NROTC

AlaskaMom /ViperGirl:  Thanks for your nice comments:)  I'm not leaving-  actually I hope nobody with graduating kids leaves because we all have such good support and advice we can offer to the new moms who join !

My daughter is on a cruiser out of Pearl Harbor and so far LOVES her job (thank you Lord).  Right now they just started participating in RIMPAC 2012 so they are scheduled to do all kinds of cool stuff over the next month or so in Hawaii.  She's working long, long hours and frequently forgets the time change when she calls home (like about an hour ago when she called chatting away on her way home from work and it's 12:30 am here- yay! )  Of course we love talking to her anytime.  Can't wait to go visit later this year.  Thanks for the tips on where to stay.

Thanks! Those things were REALLY helpful and I'll keep them in mind before I head to U of I.

Paulette I agree I heard several of my husband friend talking about O week they are running it this year (part of their NROTC jobs) and yeah they start 2, 4, 6, 4, 3 mile runs. yucky...

Back from Marine OCS graduation. It was amazing couldn't be more proud. Brit was part of the Candidate Battalion Staff, which meant he had one of the highest scores (very proud Mom). It was ugly hot but only one Candidate fell out that we saw and the Corpsmen were there almost as soon as his knees buckled. Got to got to see the Marine Corps Museum, a must see but nothing compared to graduation.

Suvwi -- Congrats to your son.  i know it is so difficult -- for both the marines & the parents :]    What a proud moment for you w/ him on the CBS, that's awesome. 

DD MIDN went to OCS graduation last year to be there for 4-5 of her marine classmates.  She said it was amazing.  I'm so glad you could make it for Brit, tho i know you wouldn't have missed it for the world.

carolyn: the 4 digit number is the last 4 digits of his social security number. It should addressed:

Candidate Last name, First name, Middle initial/last four digits of SSN

Officer Candidate School, ____ Company, ___Platoon

2189 Elrod Avenue

Quantico, VA  22134-5033

MizzouMom, what port is Sarah's 1C Cruise out of? My son is in the midst of his 2C cruise and is feeling very lucky--3 weeks on a frigate out of Pearl Harbor with quite a bit of it out to sea and a bit of port time mixed in. Do you live in Missouri. We are in West St. Louis County.

We dropped our new Midshipman off at Southern University for Orientation this morning.  I was pleasantly surprised that they had an information meeting for parents.  We met all the Faculty and Staff and were assured that their job is to see that the Midshipmen succeed. 

The Midshipmen were then sent out of the room by the Drill Sargent and boy is he LOUD.

We were able to see them being sworn in , then a 10 minute goodbye until Friday.  I am looking forward to Friday when I get to pick him up.

I think it's a whole new world out there for my Midshipman

Any other Southern moms out there?

We did not get to move them into the dorms.  My MID  will be cross campus at LSU and he can't move into his dorm until next week. So we will have a few last days with him after he returns from Orientation.

Love the Orientation Week stories!  Two years ago, still stinging from rejection from NROTC Scholarship and USNA, we dropped our 'college programmer' off at the state university 100 miles from our home.  It was NOT where he wanted to be!  His list of reasons for not going to that school was quite lengthy, but it's what we had to deal with as we had foolishly put all of our eggs in the Navy basket and hadn't applied for many other scholarships.  This university offered several small scholarships based on his academics alone, so we had to go with it.  Anyway, the parents were crammed into a small classroom and the mids were sent scrambling for gear.  As we were getting our brief, I could hear the newbies being yelled at right outside the window.  I knew at that moment that it was going to be okay.  DS wanted a REAL Navy experience and this sounded pretty real to me! When I returned later in the week for the battalion barbeque, I was met by a smiling and satisfied mid...HE LOVED IT!  It's been a long journey towards scholarship, but through it all, I've watched my son grow and mature in ways I never expected.  It's a great ride!  Good luck to all who are just starting.

Just returned from picking up my newly minted Midshipman 4th class.  He could not stop talking about the week!  I think he learned a new language- abbrevieations for everything- I told him to slow down I don't "speak Navy"  I am sure I am going to learn too. 

My hubby is gearing  up to help run O week. Oh no! I'm not ready for school to start. I miss him already! 

