Welcome Anthonys and Ridgegirl.... hey please go up in the discussion forum up above and click on VIEW ALL and read the Path of the Rescue Swimmer and Phases.... it will answer a lot of your question and we are all here to love and suspport you!!!! If you know of any other RSS moms tell them to come on board with us.... if you have a question, we will have or find the answer for you... lots of awesome moms in here with Sailors in various stages of this long arduous Pipeline... so we are here for each other... My son is done with this pipeline and attached to the Black Jacks on the Boxer... many in here have Sailors just getting started... so all together we are a GREAT team of moms!!! woooohoooo so Welcome all newbies! So glad you are here! Funny this morning I copied a post from a friend and here was my note that I put on it... speaking of being close moms....:
I spend a lot of time on Navy 4 Moms Web site.. I am the adopted Admin for the Rescue Swimmer Page.. my husband asks or fusses at me... for spending so much time with women I don't even know. To him I reply, yes I know them.. they are my Sisters, their hearts are my heart.. their tears, fears joys are mine as well and mine theirs... their kids are my adopted kids... and mine theirs.... yes we all live States away from one another and yet we are just next door in our hearts.. Hooooahhhhh ladies.. this is what we are all about... Keep Paying It Forward !!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Lydia! I did not know htere was more. Thanks for the View All tip. My son is on Ship 04 Div 807 PIR 2/7/14. If there are other mom's out there with the same please feel free to add me or pm me.
Ridgegirl!! I got the box yesterday and was hoping I would get the form letter today. PIR date is 2/7. Does anyone know what airport our RS's fly out of to go to Pensacola after boot camp.
Thank you Lydia for the warm welcome. I look forward to building relationship and forming heart strings with other like minded moms, some have already began to form. I am so encouraged by this site, thank you for all that you do to keep it up and running.
My son flew out of O'Hare the morning after PIR - we actually met him at the airport early, had breakfast with him and then waited to see him off before we headed home. Your son really won't know details about PIR, his flight time, etc. until just before PIR - right now he is working on getting through each day.
I too encourage you to write, write, write your Recruit. Mail time is so important to them. Give his address to family, friends, his favorite teacher, his church - and encourage them to drop him a line. As my son said, letters from home were great and he appreciated them, but the ones he wasn't expecting really helped to keep him focused and moving forward, knowing that others were rooting for him too. Even just a silly card with a short note is appreciated - it doesn't have to be a long letter. I picked up a bunch of thinking of you and blank cards and pre-wrote them and then interspersed them with the newsy letters I wrote to make it easier on me to make sure I sent mail almost daily.
Hello Moms. Hope Christmas brings many of your sailors to you door step..Our son is coming home, and we are soooooo anxious to see him, hug him,hear stories, and feel his newly gained muscle mass!!!!
Can any one tell us what is meant by "tactical vs non tactical" when used to describe the difference between Sierra and Romeo ? He is Romeo.
Thank you and best wishes for a peaceful happy and warm Christmas to you all.
Saltyocean, I don't know what is meant by tactical but I believe the Romeo and Bravo (my son is in the last Bravo class at JAX) have to learn to use the radar equipment. Bravo uses the older type of radar and the Romeo uses the newer computerized systems which is why their schooling is so much longer.
My son will be coming home in 3 days!!!!! Hope everyone gets to see or talk to their sailors during this holiday season. Lydia, I will be thinking of you since I know this will be a hard Christmas for you. {{hugs}}
Jodi - Can you stand it? I think everyone around me just wants my son to come home so I will shut up about it. HAHA. No, I know my friends are excited for us because they know how much we miss him. SATURDAY, I have menus planned, all his favorite foods, snacks, I emptied several of "HIS" dresser drawers that I managed to fill up and cleared a spot for him in"HIS" closet since he will be home for 3 weeks. I know he will be with friends a lot, but he will spend time with us for the holidays, hang in the mornings, dinners and we are taking him down to see his Grandpa the last week he is here, so we will have plenty of time to catch up. Hope those that get the opportunity to be with their sailors at the holidays have a wonderful visit. Maybe we can get out to San Diego next year and see his "digs". Happy Holidays all!
