RCU and stress fractures

[mrssauce60]

About a week ago my son left a message that he had stress fractures in his leg. Today I received a letter from him telling me he was in RCU. He is very emotionally upset and wanting to be re-evaluated so he can be put back into a unit. He asked me to help him with this so I called his recruiter who was getting ready to leave and he said he would call them at the end of the week when he got back. What can I do to help him emotionally get through this? I have been sending letters providing tons of encouragement, but with snail mail, it is very frustrating. Any help or advice on this?

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

My sailor went to RCU on 3/19 and had a PIR date of 4/9. He did not graduate with his division. He actually finished his BC requirements from RCU and I got the "Sailor" call on 4/30. So, as you can see, it took a while. Initially it was thought that he had a stress fracture, however after an MRI, it was found that he had actually injured his knee. He went to therapy, did EVERYTHING the doctors told him to do, studied his Blue Jacket and completed everything from Ship 6, Div. 2341.

We did not get to see him PIR as he did not go back to a division. He was at Week 5 Day 1 and getting released back to full duty, joining a new (already established) division for 2-1/2 weeks did not seem to him to be his best option. He had already been told, while in RCU, that if he joined a new division but could not keep up because of his knee injury, he would be medically separated.

All we could do from far away was to encourage him, give him a little "smack down" and reality check when he was in the midst of a pity party and continually tell him that if he had the inner strength and the deep desire to be a member of the USN, then he had to plug along, day by day until he completed the task.

I won't lie, it was TOUGH on him, on us, on his new bride, but because he had to dig deep within himself and push, push, push himself and rely only on himself for that period of time, it made it a much stronger man.

[mrssauce60]

Thank you TN Navy mom for your response. My son seems to be in and feeling the same way your son did. We have been writing him every day, sometimes twice a day, encouraging him to take this day to day and to stay focused on working through this. Yes, it has been hard on us, but especially for him I know. He was doing very well in his divsion, was a section leader and feeling very strong. This seems to have thrown him for a loop. I didn't realize that he might not go back to a division, but could still finish boot camp and become a sailor. That is good information to know. I am anxious to hear from him again. How frequently was your son able to call you?

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

Sounds familiar. My sailor was a section leader in his division and had written to tell us that we'd be able to see him at PIR because he would be in front as a flag bearer, when he was asmo'd

Our DIL was with us while he was in BC so, she or I heard from him about every 10 days to 2 weeks. Actually, again no news is good news. They will call when they have something to update you with, but if things are just plugging along, they don't call. My son wrote often but we didn't get many phone calls, 3 (I think).

I got to a point that I would almost panic when the phone would ring. Until the Friday afternoon on 4/30 when I was driving back from the bank to my office and my phone rang. I answered to hear his voice just say, "Hey, whatcha doing?" I didn't know if he was hurt again, had finished Battle Stations or was calling to say he'd been separated. I could only say "Hey son, what's up with you, are you okay? Yep. Are you Finished? Yep. You did it? Yep, I did it. Then say it, you have to say it. "Mom, I did it, I'm a Sailor"

He was in RCU with men and women who had been there for months. One had been 7 months in Great Lakes. The Navy recognizes determination and strength. He has to stay strong and so do you.

[mrssauce60]

I know what you mean about the phone. Mine is connected to me now! After your son finished BC, did he go to A school immediately, have liberty or what?

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

He finished BS on 4/30 and went on liberty with some other guys. Went to the Gurnee Mills Mall, ate, walked around, ate, shopped, ate again. He was in THU (Temporary Holding) for about a month before being sent to ship 17 to await transfer to A school. He was in THU long enough to actually phase up to civilian clothes, so again on liberty, he went to the mall and bought 2 tee shirts, 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of basketball shorts.

Since we had NO idea how long he would be there, we didn't even attempt to go up for Liberty PLUS my son is married and our DIL was staying with us. We knew that once he got to Goose Creek he would come home to get her when he got their housing set up. We just waited until then to see him.

[mrssauce60]

Again, thanks for the info. Last night I found the group for Ship 06 on this site. Got a letter from my son today. He is doing better. Working hard, determined to graduate. I am proud of him. I think he is figuring it out and drawing from his inner strenth.

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

So glad mrssauce! Determination and inner strength are huge. My son said that he is so proud of himself now knowing what he had to do to finish. He didn't really realize that he had it in him.