Hello Heartstrings... They are still in it together..!!.. My son said they have not actually started A School yet.. They are in a 10 day class preparing them for A School.. Learning about general things, rules, aviation history and safety... etc...He is excited to get going and be done with training
nancy... congrats on your daughter and her wedding!!!!!!
HI Heart... he is moving on down that pipeline! And he will be fine in SERE...
Jaxie.... hahahah our poor mailmen hahahahahaha... they know me well from 4 years ago BC letters and now Care packages... they are like family!
Travels... awesome.. they just want to get into what they are trained to do!! very exciting for them!! not so much for us mammas!! It is AWESOME that you and Heart are in this together... just like our mammas whose kids are in BC together... it really helps to have that connection!!!!
Well my mailman came through with four letters yesterday - see what stalking can do! My boy is doing well - thriving in fact - who is this kid? I have stories to tell ala Lydia - not now but in a couple of years - o'lord! He definately has division envy so if any of your guys are in 819 he said they are pretty much perfect - straight edge group of guys - he also said that division has the toughest RDC - may be a correlation there! About two-thirds of his divison has jelled so they are almost there. So happy I finally have heard from him!
Congrats on getting 4 letters. If you didn't send your son with phone cards, make sure to send some now. My son's division got to call home several times and towards the end of bc he was able to call more often so you want to make sure your son has minutes left on a phone card to make those calls!
proudmama, I'm not good at them because I just don't have that creative streak. Show me something and I can copy it but to think it up on my own, no way! I'm not even good at what colors go well with other colors. I really need a color wheel haha.
Jodi hahahahahah color wheel... gosh I forgot you have 6... how ever do you manage to not lose your mind!!! =)
jaxie.... yippie awesome!!!! sounds like he is with a great group of Recruits and they will do awesome all the way! I can't wait to hear some stories!!! hehehe OH I HAVE ANOTHER ONE for yall...........
Okay so one day on N4M on my PIR group site.. I was asking the other moms if anyone know anything about the train system there near the GL base.. well, suddenly I get this friend request from someone... I just thought it was a mom answering me through a message..... so I accepted the request.... HAHAHAHa well guess who it was........????????? My son RDCs YIKES... I did not know until later when my son called..... here is what happened..... so this person sent me this awesome message and a site to go on to check out the train and so forth and so on... this was like a week to PIR time.. I thanked them... well, the next day that person had unfriended me.... so my son calls me and tells me... hey mom.... my RDCs really love your N4M MYPage photos especially the one of you and your motorcycle... cause they have Harleys and love to ride..... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH They called my B into their office and showed him my Page... they laughed and laughed knowing that I had NO idea it was them.... so ladies.... remember, you are being watched on those sites as they are totally public... and we careful who you friend!!!!! hahahaha I worked out fine, they loved it but still...... eerie
Wrong mom, Lydia. I don't have 6 unless you count all the ones my sons had live with us over the years. (Well, maybe it was 5 that we have helped raise but I didn't have them! ). That was a cute story about the RDC. Someone did mention somewhere about how the RDC's check this website so I am always so afraid I'll say something I shouldn't and get my son in trouble.
OH sorry jodi I meant proud... with all the children... =)
yea, apparently they watch the PIR sites and the spec sites... but no harm.. after I found this out I use to sing their praises !! hahahahaha so if they saw anything from me it was all about how great they are (which really they are!!)
Whew - took me a while to catch up! You ladies have been busy with the talking. Yeah for letters! Isn't it great to hear from them and know that they are doing okay without you. It's what we raised them to do, but still....it is good to know.
My son had mentioned during his bc days that the 800 division spent anywhere from 2-4 hours a day in the pool, over and above the regular training that they do. So if you have a child in 800 chances are really good that he is just too darned tired to call and write often! No news really is good news, so hang in there.
I have to share a boot camp story too - near the end of boot camp the RDC asked a question of my son's division; in an aside to another recruit my son made a silly comment, then that recruit repeated the comment to the RDC out loud - which got the division in trouble. When asked, my son agreed that he had in fact made the comment and he apologized, but of course, he had some extra PT coming - as did the other recruit who repeated the comment. So there were newish recruits pt'ing in the gym where the RDC takes my son and the other recruit for their punishment pt. The RDC's have a card with workout routines on them - they typically do one side of the card only. So they get to doing their pt and one of the newish recruits makes a comment about how the SpecOp boys think they are so special - not a good idea! - and the RDC "invites" the recruits to join the 800 boys in their workout, which they do. So they complete one side of the card and the newish boys are whipped, and the RDC turns the card over and the two 800 boys, who are barely winded, keep going. When invited to continue the workout with the 'special' 800 boys, the new recruits decline saying "no way - those guys are animals, I'm getting out of here!"
