Ship 9 Div 145

[CMD]

I just heard from my son's recruiter that he is in Ship 9 Div 145.  He left for bootcamp on March 14.  I would love to chat with others in the same group.  I received the box of clothes on Monday, and he had written a little note which I was happy to read.  This has been harder than I expected but after a week I am not so weepy like I was at first.

[Sharon]

My husband began basic on the 14th as well, I got his box of clothes yesterday (Tuesday) but have heard nothing else!

[CMD]

Sharon,

My son gave me his recruiter's card, and I emailed him today and asked if he had the address yet.  I think they can look it up pretty easily; otherwise you have to wait for your husband's letter.  Try it!

Caroline

[Jessica]

The recruiters have always told me they would rather someone to call so they get any info they need/want quickly because thats what they are there for is to help. So if you want it quickly I'm sure they don't mind if you just call :0)

[lemonelephant]

Join the group, PIR 05/11/2012 (clickable link), to connect with others who are training with your SR.  Another mom has gotten her form letter and confirmed that Division 145 is in that TG. 

[Sharon]

I talked to my husbands recruiters and they told us that they havent gotten any addresses at their offices for recruiters in the last 6 months, and that I could call and see if they have it, but I will wait til my hubby sends it in the mail!  Still waiting on the formal letter as well! But we also live only 3-4 hours from Great Lakes, so it's not like my hubby is across the US

[Donna]

Hi Caroline,

My son Andrew is in Ship 9 Div 145 also.  Like you I received the box earlier this week and today his letter came.  I didn't get a little note from him though.  I can't wait to see him.  I did cry the first two days more then I've cried  in my life, but thankfully after a week things are much easier. 

I wonder if they know each other.  Keep me posted. 

donna

 

 

[Donna]

Hi Caroline,

Garrett seems to be alot like my son Andrew.  Andrew went off to college for two years switching his major twice and by the end of the second year wasn't sure that he wanted to keep going in that major.  He told us that he would not be going back to college and would be going to the Navy.  In his own words he said the reason was that he wanted to get more discipline and give himself a chance to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.  Pretty hard to agrue with that.  I had from June 2011 until March 14 2012 to wrap my heart around this new plan.  I am very proud of Andrew for wanting to serve his country, grow up, get discipline etc....  but wish I could drop in from time to time and visit him. lol

Andrew signed up as an Undesignated seaman E-3.  The recruiter basically told Andrew what your recuriter told Garrett.  This lets him try out several jobs before picking.  He also said when you go in as an E-3 you will have to pick something quickly as you can't stay there long.

 

Have you made your plans for graduation yet?  We have.  We'll be flying out of NY (we live in CT) and will be staying at the Courtyard Marriott.

Please drop me a line when you have a minute.

[CMD]

Hi Donna,

Our sons have the same job and rate(?) E-3.  He got E-3 for being an Eagle Scout.  That is interesting about them having to choose something quickly, I hadn't heard that.  It took months of him working with the recruiter before he was accepted, which surprised us.  He quit his summer job in August so he could attend a long family reunion, and planned to sign up and go in September...but not so easy.  Our other kids are at college so he ended up being a real help around the house while he waited to hear.  He volunteered at a thrift shop and took the time to get in shape, and we had a lot of fun.  I do miss him but am glad he is finally on track.

My husband (Garrett's stepdad) and I are going for graduation.  We are flying up early and visiting my husband's hometown in Wisconsin where we plan to retire, Marinette, which is north of Green Bay.  He doesn't retire for several years but we are already looking and I haven't been up there much so we are using this opportunity to do a little sight-seeing as well.  For graduation we plan to stay on base at the Inn, but have not reserved anything yet. 

I am guessing (from reading posts on this site) that since our sons are continuing at Great Lakes that they will get a pass for the whole weekend.  If so we may plan to go to Chicago Saturday and spent the night in town someplace. When are you planning to go back home?

Caroline

[Donna]

Oh..... my husband had read somewhere that Andrew probably wouldn't be around on Sunday something about him having to go off to school so we made reservations to fly out Saturday night.  But don't go by me,  we probably have that all wrong!   I hope I haven 't messed up our return flight!   @#(%?

They have an Inn on the base?

 

The only thing I know about Wisconsin is that there are alot of people living there with my last night.(which is not a common name at all)  lol    My husband and I plan on trading our travel trailer in for a larger trailer and drive around the United States.  I tease my children and say when I'm not crusing the US, I'll park it in their driveway and just free load off them.  That's why I need both of them to get there act together.  lol

 

 

 

[CMD]

Hi Donna,

We have an RV as well and the only way I agreed to retire in Wisconsin is if we went south for a few months in the winter.  I am from Tennessee but have lived in Texas most of my life and I am done with the heat/humidity, so living in a beautiful green place that is cool and has four seasons sounds great.

The inn on the base is only for military/dependents.  Not sure how it will be, the military hotels I have seen vary from dirty and overcrowded with noisy kids to really nice.  Us Army folks hear that the Navy accommodations are better than ours.  My husband has been in the Army 29 years and is a colonel, so he thinks that will help get us one of the better rooms if they have such a thing.  He is a dentist but has been in command for years so he calls himself an 'adminodontist' lol. We have been married for 8 years and have 4 kids between ages of 19-21.  It was a shock learning the 'Army life' because I had no family in the military at all, but I have loved it.  It is truly a job and a lifestyle that is shared by the whole family.

I am not sure at all about what happens after graduation.  Somewhere on here was a post saying if the recruit was staying at great Lakes which I think the PACT Seamen do, then they have 48 hour leave and have to report back Sunday evening.  I will try and find the thread.

Caroline 

[cjg]

Good morning! I googled ship 9 division 145 and got to this site. My son left on March 14 and is with your family, too. How exciting to be able to converse with you all! Just like this site explains, that box was the hardest thing to get, but it opened up the grieving process for the realization that he is gone now. The tears are coming a little right now, but they are happy tears for him.  He has talked about being in the navy since he was six years old. I remember his third grade teacher calling me and wondering if something was wrong with him because he read every military book in the grade school library already. I guess that was highly unusual.  lol I wish I could talk to her now. My husband and I are looking forward to the first phone call. Probably  next week? One more thing- we have a future son in law that is a submariner. He Loves his job.

Thanks for this site-

Cathy

 

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

cig   here is the link to your PIR group lots of info and support there

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir-05112012