Welcome to the group everyone !!!!
MaybeNavy48......I want to say Thank You. My son graduated BC in August of 08. He says BC was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. He also says it was the most rewarding. BC is not easy, but it's not supposed to be. Everything they do has a purpose. You may not agree with it or understand it, but one day it may save your life. Just remember that while you're in BC we here at N4M will be supporting you and we will have you in our prayers. Keep us informed on your success
I pray all the time that God would put christians in my sons and his families life. He grew up in a christian home and he is not walking with God.He is having great financial problems right now and I am not able to help them anymore. please pray for this situation.
My husband is traveling down to the School tomorrow for a visit. Is there something specific you would like to know about the area or just general questions about the RP job?
Rebecca you might contact the church of christ headquarters and to find out who is in the Navy.
Alot of churches has the militrary on their prayer lists.
@Nasus-- I am not a Navy mom, but rather a spouse and Okinawa was one of my favorite duty stations! Do you know who he will be assigned to there? It is a great place to go visit him if he has the time!
Hello all...I'm new to this group and hoping for insight and information! My son just PIR'd on 5/27 and is leaving for A school at 3 am tomorrow. (6/1) I am hopeful that maybe someone can give me some idea of what he has a head of him, and in what ways I can be praying and supporting him most.
Ellie's Mom...I am SO sorry! I know my son had to wait for an opening too, and it took a while before they let him start (DEPPER TOO!) but that once he was in, he was good to go with the RP rate. I ALSO know that one of the guys he was in boot camp with was supposed to be something else and was put IN TO the RP rate during boot camp. He was told that someone else who had planned to be an RP had messed up and so they were placing him in that rating instead. My son just finished his A school a couple weeks ago and flew to NC for his combat training today. He will be there until Oct. 8, home for 15 days and then off to Japan for two years.
You said in your earlier posting that your daughter has a strong faith...my son does too (as do we as a family) and this is where faith has to kick in! There is NOTHING stopping your daughter from becoming a Chaplain. She may not be an RP (for now - it could change) but she can still pursue all the classes and studies to reach her goal. If the LORD has led her to this place and this is HIS plan for her - NOTHING anyone does can take that from her. God is good and He can see everything from His point of view. He has her in His capable hands and He has a plan for her life. I'm not just saying this...I've actually been through a LOT in my life and have SEEN HIM AT WORK in some of the hardest times. You need to believe this. IF He is taking her on another path - it will be an even better one for HER. Honestly, you NEED to believe this. She is going to need you to talk her up, and walk her through this. I have an older son and a husband in the military, and I know how frustrating it can be! I also have a 23 year old daughter who still needs her mom to give her pep talks when she can't see that things are going to work out for herself! Your sweet daughter is going through one of the toughest and most challenging times of her whole life right now. You need to keep her in your prayers and lift her up. Help her to stay strong and not doubt that she CAN and WILL get through this...and that YOU believe in HER and that it's ALL GOING TO WORK OUT. She needs your encouragement, Mom! Feel free to vent here, you can even "friend me" and we can talk/write more off this forum. But, please don't let your girl know how you're feeling while she's still in the middle of boot camp. I know how it can affect them...anything emotional from home can have a very direct and difficult impact on them. They are already so emotional and wiped out while they're there! Just keep building her up!!! And know that I will keep her in my prayers too.
Hi all. My husband is in his last week of bootcamp right now. He is an RP. His 'A' school will be in Ft. Jackson. Can anyone tell me how long his 'A' school will be?
I'm noticing the discussions have stopped for quite a while but I'd thought I'd chime in on the last question posted... RP 'A' school in Fort Jackson runs about 2 months. My son just finished. He's home on leave, now, then he will go to Okinawa to serve on base - the battalion he's assigned to is the 'CB's'
The RP A Course moved from Meridian, MS to Fort Jackson, SC in December 2009. For more regularly updated information, I encourage you to become a fan of the RP Facebook page here.
