Proudmama - No, my son is waiting to class up for Starboard D first then on to RSS. Starborad D is basically an intense pt class to get you ready for RSS. It was more than full when he was to start and so they put all of his PIR class and under on hold until some space opened up. Maybe now that a RS class graduated and those in Starboard D can move on, he will class up soon. I hope!
nope thats not my dog...hes cute though...I found that on one of the Navy Websites....
Re Romeo / Bravo.. My son graduated July 13 from RSS.. there was one opening for Sierra and the team leader took it... Everyone else is a Romeo.. No mention of Bravo's......
Well my son graduates tomorrow from his Sierra RSS training (at the top of the class). We have been waiting on pins and needles for the past week because he was approached with an opportunity he would love. Well momma just heard, he got his wishes. He will now be a CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue). Anyone who knows more about this, I would love to get some information on it.
Awesome dbristol! Congratulations to your son on being top of his class AND getting his choice! CSAR is one of the choices my son is hoping to do. I really don't know a lot about it other than I thought it tends to be in a combat zone. :(
Such honor, integrity and commitment your son is exhibiting. You must be very proud.
Wow, dbristol, congrats to your son. What a great accomplishment to be top of his class and get his pick. That choice sounds a little scary but these boys don't seem to mind. I know they are anxious to get underway. Please let us know what you learn about it.
dbristol! Congrats! I will have to pass on your fantastic news to our mutual friend, Deanna! I'm so thrilled and happy that your son has accomplished so much!
dbristol My son is a csar! Doesn't talk about it! Still in training and has been in his squadron for over a year. No end in sight. Support for Spec Op's. Much more training involved not sure when he will get his wings! .
That's cool sweetpea. I bought that movie for my husband for Father's Day but I think my son took it with him. If I remember correctly it came out right before he left for bc last July. I don't think he got to watch the whole thing before he left because it upset his girlfriend. I loved Keith Urban's song that was featured in the movie.
Sweetpea4 - Thank you and I will go ahead and get that movie. Then when I get enough strength, I will watch it.
Yes, my son is being very quiet about it and it is hard to find information about it so that was why I was hoping that maybe some other mom (or dad) may be able to give me some insite. He did tell me there was ALOT of additional training and it would be quite a long time before he actually got his wings. He is very excited about the opportunity though.
Proudmama - Thank you for letting Deanna know. I feel like you guys are invested in his journey as much as we are. You and Deanna have been my guardian angels when I needed someone. My son has mentioned many times how sweet Deanna was to him.
Nancynature and Jodi - Thank you for the kind words. My son did not get to pick CSAR. He just finished his Sierra training (graduated today) and they approached 6 people for 3 openings they said they had and then we have been waiting for the past week to hear which 3 they chose, so yes it is very much an honor and my son is very excited.
Jodi - Hopefully since your son really wants CSAR that there will be an opening when he gets to that point and he gets it offered to him. Just encourage him to do the best he can in class, keep his PST scores really good and keep out of trouble. They look at alot of things from what I hear on deciding who to offer it to.
WELL yall have been busy busy in here.... I love love it!!!!! I have missed yall while in Colorado seeing my boy and my daughter!!! We had a Blast!!! My son and I spent a lot of time together... he told me all about being a Rescue Swimmer and what he does and a Crew Chief and he even drew me pictures... hahahahahahah..... what a GREAT guy... sooo much fun.... hard to say good bye to him Friday this next Friday... BUT he is happy happy happy so I am too!!!!! Yes OPSEC rules always tho!!!! My son loves to talk and share but is always CAREFUL ... and reminds me to be also... It never hurts to review those rules from time to time yall!!!!! I think we have them listed up in the discussion forum also.......
Sooooooooo to our BC mammas.... as you know, you are already getting the Boxes and the info letters... remember to keep that letter!!!!! Try to join your PIR site if there is one.... and by all means if you can go to the Meet and Greet the night before the PIR.... I made sooooo many long time friends there!!!
For those on RSS hold... hang in there.... everything is subject to change at the drop of a pin not a hat!!!! But, it will happen yes it will!!!!!
Please new mammas go up to the discussion forums and click on View All... please read the Path of the RSS and also Phases.... goood info that will answer some questions and if not then we are HERE for yall!!! For Each other always!!!! Yes we are.... Us military parents stick together.. Not just navy but all branches.....
ummmmmm yes I once did some Mollys adopt and others... now however, I have been involved with our local VFW and we are doing about 200 soldiers all branches every other month... if you can, do indeed adopt a sailor... what I usually do also is, if I have a name and address.... I send extra for them to share... currently I am supporting Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy.... hey even just one box shared can make sooooooo much of an impact !!! Every bit helps to these kids!!