Gmom, you are so lucky-3 weeks?? My sailor is only home for 8 days and like your son he will probably be running with all his friends too. He's meeting up with some of his Taekwondo students one day, they are so anxious to see him. Enjoy your time with your son and have a very Merry Christmas!!!
Jodi - yes, turned out he never took any leave this year so he was able to add it on to the regulation Holiday shutdown leave. This was only possible because he just graduated FRC and it coinsides with being moved to his new squadron (in San Diego, as well) and He doesn't have to report until Jan 13th. Timing was definitely on our side this time. Although we didn't know all this until just recently.....hurry up and wait! He's also managed to convince his best friends that he isn't coming so he can surprise them...this is gonna be a lot of fun!
GMom, that's cool he wants to surprise his friends. Several of my son's friends are going to surprise him at the airport. They are going up with us and asked that we not tell him they are coming. They haven't seen each other since last Christmas. He will be so glad to see them. I think he is getting homesick lol.
Well after an hour delay at the starting airport, followed by a 2 hour delay in Dallas, my son finally arrived around 11pm last night - though at the present time, his luggage is.....somewhere. So after an additional 2 hours at the airport to stand in line with the rest of the plane to report the missing luggage and driving through a blizzard to get here, we arrived home shortly after 2 am this morning.
However, all is well because my favorite Petty Officer is home!!!!
Wishing a Merry, Merry Christmas (or whichever holiday you observe in your home) to all of you and safe travels for all still on the road!
My son made it safely home last night without much travel delay. So glad to have him home this year as he was in boot camp last Christmas. Happy Holidays and safe travel to all.
Merry Christmas everyone. I hope those of you who are fortunate to have your swimmers home for the holidays are enjoying this time with them. For those who's swimmers can't make it home, please know that we appreciate your sacrifice and are keeping you in our thoughts.
HI yall..... so sorry I have been gone for a couple of weeks.. you know how the holidays are!!! Went to FL to see my mamma.... of course my son was NOT there as yall know he is deployed on USS Boxer... and my Nurse daughter is no longer there either as she and her doctor fiance moved to Colorado.. so it was a sad time yet a good time too....... I am glad the year is about over now cause we can start to look forward to what is yet to come. My son is somewhere with the 5th fleet in the Arabian /Middle East Arena.. (No worries... OPSEC Rules apply) speaking of OPSEC Rules that is another one to go up and read... click on VIEW ALL... it should be in there.... he is flying 12 to 14 hour days and or evenings.. loves his squadron.
I know we have some mamma's whose kids are on hold in Pcola... and after their Christmas "Break" will be back there on hold again...... waiting for NACCS (Naval Aircrew Candidate School) then waiting for RSS (Rescue Swimmer School).. then A school (Sierra or Romeo) etc... hang in there and keep us updated this New Year!!! This is a hard hard pipeline and there are lots of stresses.. so we are here for each other... please welcome any other mamma;s whose kids are in this rate that are still in BC... YES if you are new go up to that Discussion Forum and look for the Path of the Rescue Swimmer.. Phases and Liberty too.
suggestion to you moms who are just having kids going into BC.... look here on N4M for your PIR group.. there will be much great info from the Admins there for you... and you will make life long friends of some of the other moms!!! and MaryKay posted a good info site for yall..
Well, Happy New Year to my sistas! I have been here now for almost 4 years.. I have seen sooooo many come and go... and a few stay. It is the way it is of course. So hang in there and I will talk to yall sooooooooon!!!!! =P I promise not to be so MIA from now on!
Lydia - he will be attached to Agency 6. He moved into his new barracks the day before he came home for his holiday leave and returns on January 12 and reports on Jan 13th. All new to him and he is really enjoying being home in Florida with us for now. He missed home. We missed him. It will be hard come January 12 th to say goodbye.
Happy New Year to all. I hope you all got to visit or talk to your swimmers. I sent mine back to Jacksonville on Sunday so I am very envious of you GMom for getting to keep yours longer lol. Enjoy your precious time with him!
Happy New Year to my Navy family! I spent an enjoyable time over the holidays having a "My Three Sons" Christmas. =) It started with Christmas here with my Navy son, followed by a visit to my oldest son and his three sons, and ending with a visit to my middle son's home for New Year's Eve. I tried my darndest to convince my newest grandson to arrive a few weeks early, but he wasn't having any of it - so I will travel back there shortly to meet him.