Thanks Master Chief - our son attended RP A School in Ft Jackson, graduated and is now deployed to Okinawa serving alongside a SeeBee battalion. We, too, we confused back int he spring but figured the military would not send him to the wrong place!
Thanks for serving and in so doing, leading our Navy service men and women!
I appreciate that info. We have family in SC and would like to see him there instead of Mississippi. I know that with the military anything can change at any time. We are just grateful to God that he was given the opportunity to serve his country. Getting an RP position was a surprise, he was so happy about it.
Thank you again for answering my questions .... I am sorry to say that my SR has been injured during the first weeks of BC and is now in holding. We do not know what is ahead for him but does not sound like a short term injury. Please pray for his recovery to be swift and that God may see fit to move him forward to serve in his RPS rating. He made E2 and was doing so well. It is heartbreaking to say the least. But God is in control, and FAITH is the WORD I use most when talking to him.
My RPSR is in his Class A training in Fort Jackson and will soon go to Marine Combat Training. He signed up in the Navy Reserves but has been told quite often that he will probably be deployed soon after graduating the Combat Training. How does that usually work? Will he have liberty at Marine Combat Training?
He has so enjoyed the Class A training and is looking forward to the future God has planned for him.
Joy when did your son graduate frm CREST? Mine graduated october 17. He is in Japan now. Couldn't answer your question as. Was new and the way the program is being conducted is pretty new. My sailor graduated from a school in ft Jackson in august 11th
Hi Joy, My son also signed up as an RP in the Navy Reserves. He was told by his recruiter that he can easily get Full Time Support position while in bc, and that is what my son want, he wants to go full time. His recruiter didn't say anything about Marine Combat Training. Any info you may have to share would be greatly appreciated. My son just left for boot camp last week.
Malia, your son can fnd out what he can do at bc about being full time. The issue s that Rp is a very small rate so there are few opeings for RPs. Marine combat training is now called CREST-Chaplan and Religious program specialist Expditionary Skills Training. Not all RPs go there unless they have orders to be with the Marines. I'm not sure if Joys son went...I think he was at A school with my son and if I am correct her son did not go to CREST. CREST has a fb page.
jeffiner-desert-wind, our son is RP SN, serves with a CB Unit, has been in for 10 months and deployed to Okinawa just a couple months after finishing RP training at Ft. Jackson. He's done with his first deployment and is stationed back here now... He told us that he has to do some field training before his next deployment (late summer 2012, to the middle east) - sounds like CREST to me.
Anna V sounds like CREST to me too! My son enjoyed it. Its the kind of thing he lves t do...be in the field. The RP1 who trains them is quite the character. He calls his RPs young spartains devil chasng soul stealers. Training is at Camp Lekuine n NC. My son got to experience his first hurricane and second earthquake there this summer. Good trainimg for Japan. Lol
Your name looks familiar are you with the japan moms group too?
My son is home right now form Okinawa and it's GREAT to have him for a few more days. He heads back on Tuesday. And then has about 17 more months there. Having him so far away is hard...but I know that GOD has worked on growing him!! Jeffiner - did I tell you his promotion came through?? He's an E-4 now. YEAH!
Anna V - I look forward to him being back in the US for a while....but it's up to GOD where he ends up! I hope you're getting some time with him with him while he's here.
Congrats to your E4 you must be soooo proud! I know you are anyway:). Mine will finally be a SA in two weeks. Hopefully an E4 May 2013. I was soooo worried about you! I am soooo happy to hear from you! Mssed you! We have a new pan mom Zim's mom who's son is n Okinawa just left for there and he is an RP.
Thanks :o) Along with a bunch of other "life stuff" - I've needed to just stay focused.
YES - Happy to help Zim's mom however I/we can! Whatever questions I can answer. or information I can share. It was hard when J first left and I didn't feel like I had anyone to ask SPECIFIC RP in Okinawa questions of. So I want to do all I can to be a helper. :) And I can ask J things too - so it will help anyone new who's coming in. He's had some really tough stuff happen while he's been there - so he can share his knowledge.
