Moms of Aviation Rescue Swimmers

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  • Eaglemom2

    I love the chart idea, are you going to do it?

  • Eaglemom2

    Has anyone heard of the ceremony called "froc and pin"?  Is this where they receive their "wings"?

  • Melissa

    Eaglemom2 - as I understand frocking (as a military term) it has to do with a commissioned or non-commissioned officer selected for promotion wearing the insignia of the higher grade before the official date of promotion because the actual number of people allowed to serve in a particular rank is restricted by federal law. All that means is that an individual may have been selected for promotion, but can't actually be promoted until someone above them is promoted and there is a vacancy at the new rank.

    Pinning is the ceremony where the new rank insignia is pinned to their uniforms.  

    If I'm wrong about any of that, someone with more knowledge please correct me. :)

  • sweetpea4

    Melissa,

    You are right. My Son just got both! Made rank early, but doesn't get the pay for some time! UGH Off to San Diego for a visit today. Can't wait to give my Son a Hugh hug!  

  • Jodi-alumni Ship 4

    sweetpea4, how great that you get to spend time with your son. Have a safe trip and enjoy your visit with him. (We will  all be living vicariously through you so give him an extra big hug for all of us who haven't seen their sailors for a while lol!)

  • Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)

    HI yall!!!!!   Man moving half way across the country is not the piece of cake I was thinking it would be hahaha.....  I am exhausted, frazzled and mindless  ...  BUT we are here and in our home, unpacked and closing supposedly on Friday...  fingers crossed and prayers up!!!!  I have missed yall but it seems yall are doing great and fine and helping and encouraging each other just wonderfully!!!!  I wish there were some new mammas in here from recent 800 Rescue Swimmer Rates from BC PIRs...  when I get time Ill go to some of their sites here and invite them over...   my B just moved into his home along with his buddy.  It is a nice little house and he is happy.  Renting it from a Retired Master Chief whom I had the pleasure of chatting with over the phone when he called to check on my boy's references.  

    Jodi - wings  Congrats!!!  Deployment will be next I think..  Depends of course -who knows right??

    Ridgegirl - RSS - keep us posted !!!  

    Tiffany -  how great to live close enough to have the chance to see him.  Any oportunity for pictures is a GREAT opportunity...  just a slight glance can make a mamma sing!

    Bayswan - I know your boy must love SD, mine sure does.  So much to do there!  From Snowboarding to surfing...

    oneproud - so glad your boy is close enough now to you...  hey I am now 4.5 hours from SD myself  yippie cant wait to go and visit!!!!!!

    Poudmama....  I know that the A school for Romeo is long and arduous but that boy of yours will knock it out of the park and he is now about what....  almost half way or more finished??

    Sweetpea....  HI sista!!!!!!        okay gotta run sisters, but I will be back!!!!  xoxoxoxoxo

  • proudmama

    Lydia- Hang in there... you have been running a marathon and you have run 26 miles... you just have the .2  miles left... Hang in there!!!

    Eaglemom- So happy that you were able to see your son! What a nice treat! Sounds like your son is doing well! He's such a great young man...with a huge smile:) I was very blessed to be able to meet him when I traveled to P'cola in March. And yes... I am going to make that pipeline chart!

    A's mom- Update us on how your son is doing with RSS:)

    Ridgegirl... Isn't your son close to graduating from RSS?

    My son was  swimming in P'cola (or nearby beach) and came face to face with a shark! It was about three foot long. He was about 200 feet from shore. He hopes he caught it on his GoPro... I hope he stays out of the water with all the sharks around the area. YIKES!

  • A's Mom

    Proudmomma! Thank you so much for asking. He made it through his first week of RSS!! Yah. He was on duty today, but doing good. He never gives me many details, one reason I am so thankful for you all.
  • Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)

    A's Mom    awesome... hang in there!!!!!!   Keep us posted..

    AZOK...  hi....  congrats on your son!  yes prayers for our kids deployed!!!  Mine just got back home a few months ago!!  Won't deploy again for a year we think..  

    Proud...  I have seen several news articles about Great Whites in the Gulf on the FL side... yikes and yes scarey...  my B use to swim only with the dolphins... they seem to be very protective of humans and keep the sharks at bay or so that is the theory   YIKES

    Sweetpea..... how is the visit going gf???

