1st time for Son to go to IRAQ

[Natalie]

Hello! I'm a new NAVY Mom and my son just found out about a week ago that he is going to Iraq the day after Thanksgiving. He's still trying to wrap his brain around the idea. I feel bad for him. I think it's happening pretty quick for him. Do any Moms out there have any tips for me to HELP him adjust to the idea? THANKS sooo much!!!

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

There is an Iraq forum on this site and I bet some of our seasoned moms will be able to give you some great guidance and suggestions. What rate is your son? How long has he been in the Navy now? Good luck to him and please keep us posted!

[Jo]

Hi Natalie,

I had a boyfriend in the Army over in Iraq for 7 months. I don't know what its like to have my son go though. My son had told me he had volunteered for IA but that he probably won't get it because of his rate. What rate is your son? We have a group for Moms with loved ones in the war zone. Feel free to join as there are other moms with sons over there. If you go to my page you can see it there and join the group. Let us know if you have any specific questions we can help you with.

[Kathy (CORWIN'S Mom)]

my son is just in boot camp. he is 18. how old is your son. just pray pray pray. that is all i can say. be positive supportive and communicate as much as possible.

[Molly mom of 2 + 330,701 sailors]

I can only say what JO and Mary have said ...get connected with moms who have been threw this or are going threw this now. They are going to have a wealth of information for you. Good Lucky to you and your sailor .... wait I meant OUR sailor.
Tell him he has many many moms that care about him, and Thank him very much for his service.

[Lora Gibson]

My son just came back in May. He was there 8 months. He said the people really seemed to be happy our military is there and appreciated the job they were doing. He felt good about doing his part to help these people. Does your son know what he will be doing and where he will be stationed? I know a lot of the guys are stationed on bases and don't go "outside the wire" on missions like my son's unit. My son had to know he was prepared as well as the rest of the guys in his unit. They were the second Riverine Squadron to deploy and both Squadrons have come home safe and sound. Things are getting better. My son had to get his head wrapped around it as well, but he came home knowing he had done his job and he got to see a part of the world he might not have otherwise. He bought a pocket digital camera to take as well as an external hard drive for his laptop so he could download photos. I sent care packages as did most of my family. They were always fun stuff, but stuff he could leave behind. I guess the best thing for him is to realize he's not alone, there are others in the same situation. Please join our group of moms with sailors or soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan. Go to groups and search Iraq. There are lots of us there to help.

[Karen Gallagher]

Found this on a web site and thought that you and other moms could use this info.
I has info for parents, family members etc.
He will have info given to him and they do lots of things to bring the families together to get them ready for this.
Althought I have not had a son there I do have friends that have children that have gone.
Please let me know if I can help you with anything

Karen


What is the Fleet Response Plan?

The Fleet Response Plan (FRP) was instituted in July 2003 in response to the need for expanded readiness in the Global War on Terror. Instead of predictable, lock-step, 6-month deployments to pre-determined regions, the FRP means that units will embark on deployments of varied duration in support of various missions. The FRP provides a remarkable naval capability to the four corners of the world.

What does this have to do with me?

The FRP requires our Sailors and families to be more flexible than ever before. We always have to be ready for a deployment. We may or may not have six months before the next deployment. How do we do this? How do we make sure we’re ready?

Attend the pre-deployment briefings held at the FFSC and at your Command. Make sure you get the most up to date information.
Print out the deployment checklist at the link below. Don’t just leave it on the desk or the kitchen counter. Spend the time to go over it. Make sure you’ve completed the requirements. Fill in the blanks and check the blocks. Make sure you keep this paperwork in a notebook or file so you’ll be able to make changes and keep it updated. It is SO IMPORTANT that you take the time to follow this checklist. The more organized you are before you deploy, the less worries you’ll have while you are deployed!

Complete the following checklist to see if you’re ready to deploy.
Couples Deployment Readiness Checklist
Single Sailor Deployment Readiness Checklist
Parents' Deployment Readiness Checklist
Individual Augmentee Deployment Readiness Checklist
Activated Reservists Mobilization/Deployment Readiness Checklist
Active Duty Single Parents Deployment Readiness Checklist

Balancing Business and Deployment

The Small Business Administration has developed this resource guide for members of the Reserve or National Guard who are also small business owners preparing to mobilize. If you are a small business owner facing mobilization, you will find important information in this guide that will help prepare your business and your employees for your absence. Learn More

https://www.nffsp.org/skins/nffsp/display.aspx?ModuleID=8cde2e88-30...

[Cheryl]

Natalie, my oldest son is in the Army and currently in Iraq. He was deployed October 2007 for 15 months. Lee was ready to go and kept a positive attitude about his deployment. He told me, "Mom, it's my job and if I can do one thing to help, then it's worth every moment over there." It was very difficult to watch the calendar and see the days pass leading up to him leaving. He and I had many long discussions about many things.......things mothers don't want to think about happening, but the discussions had to occur in the event of the worse. It was all I could do to hold it together as he talked about his "wishes" - however, we all stayed positive and gave him all the support he needed and then some. I feel confident he will be fine. Lee is smart and quick and brave.....all the things a soldier has to be. I am fortunate because I get to chat with Lee online. It eases my worries to see him sign on being so many miles away. We're in constant communication. Just remember, our sons have been trained well by the best military in the world. I have put my faith in God that He will bring Lee home safe.

