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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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:
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
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.)
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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
Unprepared
16hrs since I received that scripted phone call from my son. Unaware of the "scripted" part and or length of phone call (48 sec). I could hear stress in his voice. Also unaware of being able to have accompanied him to his recruiter meetings for preparation on what to expect after final swear in. Maybe he thought I wouldn't have been as supportive had I attended. Definitely unprepared for this journey. Never been away from my three children. My heart feels heavy. Experiencing detachment with my children becoming adults and leaving NEST that's been built with a strong foundation with walls insulated with ADT security. Now not even being able to communicate with my middle child and only son. I feel as if I'm grieving or had a loss. Emotions from PROUD, SAD, UNCERTAIN, EXCITED for his journey, and LONGING to hear him say "I'm going fishing". Never thought it would be so hard to fold his clothes, walk past his door, pick up his shoes, or not hear his car crank. Wondering if there are other navy moms who have experienced these feelings? Today only cried once and here I am writing without tissues thanks to the support from another navy mom (whose ex navy chief).
Views: 21102
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by jamieRN Div. 073 PIR 1/24 on
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My son told me , basically the same thing. I dont know if it is just him trying to assert his independence or because he knows i have already been weepy and he feels that it would be harder for both of us. I am going to drop him off at the recruiters office the day he leaves but i will not be going to MEPS that eve or next day. He doesnt want me too. I know this is a hard time, Mama, i am right there with you ... Big NMH
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Permalink Reply by carafid1 on
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my recruiter never told us we could see him get sworn in but I think in the end it was better for him otherwise there would've been 3 goodbyes instead of one. Crying in the parking lot was bad enough I don't think I could've taken seeing him again before he left. Good luck to you it does get better my son graduates (hopefully) on the 15th and he seems like hes actually having fun.
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Permalink Reply by sk8rmom on
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It is so hard to let go, but knowing they are in good hands help. I know what you mean about all those special memories we touch on when they have left. The first night,knowing what he was going through, we had dinner at an old family favorite with our daughter, they have a tv running in the background and a Navy commercial comes on, then the song from the movie Bodyguard, I think it's, I will always love you, my son would sing that to me, in his funny little way. Now that a night has passed, I can think of it and it warms my heart. All we can do is send our prayers and love. :)
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Permalink Reply by EllaMom on
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My daughter left for BC this past Tuesday - received the 5-second phone call that she had arrived and I instantly felt better talking to her. I had done a lot of research ahead of time, so I pretty much knew what to expect, but still a little strange to hear them say the "scripted' message :) I could tell she was tired, probably nervous and trying to remember to say only exactly what she was told. Can't wait to get the form letter so I can mail the letters I've already written. Anyone else's son/daughter just leave for BC?
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Permalink Reply by proud florida girl on
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My son left for bootcamp nov. 4. Div. 43. I missed two of his calls and felt so bad just wanted to hear his voice. Now my phone doesn't leave my side. Got his belongings on fri. And his navy letter today so at least have an address. Like the other mothers here I miss him terribly but so proud he has made this decision to join the navy.
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Not sure yet - I am thinking 1/3, but haven't received the letter yet. Either 1/3 or 1/10 depending upon what they do for the holidays? they are there for 4 federal holidays so I am thinking that might slow them down?
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My Daughter arrived at BC on Nov 5 - I got her belongings on Friday too. I just read your comments and that you received your letter yesterday, so I ran out to our mailbox thinking I missed it yesterday - but no letter yet. :( Guess I'll have to wait til Tuesday maybe since there is no mail tomorrow. I am so proud and can't wait to hear from her
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Permalink Reply by grandmalyons on
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It keeps getting better. Had a phone call from my son tonight.Almost thought I would not hear from him at all this weekend. He loves receiving mail from family and friends. Broke my heart when he said some guys had no one to write to or receive a letter from. He's asked his grandparents to see if some of their neighbors if they would like to be penpals.
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Permalink Reply by Liberty on
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Oh, that breaks my heart! Is there a way for some of us to get names and addresses to write to some of them. How horrible to not have anyone who cares enough to write to you!
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Permalink Reply by Anti M on
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This is the best way to go about it, they aren't supposed to give out names and such to strangers, that's for security reasons.
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Thanks! My son leaves in early Feb. and this will give me time to start emailing friends and family to get letters from them. I will divide them up when we sends letters to our son and he can distribute them. So, I assume that they do "mail call" in their individual "Ship"...How many do you think I will need to send - I am thinking 5-10 extra a week? I will also have my daughter ask the teens in her clubs at school to write some. I was aware that there would be guys and girls whose families could not make it to PIR (expense and/or distance issues) but I would never have imagined that there were sailor recruits who didn't have ANYONE to correspond with while in boot camp. I am just floored by this information! A business in our town rents some large buses and brings Marines who have just finished boot camp to town for Thanksgiving and when I hear about it I emailed and offered to host some. I was disappointed that they had so many offers that the marines were already placed with families. Then I realized how awesome it was that my fellow citizens had stepped up to the plate in such large numbers! We will sign up very early next year and it will be very special since that will be the first Thanksgiving without our son at home. Of course, we may be able to visit where he is at the time...that would be nice! This is all going to take a lot of getting used to on my part! Please tell your SR that I am proud of his willingness to look out for others. You must have raised him right!
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Permalink Reply by lemonelephant on
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Yes, 5-10 extra letters a week would be good. Yes, Mail Call is ever weekday (M-F) evening in each compartment of each ship. See Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit and Ship/Division--How it Works. That is great that you are willing to write and also host recruits.
BTW, SR stands for Seaman Recruit; there are Sailors (after pasing BST) and Recruits, but there is no such thing as a Sailor Recruit.
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