Michele, don't forget that it takes young men longer to mature than women. Be patient, eventually he will get there. I was thrilled that Chris managed to start acting like an adult at age 20, I was figuring it would take till he was 25, soonest.
So we are still..waiting...my son is in the THU and is very frustrated at the way things are not moving along...All I can tell him is to be patient ( I feel useless) He just wants to move across the street and get out of there!
Momof2 - what is THU? And just to let you know your son is not alone with the "not moving along", my son has arrived at his station in Coronado with Seabee Battalion One and while his group is deploying to two very cool locations in the New Year he can't go with them because they can't process his paperwork in time...two months is not long enough...so he'll be staying behind.
We are ALL learning patience together :-) The bonus is that he likes San Diego, has evenings and weekends off, and is saving money. And he is indeed chipping paint. Still, its early days. This can't last forever despite all feelings otherwise.
Chris is pretty well convinced that if he waits 18 months and is sponsored by an IT, he can try for IT again (he washed out with less than a day of work remaining - ran out of time). He's been hanging around their division, and has helped out with tech stuff around his own division. I sure hope he's right, he seems to have his heart set on this.
Oh Julie sorry to hear of Cory's troubles. Hope it all works out for the best for him. It is a little scary to think of them getting out in this economy. Tara's PTS was approved, as of now she does plan on reenlisting. But with her you never know. My son still have 3 1/2 years to decided.
Have a great time in Virginia for Cory's birthday, should be a little cooler there then you are used to. :) Will he Cory be able to get home for Christmas?
Sheila!!!! Were are you our fearless leader? Hope all is well.
Julie, once a Navy Mom always a Navy Mom!!! We have been with ours sailors every step of the way, I think our title should stick with us.
Yup, that girl has made me hold my breath and cry more tears ever since she decided to join the Navy. And I fear it its not over yet. She has a good head on her shoulders most times. ;)
After all she went through to get where she is I hope she stays at least 2 more years. Right now it seems she will but with Tara you never know. It's never a dull moment with her. Her brother and her are soooo different. But that is a good thing, if they were both....how should I say this?......as exciting as Tara, I would have been in the loony bin a long time ago. LOL! But I love them both and wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world.
Well here's a twist I just realized. Any input appreciated. He'd be mad at me for saying it all too.
Because my son was in the BDCP, he was considered 'active' for his last 2 years of college and remained active for the 14 months after his college graduation that consisted of delay after delay, messed up paperwork, then failure of the run time at 2 PRTs back to back due to flu/bronchitis, dropping from the officer program as a result, and finally assignment to boot camp last July undesignated - where he was given a plane ticket by his NRD that had him arrive after the USO closed - he took a taxi and walked in to boot camp on orders that he received from his NRD the day AFTER he was supposed to report to GL. (That caused a stir!)
Still he was the only guy selected from this 770 person PIR group for the USS Constitution while in BC - but that was pulled because his commitment remaining is less than the 2 years billet would last. Thus, he is where he is now in Coronado with the Seabees trying very hard to stay positive and still wanting a career with the Navy.
But, his official end date is now Jan 10, 2012 - 14 months from now. That is not enough time to get accepted back to the officer program (which I understand takes about 2 yrs) and logically he won't be accepted for a rate if he's supposed to get out in 14 months. Am I making this up or do you think this is the probable outcome too?
I'm pretty sure he's out of options with the Navy mostly because of bureaucratic nightmares. Eagle Scout, 99 ASVAB, high school and college grad with honors, passed the Nuclear exams, security cleared, challenge coin at BC, keeps his nose clean, etc etc etc and right now it looks like the Navy is going to use him to chip paint for 14 months and then kick him out. I find it really sad that this is the best use they can find for him.
In these last few years things seem so uncertain whether we are talking about the navy or civilian life when you refer to jobs. I view the navy as my sailor's job for now and he is not doing what he prefers to do either.
Your sailor has dealt with many challenges and has already achieved so much in life!
