Comment

Comment by Anna on February 22, 2009 at 10:08pm

OH Ellen,

What a cool picture!!!! Did they all have fun hanging out together??
Welcome back - we missed you!!! I'll make catching up a little easier for you - - - just read my posts!!! ha ha ha just kidding ladies!!!!!
Anna

Comment by Anna on February 22, 2009 at 9:39pm

Mary,
I got the same info from ChrisA tonight. With President's Day (Monday) off and then the sea duty medical on Tuesday, they didn't get started on 5 until Wednesday. He said they take the test on Monday and then start 6. ChrisA is watching out for Wes Christopher to join their class!!!!!!
Anna

Comment by Anna on February 22, 2009 at 9:37pm

Rene,

OK now you have me laughing!! I had a whole different explanation for the TAS when I read through your post. And it wasn't tired and starving when I read it!!!!
I'm with you in the PJs and popcorn - how about a glass of wine with that????
Anna

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 22, 2009 at 9:30pm

Valerie, I spoke with Chris briefly this afternoon and he says that tomorrow they are having their test on Unit 5. I guess they start Unit 6 tomorrow after the test or Tuesday.

Anna, Thanks for helping with the officer stuff. I'm with you on the Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral, something Admiral. I'm so glad that I don't have to salute anyone. My hand would be going up and down all day, I'd be saluting the DEPpers! I know that when you can't see the black on the bill of their combo cover for all the gold, you better salute! And Yeah I think kids will take little jabs at adults when given the chance...way to tell all Ctherine!

Comment by Anna on February 22, 2009 at 8:07pm

Valerie,
Yes my little kid - - - - threw me under the bus!!! If you don't mind my asking - what have they been having Wes do all this time he is waiting? Does he still get to sit in with his old class? If so, he will certainly have an advantage when he does get back in a class. Plus knowing what happens when you don't pass a unit, I doubt he will let himself get back in that position again.
And I certainly understand how hard it is to turn off the worrying. If any mom ever figures out the solution to that I hope she shares. It's kind of funny - I went through so much worrying over Christopher when he went in the first time - all through bootcamp and AO A school in Pensacola. When he went on his first deployment to the Gulf I thought I was going to have a heart attack. We were still living in GA then and I was working at the high school. I kept up with every news report there was about the status of the war. And the second one wasn't much better especially when he told me about what he had volunteered for. Then when he decided to get out and get a police job in CO I went through a whole new set of worries. Boy that kid gave me enough grey hairs to keep a hairdresser set for life!!! But now that he's in this school I don't worry about him as much as I used to. I just keep checking on him as far as how he's doing in class and such. Maybe that's because Catherine is the one that has me waking up in a cold sweat, or laying awake staring at the ceiling for hours instead of sleeping!!! I guess another hairdresser will be set for life!!!! I keep going over and over what I want to say to her this weekend and then change my mind because I don't want to push her further away!!!! I just pray for God's wisdom because I sure don't have the answers!!!
Oh Well - we keep trying . . . Anna

Comment by Anna on February 22, 2009 at 5:39pm

Oh and there is also a way to go up through the enlisted ranks to become an officer by going the warrent officer way. Takes a long time though!!!

Comment by Anna on February 22, 2009 at 5:30pm

Good Afternoon Ladies,
Glad to see everyone is doing well. Lots of good news on our boys. How are our girls doing?
Valerie,
I wish I kept track of the dates when Chris left Great Lakes to report to Dam Neck but it was early in January. I think he left on the 7th to go to CO to get his car, and reported to Dam Neck on that following Monday. Supposedly, he was going to start school that Monday. Now maybe Mary can remember what date they actually started school but it was at least two weeks after he got there. I remember his complaining about all this waiting to get into a class. So I'm thinking there aren't any other classes between where Wes is now and the class of Chrises coming up. So maybe he will have to wait another week. I have such a hard time keeping track of all these units but Chris and Chris should be starting Unit 5???? Does Wes know he might have to change his name??!!!!!!! There is a price to pay to get into that class you know!!!! he-he

I'll also pass along some officer info - Officer ranks go O1, O2, etc... just like enlisted. Even if you have a four year degree you do not automatically become an officer. You have to go through officer candidate school (OCS) unless your degree is through the academy or a NROTC program from the start. If you go in as an enlisted, then get your degree you just put in for OCS. But they all come out as an Ensign. Then they go up through promotions to LTJG (Lieutenant Junior Grade), (LT) Lieutenant, LTCD (Lieutenant Commander), CDR (Commander), Captain, and then the Admirals. It's interesting that since I was in during Vietnam the Admiral ranks have changed and I have to admit I don't know their order. My husband was a LTJG when he got out but by the time they processed his paperwork (which was years later) he had been promoted to a LT. He didn't even know it!!!!

