Ship 5 Moms(Formerly Ship 17)

WOW! I gotta stop writing so much. Sorry about that y'all. I just get started and end up like a rolling snowball... just getting bigger and faster rolling down the hill...

I'll try to reign it in next time.

@Jeanne... Well alrighty then ma'am!! Will do! Thanks for the kind words.

TX keep it coming dude......love it!

@steph... Well the best part is he's home. Now he can actually make plans and execute, where before it was hurry up and wait for...???

::::UPDATE::::   Just chatted with our son on FB PM. He's so ready to come home and we are so ready have him back. He sounded good and did confirm that everyone on S5 had to remove their name tags from their uniforms... GRRRRRR!!

But, hopefully he will meet with legal around Wed and find out whats what and when he's "Leavin' on a jet plane... can't wait to get home again..."

TxNavyDad please don't stop saying how you and most of us feel about our child being separated and treated the way they have been.   I like that you speak your mind.  Like you said if we don't stick up for our child then who will.                                                                                                                           My son came home on Tuesday and is planning on starting college in the summer.  The day after he came home he went to speak to one of his old employers about getting a job, the next day the employer he was working for before he left called and said they heard he was back and they want him to come out Monday and talk to them about coming back to work.  My son keeps a lot of things bottled up and acts likes things aren't bothering him but I see through it by some of his actions and statements.  He also said on FB that he felt like he let himself and his family down. I am proud of my son for who he is and what he has done and will continue to be proud of him.

JeanneT hang in there things will get better.  I am here if you need anything.

JeanneT we sound the same. I always think of everyone else and this year has been really bad for me. My dad suddenly passed away in Feb. then a cousin that was more like a brother passed in April, now all this with my son....... I'm about to loose it. The only thing that keeps me going to work is the great little ones I get to see. My class is so sweet and I have great support from my husband and my 2 daughters. But really on the weekends I just stay in the bed and wait by the phone for either a facebook message or a call.

Ladies... A bit of info on the name tag removal issue that has most of us pretty seriously miffed. When I chatted with my son today on FB, I asked him about the name tag issue and he said that the reason for it was, the NWU digital blue camos that they had been issued in the beginning, were going to be turned in before they departed GL for home and reissued to new arriving SR's.

The ONLY exception to that rule was , if you made it to the second uniform issue, then you would have a second set of NWU's. If you were sent to S5, then you would have one set to wear home since you paid for that set and would turn in the first set. Whether or not you had to remove your name tag from the second set, I don't know since my son didn't make it to the second uniform issue.

15 mins on FB doesn't allow for allot of detailed questions and answers, but I felt y'all would like to know what the reasoning was behind it.

Good Night all and to all, a Good Night.

ah,aloha i was pulling for you guys, your the one that gave me hope that our turn was close.  And that's all ours wants also.  "just to come home."

@sixft  That's so awesome!! For another SR to write you, unsolicited and tell you that? Wow.. I'm very happy for you.

:::UPDATE:::  Just got off FB chatting with my son. He says he will most likely meet with legal tomorrow ahead of schedule and find out whats what. He said that the guys who met with legal today, will be headed home in 5-9 business days... That sound so strange, but once they are given the go ahead to go, the travel arrangements are handed off to civilian agency as i understand it.

SO... OH.. and this was the second time today getting to chat with my son on FB. I'm getting spoiled man... cuz now I'm looking for the 3rd time... doubt it will happen since it's 3:41 CST...but I can hope!!

Oh yes... he also said the numbers in seps is growing like crazy... he said they are almost at 200 SR's there now and no one knows why... (shaking my head)

Jeanne- did find out anything today?  

Txdad- mine went to legal Friday and said he might/could be home this week and maybe next.  They have a lot of kids to arrange transportation for.  So glad we are in the transportation line now.  One step closer.  

Does anyone know if they got snow storm?

What I don't understand is why they don't tell them why they are going into seps. My son says he won't find out find out for sure until he meets with legal. He says he does have the option to reenlist, but that, won't be totally confirmed until he meets with legal.