Hold on to your pride in him. Send him your love and support. The only thing we can do is talk to each other here and stay positive when we talk to them.
I am sending you hugs and prayers that this crooked road we share leads to something that our sailors will be truly happy and fulfilled doing.
Thats great Julie, yea I bet that it will be a little cooler there.
I got some great news the other day, Aaron will be home for Christmas. Didn't think he would get the time. Now the only problem is....Tara is possible going to the boy friends family back in Ohio. Ugh! But they have not made any concrete plans yet, so I have to hope they will change there minds and come here. Have not had my kids them home together in 4 years. Keeping fingers crossed that it goes my way. :)
Thanks Sheila. I needed to read that and put this whole experience back into perspective.
My sailor just graduated bc and is in A school. She is undes and very upset. She was told that during A school they were going to let her take the ASVAB again and when she gets to her duty station she cannot strike for a rate for one year (I think that I read that in this group) and that she will be going out to sea for months at time. Can anyone confirm this for me? Can she go to school while she is undesignated and out to sea and would that help her for when she does strike for a rate?
Ladypinkhatter, can you explain a little more? Did she get dropped out of a school for some reason, or do you mean she is in seamanship school?
As long as a sailor is "undesignated" they can work toward a job, but they can't become a "designated striker" for a year, when they can be accepted into a rating. In some ratings they have to go to a school, in others they can be accepted by recommendation.
For example, right now my son is undes, in deck division, but is hanging around the IT department, helping out with computers and other tech stuff, hoping that one of them will "sponsor" him to IT school. His complication is that IT school is the one he failed out of, so he has to wait 18 months to reapply (with recommendation) instead of a year.
Taking a college class or two always looks good on evaluations, but keep in mind that it is extremely difficult to take classes while at sea. They work 18-hour days and have little or no "personal time." So any classes she takes will have to be extremely flexible for time, so that she can work on them while in port and not be penalized for not doing much while she's at sea.
My son was also very bummed when he was kicked out of school (failure to finish on time) and became an undes. However, he's discovering that what he's doing is pretty fun. He gets to do things like steer the ship (helms), be part of ship-to-ship transfers, and all sorts of things like that. He says he spends very little time "chipping paint."
However, it's only a matter of time before he starts mess cranking (takes his turn to do the dishes), which ALL sailors E-3 and below (and on some ships, E-4s too) do, whether they are designated strikers or not.
Thanks Arwen, she did not get kicked out of school. She in A school right now for four weeks (in GL) and then will go to her fleet and home base for the remainder of her four years and that she cannot strike for a rating for a year and will be out to sea. That is all that she has told me.
Seamanship school teaches undesignated sailors what they need to know about line handling and other deck before they are sent to the fleet. It's like an advanced form of the skills they learned in boot camp.
Seamanship school is not an A school, since they do not earn a rating at the end of the school. Anyone who has finished an A school is a designated striker.
It sounds like your daughter is in seamanship school, not A school.
Can she get to E3 before the 9 months? Thanks for all of the help just trying to understand what's going on so that I can continue to be encouraging and positive.
When she earns a rating, even if she leaves her ship for school she will most likely return to her ship to finish her assignment as a rated sailor before getting another duty station.
There are some ratings that almost never get shore assignments, those sailors spend most of their career on sea duty. My foster son-in-law has been in for 6 years and has never had shore duty. Very few ratings offer shore duty for a sailor's first few years in the Navy. It's a rite of passage, spending the first 3-4 years doing the hard, dirty work.
Hi everyone, my daughter is in bc now, its only been about a week. She is in the pact program. Is there a difference as to being an undesignated sailor or in this program. To me it all seems to be the same thing???
Thanks msvines. That is what I told her...it appears everyone has a different experience/journey and I also quoted PNB's post "the key is, sailors have to make time to take classes, get extra quals, such things. there is no limit to what anyone can do, only they hold themselves back".
min1, there is no A school for undesignated sailors. Once they've been to A school, they're a designated striker. Maybe some refer to it as their A school, in that it is the training they receive before going out to the fleet, but it's not the same thing.