Prayers to you and your son Pattie.  I hope that this turn of events, as difficult and heartbreaking as it is, will also bring some sense of closure and peace. 

Kat

Hugs & prayers to you, Patti, your son & your whole family.  Such a physically and emotionally trauma, so sad.  God Bless.

PattiH:  It seems not nearly enough to say how sorry I am for what has happened to your son and your family.  The physical toll I'm sure feels insurmountable and then to be followed up by the emotional blow of having to leave the program I imagine feel cruel. 

I have read so many stories on these boards- some happy, some not so much and then those like yours that make me feel -  I shouldn't complain so much to get through my more difficult days and  as much as your son knew he wanted to be a marine maybe there is something much more important he has to do (or has to do first).

We just returned from our first visit to see our daughter, a newly commissioned Ensign at Pearl Harbor.  I was astounded at the number of people working there that are not military.  Huge sections of on-base "Contractor" housing.  Many, many ways to serve.

Hugs to you for better days XXX

Hi everyone-

Since we're at a new year I thought I'd update the List of Schools,  close last years list and open a new one.  If that sounds ok  I'll start on it.  When you have a minute take a look and make sure you're on there ( remember go to the end ). 

Thanks everyone and enjoy the weekend :)

Gmw:  Welcome to the NROTC. group and N4Moms-

Love the comment about not speaking Navy- LOL.  Pretty sure we have all said it and now I'm finding, after 4 years of ROTC, I swear out in the "real Navy"... there is a whole other set of acronyms- Holy Moly.  I think in every conversation I had with my daughter I had to ask her to back up and explain something.  It's downright exhausting.  Like 2nd nature to them- not so much to us.

Hey Pattie H

I've been offline for awhile. So very sorry to hear that the injury was more serious, that recovery will take more time. As I've said before he is so lucky to have you supporting him through this. The same mom skills it took guide him to NROTC will continue to aid in his recovery.

Please take care of yourself.

Kris

Oh boy. Storm now predicted to head north to LA/MS. Daughter is in New Orleans. School telling kids they can leave today, be back Thursday, but they are advising that if they stay, they are going to follow the city's recommendation to "shelter in place". The new NROTC class was just sworn in yesterday! I'm not really worried, just frustrated with Verizon (all circuits are busy). Only text messages, no internet at the school either. Great timing.

Selfishly when she mentioned her evacuation plans, I was giving her a list of things to take. She stopped me and said that there wouldn't be room for people.

She'll be okay.

She got her orders!  Our ENS passed her NCLEX exam (nursing board exam) & got her orders.  She's off to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego.  She's SSOOO excited; that was her first choice of where to go.

I'm gonna help her with a dity move ... pray for us as we drive a 16' rental truck pulling a car on a dolly!!  lol  We leave Monday the 17th.  Exciting times!!

Meanwhile, our 2/C MIDN is sad to see his sister leave MU/their Unit (that's where she's been "stationed" until she got her orders).  I love it that they are best friends.  Makes a mama proud  :] 

Jn/Jf Mom - Congrats.  My son will be moving to San Diego in the spring.  He's excited too.  He's been in for two years now and has been in Hawaii.  Be safe.

Jn/JfMom; I'm anxious to her how she likes San Diego! So glad she got her 1st choice and passed the NCLEX! I messaged you too.

My son is working through his Academy and ROTC scholarship application processes now. If he doesn't get an Academy spot, he's hoping to get the NROTC (USMC option) at Auburn. He and his sister could have a year in the same unit that way. He's had to resubmit his NROTC application bcuz they initially declared him ineligible bcuz he has earned so many college credits while in high school. So they shredded all his paperwork before thry realized

Good question Luke's mama. It's coming this spring for us. From looking at last year's pictures, looks like parents, friends or significant other uncover(s) the stripe on the sleeve, not sure what the Marine equivalent is (shoulder boards?)

How soon after they are sworn in do they report to their first duty station?

Carolyn at the most recent ceremony I went to in  May. Most of the bars were pinned by parents, siblings, wives and or fiances. I did not see any girlfriends or boyfriends.