@Melissa... My son said they got some snow flurries yesterday and it looks like the snow is on it's way this coming week. Since my son is from Southern Tx, snow is something we see on TV. Not much snow around the Alamo...

Shooooooot..  I'm in southern KY and we don't see much here either.  lol

@Melissa... So glad to hear your son is almost with ticket in hand. Some SR's are being sent home on the bus. BULL CRAP!! Not mine.. we will pay for the first class flight home...

No snow on the south side of Chicago as of yet, but they keep telling us to be aware it may be coming. It's cold and icky out, that is for sure. Very grey day. Its really a shame that some of you who live in other states won't be coming to GL, it truly is beautiful where your sons are and the base is very nice. You should plan a winter trip to Chicago next winter TxNavyDad, its a place worth visiting.

@thetwoj... I can imagine it is. I'm originally from NY state. so I'm very accustomed to the snow. Miss it like crazy being here in Texas and was SO looking forward to having a double whammy going to GL. My son's graduation and snow! Ahhh but the best laid plans... or Murphy's law... Anyway, we will soon have our son home.

That's worth more than all the snow in the world.

He hasn't been there long at all compared to many many other kids.  November 27th. Just 9 business days.  We got VERY lucky with the Christmas push.  We are truly blessed in such a horrible situation.  I know he isn't home yet but the hard part is over......the wait for legal.  

Apparently one can only count Business days when talking SEPS.  Mon-fri  9-5 no federal holidays (which we now know goes from 12-19 to Jan-2.)  wish i had that holiday schedule.   

Right I get that now. I guess it's counted in business days, since legal only works as you said M-F, 9-5. To bad our SR's have to be in seps over the weekend when legal isn't... Give them a weekend pass!! I'll be glad to fly my son home and back again. Kinda ridiculous, but hey... it's better than being stuck in S5...

Seeing snow fall and actually "listen" to the silence that goes with falling snow is amazing. I miss that so much from being from NY state. It's hard to imagine hearing silence, but the way the snow blankets the normal everyday sounds is fantastic. So sorry he did not get to experience it sixft.

Hi everyone! My husband got sent to ship 5 on Thursday. He kept passing out while standing for long periods of time.

I'm a little confused. They told him Thursday "you should be home in less than 3 weeks, and expect to talk to legal in 7 business days" But now I'm finding out about them going on vacation the 19th-2nd and I'm literally sick to my stomach after seeing how long it's truly taking to get everyone home from here.

But then I read your comment TxNavyDad about the civillian agency. Does this mean that if he gets to see legal before the 19th, he could come home earlier and wouldnt have to wait until after the 2nd? I don't understand why everyone would be telling him "expect to be home earlier than 3 weeks" if they're not planning on sending anyone home during those two weeks. Sorry, I just wish this process wasn't so in the dark...

Very depressed today my new friends.  I was hoping my son would have called sometime during the day.  No FB, no call, other than i'm in S5, no letter.  A friend of mine said it seems like convicts communicate to their families more than this.  I am on the other hand so happy for the kids that are closer to leaving and being with their families.  TexNavyDad...you have been kind of quiet today.  Kind of mellow ...  LOL  Alohacoffee....I am about 45 miles north of San Diego, CA.   

@Colormecrazy from what we understand they are trying to get as many through before the 19th. Our son (txnavydad and I) has been in seps a week and he now has a meeting with legal tomorrow. He spoke to someone who went  to see legal today and they are telling him 5-9 business days before they leave. So it is about 2-3 weeks. We have had the best luck contacting him via facebook (private message). Our son says it is boring. They do get computer time periodically. He was able to log on twice today. He has only called once and that was the day he was sent to seps. I am hoping he can call tomorrow after he meets with legal. We do send him letters and I know he has received them. I sent them last Tuesday and he received them either Friday or Saturday so I do know that they are being received. Emotions are kinda crazy. I can tell you I was in shock the 1st day, upset and cried the second and then just kinda felt like we were in the dark and also mad at what is going on.