Gosh, well, I love and appreciate you all!!! we are all at different points in this Pipeline ... so that is why we are all here.... to share, hope, love, vent, worry, share and above all yall!!!!!!! BE Proud.... here, we have Bragging rights hahaha... tell us at anytime what GREAT things your kids have accomplished... xoxoxoxoxo
Do care packages matter..... YES!!!!!!!!!! Army unit we support..... Yes they matter!!!!!!! No matter the branch... send your sailor a box with lots of extra
Hey Ladies - long time, no talk! I have been busy - first my two oldest grandsons were here (they are 4 & 2) which was a blast, but exhausting! I have been working on Christmas stockings. Yes, Christmas stockings. =) I have 4 to do this year - a new daughter-in-law, a new son-in-law, and two new grandchildren. We have been busy this past year!
I hope all you boot camp Momma's are hanging in there. Phone calls should start soon, if you haven't already gotten them. Try not to cry too much through your call or you will miss all your recruit has to tell you. =)
When my BIL was in Iraq and then in Afghanistan we sent care packages every month with individually wrapped items - like small bags of chips, cookies, candy, etc. One, it kept the bugs out and lasted longer and two, it made it easier for him to share. Also, paperback books, newspapers, and magazines are great additions to care packages and are always appreciated.
MamaD's son finished SERE - like a champ, like we knew he would. He is on hold in San Diego with my son. Lucky MamaD gets to go visit them next weekend - I am sooooo envious!
Good morning everyone!! Just thinking about everyones Sailors and Recruits!! Those in BC, those on hold for NACCS and RSS and those going through it.. Those in A school and those who are in or on hold for FRS..
Awesome for MammaD's boy ..... Seems that SERE although very tough makes the Sailors aware of so much more in life.. at least that is what my son told me.
Nancy - awesome for adopt a platoon!!! And for those who do the Adopt a Sailor.. anything and everything!!! One to Onehundred!!!!
And in addition to Melissa's suggestions.... remember to never box a box... it adds to the weight of your package and takes up space... ex. boxes of individual chips or individual cookies such as the 100 cal cookies etc... dump them out of the container. They are sealed so they will be fine. Of course yall probably know this already hahahahahaha...... I know that the Sailors also request from me the individual packets of Gatorade and or Hawaiian punches... as the water on the ship is yuckie they said... well, anyhooooo.... have a GREAT week ladies!!!! xoxoxoxo
Hey moms of Recruits... hang in there!! I was going to mention to yall that sometimes the kids get sick and get a Medical Separation... everything from strep throat, shin splints, wisdom teeth extractions to pink eye... but don't panic to badly cause usually it will not effect their PIR date... now I have heard of kids who got appendicitis or such and they were in the hospital for a bit... that did effect their PIR dates.... but pretty rare for that to happen... just saying that I would not buy those airplane tickets anytime before 4 week before PIR unless they are refundable... other a medical problem if they fail their third PT sometimes that can cause them to roll back a few weeks until the DO pass it... does not usually happen with the Special Forces Recruits as they are already pumped up.... still, anything can happen... so just wait on those letters to start to roll in... do remind them to order those pictures when the time comes.. my son was on Med Sep for high fever that day but still went and got photographed anyway... I of course threatened him hahahahahahahah... Be sure and chat with other moms of your PIR group here on N4M... you can sort of compare notes if you will.... I know several of you here have kids in together now... AWESOME!!!!! okay hugs everyone
Melissa-it sounds like you have had a wonderful time with your grandchildren- and by the way.. super impressed that you are already working on Christmas Stockings!! You are inspiring me!!! Thanks for the care package ideas. I went to my first N4M packing party in Illinois.... wow! We packed a ton of boxes... I think maybe 80? I am not sure I didn't count... that is the most I have packed...ever! super fun to meet other N4M's:)
So happy for those advancing in their journey towards becoming an Air Rescue Swimmer! My son just started his journey... and I am a nervous nelly! How am I ever going to survive if bc is this hard??? What is so strange for me is that I am not a first time military mom! It was hard when my daughter went to bc in the army... but honestly, I don't remember being out of contact with her for this long .... she wasn't trying for a spec op rate.. so maybe I wasn't worried about her succeeding... not sure. The attrition rate for AIRR is so high that I am constantly worried...
BTW- After your posts regarding Act of Valor... I found it on Netflix.... intense, inspiring, and sad all at the same time! I had to find the box of Kleenex before I could continue watching it...
Thanks all for your support of us BC moms! We sure do appreciate it! All of us have received our boxes and letters (PIR 10/11) and now we are waiting for personal phone calls or letters. Not sure when they will start...