Anywho - the point of that is that the 800 boys work very hard, and the RDC's keep them focused on the training and becoming a team; even moreso than the regular recruits because there may come a time in the 800 guys life where someone's life in in their hands and they have to be able to rely on the guy next to him - 100%, no questions, ever. Air Rescue's motto is "So Others May Live" - and they live it. So a lot of the time there are fewer phone calls and fewer letters from the 800 boys. This is a good thing - it means they are focused.
Hang in there Moms - bc is really not that long and your little boy is changing, for the better.
When my son was in BC he said they hardly did any swimming which really frustrated him! He had so many SWCC guys in his division that when they would get to swim it was only the strokes the SWCC guys needed to learn. This particular division had extremely strong-headed recruits and didn't play well together so most of their pt was the 'card-type'. In fact my Sailor said they rarely had ‘regular’ pt! They did eventually work together as a team so much so that they set a new record in Marlin Spike. They almost won the Hall of Fame but one not-so- tough recruit decided to mouth off at the RDC after they completed their BS21and so were docked points and loss the Honor by only 100ths of a point. Like I said before, there were some strong-headed recruits!
Proudmama - some days I have no idea! lol
Awesome news Jaxietwo! Wednesdays were the days I stalked our mailman!
No pool time for the swimmer Nancy? My son wouldn't have lasted! We tease him that if he doesn't swim daily his gills dry out. =) That boy was made to be a rescue swimmer - he was in the pool the first time at about 2 months, and doing flips off the diving board at 4.
Found out yesterday that my son begins his next round of classes (FRS) on Tuesday -yeah!
Hi Melissa! funny story hahahaha.... love BC stories! and awesome for your boy... getting on down that Pipeline!
Hi Nancy and Proud!!!!
Well, as the fleet amasses in the Syrian theater (public knowledge so no OPSEC there) I begin to wonder where my boy is... nerve wracking Ill tell ya! He said in his last message to me a week ago that he cant tell me and of course I would not ask anyway! Still, I worry of course... OH well, don't we ALL worry about our kids.. no matter if they are BC, RSS, A school, SERE, FRS or deployed! love those kids!!!!!!!!!!
Lydia- thoughts and prayers go out to your son while on deployment!
Also, prayers go out to all our sailors and military personnel as they make their way through this trying time!
Div 820 was able to make phone calls home yesterday! From all the postings, it seems as though all are well, but sore throats/strep? seems to be making way round the group! 10/11 PIR can't come soon enough!
proud..... yes and pink eye seems to go through also.... perhaps as there is sooo much swimming involved and the pools are not cleaned fast enough... I dunno... but I recall my son had real high fever once also... gave him three days of bed rest which hahahah....... means the get to sit at attention on their bunk.. no laying down.. sheeeeesh!!! But they really do try to take good care of the kids! The RDCs watch them like hawks. YEA phone calls and letters should be rolling in a little also by now!
Hi Proudmama... My son called home when he arrived at boot camp, and again a couple week later...then word spread through N4M that the guys were going to call home and a specific date/date was given out... The call never came, the entire group was being punished and no phone calls were made...We found out later it was because of the info on N4M.. Be careful abut what you post. Then, I think I may have have gotten one more call... I received several letters.. My son said they are so busy and tired and they have to study on their spare time so it was hard to find time to write. Don't get discouraged, your sailor is very busy..... Sometimes, no news is good news..right...
Travels-thanks for the info... and yes, it is always a good reminder to not be too specific! Thanks... I think it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking it is "Us four and no more" on this site... rather than an entire world out there!
I have a story to tell you this week about phone calls... so I was out on a walk listening to my music from my iphone (don't you think I should get a free phone from that quick advertisement?) when all of a sudden I received a call from my SR! I excitedly answered it, but he told me he could hardly hear me because of static! I realized that he was hearing the wind blowing... and being not so close to home, I looked around and ...... jumped into a bush to keep the wind from disrupting the phone call. I stood there... in the middle of someone's bush... laughing, exclaiming, and at one point almost crying during our conversation. I'm sure it was quite a site to behold since I was really head first into the bush with my feet still on the sidewalk... I finally stepped out of the bush.. still laughing with people looking at me as they were walking and driving by...There I was, stepping out of the bush... walking, laughing and then almost crying to myself.... yep... I'm not crazy... I'm a navy mom!
proudmama, that is so funny!!!. About phone calls, my son called several times and then after battlestations he was able to call several times (if I recall, he ran out of minutes on his calling cards that last week or he would have called more)
Proudmama what a great story! I could just imagine seeing you in the bushes. What we won't do to talk to our kids!
