Welcome to NavyDads.com V. Michael! When my daughter enlisted in 2005 and left for RTC, I had virtually no knowledge of Navy life or how the Navy did things. By the time her PIR rolled around, I was starting to get the hang of things and understand some of the language and abbreviations, but still felt like a fish out of water when dealing with most topics concerning the US Navy. When my son enlisted and left for Great Lakes in 2007, I got serious about trying to learn as much as possible about the Navy. Now, several years into my journey, I’m blessed to say I have two sailors in the family - my son Eric (AM3) was on the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and just reported to Helicopter Squadron Light-37 (HSL-37) in Hawaii after re-enlisting earlier this year. My daughter Kat is now a Navy veteran and was stationed on the carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) as a Mass Communications Specialist and is currently using her GI benefits to go to school. If NavyDads.com were around in those days, it would have made my journey as a Navy parent much easier!

I'm sure you'll find NavyDads.com as useful, educational and informative as I have over the past few years. I hope you take the time to explore the site and make some new friends. Read the discussions and add your comments. Browse through the postings in the various groups or start a new one. If you have any comments, questions or concerns about your sailor and what she is going through...be sure to post them! In my experience someone here can answer your questions or concerns or can point you in the direction to find out. And V. Michael this is a great place to brag as well! So join in, get active, and be sure to let us know how Lyndsay is doing! Please remember that we talk about the Navy here and we must keep the security and safety of our sailors and the fleet in mind. On the right or starboard side of every NavyDads page is an area we call About This Site. Please take a minute and read through the Operations Security (OPSEC) link for some guidelines as to what we should not talk about in a public forum like NavyDads.com.

As a parent of a sailor soon to be at Great Lakes you'll have many questions about what your daughter is going through. In the Navy Bootcamp group is a discussion called A MUST READ for all New Navy Parents. Read through this post as it will do a lot to give you some understanding about what your sailor is learning and why. And be sure to check out the videos available in the Bootcamp Group as well.

As PIR draws closer, be sure to spend some time going through the PIR-Tips, Hints and Helps group- we’ve tried to assemble some tips and suggestions to make your sailor's PIR more enjoyable.

Play the following video for a brief introduction to NavyDads.com. We've made some cosmetic changes to the site since this video was made, but navigation remains the same. Best Regards- Paul

V. Michael, Welcome to NavyDads. My Grandson joined the Navy and went to Boot Camp in February, 2008. When I joined this site I knew nothing about the Military. It’s really helped me understand what to expect and has relieved some of my worries. Please go to the Groups Page and check out all the various offerings. Join in to learn more about what your Guy or Gal will be learning and doing. We are a big family here and you can find answers to most any question or concern regarding what’s in store for your recruit. You will find members that are new to the Navy along with those who have Loved Ones who’ve made the Navy a career. We like to hear about your recruit; the good times, the concerns, and welcome questions. I think you will find our members are a big family and everyone wants to help others understand what to expect and hear about the progress of your recruit.

Please feel free to ask questions.

Again Welcome and keep us updated on your recruit.

HooYah US Navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

V. Michael, be sure to check out our Groups. We have several Groups for PIR and Boot Camp, plus Groups for the different Rates like Navy Nukes, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Master at Arms. Check to see if your State or area has a Group already formed to locate others in your area. There are general interest Groups like: Care Packages,
A School for Dads, NASCAR for NavyDads and the book of acronyms and ranks. We’ve also added a Spanish language Group.

If you have problems or questions about the Groups, discussions or navigating our site please let me know. I’ll be happy to help or find someone more knowledgeable about your isssue.

Again Welcome to NavyDads.

Greetings V. Michael! My son recently joined the Navy and I really had no idea or a clue on what he’s about to partake in besides what I’ve seen on tv and some stories told by friends and relatives. I am honored and very proud of his decision to serve our country.

I’ve perused recruiter literature from DEP and beyond but I felt that I needed more information to keep me from worrying too much. I also wanted to hear from real folks on what their experiences were like and what they've gone through. That's when I found this website while searching for answers.