Lydia-a personal thanks for all of your support and tips-they all are helpful and so appreciated!
dbristol- I hardly qualify for angle status-LOL although... I tried telling that to my hubby... he didn't buy it... not for one minute! rats!!! In all honesty... I'm happy to have helped. I feel that all the help and support I have received on this site has been HUGE! I just made a phone call...glad though that Deanna could step in the gap...she is a crisis intervention counselor...guess she is born for "stepping in"! I haven't had a chance to relay the news about your son...will do that this afternoon!
Just wanted to say "thanks" and "hi" to all of you out there... saying a prayer for all of your sons wherever they may be! You are all my role models!
Proud..... I remember the worry and stress... you are not alone in that!!!! Yes I think because the attrition rate is soooo high it makes it all the more so... Yes care packages, care packages and them more!!! awesome!!!! Its what I live for!
Saltyocean.... well, it depends on the Sailor... most of them take advantage of the hold time to build up and prepare for what is ahead in RSS... its great time to beef up their PT scores and work work swim swim swim swim... some also do some volunteer work at the museum, the air shows, local soccer games etc... but mostly they need to be working on their physical and mental for RSS
Well, my boy is deployed.... 10 months... he texted me the sweetest text ever... such a good boy/man!!!! Godspeed the Boxer and all the fleet who are out now... such precarious times we are living in xoxoxoxoxoxo
Lydia, don't forget that we are here to support you like you have supported us when you need someone to talk to. J's back in the classroom. Had a 96 on his first test so he's happy. We were going to go down to visit over the holidays but he's not sure what his schedule will be so we aren't going. sigh...... Christmas sounds so far away.
thank you Jodi and Proud.... wooow 96 is stellar Jodi!!!! yea, it is sooo hard cause they never even know what or where they will be until the last minute which makes it soooo darn hard on the families!!!
Thank you Jodi and I know I will need it, cause my heart is already soooooo heavy! I am so thankful to have such great friends in here!!!! My husband thinks Im crazy.. FB and N4M hahahahaha Well my boy did manage to message me on FB last night... so that was great. And his farwell text to me and his sister way heart wrenching... Well - hope more of yall will check in soon!!!
Hahaha Im already trying to decide what to send my son in his first care package and then also for Christmas and his Bday... ours are the same... December 30th... he was my Birthday present!!!
What a great birthday present, Lydia. One nice thing about texts is that you can go back and read them time and time again. He will be in all of our minds I am sure, praying that he has a safe deployment.
Jodi- congrats on your son's high test score!!! Way to go! Congrats from a very proud N4M!
Btw- did u see who the heads at ease program is sending pcs to???? Very cool... It's the Boxer! Guess I need to get busy and send out some cases! It is time for some serious paying it forward!
proudmama, yes I did and I was trying to figure out who I saw had a son on the Boxer. After your post I went back several pages looking for USS Boxer. Then I see Lydia's Godspeed the Boxer right on the front page lol. This will be the first time I actually will be sending pillowcases to someone I "know". How cool!!!
Good morning! The PIR board was blowing up on Saturday with other divisions getting to make calls - unfortunately our SR boys did not :( I'm hoping they at least got to write letters. This "no news is good news" is hard! Have a great day!
Just to let you know Jaxietwo, when my son was in and the PIR groups were saying their sons were calling, I was so bummed. If it hadn't been for our individual group saying they hadn't gotten letters or calls, I would have been going crazy. Fortunately towards the end they were doing so well that they got to call home quite often so I have my fingers crossed for your son's division to get the same treatment.
Jaxietwo- they are all learning team work! Who knows what happened...maybe nothing...maybe they are in a different phase of training than the other divisions... since they keep telling us "no news is good news".... I wish a great day for the guys... with absolutely NO news:) (except a phone call or letter! haha)
proudmama and jaxietwo, the special ops division trains much harder that the regular divisions so they don't have as much spare time. Please don't think that just because they haven't called that they are having troubles. (it could be that: it was for my son's division BUT they went on to get it together and win the Hall of Fame award so even if it is for that reason it could turn around!!)
I can remember a conversation with my SR before he left - which had me just shaking my head, he said "they will go easy on us because we are spec ops" I can't wait to ask him if he still believes that now!!! Ah youth - ignorance is bliss!
hahahahahaha jaxie thats cute what your boy said.... and quite the opposite but Im sure he is figuring that out about now... yikes... with middle of the night ironing, bear crawls down the hallways. multiple "beat downs" (means extra PT if they get in trouble) I have to tell yall a funny story that my son laughs about now.... So one day one of the Recruits in his Ship was getting yelled at because the RDC found a pair of dirty whiteys in the kids bunk..well, the RDC was bawling him out and calling him silly names and so my B laughed out loud quite by accident!!!!!!.. BAD BAD BAD thing to do... so the kid and my son had to do Bear Crawls all through out the ships and cry out Im am stupid I love dirty underwear.... over and over and over....hahahahaha Anyway, they really do learn at about week 5ish to work as a team... They are almost always able to go to chapel and or write letters on Sunday mornings.. My son said that the negative actions of a few caused them to lose a lot of calls or they would only get a 5 minute call instead of 15 / 20.... and or get a lot of extra PT... but it is a learning process for them. Specs HAVE to learn to be a team, in the real Specs world it can mean the difference of life and death...