Occasionally sailors who actually want to be Boatswain's Mates go undesignated, they tend to think of seamanship school as their A school, since there isn't a BM A school. If an undesignated seaman fails to find another rating to strike for, BM is the natural progression to E-4.
They do have a PACT program for undesignated sailors, I'm not sure what careers it is supposed to lead to. Maybe civilian deckhand? There is a career in working in maritime shipping, cruise ships, etc.
Congratulations to your son Shelly! That's great news.
I had an interesting Skype session with my son this morning. He's been in Coronado for about a month and his XO told him yesterday that he should complete all the ppw to re-apply for officer school - they are encouraging him to do so. They put their heads together and figured out what forms etc but they need some information that they couldn't locate at hand. So they told him to hop in his car and drive up to the record keeping place north of the base. He did. Arrived and talked to 6 different people about his records and the last one finally just said only half way tongue in cheek "Are you SURE you're in the Navy?".
Honestly. According to the records he joined in 2007, went to boot camp in 2010, is an E3, and graduated from high school, and that's it. No ASVAB score, no college degree, no top secret clearance (they interviewed his college professors, family, roommate etc to get that).
They said that yes, sometimes details don't make it in to someone record but this was to the point where he the guy actually asked if my kid was spelling his OWN NAME correctly. And "Are you SURE you took the ASVAB?"
I really appreciate the sympathy y'all. My mind is boggled. We figure he could wander off base, never go back, and still get paid til retirement! He may spend the rest of his enlistment just trying to track down his records.
Monty Python levels of silly. Thank goodness he can still laugh (albeit despairingly) about it.
On a lighter note, when we talked he gave me an entire list of all the creatures he found on field exercises. Snakes, tarantulas, mice, hawks, and alligator lizard...as I remarked "who knew a love of natural history would come in handy in the Navy!"
LynB, that is amazing. My daughter had a few snafus with paper work and incompetent people along the way, it really is hard to understand how these things can happen. But your son's situation is ridiculous.....you can't make that stuff up.....is he on candid camera????
I hope it gets worked out for him very soon.
Julie...1,2,3.....breath!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Tara and her girlfriend Gerri drove up on Wed. Their 8 hour drive took 11 hours due to holiday traffic through LA. UGH!
But it is great to have them here.
LOL, I was devastated when I realized that all of my SF team gear was long gone, either worn out or lost. I haven't lived in a place where it's easy to find SF stuff in a long time. So I was wearing (what remains of) my SF 49ers stuff instead, what remains of it. The logo is kinda-sorta the same.
I'm getting a little frustrated that there is NOTHING I can do that this point, for either of my boys. My older one is still trying to find a back door back into IT school, and my younger is still waiting on a waiver for an old knee injury to see if he can join. All my years of experience and lots of family contacts in the Navy (at least 2 chiefs among them) are useless. I hate feeling useless.
The other part that kind-of hurts right now is that everyone is getting results back from the most recent round of promotions, and it will be March 2012 before my son can even try. One of his recruit classmates just made E-4.
Julie - love the snack food item ideas. Maybe I'll send my guy a nice party type gift basket - popcorn, chocolates. Got some good places I order from that should be nice.
Arwen - I'm sorry you're feeling useless to help your boys :-( I think that's why this forum is so helpful...safe place to vent. Everyone tries hard to keep spirits up but sometimes it gets pretty hard.
msvines - I can't believe it about your friend's grandson! I had no idea that was even a possibility. So even getting a rate doesn't mean the bumpy ride is over?
Angie, I know WHY some make rate faster than others. It's just so hard to watch. Chris was 2 college credits short of earning E-2 for school, and three pushups short of getting E-2 for the DEP test. He was so close!
My husband was one of those who made rate fast. He was a nuke MM, and "way back when" they actually awarded nukes E-4 straight out of boot camp, they didn't even have to wait to finish school. They took a lot of verbal abuse for that, from jealous non-nukes. It also didn't help that only men could be nukes at the time, and E-4s were excused from mess cranking. Things have changed a lot since then.
