and restful sleep.

Permalink Reply by MamaMiri (FT) on February 12, 2011 at 11:25pm
I'm really hoping this doesn't mean my hubby will have to wait for several weeks to start class. He just PIR'd this weekend and is being sent to CT on the 16th. So I guess he will be just barely missing the 2/15 class. We already have to be apart for another 2 months for BESS, I don't relish the thought of that being even longer because of just waiting around to start class. :(
Permalink Reply by winfieldcp on March 31, 2011 at 11:13am

Hello MamaMiri..........  Our grandson (who lived with us) also graduated on 2/11/11.  He left for Ct. on the 16th, so I imagine he and your husband are in the same BESS class.  We don't hear much from him.  Just praying it is going well.  I am sure you miss him terribly....... For me, I just try to remember how  very proud I am of our grandson and all of these SR's.

 

Permalink Reply by MamaMiri (FT) on March 31, 2011 at 11:34am
Yes, I'll bet they are in the same class! So far it sounds like things are going well, at least for my husband. They have not gotten bleached (sent back to white card, the most restrictive phase...early curfew, no civilian clothes, etc) at all so that is a good sign! Still no official graduation date for BESS but the most reliable one I've heard is 4/22. Have you heard anything about that?
Permalink Reply by winfieldcp on March 31, 2011 at 5:56pm
Hi.... I have not heard about a graduation date for BESS.  We left him a message on his cell to call us, so maybe he will have more information to share.  Have a good evening!
Permalink Reply by Gayle on March 31, 2011 at 7:35pm

Hi,

My son PIR was 02/18/2011 and he is at Groton and in BESS.  He thought his graduation date is 04/22/2011.  Maybe he will get leave and come home the next day.  He thinks it looks good for him.

Permalink Reply by MamaMiri (FT) on March 31, 2011 at 8:25pm
From what I hear a lot of guys are planning to take leave right after BESS since they will be on hold before ATT anyway. We're thinking my hubby will wait to take leave until later since I'm heading out there and we'll have plenty of time together while he is on hold. :)
Permalink Reply by janlee on March 31, 2011 at 10:17pm
My son just got engaged two weeks ago,,,so hes looking forward to the leave. They have a lot to discuss...lol   Plus, he was in DEP, but was rushed thru, so it was such a short amount of time from when he enlisted to when he left for BC, that he wasnt able to see everyone before he left, so everyone is anxious to see him. I may even have a party...LOL!!

RSS

© 2025   Created by Navy for Moms Admin.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service