Chicago Mom's

I have news! Lewis is definately going to be a corpsman! He will be stationed at Great Lakes for the next (we think) 6-12 months! Yeah! I don't have to say goodbye for a little while longer! Less than 4 more days till PIR!

Thats good news for sure!! Have you talked to Lewis? How does he feel about staying at GL?? 4 days will go quick Collette. Enjoy it.

Lewismom, that is wonderful he is going to love that job. Well at lease it is getting warmer here and not just starting winter. LOL Have you heard from him.

Hey Annie, Wii, you are having fun. We missed you, I really wanted to meet your son. Maybe next time! We haven't picked a date for next time, not yet!

I got the wii for Christmas. I love it we play it all the time. With fitness I have a hard time staying on the board it s a real workout!! I friend of mine son is going thru the marine cruicible today and tomorrow please keep him and all the new marine recruits in your prayers, as you all are praying for lewis and all the new navy recruits going thru battlestations this week. Thanks!!

Becky my thoughts are prays are with them including our sailors! The Wii sounds good you must of been a good girl to get it. LOL

I was soooo good I deserved a trip to see my sailor. HA no such luck. It was one of those you need this honey, gifts from my husband....so he can use it too. :)

LOL Becky, well it must be fun to use it together. I hear they have a lot of great games to use. Yes that would of been a better gift for sure to see your sailor.

Prayers Prayers Prayers for all our military today! - Both Marine and Navy and everyone in between.

I think about them everyday!

My girlfriend says thanks for the prayers 14 hours to go for her son.I remember back to the night of battlestations. Ah the worry!! :) It will soon be over for her. :)

Collette any news from Lewis??

Nothing yet...getting very, very excited. His girlfriend and I are headed up this afternoon. XBOX - try Halo - its the one game that isnt all blood guts...you can kill aliens instead of humans...I have only been able to beat it on easy mode but it makes for a great game to play two with you son...I used to play it for hours with Lewis.

I am thinking of Lewis, I know he is going to do great!

Becky, boy do I remember those days!!!!

Hi Michelle! How is your son doing in school?

I bet Paula is getting the house ready for her daughter to come home! YEA!

Yea she is coming home. There is so much to do before a wedding. I cannot wait to see some pictures. C-130 to get home, good one! Well we all know you are going to look great in that brown dress!!!!!

Did I miss something after I left the dinner?? Brown dress?? As of tomorrow my son has been in Lemoore for a whole year. Time flies Hes counting too, he posted it on facebook. Who would have thunk it that I wasn't the only one counting the time.LOL Thinking of Collette and Lewis tomorrow at 9:00. Congrats!!! :)

Becky, Paula showed us a necklace and earrings she was going to wear with her dress, very nice. Pay attention next time. LOL

A whole year, Stephen will be in Italy for a year in April, time does fly.

Collette cannot wait to hear you have a sailor!!!!

I'll try harder to pay attention next time!! Ok who else saw the necklace and earings tell me I'm NOT the only one who wasn't paying attention please. LOL

Got the battle stations call! He is a sailor! Thank u 4 the prayers!

YAY how proud you must be... have an amazing time tomorrow you will love it.

Yeah for me! It's official - I'm part of the group! I even have a navy tshirt the new navy sailor bought me! I will write more tomorrow! Soooo exciting! I am happy mama :)

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you Collette, BRAVO ZULU!!!!!!!!! A new sailor how great is that. So what is next after PIR? Well he get to come home for a week or so.

LOL Becky, you were not the only one who did not see, you were at the other end of the table, so you missed out, next time we will have to have show and tell.

Hi everyone? How is everyone doing?

Hello all,

Such a fun weekend! He is staying at Great Lakes for Corpsman training! I will get to see him for a few more months. I am really liking that cause I can go shopping with him at the NEX store for a few months :) I did what several of you warned me about...forgot to get a good mom picture...so here is a photo with his girlfriend. He did not order photos (only grad dvd) becaues he decided we could go to Walmart and take his photo and save all that money for something else.

WOW! Great pictures! Collette he really looks like you. Did you get a T-shirt?

3 t-shirts - one with div flag, one for the gym and one for jeans plus a bumber sticker and license place holder. A sweatshirt is next and then who knows. It still feels wierd...almost an age thing...like I am announcing to the world I am old enough to have a child in the Navy.

Collette he really does look like you. I am going to send you some money so you can buy me some shirts at the nex. Mine are worn alot and it i time for some new ones. Thts so funny about hime not ordering pic. Mine ordered the most expensive package I think. Don't look at it as an age thing...look at it as a HELL YA I am a proud navy mom thing. My son put his leave chit in on Friday, he thinks its not going to be approved. Please pray it gets approved he needs the break from the navy.

Tiger Cruise, how was it? I would love to do that one day, maybe I will get the chance.

Hey Annie, how are you? I do love seeing that sign Great Lakes, never noticed much before going that way but I should do now.