Chris is taking the same path as I did, TIR for each promotion from E-1. When you're a new E-1 or E-2, that E-4 exam seems so far away, even when you're are a designated striker. For an undes seeking a school, it would be even harder.
And to make his life more difficult, Chris is determined to do the impossible, to somehow earn his way back to the A-school he washed out of.
Thanks for the info. I passed it on to Chris. From what he tells me, he's already spending time with the ITs, observing, and has at least one who has "adopted" him. He has also volunteered for any computer work that needs to be done within his division.
It helps that he all but finished IT school. He literally had less than 8 hours of course material remaining when he hit his time limit, so he has a pretty good head-start on this.
Deck crew isn't just about hauling and cleaning and painting. That's in port, where their jobs *are* pretty boring. At sea they actually have some of the coolest and most interesting jobs. Deck seamen spend a lot of time on the bridge (where the captain is). Deck seamen stand bridge watches, including helm (steering the ship), lookout, and serve as messengers for the bridge officers. As important as these jobs seem, they're pretty much reserved for E-3 and below, with a few exceptions.
It freaks me out a little that my son, who doesn't even have a driver's license, and has been at sea for just three months, is responsible for "driving" a 10,000 ton ship with 1,000 human beings on board.
My son was dropped yesterday from RSS -on the very last day. He is so depressed right now and so are we for him. I have been reading through the previous posts and really feel lost at this point.
I spoke with my son yesterday, he sounds strong but so disappointed. He finally had time to make it to medical, he's been so sick for the last 10 days.
Julie: Thank-you for sharing your experience. You are so right, I do feel very alone and sad for my son right now. He is still in RSS barracks with all of his friends. I know the feelings are so raw and fresh it's going to take time.
I will be his cheerleader!
However, reading all of the posts about these wonderful young men and women making it through these challenges in life- does ease my worry and pain for him.
I want to thank all of you for your kindness and support. I think that has got to be the difficult task for our guys- is to figure out what else they want to do and what is available to them.
Hi Linda: I've been fine just trying to adapt and keep a positive outlook. I think Mike is doing okay just very disappointed.
I'm glad Jarrod is doing well, Jacksonville is beautiful. HSL 44 Swamp Fox Squadron... WOW... that sounds pretty cool. I do hope Jarrod will make it home for Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Hi Julie.....Boy, you're not joking what a rollercoaster ride of emotions for all of us. Cory sounds like he a strong young man... you must be very proud.
I know I always want Michael to know how so very proud of him we are.
Hello Julie: I Know I feel very blessed that Michael is coming home for Christmas tomorrow.
Happy to hear Cory is spending Christmas with friends, but I'm sure you are missing his presence dearly.I have to say the next best thing to Cory having one of your home cooked meals would be another family's home cooked meal.
A very kind family invited Mike and others over for Thanksgiving dinner ( he had duty) he had a great meal and a good time. I felt so much better knowing he was eating turkey that day.
Hi msvines: He met with I guess a detailer yesterday- Mike decided to go aircrew undesignated, the available jobs were kitchen and mail right now. He sounded okay about it.
I want to dope-slap Chris so bad right now. He has port and starboard duty (every other day/weekend off) and is in port, so he has plenty of time off, but the brat has only called once - at 2 a.m. I sure hope he's having fun not thinking about us. If I know him, he is sleeping 14 hours per day while off duty, and has his nose in a computer (video games, not email, etc) the other 10 hours.
His first call saved our Navy tree last week, but at this rate, the tree may be engangered again soon. I wonder what the fire department thinks of Christmas bonfires?
Undes airman goes to a short training school, then they get leave to go home for a while. Most do not get to choose orders, the vast majority are sent to aircraft carriers to work as flight deck crew (the stuff the young guys are doing on the TV show "Carrier.").
msvines: He requested a choice of location but he has no idea yet where he will be going. I am so proud of him, I'm sure like every other mother/wife on this site when we realize how resilient our young men and women have become. He's only 19 years old but he has matured so much.