And I do have to tell a cute story - yes, I was enlisted and Steve was an officer and we were dating quietly on the side. A few people knew but luckily we had a cool command and we didn't get in trouble. We did wait until we were both out before we got married tho'. So when our daughter Catherine was going through the DEP lectures and such the recruiters are telling all the Deppers that they have to avoid fratenizing and Catherine says "oh, you mean like my mom and dad!!!!!" The recruiters just stood there with their mouths open!!! MY BAD!!! Anna

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 22, 2009 at 11:43am

I suppose what I'm asking is when a student comes out of a college NROTC program they exit as an officer, since the Reservists may have already concluded their Active Duty obligations would they also exit a 4 year NROTC program as an officer?
I don't know the Navy's rank for that but it's similar to a NJROTC Lt. Junior Grade (JG) I think. But I don't know if there is such a thing in the Navy as a LT 3rd class or LT 2nd class. I believe if they graduate from Annapolis they come out as LTCommander which I think would be an LT1. Maybe one of these more experienced moms can tell us.
I was just wondering about the difference in the obligation period for the Reserves and how it effects the rank when they exit college, if they also go back to thier Reserve duties as an officer or if they can then go full time Navy as an officer. Did any of that make any sense?

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 22, 2009 at 2:22am

Barbara, I had to go back a long way but Ellen's last post before she left says her sister had stem cell transplant. That was one of the places she was going during this past week.

Valerie, I'm so glad you will stay with us! I know it will seem a little different when he gets back home and is usually doing a civilian job but with the clearances in place and his advanced training maybe Wes could do a government job? Or do you think he will take his bonus and go on to school? Oh the choices these guys and gals have now. This at least opens doors and new possibilities for each of them.

Rene, I know you said Jared is working with someone at the base to help him find a job after "C" school. Do you think that if he does not like the offers he may return to school? Since they are already Reservists and therefor officially sailors already, do you know if there is any advantage to them going to a college or university that has an ROTC program? Can the Reservists also come out of college as LT. JG?
Valerie, before I forget, if Anna has not told you, my Chris said last week that they were up to I believe 19 in the class because they had added a couple of people when they got to the third week. Unit 4? I know somebody posted how the weeks/units are divided up but now I don't remember. So there is hopefully space in their class for Wes to join. Yipee!! Maybe when Chris gets back tomorrow evening to study he can look at the roster for the week. I don't know if they added anyone to the class this week or not.

Comment by Mary (Chris' mom) on February 22, 2009 at 12:26am

Valerie, I'm not sure where our guys are as far as the unit number but there is at least one more class almost right behind theirs. One of the other moms here who writes to me occasionally (Wendy), her son Jason is I believe just one week behind the Chris class. And then there is Sabrina who we not heard from in a few weeks whose son Joe is two weeks behind Jason I guess. It's hard to tell since some of the moms come on and then don't keep everyone posted. I do know that Jason did in fact class up so he's not far behind.
Wes should have a couple of opportunities coming along within the next couple of weeks. It would be really great though if he could get in with ChrisA and ChrisM. (If I have to keep this up forever would you ladies remind me every now and then what my son's last initial really is?)

So Valerie and Rene, ya'll are planning to stay with us after your guys return home,... right? Like you're not going off to the Reservist discussion and forget us? Do I sound as if I'm begging? Oh well, then I suppose I am a little. Once an IM, always an IM!!

Anna, I would have been on a little earlier but I was catching up on some other emails. I emailed you just a few minutes ago in fact. One of the mom from Chris' bc has been so busy lately. She had time to get an email to me about her trip to Charleston last weekend so I took advantage of her down time to shoot off a rather long email back.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 225
• 226
• 227
• 228
• 229
• …
• 247
• Next ›
• Page