Note - BEWARE OF SNAKES. They BITE!
And be careful of where you keep your credit/ATM cards...even the military has "bad people' who will steal them.
** OPEN AN ACCT AT NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION there on base. You can transfer money from any other acct to it and it makes banking on the base SO MUCH EASIER. AND...if they get in a tough spot/emergency - other people can transfer money in there too.
There is a USO on base for phone calls and free WiFi if they need it in a crunch.
Those are just a couple helpful notes I wish we'd had when he first got there.
AmyD--My husband MC Dyksterhouse is at the Schoolhouse right now talking to all the students. Fort Jackson is a beautiful base, and the leadership at the Schoolhouse is amazing!
Hi everyone, my son just graduated Bootcamp last week (2/10) Reported to Fort Jackson on Saturday and he should be in his first day of school today. Looking forward to connecting with everyone on this site.
Your son has some BIG ADVENTURES ahead of him! It will be exciting to see where he ends up! BTW...Congrats on the BC Grad! We have friends who were there for their nephew's grad. Very exciting!
Thank you Mar ProudSailorMom! Yes the BC graduation was exciting. Now he is on to the next chapter of his life, more excitements to come. Congratulation to your friends' nephew as well!
Welcome Malia! Congrats on bc graduation. Like Mar said. Wnderful adventures ahead. I am so glad my son has this rate. It is a perfect journey for his calling. Now you can call and text him . I loved that part.
Thank you jeffiner-desert-wind and Mar ProudSailorMom for your welcomes. AmyD, your son and my son must be in the same RP class. Let's connect. I sent you a friend request.
Anyone on here has been at RP A school graduation? My son seems to really want me to be at this graduation. Any advice?
I was at ALL the graduations!! :o) But it wasn't too bad since we only live about 5 hours away (driving) from where he was. It was a small ceremony (nothing compared to the boot camp one!) but it was really nice. We stayed at the Navy Lodge there on base, so it was really easy to get around. Are you or any immediate relatives active or retired military? If so, you can book a room there. There are also some decent inexpensive hotels near by.
Did you have any specific questions? We had a chance to meet his roommate while we were there and spend some time exploring. Two of our other kids went along and we enjoyed making it a family thing!
Jeffiner - I too am glad this is his rate. I know GOD is working through it and growing him....but there are some challenging days too. Prayer - Prayer - Prayer!! (I'm growing too!!!)
Mar I wish I could have been to all the grads. I saw on fb that my SA friend mentt got a BZ for showing "break dancing techniques n Thailand. . He had a dwner week last week. But one of those kind that he just has to listen to mom say love you...now cowboy up. And yes pray pray, pray. He is not gifted n secretarial skills and his chaplain is riding him hard about it. An education specialst told me that he'll never be able to have a job using such skills. Well here's testimonie of how God guides one out of comfort zones and against all odds; victory! He has proven thaose specilsts wrong as God is honing on those skills. Praise Him!
Mar, thank you so much for the info. I decided to come to his A school graduation. I do have to fly in from WA state. I am trying to decide how long should I stay? He said the graduation is on a Wednesday, so I am flying in on Tuesday night, staying the Wednesday, and flying back home on Thursday, or should I stay an extra day and fly home on Friday? (with hope that he is not getting shipped right away) He said after A school, he will go to CREST. What was the graduation like and how much time did you have to spend with your sailor afterward? .... any info is greatly appreciated .... :)
I think you can plan to have an extra day with him. J grad. on a weekday as well and then he had a couple days before he had to leave for CREST. Crest (for J) was in North Carolina @ Camp Lejeune, I believe - and he had about a week between. We spent the evening after his graduation and then the following day with him. He had more flexibility AFTER his grad there then he had after BC. They still keep a tight reign - so you may have to plan to spend the day ON base - but there is a movie theater and a bowling alley there - so we just made the best of it!