BTW - in regards to phone calls. I think the longest time we went was 2 and a half weeks but some of the calls we did get only lasted 5 minutes! There were a few times that if my then SR aced a test or had an excellent inspection then he got to earn a phone call(those were some of his 5 minute calls) or extra time when he got to call, something your SR may want to keep in mind.
I have been away from this site for sooooooo long as my son continued his training in San Diego. Finally his FRAC graduation is going to take place next week. I would appreciate any information about the ceremony as my husband and I would really like to attend. I believe it is going to be a pretty small group. What is the actual graduation like, where does it take place? Do parents generally attend? I know at least one other set of parents are attending.
Absolutely go to this ceremony~!! My Son's was held outdoors very nice ceremony, This is the one NOT to miss! From what I have heard the air crew winging ceremony is at the last moment if there is one! I waiting on my Son getting his wings long haul been 15 months and going!!!
There were a good number of parents, siblings at my Son's. Don't miss out! There are few opportunities!!
kkrHoosier, congrats to you son on his upcoming graduation!!!! We mentioned to our son that we planned to attend his graduation in Feb and he told us "it's only like 15 minutes long" but we are going anyway. He's supposed to fly for the first time today. I'm still waiting for the call to tell me he really has.(you know how things always change). He's so ready to get up there!
Hello Ladies! Haven't been on here in a while, But I still "see" the comments and news from email notifications. My son has been in San Diego since the beginning of March and in FRAC since then end of March. He's loving it. He's done his "night flights" and now he's doing his search and rescues. Everytime we discuss, he's energetic and positive about it. He says that he still has a ways to go to "get over the hump" and then after that he will be OK. He maintains that she should be finished by November and we are hoping that's how it will be. We are in Florida and cannot go for his graduation for this, (hate that) but it's a long way and we aren't in the position to do that. We are so looking forward to him coming home perhaps afterwards for the Holidays. He's loving the flights and getting to put all that's he's learned into it.
BAWWWWHAHAHAHAHA Proud now THAT is a funny story... ah the things we do for our kids!!!!!
KKrHoosier..... yup what Sweatpea said for sure!!! my sons was a small group of about 12, outside with the ocean behind them.. his pastor my friend and wife attended it along with several of his buddies who had not yet graduated and some of the kids from Church... I got some great pictures... I was not able to go but I sure wish I had of.... so if you can afford it GO GO GO!!!!!
Jodi - awesome!!!! I know he is happy to get up in the clouds!
Same with my son as was with Nancy.... their were few calls and very short.. seemed they were always in trouble for something hahahah..... still they won all the competitions cause toward the end, they started working as a TEAM!!! My son got selected to be one of the Sticks (Flag bearer at PIR) it was really awesome... hang in the BC mammas, those kids are gonna be Stellar!!!!!
GMom... GREAT that he is doing so well and moving toward that goal... Graduation and wings!!!! I was not able to go either so dont feel bad... but be sure he has people to take some pictures for you!
Sweetpea.... he will have those wings soon!!!! my son said they did not even have a ceremony... they did it in the hanger... but then my son is always saying Ahhh mom dont come its too expensive and the ceremony's are sooo short... still I have missed out due to expense... all I have are pictures but Im sooo lucky for that!!!!! At each ceremony, he had someone take them for me... suchh a good boy he is.....
My boy is out somewhere... I got a FB message from him this morning... they are near a Port so Im sure he will be able to fill me in... Gosh I miss him so bad but he said they are well.... busy busy busy he said but all are okay..
I am feeling emotional this morning Remembering.
I am so proud of our Sons & Daughters for making the decision to serve our country even after these horrible events in 2001. What an honor to be the Mother of a Navy Sailor.
Heartstrings- thanks for posting that... I feel the same way... so appreciative of the men and women of our military... Thank you, thank you, thank you. My words sounds so little... "Thank you".... but my heart is full of appreciation and admiration.... to all you moms...
On a personal note.... we had our own 9/11 emergency last year..exactly one year ago this day... my daughter had brain surgery- a full crainiotomy- to remove a cyst. Not cancerous... but potentially deadly. While it was traumatic for our family...she did well in the surgery and to this day says that she feels soooo much better. I am thankful to the men and women who defend our country so that my daughter could have life saving surgery.
KKRHoosier-Congrats to your son and his upcoming graduation!
