Comment

Comment by BunkerQB on February 22, 2009 at 3:05pm

Dear Katie - my son is a nuke officer on a sub, currently at Pearl Habor. He is the newest & youngest officer. He works endless hours. I am continually amazed at how fast he is adapting to the demands of his profession. He is doing well. In my profile, I noted that he has observed that life as a sailor (doesn't matter the specialty) is hard on the wives and children. With that in mind, I encourage you to reach out to members of this community for support. From his comments, I know that the guys on the submarine know acutely the important moments they have lost with their love ones. Knowing that you are doing well and handling the separation well will be instrumental in HIS well being. I know my son volunteers to take watch assignments on holidays so his fellow officer who are married can have more time with the families. On a lighter note, he said that a number of the wives are trying to set him up with dates. He is tall, dark, athletic and handsome with a great education and a future ahead of him. He is going to be a great husband and father. I can't wait to have grandchildren but I am keeping my thoughts to myself - don't want to scare him off. My son did his OCS in Pensacola, graduated in March of '07, went to Nuke Power School in Charleston, SC, then Prototype in Balston Spa, NY, finally sub school in Groton, CT. We attended his OSC graduation. I have some fantastic videos of various ceremonies. What a thrill! Make sure his parents and family members attend. It will be a chance of a lifetime. OSC was the most difficult thing my son had ever gone through physically. He was Athletic of the Year 3 years in a roll in high school. If it was hard on him, I can't imagine what it would be like for guys who are not use to exercise. He has been in Hawaii since October. We don't expect to see him anytime soon. With you medical school studies, you will probably be pretty busy yourself (probably a good thing). What do you think your specialty will be in medicine? Since this is a new for my husband and myself, we don't have a backlog of experience to share with you. Whenever you are "down", close your eyes and visualize the many hands extending their support to you - we are just a click away.

Comment by Diane2557 on February 22, 2009 at 2:16pm

Hi Katie - I concur with Robin's comments. My son married his college sweet-heart one week after he graduated so she could go with him to API in Pensacola. I am so in awe of her, what she has brought to my son's life. and what she has personally accomplished. She was 100% behind him in what he was doing and continues to do. They're currently living in WA state where he his a jet pilot and will be going on his first cruise sometime this fall. I think she's a wonderful role-model. While an elementary school teacher, they did not arrive in time to secure a teaching job. So, she's currently subbing in schools to get known and hope that in May she'll be accepted for a full-time position. She's taking sewing lessons to have a hobby to productively fill some of her time. She, too, as Robin mentioned has her family (unfortunately, we'll all here in GA) and her faith. But also important, she is forming a personal network of other military wives ... to do things and share things with, to cry and laugh with, and be there for each other. Good luck to you, Katie and welcome to the group.

Comment by Paymaster on February 17, 2009 at 10:49pm

Andrea....I for one would like to thank your for your wonder service helping all our service poeple that pass through airports while on duty.

I have stopped numerous time in the USO lounge at DFW to do nothing more than to make a donation to the fund jar.

Whenever I stop there is always the most friendly volunteer manning the lounge.

Having grown up in the Marine Corp, marrying a Air Force Sgt and sending our son off to the Navy, I of all value all that the USO does for those that service.

Bravo Zulo!

Jody

Comment by BunkerQB on February 17, 2009 at 4:43am

Good morning (12:17 am PST) to other Moms of Officers: My son is a Nuke officer on a sub. He graduated from college with a degree in EE and decided to join the Navy. Graduated from OCS in Pensacola in April 07, went to Nuke school in SC, then NY for Prototype, followed by sub school in Groton. I am amazed and proud of his unselfish desire to serve his country. We have not seen him since October. We are in CA, he is in HI. We speak often - weekly, whenever he can call. They work him pretty hard, since he is the JO but he has no complaints. Well, a few but they are not any different than work adjustment issues that I faced when I was young. He seems to be handling things very well. In fact more than well, he is thriving. He does indicate that life is tougher for the guys who are married. He sees the stress on the family life. He has developed a compassion for his co-workers at an earlier age than I would have expected and I believe it is due to the rigors of the job and the "small group" dynamics of member of his boat. While many of his high school and college friends are out in the professional world and are self supporting, I can't think of any who is currently involved in any professional endeavor that is remotely as demanding as being an officer on a sub. Just the hours alone would be more than most could/would handle. We hope to see him soon.

Comment by Growlermom711 on February 10, 2009 at 4:54pm

My son is not an academy grad- he came through ROTC. I guess he had a better experience because for the most part he loves the Navy. That's not to say he agrees with everything that happens, but there is a right way to be heard, and like we have in our jobs, it isn't always going to be easy or fair. Keep in mind the military lifestyle is very demanding and not easy, and if your son has determined that maybe it isn't what he wants, there is nothing wrong with that.

Comment by Growlermom711 on February 10, 2009 at 3:30pm

As an officer mom of 9 years, I have had a few phone calls where my son needed to unload. As said before by others, sometimes they just need you to listen. Very often they have no one else who wants to hear their gripes and as parents, we have become their sounding board. They do get over it, and often come up with a way to avoid the same situation happening again. Just be there, and suggest they follow the proper chain of command. Remember, they are adults, and leaders of others! Don't get discouraged.

Comment by Paymaster on February 10, 2009 at 2:53pm

All....I am a long time Officer mom, 8 years. I have found as many others have that we can only listen to our children and be their sounding board. They know they can come to us unconditional and blow off steam and we will not judge them, just accept them. As mentioned by others we are not there when things happen.

Often the command are hardest on those that they know will become outstanding officers, so they push them harder than the others, because they know they can take it and will later put the experience to good use later. Often they want them to experience difficult situations in a control enviroments to see how they react. They don't want to wait until they are on the frontline to see how they react to "not eating for a day".

I know from experience that they must experience difficult things during their training as young officers, so that they can go forward and use that experience to lead other men and women.

Our children would not be officers if they where not in the top 2% of our nations youth. They are a future leaders, the can do anything they set their minds too!

I am not saying there are not bad officers, but you face that same problem in the civil world. We have all had a bad manager or ceo two in our career. All we can do is ask if they have followed their chain of command or looked to their references for guidence.

Like so many have said before. We get the call when they are upset, then we don't hear anything for a day or too and when we do hear from them again, the situation has a different directions.

From a mom with one of the frontline in Afghanistan, knowing he is having to do the tough stuff and knowing that his upbringing and Navy training will see his through. Best to all, god bless.
Jody G

Comment by Sherry James on February 10, 2009 at 1:58pm

Nancy, we as parents have to try to better understand the times we in, the type of job our adult children signed up for and be supportive without over simplifying things for them. They are all young adults and in the case of our officers, they had a few options to choose from and they chose Navy.

Now I've never been in the military but I do know that they have been at this for a while and most, if not all, of what they do has a very good reason. And those reasons include preparing the sailors for what lies ahead as Chris has already mentioned. They have to be tough men & women to adapt and thrive, especially at war times. Please consider supporting your son in a way that does not negate his superior officers. And be patient because they have "bad' days at the office just like we do. And they move past it, just like we do.

I hope I've stated this with love and understanding as I meant it, from one caring Navy mom to another.

Comment by Sherry James on February 9, 2009 at 2:13pm

Vicki, I just viewed the mom song (in the video portion of this website) and it was cute and so funny. What a hoot for anyone who has ever raised children. Definitely worth a look see.

Also may want to check out my video post of "USNA "24" spoof-- also cute!

Comment by KatK on February 8, 2009 at 4:07am

My son just graduated, is an ensign and will be starting Nuke School in the next week. Any other Nuke moms out there?

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