My Navy guy is visiting his hometown in Colorado and playing rancher for the week - he said he needed a break from swimming and helo's, plus two of his buddies who are Marines and one who is Air Force, and another from the Navy were home on leave also. It was hard to leave him in Colorado, but it was fabulous to have him for the time I did. Sharing is hard!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that the New Year brings you blessing of joy!
Happy New Years to All! My son left this morning for San Diego. We live in Northern Illinois and after being in Pensacola for a year and then in Maine for SERE early in December and now all the snow and cold here at home, he's not liking the cold any more and is excited for San Diego and his new classes. It's still hard to let him go, but he's happy and that's what's important.Best of luck to all Rescue Swimmers!
OH how I know it is hard to let them go. I am sweetly jealous of yall who had your Sailors home over Christmas.. but up until this year I did too so I can not complain! It is part of it I suppose. =( Very excited for all of yall and your Sailor's new endeavors this New year! This time next year you will not believe the changes! So here's to all our Navy Sailors in this pipeline! hooooaahhhh to their mammas and to them! It is a rocky road especially for those who are just classing up after BC... but that is why we are here!!!! love and hugs! Lydia
Blessed that we have had out son home 2 weeks today. He leaves tomorrow morning. I keep telling myself I'll be ok knowing this is life now, but I'm not sure until tomorrow. On the good side, I plan to be there in 2 weeks, so that'll make it somewhat easier! I just love having all my kids home like all of you. He has loved just being at home and has given very little time to his friends and made them come here:). So back to Skype and FaceTime tomorrow and readjusting to normal life here at home as we go back to work. Hope you all had a great Christmas.
: ( my son headed back to his home in Jax this afternoon.. I tried to hold back the tears but it was pretty obvious I wanted to cry.. I sure enjoyed having him home.. He used my car to tool around in and spent a lot of time with his best friend who is also home on leave from the Navy... Just having him here, knowing hes in his room watching tv was comforting to me.. He cleaned out his room, threw a lot of stuff away and left it clean.. Well except for his sheets..I told him I would wash them.. I sure miss that kid.. even tho he is a young adult.. He will always be a kid to me.. Sad mom... BUT, Ill go see him and maybe we will go to Disney World!!!!!!!
travelsalot, it is sad to send them back isn't it? I sent mine back to JAX over a week ago and I'm still missing him. We are hoping to get enough notice to go see him at his graduation next month or March, depending on how quickly he gets through this last phase. Congrats on getting your son to go through his stuff and throwing a lot of it away. I'm still trying to get that done with both of my Navy boys and my oldest son. So far, not much luck there.
Talked to my son tonight and he classed up for Starboard D today. Curious how long others have been in this phase.... he said it can vary but I don't know what the time is based on. Excited for him to start on this next phase of the journey but apprehensive too.
My son arrived safely back in San Diego last night and went right back to work this morning. I am right there with the rest of you in that I missed him the minute he left (or rather the minute I left him in Colorado!)
I hope you are all staying warm - it hit a high of -8 here today. Brrr. Good thing I didn't have to leave the house today.
Hi Jodi .. Actually he did it all on his own. His room looks nice.. Ive been working so much that I haven't had time to wash his sheets.. I hope to get to JAX sometime during the 4 months he is on hold.......Still miss him.. My daughter is here thank goodness otherwise ...UHG ... They're adults but they will always be my kids....
My thoughts and prayers go out to all. I too hope all of our sons are safe today. Sounds like a miraculous rescue and unfortunatley a sad recovery. I understand why our swimmers are trained so hard. We need them to survive.
I lit a candle for the families involved... Navy families... let's light a candle or shine a light in honor of our fellow aircrew families and the tragedy that occurred today.
What a devastation for the families and those involved in this tragedy to our aircrew family . I have lit my blue candle in honor and constantly praying.