GMom- I don't think there is anything better than having your child love his life! Congrats!
Lydia- You and your son are never far from my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for all that you do!
Shdutilly- My son PIRs on 10/11 too! Welcome:)
NancyN- I'm going to send you a pm this evening:) Thanks for your note and all your encouragement! I think your son's wedding is right around the corner?
Shdutilly - welcome sista!!!! Yes you have some moms in here whose Recruits are PIRing on that day! awesome to be together and share.
proud... Oh my goodness, God bless you and your daughter we of course you whole family.. my goodness crainiotomy ahhhhhh - you must have been a basket case.. How is she doing now a year later?
Hi Jodi; Hi Heartstrings; Hi nancyn.........
Truly a day of mourning... Even though it has been 12 years, I find my self just as glued to my tv this morning as I was on that horrific morning. What an honor and privilege to have a son in the service of our GREAT country..... What an honor and privilege to know each one of you moms whose children proudly are serving and or getting ready to serve. God bless the families of the fallen and including our First Responders...
Love my mamma friends in here!!!!! Don't know what I would do with out yall
As I sit at work at my desk eating my lunch I look out our door and there flying in front of me is our American flag at half staff. Makes me sad for those we have lost but at the same time I am so proud to be an American and even prouder of those who have decided to dedicate themselves to something greater than themselves. What an honor and privilege it is to have our son in the Navy and to know others that do also. Please pass on to your Sailors my pride in them, how I am honored by their service and thank them for for me.
Sweetpea - I am sorry you lost friends that day....
Sweetpea..... I am so sorry for your loss...... my heart goes out to you... Yes God Bless America and keep her free.... Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.... love you sister and sisters
Hey all! Hope all you (current) Boot Camp Moms are hanging in there - you are half way there!
If I remember correctly, I only received a couple of phone calls from my son while he was at BC - he spread his calls around, he called his brothers and his sister and his grandparents; not just me. I understood, but boy, I wished those were my calls! Now we just fumble around a two hour time difference. Good thing for text and emails.
Thanks for the input from several of you. Our tickets are booked for San Diego next Thursday! I'm very much looking forward to celebrating this milestone in our son's training - 21 months since he graduated from Boot Camp. He is in the best physical shape of his life and has matured so much since that day. We are incredibly proud of him.
Hope you can give some information My sailor tells me not to send food packages as they can't have food in their rooms. Other blogers at Pensacola talk about what goodies they send. Is this a rule that applies only for the AIRR folks?
When my son was there last fall, they weren't allowed food either. There was a problem with ants in the barracks.....when he moves to San Diego or Jacksonville you can send food care packages, :)
I sent care packages last fall. They had to have plastic containers to put any food in and I think the first box didn't even make it back to his room because his friends and he ate it all!. I sent at least 2 packages and the last one weighed 9#. I sent it all in Ziploc bags. He left there in May or June I think so they may have changed the rules.
Saltyocean my son is there now and he also said they can't have food but.... I have sent him food - brownies, cookies, bars, small trail mix and licorice. I send small amounts and he eats them on his way back to the barracks. if there is too much for him he shares with others! I usually give him an idea as to how much I send and then he takes a few buddies with him. Seems to be working okay for now. Sending brownies out tomorrow in fact! :)
jaxietwo
Nancy, congratulations on your daughter!
No letter yesterday - since I am also in Illinois it should be here today - I WILL stalk my mailman!
Aug 28, 2013
Travelsalot
Aug 28, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
HI yall...... okay an old Navy Mamma friend from my our BC posted this on my Face Book..... this is OUR song ladies!!!!!!!!! yes it is!!!!!!!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=311541422196326&set=vb.100...
Aug 28, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
nancy... congrats on your daughter and her wedding!!!!!!
HI Heart... he is moving on down that pipeline! And he will be fine in SERE...
Jaxie.... hahahah our poor mailmen hahahahahaha... they know me well from 4 years ago BC letters and now Care packages... they are like family!
Travels... awesome.. they just want to get into what they are trained to do!! very exciting for them!! not so much for us mammas!! It is AWESOME that you and Heart are in this together... just like our mammas whose kids are in BC together... it really helps to have that connection!!!!
Aug 28, 2013
proudmama
Heartstrings and Travelsalot- best wishes as your sons continue down the pipeline~!
Lydia- FANTASTIC ! So glad that your son has done well with each step of his Navy Career! I'm sharing your joy!!
NancyN- One wedding down... and one to go! How do you keep up??
