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:
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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- Graduation Info
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- PNG – 2.3 MB
- JPG – 3.4 MB
- Printable PDF – 2.0 MB
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Not fitting in
I really think this site is a great resource, but I don't think I'm fitting in well. My son left for BC yesterday and we had know since November he was. I'm not heartbroke, I'm not crying at the slightest thing, not sleeping with his pillow/shirt/stuffed animal, etc.
Not saying it wasn't hard to walk away. I cried. I worry. I'm concerned & hoping things go well, but also knowing he's going to have hard times. This is his journey though, not mine. I'm here to be strong for him & support him.
I guess seeing everyone's post make me wonder if I'm heartless. I would love to comment on posts, but I think my posts won't really feed into the tears & loneliness.....
Any others out there like me just looking for information & friends that are on the same page I am?
Views: 19749
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by MyboyAllgrownup on
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You are not heartless at all. We all have a different ways of coping. Our young adults are finding their way. I didn't cry either but I am not a crier. I do wonder how he's doing with boot camp since that first call that he made it. I trust what I raised him with will get him through successfully. I truly get what you are going through. My husband said, 'did you cry?" I was like 'no' and he walked away. I am sure I may he embarrassed my son if I did cry. Hang in there. You do fit in, we are just not saps..LOL!
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Permalink Reply by stacy37075 on
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Hi all. it's been two years since I first read and responded to this post. I know that probably sounds strange considering that my sailor isn't in basic training anymore. I hoped that with time I would be able to help other moms like me along the way. I too wasn't a crying mom. I didn't sigh over his belongings or find myself depressed. I worried some, but not for those usual reasons. I worried about him making the necessary moves/cutoffs to be successful. I found that throughout these two years there are many moms like us. We may not be as vocal about how we are getting along, but we do exist. You are not alone in your feelings.
My sailor made it through and I'm so incredibly proud of the man he is. I have to admit, when the doors rose at PIR and I got my first view of all those men and women, many who left us as children and returned as adults, my breath caught and tears welled up. It wasn't sorrow, fear or loneliness that caused this reaction. Rather it was pride, an immense swelling of pride for my son and every parent and child there. They are the people we have raised them to be - responsible, honest, brave and self sacrificing. So, when you feel in doubt about your place in the Navy, know that you do fit in. Other moms and dads like you are here and at one time we wondered about fitting as well.
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Permalink Reply by MaggieMay on
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Stacy, I haven't replied to this post in a long time either (actually I'm shocked how long it has lasted) just goes to show there are a lot of us who feel the same way. I can totally relate to your post. My son has been in 3 1/2 years and I couldn't be prouder. I admit I cry when I see him but they're happy tears and I shed a few when I have to say "see ya later" but since he's stationed overseas I only get to see him once a year. My son has had a very good Navy experience, likes it so much he's reenlisting and I think it's awesome. We raise our kids to hopefully become responsible & respectable adults and even though it was the Navy that turned my teenager into a man I like to think I gave him the foundation to succeed on his own. I prefer to do "happy dances" over my son and his accomplishments than dwell over the fact he's no longer living at home!
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Permalink Reply by tracyd72 on
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I was the same way my son left Monday..I know this is the next step in his life. My daughter's miss him but we all know he's gonna be fine and I can see him when he graduates and we are planning our family Trip to see him when he goes to A school...
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Permalink Reply by BunkerQB on
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This site is for everyone. Some of us are more matter-of-fact about life changes. It's good. A thank you to all those who come back and post updates, feedback and just to say hello.
My former sailor completed his commitment 3 years ago. You won't believe how fast the time flies by. The Navy experience was positive and beneficial in transitioning to employment in the civilian world.
Fair winds and following seas.
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Permalink Reply by 29junkie on
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Wow!!! This is my original post from over a year ago. I feel so blessed and so on awe that it touched and inspired so many people to speak up that may not have. My sailor is currently deployed and doing well. He's still acclimating and adjusting. He struggles, as I'm sure many do, with the inability to "hide" or find his own space. All in all he's doing well. As his mom, I could not be any prouder. It's been an amazing journey so far and look forward with open eyes and open heart to see whet his next deployment takes him.
Many blessings to everyone out here! You and your sailors are in my thoughts and in my prayers.
Kim
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Permalink Reply by CryptoDad on
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Thank for dropping in! Glad things are going well. Don't be a stranger.
And thanks for starting this discussion.
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29junkie,
Please stick around. Glad to hear your sailor is doing well.
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Permalink Reply by GoalieMom on
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Kim @29junkie, thanks for your original post, followup and the posts by others. I joined Navy For Moms about 10 days ago. it was refreshing to find that there were others who felt and acted like me. Some people react like this when their children leave for college, too, although there's more opportunity to connect in that case. However, too much parental contact can stunt their students ability to solve problems or inhibit their bonding on campus. The Navy protocol seems to be very successful at training recruits. Looking forward to the PIR, 9/25!
Linda
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Permalink Reply by tb2dari on
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That's how I feel. My daughter leaves tomorrow, 25th, so we met her tonight at the hotel and brought her to supper. We shed tears upon saying goodbye, and I feel a little concern as she's kind of having 2nd thoughts. I just want her to feel confident in her decision. If she's happy then I'm happy. My son has been in for 2 1/2 years so this isn't all new to me. I don't pine away for him, nor will I for her. I miss them and eagerly look forward to visits, but I just mainly want to see them happy with their decision and in their jobs.
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Permalink Reply by rnj79 on
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I am sooo glad to hear another mom feeling the same way as I!!
I miss my son very very much, but I want him there at Great Lakes. He NEEDS to be there! His attitude needs adjusting. So, I am a lot like you: I cried when we left him, I miss him but I am not just "blah" over it.
We spend 18 years raising our kids. After that, its time for them to take what we've taught them and go out into the world.
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Permalink Reply by Kootiebear on
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Well said rnj79!!!
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