    Eagle - SOOO great to see your boy!!!!!!   not sure about Froc and Pin but what Melissa said makes perfect sense to me.  My B has his wings and has had for a while now and also has made rank but he never mentioned it as that...  Ill shoot him a message to ask but Melissa's explanation sound right on it

    xoxoxoxoxox

  • Navymom2014

    I love all the info that i got from this site. it made everything so easy for me and my son during bootcamp. Now he is in Pensacola he is doing air rescue swimmer. Thank you so much for all your information  is so great!

  • proudmama

    Navymom2014-So glad you are on this page! Welcome:) Best regards to your son. What stage is he in the pipeline?

    AZOKmom-So glad that you posted! It is great to hear from other moms whose sons are that far into their Navy journey. Best wishes to your son and your family. It sounds like he has mapped out quite a bright future for himself! Congrats!!

  • proudmama

    A's mom- Congrats! Week one down...only four more to go! Keep us updated:)

    AZOKmom- I forgot to say... Prayers sent your son and your family's way!

  • Navymom2014

    Thank you proudmama, Idk if this is the right group for me my son just left boot camp and is in pensacola waiting to start the first training i'm lost! i think he is doing naccs i just learned there is lots of classes he needs to take before getting to A school. those anybody knows how long he stays in P'cola, how long are the classes? oes he stay in the room he is all the way till he gets to a school?

  • proudmama

    Navymom2014- This is the right place for you! What is great about this site is that supports all Navy moms with sons or daughters in the  AIRR pipeline and out of the pipeline too! There are plenty of vet moms and even a few dads who give great insight, advice and words of comfort as our children make their way through the Navy maze. Look on this page for a post called "The Path of a Rescue Swimmer". It provides a great description of what your son will encounter. I know that there has been some talk of changes in the pipeline...but I am not sure those have been implemented. Maybe Ridegirl or A's mom (whose sons are currently in RSS) can let us know if the pipeline is different now. We look forward to hearing about your son's journey!

  • Navymom2014

    Thank you so much proudmama..this site has been so good...most of the time I have more info than him...so it feels good to be able to guide him (mother is always a mother lol)

  • airmom10

    Hi All!  My husband and I just got back from visiting our son for two weeks in San Diego - It was great!!!! So much to see and do and the weather was perfect!  I see now why people love it out there.  I was sort of bummed since he didn't get to graduate from FRS while we were there, just can't seem to get that last flight in, but it should happen soon.  We stayed most of the time at the Navy Gateway and it was really nice.  There was so much to watch at the beach on the base - helicopters and planes taking off and landing, ships coming and going; we even saw a submarine come in.  Really awesome!!!  Everyone should go out there at some time because it really is impressive!

  • Jodi-alumni Ship 4

    Wow, I just looked at the date and realized that 2 years ago today I was sending my boy off to bc. Now, two years later, he's in San Diego doing a job he loves. This time has really flown by faster that I thought possible. I am so proud of the  young man he has become. I know that you are all feeling the same way about your sailors. Congrats to all of them!

  • TXmom

    My son is done with A School and will be driving from Pensacola to San Diego next week :) He was given travel expense $$. Curious if he's entitled to the entire amount or if he has to document his expenses and return the balance. Anyone know? We get to see him briefly when he passes through Houston. SO EXCITED to see and hug him again.
  • Saltyocean

    Our sailor is in San Diego and now in FRAC as an AWR. Is there a group of moms that is San Diego based for the ARS or aircrew that any of you know about?  Sound like another world there--responsibility, classes and nice weather.

  • Brand'sMom

    My  son is leaving to bc on 7/29 then he will go to florida for a school as aviation rescue swimmer

  • A's Mom

    My son is in his 3rd week of RSS and takes his first "jump" tomorrow. Can someone please help me with details of exactly what that means? Greatly appreciated :)
  • whatever

    I  have been following you all for a while since my son got his Rescue Swimmer contract in January. Now its 20 days till he leaves for boot camp.  I appreciate all the info you have given.  I have learned so much about the process.  Its even helped my son see how important his journey is to me since I know more about it then he does, at least for now :)  So Thankyou.

    Hi to Brandon's mom welcome  when I saw your comment I was anxious to friend you since our sons will be leaving for boot camp the same day and going to Pensacola together for Rescue Swimming school.

