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 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.)
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
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SANDBOXX APP for letters to BootCamp
There has been much discussion regarding sending letters to SR's in boot camp via the SANDBOXX App.
Here is information I have received from RTC:
"While RTC does not endorse or promote the app, recruits are most certainly welcome to receive letters sent through them.
The RTC mail room does not deal with ANY FedEx or UPS mail (Sandboxx falls under this category). They strictly only deal with misdirected mail, such as wrong addresses or ASMOs. All mail that the post office on the main side of the base deals with goes straight from that post office directly to each ship. There, it gets sorted by division. Any mail for a recruit no longer in that division then gets sent to RTC's mail room where the two staff members must look up each individual letter in the computer to find the correct division for that recruit. Those letters are then sent out for redelivery. Thus, which explains such letters get delayed. Plus, anyone sending letters to a recruit whose division isn't even in their permanent ship yet will also have their letters sent to the mail room. Which is why we constantly stress: wait for the form letter! Especially if the recruit gets ASMOed from failing baseline PFA.
Which bring us to the FedEx letters. Because the mail room is only authorized to deal with USPS mail, any letters sent via FedEx or UPS which cannot be delivered due to a wrong address, get sent back to the carrier. "
So you may continue to use the Sandboxx app but keep in mind IF your recruit changes divisions for any reason the letter will NOT be forwarded to them - it will be returned to you. And remember someone else (at Sandboxx) is reading your personal letters and has access to your information.
To clarify - it is important to wait for the formal letter to send mail to your recruit whether or not you are using Sandboxx or USPS.
Also - it is not recommended to use the Sandboxx APP after they finish boot camp and are in the fleet. Use of Sandboxx once they are in the fleet has been known to delay homecoming. Please consider this once they are out of boot camp.
Hope this clears up some of the confusion!
Here's the link to the app:
**Updated info September 2022
Views: 7319
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on
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September 13, 2022
I also received an email back from RTC this morning regarding the Sandboxx App and everything is confirmed. If your SR chooses Sandboxx then you will NOT receive a hard copy of anything. All necessary info will come from Sandboxx and it will direct you to their website where the info will be, or you can go RTC's website. If your recruit opts out of Sandboxx then they are SUPPOSED to be receiving the hard copy of the family letter to mail home. I was told there was a slight snafu where that wasn't happening for some of the recruits, but it should have been rectified by now.
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And just to clarify - there is a cost to use the Sandboxx App. 1 letter is $4.50 to send. They do offer discount plans for multiple letters.
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From the RTC Website (October 2022):
Sandboxx Information
Recruit Training Command (RTC) allows recruits and their families to regularly communicate. All RTC families will receive the recruit’s mailing address and information about graduation. The general information is also on our website www.bootcamp.navy.mil located under the “Graduation” tab.
Recruits may regularly receive letters from families via USPS or other mailing services. Another alternative is communication through a private company, Sandboxx. Should your recruit opt-in to the Sandboxx service, you will receive a text message and/or email with a link to create a profile. Once you create a profile, you will have expedited access to their mailing address, division number, and graduation date, in addition to recurring updates about what your recruit is experiencing during training. The information is FREE to access once you have registered.Sandboxx is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Navy or Department of Defense.
Use of Sandboxx services is at the discretion of Navy recruits and their families.
Q & AIs it required to use Sandboxx to receive my recruits’ information?
No. If your recruit decides to opt-in to the service and you receive a notification, you are not required to click the link. However, your recruit will not be aware that you did not electronically receive their address, which means you will have to wait for your recruit to write you a letter with their return address. This will further delay the process in you receiving important information regarding your recruit’s contact information and graduation status.
Can I get my recruits’ information electronically without signing up for Sandboxx?No. You will have to wait to receive the information in the mail if you choose not to follow the link you received and create a profile.
How can I find out more information regarding my recruit and their time training at RTC?Please visit our website at www.bootcamp.navy.mil for the most up to date information. You will find the best ways to contact us should you have specific questions.
Can RTC answer specific questions for me regarding Sandboxx?No. Please contact Sandboxx directly if you have any specific questions about the service they provide.
When will my recruit start receiving mail?Recruits get mail as soon as it is received. Do NOT send your recruit mail before having their full mailing address. A full mailing address includes ship and division number. You do not have to wait a specific number of days or weeks before sending your recruit mail, so long as you have their full address. -
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