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 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:

RTC Graduation

**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:

Latest Activity

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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I have decided this is where I need to vent.  I have a son, that leaves in March for boot camp, and twin teenage girls.  The four of us are very close.  We supported each other and became very close during my divorce from their Dad.  None of them are close with their Dad.  I do not have a problem cutting the apron strings, because I know it is best for my son.  I know the Navy can teach him what I was not able to, self-discipline, confidence, and his true potential.  But things changing to being restricted on when and how long we can talk will be difficult.  I see his messy room, the dishes he forgot to take in the kitchen, or his laundry he hasn't folded yet and I just can't wait for him to GO!  Then I realize he won't be around for Easter, my birthday, the 4th of July.  I won't be able to check with him about the character of some of the kids my daughters want to bring home or hang out with.  There are moments I am in tears then other times I can't wait to pack his bag.  When he leaves for boot camp....well that time will be the longest his room will be clean.  Am I the only one that feels this way?  Am I terrible for wanting him to go?

Views: 136

Comment by CarolK on September 9, 2014 at 3:22pm
I too am going through an emotional roller coaster right now. My son will be 25 in October. He has struggled trying to find his place in life, but for the last 2 years has been a full time student. His grades were so good he earned many scholarships and about 3 weeks ago we moved him to a 4 year university. He came home this weekend and told us he had been thinking about the military for many years and decided it was time to act, so he spoke to a Navy recruiter and is leaving school in December to pursue becoming a Navy Diver. My husband and I are still in a state of shock and I am having a hard time eating, sleeping and just breathing. It's not so much that he made this decision, it's just that it came out of now where to us - we had no idea he had been thinking about this for so long. He headed back to school today to begin to make changes for this semester and will most likely enlist in October. He was told it may not be until next summer before he is called to go to boot camp. I am just numb - this came as such a shock I can't even think straight about it. I want him to be happy and fulfilled in his life and I guess I struggle with why he couldn't have talked about this before we moved him. He told us 3 days ago and I still can't function. I am just in such a state of shock.
Comment by 1 Proud Mom on September 9, 2014 at 4:37pm

I cannot imagine my son making a decision like that without some hint of what he was thinking.  It is hard when they grow up for us Moms to realize they can and should make their own decisions....after all it is their life and they have to live with the consequences of their decisions, both good and bad.  Maybe tell your son how much you are hurt that he didn't think to clue you in on his decision and then let it go.  There is nothing that can be done to change the past.  Look to the future and all he can gain from the Navy.  Go with him to the recruiter so your questions can be answered.  Being a mom is the hardest job on Earth, especially the mom of someone in the military!!

Comment by My2kidz on September 10, 2014 at 2:26pm

CarolK - Just thought I would chime in here because we have a somewhat similar story. My son just didn't know what he wanted to do. Changed his major in college 4 times. He has always been a competitive swimmer and loves the water. Has been an Ocean Lifeguard since the age of 16 (he is now 23.) Almost 2 years ago he started talking about the Coast Guard to be a rescue swimmer. Made me nervous but I was ok with it. Then last fall as he started his final (5th) year of college he called to say that he changed his mind, was going in to the Navy and wanted to be a Navy Diver. He was in school 9 hours away so everything was over the phone. He did well on the ASVAB and after a lengthy wait on waivers (because of an old surgery) he passed all the physical tests and signed a ND contract in May a week before he graduated college. He leaves in just over a month now for boot camp. My advice is to be supportive but also point out to your son that the process isn't that quick (especially for Divers because they don't have as many classes of recruits throughout the year) so he should concentrate on school in the meantime. My son has become extremely focused as he has been preparing to leave. He actually makes his bed (almost) every morning, works out every day, has been eating better and drinking less. He has been studying a lot and tonight we are going to work on ironing and polishing shoes! I know the military is not for everyone but for those who embrace its challenges, it can be a very rewarding life. It is not my first choice for my son, but it is a choice that he is passionate about and I have decided that I will support him 100% so now I am planning his deployment party and looking forward to PIR in December. Best of luck to you all.

Comment by Amanda722 on September 10, 2014 at 2:31pm

My son did some what of the same thing, in fact my husband did the same thing to me when we were dating.  Good thing about how the Navy works now is that it takes some time before they head off to bootcamp.  My husband enlisted and left 2 weeks later.  The best thing that you can do is support his decision to join the Navy.  Speak with his recruiter so that you know the process and what he can expect and what he has to do to prepare to leave.  I know how hard it is to hear your child wants to go into the Military.  It is truly a very personal decision.  Find out what made him decide this, don't make the conversation about you, make it about him.  Ease into what your true feelings are about his decision, because the last thing you want to do is cause an argument.  He may not have told you that he has been thinking about joining, but he did tell you that he has made this decision and that he is going to move forward with this.  He probably had to take the time for him to decide if this was something he really wanted to do before he let you guys know.  It's a hard decision to make, its a huge commitment and when it all said an done, he will be a better person because of it.  Trust me in the end your confusion and hurt will turn into an overwhelming amount of pride in your son. 

 

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