Julie....Yes, Michael is home and loving every minute of it. He is doing well and is keeping a positive outlook. These last 7 months have made him realize just how strong he really is. He's feeling better getting over the crud, sleeping and eating a lot!
Arwen... LOL... I might get a one word text from Mike when he's away- if I'm lucky. We watch " Carrier" when it came out -Mike was at bookcamp-great show.
Arwen
Nov 2, 2010
momof3
Nov 4, 2010
LynB
We are ALL learning patience together :-) The bonus is that he likes San Diego, has evenings and weekends off, and is saving money. And he is indeed chipping paint. Still, its early days. This can't last forever despite all feelings otherwise.
Nov 4, 2010
momof3
Nov 4, 2010
Arwen
Nov 4, 2010
CrackerjackMom
Nov 6, 2010
CrackerjackMom
Nov 6, 2010
CrackerjackMom
Have a great time in Virginia for Cory's birthday, should be a little cooler there then you are used to. :) Will he Cory be able to get home for Christmas?
Sheila!!!! Were are you our fearless leader? Hope all is well.
Nov 7, 2010
CrackerjackMom
Yup, that girl has made me hold my breath and cry more tears ever since she decided to join the Navy. And I fear it its not over yet. She has a good head on her shoulders most times. ;)
After all she went through to get where she is I hope she stays at least 2 more years. Right now it seems she will but with Tara you never know. It's never a dull moment with her. Her brother and her are soooo different. But that is a good thing, if they were both....how should I say this?......as exciting as Tara, I would have been in the loony bin a long time ago. LOL! But I love them both and wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world.
Nov 7, 2010
LynB
Because my son was in the BDCP, he was considered 'active' for his last 2 years of college and remained active for the 14 months after his college graduation that consisted of delay after delay, messed up paperwork, then failure of the run time at 2 PRTs back to back due to flu/bronchitis, dropping from the officer program as a result, and finally assignment to boot camp last July undesignated - where he was given a plane ticket by his NRD that had him arrive after the USO closed - he took a taxi and walked in to boot camp on orders that he received from his NRD the day AFTER he was supposed to report to GL. (That caused a stir!)
Still he was the only guy selected from this 770 person PIR group for the USS Constitution while in BC - but that was pulled because his commitment remaining is less than the 2 years billet would last. Thus, he is where he is now in Coronado with the Seabees trying very hard to stay positive and still wanting a career with the Navy.
But, his official end date is now Jan 10, 2012 - 14 months from now. That is not enough time to get accepted back to the officer program (which I understand takes about 2 yrs) and logically he won't be accepted for a rate if he's supposed to get out in 14 months. Am I making this up or do you think this is the probable outcome too?
I'm pretty sure he's out of options with the Navy mostly because of bureaucratic nightmares. Eagle Scout, 99 ASVAB, high school and college grad with honors, passed the Nuclear exams, security cleared, challenge coin at BC, keeps his nose clean, etc etc etc and right now it looks like the Navy is going to use him to chip paint for 14 months and then kick him out. I find it really sad that this is the best use they can find for him.
Nov 8, 2010
msmom
In these last few years things seem so uncertain whether we are talking about the navy or civilian life when you refer to jobs. I view the navy as my sailor's job for now and he is not doing what he prefers to do either.
Your sailor has dealt with many challenges and has already achieved so much in life!
Hold on to your pride in him. Send him your love and support. The only thing we can do is talk to each other here and stay positive when we talk to them.
I am sending you hugs and prayers that this crooked road we share leads to something that our sailors will be truly happy and fulfilled doing.
Nov 10, 2010
Andy's_Dad_Eric_CVN-69
Nov 13, 2010
CrackerjackMom
Hi Shelia, good to hear from you. Glad things are moving right along with the wedding plans. It will be here before you know it.
