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Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 14, 2009 at 10:37am

Hello Hello everyone!
I wanted to pop in and give my report on graduation (DF just graduated over the weekend).
Everything was absolutely wonderful for graduation- the weather didn't exactly cooperate, we ended up having our grad run canceled and having the ceremony indoors, but it was still wonderful. Thursday morning started things off with a change of command ceremony, where the graduating class hands over responsibilities to the class below them. Then Thursday night is the "Hi Mom's" reception. Each class decides where to have it- ours was held on base at the Officers Club with a full buffet dinner and a cash bar. It was a really, really nice evening. I got to meet DF's drill instructor and actually had a really nice chat with her- it was nice to be able to talk with her and thank her for all the work she'd put into the class. She had a wonderful personality- she even gave me a high five ;). They showed a slideshow of pictures of all the guys and girls in the class, and the DI even demonstrated how much control she had over the class by putting them on their faces ;).
Friday morning they demonstrated their chow hall procedures bright and early at 5:30AM- it was fun to be able to watch, even though I'd seen it before. Then we had the actual graduation/commissioning. I definitely cried! We were lucky enough to have the Secretary of the Navy as our guest speaker- he was fantastic, he introduced himself to all the families, shook our hands, and then got pictures with each and every candidate. The ceremony was inside because it was rainy, but I would expect as it starts to get colder, most of your ceremonies will be indoors as well. The ceremony with first salutes took about two hours total.
After graduation, we had to get DF moved out of his room and checked into SWOS, and then he was ours! The two of us were actually EXHAUSTED (I had stayed with him for the week before and had been getting up early to do things like drive him back, meet him for breakfast, etc.) so we spent most of the afternoon relaxing and getting him some civilian clothes- none of his fit anymore! Then for dinner we went to the Red Parrot- it's a fantastic resturant, it had something for everyone- DF and I aren't seafood fans but his family is, so they were able to get their seafood while we could get our normal food ;). The food was great and the portions were HUGE- definitely you get your money's worth!
DF had orders to be at his next duty station today, so we left Saturday morning. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and I'm so proud of my new Ensign! Some tips for graduation:
Try to stay on base if you can- try both the Navy Lodge and the Chalet. I was able to see DF much more since we were on base, and it was much, much more convenient. To stay at the lodge, you must have an active duty military sponsor. You can make the reservations, but you will need to use your LO's name as a sponsor. Each active duty military sponsor can have up to three rooms at a time. DF had to check me in, but his family was able to check in without him- you are supposed to have your sponsor with you, but it seems like around graduation they may be a bit more lenient.
A lot of people mention making plans to go out and tour Newport- which is fine- but also try to remember that your LO is going to be very, very tired and probably sick- they all are- and if they're due to report to their next duty station on Monday, they may need to leave right away! I know it was hard because we wanted to do things with DF, but he was so exhausted- Of course you want to go out and celebrate, but try to remember that he or she is going to need some down time!
If you can get the time off, try to come early for graduation. I came up a week early and was able to spend a ton of time with DF. Part of it was because the weekend before he graduated was labor day weekend, but his class also got a lot less liberty than most classes do. Pretty much by Tuesday of grad week, they don't have very many responsibilities, so if you can get the time off, they would probably be able to spend time with you every day!
As far as orders go... orders typically come the week of graduation. DF got his Tuesday of grad week and was due to report in less than a week. Some guys got theirs a bit earlier, but DF's class officer said that getting orders in week 12 is pretty standard.
Lastly... definitely meet up with the wonderful people you have met on here- I had such a great time meeting the fantastic people I met here and on officerfamilies and even though we are not headed to the same base, I know we will stay in touch! We are still chattering away, even though graduation is over.
Best of luck to everyone!! Graduation will be here for you before you know it, and then it'll be on to the next big adventure!!

Comment by Michelle on September 13, 2009 at 8:26pm

Just wanted to let you all know I appreciate reading your updates. I can only check in every few days because I'm traveling for work and don't always have access to communications, but when I get to a computer this is the first place I check. Hope 03-10 does well this week, and all the other classes. By the way, I'm having fun trying to see Russia from the eastern edge of the Bering Sea, but so far I guess my eyes aren't as good as Sarah Palin's. Have a good week all!

