ship 11 div 127

[judyspin]

did I do that right?  We haven't started twoard travel yet for the big day.  My son is quite a bit older than many of the other recruits.  He is 32. I imagine he is having a very different experience than if he had joined 10 years ago.  He did march in a drum and bugle corps, so some things are easier for him, I am sure.  Lookinf forward to a real letter.

[judyspin]

Got the call! I was still at work, but not busy.  He sounded tired, but positive.  He said that much of what they do is tedium, detailed, repetitive.  He is in charge of laundry, and the room has to be meiculously clean, which is hard becuase the machines "are white and show the dust." He said the instruction is boring - they don't really teach, just reaqd to them and expect them to learn it.  All in all, positive, knows he can get through it. serious. very serious.  I will be so glad to see him. 

[jim'scupcake]

judyspin...doing the laundry...did he participate doing that at home?  Funny, because in our conversation we talked about who did the laundry..I asked mine if he had a job~he said no...he is lying low...which, from what i remember...is the best thing to do!  So glad we all got a call....like I said, very positive and happy.  Today's call will help me last if we dont get another.  TB1983~I am sorry your little one didnt get to talk to his Daddy.  When my 1st husband was deployed, before he left, i had him read/record (do they still have little kids tape decks???) several Golden Books for our older son (this was WAY back in 1990).  When he got lonely for Dad, he could sit and dad would "read him a story" even though he was far far away.  He recorded the "beep" when it was time to turn the page...or shook a can of pennies.  Good memories!!  Maybe you could bring something (if going to PIR) like that so hubby could record something...and then your little one will never be far from his dad's voice.

[TB1983 (HM, A School, GL)]

Thanks for the ideas :)

Before he left, Daddy took them both to Build-a-Bear and made them a special gift.  he included in it a voicebox of his own voice saying how much he loved & missed them.  It is really sweet!  My kids LOVE them.  They sleep w/ them everynight and when they get upset, I just play his voice and they instantly smile.

We also got a recordable book, but for some reason, maybe it was broken, it doesnt work correctly, so only some pages are recorded in his voice.  The book is called "Guess how much I miss you."  Its super cute.

[jim'scupcake]

Sounds super cute!  Sounds like you have done what you could...sorry they missed the call.  Hopefully this next 1/2 will go by quickly for all of us!  Lots of hugs/kisses to look forward too.

[Tina - socalnavymom]

Does anyone know how often they are allowed to call.  My son belongs to this ship/division and I see you all have received a phone call today, I didn't?  So I was just curious.

[jim'scupcake]

Sorry.  I dont know Tina.  I remember reading in earlier posts that if a SR has duty or something, he might actually miss the chance to call.  I guess that doesnt help, sorry.  I also think I saw that maybe they get 2 or 3 calls the entire time.  I hope you get a call.  If it helps, my son said that they are all doing well.

[Tina - socalnavymom]

Thanks.  I sure hope so.  I read somewhere on this website that the SR's usually get to make calls on Sundays, so I was hoping I would have received a call this last Sunday.  I'm glad I didn't get on the computer until tonight, cuz I would have gone crazy waiting all day for a call that never came. :(  But just seeing all your posts helped (except for TB1983's post, my son is a "young kid").

[j4smom]

Tina, No call for us either, just hoping and waiting.  Love to hear from you all as to what is going on there.  My son is a "young" kid too, but not usually prone to being mouthy, so I keeping good thoughts that he too is laying low. Thanks for the posts ladies, really helps get through the days

[TB1983 (HM, A School, GL)]

Im sorry you havent gotten a call Tina!  Hopefully it will come today!  Sorry about my post about the "young kids" messing around.  My hubs is 27 and doesnt have the patience for immaturity.  That was one of the things he was most concerned about going into bootcamp.  Hopefully I didnt offend you or anyone else.

There are 84 people in this division, so its likely that your son is not one of the trouble makers.  he said its the same people over & over.  Someone will mouth off, someone else will them him to "shut it" and then those two end up getting in an arguement - then everyone is in trouble.

 

[jim'scupcake]

TB1983~I wouldnt worry about it...I have one of those young kids too....hopefully, I get a young man back after all of this.  Everyone is young at some time..we get that.  No offense taken on my part.

[Tina - socalnavymom]

TB1983, no worries.  I guess I was just emotional last night, nothing new, I'm like that a lot lately, my poor husband has been a saint thru all this.  My son is almost 19, he's a good kid. I really didn't think it was him, he is real quiet and it would be really out of the norm for him to mouth off.  Anyways, I'm sorry.  I just really wish I would get a phone call, just to hear his voice.  He is my baby and the last one to leave home so its been kind of hard on me. 

[jim'scupcake]

Mine is young too!  Here is a little more of what he had to say:  (I had actually took notes because I was going to have to relay everything to my husband, we work together...and he just happend to come into my office about 10 minutes into the phone call..so, all 3 of us were on the line together).  So, all 4 wisdom teeth out, the got their 1st flag~tested on the UCMJ, ships/aircraft, and first aid.  They study, and then take tests on the computer.  Lots of studying (and mine was not really a fan of books, but he said it is fine).  Said taking the tests on the computer is easier than other kinds of test.  Test #2 will be coming up.  Confirmed again how tough the RDC's are.  Said RDC Will, had won RDC of the year...told me to google him.  The rack is ok.  He is just over 6 feet, and I was worried he wouldn't be able to stretch out...but he is fine, said it is just narrower than he is use to.  Food is good, had a chicken cesear salad sandwich for lunch. Three kinds of soda available...but most are making better choices than drinking soda (had to laugh at that!! )  They get 12 minutes to eat, NO talking.  He has received many letters (i write something everyday), and said that actually a plain envelope on plain old binder paper is best, because the cards and things that feel stiffer than paper..have to be opened in front of everyone to be checked for any contraband.  Really enjoying it.  Is very happy with his decision to join.  The were doing 8 min running drills yesterday: hard run for 8 minutes~rest for 2~run hard for 8~rest for 2~then run for 8.  He said tough (he had passed the PFA) and he is sore...but is doing it fine.  Hope that gives you a little more info, and I think I said in another post that this call (combined with his 2 letters) is really enough to get me through the next 4 weeks, he was very positive.  I think he also said they have all uniforms, pictures were not taken yet, and the gas chamber is coming up very soon.  Also, he was getting his 2nd haircut today.  Fingers are crossed that you guys get a phone call...I am sure your SR"s were just busy doing other things~remember too...in this case (and to keep you in a positive frame of mind)...no news is good news.