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:

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.

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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

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Just wanted to throw a little information out there, and had no idea where to put it, so I decided to just drop it here.  

The last 2 years has been a whirlwind for us.  Our son, who I thought had no interest in military service, decided to throw us a curve ball a couple of years ago, and set us all off on this journey.  His mother and I had prepaid his college, years in advance.  Even though he comes from a long line of military service, dating back to the Revolutionary War, I never saw military service in his career. Just goes to show you, you never really know what goes through your child's mind, no matter how close you are, and how much you talk with them.

It began with a discussion about just talking with military recruiters, to make sure all his options were explored.  I had no issue with that, seemed like a good idea to me, make sure all your ducks are lined up, crossed out.  He visited them all, and was really struck with the attitude, and dedication of the Navy recruiter.  They met several times, and then my son decided to go to a local National Guard base for ASVAB testing.  Then, the recruiter calls, tells him they are taking a group to MEPS the next day, why not go with them, and test there, get a closer look at the process.  He decided to go, spent the night, took the test early the next day, and decided the Navy was for him while there.  

So, they take him through the process, medical, dental, and career counselor, etc.  They discover a slight color blindness issue, which knock him out of his desired career choice.  The counselor then gives him a list of open jobs that he can sign up for that day.  They allow him to call me, we discuss it.  I tell him that he does not have to make a decision today, come home, think about it, there are more jobs to qualify for, just may have to be in DEP longer.  Nope, he says he has decided, wants to join that day, help him pick a career field.  We talked a little more, his desire was to travel, so, of the available jobs, I told him he would get the opportunity to travel more as an LS, than the other jobs available.

He enlisted in DEP that day, returned home, and started to prep for Bootcamp.  Coming from a military family, I had plenty of tips and tricks to help him out.  The military has not changed much, at least from an entrance standpoint.  In my opinion, they over sign, and look for any reason to cull the pack.  I told him bootcamp was really 70 percent mental, and 30 percent physical.  Here are the things I told him, and after bootcamp, we talked in length about the experience.  Most of what I told him held true, so I will pass some of it along.

Never tell anyone you are sad/lonely/miss home.  They will consider this separation anxiety, and send you to medical.  Unless you are bleeding to death, try your best to stay away from sick call.  Cannot be avoided sometimes, but the internet is full of those horror stories about going in with a cold, and being discharged.  They want to break you, or at least make you think they do.  In reality, they are just preparing you for your possible future, so they have to amp up the stress.  Keep your mind clear, and learn to shut it down.  We practiced this a little before he left.  Sleep deprivation is a killer, and they count on it to help cull the pack.  I told him, you must learn to shut your mind down, when sleep time comes.  Try not to think about the day, tomorrow, or anything else.  Those extra 30 minutes to an hour of sleep a night will make the difference week in and week out.

His letters, and phone calls were always upbeat.  His mother and I wrote him frequently.  I actually wrote him daily, usually twice a day, and even wrote him letters from the cats, and dogs. You have no idea how important, and uplifting those letters can be.  I actually started writing him the day before he left, stacked the letters, and shipped out a large stack once his address was known.  I even went out of my way initially, carrying his letters to the main post office in town, to shorten the delivery time.  Once I knew he was getting a steady stream, I mailed them at the local office.  I included sports info about his favorite teams, local news, friends, family, pets.  Anything to fill the pages.  I even included stuff from his new friends home towns and teams, to help them out as well.  He saved them all, and actually had two boxes of letters when his PIR date arrived.

The "I am a sailor" call was a relief.  I honestly had my doubts, but the young man surprised me.  I knew he had the ability, just was not sure his heart was with it.  Thrilled that he proved me wrong.  PIR was pretty cool.  Sadly, our sailor caught watch on graduation day, so our time was limited with him.  We watched graduation, took him to lunch, then he had to be back for watch.  We picked him up again a few hours later, took him to dinner, then he had to be back.  He left from O'hare the next day, and we were flying out of Midway.  We drove all the way to O'hare to see him off, then drove to Midway to catch our own flight.  He was actually at his new duty location, A school, before we left the Chicago area.

Gladly, his A school was only a few hours from our home, so once he gained liberty privileges, we were able to drive down and check him out, bring him home, and spend some down time with him.  His first permanent duty station was out in California, and it was a culture shock for him.  He quickly hit a routine, made new friends, and gained the trust of his superiors.  It has been a breeze for him every since.  We visited him last summer, spent a week there with him.  Met his new friends, commander, etc.  Did a lot of sight seeing, and enjoyed every minute of our stay.

So far, he loves the Navy.  Over two years now, tested for 3rd class a few days ago, has tentative orders for a July departure, to a base much closer to home.  The best part, our career guess was right.  He has traveled from one side of the country, to the other, and has really enjoyed seeing our beautiful country.  As for the world, that may come in his next duty assignment.  Appears he will be assigned to a Marine EU.  That may get him some world wide travel.

So, it has been a great ride, for all of us.  Our son joined the Navy, but we also joined with him.  We speak to him almost daily, and take any opportunity to see him.  Cautionary fact, the Navy has pretty much a zero tolerance for any alcohol incident these days.  Twelve of his friends were kicked out of A school for alcohol use, and almost weekly, he tells us about someone he knows, that is being discharged for an alcohol related incident.  All children will eventually give alcohol a try I guess, but make sure they are aware of the down falls associated with abuse, or even a casual drink in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

I look forward to the next two years.  Will he stay, will he come home?  If he decides to come home, will he join the reserves?  Will he get any travel assigned to the MEU, and will it be travel we like?  

I may update again sometime, but just know this, the Navy has some great opportunities for young people, but only if you can play their game, and follow their rules.  Way too many young people in line to get in, so they have no problem making room for them, if you make the wrong decisions.

Go Navy, beat everyone!!!!!!!

Views: 180

Comment by Steph Proud AG Mom on March 27, 2015 at 3:08pm

Thank you for posting this.  My son will be leaving for RTC in July.  I will be making him read this!  Please Thank your wonderful son for his service!

Comment by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on March 27, 2015 at 3:26pm

Awesome post - thanks for sharing!

Comment by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on March 27, 2015 at 4:20pm

Comment by Judithmac on March 30, 2015 at 1:32pm

Thank you so much for posting this. It means a lot to us that are just starting to go through the process. My son arrived at boot camp 3/18. Our son's story is very similar to your son's. Except for the military part.  The military is new to us. We are in law enforcement but never did any military. I write to my son often even though I have not received his address yet. I would like my son to read your post. You and your son are an inspiration. Thank you.

Comment by Loving Mom on April 2, 2015 at 9:08am

Thank you for this beautiful posting.  It made me feel better today.  I wish there were a way my son could read this.

Comment by My2kidz on April 2, 2015 at 9:53am

What a great post. My son had PIR last December and is loving the Navy so far. His decision to serve was also a surprise to us although we also have a lot of military in our family. He graduated college and signed his contract the same week! I hope that those who are reading your post take note of the zero tolerance for alcohol. I just wrote to the administrators on N4M hoping that they would address the topic in the PIR groups. My son is of age but I know of at least 5 young men who have lost their contracts in just the past few months because of underage drinking. It is not like college, there are no second chances.

So Bravo Zulu to your son and your family and best wishes for a bright future. Hooyah!

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