Bays - ... once they are on hold Starboard D it still can vary as far as hold time for RSS class up... for my son it took about a month... still great time for them to beef up their numbers and their mental for what is yet to come!!!! RSS has about an 80% attrition rate at this point.. and is NOTHING like NACCS (Naval Aircrew Candidate School) which they have at that point already passed.... My son (3 years ago) had 30 in his class at the beginning and was one of 3 that made it through first time.. total of 9 finished. 6 were kids who rolled back in from other classes. SOOO said that only to remind yall to remind them... they need the hold times to get prepared. as my son told another buddy who was classing up RSS.... stay strong, it only gets worse! Sounds negative but it is reality and my son gives good advice when I can pull it out of him! hahah
Still reeling from the two pilots who went down in the Arabian Sea (my sons sister squadron) a few months ago and the helo back in in December!!! Now this one in VA... This path sure keeps you on your knees.. for the kids in training and also our kids who are already deployed..
Im sure praying for a great new year for everyone!!!! I have been here now for almost 4 years and so many have come and gone.. praying for success for all our classups!!! and success for those who are in A school, SERE, FRS and their squadrons.. Thinking of each mamma here... this is soooooooooo hard... (Oh gfs and daddys too)... But this is why we are here for each other.. to answer questions or just be a shoulder to lean on.!!!!
New mammas, please go up to the Discussion Forum and read Path of a Rescue Swimmer and Phases and Liberty..... great info that will help you alot with initial questions!!! Be sure and invite any of your RSS friends to come and join us... lots are just coming out of BC. love and hugs!!!! <3
PS - Ridgegirl.... well said sista The attrition rate is high because this is a special operations Rate! They have to be well trained and capable in order to save not only the lives of others but their own as well!
If any of you moms have sons in training at Pensacola right now, the Navy posted a picture of a group of students getting instructions for the proper jump procedure on Navy.mil. You might spot your boy :). The picture is in the images of the day section on the right hand side.
Jodi-Thanks! I looked... my son isn't in that group (not that far in his training), but I bet that pic makes some moms out there happy!!! Thanks for keeping an eye out for our guys and gals!
Ridgegirl- Yes and Amen!
Hope you are all well and have fully recovered from the holiday season:)
Funny story - I was shopping for a pair of jeans for my son and was chatting with the saleswomen because I needed a pair of relaxed ones so they would be larger in the thighs, and she was asking about why he had big thighs, so I mentioned he was an Air Rescue Swimmer with the Navy. She got all excited and told me I should tell him to watch the move The Guardian because it would tell him all about his job. Ha ha - I think actually being in the Navy tells him about his job better than a Hollywood movie would, however the really funny part of that is my son loves that movie (it partially inspired him to check out both Coast Guard and Navy swimmer opportunities after he had made the decision to enlist) and we had watched it while he was home for Christmas.
He gave a running commentary on the movie - shouting out names of helicopters, flares, swim moves, rescue moves, etc. along with telling me that the movie got it mostly right (though it is much more strenuous in real life) but how you would actually change out the hoist with a patch at the end of the movie, rather than dropping the swimmer. It was interesting to watch the movie with an actual rescue swimmer; I highly recommend the movie, with our without the swimmer handy!
Melissa- that is a funny story! It made me smile this evening! That movie is my son's favorite as well... I think that movie has influence quite a few of those AIRR candidates...and swimmers....I bet watching it with your son gave you a whole new perspective!
KK Hoosier- I couldn't access the link that you provided... it just said page would download...but it does look like a Rescue Swimmer made a water rescue... I'm glad that all survived that harrowing experience. I will keep them in my prayers-as trauma can be invisible as well as visible...hoping no lasting emotional trauma for the pilot or the responders involved....
Keke
Airmom my hubby is going to be in Norfolk. I know your son really want SD so I'm happy for him :)
Dec 14, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Welcome Anthonys and Ridgegirl.... hey please go up in the discussion forum up above and click on VIEW ALL and read the Path of the Rescue Swimmer and Phases.... it will answer a lot of your question and we are all here to love and suspport you!!!! If you know of any other RSS moms tell them to come on board with us.... if you have a question, we will have or find the answer for you... lots of awesome moms in here with Sailors in various stages of this long arduous Pipeline... so we are here for each other... My son is done with this pipeline and attached to the Black Jacks on the Boxer... many in here have Sailors just getting started... so all together we are a GREAT team of moms!!! woooohoooo so Welcome all newbies! So glad you are here! Funny this morning I copied a post from a friend and here was my note that I put on it... speaking of being close moms....:
I spend a lot of time on Navy 4 Moms Web site.. I am the adopted Admin for the Rescue Swimmer Page.. my husband asks or fusses at me... for spending so much time with women I don't even know. To him I reply, yes I know them.. they are my Sisters, their hearts are my heart.. their tears, fears joys are mine as well and mine theirs... their kids are my adopted kids... and mine theirs.... yes we all live States away from one another and yet we are just next door in our hearts.. Hooooahhhhh ladies.. this is what we are all about... Keep Paying It Forward !!!!!!!!!!!
