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Comment by catsandkoi on September 2, 2018 at 6:50pm

Thanks belovedbyHim!  I'll get on him about running. (He's trying, every day. Not sure why he can't increase his speed.) He's already graduated, and he's a great kid. He's keeping his nose clean, and we're keeping him in bubble wrap so he doesn't get hurt!

Comment by belovedbyHim on September 2, 2018 at 5:15pm

catsandkoi -- Duty station the ship or base where sailors are stationed.  Most Duty station assignments are 3 years long. (Most not all!) TAD- Temporary Assigned Duty- An assignment lasting 2-30 months at a command or a temporary assignment to a command for a specific job.  Bees can be based at ANY US military base anywhere in the world.  They are not normally based at the same base the whole time, HOWEVER since there are only 2 main Sea Bee bases in the US at this time, they often are only assigned to one of the 2 and may end up at the same place for the whole time.  Yes, their Duty Station is where they are based.  You might want to read the files to learn more of the Lingo.
Your son should really work on the run.  He wants to arrive at or below the limit to lessen the physical stress.  Have him practice, Air Chair (Squats), push ups and sit ups as well.  Better to arrive able to exceed the standards than to just squeak by.

To get mentally tough he would benefit from watching the videos, there are the "Official" ones as well as just a simple Google search will help, and realizing that they are not out to get him but need to break him down so he can learn to work as a team as a sailor.  They all get yelled at.  Nothing he will ever do, no matter how good will be good enough.  I think they would even find fault with God, if they thought it would make him a better Sailor! You can't really train mental toughness, either you are resilient or you are not.  That is what they are looking for as these kids go through this process. 

Lastly, He HAS to keep his nose clean!!! Get good grades, don't make stupid choices (UA drinking, drugs, fights).  I know several young people who were set to go then during their Senior Year they decided to "just Try" various things once and it screwed them up big time!! (Pregnancy makes BC really rough!!!) Just keep in mind that the Navy doesn't have to take you if you can't follow instructions!!

loulou-- welcome to the hive and Deep breaths!! They will really work him on the run!  The RDC's are likely as frustrated with the recruiters as with him.  It's good that he is determined.  Hopefully he will get it down soon.  My BU had Pneumonia and was on LLD when he got to his final run.  He was cleared by medical that morning, Walked (walked/ran) back to the barracks to change into his PT Gear, Walked (Ran) to the gym and got there with less than 5 minutes to rest/recover before he had to take his final run before BS21!  He made it by the aglets on his shoelaces!  He was still sick but he managed to make it.  We just passed the 5 year mark this last week (Aug 30) and yes the Bees are the place to Be!!

Comment by catsandkoi on September 2, 2018 at 1:00pm

Prayers to you guys, loulou. Hopefully it will all come together for him by then!  How far off the time is he right now?  I'm also worried about my son's run time. He leaves in November, and he's under 16:10 right now, but not close to 12:15 yet.  

Comment by catsandkoi on September 2, 2018 at 9:50am

BelovedbyHim, can you help me with the terminology?  I thought he'd be stationed or based in one spot after A school for the 5 years he's enlisted.  what is a "duty station?"  Is that the same thing as where he's based?

He is running and doing situps, pushups every day. What can you recommend for getting mentally tough? I'll be sure he watches some of those videos if he hasn't already.

You were so lucky to be in San diego for so long!  It is absolutely gorgeous there.

Comment by belovedbyHim on September 1, 2018 at 3:51pm

catsandkoi--anywhere He goes you can find beauty.  Also keep in mind that most duty stations change every 3 years.  NOT Always though!! My DH was in the Navy when we first got married.  He was Sent to Coronado for schooling after he got his commission and then all of his duty stations were in San Diego!! However we loved it there and I was so sad when we moved as civilians 16 years after we arrived.  Your son needs to focus on getting ready for Bootcamp (Are you watching the Facebook bootcamp videos!!) and getting physically and mentally tough so that he can do well there.  everything else after that is a complete crap shoot as far as location and timing. 