Michelle, how is your son doing in school?

Hi all,
I am new to all this as my son is just about to finish A school. I am eelin the West suberb of Hinsdale and would really like to make some friends and get a feel for what my son will be doing. He is a Boatswain Mate and I never saw him so happy he loves the Navy and I am so proud of him.
Take care, Paula

Hey MissMySailor (Paula) welcome, so glad you are here. I know a sailor that is a Boastswain Mate. So your sailor is at Great Lake for school? My son is Stephen and he is an ITSA and is station in Italy. Talk about missing my son, I have not seen him in over a year. I know you are proud of him, I am very proud of my son, and talk about him all the time. Any questions just ask and we will do the best to answer them.

Don't worry Paula I go right for the feet. LOL

Michelle I am glad you sailor is doing well!

LOL Paula! My friends son was in the Navy someone did not file his paper work and he ended up being in the Navy 2 months longer. But they were real good to him when he had interviews he was aloud to go, it did work out for him, he is now working for the Navy, so I guess it all works out. Good luck to Holly, I will keep her in my prays and thoughts.

This is for you Paula (MissMySailor)

"Bosun Mates" (Boatswain Mates) are assigned most of the "classic" seamanship tasks on a Navy vessel. For example, they supervise the handling of mooring lines when leaving port and mooring (done wrong, the lines can snap and cut you in half). They know how to rig a tow line in an emergency. They drop the anchors, and haul them back up (very noisy and dangerous work) They operate the ships boats (which might be one or two, or as many as 20, depending on the type of ship). On certain ships, like Cruisers or Destroyers, they also run the flight deck, where the helicopters operate.
They work in "deck division" and usually provide most of the watchstanders on the bridge, such as the helmsman (who steers) and the lookouts, and of course the 'Boatswain's Mate of the Watch" BMOW, who talks on the 1MC and pipes various calls during the day (like for meals, etc). While they are not very numerous or necessarily respected on smaller ships, on larger amphibious ships there are MANY more of them and they play a huge role in what the ship does. Deck division is also assigned almost all of the "housekeeping" tasks like cleaining and painting the outside of the ship. Fresh air and manual labor are a very big part of the Bosun's day. (unlike a lot of other rates) The Boatswain's Mate rating is abbreviated BM, and does not have any requirements (in terms of ASVAB scores, etc), and Deck division is where most sailors go after boot camp IF they come to a ship WITHOUT an advanced school. If you don't have an advanced school (like an A or C school that trains you to be another rate, like an ET, Electronics Tech), then you are a "non-rate" and you either become a SN (Seaman) in deck, or a FN (Fireman) and work down in the engine rooms. BM's are often referred to as "Deck Apes" by other ratings who think they are smarter based on their schools, but this is not really the point. BM's do a variety of difficult tasks, for example, the Master Helmsman, who steers the ship during the most critical times, is almost always a Bosun Mate. Running the flight deck, or operating small boats is a very challenging task. The ship's "rescue swimmer" is usually from Deck division, and he is like a coast guard rescue swimmer. Also, the team that rescues you if you fall overboard, and the one who will (hopefully) see you if you do and sound the alarm... all Seamen or Boatswains mates! Lastly, BMs learn to do a variety of cool things with rope and canvas, making weird knots and doing decorative awnings, etc for the ship's quarterdeck. If you are a BM for two years, you would just be getting started, and would perhaps, if you were responsible, get to lead small groups of younger sailors in completing tasks like painting or maintenance. As you got to more like the 5-7 year point, you would be an LPO or Leading Petty Officer with real serious responsibilities, like being rig captain for underway replenishment, where if you make a mistake, people can die. You would learn a lot of classic seamanship stuff that would be useful if you were going to work on a ship somewhere, and you would do more practical leadership at a younger age than in most other rates, where even senior petty officers often only sit in chairs all day, fixing gadgets or standing watch (as opposed to leading). Lastly, if you want to, depending on the needs of your ship and your abilities, you can "strike" from deck division out to some other division and basically change your rate to something else. This is easier to do if you are still a SN (non-rate), but can be done as a BM.
Source(s):
I was in charge of a Deck division for 3 years.

WOW Debbie thanks for the info but is sounds like he should has not joined. They talked him into this saying it was the best way get to know people and move up. I think this is what they needed and he got a bunch of hogwash. The last thing any man need is to be the one least respected or be the "ape"
Thanks for the info I am at mixed feeling now, maybe he should not have joined he is smarter than this. I really do appriciat you explaining it though. Am I taking this in a negative way? Paula

Hello Paula #2! Bottom line with any job...they all have their ups and downs but as my son said...he knows his college tuition will be covered, will get to travel(hopefully) and learn some new skills regardless of what they are. Paula #1 - How exciting for Holly...it must be a relief to know she is job hunting already! Seabee - I can't wait to see the pictures from the Tiger Cruise.