Dec 14, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
OHHH and HI KeKe!!!!!! Gosh I need to go back and catch up with you all... been gone for a few days hahahaha xoxoxoxoxo
Dec 14, 2013
Ridgegirl
Thanks Lydia! I did not know htere was more. Thanks for the View All tip. My son is on Ship 04 Div 807 PIR 2/7/14. If there are other mom's out there with the same please feel free to add me or pm me.
Dec 14, 2013
Keke
Dec 14, 2013
A's Mom
Ridgegirl!! I got the box yesterday and was hoping I would get the form letter today. PIR date is 2/7. Does anyone know what airport our RS's fly out of to go to Pensacola after boot camp.
Dec 14, 2013
A's Mom
I too would love to hear from other moms that have sons on Ship O4 DIV 807 PIR 2/7. Please friend me or message me.
Dec 14, 2013
A's Mom
Thank you Lydia for the warm welcome. I look forward to building relationship and forming heart strings with other like minded moms, some have already began to form. I am so encouraged by this site, thank you for all that you do to keep it up and running.
Dec 14, 2013
Melissa
My son flew out of O'Hare the morning after PIR - we actually met him at the airport early, had breakfast with him and then waited to see him off before we headed home. Your son really won't know details about PIR, his flight time, etc. until just before PIR - right now he is working on getting through each day.
I too encourage you to write, write, write your Recruit. Mail time is so important to them. Give his address to family, friends, his favorite teacher, his church - and encourage them to drop him a line. As my son said, letters from home were great and he appreciated them, but the ones he wasn't expecting really helped to keep him focused and moving forward, knowing that others were rooting for him too. Even just a silly card with a short note is appreciated - it doesn't have to be a long letter. I picked up a bunch of thinking of you and blank cards and pre-wrote them and then interspersed them with the newsy letters I wrote to make it easier on me to make sure I sent mail almost daily.
6 days to go and then my boy will be here!
Dec 15, 2013
Ridgegirl
Thanks MaryKay. Very helpful.
Dec 16, 2013
Saltyocean
Hello Moms. Hope Christmas brings many of your sailors to you door step..Our son is coming home, and we are soooooo anxious to see him, hug him,hear stories, and feel his newly gained muscle mass!!!!
Can any one tell us what is meant by "tactical vs non tactical" when used to describe the difference between Sierra and Romeo ? He is Romeo.
Thank you and best wishes for a peaceful happy and warm Christmas to you all.
Dec 18, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Saltyocean, I don't know what is meant by tactical but I believe the Romeo and Bravo (my son is in the last Bravo class at JAX) have to learn to use the radar equipment. Bravo uses the older type of radar and the Romeo uses the newer computerized systems which is why their schooling is so much longer.
My son will be coming home in 3 days!!!!! Hope everyone gets to see or talk to their sailors during this holiday season. Lydia, I will be thinking of you since I know this will be a hard Christmas for you. {{hugs}}
Dec 18, 2013
GMom
Jodi - Can you stand it? I think everyone around me just wants my son to come home so I will shut up about it. HAHA. No, I know my friends are excited for us because they know how much we miss him. SATURDAY, I have menus planned, all his favorite foods, snacks, I emptied several of "HIS" dresser drawers that I managed to fill up and cleared a spot for him in"HIS" closet since he will be home for 3 weeks. I know he will be with friends a lot, but he will spend time with us for the holidays, hang in the mornings, dinners and we are taking him down to see his Grandpa the last week he is here, so we will have plenty of time to catch up. Hope those that get the opportunity to be with their sailors at the holidays have a wonderful visit. Maybe we can get out to San Diego next year and see his "digs". Happy Holidays all!