Where in WA?? I grew up there! I actually spent time on BOTH sides of the mountains! Had all my kids there and lived there for many years! I still have family there and go back often. :o)
If there is anything I can do to help - let me know. I LOVE looking for flights and often find some great deals.
Malia. I thnk it varies. My SA graduated on a Thursday and hus class left that Friday to Camp Lejuine. Mine stuck around t have his wisdom teeth pulled and have a little rest before CREST started. He got to CREST on Monday and they started up on Tue. They had to be iut of their rooms for the new PIR grads coming in. My SA had a chance to meet them since he was able to stay back.
Thank you Mar and jeffiner .... booked my flights and anxiously waiting for the graduation. Now, all I can do is praying for him to do well in all that he is doing and that he is healthy and happy.
Karen Ott
MaybeNavy48......I want to say Thank You. My son graduated BC in August of 08. He says BC was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. He also says it was the most rewarding. BC is not easy, but it's not supposed to be. Everything they do has a purpose. You may not agree with it or understand it, but one day it may save your life. Just remember that while you're in BC we here at N4M will be supporting you and we will have you in our prayers. Keep us informed on your success
Good Luck and God Bless:}
Dec 27, 2009
lcshomemaker
Jan 19, 2010
Robin
Jan 19, 2010
jean
Alot of churches has the militrary on their prayer lists.
Jan 28, 2010
Robin
Mar 8, 2010
Mar ProudSailorMom
THANKS MUCH for ANY HELP!
Blessings,
~marilyn~
May 31, 2010
Mar ProudSailorMom
You said in your earlier posting that your daughter has a strong faith...my son does too (as do we as a family) and this is where faith has to kick in! There is NOTHING stopping your daughter from becoming a Chaplain. She may not be an RP (for now - it could change) but she can still pursue all the classes and studies to reach her goal. If the LORD has led her to this place and this is HIS plan for her - NOTHING anyone does can take that from her. God is good and He can see everything from His point of view. He has her in His capable hands and He has a plan for her life. I'm not just saying this...I've actually been through a LOT in my life and have SEEN HIM AT WORK in some of the hardest times. You need to believe this. IF He is taking her on another path - it will be an even better one for HER. Honestly, you NEED to believe this. She is going to need you to talk her up, and walk her through this. I have an older son and a husband in the military, and I know how frustrating it can be! I also have a 23 year old daughter who still needs her mom to give her pep talks when she can't see that things are going to work out for herself! Your sweet daughter is going through one of the toughest and most challenging times of her whole life right now. You need to keep her in your prayers and lift her up. Help her to stay strong and not doubt that she CAN and WILL get through this...and that YOU believe in HER and that it's ALL GOING TO WORK OUT. She needs your encouragement, Mom! Feel free to vent here, you can even "friend me" and we can talk/write more off this forum. But, please don't let your girl know how you're feeling while she's still in the middle of boot camp. I know how it can affect them...anything emotional from home can have a very direct and difficult impact on them. They are already so emotional and wiped out while they're there! Just keep building her up!!! And know that I will keep her in my prayers too.
Blessings, Ellie's Mom!
~marilyn~
Jul 20, 2010
JCPDB (RP Wife)
Aug 5, 2010
Anna V
Jun 7, 2011
PDP
My son has started BC and will be going to Meridian for his A Class then onto NC.
I am glad to see there is a group for RPS and look forward to any information or just updates on others.
Jul 17, 2011
Master Chief Rick Dyksterhouse
Neil's Mom,
The RP A Course moved from Meridian, MS to Fort Jackson, SC in December 2009. For more regularly updated information, I encourage you to become a fan of the RP Facebook page here.
Very Respectfully,
Master Chief Dyksterhouse
Jul 18, 2011
Anna V
Thanks Master Chief - our son attended RP A School in Ft Jackson, graduated and is now deployed to Okinawa serving alongside a SeeBee battalion. We, too, we confused back int he spring but figured the military would not send him to the wrong place!