Jodi- I'm terrible at scrapbooks... could it be because I have 6 kids and 3 grand kids?? haha
Aug 29, 2013
jaxietwo
Well my mailman came through with four letters yesterday - see what stalking can do! My boy is doing well - thriving in fact - who is this kid? I have stories to tell ala Lydia - not now but in a couple of years - o'lord! He definately has division envy so if any of your guys are in 819 he said they are pretty much perfect - straight edge group of guys - he also said that division has the toughest RDC - may be a correlation there! About two-thirds of his divison has jelled so they are almost there. So happy I finally have heard from him!
Aug 29, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Congrats on getting 4 letters. If you didn't send your son with phone cards, make sure to send some now. My son's division got to call home several times and towards the end of bc he was able to call more often so you want to make sure your son has minutes left on a phone card to make those calls!
proudmama, I'm not good at them because I just don't have that creative streak. Show me something and I can copy it but to think it up on my own, no way! I'm not even good at what colors go well with other colors. I really need a color wheel haha.
Aug 29, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Jodi hahahahahah color wheel... gosh I forgot you have 6... how ever do you manage to not lose your mind!!! =)
jaxie.... yippie awesome!!!! sounds like he is with a great group of Recruits and they will do awesome all the way! I can't wait to hear some stories!!! hehehe OH I HAVE ANOTHER ONE for yall...........
Okay so one day on N4M on my PIR group site.. I was asking the other moms if anyone know anything about the train system there near the GL base.. well, suddenly I get this friend request from someone... I just thought it was a mom answering me through a message..... so I accepted the request.... HAHAHAHa well guess who it was........????????? My son RDCs YIKES... I did not know until later when my son called..... here is what happened..... so this person sent me this awesome message and a site to go on to check out the train and so forth and so on... this was like a week to PIR time.. I thanked them... well, the next day that person had unfriended me.... so my son calls me and tells me... hey mom.... my RDCs really love your N4M MYPage photos especially the one of you and your motorcycle... cause they have Harleys and love to ride..... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH They called my B into their office and showed him my Page... they laughed and laughed knowing that I had NO idea it was them.... so ladies.... remember, you are being watched on those sites as they are totally public... and we careful who you friend!!!!! hahahaha I worked out fine, they loved it but still...... eerie
Aug 29, 2013
proudmama
Aug 29, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Wrong mom, Lydia. I don't have 6 unless you count all the ones my sons had live with us over the years. (Well, maybe it was 5 that we have helped raise but I didn't have them! ). That was a cute story about the RDC. Someone did mention somewhere about how the RDC's check this website so I am always so afraid I'll say something I shouldn't and get my son in trouble.
Aug 29, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
OH sorry jodi I meant proud... with all the children... =)
yea, apparently they watch the PIR sites and the spec sites... but no harm.. after I found this out I use to sing their praises !! hahahahaha so if they saw anything from me it was all about how great they are (which really they are!!)
Aug 29, 2013
Melissa
Whew - took me a while to catch up! You ladies have been busy with the talking. Yeah for letters! Isn't it great to hear from them and know that they are doing okay without you. It's what we raised them to do, but still....it is good to know.
My son had mentioned during his bc days that the 800 division spent anywhere from 2-4 hours a day in the pool, over and above the regular training that they do. So if you have a child in 800 chances are really good that he is just too darned tired to call and write often! No news really is good news, so hang in there.
I have to share a boot camp story too - near the end of boot camp the RDC asked a question of my son's division; in an aside to another recruit my son made a silly comment, then that recruit repeated the comment to the RDC out loud - which got the division in trouble. When asked, my son agreed that he had in fact made the comment and he apologized, but of course, he had some extra PT coming - as did the other recruit who repeated the comment. So there were newish recruits pt'ing in the gym where the RDC takes my son and the other recruit for their punishment pt. The RDC's have a card with workout routines on them - they typically do one side of the card only. So they get to doing their pt and one of the newish recruits makes a comment about how the SpecOp boys think they are so special - not a good idea! - and the RDC "invites" the recruits to join the 800 boys in their workout, which they do. So they complete one side of the card and the newish boys are whipped, and the RDC turns the card over and the two 800 boys, who are barely winded, keep going. When invited to continue the workout with the 'special' 800 boys, the new recruits decline saying "no way - those guys are animals, I'm getting out of here!"
Anywho - the point of that is that the 800 boys work very hard, and the RDC's keep them focused on the training and becoming a team; even moreso than the regular recruits because there may come a time in the 800 guys life where someone's life in in their hands and they have to be able to rely on the guy next to him - 100%, no questions, ever. Air Rescue's motto is "So Others May Live" - and they live it. So a lot of the time there are fewer phone calls and fewer letters from the 800 boys. This is a good thing - it means they are focused.
