Mother of Future ABH Daughter (Need info/reassurance/tips love to hear about other daughters in this field)

[d2b2707]

Hi All,

Clock is moving...tic toc, tic toc... My 19 year old daughter leaves on July 17, 2013 for bootcamp in Great Lakes. Then off to Pensacola for A-school, still hoping she won't have to wait long to class up (Dont know why she wasnt told about that before enlisting, but thats another subject)

When she enlisted/swore in, she was told her job would be ABH, to my surprise my daughter signed up for 8 years...OMG 8 years!!!!

I am very proud of my daughter and support her in every way...but now that the time is near, I'm starting to lose it (not in front of her though, LOL)

Are there any moms out there with daughters that are in the same field? What exactly do they do? How does their schedule work, being on land/sea? How did/do you cope?  I am so worried, and it doesn't help to know that I will have NO say in anything.

Can I make her back out now?!? LOL

I would appreciate and love to hear from others on this subject, hopefully your stories can put my mind at ease!

[Lauriekay1]

D2b, One, Pensacola is a great place to go for training! Be sure to visit! Although i dont have a daughter, My son is an ABF. He is coming home from his deployment in less than a week! I can say that communication ability is vastly improved from what it was when my husband was on a ship 30 years ago...they can email from a central, ship based computer area, they can also make calls from the ship while underway! Quite awesome. Now, there are some sailors that dont communicate very well, or very often, causing great wailing and gnashing of teeth by their moms......I told mine he'd be written out of the will if he didn't stay in touch, or as some say, give me proof of being alive and well, every now and then. He has by far exceeded my expectations!

Port calls seem quite fun with MWR (morale, welfare, recreation) tours available to do all sorts of fun things. When they are in port they must be in packs of 3 if it is their first deployment. Also. Most sailors have to do "mess crank" at some point, for 4 months, helping feed the sailors. My son isn't particularly enthralled with his job, as he isnt fueling above deck, but in the pump room, and finds that a bit boring. But overall I believe he's happy he enlisted.

And of course, there is the help and support from these communities on line. Quite wonderful!

My son has some friends that are girls on the ship, he has been getting advice on relationship issues with his at home GF..and seems to appreciate them being aboard.

Take a breath! And thanks for your daughters service. Lots of great experiences and growing up ahead....!!

[d2b2707]

Hi Lauriekay1,

Thanks for the information. I know that a child is a child but knowing my daughter will be out at sea on a ship..away from home.... thats a son's job, lol....has times changed (which is a great thing)

She still has lots of growing up to do, and I suppose thats part of the reason its hard, knowing I wont be there. I'm so happy & excited that she will have the opportunity for these new experiences.

Glad and happy to hear that you get to see your sailor soon! Thank him for me as well for his service!

 

 

[NavyMom2013]

D2b,

Mine is in Pensacola for A school right now for ABF (fueling).  Your daughter will be a handler of the planes.  8 years?  Are you sure that is not the 3 years active and 5 years where they can pull her in if they need her service?  Tell her to run, and run, and run to make bootcamp easier.  It is tough when they are held back a week ASMO'd because of this after families already bought the plane tickets.  Also, special types of sit ups, etc.  She can find things online and even on YouTube to help understand what it is like.  Bootcamp doesn't start when she arrives in Chicago, but NOW. 

 

Lauriekay1, thanks for the updated info on communication.  I will tell my son the same thing about email while out to sea. 

 

NavyMom2013

[Lauriekay1]

Yep, mine is safely still in the Will lol :) and you make very good points about Boot Camp prep. My son did much like what you posted, and was glad he did, even having been a LAX player in High School!!

Forgot to mention, boot camp communication is vastly different than on the ship. Snail mail takes forever both ways, it's like having a very very disjointed conversation!

[d2b2707]

hi navymom2013,

I had to ask my daughter again about her enlistment, she said her school is 5 years so she is signed up for 5 and the 3 years is reserved... however that works, will remain to be seen.

thanks for your info...and yes you are right, bootcamp starts way before chicago, lol.

did your daughter have a long wait before classing up for A school? just trying to get an estimate of what my daughter should expect with that. we weren't aware of the prereqs.

 

[NavyMom2013]

d2b2707

Don't know how I was sent your email because I have a son, but classing up took about 3 weeks.  The first part was about making good decisions, drugs, rules, etc.  Now he is taking tests on his job-to-be.  Classing up requires a specific number of students and they wait for enough to show up.  It might even be announced that morning!  He spends as much time as he can volunteering.  There are some perks for that and he gets free volunteer t=shirts as well.  Good for the Navy and for his own morale. 

Because of getting excellent marks for the volunteering, he is allowed a day off.  It is worth it.  He should be given his duty station in about 2 weeks.  He put in for Washington.  No telling which ship he will be deployed to, though.  I would love to visit Washington again, I loved Whidbey Island with those Logan berries growing wild. 