Yes for the Boxer and pillowcases!!!!!! Yea for our BC kids!!!!!! They will do stellar and come out so much more mature .. you wont even recognize them!!!
Lydia, yes I'm sure he is figuring it out - hence my worry that it was becuse of him that they didn't get to call :) He would absolutely do what your son did! And laugh while doing the bear crawls!
Hi all! I received my first personal letter from my son. It was upbeat and positive... what a sigh of relief. Is there a mom of an SR whose son is also AIRR at bc with the initials AB? If so, please message me. I have some nice things to tell you about your son! All is well... they are just learning to work as a team. Have had some priv. taken away, but my son takes it all in stride!
Jodi-Oh yes!!! It felt great!! I felt like a huge boulder rolled off of my shoulders! I'm going to put my feet up and exhale! I was worried that because his eye glasses prescription had increased, that he would not pass the eye exam for the AIRR rate... so it was great to receive a note that was positive and upbeat!
Thanks to all of you for your support! I don't know what I would have done without my N4m family:)
Proudmama- so glad you got a letter. You will cherish that one & everyone that comes after it. Hang in there. I remember when my son was in BC it seemed like all the other divisions were getting calls all the time and reading how much fun BC was for the other recruits was confusing to me. LOL now I understand that why. You will be so proud when you see him as a Sailor. Hang in there.
Heartstrings- thank you so much for your encouraging words! Yep...it doesn't sound like things have changed since your son was in bc! How is your son doing? Is he still in the pipeline or does he have his wings yet?
Proud.... SUPER AWESOME.... now you can relax just a bit!!!!
Hi Jodi and Heart... how are YALL all doing?
I made a scrap book for my son and all his letter some photos etc are in it... I do need to catch up with it tho......
He made Rescue Swimmer of the Quarter!!!! Need to put that photo in there for sure .... bragging rights... us mammas ALL have bragging rights at any time hahahahaha.... we are all so proud of our men AND women kids!!!!!!!
Lydia your son has done awesome the whole time he has been in. What a great accomplishment!
I have every letter that J sent somewhere in my house for safe keeping but at the moment I can't think of where haha. I am a pack rat when it comes to stuff my kids gave me and newspaper articles on them but I fall short on organizing them into those neat little scrapbooks. Just not something I'm good at. Hopefully J marries a really creative girl!
Jodi hahahahaha..... Im not good at it either... Im thinking ill organize his book this winter when there is nothing else to do!!!! Oh and thank you... he is a GREAT kid but then all our kids are!!!!! Im just hoping that he is keeping all these honor certificates somewhere safe till I can get my hands on them!!!
Hi all! Been gone for my daughter's wedding but am now back.
Proudmama - yeah for letters!!! I am so happy you got to hear from him. It is so hard not knowing what is going on and to not worry. Sounds like the pretty typical 800 division antics and hopefully they will start jelling soon!
Lydia - Bravo Zulu to your son! That is awesome! He has come a long way from that bear crawl hasn't he? Funny story in retrospect.
Thanks for asking moms. My son is currently still in Pensacola he has about 13 weeks left of A school. He is certainly counting down. Then SERE :( (during the winter, I am already freaking out) All is good though. It really has gone by pretty fast.
nancynature
Proudmama - No, my son is waiting to class up for Starboard D first then on to RSS. Starborad D is basically an intense pt class to get you ready for RSS. It was more than full when he was to start and so they put all of his PIR class and under on hold until some space opened up. Maybe now that a RS class graduated and those in Starboard D can move on, he will class up soon. I hope!
Aug 15, 2013
Travelsalot
Re Romeo / Bravo.. My son graduated July 13 from RSS.. there was one opening for Sierra and the team leader took it... Everyone else is a Romeo.. No mention of Bravo's......
Aug 15, 2013
dbristol
Well my son graduates tomorrow from his Sierra RSS training (at the top of the class). We have been waiting on pins and needles for the past week because he was approached with an opportunity he would love. Well momma just heard, he got his wishes. He will now be a CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue). Anyone who knows more about this, I would love to get some information on it.
Aug 15, 2013
Saltyocean
Thank you Jodi alumni for describing Brovo.
Aug 15, 2013
nancynature
Awesome dbristol! Congratulations to your son on being top of his class AND getting his choice! CSAR is one of the choices my son is hoping to do. I really don't know a lot about it other than I thought it tends to be in a combat zone. :(
Such honor, integrity and commitment your son is exhibiting. You must be very proud.
