No one could have prepared me for the flood of emotions that would follow after sending our oldest child and only son off to Basic Training. I had not done my homework to learn the military acronyms or research the… Read More ›
Recruit Training
Navy to lengthen Basic Military Training
Navy recruits will complete 10 weeks of boot camp in 2022, rather than the eight weeks that have been the standard. (article adapted from NavyTimes.com) The additional two weeks of Basic Military Training at Recruit Training Command aboard Naval Station Great Lakes,… Read More ›
The Military Phonetic Alphabet
Welcome to the world of military terms, phrases, acronyms, and alphabet. Don’t feel bad if you find understanding your recruit’s new lingo, you aren’t alone. You can start learning the phonetic alphabet to make you look cool to your new… Read More ›
RTC Graduation Opens to Families
Can I get a ⚓️ 🇺🇸 HOOYAH! According to the Navy Recruit Training Command, they have lifted the masking mandate. There is no mask requirement for recruits, staff, and guests attending Pass-In-Review. And they have increased the number of guests (see… Read More ›
The Sailor’s Creed
The “Sailors Creed” was written by a “Blue Ribbon Recruit Training Panel” in 1993 at the direction of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Frank Kelso, who personally participated in the final edit of the working group’s proposal. Admiral Kelso then… Read More ›
The return of Division 900
The 900 division is a time-honored tradition at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes and for those recruits privileged to be part of its ranks. With the return of the 900 division, so returns the traditional graduation ceremony. Recruit graduation is… Read More ›
The Military’s most powerful weapon – Feet
The United States military can bring an unprecedented amount of firepower onto any battlefield. Starting at recruit training, service members learn how to fire, handle, safe-keep, and most importantly, clean their weapons. But what about their feet? The iconic movie… Read More ›
Air Force BMT Recruit Graduation
If a Hooah was ever appropriate, now is the time. It’s been more than a year since the U.S. Air Force suspended family attendance at Basic Military Training graduation events at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, to stop the spread of COVID-19. Effective Nov…. Read More ›
The Association of the United States Navy
The Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) gives active-duty service members and their families a voice on the direction of our Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Since its inception in 1954, AUSN has provided the naval community with legislative… Read More ›
Mom celebrates her Navy recruit’s birthday.
Leslie Hobbs’s daughter is spending her 20th birthday as a recruit at RTC Great Lakes, home of Navy boot camp. There will be no cake, no candles, and no singing of happy birthday. Like most recruit parents, Leslie quickly realizes… Read More ›
MCRD Parris Island Graduation Schedule
FAMILY DAY & GRADUATION CEREMONY As the Marine Corps turns the chapter of COVID restrictions to the opening of the time-honor recruit graduation, we are thankful as a country for the strength & courage of each recruit, family member, friends, and drill… Read More ›
MCRD Parris Island Family Day and Graduation Schedule
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island As of On June 17-18, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., will be accessible to the public for all Family Day activities and Graduation. ✅ General info: **Information adopted from Communication Strategy and… Read More ›
No more ROM for some recruits
Navy ends Fort McCoy stop before boot camp, cuts ROM for fully vaccinated recruits. As with all breaking news, there are always multiple versions of the truth. The following update on the Recruit Training Command modifications of their 14-day quarantine is… Read More ›
What is a TG, DIV, & SHIP?
New to the military? Get ready for a plethora of acronyms, abbreviations, and peculiar terms. The first few to learn are TG (training group), DIV (division), and Ship. I would like to thank RTC Public Affairs for providing the following… Read More ›
ADVANCE THROUGH TRAINING AS A COAST GUARD MEMBER
Coast Guard Training Center Cape May is the nation’s only Coast Guard enlisted accession point and recruit training center. (Cover image: U.S. Coast Guard photo.) The following is adopted from the Coast Guard website. Basic Training Welcome aboard – now… Read More ›
Separated Twins: Worth it after a few Months
Hello! My name is Melana Griffee, and my identical twin sister is Navy Recruit Maegan Muse. She left for training on March 17th, 2021! We grew up in New Bern, North Carolina, and call it our home today. Ever since we… Read More ›
USMC Rifleman’s Creed
In enlisted boot camp at Parris Island or San Diego and the officer’s Basic School at Quantico, VA no one escapes from the Rifleman’s Creed. Every Marine is trained, first and foremost, as a rifleman, for it is the rifleman… Read More ›
ROM to PIR
As the recruits touchdown in Chicago, IL and head towards RTC Great Lakes, their journey begins. Follow these recruits from ROM at Fort McCoy to their PIR destination (graduation). Produced by Duane Stanley (USN Veteran) using images adopted from RTC… Read More ›
Leadership Traits in Recruit Training
Recruit boot camp is the toughest and most challenging training in the world. And often, the physical and mental challenges overshadow the most important aspect of training – the foundation of leadership. Recruits learn and practice leadership traits that will… Read More ›
Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in the age of COVID-19
SOURCE: Kathleen Petty. Published: November 2020 When COVID-19 forced businesses and schools to shut down this spring, the military—known for its well-established systems not swift to change—had to shift quickly. Pausing Basic Military Training for any extended period of time was simply… Read More ›
Your Recruit’s Valentine.