Hang in there Moms - bc is really not that long and your little boy is changing, for the better.
Aug 30, 2013
nancynature
Great stories Melissa and Lydia!
When my son was in BC he said they hardly did any swimming which really frustrated him! He had so many SWCC guys in his division that when they would get to swim it was only the strokes the SWCC guys needed to learn. This particular division had extremely strong-headed recruits and didn't play well together so most of their pt was the 'card-type'. In fact my Sailor said they rarely had ‘regular’ pt! They did eventually work together as a team so much so that they set a new record in Marlin Spike. They almost won the Hall of Fame but one not-so- tough recruit decided to mouth off at the RDC after they completed their BS21and so were docked points and loss the Honor by only 100ths of a point. Like I said before, there were some strong-headed recruits!
Proudmama - some days I have no idea! lol
Awesome news Jaxietwo! Wednesdays were the days I stalked our mailman!
Aug 30, 2013
proudmama
Aug 31, 2013
Melissa
No pool time for the swimmer Nancy? My son wouldn't have lasted! We tease him that if he doesn't swim daily his gills dry out. =) That boy was made to be a rescue swimmer - he was in the pool the first time at about 2 months, and doing flips off the diving board at 4.
Found out yesterday that my son begins his next round of classes (FRS) on Tuesday -yeah!
Sep 1, 2013
nancynature
Melissa - it was tough on him. As soon as he got to P'scola he was in a pool!
Yeah for your son classing up!
Sep 1, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Hi everyone!!!
Hi Melissa! funny story hahahaha.... love BC stories! and awesome for your boy... getting on down that Pipeline!
Hi Nancy and Proud!!!!
Well, as the fleet amasses in the Syrian theater (public knowledge so no OPSEC there) I begin to wonder where my boy is... nerve wracking Ill tell ya! He said in his last message to me a week ago that he cant tell me and of course I would not ask anyway! Still, I worry of course... OH well, don't we ALL worry about our kids.. no matter if they are BC, RSS, A school, SERE, FRS or deployed! love those kids!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 3, 2013
proudmama
Lydia- thoughts and prayers go out to your son while on deployment!
Also, prayers go out to all our sailors and military personnel as they make their way through this trying time!
Div 820 was able to make phone calls home yesterday! From all the postings, it seems as though all are well, but sore throats/strep? seems to be making way round the group! 10/11 PIR can't come soon enough!
Sep 4, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
proud..... yes and pink eye seems to go through also.... perhaps as there is sooo much swimming involved and the pools are not cleaned fast enough... I dunno... but I recall my son had real high fever once also... gave him three days of bed rest which hahahah....... means the get to sit at attention on their bunk.. no laying down.. sheeeeesh!!! But they really do try to take good care of the kids! The RDCs watch them like hawks. YEA phone calls and letters should be rolling in a little also by now!
Sep 4, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
woooooooooooooooow it is quiet in here!!!! love yall!
Sep 7, 2013
proudmama
Hey Vet moms out there.... about how many times was your son/daughter able to call home during bc? What should I anticipate?
Sep 7, 2013
Travelsalot
Sep 8, 2013
proudmama
Travels-thanks for the info... and yes, it is always a good reminder to not be too specific! Thanks... I think it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking it is "Us four and no more" on this site... rather than an entire world out there!
I have a story to tell you this week about phone calls... so I was out on a walk listening to my music from my iphone (don't you think I should get a free phone from that quick advertisement?) when all of a sudden I received a call from my SR! I excitedly answered it, but he told me he could hardly hear me because of static! I realized that he was hearing the wind blowing... and being not so close to home, I looked around and ...... jumped into a bush to keep the wind from disrupting the phone call. I stood there... in the middle of someone's bush... laughing, exclaiming, and at one point almost crying during our conversation. I'm sure it was quite a site to behold since I was really head first into the bush with my feet still on the sidewalk... I finally stepped out of the bush.. still laughing with people looking at me as they were walking and driving by...There I was, stepping out of the bush... walking, laughing and then almost crying to myself.... yep... I'm not crazy... I'm a navy mom!
Sep 8, 2013
sweetpea4
Proudmama that is hilarious!!!
Sep 8, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
proudmama, that is so funny!!!. About phone calls, my son called several times and then after battlestations he was able to call several times (if I recall, he ran out of minutes on his calling cards that last week or he would have called more)
Sep 8, 2013
nancynature
Proudmama what a great story! I could just imagine seeing you in the bushes. What we won't do to talk to our kids!
