Any New Moms Near Rocky Mount

[Hollyanna]

Looking for any new moms near the Rocky Mount area.  Maybe could share questions, concerns and stories.  My son not in yet, but so hoping to get in.

[Chon's mom]

I'm in Winterville/Greenville/Pitt County. Son has been in for 1 year now, so still kinda new. Would love to be in your group.

[Hollyanna]

Chon's mom--haven't been on much lately. My son still has not taken the ASVAB test yet. Has gone to take 4 different times and 4 different times they have not let him taken it. Always saying the paper work isn't there but no explanation what the problem is. How long did it take your son once he took the test did he go to MEPS. Would love to hear how the processing went with your son. He has not been getting in real answers. Always very vague and doesn't return his phone calls. They don't even call before hand to let him know the paperwork isn't there. He has had 3 different recruiters since March. Surely your son didn't have to go thru this I hope. How often do you get to talk to your son and how has his first year been. What does he do for the Navy?

[Chon's mom]

Sorry, I didn't check your message sooner...Actually Chon took the ASVAB in High School (with an Army recruiter that was pushing him to join). Chon was initially planning to join the Air Force, so they requested his scores and put them in the "system". After 1 year of DEP with the AF, he could not meet their strict weight requiremts, so the Navy recruiter convinced him to join the Navy because he met their requirements and USN promised him his job (the AF would not). The Recruiters in Greenville were NEVER in the office, same experience you're having, etc.,so he went down to Goldsboro Armed Forces offices (all branches next to each other in one area) because the AF base is there, but next door to the AF was the USN. I must say that I was VERY IMPRESSED with the guys in Goldsboro. They came to our house and explained everything, truthfully, not pushy, answered my questions when I called, etc. Chon is a Hospital Corpsman stationed with the Marines in Okinawa, Japan. He loves it over there. However, knowing that he is attached to a Marine unit, there is the possibility of deployment to the sandbox.(Who knows now what North Korea is going to do). But, at least I was informed that as a Corpsman, he would probably end up being attached to the Marines. Unlike, some of the Corpsman recruiters, they did not tell the guys that. This first year has been a huge transformation. Before boot camp, Chon was a little immature and unorganized. The Navy changed all that. He's the opposite now. In addition, he lost 54 pounds in boot camp. I didn't even recognize him at boot camp graduation. Is your son still in high school? Is he being recruited out of Rocky Mt. office? What kind of job does he want? I heard from others that the military (especially the AF and USN) are flooded with recruits due the economy. It took Chon over a year to actually leave, due to there was no opening in his "job". We had to wait until a position became available (someone else discharged or changed jobs). Then the rush was on. Once he got word of the opening, he had only like a hour to decide to take or not. Since he took it, that meant he left for Chicago in 4 days. After waiting so long and working as cook in restaurant, he was ready. They took him to Raleigh MEPS for signing enlistment paperwork in Jan., but he did not leave until May 19. It seemed like forever especially since he had already graduated highschool and wasn't doing too much with his life. Did the 3 recruiters keep changing on him, or did your son switch? Sounds like the office maybe undergoing alot of turnover. Maybe son could go to another city. The Greenville Navy office is pretty good now, but Raleigh may be closer for yall. Just a thought... Anyway, please thank your son for his desire to serve our country. Tammy

[Hollyanna]

My son graduated in 2005 from HS. Tried local community college but didn't stick with it. He really just didn't know what he wanted to do either. He has been working at Pizza in since he was 16. He was a cook in the beginning but now is a shift manager. Likes that better than cook. When he was going to Nash Community off/on I suggested to him USCG. He didn't give it much thought for about a year later. So he started looking into it and was really getting excited but then learn because he had been on medication for AD he had to be off of it for a year before they would even talk to him. Have heard 1 and 2 yrs. for Navy. So he did this successfully, lost weight and learned all he could about CG.. We really were excited but prematurely. At this time, they did a hiring freeze. Sounded like a two yr wait. Now that was hard to swallow after he had done what was told he would need to do. So then he turned his interest to the Navy. The first recruiter was sent to Japan, understood this. Second recruiter would never return calls, my son would show up to take ASVAB and recruiter or anyone else for that matter was there. So he went to office another day and they said must been a communication problem. We saw that he was on FB at the time my son should have been testing. Rescheduled for following week/didn't have paperwork/rescheduled again and third time there was the flood in TN. Fourth time, name was not on roster. My son spoke with chief this time, and chief said he didn't know what problem was but would check into. Have not heard a single word from no one. Not one time has anyone called, my son would make the calls or go by there. I had a friend who told me today that her daughter who was in bootcamp and getting ready for Officer school says there is a hiring freeze for White men at this time. Quota was filled until fiscal yr begins again in Oct. I don't know if my son will hang on that long. He already feels like he has lost over a years time. He says he tired of telling people he is living at home working at Pizza Inn at age 24. Although, he is still immature in many ways he has grown alot also. I feel bad for him. We did get a call into the Senator's office. Someone did call him to get some info. They are going to send him a letter for conscent to talk with Navy. So this is where we are as today. Sorry for the length of this letter but just needed to get off my chest. It has been hard. I knew it was going to be but this is rediculous. If service are asking for honesty we expect the same. We did think about going to another city but you know you shouldn't have too. This is there job I thought. But we will wait it out for a little bit longer. Not to sound ignorant BUT what does a hospital corpsman do? How old is your son? and how often do you get to hear from him.?