Dec 18, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Gmom, you are so lucky-3 weeks?? My sailor is only home for 8 days and like your son he will probably be running with all his friends too. He's meeting up with some of his Taekwondo students one day, they are so anxious to see him. Enjoy your time with your son and have a very Merry Christmas!!!
Dec 18, 2013
GMom
Jodi - yes, turned out he never took any leave this year so he was able to add it on to the regulation Holiday shutdown leave. This was only possible because he just graduated FRC and it coinsides with being moved to his new squadron (in San Diego, as well) and He doesn't have to report until Jan 13th. Timing was definitely on our side this time. Although we didn't know all this until just recently.....hurry up and wait! He's also managed to convince his best friends that he isn't coming so he can surprise them...this is gonna be a lot of fun!
Dec 19, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
GMom, that's cool he wants to surprise his friends. Several of my son's friends are going to surprise him at the airport. They are going up with us and asked that we not tell him they are coming. They haven't seen each other since last Christmas. He will be so glad to see them. I think he is getting homesick lol.
Dec 19, 2013
Melissa
Well after an hour delay at the starting airport, followed by a 2 hour delay in Dallas, my son finally arrived around 11pm last night - though at the present time, his luggage is.....somewhere. So after an additional 2 hours at the airport to stand in line with the rest of the plane to report the missing luggage and driving through a blizzard to get here, we arrived home shortly after 2 am this morning.
However, all is well because my favorite Petty Officer is home!!!!
Wishing a Merry, Merry Christmas (or whichever holiday you observe in your home) to all of you and safe travels for all still on the road!
Dec 22, 2013
airmom10
My son made it safely home last night without much travel delay. So glad to have him home this year as he was in boot camp last Christmas. Happy Holidays and safe travel to all.
Dec 23, 2013
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Merry Christmas everyone. I hope those of you who are fortunate to have your swimmers home for the holidays are enjoying this time with them. For those who's swimmers can't make it home, please know that we appreciate your sacrifice and are keeping you in our thoughts.
Dec 25, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
HI yall..... so sorry I have been gone for a couple of weeks.. you know how the holidays are!!! Went to FL to see my mamma.... of course my son was NOT there as yall know he is deployed on USS Boxer... and my Nurse daughter is no longer there either as she and her doctor fiance moved to Colorado.. so it was a sad time yet a good time too....... I am glad the year is about over now cause we can start to look forward to what is yet to come. My son is somewhere with the 5th fleet in the Arabian /Middle East Arena.. (No worries... OPSEC Rules apply) speaking of OPSEC Rules that is another one to go up and read... click on VIEW ALL... it should be in there.... he is flying 12 to 14 hour days and or evenings.. loves his squadron.
I know we have some mamma's whose kids are on hold in Pcola... and after their Christmas "Break" will be back there on hold again...... waiting for NACCS (Naval Aircrew Candidate School) then waiting for RSS (Rescue Swimmer School).. then A school (Sierra or Romeo) etc... hang in there and keep us updated this New Year!!! This is a hard hard pipeline and there are lots of stresses.. so we are here for each other... please welcome any other mamma;s whose kids are in this rate that are still in BC... YES if you are new go up to that Discussion Forum and look for the Path of the Rescue Swimmer.. Phases and Liberty too.
suggestion to you moms who are just having kids going into BC.... look here on N4M for your PIR group.. there will be much great info from the Admins there for you... and you will make life long friends of some of the other moms!!! and MaryKay posted a good info site for yall..
Well, Happy New Year to my sistas! I have been here now for almost 4 years.. I have seen sooooo many come and go... and a few stay. It is the way it is of course. So hang in there and I will talk to yall sooooooooon!!!!! =P I promise not to be so MIA from now on!
Dec 30, 2013
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
PS GMOM - did you tell us which Squadron he is now attached too??? I wish it was Black Jacks... hehehehehe
Dec 30, 2013
GMom
Lydia - he will be attached to Agency 6. He moved into his new barracks the day before he came home for his holiday leave and returns on January 12 and reports on Jan 13th. All new to him and he is really enjoying being home in Florida with us for now. He missed home. We missed him. It will be hard come January 12 th to say goodbye.
