What happens with new junior officers?

[spensmom]

My son commissions in May from ROTC.  I have gotten some helpful feedback from ROTC Moms and was looking for further info. from more Moms about what happened with their own when they were newly commissioned, how things went for them, how difficult is it, etc?  thanks for any feedback.

[shortymom]

My son was commission on May 15, 2009, graduated on May 17, 2009 and left the states on June 7, 2009. On June the 10th he was aboard ship in Japan. He spent 3 months on ship. He did not get back to his base until September. He was on base about a week and then they were back out to sea for a month. He then was back on land about three weeks for classes and then they were back to sea until just before Christmas. He took a few days of leave and traveled a little. He is very much to go by himself and do what he wants to do. So he has been gone for about 8 months and out of that time he has spent about 6 1/2 months at sea. He is now an operations officers on a destroyer. He likes it. He has had good and bad times, great days and really awful days. No different than we go through. Your sons experience will be different than mine but in the end they grow up, get responsible and live just like we do. We do miss him. He calls us once in a while on skype, nice and e-mails when he gets time.

That probably doesn't help but nothing did for me either.

[spensmom]

It does help to know what happens with them. Wow, sure sounds like they keep busy. It is especially interesting as my son is interested in going to Japan. Does your son live on base? How easy/difficult is it to get housing in Japan?

[shortymom]

He got an apartment. I don't think officers can live on base, only enlisted. I am not sure about that but I think that is the way it is. He had an apartment at school his last year so he had a little furniture and they came in one day, packed everything and shipped everything to Japan for him. Anything he did not need for the first few months was packed and shipped to Japan. What civilian clothes he thought he would need and all his uniforms stayed with him and went on the plane with him to Japan. He picked Japan. He wanted to go overseas and that was a sure thing. He's been to many different ports in the last 8 months and has had a lot of duty and training, which is also what he wanted. He is supposed to be their approx. 21 months and then he will come back to the states for nuclear training. Also what he wanted. Hopefully your son knows what he wants and what it takes to get it. If you want to know anything else, just ask.

Dan's mom, Vickie

[1stpenny aka Gail]

My son comissioned Dec.09. The ship he picked was in need of an officer. He was the first one to leave. All the rest who commissioned are still at the ROTC unit at school. They workk there until they are ready for them. They have a lot to do with paper work, IDs etc. My son reported in on Jan. 4th to do 2 weeks of school. He was then deployed. He will look for an apartment when he gets back. They are suppose to get and I think 10 days to find a place so they can have there stuff shipped to there apt. My son did not have the time to do that so we are storing his stuff. They can't live on base. They get extra money for housing costs. As the time gets closer for comissioning they will get all the information.

[shortymom]

My son did not get the chance to look for an apartment until he got back from sea, which was three months. He had a week to get the apartment and move in and then they went back to sea. He is settled now and really likes it and is really glad to have a place to come home to after being at sea for months. He's grown up a lot but we still worry about him. That never changes.

[spensmom]

You are right.......it never changes. A friend of mine said to me the other day, "I guess I'll have to die before I stop worrying about my kids." I told her I thought that was correct.

[spensmom]

Gail,
Is he on a base in the U.S.? He went quickly! Did he have many choices on "the list"? My son has told me that ROTC students have a list to choose from for their assignment.

[1stpenny aka Gail]

Hi, I am so sorry that I haven't been on here but have been really busy. Yes, they get a list. They give you a number depending I believe on your grades, throughout the country. Since my son graduated in Dec. it was a lot better. You wait and watch to see who picks what. My son picked Surface Warfare. The summer cruises really helped him decide what he wanted to do. He did a lot of research on the different ships. The newer ones versuses the older ones. Yes, he had a lot of them to choose from and where he wanted to be stationed. 1st it was Hawaii, 2nd calif. 3rd Norfolk. He loved the USS MESA VERDE so he selected Norfolk and the MV. Like I said a lot of research. Which is better East coast, West coast. He loves it. He made the right decision, he said. I just talked to him yesterday, they made there first port. Its hard work not much sleep, but enough and pretty good food. Good Luck and I hope he gets what he wants.

Gail

[spensmom]

Thank you, Gail. I like the idea of the research. I know that my son has done some of it at least. That is one of the reasons he would like Japan. He says that he knows you work very hard there but can also get your SWO pin quicker. He also says that to be in Japan gives you a better chance of getting a lateral transfer if you so desire. I will pass along the idea of doing research on individual ships.
How long has your son been in? All the best to you and your son.

[1stpenny aka Gail]

Talked to my son when he pulled into port the other day. He also checked out Japan. He said it depends on what ship your son chooses. He said keep in mind that in May, everyone is graduating. If he gets a ship, and if that ship is doing things depends how quickly he gets his quals done. My son ship is out for 7mos. so he is getting his quals done. He did say, its extremly hard. He is a second division officer. He is a jr. He is a newbee, so everything is on him. As in get me this get me that, along with doing his job. He is lucky, the co really likes him and is teaching him a lot. He as already driven the ship. Along with checking on his crew he stands a lot of watches and then there is studing. He said he loves it. The day goes by so fast. My son graduated in Dec and then left for Norfolk. Did 2 weeks of school and deployed. He was the only one that left out of his commisioning class. They are still up at school working until they hear from there sponser, xo, or co to tell them to report and then they wait till there orders arrive. Gosh, all the best to your son and you. If you need anything let me know. Please keep in touch, I will tell you its very hard for a mom. They have not much time to talk or e-mail you. I talked to him everyday when he was in school and he was only 3 hrs away by car, so I went from that to nothing in a matter of 2 weeks. Good Luck Gail

[VTnavymom]

Gail, we live in Virginia Beach, so if you need anything closer to the time your son gets home, send me a message - info on hotels, etc. is all on the web, but sometimes it's nice to have a contact in a new place!

[spensmom]

Gail, Thank you so much for this info. My son is only 1 hour away at school. I completely understand what you are saying and I know this is going to be difficult to have so little contact so suddenly. I told him he was going to have to bear with my calling him more this semester since we were going from easy contact to very little. It makes me very sad. I miss him already. He is also an only child which makes it tough.
I will pass along what your son said. He is appreciating all this info. from N4M's. :)