Nov 13, 2010
CrackerjackMom
I got some great news the other day, Aaron will be home for Christmas. Didn't think he would get the time. Now the only problem is....Tara is possible going to the boy friends family back in Ohio. Ugh! But they have not made any concrete plans yet, so I have to hope they will change there minds and come here. Have not had my kids them home together in 4 years. Keeping fingers crossed that it goes my way. :)
Nov 15, 2010
ladypinkhatter
My sailor just graduated bc and is in A school. She is undes and very upset. She was told that during A school they were going to let her take the ASVAB again and when she gets to her duty station she cannot strike for a rate for one year (I think that I read that in this group) and that she will be going out to sea for months at time. Can anyone confirm this for me? Can she go to school while she is undesignated and out to sea and would that help her for when she does strike for a rate?
Nov 15, 2010
Andy's_Dad_Eric_CVN-69
Nov 15, 2010
Arwen
As long as a sailor is "undesignated" they can work toward a job, but they can't become a "designated striker" for a year, when they can be accepted into a rating. In some ratings they have to go to a school, in others they can be accepted by recommendation.
For example, right now my son is undes, in deck division, but is hanging around the IT department, helping out with computers and other tech stuff, hoping that one of them will "sponsor" him to IT school. His complication is that IT school is the one he failed out of, so he has to wait 18 months to reapply (with recommendation) instead of a year.
Taking a college class or two always looks good on evaluations, but keep in mind that it is extremely difficult to take classes while at sea. They work 18-hour days and have little or no "personal time." So any classes she takes will have to be extremely flexible for time, so that she can work on them while in port and not be penalized for not doing much while she's at sea.
My son was also very bummed when he was kicked out of school (failure to finish on time) and became an undes. However, he's discovering that what he's doing is pretty fun. He gets to do things like steer the ship (helms), be part of ship-to-ship transfers, and all sorts of things like that. He says he spends very little time "chipping paint."
However, it's only a matter of time before he starts mess cranking (takes his turn to do the dishes), which ALL sailors E-3 and below (and on some ships, E-4s too) do, whether they are designated strikers or not.
Nov 15, 2010
ladypinkhatter
What is seamanship school?
Nov 16, 2010
Arwen
Seamanship school is not an A school, since they do not earn a rating at the end of the school. Anyone who has finished an A school is a designated striker.
It sounds like your daughter is in seamanship school, not A school.
Nov 16, 2010
ladypinkhatter
Nov 17, 2010
Andy's_Dad_Eric_CVN-69
Nov 17, 2010
ladypinkhatter
Nov 17, 2010
Arwen
There are some ratings that almost never get shore assignments, those sailors spend most of their career on sea duty. My foster son-in-law has been in for 6 years and has never had shore duty. Very few ratings offer shore duty for a sailor's first few years in the Navy. It's a rite of passage, spending the first 3-4 years doing the hard, dirty work.
Nov 17, 2010
ladypinkhatter
Nov 18, 2010
mln1
Nov 18, 2010
mln1
Nov 18, 2010
ladypinkhatter
Nov 18, 2010
Arwen
Occasionally sailors who actually want to be Boatswain's Mates go undesignated, they tend to think of seamanship school as their A school, since there isn't a BM A school. If an undesignated seaman fails to find another rating to strike for, BM is the natural progression to E-4.
They do have a PACT program for undesignated sailors, I'm not sure what careers it is supposed to lead to. Maybe civilian deckhand? There is a career in working in maritime shipping, cruise ships, etc.
Nov 23, 2010
lori_proud mom
Nov 23, 2010
Arwen
SN = Seaman (seamanship/weapons/administrative/technical jobs)
FN = Fireman (engineering/mechanical jobs)
Angie, I had no idea that there is now a BM school. Not going back to their previous duty station is new to me too. Thanks for the info.
Nov 24, 2010
LynB
I had an interesting Skype session with my son this morning. He's been in Coronado for about a month and his XO told him yesterday that he should complete all the ppw to re-apply for officer school - they are encouraging him to do so. They put their heads together and figured out what forms etc but they need some information that they couldn't locate at hand. So they told him to hop in his car and drive up to the record keeping place north of the base. He did. Arrived and talked to 6 different people about his records and the last one finally just said only half way tongue in cheek "Are you SURE you're in the Navy?".
