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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My daughter recently deployed to Bahrain (MA) and here is what we've found:

Smartphones can be placed on 'military hold' by the server, since they are so expensive to use overseas.  BUT they can be taken and used as an independant device, any time there is a WiFi connection, even without being on a server (like Verizon, etc).

'Text Plus' is an excellent 'app' that provides FREE texting.

'Skype' can be used as a perfect FREE phone call, by disabling the 'video' feature during the call.  Because their internet service is not great, making it voice only raises the quality.

We tried two other phone call apps, and Skype is by far the best.

So I hope this is clear: put your smartphone on 'military hold' with the server, take phone to Bahrain, or wherever, use it to access internet via WiFi where available, and use it for FREE unlimited texting and phone calls:)

Views: 856

Replies to This Discussion

Hi Annie - Thanks for the info. My son has been in Bahrain for about 2 weeks. Can he put his phone on military hold even though he is already there or did he have to do that before he left? We have been skyping with him and that has been great. Connections are not always perfect,but have always been doable. Is text plus something he can access from his phone? Sorry for so many questions, but I am not the most tech savy person. Thanks. Cathy

Hi Cathy, I don't mind the questions at all, we're all figuring this out together. 

"Military Hold": this is just to avoid paying the monthly phone fee til he gets back.  You could call his provider and ask about it, especially if he is on your plan ('family plan'), or go into a provider store and talk to them about it.

"Text Plus": this is an 'app' for smartphones, and probably IPhones too.  Does he have a smartphone?

"Skype": have you all tried disabling the video during your conversations?  Even tho you don't get to see each other (blurrily), you get Great sound quality:)

Just keep asking til you get it all figured out, and let me know if you find out anything else too!

What's your son's job?  My daughter is an MA.

Annie

Hi Annie,

My son is an MA also. Thank you so much for the info. We will definitely check out the military hold option. Why should he keep paying if he is not using it? My husband figured out how disabling the video improves the voice quality. He can always hear us clearly so I will do part of the call with no video and then toward the end I will have him type so I can see him for a while too. :-) How long has your daughter been there? Does she like it?

Cathy

She has been there a little over 2 weeks.  Maybe they came in on the same flight.  At first she was in shock I think, at the heat and the different world, never having been out of the states.  But she had some friends there already, so she was not 'alone'.  Also she discovered base has a Free movie theater, and some really delicious food (tell your son to try Cocos).  Also she enjoyed a $24 tour of Manama.  So she is settling in:)  Her name is 'Kat' ........ no last names here:)

Glad you are figuring out Skype, etc.  Does your son have a smart phone?

(you can get them on Craigslist pretty cheap, also when it's time for your 'free' upgrade)

Keep in mind service is very spotty in Bahrain

 

Yes 8 days is about normal. About that care package, be sure to pack it tight, so nothing can jog around in there. If you use post office's Priority box (ask which size) it is $13.95 if it's under 70 pounds! Also, BE SURE to send everything by air, or it will take a month. Priority is air, by the way. Also are you texting at all? We use text plus, free app.

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