Aug 15, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Wow, dbristol, congrats to your son. What a great accomplishment to be top of his class and get his pick. That choice sounds a little scary but these boys don't seem to mind. I know they are anxious to get underway. Please let us know what you learn about it.
Aug 15, 2013
Travelsalot
THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE
Aug 16, 2013
proudmama
dbristol! Congrats! I will have to pass on your fantastic news to our mutual friend, Deanna! I'm so thrilled and happy that your son has accomplished so much!
Aug 16, 2013
sweetpea4
dbristol My son is a csar! Doesn't talk about it! Still in training and has been in his squadron for over a year. No end in sight. Support for Spec Op's. Much more training involved not sure when he will get his wings! .
Aug 16, 2013
sweetpea4
Dbristol watch the movie ACt of Valor! Warning not for the weak at heart tough on us MAMA"S
Aug 16, 2013
sweetpea4
Act of Valor features my Son's squadron!!! Heavy stuff!!!!
Aug 16, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
That's cool sweetpea. I bought that movie for my husband for Father's Day but I think my son took it with him. If I remember correctly it came out right before he left for bc last July. I don't think he got to watch the whole thing before he left because it upset his girlfriend. I loved Keith Urban's song that was featured in the movie.
Aug 16, 2013
sweetpea4
Jodi-alumni these guys are tight lipped! My Son doesn't tell me anything!!!!
Aug 16, 2013
dbristol
Sweetpea4 - Thank you and I will go ahead and get that movie. Then when I get enough strength, I will watch it.
Yes, my son is being very quiet about it and it is hard to find information about it so that was why I was hoping that maybe some other mom (or dad) may be able to give me some insite. He did tell me there was ALOT of additional training and it would be quite a long time before he actually got his wings. He is very excited about the opportunity though.
Proudmama - Thank you for letting Deanna know. I feel like you guys are invested in his journey as much as we are. You and Deanna have been my guardian angels when I needed someone. My son has mentioned many times how sweet Deanna was to him.
Nancynature and Jodi - Thank you for the kind words. My son did not get to pick CSAR. He just finished his Sierra training (graduated today) and they approached 6 people for 3 openings they said they had and then we have been waiting for the past week to hear which 3 they chose, so yes it is very much an honor and my son is very excited.
Jodi - Hopefully since your son really wants CSAR that there will be an opening when he gets to that point and he gets it offered to him. Just encourage him to do the best he can in class, keep his PST scores really good and keep out of trouble. They look at alot of things from what I hear on deciding who to offer it to.
Aug 16, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
WELL yall have been busy busy in here.... I love love it!!!!! I have missed yall while in Colorado seeing my boy and my daughter!!! We had a Blast!!! My son and I spent a lot of time together... he told me all about being a Rescue Swimmer and what he does and a Crew Chief and he even drew me pictures... hahahahahahah..... what a GREAT guy... sooo much fun.... hard to say good bye to him Friday this next Friday... BUT he is happy happy happy so I am too!!!!! Yes OPSEC rules always tho!!!! My son loves to talk and share but is always CAREFUL ... and reminds me to be also... It never hurts to review those rules from time to time yall!!!!! I think we have them listed up in the discussion forum also.......
Sooooooooo to our BC mammas.... as you know, you are already getting the Boxes and the info letters... remember to keep that letter!!!!! Try to join your PIR site if there is one.... and by all means if you can go to the Meet and Greet the night before the PIR.... I made sooooo many long time friends there!!!
For those on RSS hold... hang in there.... everything is subject to change at the drop of a pin not a hat!!!! But, it will happen yes it will!!!!!
Please new mammas go up to the discussion forums and click on View All... please read the Path of the RSS and also Phases.... goood info that will answer some questions and if not then we are HERE for yall!!! For Each other always!!!! Yes we are.... Us military parents stick together.. Not just navy but all branches.....
ummmmmm yes I once did some Mollys adopt and others... now however, I have been involved with our local VFW and we are doing about 200 soldiers all branches every other month... if you can, do indeed adopt a sailor... what I usually do also is, if I have a name and address.... I send extra for them to share... currently I am supporting Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy.... hey even just one box shared can make sooooooo much of an impact !!! Every bit helps to these kids!!
Gosh, well, I love and appreciate you all!!! we are all at different points in this Pipeline ... so that is why we are all here.... to share, hope, love, vent, worry, share and above all yall!!!!!!! BE Proud.... here, we have Bragging rights hahaha... tell us at anytime what GREAT things your kids have accomplished... xoxoxoxoxo
Aug 16, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Do care packages matter..... YES!!!!!!!!!! Army unit we support..... Yes they matter!!!!!!! No matter the branch... send your sailor a box with lots of extra
Aug 17, 2013
nancynature
Great picture Lydia! Keep it up! I do the AdoptaPlatoon and you are so right, these guys and gals love whatever you send them from home!
