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Comment by proudmomma94 on January 3, 2014 at 8:34am

Just wanted to let you know that my son made it home safe! He got in around 12:30 a.m! His dad and him planned to surprise me so he knew a week ago that he was coming home but told me he would not be here until Friday. So he came into my room and woke me and surprised me! Good thing I had the welcome sign up in case he came home early on Friday. Again I want to thank all of you for your support and kind words, not sure how I would have handled all of this without your guidance.. God Bless and take care. I wish you and your soon to be sailors the best!

Comment by JenBo on December 23, 2013 at 7:09pm

I just got word from my friend that SEPS does not allow packages anymore, so I would double check with your recruit before you send any books out! Sheesh, I guess checking packages is too much work for them now. Good old RTC.

Comment by JenBo on December 20, 2013 at 2:10am

Hi Cookie, so sorry to hear! Your son will have to sign a waiver in order to discuss his separation with you. If you don't hear from him soon, I would try calling public affairs (847-688-2405) as they can get your recruit to call you back. Although, it seems like he's trying to get a hold of you, so he will likely be able to call soon. My husband was able to call me pretty often (almost daily), and even got internet access sometimes, so it may be worth a shot sending him a facebook message or an e-mail. Make sure your recruit has enough minutes on their phone card, as their allowed phone time will increase (they are entitled to at least 2 calls a week while in SEPS).

The address to send him mail while in SEPS is in the group description above. You can send even send him books/magazines to combat the boredom he will experience. I sent my husband some Sudoku puzzle books, which seemed to help.

Remember that if he tries to fight it, he will be in SEPS until his case is resolved. He'll have to speak to legal to find out all of the details. If he decides to go home, he can try to reenlist in 6 months with waivers (depending on his discharge code), but it will be very difficult to get back in given how overmanned the Navy is at the moment.

The first step from here is for him to sit down with legal and tell them what his decision is. This should happen within the next two weeks, but probably a bit sooner. If he decides to go home, he will most likely be on his way out within another two weeks of his legal appointment. It took my husband three weeks to get sent home from the day he was separated, but this was back in February/March.

Good luck and stay strong! You will both get through this just fine!

Comment by Cookiechand on December 19, 2013 at 11:57pm

My son has only been at RTC for 10 days.  He was apparently unable to reach me tonight and I had to hear from his girlfriend that he is being discharged.   She did not ask any of the questions I would have.  Is there ANY way to reach him and/or get assistance finding out what the heck is going on?   He had severe breaks to his leg in 2009 from an automobile accident and she said he was limping, so I am sure that it what it is related to but he is still really just a kid (18) and I want to find out information and help him any way I can.  If anyone has tips I appreciate it.   

Comment by JenBo on December 19, 2013 at 12:05pm

Proudmomma94, I understand how you feel. Everything becomes a huge question mark. They definitely can be treated horribly in SEPS. Sitting cross-cross on a hard floor, staring quietly at a wall for 5-6 hours? That borders on torturous.

My husband had no desire to reenlist either. We didn't want to have to go through all of that again just to have him sent home a second time, regardless of any waiver he may have gotten. His recruiters were so surprised he never showed up at their office again. It sickens me, because I know that his separation is treated as a running joke in their office. They're just terrible people sitting on their military high horse.

I don't think it's a mistake that these people are sent to boot camp. I'd be safe to say that a good majority of those who were separated were 100% fit for the Navy. From the stories I've read over the past 10 months, as well as from what my husband has witnessed, they are actively looking for any excuse they can to kick their recruits out. They'll jump on any chance they get. Whether it's overhearing that the recruit misses home (which they all do) or springing an asthma test on a recruit who is sick (which most of them are). Personally, I don't think the Navy is a good career choice anymore, unless you can accept that there is a probability that you will give up everything just to be kicked out through no fault of your own. But, most of them will never be warned of this. I know that's all some of these kids ever wanted, though. It breaks my heart.