Honestly. According to the records he joined in 2007, went to boot camp in 2010, is an E3, and graduated from high school, and that's it. No ASVAB score, no college degree, no top secret clearance (they interviewed his college professors, family, roommate etc to get that).
They said that yes, sometimes details don't make it in to someone record but this was to the point where he the guy actually asked if my kid was spelling his OWN NAME correctly. And "Are you SURE you took the ASVAB?"
*sigh*
Nov 24, 2010
LynB
Monty Python levels of silly. Thank goodness he can still laugh (albeit despairingly) about it.
On a lighter note, when we talked he gave me an entire list of all the creatures he found on field exercises. Snakes, tarantulas, mice, hawks, and alligator lizard...as I remarked "who knew a love of natural history would come in handy in the Navy!"
Nov 27, 2010
CrackerjackMom
I hope it gets worked out for him very soon.
Julie...1,2,3.....breath!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Tara and her girlfriend Gerri drove up on Wed. Their 8 hour drive took 11 hours due to holiday traffic through LA. UGH!
But it is great to have them here.
Nov 27, 2010
Arwen
I'm getting a little frustrated that there is NOTHING I can do that this point, for either of my boys. My older one is still trying to find a back door back into IT school, and my younger is still waiting on a waiver for an old knee injury to see if he can join. All my years of experience and lots of family contacts in the Navy (at least 2 chiefs among them) are useless. I hate feeling useless.
The other part that kind-of hurts right now is that everyone is getting results back from the most recent round of promotions, and it will be March 2012 before my son can even try. One of his recruit classmates just made E-4.
*sigh*
Nov 28, 2010
LynB
Arwen - I'm sorry you're feeling useless to help your boys :-( I think that's why this forum is so helpful...safe place to vent. Everyone tries hard to keep spirits up but sometimes it gets pretty hard.
msvines - I can't believe it about your friend's grandson! I had no idea that was even a possibility. So even getting a rate doesn't mean the bumpy ride is over?
Nov 28, 2010
Arwen
My husband was one of those who made rate fast. He was a nuke MM, and "way back when" they actually awarded nukes E-4 straight out of boot camp, they didn't even have to wait to finish school. They took a lot of verbal abuse for that, from jealous non-nukes. It also didn't help that only men could be nukes at the time, and E-4s were excused from mess cranking. Things have changed a lot since then.
Chris is taking the same path as I did, TIR for each promotion from E-1. When you're a new E-1 or E-2, that E-4 exam seems so far away, even when you're are a designated striker. For an undes seeking a school, it would be even harder.
And to make his life more difficult, Chris is determined to do the impossible, to somehow earn his way back to the A-school he washed out of.
Nov 28, 2010
Arwen
It helps that he all but finished IT school. He literally had less than 8 hours of course material remaining when he hit his time limit, so he has a pretty good head-start on this.
Dec 5, 2010
Arwen
It freaks me out a little that my son, who doesn't even have a driver's license, and has been at sea for just three months, is responsible for "driving" a 10,000 ton ship with 1,000 human beings on board.
Dec 7, 2010
south mississippi mom
Hello Everyone,
Hi minecoyote, (our sons were in 814 together)
My son was dropped yesterday from RSS -on the very last day. He is so depressed right now and so are we for him. I have been reading through the previous posts and really feel lost at this point.
Kathy
Dec 10, 2010
south mississippi mom
I am so happy to find this group.
Reading many pages of previous posts it looks like this is going to be a waiting game. What will he be doing during his wait?
On a brighter note, we are very lucky with the Christmas leave to have him home for a couple of weeks.
Kathy
Dec 10, 2010
south mississippi mom
Thank-you, msvines.
What a positive story- hope is really what we both need at this point.
I am so glad your son is doing so well.