BTW - in regards to phone calls. I think the longest time we went was 2 and a half weeks but some of the calls we did get only lasted 5 minutes! There were a few times that if my then SR aced a test or had an excellent inspection then he got to earn a phone call(those were some of his 5 minute calls) or extra time when he got to call, something your SR may want to keep in mind.
Sep 8, 2013
kkrHoosier
I have been away from this site for sooooooo long as my son continued his training in San Diego. Finally his FRAC graduation is going to take place next week. I would appreciate any information about the ceremony as my husband and I would really like to attend. I believe it is going to be a pretty small group. What is the actual graduation like, where does it take place? Do parents generally attend? I know at least one other set of parents are attending.
Sep 9, 2013
sweetpea4
Absolutely go to this ceremony~!! My Son's was held outdoors very nice ceremony, This is the one NOT to miss! From what I have heard the air crew winging ceremony is at the last moment if there is one! I waiting on my Son getting his wings long haul been 15 months and going!!!
There were a good number of parents, siblings at my Son's. Don't miss out! There are few opportunities!!
Sep 9, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
kkrHoosier, congrats to you son on his upcoming graduation!!!! We mentioned to our son that we planned to attend his graduation in Feb and he told us "it's only like 15 minutes long" but we are going anyway. He's supposed to fly for the first time today. I'm still waiting for the call to tell me he really has.(you know how things always change). He's so ready to get up there!
Sep 9, 2013
GMom
Hello Ladies! Haven't been on here in a while, But I still "see" the comments and news from email notifications. My son has been in San Diego since the beginning of March and in FRAC since then end of March. He's loving it. He's done his "night flights" and now he's doing his search and rescues. Everytime we discuss, he's energetic and positive about it. He says that he still has a ways to go to "get over the hump" and then after that he will be OK. He maintains that she should be finished by November and we are hoping that's how it will be. We are in Florida and cannot go for his graduation for this, (hate that) but it's a long way and we aren't in the position to do that. We are so looking forward to him coming home perhaps afterwards for the Holidays. He's loving the flights and getting to put all that's he's learned into it.
Sep 9, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
BAWWWWHAHAHAHAHA Proud now THAT is a funny story... ah the things we do for our kids!!!!!
KKrHoosier..... yup what Sweatpea said for sure!!! my sons was a small group of about 12, outside with the ocean behind them.. his pastor my friend and wife attended it along with several of his buddies who had not yet graduated and some of the kids from Church... I got some great pictures... I was not able to go but I sure wish I had of.... so if you can afford it GO GO GO!!!!!
Jodi - awesome!!!! I know he is happy to get up in the clouds!
Same with my son as was with Nancy.... their were few calls and very short.. seemed they were always in trouble for something hahahah..... still they won all the competitions cause toward the end, they started working as a TEAM!!! My son got selected to be one of the Sticks (Flag bearer at PIR) it was really awesome... hang in the BC mammas, those kids are gonna be Stellar!!!!!
GMom... GREAT that he is doing so well and moving toward that goal... Graduation and wings!!!! I was not able to go either so dont feel bad... but be sure he has people to take some pictures for you!
Sweetpea.... he will have those wings soon!!!! my son said they did not even have a ceremony... they did it in the hanger... but then my son is always saying Ahhh mom dont come its too expensive and the ceremony's are sooo short... still I have missed out due to expense... all I have are pictures but Im sooo lucky for that!!!!! At each ceremony, he had someone take them for me... suchh a good boy he is.....
My boy is out somewhere... I got a FB message from him this morning... they are near a Port so Im sure he will be able to fill me in... Gosh I miss him so bad but he said they are well.... busy busy busy he said but all are okay..
Sep 10, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Lydia, glad you got to hear from your son. I hope he is in a safe place somewhere and you get more information soon.
Sep 10, 2013
nancynature
Oh joy, Lydia!!! So glad you got to hear from your boy. I hope you get to really talk to him soon!
Sep 10, 2013
shdutilly
Hello! I'm new to this site and group! My SR is at BC DIV 379 grad date 10/11!
Sep 10, 2013
nancynature
Welcome! :)
Sep 10, 2013
Tiffany
I am feeling emotional this morning Remembering.
I am so proud of our Sons & Daughters for making the decision to serve our country even after these horrible events in 2001. What an honor to be the Mother of a Navy Sailor.
God Bless
Sep 11, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Welcome shdutilly.
You are so right Heartstrings. It is an honor to be mothers of these outstanding young men and women.
