Ship 12 Div 354

[Alicia]

I received my form letter from my son earlier this week.  He left for Great Lakes on August 29th, and he is in Ship 12 Div 354.

[wendi9]

Yeah my son also.  From what we have heard from him there are many sick and they are very tired.

[Alicia]

Did your receive a letter or a phone call?  All I've heard from my son is the few lines on the form letter.  That was written on 8/31, at which point he said he still hadn't slept since arriving there (8/29).  I feel so bad for those boys--nothing sounds more miserable than being sick at boot camp :-(  I hope you're holding up well. I know I'll do much better once I receive a letter..

[wendi9]

I have heard from him 3 times.  His job requires background checks so he has called to get information.  The last time he called we talked for about 10 min.  He said the same thing on the note that he wrote on the form letter.  He had been up for 40 hrs.  No wonder they all get sick.  He said that they had all gotten there shots on Tues. and the really painful penacillin shot.  He said he got sick right after the shot, running fever.  He said that it was really hard there and that he was exhausted.  They get only 5 hrs of sleep and are constantly working the other 19 hrs.  Absolutely no down time.  He said they would receive their mail for the first time this Sun. so hopefully they can write letters also and have a little rest time.  He said that he didn't think they would be allowed to sleep though.  Is this your first child away from home?  It is ours and it has really been hard on me.  Knowing he is sick and very tired just makes it worse.

[Alicia]

This is also my first child away from home, and I am having a very difficult time with it.  I am very proud of him for joining the Navy, but it's hard knowing he's out there without me knowing what's going on with him and knowing he's probably experiencing the most difficult time of his life up to this point.  I will pray for your son.  It must be terribly hard to know that he's sick.  I can't imagine how they recover when they're sleeping so little.  What a change for my son who slept until noon almost the entire summer!  In some ways, I'm hoping for basic training to unwind some of the harm I've done by being too much of a caretaker :-) I knew they could only write letters on Sundays, but I did not realize they only receive mail on Sundays.  Do you find yourself carrying your phone with you everywhere?  I don't go anywhere without mine--just hoping to receive a call.  Everything that I've read seems to indicate that basic training becomes much easier and exciting as the weeks go by, so hopefully their spirits and health will pick up soon!

[wendi9]

Oh wow! We sound like two peas in a pod.  I have really struggled as well.Even the cereal aisle at walmart made me cry because he was my big cereal eater.  I never thought how tightly I was holding onto him until he left and I felt so helpless.  Two things that have helped me.  I was telling my dad how hard this was and how worried I was for him.  He told me that this was really good for him.  He hasn't ever really had to work hard for anything and he has always had had us here to help him with everything.  He said that he will be just fine, he needs this and he doesn't need a mama right now babying him.  His last words were "don't worry about him".  I am really letting that soak in and learning each day to turn him over to God.  That is the second thing....He is God's not mine and the time has come to really let go.  It doesn't mean that I love him less but it is ok to let him do this on his own.  I hope that helps.  They do get mail during the wk but he said the first time they would be allowed to get it would be tomorrow.  Then after that I think they get it everyday but Sun.  I hope that many of our letters made it so he can have lots of encouragement tomorrow.  Yes, I never leave my phone now and everytime the phone rings we all run for it.

[Alicia]

What great advice!  I am sure they'll become great men from this experience.  We just have to hang in there.  Please let me know if you hear anything newsworthy from your son, and I'll do the same.

[shachrmic]

I have not heard from my son.  I am having a difficult time, emotionally, with him gone.  I just want to hear his voice.  I want to tell him, again, how very proud I am o him.  I miss him terribly.  I am anxious for 10/21/2011.   

[wendi9]

Well you aren't alone.  I did here from our son again today only because he has to get security clearance so he has to call with questions.  They got mail on Sun. and were able to write letters also, they had there first inspection tonight which our son was worried about.  He also said that 45 out of 80 something failed their baseline PT test and he said that PT was really hard.  Our son had his first night watch tonight which must be tough skipping a nights sleep when you are already exhausted.  I feel the same about the emotional piece.  It has made a  huge difference to hear form our son so hopefully you will get a letter this wk. to just know he is ok.  This is really hard to go through.  I hadn't really prepared myself for this that is for sure.  Hang in there.  We will all get through this and our kids will so much stronger and maybe even we will too.  have a  good night.

[Alicia]

Schachrmic, have you received a letter yet?  I received my first today, and I am feeling so much better. I completely understand how you feel. Until today, it was as if he just dropped off the face of the earth. I'm sure our kids will disagree, but in many ways I think this is much harder on the parents. When I woke up this morning, I didn't know how I could possibly make it another day without hearing from him.

Wendi9, I thought about your son having night watch last night. Do they really miss an entire night of sleep when they have night watch? I just hope your son gets well soon, which can't be easy without sleep.

My son said there are about 70 in the division. He said the oldest SR in their division is 39 years old. He said they're usually getting around seven hours of sleep a night. He thought PT wasn't bad, but said that IT "sucks".  He said he's eating a ton. He passed the PFA the day the letter was written, which, oddly, was dated last Friday. I'm not sure if he misstated the date or if he was actually able to write on a Friday. And, he said they were pulling out his wisdom teeth two days ago. I was very worried that would happen, as his recruiter warned me, two days before he left, that it was a possiblity.  It was SO good to hear from him, and I can't wait to hear what news your sons have to share.

[wendi9]

Great to know you got a letter.  I will be waiting.  Interesting that he says he gets 7 hrs of sleep.  Our son said they only get 5.  I just assumed they would do it all night.  I will ask him that if he calls again.  He also said they eat alot.  I read somewhere that they get 2 days to recover from their teeth out so I thought that would be a nice down time for them if they aren't in too much pain.  It will be good to start hearing from them.  Please share when you do.

[shachrmic]

I was so excited when I received two letters from my son yesterday.  He can't wait for it to end.  Foods ok...not as good as mine.  "I miss home/you so much".  IT(intensive training) sounds grueling.  I laughed out loud when he wrote that he was ironing his clothes.  He wrote that he will be calling me soon...excited.  I hope I am at home and not work.   

[Alicia]

Shachrmic, hurray!  I'm already longing for my next letter.  I am so hoping that things get easier for them as time goes by--hopefully, not as much IT.  I was kind of hoping my son would miss my cooking, but he seems to LOVE the food there.  I find it amazing that I've had my son for nineteen years, and in a short eight weeks, others are able to get him to do things that he never did at home (ironing, etc.).  Boot camp should be mandatory for all :-)