I think it was great that your son drew you a picture! How funny! Glad you had a great visit. It is wonderful having family together.
Aug 17, 2013
Melissa
Hey Ladies - long time, no talk! I have been busy - first my two oldest grandsons were here (they are 4 & 2) which was a blast, but exhausting! I have been working on Christmas stockings. Yes, Christmas stockings. =) I have 4 to do this year - a new daughter-in-law, a new son-in-law, and two new grandchildren. We have been busy this past year!
I hope all you boot camp Momma's are hanging in there. Phone calls should start soon, if you haven't already gotten them. Try not to cry too much through your call or you will miss all your recruit has to tell you. =)
When my BIL was in Iraq and then in Afghanistan we sent care packages every month with individually wrapped items - like small bags of chips, cookies, candy, etc. One, it kept the bugs out and lasted longer and two, it made it easier for him to share. Also, paperback books, newspapers, and magazines are great additions to care packages and are always appreciated.
MamaD's son finished SERE - like a champ, like we knew he would. He is on hold in San Diego with my son. Lucky MamaD gets to go visit them next weekend - I am sooooo envious!
Hope you all have a great week!
Aug 18, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Good morning everyone!! Just thinking about everyones Sailors and Recruits!! Those in BC, those on hold for NACCS and RSS and those going through it.. Those in A school and those who are in or on hold for FRS..
Awesome for MammaD's boy ..... Seems that SERE although very tough makes the Sailors aware of so much more in life.. at least that is what my son told me.
Nancy - awesome for adopt a platoon!!! And for those who do the Adopt a Sailor.. anything and everything!!! One to Onehundred!!!!
And in addition to Melissa's suggestions.... remember to never box a box... it adds to the weight of your package and takes up space... ex. boxes of individual chips or individual cookies such as the 100 cal cookies etc... dump them out of the container. They are sealed so they will be fine. Of course yall probably know this already hahahahahaha...... I know that the Sailors also request from me the individual packets of Gatorade and or Hawaiian punches... as the water on the ship is yuckie they said... well, anyhooooo.... have a GREAT week ladies!!!! xoxoxoxo
Aug 19, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Sure is quiet in here!!!!
Hey moms of Recruits... hang in there!! I was going to mention to yall that sometimes the kids get sick and get a Medical Separation... everything from strep throat, shin splints, wisdom teeth extractions to pink eye... but don't panic to badly cause usually it will not effect their PIR date... now I have heard of kids who got appendicitis or such and they were in the hospital for a bit... that did effect their PIR dates.... but pretty rare for that to happen... just saying that I would not buy those airplane tickets anytime before 4 week before PIR unless they are refundable... other a medical problem if they fail their third PT sometimes that can cause them to roll back a few weeks until the DO pass it... does not usually happen with the Special Forces Recruits as they are already pumped up.... still, anything can happen... so just wait on those letters to start to roll in... do remind them to order those pictures when the time comes.. my son was on Med Sep for high fever that day but still went and got photographed anyway... I of course threatened him hahahahahahahah... Be sure and chat with other moms of your PIR group here on N4M... you can sort of compare notes if you will.... I know several of you here have kids in together now... AWESOME!!!!! okay hugs everyone
Aug 21, 2013
proudmama
Melissa-it sounds like you have had a wonderful time with your grandchildren- and by the way.. super impressed that you are already working on Christmas Stockings!! You are inspiring me!!! Thanks for the care package ideas. I went to my first N4M packing party in Illinois.... wow! We packed a ton of boxes... I think maybe 80? I am not sure I didn't count... that is the most I have packed...ever! super fun to meet other N4M's:)
So happy for those advancing in their journey towards becoming an Air Rescue Swimmer! My son just started his journey... and I am a nervous nelly! How am I ever going to survive if bc is this hard??? What is so strange for me is that I am not a first time military mom! It was hard when my daughter went to bc in the army... but honestly, I don't remember being out of contact with her for this long .... she wasn't trying for a spec op rate.. so maybe I wasn't worried about her succeeding... not sure. The attrition rate for AIRR is so high that I am constantly worried...
BTW- After your posts regarding Act of Valor... I found it on Netflix.... intense, inspiring, and sad all at the same time! I had to find the box of Kleenex before I could continue watching it...
Thanks all for your support of us BC moms! We sure do appreciate it! All of us have received our boxes and letters (PIR 10/11) and now we are waiting for personal phone calls or letters. Not sure when they will start...