 

[Lauriekay1]

I'm gonna chime in, I think classing up varies. Mine has about a 2 month wait, i loved that s
As i went to see him several times :) and then it ended up being perfectly timed for him to be home for Christmas before heading to his first command in January. I think it varies depending on who they have in the pipeline. The N4M A School in Pensacola group is great. Lots of good tips etc. gotta get though boot camp....A School is like a holiday compared to!

[Sesa Ship 04 DIV 379]

My daughter will also be an ABH.  She is leaving for Great Lakes Aug.12, 2013. 5years active, 3 reserve.  Feeling a little down knowing the time for her to leave is quickly approaching!  My husband and I have been spending a lot of quality time with her and making lots of new memories.  Who knows lol our daughters may end up friends for life.

[d2b2707]

Morning Sesa!

After my daughter came home from being sworn in and entering the DEP program, I read her contract and although it states what an ABH does, I still needed to see! LOL

So I've been watching military documents on Netflix, and they have some good shows. There's one called the Super Carrier...it shows and interviews the ABH. The show gave me more of an understanding of the position. FYI: Our daughters will be yellow shirts. 

I bought my daughter a mans wallet like it was recommended on the site, (things to do before your child leaves)  it has lots of slots to hold everything she needs, including pictures & notes of encouragement my family wrote to her (I even included stamps & bandaids where the money goes) I think this was a great recommendation!

Although, it hit me hard, being able to help my daughter clean & pack up her room, gave us alone/quality time. Not only did it prepare me mentally, we were able to box up what I know to bring for her at PIR (so I don't have to look and guess) and also box up what she wants me to ship to her when she is at A-school.

My daughters going away party is tomorrow... so will be preparing for that today. 7/17/13 her ship date, is just around the corner. I planned on staying in Sacramento on 7/16/13 so we can have dinner with her but I don't know if I'm still able to due to finances, so I'm bummed about that. For sure my family and I will be there on 7/17 when she swears in...but I don't think I can handle the airport so most likely will just say my goodbyes at MEPs.

You still have some time left so keep spending time with her and making those memories! I'm always taking pictures, you can always hear my family say, "here goes mom again" LOL

And yes maybe our daughters will end up friends, lets hope!

Have a great weekend!

 

[Navy Girl's Mom Ship 12 Div 331]

My daughter is 19,  left July 8th, 2013 for boot camp, and will be an ABH as well.  I felt the same way when my daughter told me what she had decided to do, both when she told me she was joining the Navy and when she told me she wanted to work as an ABH.  This is not at all what I had pictured my daughter choosing as a career but we support her 100%.  She had to wait several months during her DEP and it was killing her.  She was so excited to start and move on to the next stage in her life.  

She was under the impression she had four years active duty and four years reserve. Would it be possible for them to commit to different amounts of time active vs reserve?  (I'm clueless) 

It's only been 5 days since she left but it seems like forever, yet I still have two more weeks before a phone call or letter from what I'm reading.  This is going to be quite the adjustment.  Fed Ex tried to deliver her box yesterday but no one was home... ugh. 

One of my fears is she will try to call me and I miss the call.  I don't normally like to carry my cell phone with me but now I don't dare put it down, just in case...lol. You never know....

Has anyone had any experience with their sailor having their wisdom teeth taken out during boot camp?  My daughter was told she would have to have them out while she was there and she would have a couple days of R&R while she heals.  When would they do that and do they let us know before it happens?  Do I get to talk to her after?  I'm worried that will really put her behind in her PT and she won't be able to graduate with her group.  Any in-site on this would be appreciated.

Thank you for the words of support and encouragement.

[d2b2707]

Hi Navy Girl's Mom .... Sorry, i just read your post now, I haven't been checking this group a lot & forgot I posted a discussion especially since I turned my notifications off. I sure hope you were able to have your questions answered! Did your daughter end up having her wisdom teeth pulled?
It's been 1 week (7/17) since my daughter left to bootcamp. We received her box now (but like you experienced, nobody was home so i had to pick it up) now waiting for the form letter so we can start mailing her letters & planning for PIR.
How's your planning going for your daughters PIR? You must've felt relief when you received your form letter.
Hope all is well!

[FaithThatConquers]

Hi all,

My daughter is an ABE and at BC now with a graduation date of 9/20. She had her wisdom teeth pulled out and had 2 days to recover. She did say it was horrible because her mouth wasn't totally dead so she could feel it. To my knowledge she is not behind at all. In fact, they put her in charge of the female house...so proud!

I read that her A school was 6 weeks in Pensacola. The job as I understand it is hard, has long hours, and dangerous. I was told they get hazardous pay because of this. My daughter is 18 years old and I hope she can hang out there with the intense conditions. I know she is a tough spirited young woman, but as a mom, I'm anxious to get constant updates.

All the best to everyone and their SR's...

LaShawn