My daughter way commissioned in May.  The girls have their bars covered by some kind of white tape until its time to reveal them during the ceremony.  My husband and I each untaped a sleeve.  One of her brother's placed her cover on her head and her other brother gave her a hug and slipped her the silver dollar for her to give the guy for her first salute.

In her commissioning ceremony there were big families, little families, girlfriends, boyfriends, fiances.  Ideally there should be something for each person to "do" but it's not absolutely necessary.  Key things were the shoulder boards for guys,  sleeves for girls and then the covers for both if I remember right.

RoTcMoM

Many of us have received the same phone calls. Check back through this site to the same weeks last year, and the previous years. Same issues crop up, in and out of ROTC. Excitement followed by the Oct doubts "what did I get myself into, no one likes me, no one to eat with, classes are so hard" Homesickness hits about now.

Let her vent. Listen to her. Helped me tremendously to find other moms whose kids survived the freshman October blues.

Ahh yes- the good ole' shirt stays :)  LOL.   Were you one of those moms that said "What in world are those?? And where in heck do I get them ??"  I didn't have a clue way back then.  Actually I wasn't entirely sure my DD did either - hehe.  They will become her best friend in that dress uniform for sure.  They need a good supply because they get lost, and worn, etc. 

Even the most self-assured kids have a rough time about now.  I think the excitement has worn off.  The grind of school is taking hold and the unit is showing that it's not always fun, like she said.  And I agree with everything bora's mom said.    Maybe a little surprise box from home- cookies or candy.  Or a card with a bookmark or stickers or something silly to make her smile could be just the thing.  :D

Beth hokiemom ... got your friend request.  Just got back home last night from being gone over 3 weeks.  Helped our Ensign move cross country & then stayed awhile.  Then went straight to see our NROTC 2/C for family weekend. 

I've avoided technology as much as i could while gone haha

i've accepted your friend request & look forward to a new friendship :]

RoTcMoM --  hope you don't take this the wrong way but "fun in NROTC"??  My dd and ds didn't have "fun" in NROTC until at least the Navy Fall Birthday Ball, or maybe not until after that!  That doesn't mean it isn't terribly hard for us to hear how miserable they may are & for us to want to be able to help them in some way.

My best advise is to listen & keep encouraging her & assuring her it will get better.  For now i'm sure the 1/C, 2/C & 3/C are still pushing their authority over all the 4/C, as well as distancing themselves to establish the ranking system that has to take place.  I am certain she will, in time, find someone she connects with, tho it may be awhile.  For one of our close family friends it took until almost second semester for her to find that person.  She enjoyed others, but never connected the way true buddies connect.

My best to you as you struggle for her & to her as she struggles to find her place & some fun.  (i'm all about the fun & it would be hard lol)

(((hugs)))

Any word from anyone on how the Madison Drill and Endurance competitions went??  First time in 4 years we weren't there.  I missed it  lol

I know for aviation it has to be PRK.

Wow it is so exciting to hear all the great things happening. 

My son is  Midshipman 4C  think that is how it is written.  Learning all kinds of new things.  It hs been a rough transition for him, but I think he has finally figured out how to balance everything.

Cheryl S, I would have him check. My DS had his done this past winter and was told PRK was they only accepted waiver as there is a chance lasik can fail during some maneuvers in flight.

My son is a 2C Mid and had PRK because he was told it was the required eye surgery for aviation waiver.

Alaskan Mom.....Congrats to your daughter!  My son wanted to go to Japan but those stations went quickly......which they evidently did not use to go so fast.  He went for a guided-missile destroyer in Hawaii.  When he talked with the detailer, the detailer said, "I was wondering when someone was going to choose this ship as it is a good one."  If she sees the USS Chung-Hoon on there, my son has had a great experience and it does not seem to have the "female" issues that some ships have.  

I remember this time well when you're waiting to hear.  Good luck to your daughter.  I hope she gets what she wants.

I haven’t been on this week, and I see this topic has been covered, but in case there is still come confusion, i thought i’d share what i learned this past summer re: PRK or Lasik.  Things are changing, but ....

Trying to help you understand, from what i have been told... Our Ensign daughter called this summer & said “Lasik is approved!! Jeff (our 3/C MIDN) should just get Lasik.”