Lydia-a personal thanks for all of your support and tips-they all are helpful and so appreciated!
dbristol- I hardly qualify for angle status-LOL although... I tried telling that to my hubby... he didn't buy it... not for one minute! rats!!! In all honesty... I'm happy to have helped. I feel that all the help and support I have received on this site has been HUGE! I just made a phone call...glad though that Deanna could step in the gap...she is a crisis intervention counselor...guess she is born for "stepping in"! I haven't had a chance to relay the news about your son...will do that this afternoon!
Just wanted to say "thanks" and "hi" to all of you out there... saying a prayer for all of your sons wherever they may be! You are all my role models!
Aug 23, 2013
Saltyocean
Hello moms, Can anyone fill me in on what happens in "Starbord D", when waiting on hold for rescue swimmer school ? Thanks
Aug 24, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Proud..... I remember the worry and stress... you are not alone in that!!!! Yes I think because the attrition rate is soooo high it makes it all the more so... Yes care packages, care packages and them more!!! awesome!!!! Its what I live for!
Saltyocean.... well, it depends on the Sailor... most of them take advantage of the hold time to build up and prepare for what is ahead in RSS... its great time to beef up their PT scores and work work swim swim swim swim... some also do some volunteer work at the museum, the air shows, local soccer games etc... but mostly they need to be working on their physical and mental for RSS
Well, my boy is deployed.... 10 months... he texted me the sweetest text ever... such a good boy/man!!!! Godspeed the Boxer and all the fleet who are out now... such precarious times we are living in xoxoxoxoxoxo
Aug 24, 2013
proudmama
Lydia... my heartfelt thanks to your son for his service! I pray smooth seas as he travels the world and then returns home safely!!
Aug 24, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Lydia, don't forget that we are here to support you like you have supported us when you need someone to talk to. J's back in the classroom. Had a 96 on his first test so he's happy. We were going to go down to visit over the holidays but he's not sure what his schedule will be so we aren't going. sigh...... Christmas sounds so far away.
Aug 24, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
thank you Jodi and Proud.... wooow 96 is stellar Jodi!!!! yea, it is sooo hard cause they never even know what or where they will be until the last minute which makes it soooo darn hard on the families!!!
Thank you Jodi and I know I will need it, cause my heart is already soooooo heavy! I am so thankful to have such great friends in here!!!! My husband thinks Im crazy.. FB and N4M hahahahaha Well my boy did manage to message me on FB last night... so that was great. And his farwell text to me and his sister way heart wrenching... Well - hope more of yall will check in soon!!!
Hahaha Im already trying to decide what to send my son in his first care package and then also for Christmas and his Bday... ours are the same... December 30th... he was my Birthday present!!!
Aug 25, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
What a great birthday present, Lydia. One nice thing about texts is that you can go back and read them time and time again. He will be in all of our minds I am sure, praying that he has a safe deployment.
Aug 25, 2013
proudmama
Btw- did u see who the heads at ease program is sending pcs to???? Very cool... It's the Boxer! Guess I need to get busy and send out some cases! It is time for some serious paying it forward!
Aug 25, 2013
Saltyocean
Thank you Lydia--the sea is ours for your comments about Starbord D.
Aug 25, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
proudmama, yes I did and I was trying to figure out who I saw had a son on the Boxer. After your post I went back several pages looking for USS Boxer. Then I see Lydia's Godspeed the Boxer right on the front page lol. This will be the first time I actually will be sending pillowcases to someone I "know". How cool!!!
Aug 26, 2013
jaxietwo
Good morning! The PIR board was blowing up on Saturday with other divisions getting to make calls - unfortunately our SR boys did not :( I'm hoping they at least got to write letters. This "no news is good news" is hard! Have a great day!
Aug 26, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Just to let you know Jaxietwo, when my son was in and the PIR groups were saying their sons were calling, I was so bummed. If it hadn't been for our individual group saying they hadn't gotten letters or calls, I would have been going crazy. Fortunately towards the end they were doing so well that they got to call home quite often so I have my fingers crossed for your son's division to get the same treatment.
Aug 26, 2013
jaxietwo
Good to hear that - I'm just hoping it is not my son that caused them to not get a call :)
Aug 26, 2013
proudmama
Jaxietwo- they are all learning team work! Who knows what happened...maybe nothing...maybe they are in a different phase of training than the other divisions... since they keep telling us "no news is good news".... I wish a great day for the guys... with absolutely NO news:) (except a phone call or letter! haha)
Aug 26, 2013
jaxietwo
Agreed!
Aug 26, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
proudmama and jaxietwo, the special ops division trains much harder that the regular divisions so they don't have as much spare time. Please don't think that just because they haven't called that they are having troubles. (it could be that: it was for my son's division BUT they went on to get it together and win the Hall of Fame award so even if it is for that reason it could turn around!!)
Aug 26, 2013
jaxietwo
I can remember a conversation with my SR before he left - which had me just shaking my head, he said "they will go easy on us because we are spec ops" I can't wait to ask him if he still believes that now!!! Ah youth - ignorance is bliss!