Love is many things — and being yelled at while at boot camp may not be one of them. I am confident the drill instructor follows the ‘tough love‘ strategy of building your recruit into a robust warrior through words… Read More ›
Air Force Veteran is Recognized
It is always an honor to recognize our veterans for their ongoing support beyond active duty. Today we showcase Air Force veteran Mr. Alan Nunn. Meet Mr. Alan Nunn. He has been part of the Recruit Training Command, Public Affairs… Read More ›
COVID-19 Restrictions Lead to Successful Recruiting at Fort McCoy
ARTICLE SOURCE: NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ELIJAH G. LEINAAR Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Navy has taken great care to protect its newest recruits from the virus, establishing precautions and measures that enabled the service to graduate… Read More ›
Just Released 2021 Graduation Schedule
PIR/Graduations👇 through April 1st, 2021 Capping ceremony (recruits’ transition to full-fledged sailors) held at the end of the, “Battle Stations 21.” Watch a video of a typical “Capping Ceremony” at US Navy Capping Ceremony – YouTube Pass-In-Review ceremony (divisions march… Read More ›
Recruit Family Bingo
Saying goodbye to your loved ones when they leave for recruit training can be challenging. But, there are some fun ways to pass the time while celebrating your recruit’s decision to join the military. Recruit Family Bingo will keep you busy… Read More ›
A Postcard Prayer
I am often asked, “why did you start a military postcard company?” And in all fairness, it is a great question. My answer is simple. I believe God wants us to spread his message of hope and faith. And sending a simple… Read More ›
What not to call your Service Member?
Are you a ‘newbie’ to the military? Do you often feel overwhelmed by all the new military jargon and terminology? Don’t feel bad! The June 2020 edition of the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms has over… Read More ›
Survival at Sea Training
Jump in! The water is fine. According to Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great lakes, recruits participate in a survival at sea training scenario in the USS Indianapolis Combat Training Pool as part of the hands-on learning curriculum. The training at… Read More ›
Recruit Memories are Forever
Recruit boot camp may only be nine to twelve weeks, but the memories will last a lifetime. 20-plus years later, I still have the letters my mother sent me. Mail from family and friends has proven to motivate a recruit… Read More ›
4 Ways to Motivate your Recruit!
Recruit training is challenging with many ups and downs. Over the following months, your recruit depends on letters from home offering the needed encouragement to keep them pushing toward the ultimate prize – graduation and earning the title of a U.S…. Read More ›
The 12-Days of Christmas at Boot Camp
The Drill Instructor may not be shouting HO, HO, HO but rest assured, they are the closest thing to Santa Claus your recruit will see this year. The new red is green camouflage, and the favorite holiday jingle is the military cadence… Read More ›
United States Navy Capping Ceremony
The last 24 hours of boot camp are the most anticipated and set the recruit’s final training stage. The reward is the Navy ball cap and the honor of serving our great country as a United States Sailor. Those last… Read More ›
The “I am a Sailor” Call!
The most anticipated, “I am a Sailor” call, confirms that a Navy recruit has passed boot camp’s final evolution earning the title of United States Sailor. Recruit training is approximately 8 – 10 weeks long and includes physical fitness, seamanship,… Read More ›
“Hurry up and Wait” – there is an App for that.
When I left for Marine Corps boot camp in 1997, the Internet didn’t exist. My parents depended on sporadic scripted phone calls and letters to learn what was going on during my 12-week training. Fast-forward, a few decades (has it… Read More ›
Black Friday is Early 🥳
Double up on your postcards to send to your recruit, active-duty service member, family, and friends. Double every purchase with the Promo Code: DOUBLE. Digitally printed on 14pt glossy postcard stock Postage, printing, and delivery included Upload photo or choose… Read More ›
A Recruit’s Thanksgiving Day Feast (and ♥️)
Mike Schultz, former Mayer of Boerne, TX, made a difference in Air Force boot camp recruits’ lives by inviting them to Thanksgiving day lunch. Mike and his wife provided a home-away-from-home for these young men and women through hugs, listening… Read More ›
Sea Stories- My Fortune Cookie Moment
Hi! Welcome back to another installment of Sea Stories. I’m going to start at the beginning of our Navy journey. Tanner, my active-duty husband, has always been extremely bright, granted I am a little biased, but most anyone who has… Read More ›
A Postcard is Worth a Thousand Words
When my husband was in boot camp, my mom sent him a postcard from Honduras. She used a postcard for two reasons. First, she didn’t have enough to write in a letter. Second, and more importantly, to “share a piece… Read More ›
A Special Message from a Navy Mom!
In honor of Veteran’s Day, Jung Murphy, co-chair of the Cook Children’s Veteran’s Group, hosts a special conversation with Christel Mckinney, an employee and Navy mom.
The 5 Things Your Recruit Needs to Hear
1. How proud you are The decision to join the military is a big deal! Less than one-half of 1 percent of the US population choose to serve. Tell your recruit how proud you are for their decision to serve… Read More ›
Sea Stories – My COVID Wedding
Hi, I’m Lynsey! I am blessed to have married my high school sweetheart, Tanner. Tanner is my best friend, my world, and holds my whole heart. He’ll never understand my love for him and how proud I am of him… Read More ›
The Monday News 