Information for new navy mom w/son who chose intelligence C.I.??

[Wendy (Jason's mom)]

Hi my son left for boot camp three days ago. Can someone tell me what he will experience as far as his training and education for intelligence. Is it C.I. division??? I have not received my 30 second call..but I am hoping it will be soon. I am curious about what training he will go through for his choice of career. Thanks so much

[Wendy (Jason's mom)]

Vicki thanks so much for your response. Yea, we have some of our kids here for the holiday. I hope all is well. I am looking forward to talking back and forth. Jason actually just started boot camp. He got there last Sunday...he had to actually leave early. He wasn't supposed to go until two days before Thanksgiving. I did not hear from him with the 30 second phone call until Wed. night. Once that came I felt much better. I have the book about Navy boot camp and I keep reading along again to see if I can get a feel for what he is experiencing each week. Where is you son now?? I am really curious to hear what he will be doing in IS...have a great day.
Wendy

[JazzyJ]

Wendy, you can also go to You Tube and experience what they go through in BC. I did it twice, once when my son left and then again this past August when my daughter left. It will show you what the weeks will be like for them. My daughter is in VA going thru IS A school right now. There is also a news clip that shows you what Battlestations is all about and what they have to do to pass. To find BC on you tube just type in Navy boot camp and it will come up. To find the battlestations video type in USS Trayer, and it should bring up the news clip, but you have to sign in first to view it. I found it very informative and very cool. Just my expereince with both my kids is that they loved letters from home, just normal news, cutting out magazine articles and such. They both told me they got homesick, but mostly they stay too busy to focus on it. My son is in Norfolk just down the street from his sister. I have peace of mind knowing they are so close together.:) If you have questions you have picked the best forum to help you. Good luck to your son! Tell him thank you and we all appreciate his decision to serve our country.

[Dawn Russell]

Wendy, will your son be IS? My son is IS. He graduated boot camp 8/8, finished A school and starts C school next week. He will be reporting to the Harry S Truman in March. I will be glad to help you anyway I can. I will send you a freind request so we can email.
Dawn

[Kristal]

hi wendy

my name is kristal and my son is issa on cvn 71. after bootcamp your son should go to virgina beach, va for A school and C school then stationed on a ship. my son is not able to tell me much but i go to the ship he is stationed on website daily as they post what happening on the ship, not necessiarly what is happening around the ship but it gives the general idea of what they are doing. there are several ways to research the IS job just type navy and then is and check out the sites that come up. My son really enjoys his job. He told me this is what he has been looking for all his life.LOL he only 20
time for work hope this helps and you may add me as friend if you want to.

[Michael, My sailor is Andy]

Help him focus on Boot Camp!!! When my son went through 30% did not make it. The initial stages are very difficult emotionally. More so than physically. He and you will find out about what and where he will end up as time goes by, but to me giving him support and focusing on what he must get through is most important. There are many influences which could derail him at this point. The Navy takes good care of them after boot camp and will do as they said, but he must get through and they must feel that he is an asset to them before they spend lots of money training him. The key is lots of money training him. If he focuses on what he must do today and what he must do to get through bc he will be fine. Mike

[Wendy (Jason's mom)]

Thank you for your candid words. I understand what you are staying. Jason went determined he will get through. This is what he wants and i know he will do well. I will continue to send him words of encouragement. What do the sailors who are interested in I.S do in A school or is it still basic stuff? When you talked about influences that could derail him...are you talking about in boot camp...I thought they are pretty protected. Perhaps I was wrong? Jason's mom

[Sherry]

You should be getting your call soon. They sort of get settled in, get him where her goes, then you will get a call. Calls don't come much during boot camp. When they do get them I believe they are something like 10 minutes. They do not get e-mail untile after boot camp. It is very nerve wrecking while they are going threw boot camp. When he get close to the end you will be getting all kinds of mail letting you know about graduation. I had to hang on to the saying, "No news is good news." As for as training, it doesn't really begin until after boot camp. Then, before, during or after graduation, he will get his orders as to where he is going next. I may be wrong but I believe he will go to Calif. Just hang in there. That is what N4M is for to help you, give you some support, and answer questions, if we can. We have all been there at some point. I will tell you that I find the Navy to a 'very' family oriented branch of the Military. You can ck out some of things you would like to know by going to Great Lakes Naval Web pages. One thing your Sailor will learn is the morris code. He will also be going through some security checks. This involves the Navy knowing almost everything on him clean back to birth. LOL! I'm sure there are more moms, wives, dads and others that might can help you more. Good Luck to you and your son. We are glad you have joined the N4M family.

[NavyMomCarolyn]

Wendy,

there are several different areas he can land in when he goes through this process. The most important thing now is for him to focus on getting through school. You won't know a lot about his education or his job (other than the rate and rank). He can't tell you a lot because of security. Just be there as you have been, supporting him.

[Lisa Rainbird]

Hi Wendy:
My son is IS and CI, he is now stationed in GITMO. Navy Boot camp is rigorous and in general unpleasant. It is a common experience shared by all recruits. Then there is A school (IS training) and C school (more specialization) and then the selection of the first mission which your son may or may not have much say in. Further education is offered online via the military university for free. Most IS take advantage of this. Communication is often spotty. My son has been in for a year. I've seen him grow in that time. He retains a quizzical attitude about things.

[Wendy (Jason's mom)]

Thanks Lisa. this helps me understand better. yes. Jason has hopes of getting his college education completed while in the Navy. What is the difference between IS and CI?

[Lisa Rainbird]

IS is basic intelligence specialist training. CI which is counter intelligence affords more specialization in operations and intelligence.

[Foreign Intel Officer]

you know, I really wouldn't be that open about these facts, since there are terrorists in the world who put prices on the heads of people like him.