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 10, 2009 at 9:18am

They will find out the results of RLP immediately. However, many DI's do not let them communicate those results until your Sunday phone call... it depends on the DI. And these next two days the guys will be VERY VERY busy pulling together as a team and getting the guys who didn't pass this first time (which will be most of them... remember, this is a team building exercise) passed for the reinspect.

I'm about to leave for change of command, which is the start of graduation ceremony stuff! So very excited :)

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 10, 2009 at 4:54am

I just dropped off my DF over at "the house" (what they call the building they all live in) and know that RLP is either about to start or has already started for 02... I'll be keeping them in my prayers!
Leslie- was catching up on posts and saw your post about our class- it nearly made me cry! It has been an amazing week so far, getting to know the girls from here and OF families. I know I will never lose touch with these amazing girls and it is my hope that you all will help each other through this the way we certainly helped each other! Change of Command is in a few hours, which will signify the beginning of the end! I honestly cannot believe it is here already- I know I will be spending much of the next two days in tears because of how proud I am of my wonderful DF.
I will certainly be giving a full report on how graduation goes and hopefully with some helpful tips for everyone! We were going to do the grad run again last night and I was going to time it, but when I went to meet DF we were VERY pleasantly surprised to find that they had been granted overnight liberty. So I decided to excuse him from running and let him come back to the hotel and get to bed since they had to be back and ready to go at 4:30 ;)

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 9, 2009 at 8:34am

Nancy-
Don't feel like you have to apologize for being emotional! The people here understand and this is the place to let it all out! I've sent you and Allison friend requests, I have something I'd like to message to you guys that I think will also help a lot :)

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 8, 2009 at 11:55pm

Oh, and the grad run is done the morning of graduation... at about 4:30AM haha

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 8, 2009 at 11:55pm

The grad run was so fun! Our guys knew we were a little nervous so they took us on a practice run once OCS was secured and sweepers were done. Everyone says it is a 1.5 mile, ten minute mile pace run. But I would say it is more like a mile and the pace we ran was not fast at all the guys said they were going faster than grad run pace. I think the thing that intimidates the most people is the DI's yelling (which we had the pleasure of observing at a grad practice... yikes!)
I have barely run all summer, just started running again last week, and was able to do our little practice run without even getting out of breath. There is only one hill and it's at the beginning. My advice would be to go out and do a practice run at home! If you can do a mile and a half at about a ten minute mile pace, you'll be golden :)

If you fail any evolution, you are placed into H- H is definitely not just for injuries. It's holding for any sort of failure or if a DI feels you should not be with a class anymore. Failing a test twice is another common cause of going to H. My DF was there due to injury, as many people are, but if you fail an inspection or test twice, you go to H to wait until the chain of command feels you are prepared to class back up. While in H, they are able to call home, so if someone fails and is placed in H, you know about it. Hence the saying "no news is good news"

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 8, 2009 at 11:19pm

Nancy-
Class 01 has had their internet privileges revoked- however some guys have jobs that require them to use internet, so they are able to send emails. I checked with DF- only two people failed the reinspect. Both have been placed in H. If he was in H, he would be able to call you. When my DF was in H I was contacted every day. I know it's tough but the saying no news is good news is definitely very true! There were many nights when I cried myself to sleep too over not hearing- but just try to remember that no news is good news, tough as that is to accept!

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 8, 2009 at 5:07pm

Leslie and Nancy-
I know it is tough but try to remember no news is good news! All of the classes were VERY busy this morning with an all hands grad practice, many of them may not have gotten time on the computers. When my DF's class did their RLP, only a couple of people heard anything at all until our Sunday phone calls. Just try to remember no news is good news- as tough as it is to wait. Believe me, it's much easier said than done- I remember waiting on pins and needles that whole week- but if you don't hear anything, it means your LO is still with the regiment. Try to stay positive! You'll be in my prayers!

Comment by Fur&FeathersDVM on September 7, 2009 at 5:26pm

HAHA I was scared to say thank you... so I waved and nodded and tried to pretend like he was just another regular person...

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