This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
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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.
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DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.
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Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:
Events
**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:
In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.
**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.
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:
- Graduation Info
- PDF – 2.7 MB
- PNG – 2.3 MB
- JPG – 3.4 MB
- Printable PDF – 2.0 MB
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Son leaving today
Hi everyone,
My son leaves today Sunday, April 3 at 2 PM. I'm so upset and can't stop crying. I don't want him to go and I wish I could stop him. He is only 18 and still so very young in many ways. I want to know how did you all deal with this because I feel so alone and sad. I look forward to the support I can get here and I hope to become an active member in this site. Thank you and God Bless you all especially our loved one's serving.
Lisa
Views: 447
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mom2aSailor on
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My SR left March 8th and I felt like I had lost a child... it was awful!! those were some very dark days for me, but it DOES get better.... everyday gets easier.. you get the box, the form letter, a REAL letter, a phone call.. it does get better, I promise. Let yourself feel those emotions and realize you ARE NOT crazy, it is a loss and you will be sad. And those that haven't gone through it, can NOT understand.. they may say some stupid things, not realizing, but just move on..
Here's to brighter days!
JennNY
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Permalink Reply by mommyto4boyz on
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Moms,
You will have good days and you will have bad days. I promise that you will get through it and leading up to the end you will be able to focus on the PIR and that will help a lot.
Christina
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Hi Lisa,
My son is on his first deployment now, but I remember all the crying I did. Felt like my heart was breaking.
It Does get easier each time you see them and let them go. Hold those photos and memories close and stay busy.
It seems like yesterday when my son first left and now he'll be out by the end of the year. Your son will do alot of growing up. Mine is now a neat freak and health nut:)
Know you are not alone! Maureen
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Permalink Reply by ladyayp on
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Newyorker lisa, My name is anna. I am ladyayp on the navyformoms website. My son has been gone for almost a year now. I thought I would never make it and he was 22. It was not easy. I felt like you, sad,empty,lonely. JUst try to undersatand that he is a man now, and wants and needs to move on with his life. I know that is hard to understand. Beleive me, I have heard all the same things that I am telling you. It will be alright. I know that does not seem poswsibe right now, but try to focus onj when you will see him again. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
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Permalink Reply by srmom on
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Hi Lisa,
I really know how you feel, my son is leaving in eight days and haven't stoped crying myself and he hasn't even left. My son is 20 and I feel he's not old enough either, no one knows how you feel unless you have a child or loved one serving our country. Your proud but sad at the same time and you have so many emotions running through your heart, if you ever need someone to chat with I will be here.
Sonja : )
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smom here is a group for you to join to get info and to connect with other April DEPers http;//www.navyformoms.com/group/leavinforbootcampinapril
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Permalink Reply by NewyorkerLisa on
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Hi Sonja,
It is hard saying goodbye. I cried for an long time the Sunday my son left. He has been gone a whole week and I have adjusted but I can't stop thinking about him. I'm waiting for his address being I don't have his recruiters number to send out three envelopes filled with letters. Goodluck and like wise if you need anyone to talk to contact me. Be Well,
Lisa
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Permalink Reply by mdubtxmom(Ship 09 Div 069) on
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Ladies, I can sympathize with all of you about to send your baby boys off to boot camp. My Son has just finished A school and Boot Camp is not something we would ever want him or our family to have to go through again. I can tell you that you will be VERY pleased with the result. You send them boys and you get back a grown up. You will not believe the change that you will see in them after just 8 weeks. My husband, my daughter and I all cried for the first couple of weeks. It is the communication disconnect that hurts the most. Start writing letters as soon as they leave and be ready to mail a pile of them as soon as you get their address. The mail they receive is their ONLY connection to the outside world. Also be prepared for the fact that they will not be able to write you as many letters as you write to them. You will cry when you get the kid in the box back but you will be so happy to receive that first "I am ok Mom and thank you for being my Mom letter." Just encourage them to keep working and tell them how proud you are. As for information on here join the group Boot Camp Moms and then Jessica or Arwen or someone like that will start a group for you with people from the same ship and graduation date. You will draw strength and knowledge from the other moms who are going through this with you. The Recruit Training Command has a Facebook page too. Just search for Navy RTC and you will find a host of information there and a photo of the week. You may even catch a glimpse of your Recruit. Thank your son or daughter for their service and I will keep you in my prayers. Hooyah Navy!
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Permalink Reply by Lorryfitz on
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Lisa:
My son James was 18 when he went to boot camp last fall. It is heartbreaking and worrisome for those left at home. However, he needs to hear from you often and how proud you are of him. This is a hard road that he's chosen and he has to know that you support him even if you have doubts. I made sure that someone mailed a letter to him every single day that he was at Great Lakes - I even stamped and addressed envelopes to hand out to his friends and our friends so he would know he was missed. Let your pride in him get you through, brag about his service to country often and pray that he stays safe, it's what got me through. When we went to PIR my heart was full to bursting and I made sure that he knew. When he gets to A school or other assignment, keep the communication flowing. You will write and e-mail more often than he does but it is vital that you do. Search this site for groups of other Moms from your state, from the school your son eventually attends or the ship he is on, it really helps.
Lorry
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Hi All,
I hope everyone is good. It's wonderful to hear from all of you, and thank you for all the advice and information. I've been writing my son everyday even though I don't have the address yet, but when they send it to me I will mail all my letters.I plan to write once a day giving him some current event news too. I hope to get to know some of you who's family will be graduating late March or early June on the group site.
Be Well,
Lisa
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Permalink Reply by Jo1 on
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I received my son's box in the mail today and that was a very strange feeling. I've been writing letters and when I receive his address I will mail them.
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Jo, I got my son's box yesterday and I know what you mean about the strage feeling. I'm slso waiting for the adress let us know when you get the letter. I guess we will be going to same graduation about 57 more days to see our sailors I can't wait.
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