[Chon's mom]

Sounds like your son is frustrated, (and I can see why). I had no idea about the race quota thing. There seemed to be a lot of Hispanic guys in when I went to Boot Camp graduation, more than any other races combined. Even 2 years ago when we went to recruiters offices, there were young men always in there (new or soon-to-be recruits). They told me that there is more recruits than good jobs and we would have to wait until October (new fiscal yr.) But, THANK GOD, that was not the case. Since Chon met weekly with his Delayed Entry Program (DEP) team for physical and mental training exercises, the recruiter let him know as soon as a HC position came up. A Hospital Corpsman is the equivalent or better than a RN. Some are surgical techs, dental assistants, physical therapy assistants, EMT's, or like Chon-working on base in a naval hospital giving injections, drawing blood, stitching up laserations, IV lines, administering medications, etc. He really loves his job and I was told by Pitt Community College Director of special programs, that the HC training is more thorough than PCC's RN program. And that once Chon is out of the Navy, he can pretty much choose where he wants to live and work (any hospital would hire him). Chon has wanted to become a Nurse for a long time, but was not ready to even try PCC. He didn't do well in schoolwork. He had an attention problem too, but his dad refused to give him anything for it. So, I'm not sure the time frame for meds. to get out of his system. But, USN will give drug/meds. tests often. What is your son interested in doing in the USN? The are many great opportunities, he may have to wait a little longer, but I would suggest:
1) Go to another recruitment office, if this one doesn't work out.
2) Explore jobs/rates/ what interests your son, so he can have something in mind.
3) Get into the DEP and start PT and MT with other new recruits (also it helped time go by faster).
4) Pray hard!! Trust in the Lord, He knows what & when is best and his timing is always right.
Tammy

[Hollyanna]

Thanks Tammy for your continued support and interest. Spending the weekend with my sister in Southport. Brought my younger son with me. John had to work.
John hasnt had any medication in over a year now. The adderall he was on doesn't take long to get out of his system. He has done really well. He nor I are worried about the drug/meds. test. It is just not an issue with him now.
I spoke to my son about the medical field with the Navy but he was totally not interested. I thought it would be great, knowing that he would be able to find a job more easily when he got out. How long do think you son may stay in? Told my son if he enjoyed it to stay as long as could. Corporate world not what it used to be.
Anne

[Chon's mom]

I told son the same thing-stay in for 20 yrs., but for now he signed up for 6 yrs. I think a couple of those yrs. would be the "reserve/inactive type". My friend's son is a pharmacy tech. that's pretty good, too -no handling blood or anything like that, just medications. I got another friend I met on here during BC that lives near Raleigh, her son is now in the Color Guard (they're the ones you see on TV during funerals, and marches, as well as when the President has special occassions. But after CG, he plans on being a cook in USN. What things interest your son? I'm sure once he gets connected to a good recruiter, they'll help him. Please tell your son not to be discouraged. Don't worry what others think (so what if he's still at home) at least he's not 34, 44, 54, ect. and he knows he wants to serve USA. That alone, makes me respect him more than most of these other kids out here, today. Southport is a nice place. I had a friend in college (1984) from there. Her name was Cindy Lewis and she married John Lowe from Boiling Springs Lake. I think he joined Army and I lost contact with her. Haven't been down there since, but it was a nice town and close to the beaches. I hope you enjoy your time with sister and son. Take care. Tammy