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Comment by JudyM on April 17, 2012 at 5:28pm

Navy wife and mom, thanks for the info on SERE. Mine has not gone yet, still in Intermediate in Kingsville. Your point that the Navy does not want them to fail at this point is well taken. Thanks.

Comment by Barb on April 17, 2012 at 7:22am

Pedsdoc, I know exactly what you mean on the SERE thing--I didn't sleep for two nights after reading just the wikipedia page!  I just try not to think about it now.  No one ever mentioned that before commissioning so it was news to me.  My husband keeps telling me that if they've been making everyone go through it for years and years that it must be a good thing and he'll be fine..  But it makes me cry to think about it. 

I hope everything works for the timing of your son's wedding.  Lots of milestones at your house!

Comment by JudyM on April 16, 2012 at 9:56am

Pedsdoc, the book that mamadoc suggested is good. My son won't wing (also jets) till next January. You will have to tell me how it goes. Have a great time.

Comment by Kathy on April 12, 2012 at 6:25pm

Ohhhh!!! SERE!!! I still have to get through that (seriously, thinking about it is probably worse for me than for my DS). He is finishing up the RAG (jets) and then has SERE - they postponed it after his winging so that he would look okay for his wedding. :o) He's not worried about it - I am. I keep reminding myself that they all get through it, and maybe that first week or two or three of OCS was harder... made it through that, so I guess "we" can make it through SERE.

Comment by Marianne on April 12, 2012 at 1:58pm

True, SERE seems to vary. My guy did it between intermediate and advanced - late October in Maine- BRRR.

Leslie, hope Brian is doing well. My Conor lost almost 15 lbs., and he was thin to start. At least he came home with nothing worse than cuts and bruises. It is a tremendous accomplishment for them psychologically; even the guy in Conor's squad who had a concussion that grounded him for three months told me that he was proud of himself for completing. It may be very hard, but I think that it really gives them extra confidence that will help in any emergency.

Whenever I hear of SERE, I think of a good friend who went through it years ago in the South. He remembered that you could get nourishment and fluid from raw yucca, but forgot that it had to be peeled. Frank still gets teased about torturing himself because it took the doctor hours to get all the splinters out of his mouth and throat!

Good luck to Brian and those coming up later!

Comment by Barb on April 11, 2012 at 3:08pm

Leslie,

Thank you for the info, that's super helpful.  You certainly have a lot of experience between all your sons and are a great resource for all of us...at what point do they go to SERE? I hope all your boys are doing well.

My son just passed his check ride and solo yesterday, so we're really pleased for him.  One step closer! 

Sunriseglow-warm thoughts to you and your family.  Hospice was very helpful to our family when my mother passed away a few years ago.  It was very difficult but comforting to have everyone share that time together. 

Comment by Marianne on April 10, 2012 at 3:01pm

Dear Barb:

I'm not certain about CC, but I wouldn't be surprised because we are staying in one at Atsugi this winter. My guy describes his rental house as "big for a Japanese house", but I don't think he' and his roomate will have room for 4 more people.

You can check out all the available locations at www.navy-lodge.com. They even have pictures and locations. Most are off-base due to security, but they are all nearby. We stayed in the one at Norfolk, which was more like a nice Holiday Inn than P'Cola. It was less than  mile from the gates.

I'd also suggest the DOD's listings: www.dodlodging.com. We have good friends who are retired Army (I don't blame them for the wrong service branch), and they have stayed at places all over the US and Europe.

The only requirement is that your LO makes the reservation and is there at check-in. You can pay by credit card when you leave. Hope you find a nice place at CC.

Comment by Barb on April 10, 2012 at 12:51pm

Hi Marianne,

Wow, I didn't know about the Navy Lodge!  I wish we'd have done that...I knew there was a big campground but didn't know we could have stayed in that kind of place.  We had a great time though, in a condo on the beach, just spent a little more time in the car between his place and ours than I'd have liked.  Are other bases like that too?  Like NAS Corpus Christie?  Just wondering...

Comment by Marianne on April 10, 2012 at 11:38am

Welcome to a great group, pedsdoc. This has been invaluable to me for all the experienced help and suggestions. My guy is now in Japan (his 1st choice), on his first deployment. He did NROTC and then straight to P'Cola for primary and intermediate. Hope they are more organized now - there was a lot of "hurry up and wait" as they finished one class and had to wait for the next to open up. Just be prepared!

I agree with the others that P'Cola ia gorgeous. If you can make it down there. have your son book you in the navy Lodge. It is an unbelievable bargain (we paid less than $70 per night) and is beautiful. Right on the bay with furnished kitchenettes, too.

It's one of the very few "open bases" (anyone with a driver's license can get on, even without your DS), probably due to the museum. Again, be prepared to have a rapid schedule change; my guy had to fly all day on the Saturday we were there, even tho he wasn't on the roster. It worked out okay because I went to a great fresh seafood store where you literally get stuff right off the boats and made a huge dinner for him and a group of friends, but it was disappointing not to spend the whole time with him. That's Navy life! 

Again, welcome aboard!

Comment by Barb on April 10, 2012 at 8:40am

Welcome Pedsdoc...I'm so glad that the car accident wasn't more serious.  We were fortunate to be in P'cola this past week visiting our DS and by Friday it was getting really busy with holiday travelers.  The weather was wonderful and his schedule ended up being cooperative so we were able to spend time (never enough!) with him.  Our DS is finishing up IFS and I feel like a mom with a student in driver's education again--my heart's in my throat and I listen for the phone all the time!  We have a family friend who is former NASA and she keeps assuring me that he will be one of the best trained pilots in the world...I hold that thought close.  Prayers and positive thoughts to all!

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