I hope that you'll be reunited with your son very soon! Have high hopes that everything will turn out for the best. They definitely did for us!

Comment by proudmomma94 on December 19, 2013 at 8:37am

JenBo thanks for the encouraging words. My son will overcome this I just hate how his hopes were high for his future and now it is up in the air. He can reenlist at a later date but at this point has no desire for fear they will do the same thing to him again. Its just not right. I get they want the elite to protect us but more balances and checks should be done prior to boot camp in my opinion. He told me to let it go but it makes me angry how they are treated. Anyway off to work I go, one more day closer to seeing my son!!!

Comment by JenBo on December 18, 2013 at 7:38pm

Wow, it's been a while since I've come on here. My husband was separated on Valentine's Day 2013, a month into his BT. He went in with an awesome rate, his RDC's praised him for being a stand-out recruit, and he was promoted during his training. He ended up coming home two weeks before he would have graduated. I'm back because one of my good friends from school has recently been separated. I'm heartbroken for her. This was her dream for as long as I've known her. She'll likely be wasting her birthday and Christmas stuck in SEPS. But, I know that this could very well end up being for the best.

I just wanted all of you to know that your loved one WILL move on from the Navy, and they will likely be much better off that way. Now that we've been through the worst (Really, it was awful. Our lives were in shambles. I know how each of you feel.) and have picked ourselves back up and then some, we are so thankful that our lives are not in the grips of the military for the next 6 years. The Navy is now in purge mode, but hasn't decreased their recruiting quotas enough to make up for it. They can and will kick your loved one out of RTC on made up terms (such as sudden "asthma" for having a cold or "anxiety" for admitting to ever feeling nervous) in order to "fix" their mistake. My husband saw, first-hand, the influx of separated recruits after the sequester early this year, which happened shortly after he was moved to Ship 5. Their reasons for being separated got pettier and pettier by the day. This is not limited to recruits either, fresh sailors (and sometimes even experienced ones) can become targets of this as well. It's awful and it's wrong, but honestly, who is going to tell them no?

I know it feels so terrible right now, but I promise that it will get easier and easier. As long as your loved one has the drive and determination (which they must have for being brave enough to ship out), then they will make it through. There are other ways to serve your country without the Navy, and there are so many great careers out their that your loved one can make theirs if they really want to. Hang in there!

Comment by proudmomma94 on December 17, 2013 at 7:49pm

My heart goes out to all of us who had hopes for their loved ones who wanted to serve their country and was told they cannot. My son did 5 weeks of basic training and now is being sent home. I want to fight this but my son says no because he will have to stay in ship 5 until a decision is made which can take months, and he doesn't want to do BT all over again. I need time to get over this, it seems as if he is ok with the decision but only because he misses home so much. I think not being home for the holidays make it tough too. I am working on closure but feel like the Navy let us both down. I am so proud of him either way but it sure would have been nice to see his dream come true.

Comment by Rolltidemom on December 12, 2013 at 11:03am

SRmom ship14/div032, Ship 5 is also for sailors who are held up in travel plans for various reasons.  Being there doesn't necessarily mean they are being sent home.  They have to have a place to house the recruits and sailors who are not in basic training and Ship 5 is for separation from the RTC to wherever they are going next.  Phone access is very limited.  There is a number listed above that you can call and ask to speak to your son.  I found it nearly impossible to get anyone to respond to that number so I began calling the Chief of the Deck.  I'd use that option sparingly, but if you absolutely need to talk to your son, it may be your best option. Be aware that you will probably hear the HIPAA excuse with every call you place.  They are misapplying the HIPAA law, but you won't get around that without your son signing a waiver for them to talk with you in every office he enters - one form won't take care of it.  Wishing you and your son well. 

Comment by squidmom on December 5, 2013 at 7:49pm

I dont see too much activity in this group but does anyone know when the holiday leave times will be approved for THU people?  my son said he put in for the second one but i dont know if its approved yet.  Also, if the leave starts on a friday, is it friday all day, or friday after working hours?

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