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Comment by JediGrey on November 17, 2014 at 11:35am

pbmcdaniel: I'm jealous! We will be starting this odyssey as you leave. My LO starts class Sunday. Good luck to your LO!

Comment by M's mom on November 16, 2014 at 10:02pm

pbmcdaniel:  My son is an intelligence officer working with a squadron of planes on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.  He works with briefing/debriefing the pilots before/after their missions.  Since the Navy put out a press release recently that the Vinson relieved the USS George Bush in the Persian Gulf, and also announced it on the Vinson's official Facebook page, it is no security breach to say that is where he is. He will be there for many months, but at least I feel he is relatively safe on a carrier.  His wife is staying at his home base at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, near Seattle.  They have only been married for 18 mos, so we are trying to keep in touch and support her. He graduated from OCS in Sept 2012, and was just promoted to Lieutenant JG.  He loves being in the the Navy, so far.   Is your LO going to P'cola for pilot or NFO?

Comment by pbmcdaniel on November 16, 2014 at 9:33pm

Thanks, M's mom!  I just finished packing for our trip to RI on Wednesday.  We are thrilled to finally get to this point.  Our LO has called several times in the past two weeks and is VERY eager to see family.  Tears have been flowing for weeks....will try to hold it together at graduation...just so very proud...you know the feeling.

On to the next step....looks like he is heading to Pensacola for now.  How about your LO?

Comment by M's mom on November 16, 2014 at 8:52pm

pbmcdaniel:  Congrats on your son's upcoming graduation!  You will be bursting with pride. Take tissues, unless you are less emotional than most!  Arrive EARLY to all scheduled events to get good seats.  Enjoy your time in Newport.  If you have extra time, be sure to tour some of those "summer cottages" of the old rich ---"mansions" to us ordinary folks!

Comment by M's mom on November 16, 2014 at 8:40pm

Sylvas,  Read back on this forum as far back as you can.  We have probably answered many of your questions.  As pbmcdaniel wrote, your son's OCS class Facebook group will be very helpful also.  Make sure your son knows your phone number and email address from memory.  His phone will be taken and put in storage as soon as he arrives, so he will not have access to any numbers and email on his phone.  You will get a phone call within 48 hrs of him arriving, and then you probably won't hear from him again, except for snail mail, for the first four weeks until he gets email privileges. The only time they have to write letters is when they could be sleeping the first few weeks, but stress to him how important it will be for you to get even a short letter from him. Send stamps with him.  They will buy stationery there.  Write to him every day, but send letters ONLY in plain white envelopes.  NO musical cards, or decorated envelopes, NO candy, gum etc.  The idea is for his mail to not draw the attention of the Drill Instructor!!   They will be punished with extra pushups and running if they are sent any "contraband" (anything other than letters) until week nine; then they can receive a goodie box from home.  Make sure everyone you give your son's mailing address to knows this, so they don't innocently get your son in trouble by sending contraband!  OCS is stressful for the candidate and their family, but you will be SO PROUD at graduation!

Comment by PAW on November 16, 2014 at 8:32pm

Hi Sylvas - as pbmcdaniel stated, get on your LO's class facebook page.  This group helped out a lot, and it was so cool to get to meet  all the other families you had laughed & cried with (all over fb) in person at the graduation!   Also, it is so important to send letters those first 3 weeks.  I made sure there was one in the mail everyday (from parents, siblings, grandparents, etc) so he would receive something in the mail almost everyday. Also, expect to hear sadness, confusion, and regrets coming from your LOs mouth/letters, especially the first few weeks.  Encourage him that he will make it through - be strong - then cry after you get off the phone.  He will need you to believe in him, because there will be a lot of times he won't believe in himself.  It is a tough 12 weeks for all involved, which makes the graduation ceremony so much sweeter.

Comment by pbmcdaniel on November 16, 2014 at 1:46pm

Hi, Sylvas,

Our LO graduates this Friday.  The best connection for us has been the 03-15 Facebook page. We have met the other families and the information posted in the files has been awesome!  I wrote to my LO everyday, and he mentioned that he read and reread the letters especially in the beginning when things were extremely tough.  At least once a week, I enclosed a stamped, self-addressed envelope so it would be easy for him to respond....and he did! Best of luck, prayers for your son and your family.

Comment by JediGrey on November 16, 2014 at 10:24am

My son leaves for OCS next week. Any tips for his mom?

Comment by Anna on November 10, 2014 at 11:21pm

PAW,

Pensacola is a neat place.  My daughter went through training there and now is in Oklahoma City.  I got to visit her in P'Cola and we had a blast!!!  She had a nice apartment not far from the back gate!!

Comment by PAW on November 8, 2014 at 2:20pm

Anna, he is in Pensacola.  Just got off the phone with him.  He and another NFO just rented an apartment, and he was at Target trying to figure out what to buy...wishing I was there with him!!!

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