  • Melissa

    A's Mom- jumps at RSS are at the pool using training equipment. The swimmers there learn the proper procedures for using the equipment and making rescues in the safety of the training facility. Your son won't make actual jumps (from the helo into the ocean) until he is at FRS. RSS is tough both physically and mentally, tell him to stay strong and focused - and to study!- and he will succeed. Best of luck to you both.

    My son just returned from desert training in Nevada, but says they are returning for more at the end of the month. He is having a blast and loves being finished with the classroom portion of training and being with his squadron. 

    My son's best friend is a Marine, and he is scheduled to leave on a 16 month South Seas deployment in a couple of weeks. Prayers are asked for all the Sailors and Marines shipping out. 

  • Melissa

    Brandon's Mom and whatever - welcome to the group and to the Navy, you have quite a ride ahead of you!  Be sure you join your son's boot camp group here also as the other families will have information to share and the 800's parents seem to be the least informed (our boys always seem to have less time to call and write then the other divisions). 

    Get your writing hand ready because you need to send lots of cards and letters to your son and encourage his family and friends to do so also. Sailor Recruits LOVE mail call. And be sure to keep your cell phone handy so you don't miss any of those precious calls. 

  • Jodi-alumni Ship 4

    Brandon's Mom and whatever, welcome and Melissa is right about them loving those cards and letters. Both my son and his best friend kept them all (so they are all now stored in boxes at MY house lol). Don't panic if you see the moms in other groups with your PIR date getting mail or calls if you aren't. When my son was in bc we didn't get anything for at least a week after the other groups. My son said it was because some of the guys in his group didn't know how to "shut up and listen" so they did a lot of extra PT. But don't worry they all come together eventually and do exceptional!  And don't go anywhere without your cell phone. Believe me, if you forget it, that will be the time your son will call. Don't forget to send your sons with phone cards. They can buy them at the NEX but it's better for them to already have them so they don't waste any of their free time waiting in line there. Callsforrecruits.org also offers free phone cards. If at all possible definitely plan to go to graduation. It is something that you really don't want to miss. Good luck to your boys!

  • whatever

    Thanks Jodi and Melissa appreciate the info.  It helps a lot.

  • Brand'sMom

    Thank you ! Jodi and Melissa . A question,  I have to buy calling cards if my son is part of our cell phone plan? 

  • sweetpea4

    Brandon's Mom if your Son is off to Boot camp his belonging will be sent home. He will not have access to his cell phone. Thus the need for calling cards

  • JeweledPeacock

    Hi Ladies, my son is in Pensacola and (fingers crossed) hopefully graduating from Air Rescue Swimming School on 7/25. Is there any where I can get information about graduation? It seems like for P.I.R. there was tons of info, but I don't know anything about the where, what, when of this event. Since we are coming in from NE, I want to have a plan.

  • C's mom

    Heading to Pensacola tomorrow - getting excited. 

  • JeweledPeacock

    Thanks Cs Mom! Have fun!

  • Melissa

    Graduation in Pensacola is held on base (your son should have details but not until shortly before the date), it is semi-informal and held indoors. The ceremony will only take about 20-30 minutes tops. 

  • sweetpea4

    C's Mom

    Make sure you are at the ceremony early so that you can get a tour! Don't miss it!!

  • A's Mom

    JeweledPeacock my son also. ( fingers crossed) will be graduating RSS on Friday, July 25th and I know nothing. Thank you Sweetpea for that info.
  • A's Mom

    And Melissa thank you!
  • sweetpea4

    A's Mom,

    This is one ceremony try not to miss FRAC is the other. You have to pry info out of these guys and ladies. Yes things are last minute so remain flexible! If you Son doesn't say anything about a guided tour prior to the ceremony ask him> It was the best part of my Son's ceremony. Maybe they will do it afterwards, but make sure you are aware of it!!!Don't wear high heels you will be around the pool deck n it is slippery. Dress resort or business casual.

  • proudnavymom

    Is RSS graduation a formal ceremony? My son will be graduating Sept 7th. I have an event I organize for my company (2 days company picnic for 1500 people) and it is the same weekend. I really don't want to miss his graduation:(

  • proudnavymom

    Sorry, I should have read the previous comments:( I will definately try to make it!