Jan 1, 2014
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
Happy New Year to all. I hope you all got to visit or talk to your swimmers. I sent mine back to Jacksonville on Sunday so I am very envious of you GMom for getting to keep yours longer lol. Enjoy your precious time with him!
Jan 1, 2014
Melissa
Happy New Year to my Navy family! I spent an enjoyable time over the holidays having a "My Three Sons" Christmas. =) It started with Christmas here with my Navy son, followed by a visit to my oldest son and his three sons, and ending with a visit to my middle son's home for New Year's Eve. I tried my darndest to convince my newest grandson to arrive a few weeks early, but he wasn't having any of it - so I will travel back there shortly to meet him.
My Navy guy is visiting his hometown in Colorado and playing rancher for the week - he said he needed a break from swimming and helo's, plus two of his buddies who are Marines and one who is Air Force, and another from the Navy were home on leave also. It was hard to leave him in Colorado, but it was fabulous to have him for the time I did. Sharing is hard!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that the New Year brings you blessing of joy!
Jan 1, 2014
airmom10
Happy New Years to All! My son left this morning for San Diego. We live in Northern Illinois and after being in Pensacola for a year and then in Maine for SERE early in December and now all the snow and cold here at home, he's not liking the cold any more and is excited for San Diego and his new classes. It's still hard to let him go, but he's happy and that's what's important.Best of luck to all Rescue Swimmers!
Jan 2, 2014
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Happy New Year yall
OH how I know it is hard to let them go. I am sweetly jealous of yall who had your Sailors home over Christmas.. but up until this year I did too so I can not complain! It is part of it I suppose. =( Very excited for all of yall and your Sailor's new endeavors this New year! This time next year you will not believe the changes! So here's to all our Navy Sailors in this pipeline! hooooaahhhh to their mammas and to them! It is a rocky road especially for those who are just classing up after BC... but that is why we are here!!!! love and hugs! Lydia
Jan 3, 2014
ALNavyMom
Jan 3, 2014
Travelsalot
Jan 6, 2014
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
travelsalot, it is sad to send them back isn't it? I sent mine back to JAX over a week ago and I'm still missing him. We are hoping to get enough notice to go see him at his graduation next month or March, depending on how quickly he gets through this last phase. Congrats on getting your son to go through his stuff and throwing a lot of it away. I'm still trying to get that done with both of my Navy boys and my oldest son. So far, not much luck there.
Jan 6, 2014
Bayswan
Talked to my son tonight and he classed up for Starboard D today. Curious how long others have been in this phase.... he said it can vary but I don't know what the time is based on. Excited for him to start on this next phase of the journey but apprehensive too.
Jan 6, 2014
Melissa
My son arrived safely back in San Diego last night and went right back to work this morning. I am right there with the rest of you in that I missed him the minute he left (or rather the minute I left him in Colorado!)
I hope you are all staying warm - it hit a high of -8 here today. Brrr. Good thing I didn't have to leave the house today.
Jan 6, 2014
Travelsalot
Jan 8, 2014
kev323
http://www.navytimes.com/article/20140108/NEWS/301080017/1-dead-1-m...
Jan 8, 2014
SoupMom
Key323 - I'm at a loss for words. Prayers for all involved. My son is in Norfolk.
Jan 8, 2014
proudmama
It has taken my breath away... prayers and hugs for all involved.
Jan 8, 2014
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
My thoughts and prayers are with all involved in this tragic accident. I hope all of your sons are safe today.
Jan 8, 2014
Ridgegirl
My thoughts and prayers go out to all. I too hope all of our sons are safe today. Sounds like a miraculous rescue and unfortunatley a sad recovery. I understand why our swimmers are trained so hard. We need them to survive.
Jan 8, 2014
kev323
This is terrible, tragic loss.
Jan 8, 2014
proudmama
I lit a candle for the families involved... Navy families... let's light a candle or shine a light in honor of our fellow aircrew families and the tragedy that occurred today.
Jan 8, 2014
kev323
http://www.wavy.com/news/local/norfolk/navy-news-conference-on-heli...
Jan 8, 2014
airmom10
My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved in this accident also.