Thanks for serving and in so doing, leading our Navy service men and women!
Jul 18, 2011
PDP
Thank you Master Chief,
I appreciate that info. We have family in SC and would like to see him there instead of Mississippi. I know that with the military anything can change at any time. We are just grateful to God that he was given the opportunity to serve his country. Getting an RP position was a surprise, he was so happy about it.
Again thank you and God bless.
Jul 18, 2011
PDP
Thank you again for answering my questions .... I am sorry to say that my SR has been injured during the first weeks of BC and is now in holding. We do not know what is ahead for him but does not sound like a short term injury. Please pray for his recovery to be swift and that God may see fit to move him forward to serve in his RPS rating. He made E2 and was doing so well. It is heartbreaking to say the least. But God is in control, and FAITH is the WORD I use most when talking to him.
Jul 24, 2011
Joy
My RPSR is in his Class A training in Fort Jackson and will soon go to Marine Combat Training. He signed up in the Navy Reserves but has been told quite often that he will probably be deployed soon after graduating the Combat Training. How does that usually work? Will he have liberty at Marine Combat Training?
He has so enjoyed the Class A training and is looking forward to the future God has planned for him.
Jul 26, 2011
jeffiner-desert-wind
Dec 7, 2011
Malia
Hi Joy, My son also signed up as an RP in the Navy Reserves. He was told by his recruiter that he can easily get Full Time Support position while in bc, and that is what my son want, he wants to go full time. His recruiter didn't say anything about Marine Combat Training. Any info you may have to share would be greatly appreciated. My son just left for boot camp last week.
Dec 11, 2011
jeffiner-desert-wind
Dec 11, 2011
Malia
Thank you jeffiner-desert-wind. I will just keeping my fingers crossed hoping that he will get what he wants.
Dec 11, 2011
Anna V
jeffiner-desert-wind, our son is RP SN, serves with a CB Unit, has been in for 10 months and deployed to Okinawa just a couple months after finishing RP training at Ft. Jackson. He's done with his first deployment and is stationed back here now... He told us that he has to do some field training before his next deployment (late summer 2012, to the middle east) - sounds like CREST to me.
Dec 11, 2011
jeffiner-desert-wind
Your name looks familiar are you with the japan moms group too?
Dec 11, 2011
Mar ProudSailorMom
Hi all!
My son is home right now form Okinawa and it's GREAT to have him for a few more days. He heads back on Tuesday. And then has about 17 more months there. Having him so far away is hard...but I know that GOD has worked on growing him!! Jeffiner - did I tell you his promotion came through?? He's an E-4 now. YEAH!
Anna V - I look forward to him being back in the US for a while....but it's up to GOD where he ends up! I hope you're getting some time with him with him while he's here.
Jan 19, 2012
jeffiner-desert-wind
Jan 19, 2012
jeffiner-desert-wind
Jan 19, 2012
Mar ProudSailorMom
Thanks :o) Along with a bunch of other "life stuff" - I've needed to just stay focused.
YES - Happy to help Zim's mom however I/we can! Whatever questions I can answer. or information I can share. It was hard when J first left and I didn't feel like I had anyone to ask SPECIFIC RP in Okinawa questions of. So I want to do all I can to be a helper. :) And I can ask J things too - so it will help anyone new who's coming in. He's had some really tough stuff happen while he's been there - so he can share his knowledge.
Note - BEWARE OF SNAKES. They BITE!
And be careful of where you keep your credit/ATM cards...even the military has "bad people' who will steal them.
** OPEN AN ACCT AT NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION there on base. You can transfer money from any other acct to it and it makes banking on the base SO MUCH EASIER. AND...if they get in a tough spot/emergency - other people can transfer money in there too.
There is a USO on base for phone calls and free WiFi if they need it in a crunch.