  • proudmama

    Make sure and bring some cash to RSS graduation. There will be a chance to purchase some souvenirs such as t- shirts, hoodies, and even bottle openers!
  • proudmama

    Seems like there are lots of new moms who have joined us on this site! Welcome to all! I was wondering how you found us: general internet search, N4m's, or 800 division fb page?
  • proudnavymom

    N4M's

  • Melissa

    For the new(ish)parents asking about RSS graduation, here's my advise - go if you can because it's a great opportunity to see your child, meet his instructors, see the training facility, and meet the others he is sharing this journey with. But and this is a big but - if you have other plans that conflict it's okay to miss. There are multiple opportunities during the pipeline attend a graduation and do those things. Your son will understand that you have other things in your life that are important too.  Also, every time I have attended a graduation there have been lots of pictures taken, your son can give his phone to a buddy to take pics for you, there is usually an official Navy picturectaker and/or other parents there willing to take pics of your son so he can send them. 

    I guess what I am saying is go if you can but don't beat yourself up if you can't. 

  • proudnavymom

    My son knows how I hard I work on this event. A year round project for sure. He just told me to not worry about his graduation:( Melissa thank you for your post also!

  • Brand'sMom

    Hi whatever,

    We live in Acton Ca , my son told me that all the rescue swimmer leaving at the same time . Where are you from?

  • JeweledPeacock

    Ladies thank you all for the information. Our son has asked us to bring his dog to graduation, (He is a soft=coated wheaten terrier.) Does anyone know if they allow dogs on base or at the ceremony?Fearghall.jpg

  • sweetpea4

    Jeweledpeacock,

    Ceremony no, not appropriate. Not sure what the policy for dogs on base is, but the ceremony in not the place for animals.

  • Ridgegirl

    Hi all! Sorry that I have been MIA. A lot to catch up on here. Welcome tothe new members. 4th of July weekend we traveled to P'cola. Had planned to go for RSS graduation but they moved it down a week but ous son wanted us to come then anyways becasue he would have had 4 days off. We got to spend all 4 days together. We stayed at the Navy Gateway which was very inexpensive and comforable. He took us to all of his favorite places and one day my hubby and him even went out on a fishing boat and caught red snapper which we BBQ'd on the base marina. That was awesome! We went to P'cola beach, he even drove us to Mobile, AL to the Battleship Park. We had some great southern BBQ down there as well. All in all such a great trip. He graduated RSS and was able to "gopro" his helo jump which was even more awesome! Man, the look on his face...priceless! As a mom, all that I could see was pure joy symbolizing the culmination of all of his hard work. I know there is more to come and I'm so excited to continue to follow his adventures. His graduating group was one of the largest in a while, I think he said there were 23. the instructors were impressed with how well they did. I believe they will all be Sierra. Feel free to message me new moms if you have any questions. this is a great place :-) Hooyah!

  • whatever

    Thank you to you all for the welcomes and the wisdom you share.

    My son leaves for BC in 11 days we are having a party for him this weekend.  He had his PST again on Tuesday. After he finished that they worked them hard in the pool.  I really think it helps them prepare for RSS better as they get a feel for what they will have to do.  Maybe thats why there is a higher graduating rate.

    Thanks Ridgegirl for what you said about your son and the priceless look on his face it brought tears to my eyes.

    I am new to the journey you are all in yet at the same time it was 2 and 1/2 years(mid way through his Sophmore year of high school) ago that my son told me he wanted to go in the Navy.  Hes been in DEPS for a year and got his RSS contract 7 months ago.  The emotions are all over the place.  But the strongest one is the Pride I feel about his choices and his drive.

     

    Brandon's mom Hi my son's name is Chad from Ohio.  I'll tell him to look for your son.

    Thanks again for this site and all of you

  • mom42

    Hi! I just joined N4Ms. My son is set to graduate Friday, 7/25/14 from RSS. He told me yesterday, though, that graduation was moved to Thursday 7/24/14. Has anyone else heard this?

  • whatever

    Hey Proudmama just to answer your question from July 11.  At my son's recuiters office they had refridgerator magnets that had Navyformoms.com on it.  I'm so glad.

     

    While out for dinner last night with my son and his girlfriend, I was again giving more details about the next part of his Journey.  He started teasing me saying that my first letter to him is gonna be all info lol.  I asked if it bothered him.  He said no mom it does help.      Soooo Happy I was able to get detailed info from this site

    Thanks