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Comment by BunkerQB on August 6, 2010 at 12:17pm

Being impressive.
Since this involves two ex-military men, I'll share this story with you. My brother-in-law (considerably older than my husband) and this fellow both graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point in 1951. My bil had branched infantry, was wounded in Korea while this fellow became a jet fighter pilot. Many, many years later their paths crossed at an airport. The fellow asked my bil, "What have you been doing the last 35 years?" My bil detailed his very successful career as a railroad executive with Missouri Pacific Railroad, then later with Union Pacific Railroad. When he concluded a thought cross his mind - he is going to think I am an imbecile if I ask how his career is going - so he keep his questions to inquiries about his family, his golf game and nostalgic anecdotes about the glory days at the Point. The classmate's name - Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr. commonly known as Buzz Aldrin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_Aldrin

Ladies, I love some of your alternate responses. I am keeping them on file - just in case - I am sure I'll have opportunities to use them. "How could you ever let your child go in the military" I forgot about this one. ROFLMAO

Comment by spensmom on August 6, 2010 at 10:48am

Great response, Paymaster!!! lol I get a lot of support from folks and most are making positive comments. Guess I'm either not getting or not paying attention to the other ones.

Comment by Paymaster on August 6, 2010 at 9:33am

NavyMomXXXY and Bea....My response to the Glad it your child and not mine is, if it was easy eveyone could do it.

Comment by BunkerQB on August 6, 2010 at 3:54am

When I tell people my son is on a submarine, I get the following (just a partial list):
1. "Why would anyone want to do that?" (which leaves me dumbfounded, what do they expect me to say?)
2."I can't imagine anyone wanting to be in such a confined environment." (then proceeds to describe all the small spaces that they hate to be in, do I care?)
3. "Did he think about doing flying instead?" (Well, maybe. I really don't know. He liked Top Gun but he watched Hunt For Red October more)
4. "Don't they get bored?" (Yes, often)
4. "Thank him for his service." (I just smile)
5. "I am sure glad it's your son and not my son." (I am glad it's my son too considering your son is out of work and living at home)
My apologies. It's late (or early) and I have had a very long week.

Comment by cekj5 on August 5, 2010 at 10:42pm

Thank you everyone for your support. Pgrlisa and others, I'm a little confused as to whether our LOs (yes, I am officially catching on with the lingo!) are able to get and read mail immediately or if they don't even get the mail delivered and thus able to read it until they've earned the privilege? Maybe it all depends on the class. I'm suddenly feeling an urgency to ask additional family and friends to write to my son too.. Stevemom56, thanks for the add'l site information. I have checked OCS Foundation and Officer Families and have found them helpful too and I'm glad to hear facebook is pretty easy to do! I agree that every bit of info helps with the prayers. Paymaster, you made me laugh with the DITHL comment!

Comment by Stevemom56 on August 5, 2010 at 9:34am

Hi cekj5--I'm new to the technology, but Facebook is east to join. Just go to the site, put in a little info , check privacy for "just friends" and type in OCS and class number to search, then just click join the group. You can add friends you know as you go. It has helped me. My LO is in 20-10A and I just found the group 2 weeks ago--wish I knew about it earlier. I have gotten alot of info from OCS Foundation Portal and Officer Families OCS sites also. It has helped me know a bit of what they are going through and I could focus my prayers on these needs. Hope this helps!

Comment by Paymaster on August 5, 2010 at 8:57am

cekj5....What you experienced with your co-worker is what we call deer in the headlights. They just don't get what you are explaining. I work with an office full of those DITHL. It was much different when I worked for the Police Department, tons of support there, because most had been in the military prior to joining the PD.

Comment by Rosemarie on August 5, 2010 at 1:58am

My son starts OCS on Oct 3. Twelve weeks ends on the Friday before Christmas. Does anyone know if there is any break for holidays--Thanksgiving and Christmas. Will OCS be extended because of the holidays?

Comment by pgrlisa on August 5, 2010 at 12:49am

cekj5 - Welcome to our little group! My daughter graduated with 16-10 back in June. The first four weeks are called Indoc (indoctrination), and they don't get phone priviledges. You'll get one quick call when he gets to Newport, then nothing for a month! Remember, No News Is Good News (NNIGN). I received a call from my LO on the Wednesday after they started, because she fell out on a run and was put into H class. She was there for three weeks and I heard from her almost daily. Then she classed back up, and nothing. I did get letters from her, about once a week. She saved the cherished phone calls for her husband (go figure!). They can receive letters and cards from the very beginning. Do not send anything that will fall on the floor, though, like glitter or small pictures. They do not have to open them or read them in front of anyone else. They do have to open any packages in front of their DI, in case there's contraband inside.

Comment by cekj5 on August 4, 2010 at 10:21pm

Hi Everyone, thank you so much for the welcome! I must say these couple of days have been hard and I'm feeling the need to connect with others that are and have been through this.I had a co-worker ask me today if my son called yet and if I will be visiting him anytime soon. I tried to explain OCS but I am not sure she completely understood even though she tried. Madre37 and Bunkerbee thanks for the info about the facebook page. I'm not on facebook but I'll look into figuring out how to join. Rose4256 - thanks for the word of caution. Lynn, wow! 4 weeks before a phone call. Do they also earn the privilege as to when they can write and receive letters? I am also wondering if their letters are opened and read aloud? I thought I read that somewhere. Kathy B, congrats on your daughter!

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