I hope you too will find NavyDads.Com useful with lots of real shared information. Our family extends our warmest thanks to your daughter Lyndsay for her service.

Welcome aboard...

Welcome aboard Michael.
I would like to take this time to point you in some of the right directions. For starters if you haven't had the time take a look at the right side of any page you click on. There you will find some useful information for you. The links under the about this site will help you with how this site got started, navigation, PIR, About us, community guidelines and some links to some of the groups that beginners with a lot of questions will find very useful. There is also a link called Navy Enlisted Ratings, this link will take you to a brief description of the rates (jobs) in the Navy that you can find your sailors rate and find out some information about the rate that they are in.
First and foremost though we are all here for the same reason. We are curious about what our young sailors are getting into and for more information about the rate or job that they will be doing for the next 4-6 yrs of their lives. I know when I first got here I had lots of questions and there was not a lot of people on this site but they all were either going through the same thing or had been through it and had sailors out in the fleet. Now this site has grown to over 4000 members, Dads, Moms, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, sisters, brothers, girlfriends and boyfriends. Don't be afraid to ask questions of members in here because somewhere along the way we have all had the same questions and asked. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this site with various years of experience in the NAVY either on their own account or through their Sailors.
Again welcome aboard and BRAVO ZULU to you and your daughter Lyndsay on her enlistment and please thank her for me for making the choice to defend the freedoms that my family, this country and I have and enjoy.
Navy dads Co-admin Tim

Hello, well my son just finished up MA school and was able to pick San Diego. He said that you pick whats available. The Job for dogs is MWD and they only give your class orders for it if you volunteer, but not guarenteed to get it...The higher in class the first picks go to them of whats available.

Michael,

We have more in common than you realize. My daughter has a degree in Criminal Justice and wants to be a Police Officer but after graduation every position that she applied for she made it to the final step only to be beaten out by former military people.  She decided that if she was to get a job as a Police Officer that she had to join the military.  There was only one snag, she tested too high for MA and ended up AT.  She presently is in San Diego working on helicopters in a brand new squadron.

Anyway, let start by saying that you will have it much easier with your daughter going through BC during the summer.  It was very difficult for my wife and I not having any contact with our daughter over Christmas last year. Our daughter started BC on Dec 14th.  I'm not saying it won't be tough the first few weeks, but at least you won't have to go through Christmas without your daughter right after she leaves.  We were so depressed, we didn't even have a tree last year.  This year will be different as she gets to come home for 10 days over Christmas!  Oh, and she LOVES San Diego!  Luckily, her squadron is a brand new squadron that has been attached to the Carl Vinson but will not be deployed for at least two years so unless some drastic changes, she should ride out her first enlistment in San Diego!

As far as PIR goes, I'm not sure how far you are from Great Lakes so I can't really comment on the flying versus driving.  That is to each there own.  We live about 3 hours from Great Lakes so we drove.  We stayed at the Residence Inn in Waukegan, IL.  It was close, reasonably priced and very nice.  We used the shuttle to get to PIR.  We were there early and had a nice visit with some of the other parents while we waited for the ceremony to start!  I definitely recommend getting there as early as possible otherwise you will end up sitting in the upper level and I'm not sure if you would be able to pick your recruit out from up there.  If you get there early enough, you will be able to sit in an area designated by division directly across from where they will be sitting!  Needless to say, which ever way you decide to go between driving or flying, be sure to make your room reservations as early as possible!

Sorry for the delay! My family has had a busy spring with weddings graduations and the like.

Welcome to the NavyDads.com family, and the MA family. Coincidentally your recruit hits RDC on my and my wife's 25th anniversary!

My son is starting his second year of his deployment to NavSta Norfolk, so I hope to be a help to you with answers as the year unfolds. He just received an advancement to Petty Officer 3rd Class.

Bravo zulu to your daughter, and keep a stiff upper lip dad! I know I didn't! But we're all here for you!