Aug 26, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Obviously he didn't talk to any special ops guys before he left lol!
Aug 26, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
hahahahahaha jaxie thats cute what your boy said.... and quite the opposite but Im sure he is figuring that out about now... yikes... with middle of the night ironing, bear crawls down the hallways. multiple "beat downs" (means extra PT if they get in trouble) I have to tell yall a funny story that my son laughs about now.... So one day one of the Recruits in his Ship was getting yelled at because the RDC found a pair of dirty whiteys in the kids bunk..well, the RDC was bawling him out and calling him silly names and so my B laughed out loud quite by accident!!!!!!.. BAD BAD BAD thing to do... so the kid and my son had to do Bear Crawls all through out the ships and cry out Im am stupid I love dirty underwear.... over and over and over....hahahahaha Anyway, they really do learn at about week 5ish to work as a team... They are almost always able to go to chapel and or write letters on Sunday mornings.. My son said that the negative actions of a few caused them to lose a lot of calls or they would only get a 5 minute call instead of 15 / 20.... and or get a lot of extra PT... but it is a learning process for them. Specs HAVE to learn to be a team, in the real Specs world it can mean the difference of life and death...
Yes for the Boxer and pillowcases!!!!!! Yea for our BC kids!!!!!! They will do stellar and come out so much more mature .. you wont even recognize them!!!
Aug 26, 2013
jaxietwo
Jodi, he did but I don't think they discussed BC!
Lydia, yes I'm sure he is figuring it out - hence my worry that it was becuse of him that they didn't get to call :) He would absolutely do what your son did! And laugh while doing the bear crawls!
Aug 26, 2013
proudmama
Hi all! I received my first personal letter from my son. It was upbeat and positive... what a sigh of relief. Is there a mom of an SR whose son is also AIRR at bc with the initials AB? If so, please message me. I have some nice things to tell you about your son! All is well... they are just learning to work as a team. Have had some priv. taken away, but my son takes it all in stride!
Aug 27, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
proudmama, glad to hear he is adjusting well. Now, how are you doing? Isn't it great to get that first letter?
Aug 27, 2013
proudmama
Jodi-Oh yes!!! It felt great!! I felt like a huge boulder rolled off of my shoulders! I'm going to put my feet up and exhale! I was worried that because his eye glasses prescription had increased, that he would not pass the eye exam for the AIRR rate... so it was great to receive a note that was positive and upbeat!
Thanks to all of you for your support! I don't know what I would have done without my N4m family:)
Aug 27, 2013
Tiffany
Proudmama- so glad you got a letter. You will cherish that one & everyone that comes after it. Hang in there. I remember when my son was in BC it seemed like all the other divisions were getting calls all the time and reading how much fun BC was for the other recruits was confusing to me. LOL now I understand that why. You will be so proud when you see him as a Sailor. Hang in there.
Aug 28, 2013
proudmama
Heartstrings- thank you so much for your encouraging words! Yep...it doesn't sound like things have changed since your son was in bc! How is your son doing? Is he still in the pipeline or does he have his wings yet?
Aug 28, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Proud.... SUPER AWESOME.... now you can relax just a bit!!!!
Hi Jodi and Heart... how are YALL all doing?
I made a scrap book for my son and all his letter some photos etc are in it... I do need to catch up with it tho......
He made Rescue Swimmer of the Quarter!!!! Need to put that photo in there for sure .... bragging rights... us mammas ALL have bragging rights at any time hahahahaha.... we are all so proud of our men AND women kids!!!!!!!
Aug 28, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Lydia your son has done awesome the whole time he has been in. What a great accomplishment!
I have every letter that J sent somewhere in my house for safe keeping but at the moment I can't think of where haha. I am a pack rat when it comes to stuff my kids gave me and newspaper articles on them but I fall short on organizing them into those neat little scrapbooks. Just not something I'm good at. Hopefully J marries a really creative girl!
Aug 28, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Jodi hahahahaha..... Im not good at it either... Im thinking ill organize his book this winter when there is nothing else to do!!!! Oh and thank you... he is a GREAT kid but then all our kids are!!!!! Im just hoping that he is keeping all these honor certificates somewhere safe till I can get my hands on them!!!
Aug 28, 2013
nancynature
Hi all! Been gone for my daughter's wedding but am now back.
Proudmama - yeah for letters!!! I am so happy you got to hear from him. It is so hard not knowing what is going on and to not worry. Sounds like the pretty typical 800 division antics and hopefully they will start jelling soon!
Lydia - Bravo Zulu to your son! That is awesome! He has come a long way from that bear crawl hasn't he? Funny story in retrospect.
Jaxietwo - have you heard from your SR yet?
Aug 28, 2013
Tiffany
Aug 28, 2013