Well, i made a few calls and finally spoke directly to the guy (Naval Officer) actually in charge of “Lasik or PRK.” He basically said they they have completed their studies about whether or not Lasik will be Navy approved for Navy Aviators. The study has the results that Lasik is going to be approved, but “he hasn’t actually turned the results & paperwork in yet,” so it hasn’t technically be approved for now, even though word has gone out that it is approved. (This was in late July, i think.)

He then told me, that even though it will be/has been approved for Naval Aviators, our NROTC kids are not yet Naval Aviators and Lasik has NOT been approved for them & (due to the trickle down effect??) it may be a year or two at least before it is legitimately approved for NROTC MIDN as an acceptable form of corrective eye surgery. I think if Lasik is done for Naval Aviators, it must be done at one of just a few select locations anyway, to which most of us as civilians don’t have access.

Exciting news, all the Service Selection news.

Congrats to all getting what they wanted & condolences to those not getting what they wanted ( i know they're out there too.  Son's buddy didn't get EOD like he wanted :(  and that's hard to take in the Unit when everyone else is so happy )

My son wanted EOD but didn't get it and it is difficult to take.  However, he dealt with it and is happy.  His best friend got helicopter pilot and he's no longer in the Navy because they didn't need any more.  Weird.

rose -- i disagree, it does matter, according to what the "Navy Lasik Liaison" told me this summer.  He said MIDN that are having corrective eye surgery to be pilots should still have PRK and should not have Lasik yet, because the paperwork for procedures, etc. has not all gone through for college MIDN to get Lasik.  I say better safe than sorry.  It can be done locally (for the MIDN), but it needs to be PRK.  And, yes, it does need to be approved by the CO or someone in his/her Unit before the procedure is done.

That's what i was told by the Liaison anyway. 

peace & joy to all 

Spent the weekend with our Ensign & our MIDN.  Heaven!!  Ugh ... now back to real life!! lol

Cheryl -- good to know, thanks

Congrats, welcome to the Marine family! Ooh Rah!

Hanksmom -- awesome!!

I have a freshman Mid at USC who LOVES the program and the University. Unfortunately he had a collapsed lung mid semester and is now on medical leave.  He managed to keep up with his classes (minus 1 that he dropped) even though he was in the hospital for 3 weeks. We are nervous about spring semester tuition, as it will not be paid until he is medically cleared and that won't happen until March (hopefully!). His officers and doctors seem to feel confident that he will be cleared, but it is so nerve wracking.  I will say that everyone involved with the NROTC at USC was wonderful through the difficult month of his illness. We are very fortunate, as we live in NH and after I left I felt so very far away, but comforted that he had very caring people around him! Does anyone have experiences or advice to share regarding medical leave? We never thought it would happen to him, he is an extremely healthy young man.  The doctors called it a "spontaneous" pneumothorax, meaning "it just happened, with no underlying medical reason".

My son had to go on medical leave for a semester due to shoulder surgery. We had to pay tuition for that semester. Luckily, we had submit a FAFSFA for financial aid even though he had the NROTC scholarship, so we didn't have to pay sticker price. When he was fully recovered, we had to submit a report from the doctor saying he had no restrictions. The ROTC Unit then submit the papers to the Medical Board who approved his removal from medical leave of absence and his scholarship & stipend were reinstated. It was retroactive and they reimbursed us for the semester he was on leave because he was still able to participate in all of his ROTC requirements, including PT. His surgery was during the summer, so during the fall semester he was having physical therapy and only had a few limitations, like no pull-ups & push-ups, but he could run and do everything else.  The process will be smooth if the administrator in the ROTC Unit is efficient and knows the requirements. So the scholarship can be reinstated retroactively IF he can do his required activities during the leave of absence. Otherwise it will be reinstated when he id fully recovered.

Also my husband had several spontaneous pneumothorax in high school and college. He didn't know what they were when he was in high school and didn't seek medical attention. In college, he did and they would re-inflate the lung and put in some kind of "glue" and he had to have bed rest until he was pain free. Then they just stopped happening.

Got great news today DS got his flight contract guarantee!! We can finally exhale now. Commissioning and The Basic School, here we come!