[Natalie]

Thank you so much, Cheryl. I love being a part of this group and everyone has been sooo supportive. I'm so glad I "joined".

God bless you and Lee and my prayers will be for your son, too.

Natalie (What did Lee say was the hardest thing to get used to in Iraq when he first got there? Just trying to prepare my son, as much as I can, so (maybe!) there will be fewer surprises for him) THANKS again!

[kelli sybrowsky]

Hello, my husband is currently in middle east he left in May. He isnt due home until 24 Dec. I have been over there twice. Just support hi and let him know you love him. Go out and buy a video cam for your computer. If he has a lap top and can take it, buy him one as well. That is the easiest way to keep in contact. Skype is free.Even if he doesnt have a lap top, you need a video cam.They can call home that way. As soon as he gets there, have him call or write with an address. It will be an FPO most likely. I bought my husband alot of yellow envelpoes and one red one. yellow envelopes can be identified in your mailbox easy. The red one is the letter we never want to get, but he should write it to you even before he leaves and give it to a shipmate,just in case. Write him letters everyfew days, that helps them. Keep him involved as much as you can. You may even hold off christmas until he comes home, we did that in the past, put the tree and decorations up at Thanksgiving having him help, and put his presents under the tree, and let him know it will all still be there when he comes home. Once he is there, the first few months will go by quick for him, he will be busy, its about two months in that they feel home sick, but if you can talk on skype and he can see you, that really helps. Send himm razors,gatorade and beef jerkey in care packages. And deoderant and get dr bronners eucalptus hemp soap. That helps with the bugs etc.as well as keeps them clean.They can even bath in a sink if needed with that. send that with him on deployment. send him toothbruses over there they need to be replced more as dust storms are bad,so are the teeth full of sand. For yourself get a calander and write the day he leaves and count 180 days. That is the last day he can return, the new rules state they cant be there longer than 180 days. That will give you and idea, they usually start coming home at about 160 days or so, they dont cut real close to the 180 day mark. And everyday mark off the day, it will go by faster than you think. For now be posotive and dont let yourself cry infront of him, it makes them feel guilty for leaving you, you are allowed to cry at the airport but briefly,he needs to see that smile and that you are a strong woman. Before he goes have him help you wrap a yellow ribbon around a tree in your yard for him.Get as many neighbors family and friends to do the same. This will show he is supported. Talk to him about his fears and reassure hi that you will be ok, again they worry about us more than themselves. And that he wont be forgotten. I know there are a million things i could tell you,please feel free to email me and we can chat and i can give you more information. [e-mail], But for now ALL SMILES=)...good luck and lots of love to you.

[Natalie]

Thank you so much, Kelli. I just sent my son, Chris (Christopher), an email and told him about the 160 to 180 days thing. Everyone here at NavyMoms has been sooo great and I've only been on here since yesterday!!! (Tuesday)

I'm at [e-mail] -- time to get me a navymom email address, looks like!
Will send you an email soon.

I live in Arlington but grew up in Fort Worth. If you ever know anyone who needs a good (and truly CARING) realtor in this area of Texas, let me know. I've been a realtor now for over 4 years and LOVE working with NICE people and working with our military would be a real pleasure for me.

Thanks again, soooooooo much. God bless you and your family.

Natalie

[Sues]

Natalie: my heart is going out to you. I can't imagine what you and he must be thinking. I haven't had any experience with that yet but I am sure you will get lots of responses. I have seen quite of few posts about sailors being deployed. Everybody is here for ya. Hugs.

[Debbie H]

Hi Natalie
My son was deployed to Iraq back in 2006. I can remember when he called us right before Christmas 2005 to let us know that this is where he was going. I can remember how scared I was at the time. He had just graduated from boot camp in October. He left February 2006, I bought a Navy Calander and marked everytime that we had any communication from him. He would call every week, and after a couple of calls when you saw the number come up on the phone you just knew it was him. He also had a my space account that he would go on so my daughter and I would check that daily because it tracks when they are on last. He built detainee prisons while he was over there. When he called he could not tell us where exactly he was or what was going on but he could explain to us what he had done since our last call. I would put everything he said with dates in the calander. There is no given time when he will call and there is a 8 hour difference from NY to Iraq so depending on where you live will be the time difference. We would also communicate with IM, I set up our computer so that everytime he would sign on IM over in Iraq that a bell would ring on our computer. You couldn't imagine how many times we ran like monkeys to see who could get to the computer first. We would instant message back in forth sometimes up to an hour. I also got in touch with his Obudsman once he arrived over there to let them know that I was new to this and that this was his first deployement. They gave me allot of good advice and also steered me towards their web site where monthly updates would be listed on all who were deployed. He is once again being deployed to Iraq this October, this time he will be doing security, a gunner on a humvee. I know as the time gets closer my worries will start again. But we have the support of our Navy Moms to help us get through these hard times. I remember when Ben arrived in Kuwait and called us he said that is was very hot and that it smelled. So it is a big adjustment from going from homeport to where he will be stationed. Just remember in order for them to do the best job they can they will start distancing themselves from us, when talking to them they will not say much, it is there way to get there heads in the right place. Also when Ben returned from Iraq we all made the trip from NY to Mississippi and saw him arrive home from Iraq. It is the most humbling expeirence that our family has ever gone through, we will once again start planning our trip to Mississippi when he returns from his next deployement. If you have any questions or need more information you can e-mail me at [e-mail]. God bless you and your son and family. Debbie