Comment by catsandkoi on September 1, 2018 at 3:18pm

Oh my gosh, that picture is beautiful!  We're hoping our son is stationed somewhere fabulous. He'd love to be somewhere overseas. That long wait to find out where will be so hard!!!

Comment by belovedbyHim on August 31, 2018 at 11:58pm

Sorry for the Delay cattsandkoi.  I was running errands.  No extending sea duty does not equate to deployment the whole time.  It just means he will not get a shore duty assignment before then.  Yes it is true that they almost never set foot on a ship.  It is the Navy so Never say never!! As long as there is an airstrip nearby they will fly.  And YES I went to Italy!! It was AMAZING!!! We were there nearly 3 weeks and I wished I'd had 3 months!! This is Cefalu (pronounced Shef-a-loo). It's on the Northern side of Sicily (Just over Mt Etna)!

Comment by catsandkoi on August 31, 2018 at 5:15pm

belovedbyHim, that's quite a journey!  When you extend your seaduty for 4 years, does that mean he'll be deployed the whole time?  Also, is it true that seabees never set foot on ships and fly to where they're needed?  (Did you visit him in Sicily?)

Comment by belovedbyHim on August 31, 2018 at 3:27pm

My Bee was Stationed in Sicily Italy for his first 3 years after A school.  He loved and hated it!  He chipped paint, fixed minor damage to walls and doors and basically stood watch at the gate a lot!  He hadn't been to Combat training but he had to do guard duty since they were short on MP's and had LOADS of Bees with not much to do.  He did enjoy the fact that he had access to the shop and he made several projects in his spare time! (Tardis bookshelf, Ships Wheel Shadow box for his dad, Coin rack, Wall shelf out of a piece of Sicilian Olive wood)
After that he was sent to join a Battalion that had just left on Deployment.  That kind of Stunk b/c he had to go to ECS (combat training there in GP) then report to his Battalion and he couldn't put in for leave with anyone, since he was no longer at his old duty station but not checked in to his new duty station either!  On that deployment and the one he has coming up he has been dealing with pouring concrete. Lots and Lots of concrete!!! It is kind of humorous how much concrete work he is doing now!! He extended his sea duty for another 4 years so He'll be at the 9 year point when his contract is up.  At that point he needs to decide if he wants to get out or put in another 11 for retirement.  He likes what he's doing well enough and I guess he'll stay unless something happens that he wants to do more.  He did just get OSHA certified and he's happy about being able to add Safety and Inspections to his resume.  He's needing to get his Warfare pin to advance in his rating so that is his next goal!

Comment by belovedbyHim on August 31, 2018 at 3:09pm

Catsandkoi-- Most likely yes he will be on hold at his A school.  I'm not sure where that is for SW.  My Bee is a BU and that was the procedure for their A school.  (My guess is that it is similar for all of them.) Sailors from the Fleet are first since they are higher in rank and "More valuable asset" then Reserves since they are paid for every day they are "Active" and they don't want to pay them to just sit around.  Then regular sailors in Alpha order by arrival date.
At PIR you will have very limited time with your sailor.  Plan not to sleep much if at all while you are there!!  Sadly flying to visit in GP is tough! First no good airports-- Closest Major airport is New Orleans, flying to GP is EXPENSIVE!! then They may rank up but they are not usually granted overnight privileges so you have to meet them outside the main gate. and last but biggest is they don't know in advance when they might get to leave base!!  My bee had 4 weeks that he could get off and 1 where he got weekend liberty off base and just when I decided to try and go visit he called to say he was starting class the next week,(He then got bumped 3 times!! ARGHHH) and would not have any time off base to see me!
Very rarely will they get held at GL.  It is usually because of lack of available flights- Weather delays.  Of course this is Ma Navy and she is prone to change her mind at the very last millisecond!! Just memorize "Hurry up and wait" and "the plan is that whatever you plan, plan for it to change, unless you planned on it changing!"(Also know as "Plans.... We don't need no stinkin' PLANS!!" Just obey the plan though!!)

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