Welcome to NavyDads.com Craig! 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 things 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 (AM2) was on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and recently reported to Helicopter Squadron Light-37 (HSL-37) in Hawaii after re-enlisting last year. My daughter Kat is now a Navy veteran and was stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) as a Mass Communications Specialist. She is using her GI benefits to go to school. If NavyDads.com were around in those early days, it would have made my first days 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. Click How To Get Started for a guide on getting going in your NavyDads.com experience! Take the time to explore the site and make some new friends. Read the discussions and comments. Browse through the postings in the various groups or start a new one. If you have any questions or concerns about your sailor and what he 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 Craig this is a great place to brag as well! So join in, get active, and be sure to let us know how your son 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 currently or soon to be at Great Lakes you'll have many questions about what Kevin 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

Paul

Craig, Welcome to NavyDads. My Grandson joined the Navy and went to Boot Camp in February, 2008. He Graduated and received his Trident in Oct. 2009 and is now with his Team. 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.

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, Master at Arms and Special Ops. Also Group for different Ships and Bases. 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.

Also check us out on Facebook just search for Navy Dads.

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 we 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greetings Craig! When my son joined the Navy I really had no idea nor a clue on what he’s about to partake in besides what I’ve seen on tv and some stories I've heard from friends and relatives who have served in the military.

However, I'm so honored and very proud of his decision to serve our great country.

From the start, I’ve perused Navy and recruiter information online and beyond but I felt that I needed more peace of mind to help keep me from worrying too much. I also wanted to hear from real people who've been around the block and others to share knowledge and experience throughout this entire journey.

That's when I found this website while searching for answers...

We're all in this together and I hope you too will find NavyDads.Com useful with lots of real shared information.

Don't forget to check out our Groups section and join a group that shares your interest. Please keep us posted on your sailor's progress via status updates, discussion forums, blogs and photos...

We do have our state group here would love to have you join us:
http://www.navydads.com/group/proud-californians


A Warm "Thank You" from our family to your sons for their service!

Welcome Aboard... :)

Welcome aboard Craig.

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, P.I.R., 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 6000 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 son Kevin on his enlistment and please thank him for me for making the choice to defend the freedoms that my family, this country and I have and enjoy.

Navy dads Admin Tim

Craig, Welcome Aboard!

My son served as an ABE aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in San Diego, Ca. and my family and I couldn't have been prouder of him. I created NavyDads when he was in boot camp in hopes that this site would better inform new Navy Dads and Navy Families that followed behind me. I designed, built, and launched NavyDads.com June 18, 2008, two days before his Navy graduation.

NavyDads provides the best community for learning about Navy life for everyone but particularly the parents. We are a place for sharing experiences with others that have gone through and are going through the same thing as you. We give you real-time information from others going through it, the sense that you're not alone and the opportunity to help another along.

So jump right in, share concerns, join groups, share info, and show off your Sailor. I hope this site benefits you and your family throughout your Sailors journey in the United States Navy and I thank them for their service. I wish them the best in their travels and I'm glad you've found us.

Sincerely,
Elmo Moore

I haven't had a chance to talk to my wife this evening to see if we had a message from our daughter-in-law. She must be getting worried,but I know it will be there soon.

We're still waiting for the letters to come,but my DIR received one yesterday. She called us to let us know that he is doing fine.My wife and I have already sent him a few letters hopefully he will get them soon. I don't know how much time he has for writing on Sundays as he is the division Religious RPO, at least that is what was relayed to me. I am glad that You are now in contact with your son it takes away some of the burden of not knowing how they are doing.My wife and I are planning to attend Sarge's Meet and Greet, how about your family?

 Found out today my SR had his four wisdom teeth pulled on Wensday,OUCH! He was SIQ for the rest of Wensday and Thursday but went back on light duty on Friday. Like You my wife and I are finalizing our plans for PIR, it'll be great to see him standing there in his Dress Whites. Hope to see you and your family at the meet and greet.

Sorry to hear you and your wife missed the call, but I'm happy for both your son's being able to talk that long a special moment for them. My SR was on light duty Friday and messed up somewhere, they told him could owe them his instrutional training but declined and did it that day. I knew he was tough but I didn't know how tough until now! These young men of our's are something special. 

Thanks Craig for that info on midweek calls,will let DIL know for sure Mom scans NavyMom every day and probably knows already. I'm sure our SR's are becoming cohesive units by now.My SR missed his running test by 30 seconds something he will no doubt over come. DIL told him to write mom and dad on thier last call,it would be nice to talk even in letter form.even though he has been on his own for sevral years its hard not being able to call like before.I have all the confidence in him, he is an Eagle Scout and a college graduate. Very PROUD of him. Enough bragging on my part, my wife wanted wanted me to let you know about the Challenge Coins, they have them for each ship and division as well as the RTC coin quite a history behind them.   

Craig ,I'm sure your SR will appreciate the humor, it sounds like any thing from home makes every thing a little easier. can only guess as to how my SR is feeling. Dil didn't get a call this weekend and no other letters as yet. They must be very busy at this point, just about half way there. I can't wait for PIR! miss him terribly.

Hi Craig My wife got both the ship 9 coin and the RTC coin one for her to give and one for me to give. Time seems to have stopped no word from SR even DIL has not heard from him this week. It must be the anticipation of the division neti pot coming up,not having experienced it my self I am quoting a friend who did 11 years in the Navy. It helps knowing they are not out to hurt the SR's just work them to thier limits, making them stronger. 24 day's to PIR can't wait to see how he's doing. I imagine he will be standing a lot taller than when he went in.

 Hi Craig we got a letter from our SR on Saturday. He said the RDC's are not yelling as much probably because they are doing things right now.On Sunday's he gets up early to write to our DIL and us then its Chapel Watch. He also said that it was getting fast paced,  I wonder if it is because it's a push division? Battle Stations coming up soon,and DIL will be here for a wedding at that time so we should hear when SR passes. He passed his last PT with flying colors, but he wants to beat the so called alpha standard. He has four tenth of a second for the run and eight more sit ups to match it. I think he's going to make a career of it.

Hi Craig, I hope all is well with you and your family.  It's been pretty busy, but not as busy as our SR's today!  My wife is at work with her cell phone by her side :)  We are really looking forward to next week, we are pretty much counting down the days!

Just talked to DIL, WE HAVE A SAILOR HOOYAH!!!

Hi Craig it was great to meet you and your family, sorry I didn't get to meet your Sailor, like you we were zeroed in on our Sailor and with the crowd moving I lost sight of you folks. my sailor is going to A school in GL. We're not sure for how long but he may be there for awhile. When you talk to your sailor send him our congradulations. It was'nt easy but they made it or did we make it?

Craig enjoy the time with your son before he leaves for the Marines, And please tell him good luck for me. Mom I'm sure will be making the best of her time with him. I grew up in So. New England and know that area a bit , the parts I know are very nice but I must warn you he may pick up a funny accent and start saying things like it's wicked good or he's going to paak the caa in the baan.On our home front our DIL is going to move to GL to be with our sailor while he's there.