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.

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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.)

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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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My son is leaving today for boot camp and I have been an absolute mess. I'm so proud and happy for him, but he has never been apart from me and this is extremely hard for me. Everything at home reminds me of him. I know this seems silly to some of you, but my son and I are very close. I'm hoping maybe some of the other moms have felt the same and can offer some advice or support on how you got through this. We live in Missouri and we already know after boot camp he is going to Connecticut so again, more distance between us.

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Replies to This Discussion

I wish I could tell you it's okay. But I know you won't really feel okay. I was in contact with my daughter while she was in Denver changing planes and when she landed in Chicago. She called me while she was eating and trying to find the USO office at the airport. (it was her first time on a plane) . at about 8:30 last night...no more contact. And I got the scripted phone call at 11:30. She sounded tired. 38 second phone call. "hey, my phone's dead.I'm here. I'm safe. I don't have much time. I have to tell you about the box you will be getting in the mail with my stuff. I have to go. I love you mom." all I could croak out was "okay, I love you too".  I have written her three letters already. It has been hard for me to concentrate at work. But I don't want to be at my empty house either. :(

Oh I dread The Call. I went to work yesterday and was so upset that I had to come home early. Was off today since he swore in and left. Hoping I can at least get through work tomorrow.

I took yesterday off for her ship out. and ..... I'm still a mess. I didn't think it would be this hard for me. 

Me either. Everything here at home reminds me of him and I have to see all his stuff and his car out front. I just keep crying.
Hey, wait a minute...turn that thought process around! Seeing all his stuff should comfort you! He will be back for his car! It is GOOD! My son has not lived at home for 6 years; I went to his house and helped him pack everything up and put in storage ( think about THAT a minute) and then hung around the empty house for about 4 days with only his car in the garage and bed waiting for Goodwill to pick up. That was tough. I wish I had more stuff to see around my house, other than just photos. It would comfort me. I do have the Navy flag flying tho, and that makes me feel good because I think of him.

I know where you are coming from. When they are a constant and then gone. It does comfort me that I know she is safe. That if she gave in at " the moment of truth" , I would have already heard from her.  They will be fine. I will still continue to cry. I will still continue to miss her tremendously. And maybe, they will earn a phone call home :)  I will pray for your comfort. I am glad I met you :) Maybe we will meet in person at graduation.

good point. I should be happy to see his things, but I just keep thinking that he isn't going to come back and live here or sleep in his bed and that I will eventually have to pack up his things. I'm just losing my little boy. I know he is a man, but he has really been a huge support to me as well the past few years.

My son also shipped yesterday.  Jake is 21 and I could have written your post myself.  He's such a great kid and always a Momma's Boy.  I was so great at the airport and made sure not to fall apart in front of him because I didn't want him to worry about me.  I almost lost it when I was leaving him, but was able to keep it together until after the scripted phone call from him at 11:47 last night.  I let myself have a little cry and now I am back to thinking of this as his great adventure.  He told me when he was 8 that he was going to join the Navy and you would think that 13 years would be long enough to prepare myself...  *sigh*.  I know he will be okay and come out of boot camp the man he always wanted to be.  I guess I just miss my little boy!  Where does the time go?  This website and forum is great.  I am so glad to meet others who are going through this right along with me.  Soon we will be going to PIR to see our Sailors!  

Thank you so much. I held it together until I did my final hug and unfortunately I lost it.  When he hugged my husband, he said, Dad, make sure you take care of mom.  I am so thankful that I am able to talk to all of you.

Yeah, when Jake hugged me the last time I couldn't even talk.  He said "don't cry Mom, I'll see you soon!"  It was so hard.  But that last scripted call was the worst because I know that is it.  He won't be texting me every day like normal - usually bugging me at work for something trivial.  I think that might be the hardest part.  Knowing how dependent he really is on me - even though he is an adult.  But the Navy will take care of that, I'm sure.  So bittersweet...

It's 7:30 & I just got my scripted call, but he did sneak in an I love you mom b4 he hung up. Now the waiting begins.
My son left may 4th . Not a day goes by yet that I dont drop a tear, it gets better after you get those phone calls and you hear their voice , keep encouraging and try not to sound bad on the phone they need to know you are ok ( even if u don't feel ok ) . It gets easier for them and you as time goes by . It will be ok .
{{Hugs }}

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