new navy mom

[Georgia proud of my sailor]

I'm upset just writing this. My son just joined the Navy on the 22nd of Nov so I am still dealing with so many different emotions right now that I am trying to just pick one thing to concentrate on. I have been writing down questions I want to ask his recruiter but have yet to talk to him yet. Are there any questions anybody can recommend for me to ask I want to make sure I know as much as I can before he leaves in June the day before his 19th birthday!!



Confused but proud Mom

[AT3]

If you have any questions that aren't getting answered, let me know, and I'll let you know what's up.

[Cheri]

My son was 17 when he left for boot camp. It's hard to believe that has been 11 years ago! His recruiter was great and he was so patient with me and my million questions. My son turned 18 while he was in DEP and, of course, I cried. His first Christmas he was stationed in Florida and I had never been away from him on a holiday. I was so worried about him, but when he called he was having a great time. My fear was that he was alone on Christmas but his new "family" took him under their wing, invited him home with them for Christmas and I was forever grateful!
Hang in there mom. There will be no stopping your smile when you see your son graduate from DEP. It's a beautiful ceremony. Take plenty of film and if he is in Great Lakes, carry a variety of clothes. The weather changes constantly!

[Dawn C]

Hi, welcome to Navy for Moms! I have 2 sons in the Navy--one joined last year and my youngest just finished A school and is on leave currently. Ask everything--how long bootcamp lasts--what fields his job will include-how long it takes to advance. Ask when you can send things to them and what you can send. Start gathering phone cards to send with him and tell him to be getting in shape and just spend time together and enjoy! Both of my boys spent their 18th birthdays in bootcamp so I understand totally. Concentrate on how proud you are--they're going to have a direction in life in addition to training, health benefits, a pension plan and college money if they want it. It's an amazing job and they're wonderful and tell him we're all so very proud of him!

[Dawn C]

OH...and I forgot too--we have an AWESOME recruiter--he still stays in touch with both my boys and with me and tells me to still ask any questions I may have. It really helps when they are that flexible.

[Doreen]

DEAR NEW NAVY MOM, I CAN RELATE TO WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH MY SON JOINED ON HIS SEVENTEENTH BIRTHDAY HE LEFT OCT 6TH OF 08. I NEW THIS DAY WILL COME HE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN HE WAS JUST 8 YEARS OLD. HE JUST GRADUATED FROM BOOTCAMP DEC,5TH 2008 IT WAS THE LONGEST 9 WEEKS OF MY LIFE NOT HEARING HIS VOICE HIS PRESENCE IN THE HOUSE, IN HIS ROOM. I CRIED OFTEN MISSING HIM MY HEART ACHED EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY MY HUSBAND WAS JUST AS BAD AS I WAS. WE WAITED FOR THAT FIRST LETTER AND WENT IT CAME WE CRIED SOME MORE. WE WERE VERY EXCITED BUT SAD AT THE SAME TIME IT WILL ALL FALL INTO PLACE WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL HIS RECRUTER I DID WHEN I DID'NT GET THE ANSWERS FROM MY SON. ITS ALOT OF WHEN AND WHERE QUESTIONS I CAME UP WITH. THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY TO YOU IS BE PROUD & SUPPORT HIS DECISION. DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL HIS RECRUITER. MY SON IS TEXAS NOW WE ARE HOPING HE COMES HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

[Alicia Texas mother of Chris/A blue candle mom]

It is a hard time for moms...that being said I am doing something for my son and am pasting what I posted elsewhere.
. I have purchased a candle to be lit on Christmas Day to honor the sailors who will not be home so my sailor will know when he is not home candles will be lit in his honor. I hope on Christmas day at 12.00 noon every mom will light one candle... for their children home or not. I have gone a Blue one so it will be different from the others and stand out. I am putting a silver sequence NAVY name on it. I will be burning it from 12 until midnight Christmas night. I will be able to show my sailor... he might not be home every year.. but his light will still be burning as will it be burning for the other Sailors all over the world. I will also burn it from now on on every HOLIDAY ..... New Years for example... I will burn a red one... and so forth... I will burn next a white one. Until I have burned all red white and blue.... So maybe a new tradition for my holidays...During the 911 incident I made a center piece and for 6 months we lit it during the dinner hour to remember the ones lost during 911.. I don't know why I didn't remember that Thanksgiving but it is not too late to start now....
My candle now has a saying on it that says...THOUGHTS OF YOU ARE WRAPPED IN LITTLE PRAYERS. I pray that you and your family have a safe holiday and may God be with you and your child while they are Boot Camp

[Quadralene]

GET DETAILS ON HIS JOB CLASSIFICATION. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND DO RESEARCH ON IT. MY SON WAS CLASSIFICATION FOR A POSITION IN THE MEDICAL FIELD (A HOSPITAL CORPMAN) TO MY SURPRIZE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY SON WOULD BE ASSIGNED FMF (FLEET MARINE FORCE). MY SON WAS ATTACHED TO A MARINE UNIT AS THEIR HOSPITAL CORPMAN (1 TO A UNIT) AND SENT TO IRAQ LAST YEAR FOR 7 MONTHS. DURING THE TOUR IN IRAQ MY SON ROAD FROM ONE AREA OF THE REGION TO THE NEXT THROUGH THE FIGHTING PROVISIONS, PROVIDING MEDICAL ATTENTION TO BOTH AMERICAN AND IRAQI DETAINEES. I DON'T WANT TO FRIGHTEN YOU BUT PLEASE JUST RESEARCH HIS JOB CLASSIFICATION WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO HIM ALREADY AND ASK QUESTIONS.

[Quadralene]

ALSO, THERE ARE JOBS THAT INCLUDE AN ENLISTMENT BONUS, ASK IF HIS JOB IS ONE OF THEM.

[Jane Hurlock]

All I can say as a Mother of a Son that has been in the Navy for 17 years is not to worry. My son joined the Navy at the age of 28. He had just divorced and came in one night and said "I have joined the Navy" to our surprise. It was the best thing he could ever do. He went through basic and with determination that he would succeed and he has. When on deployment he would study and earned his Surface and Air Warfare pins. It was not easy and he had to try more than once to pass the test for the Air Warfare. After 12 years he studied and to the the test to become a Chief. 2 years ago he applied and received placement to be an instructor at the Naval Academy. While at the Academy he was given the opportunity to go to Officers school. Last January I got to sit there as he received his bars and he is now an Ensign. I have never been prouder to be able to say that my son is in the NAVY. I swell with pride and so proud of what he has accomplished. The Navy will help your son to grow and will support him in every way. Your son if willing, and will listen to his commanders and follow orders as they are only trying to assist him in his growth to becoming a responsible young man. So don't worry. Allow him this apportunity, with your blessings, to become the person he can be.

A Mom in Texas

[Jackie, Kansas Mom of Don]

The emotion to concentrate on is PRIDE. Always let him know how proud you are of him. He made an adult decision and is sticking to it. The hardest part for you at this time is he will be away for the holidays. It will be hard for him. He won't be able to call or write like he would want to only remember you can write to him everyday. That is what helped my son and us to get through the no call no write times. Just ask this "What will he be doing during bootcamp?" Also : What will his training be like in "A" school?" The answer is just about everything and the main thing he is becoming a man. Best of luck to you and your family and tell your son that a Navy Mom in Kansas is PROUD of Him and Thank him for all he is doing.