Those are just a couple helpful notes I wish we'd had when he first got there.
Blessings,
mar
Jan 19, 2012
AmyD
Hi everyone,
My son just graduated on 2/03/12 and is now at Fort Jackson getting settled in before classes start next week.
Feb 7, 2012
Robin
AmyD--My husband MC Dyksterhouse is at the Schoolhouse right now talking to all the students. Fort Jackson is a beautiful base, and the leadership at the Schoolhouse is amazing!
Feb 9, 2012
Malia
Hi everyone, my son just graduated Bootcamp last week (2/10) Reported to Fort Jackson on Saturday and he should be in his first day of school today. Looking forward to connecting with everyone on this site.
Feb 13, 2012
Mar ProudSailorMom
Welcome Malia!
Your son has some BIG ADVENTURES ahead of him! It will be exciting to see where he ends up! BTW...Congrats on the BC Grad! We have friends who were there for their nephew's grad. Very exciting!
Keep us posted!!
Feb 13, 2012
Malia
Thank you Mar ProudSailorMom! Yes the BC graduation was exciting. Now he is on to the next chapter of his life, more excitements to come. Congratulation to your friends' nephew as well!
Feb 13, 2012
jeffiner-desert-wind
Feb 13, 2012
Malia
Thank you jeffiner-desert-wind and Mar ProudSailorMom for your welcomes. AmyD, your son and my son must be in the same RP class. Let's connect. I sent you a friend request.
Anyone on here has been at RP A school graduation? My son seems to really want me to be at this graduation. Any advice?
Feb 17, 2012
Mar ProudSailorMom
Malia -
I was at ALL the graduations!! :o) But it wasn't too bad since we only live about 5 hours away (driving) from where he was. It was a small ceremony (nothing compared to the boot camp one!) but it was really nice. We stayed at the Navy Lodge there on base, so it was really easy to get around. Are you or any immediate relatives active or retired military? If so, you can book a room there. There are also some decent inexpensive hotels near by.
Did you have any specific questions? We had a chance to meet his roommate while we were there and spend some time exploring. Two of our other kids went along and we enjoyed making it a family thing!
Jeffiner - I too am glad this is his rate. I know GOD is working through it and growing him....but there are some challenging days too. Prayer - Prayer - Prayer!! (I'm growing too!!!)
Feb 20, 2012
jeffiner-desert-wind
Feb 20, 2012
Malia
Mar, thank you so much for the info. I decided to come to his A school graduation. I do have to fly in from WA state. I am trying to decide how long should I stay? He said the graduation is on a Wednesday, so I am flying in on Tuesday night, staying the Wednesday, and flying back home on Thursday, or should I stay an extra day and fly home on Friday? (with hope that he is not getting shipped right away) He said after A school, he will go to CREST. What was the graduation like and how much time did you have to spend with your sailor afterward? .... any info is greatly appreciated .... :)
Feb 20, 2012
Mar ProudSailorMom
Malia...
I think you can plan to have an extra day with him. J grad. on a weekday as well and then he had a couple days before he had to leave for CREST. Crest (for J) was in North Carolina @ Camp Lejeune, I believe - and he had about a week between. We spent the evening after his graduation and then the following day with him. He had more flexibility AFTER his grad there then he had after BC. They still keep a tight reign - so you may have to plan to spend the day ON base - but there is a movie theater and a bowling alley there - so we just made the best of it!
Where in WA?? I grew up there! I actually spent time on BOTH sides of the mountains! Had all my kids there and lived there for many years! I still have family there and go back often. :o)
If there is anything I can do to help - let me know. I LOVE looking for flights and often find some great deals.
All the best!
Mar
Feb 20, 2012
jeffiner-desert-wind
Feb 20, 2012
Malia
Thank you Mar and jeffiner .... booked my flights and anxiously waiting for the graduation. Now, all I can do is praying for him to do well in all that he is doing and that he is healthy and happy.
Feb 21, 2012