Ship 04 Division 223

[dbarton(ship04div223)]

Who else has a SR in this division?

[dbarton(ship04div223)]

I hear ya - my daughter just turned 20 and has never been away from home...but I know this is what she wanted and know that it's going to be great for her - so 3 out of 3 in the military huh?  Would you have ever in a million years thought that as they were growing up?

[JDM]

Actually it is 3 out of 4 my middle son stayed home and married his high school sweetheart :) just as proud of him.

I would never have imagined any of them in the military, the first one came home and told us about six months before he turned 18 that he was going to join for training with computers, then after he had signed the enlistment papers they found out he was color blind so he couldn't do the computer training, he ended up in the "personel" field..he ended up injuring his leg just a few months before his enlistment was up while he was in Korea and he had to have surgery so they kept him an extra year until his rehab was over. He is wouldn't change having served but wishes it could have ended differently

My youngest told us in the morning that the recruiter would be there that night, one week before he turned 18, during the meeting when they wanted us to sign the form I asked him what he would do if we didn't, he told me he would wait a week and sign them himself but this way we would show that we supported his decision and would be there for him..... I just quietly pulled the paper over and signed. He had waited because he didn't want us to try and talk him into going to school first. Now he plans on making a career out of it. He will celebrate his 8 year anniversary in August. and now his wife is in the Navy....some days I wonder if I'm dreaming it all...LOL

 

[dbarton(ship04div223)]

I have a son at home who is 17- we shall see what he decides...so there's 81 in each division? And they all take showers at the same time? That's crazy...our daughter told us in December about wanting to join, she has always been a homebody but I know this is going to be great for her

[JDM]

no there are 81 ladies in the two divisions. apparently at night all the ladies in divisions 223 and 224 sleep/bathe in the same area and the men have thier area. I am sure they don't all get to shower at the exact same time but still having that many people trying to bath during the same period does not sound like fun to me :)

She says division 223 is an integrated division with 41 females and 38 males so the balance of the ladies would be from division 224. she said the divisions are seperate during the day for training and then at night the ladies share one compartment and the guys another.

she also says the weather has been good and the food is okay, If I am reading her handwriting correctly :) it looks like she says their barracks is called Arliegh Burke.. I am not sure that last word is correct, her writing was getting a little small at that point of the page..

Hopefully I am reading this stuff correctly :)

[JDM]

I really admire the girls who feel the call to serve, I have to admit I don't know if I would have been strong enough at their ages to leave home and do something like this.

[JDM]

How many kids do you have?

In the letter I received today my SR said that at night all the ladies from division 223 and 224 share the same shower/sleeping area and that there are 81 ladies in the two divisions I can't even imagine trying to get a shower with that many people around :) 

[dbarton(ship04div223)]

Arleigh Burke is the name of their ship - apparently after a highly decorated sailor - yes I don't know that I could have done that at their age..I am so proud of them!

[Patrat-Ship04-Div223]

JDM, Ok since your daughter and mine son are in the same div. I will just live through you, so keep posting when you get letters!  Maybe today???????

 

[dbarton(ship04div223)]

Most definitely...I can't wait to hear from you on your SR's letter either - In my daughter's first letter she said she liked her RDC's, 2 petty officer and 1 senior chief, she said they were hysterical and as long as you listen they like you.  Last Sunday they had "holiday routine" so she said they got to study, an hour to shower, shine their boots, etc.  Crossing my fingers for everyone to get their letter today!!!

[JDM]

I had an idea i thought i would share. One of the things my sr said she was missing most is the sound of her dughters voices. My son is going to get one of the recordable cards and have them send her a message, then he will have them put on some of her lipstick and kiss the card, cover it with tape so that it doesn't smear and trace their hand onto the card and tell her they r sending her hugs and kisses. I'm going to send het a blank card so she can sing them a song to be played at bedtime.... that way she still feels part of their lives and they know mom is thinking of the. Letters are good but sometimes you just
need to hear that voice
i'm trying to think of anything to keep her spirits up

[dbarton(ship04div223)]

awesome idea!!!!

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

Oh...I hate to say this as it is such a wonderful thought and idea...but cards with sound do not go over well. The standard musical ones can ( not always) bring negative results. Battery ripped out, IT, reports of having to dance to them. So not sure on a "talking"one...but still in the "sound" category. I really doubt that she will be able to record one back either. Not sure...but just going on what I have experienced on here for the last year. I know your SR may need "a lift" (must be very hard not to hear or see her daughter), but since it could end up being a negative...just trying to spare her that.
Just a general note for all, stickers and drawing all over the outside of the envelope is discouraged (may draw attention to your recruit), and glitter is a very bad idea (I know some cards may have some small sprinklings) as they have inspections and as we all know...glitter...can be very hard to get rid of completely and just one piece shines like a beacon.
Please Everyone make sure you read the discussion on "Writing Letters..." (It has tips for you) in the discussion forum. If it is not showing...click "View All" to get to all of the pages and skim through until you find it.