Sep 11, 2013
proudmama
Heartstrings- thanks for posting that... I feel the same way... so appreciative of the men and women of our military... Thank you, thank you, thank you. My words sounds so little... "Thank you".... but my heart is full of appreciation and admiration.... to all you moms...
On a personal note.... we had our own 9/11 emergency last year..exactly one year ago this day... my daughter had brain surgery- a full crainiotomy- to remove a cyst. Not cancerous... but potentially deadly. While it was traumatic for our family...she did well in the surgery and to this day says that she feels soooo much better. I am thankful to the men and women who defend our country so that my daughter could have life saving surgery.
KKRHoosier-Congrats to your son and his upcoming graduation!
GMom- I don't think there is anything better than having your child love his life! Congrats!
Lydia- You and your son are never far from my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for all that you do!
Shdutilly- My son PIRs on 10/11 too! Welcome:)
NancyN- I'm going to send you a pm this evening:) Thanks for your note and all your encouragement! I think your son's wedding is right around the corner?
Sep 11, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Shdutilly - welcome sista!!!! Yes you have some moms in here whose Recruits are PIRing on that day! awesome to be together and share.
proud... Oh my goodness, God bless you and your daughter we of course you whole family.. my goodness crainiotomy ahhhhhh - you must have been a basket case.. How is she doing now a year later?
Hi Jodi; Hi Heartstrings; Hi nancyn.........
Truly a day of mourning... Even though it has been 12 years, I find my self just as glued to my tv this morning as I was on that horrific morning. What an honor and privilege to have a son in the service of our GREAT country..... What an honor and privilege to know each one of you moms whose children proudly are serving and or getting ready to serve. God bless the families of the fallen and including our First Responders...
Love my mamma friends in here!!!!! Don't know what I would do with out yall
Sep 11, 2013
sweetpea4
Lost several friends that day! God Bless America!
Sep 11, 2013
nancynature
Heartstrings, Lydia and Proudmama - Agreed!
As I sit at work at my desk eating my lunch I look out our door and there flying in front of me is our American flag at half staff. Makes me sad for those we have lost but at the same time I am so proud to be an American and even prouder of those who have decided to dedicate themselves to something greater than themselves. What an honor and privilege it is to have our son in the Navy and to know others that do also. Please pass on to your Sailors my pride in them, how I am honored by their service and thank them for for me.
Sweetpea - I am sorry you lost friends that day....
Sep 11, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Sweetpea..... I am so sorry for your loss...... my heart goes out to you... Yes God Bless America and keep her free.... Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.... love you sister and sisters
Sep 11, 2013
Melissa
Hey all! Hope all you (current) Boot Camp Moms are hanging in there - you are half way there!
If I remember correctly, I only received a couple of phone calls from my son while he was at BC - he spread his calls around, he called his brothers and his sister and his grandparents; not just me. I understood, but boy, I wished those were my calls! Now we just fumble around a two hour time difference. Good thing for text and emails.
Sep 12, 2013
kkrHoosier
Thanks for the input from several of you. Our tickets are booked for San Diego next Thursday! I'm very much looking forward to celebrating this milestone in our son's training - 21 months since he graduated from Boot Camp. He is in the best physical shape of his life and has matured so much since that day. We are incredibly proud of him.
Sep 12, 2013
nancynature
kkrHoosier I am super excited for you! Enjoy your time with your sailor and safe travels!
Sep 12, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
kk - awesome!!!!!!!!
Sep 14, 2013
Saltyocean
Hello moms,
Hope you can give some information My sailor tells me not to send food packages as they can't have food in their rooms. Other blogers at Pensacola talk about what goodies they send. Is this a rule that applies only for the AIRR folks?
Thanks for any light on the subject.
Sep 15, 2013
aster
When my son was there last fall, they weren't allowed food either. There was a problem with ants in the barracks.....when he moves to San Diego or Jacksonville you can send food care packages, :)
Sep 15, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
I sent care packages last fall. They had to have plastic containers to put any food in and I think the first box didn't even make it back to his room because his friends and he ate it all!. I sent at least 2 packages and the last one weighed 9#. I sent it all in Ziploc bags. He left there in May or June I think so they may have changed the rules.
Sep 15, 2013
nancynature
Saltyocean my son is there now and he also said they can't have food but.... I have sent him food - brownies, cookies, bars, small trail mix and licorice. I send small amounts and he eats them on his way back to the barracks. if there is too much for him he shares with others! I usually give him an idea as to how much I send and then he takes a few buddies with him. Seems to be working okay for now. Sending brownies out tomorrow in fact! :)
Sep 15, 2013