Carl Vinson Barracks

[Chris A.]

UPDATE: My son left Carl Vinson back in March and is now in San Diego, so anyone who wants to keep this going is welcome to it.

[Julie]

Hi Chris my son Tommy is there

[Chris A.]

Hi Julie then I'm sure our sons know one another. Mine's a rescue swimmer waiting for AW school to start, and working at the USO to pass the time.

[Julie]

Mine is an Aviation Electrician mate AE school, he has been there since 12/2 but will not class up until MAy

[Chris A.]

Greg just moved over there Dec. 12, barely got settled before coming home on the 20th. He was supposed to work at one of the offices but they were overmanned so they sent him to the USO, but they said they didn't have any vacancies until he told them he could cook and bake (he's a great cook) and they "hired" him on the spot. Of course "hired" is a relative term, they don't get paid, but it sure beats cleaning all the time while you wait. He's been real lucky and has classed-up fairly quickly compared with some. They must need rescue swimmers.

[Darci B]

Chris,
Marke's in the same barrack. But then you knew that! hahaha I just told Marke about Greg and asked why doesn't he do something. Answer is, mom I start classes on Monday. He had to pick on me about having a snow day today. I actually stayed home this time. It was great!

[Michelle (Ethan's Mom)]

Greg is in Carl Vinson Barracks? How is he doing? Ethan is back on base after two weeks at home, and he is soooo homesick! He says it's worse than bootcamp. His biggest point was that during bootcamp they were busy all the time, interacting with people. He works nights, so he tries to sleep during the day and has a lot of quiet time to think about things, and that's when he has trouble. He is only 18, and this is his first real time away from home. It's been hard on him. He got better after about the 4th week of bc, and then had trouble adjusting (about two weeks) after getting down to Florida (mid-September). He was doing pretty well all October-December, but now he is back to square One. Actually, he says - One! I know Greg is older and a great deal more settled, but what kinds of things are down there on the base that Ethan might take advantage of? I've already told him about the USO, but he says Alpha barracks is a long way away from there, and he doesn't feel like walking there. I told him to work out, but don't know how far he has to go to get there. It's mostly a matter of motivation, and right now I think he would rather feel sorry for himself than do something about it. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear 'em!

[Chris A.]

Actually Darci, I didn't know Marke was in the same barracks! I only just found out from Greg last night when I remembered to ask him what his new address was. Oh goody, they'll get to see one another we hope. Glad to hear Marke is classing up already. Greg was hoping for Jan. but said it's looking more like Feb.

Michelle, if Ethan wants someone to talk to about anything, Greg's a good choice. He's older, more experienced and used to be a teacher and swim coach so he's good with "kids." He says the others refer to him as "Pops" or "Grandpa" because he's so much older than most of them. I think he kind of likes it though, makes him feel good that they look up to him.

[Michelle (Ethan's Mom)]

Chris,
Thank you so much! I actually already told Ethan about Greg working at the USO, and encouraged him to go there next weekend and hang out. He called tonight, and was actually in a better frame of mind. I think his homesickness was a gut reaction to suddenly being back on base and without his friends. When he landed in Des Moines on Dec. 19 he thought he had a girlfriend (that fell apart over the two weeks he was home--ex boyfriend got in the way and said "sailor" Ethan would have a girl in every port and would cheat on her), and big expectations. I do think he had a pretty nice time, but didn't get to see two of his best friends and he has talked to Josie and has decided that they are both too young to get too serious. I told him if it was meant to be, it will happen. He is only 18, after all. Right now, he thinks his A school will start in March. One of his best friends is 28, so he can relate to older people, and he wants to be a P.E. teacher when he gets done with his contract with the Navy. Is Greg making the Navy a career, or will he go back to teaching? I will definitely tell Ethan to look Greg up. I think he would be a very positive influence on Ethan. Maybe he could even help Ethan quit smoking and not go out drinking when he gets Liberty. Ethan only started smoking when he got down to Florida in September. I don't know how long he has been drinking. It's obviously been much longer than I had imagined. I feel really bad about that. His father was an alcoholic, and I don't want Ethan to go down that road...sorry for all the rambling, but I've been kind of spastic lately about stuff happening at work and with only a dog and two cats to be my sounding board, this site has been a lifesaver! Take care!

[Chris A.]

Michelle, glad to hear Ethan's feeling a little bit better. I have no idea if Greg will make the Navy his career or not. I personally think he'd make a great instructor and so does his wife, Jill. She told me he was talking about what he was going to do when he gets out, but she's convinced he'll choose to stay in. Only time will tell.

Sorry to hear that Ethan has started smoking. Greg never has smoked, he adores his dad, (my hubby) and he has never smoked so I think that was a bit of role modeling there. Maybe he can quit if he hasn't been at it too long. I must say, Greg does drink. He's fond of wine especially, but he usually only drinks it when he's out for a nice meal. He's been trying to keep an eye on some of the younger kids and discourage them from drinking but he says they don't listen to him.

[Michelle (Ethan's Mom)]

Ethan never knew his dad, but I have never smoked, so it's all been peer pressure from his junior high school and high school buddies. He is telling me now that he has figured out he probably smokes 2 out of every pack, because so many guys down there bum cigarettes off of him. I told him he would save a lot more money if he weren't providing cancer sticks for all the guys down there. He seemed to digest that statement pretty well, so I am hopeful that he may be able to quit before it becomes an addiction...

[Jason's Proud Mom]

Hi!! I'm a newbie to this group!! Just a little about myself. . .I'm a single mom with two boys, my youngest Jason (18 years old) is my Sailor :) I live in Pennsylvania with my oldest son and son-to-be hubby!! I've been a member of Navy4moms since my son left for BC on 10/27! I have found this site to be a GREAT source of information and have received a lot of valuable advice :) He's been in Pensacola since January 2 (Carl Vinson Barracks) and after reading some of the posts here I realize AGAIN that I am not alone with what's been going on with my Sailor!! He adapted very well at Boot Camp, his letters were always so upbeat and postive, and he really enjoyed the experience! I was prepared to deal with him being homesick and miserable at Boot Camp, but it never happened!! I had worried so much over those horrible 8 weeks for nothing!! He was just fine!! I just "assumed" the worst was over and I was in the clear with him and next few years would be a piece of cake for both of us!! WRONG!!!! He calls me now, and he always sounds so stressed, miserable, and is full of self-doubt!! I did not see this coming at all!! Is it posssible that he had a delayed reaction to being away from home?? I don't understand what is going on with him, and when I ask him to tell me why he feels this way, he usually just says. . .I gotta go and hangs up!! I'm baffled !!

[Chris A.]

Jason's proud mom.................while they were in boot camp they were kept so busy they barely had time to think. Everything was so structured, people constantly telling them what to do. Then they get to A school and things are more relaxed, they have more time to think and they also have more responsibilty for their actions. They're not yet on board a ship going somewhere, they're almost in a kind of limbo. Theire futures are uncertain...they don't know where they'll be after they finish school, and most of them are so young and are away from home with strange people around them. I don't know the answer to the problem but the best thing you can do is do what you did when he was in bc, stay positive and encouraging. Is he still waiting to start classes? If so then he's probably getting bored. Once his classes start he'll be much better. Have him talk to my son, he's the older guy they call Pops.