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:

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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Carla Street

Information

Care Package Ideas!

Themes, recipes, all kinds of ideas plus mailing tips and tricks.  It's fun to have them here in one place, so come get ideas and share yours!  

Members: 1291
Latest Activity: Dec 16, 2023

Carla:  I am a moderator for Navy moms on Yahoo, but also through the years have done troop support for all branches. I also have started and maintained hometown troop support, and send from our little community in Spirit Lake, Idaho - that has been very very cool. So, if you have ideas you want to share, bring it on and read and enjoy and use!  My email is crlstrt5@msn.com if you have any questions or comments.  Feel free to share these in other groups or with friends.

Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom I'm co-admin and been sending care packages since 2008!  The best method is using the flat-rate priority boxes from USPS.  There's a two-dollar discount when sending to an APO/FPO address and you can send up to 70 lbs - that's 7.7 bricks!  You can order a free carton of 10 or 25 of the large-size boxes to be delivered to you at USPS APO/FPO flat-rate boxes; or call them at 800-610-8734 and request the "military pack" of six assorted boxes, customs forms, tape and address labels.  It can take two weeks or more for mail to arrive, and much longer if your sailor is deployed.  

Tips:  To save space, remove things from original packaging and put them in Ziplock bags.  Don't pack fragrant items such as soap or fabric softener sheets with food as the odors get absorbed.  Use clear tape or USPS priority tape to seal.  Put a copy of the address IN the box.  Storage space is limited so send accordingly.  Notes from friends, children, anyone saying Thank You for serving on deployment are passed around and treasured.    Per a Navy survey on Facebook, the top two items that Sailors ask for are cookies and beef jerky.  Send enough to share!  More info at USPS military mail FAQ.

For your sailor, two great checklists for deployment planning are the Single Sailor Deployment Readiness Checklist and Pre-Deployment Checklist for Family Members, prepared by JAG.

Just how does your care package reach the ship?  Watch!  Video: Underway replenishment

And if you've got the bug and would like to do more, please consider joining "Molly's Adopt a Sailor" (MAS) here on Navyformoms.com.  Every month they adopt a deployed ship or unit and send the service members themed packages.  It's a super-fun and friendly group and you'll make great friends while sending much-needed and appreciated love and support from home.  I learned how to send care packages by joining the MAS group before my corpsman was first deployed!

Discussion Forum

No Packages During Basic?

Started by Cali Navy Mom. Last reply by Cali Navy Mom Nov 30, 2023. 4 Replies

Submarine

Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Bandmom Mar 2, 2020. 1 Reply

Submarine

Started by Proud Mom. Last reply by Proud Mom Feb 25, 2020. 2 Replies

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Care Package Ideas! to add comments!

Comment by Classycalicat on December 2, 2016 at 1:03am

Here for care package ideas!!

Comment by twoboys on December 1, 2016 at 10:49pm

Can never have too many ideas!

Comment by Jennifer on December 1, 2016 at 9:38pm

Just joined this group, looking for ideas/tips on sending care packages overseas

Comment by Susan mom to Niko on December 1, 2016 at 9:29pm

Always looking for new care package ideas!

Comment by ellen0502 on December 1, 2016 at 8:41pm

FYI!!

“Deleting inactive members - The ad agency that handles N4M is in the process of updating the site.  If you have not been active since 12/1/15 you will be deleted to make room for new members.  You will be able to re-join.  If you don't want to be deleted you will need to post something in any one of your groups to activate your account.  They have already started deleting members.”

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on December 1, 2016 at 7:57pm

Welcome IslandGal!  Happy to see you here and hope you'll share ideas too.  There are some fun ideas with themes in the Discussions above to give you some inspiration, for starters  :)  What are you thinking of doing to make a New Year's box?

Comment by IslandGal on December 1, 2016 at 7:51pm
Well, I just joined this group as I am sending packages now...so here is my post to keep active! And I am open to ideas...I think I have like 10 months to go with the young man I send to. Already sent my Xmas , going to send New Years next week...
Comment by John and Yvonne on July 1, 2016 at 12:50pm

Wow! I did not realize there is a 2.00  discount when sending to APO/FPO.  I'll say something with the next ones I send.

Yvonne

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on June 29, 2016 at 11:40pm

Yvonne just posted what she does for birthday care packages in the Norfolk group.  She and her husband host sailors at their home for home-away-from-home game nights, holiday dinners etc.  I love this!

"Whenever one of the sailors who come over to our house on the weekends deploys, this is what I have done in the past. For their birthday, instead of sending a cake or brownies, etc., I have made peanut brittle in the microwave and put it in a round cake pan.  I put a straw in the middle and it hardens that way.  I pack that, a candle, balloons they can blow up, little games from the dollar store like a mini pool table or other mini games, movie candies, sometimes a Little Rascal movie or other funny movie, a match or two to light the candle, etc.  You can add little plates or napkins too if you like. It may sound silly, but all of them have really liked their birthday care package.  Chewing gum is a great thing too. 

Anyway, that's my two cents worth! :)

Yvonne"

Comment by ChrisyDVM(Chris'sMom) on June 26, 2016 at 4:17pm

For me it's been 3-6 wks but I know for some it's taken 2 mo or longer...or never as sometimes they get lost

 

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