Thank-you again,
Kathy
Dec 10, 2010
south mississippi mom
Hello Everyone,
I spoke with my son yesterday, he sounds strong but so disappointed. He finally had time to make it to medical, he's been so sick for the last 10 days.
Julie: Thank-you for sharing your experience. You are so right, I do feel very alone and sad for my son right now. He is still in RSS barracks with all of his friends. I know the feelings are so raw and fresh it's going to take time.
I will be his cheerleader!
However, reading all of the posts about these wonderful young men and women making it through these challenges in life- does ease my worry and pain for him.
Thank-you,
Kathy
Dec 11, 2010
south mississippi mom
Good Evening...
I want to thank all of you for your kindness and support. I think that has got to be the difficult task for our guys- is to figure out what else they want to do and what is available to them.
Hi Linda: I've been fine just trying to adapt and keep a positive outlook. I think Mike is doing okay just very disappointed.
I'm glad Jarrod is doing well, Jacksonville is beautiful. HSL 44 Swamp Fox Squadron... WOW... that sounds pretty cool. I do hope Jarrod will make it home for Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Hi Julie.....Boy, you're not joking what a rollercoaster ride of emotions for all of us. Cory sounds like he a strong young man... you must be very proud.
I know I always want Michael to know how so very proud of him we are.
Our guys and gals are our hero's!
Kathy
Dec 13, 2010
south mississippi mom
Hi Julie and all,
He texted yesterday that he was moving out of the RS barracks and is in the student pool- not sure what that means, but he's not happy.
I told him this is only temporary! I do hope he can find something he likes.
He is coming home for Christmas, thank heavens.
Thank-you,
Kathy
Dec 15, 2010
south mississippi mom
Hello Julie: I Know I feel very blessed that Michael is coming home for Christmas tomorrow.
Happy to hear Cory is spending Christmas with friends, but I'm sure you are missing his presence dearly. I have to say the next best thing to Cory having one of your home cooked meals would be another family's home cooked meal.
A very kind family invited Mike and others over for Thanksgiving dinner ( he had duty) he had a great meal and a good time. I felt so much better knowing he was eating turkey that day.
Hi msvines: He met with I guess a detailer yesterday- Mike decided to go aircrew undesignated, the available jobs were kitchen and mail right now. He sounded okay about it.
May God watch over our young men and women.
Dec 17, 2010
CrackerjackMom
Sounds great Julie. I have Aaron home for a week, Tara is in Ohio with the boyfriend. First year with out her. :(
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and a bight new year.
Dec 23, 2010
Arwen
I want to dope-slap Chris so bad right now. He has port and starboard duty (every other day/weekend off) and is in port, so he has plenty of time off, but the brat has only called once - at 2 a.m. I sure hope he's having fun not thinking about us. If I know him, he is sleeping 14 hours per day while off duty, and has his nose in a computer (video games, not email, etc) the other 10 hours.
His first call saved our Navy tree last week, but at this rate, the tree may be engangered again soon. I wonder what the fire department thinks of Christmas bonfires?
Dec 23, 2010
Arwen
Undes airman goes to a short training school, then they get leave to go home for a while. Most do not get to choose orders, the vast majority are sent to aircraft carriers to work as flight deck crew (the stuff the young guys are doing on the TV show "Carrier.").
Dec 23, 2010
south mississippi mom
Hello All...
msvines: He requested a choice of location but he has no idea yet where he will be going. I am so proud of him, I'm sure like every other mother/wife on this site when we realize how resilient our young men and women have become. He's only 19 years old but he has matured so much.
Julie....Yes, Michael is home and loving every minute of it. He is doing well and is keeping a positive outlook. These last 7 months have made him realize just how strong he really is. He's feeling better getting over the crud, sleeping and eating a lot!
Arwen... LOL... I might get a one word text from Mike when he's away- if I'm lucky. We watch " Carrier" when it came out -Mike was at bookcamp-great show.
I want to wish all a Very Merry Christmas!
Dec 24, 2010
CrackerjackMom
Dec 25, 2010