In honor of my first week as a Navy mom....I decided it was time to be a single empty nester and planned a trip to Memphis for the weekend...and then my other son decided it was time for him to move back home till he leaves for the marines in August. :)

Paula that information is from a sailor that is in that job. I think all jobs are important. And I think also it is what your sailor puts into it. I hope this would help I hope I did not make you feel bad that is not what I wanted to do. I know my son's friend Dan loves it.

Enjoy your trip and enjoy your son. Stephen had moved out too but his lease was up so he came home for a few months it was nice to have him home. There were days tho! LOL

I am sorry I have breast cancer too and it is just a bad day... I read the negative not the posative in the post. He is in A school right now scored real high on aviation and helmsman he has had the 3rd highest score for tha past 3 weeks and said he has 2 more. He loves the Navy and plans on long term enrollment. Thanks all for the encouragement I am so glad I am here you all seem like friends and that is what we all nee. Thanks all, Paula

Paula, you have a lot on your plate, I am sorry to hear that, are you doing ok! This is my feeling about any job (not that you asked) everyone has a job and when everyone does their job it runs smoothly. So if we did not have your son doing that job, something would not run smoothly. He will do great and I know he will continue to love it. And we know how proud you are of him. This is why this site is so good we are hear for one another, we understand how each of us are feeling.

Paula S Debbie and every on else you all have been so nice and I am so glad I found you all. My breast cancer is going to be fine, I just get frustrated being stuck in the house because of my immune system and being too weak to have fun. I think making gift boxes for Molley's project is what I need to keep me focused and busy! Yesterday I was worried about my son he is so anxious to BE somebody but we talked last night he laughed at me and said mom I plan on being here for the long haul and there are many steps but I will will hang in there..... He said he got a letter yesterday stating that he needs dental work so he will be put on hold after A school once his dental work is done he will get orders my question is do you think this will cut his "2 week visit home" he was suppose to get before he ships out? Also would they let him come home and get the work done as my husband is a dentist. OK this is turning into a novel...LOL
Take care luv you all, Paula (Drew is my son's name)

LoL No Paula he has to have it done thru the Navy, they probably going to take his wisdom teeth out or are they out already? You know it seem sometimes things are moving so slow for you and your sailor but once they finish school they get their orders and they are gone, it is so fast. And at school you can talk to them all the time, they go overseas or on a ship and you don't get to talk to them as often. I would think he would still get his two weeks, but the Navy does what it wants, I hope that all works out so he can come home and you can hug him to death. LOL Paula I think you are a wonderful and strong person and you will be up and moving before you know it. Keep yourself busy with as much as you can, but rest and take care of yourself. Can you go outside in the shade with a good book, I wish I was there now. LOL It sounds like your son has a good outlook, he is going to do great!

Drew, good name, we are glad you are here too!

Hi everyone. Welcome Paula #2. Hey paula #1 I was stalking my son's Facebook page and I think one of his friends has a pic of him and some people on a ship. It looks like Holly is in the pic. If he knew I was stalking him he would kill me. LOL
I am waiting to heara if he is coming home, he put his chit in and still hasn't heard anything....hurry up and wait. Hope all have a good Easter.

Hi Becky, I hope your son get's an answer soon I hate the waiting. My son finishes A school next week he says then he comes home for 2 weeks and then heads to his ship. BUT he has no orders yet??? He is so anxious to come home he is planning already and I told him he may not get his orders the day he finishes, am I right about that? I miss him so much but I have chemo Thursday and I hate when I can't be up running around with him. He has turned into such a man since he has been in the Navy I am so proud as you all are of your kids. Happy Easter Paula

Happy Easter! Enjoy your day!

LOL Paula, glad you enjoyed your bunnies. LOL

Hope everyone had a great day yesterday!! Paula I went back and looked at the pics it was Jan 31 2010.... only thing I could see was a 74 on the deck. Would that be the Stennis?? I think Holly willbe great as a TSA agent.

Do you call them agents, or what do you call them?? LOL

Paula that is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am all for the Sox organization supporting the Navybut, I am a HUGE Cub fan. LOL. I have to say that is a really cool pic.

Well I am a southside girl too Paula. LOL But to be honest I am a hockey mom so I really enjoy hockey. Can we get those sailors involved with hockey some how. LOL

I think women palying hockey is so great. As a matter of fact I'm for women palying any sport. :) I miss my daughter playing sports. When I think of all the money we have spent on her traveling sports organizations, I don't even want to go there. Well, it kept her out of trouble for a little while. HA. Mary, I knew there was a reason why I liked ya!!:) One of my grandest possesions is my brick at wrigley that my best freind bought for me. Ok you guys I'm putting out a request for your help. Send some positive waves to Lemoore so Jason can come home. He put in his leave and Srgt. approved it but Lt did not recomemd, its working its way thru the chain now. His commend is so shorthanded he doesn't think it will be approved. I would love for him to come home sooner rather than later. Thanks.