Jan 9, 2014
Travelsalot
Jan 9, 2014
Mama~D Ship 4 Div 822
What a devastation for the families and those involved in this tragedy to our aircrew family . I have lit my blue candle in honor and constantly praying.
Jan 9, 2014
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
Bays - ... once they are on hold Starboard D it still can vary as far as hold time for RSS class up... for my son it took about a month... still great time for them to beef up their numbers and their mental for what is yet to come!!!! RSS has about an 80% attrition rate at this point.. and is NOTHING like NACCS (Naval Aircrew Candidate School) which they have at that point already passed.... My son (3 years ago) had 30 in his class at the beginning and was one of 3 that made it through first time.. total of 9 finished. 6 were kids who rolled back in from other classes. SOOO said that only to remind yall to remind them... they need the hold times to get prepared. as my son told another buddy who was classing up RSS.... stay strong, it only gets worse! Sounds negative but it is reality and my son gives good advice when I can pull it out of him! hahah
Still reeling from the two pilots who went down in the Arabian Sea (my sons sister squadron) a few months ago and the helo back in in December!!! Now this one in VA... This path sure keeps you on your knees.. for the kids in training and also our kids who are already deployed..
Im sure praying for a great new year for everyone!!!! I have been here now for almost 4 years and so many have come and gone.. praying for success for all our classups!!! and success for those who are in A school, SERE, FRS and their squadrons.. Thinking of each mamma here... this is soooooooooo hard... (Oh gfs and daddys too)... But this is why we are here for each other.. to answer questions or just be a shoulder to lean on.!!!!
New mammas, please go up to the Discussion Forum and read Path of a Rescue Swimmer and Phases and Liberty..... great info that will help you alot with initial questions!!! Be sure and invite any of your RSS friends to come and join us... lots are just coming out of BC. love and hugs!!!! <3
Jan 13, 2014
Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)
PS - Ridgegirl.... well said sista The attrition rate is high because this is a special operations Rate! They have to be well trained and capable in order to save not only the lives of others but their own as well!
Jan 13, 2014
Jodi-alumni Ship 4
If any of you moms have sons in training at Pensacola right now, the Navy posted a picture of a group of students getting instructions for the proper jump procedure on Navy.mil. You might spot your boy :). The picture is in the images of the day section on the right hand side.
Jan 16, 2014
proudmama
Jodi-Thanks! I looked... my son isn't in that group (not that far in his training), but I bet that pic makes some moms out there happy!!! Thanks for keeping an eye out for our guys and gals!
Ridgegirl- Yes and Amen!
Hope you are all well and have fully recovered from the holiday season:)
Jan 17, 2014
Melissa
Hey all! Hope all is well with you and yours.
Funny story - I was shopping for a pair of jeans for my son and was chatting with the saleswomen because I needed a pair of relaxed ones so they would be larger in the thighs, and she was asking about why he had big thighs, so I mentioned he was an Air Rescue Swimmer with the Navy. She got all excited and told me I should tell him to watch the move The Guardian because it would tell him all about his job. Ha ha - I think actually being in the Navy tells him about his job better than a Hollywood movie would, however the really funny part of that is my son loves that movie (it partially inspired him to check out both Coast Guard and Navy swimmer opportunities after he had made the decision to enlist) and we had watched it while he was home for Christmas.
He gave a running commentary on the movie - shouting out names of helicopters, flares, swim moves, rescue moves, etc. along with telling me that the movie got it mostly right (though it is much more strenuous in real life) but how you would actually change out the hoist with a patch at the end of the movie, rather than dropping the swimmer. It was interesting to watch the movie with an actual rescue swimmer; I highly recommend the movie, with our without the swimmer handy!
Jan 18, 2014
proudmama
Melissa- that is a funny story! It made me smile this evening! That movie is my son's favorite as well... I think that movie has influence quite a few of those AIRR candidates...and swimmers....I bet watching it with your son gave you a whole new perspective!
KK Hoosier- I couldn't access the link that you provided... it just said page would download...but it does look like a Rescue Swimmer made a water rescue... I'm glad that all survived that harrowing experience. I will keep them in my prayers-as trauma can be invisible as well as visible...hoping no lasting emotional trauma for the pilot or the responders involved....
Jan 18, 2014
proudmama
How is the pipeline going for everybody???
Jan 18, 2014