Ship 5 Moms(Formerly Ship 17)

Wow.  You guys have no idea what the support on this ship 5 group is doing for me.  You are helping me through one of the worst experiences of my life.  I just want my son home where I can make sure he is okay.  It is going to be a while, though.  He just got to ship 5 friday.  I still don't know the details of what happened.

Eagerly waiting for my call today- to find out if she has been to legal yet.. her room is ready-- she got Ship 5 on June 14th.. so legal should be any day now, and hoping for a her to be home prior to July 4th..

Mom Ship 12 Div 289 -Address your letters to your daughter, as follows:

SR Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial

Ship 5
3610 Illinois Street
Great Lakes, IL
60088-3118

When she arrives on Ship 5, have her ask for a job; i.e., mail, laundry, etc.  It will help the time pass.  My son was in charge of laundry for his Sep division, and he said it did help pass the time.  I also wrote frequently and the mail, the phone calls they can make twice weekly is a Godsend for them.  It is still a very difficult place and a tough situation to be in.  I'm not going to sugar-coat it.  They get through it; really need their moms support, letting them know all is well.  Do not be afraid to phone Legal Affairs yourself if, after 7 days, your daughter does not have an appointment scheduled with Legal.  I did it; it does help. Since I am one of the moms who have gone through this, and my son has been home for a few weeks, happy to answer any more questions you might have.

asthma tends to usually take longer

Yes, you will get at least 2 calls per week and if you are on facebook and sr is too, they will allow sr to go on facebook 2 or more times per week besides the calls.  So if you are on facebook, you can send messages now and sr will get them soon.

Chiefswifer51, how long has it been?  As I recall my son was moved to Ship 5 on a Tuesday - he phoned that day and then again every Tuesday and Thursday after that.  Calls generally came in about noon ET. So there was a week between calls, then they were more frequent.  In addition, he "traded" stamps for internet time (which costs them $).  Thinking of you....

My son has been there 10 days and still hasn't seen legal.  Does anyone know how much longer it might be?  Also, can anyone tell me what legal meeting is like?  Also, my son somehow lost his dl license and ss card.  Does that mean he won't be allowed to take a plane home to California?

My son is allowed on Facebook sometimes but he has to pay

My suggestion is that if it is over seven business days that your SR has been in Separation, phone Legal Affairs.  I was told by a Navy attorney that Legal should be in touch with any separated SR by that time.  For some reason, files often stay "stuck" at the end of a pile.  Remember, there are a few hundred SRs and others in Separation at any given time.  It's worth a call.

Not sure what to do about a lost driver's license.  Perhaps one of the other moms can provide advice, OR, if you do phone Legal Affairs, they will definitely let you know how to handle this. 

Good Luck!

So happy that you got a call :)  Sounds like your daughter and my son have been in about the same amount of time.

I found out from my son that they have a place they go to once a week or so that has a subway and a taco bell.  Also, when one person breaks a rule, the whole group is punished.  He told me that the other day, one recruit put a rated R movie into the DVD player and the whole group had to sit still and quiet for 5 hours and do nothing.  My son was asleep and nowhere near DVD player.  (They are allowed to watch DVD's but not rated R.)

My son finally got to go to legal today, (after 12 days of being there.)  He said he will be sent back home to California next week or week after on a bus, (3 day trip or so)

Chantilly:  You have the option of buying him a plane ticket if you want. 

Marylou.  I am sorry to say but my son said nobody will see legal thursday-sunday because of the holiday weekend.  Diannep.  My son lost his drivers license in boot camp somehow so that's why they won't fly him.  You need an id to fly.  They take your navy id before you leave.

Oh, Chantilly.  So sorry about that.  Is there no way to get a duplicate to him?

tcon were in Ga are you? We are in Ga also. My son has been home for 6 months now & doing well. The anger is hard to deal with at times I know. But life will go on. If I can be of any help I am here.

I just want to say that all of you moms are terrific!  I've been through this horrible separation process with my son, too.  He's been home a few weeks now, and you all are so right - life goes on.  The pain of the separation will subside but the 'scar' will always be there.  I am so grateful for all of you moms-we all share a common bond.  This experience has made our children and our families stronger, that's for sure!  God bless....

I wonder if today is going to be especially hard for our loved ones, it being the 4th and them being stuck in there.

I'm so happy you finally received a call from your daughter, Marylou!  It'll feel so nice to be able to hug her again.  When my son rounded the corner at the airport after his stay at GL, I think it was the happiest I'd ever been to see him (aside from his birth)..  I didn't want to let him go!  Best of luck....

I haven't been on this site in a while, but July 3 was the 1 year anniversary of my son coming home from ship 5.  It makes me  sad to know that so many have similar stories to mine.  Hard to understand even 1 year later.  My son came home and my worst fears came true, he was arrested for MIP (minor in possession).  Thankfully he was not driving and was able to do a second chance program where you are on probation for 6 months, take a MADD class and some other related classes and pay lots of fees.  If you stay out of trouble you get a clean record.   This kid came from a good home with tons of support, so it has been a rough road for his dad and myself the last year.  A far cry of what I thought the future would hold.  You know, a joyful graduation and the pride of watching your son serve his country.  I am a christian, so even though I don't understand why these things happen I know that God is in control and He has a great plan! 

All this to say,  I know how all you moms feel~  Thanks for listening to my rant!

Hello to all of you! I just found out about this group. Reading through some of the posts is like reading my own heart. My son enlisted in September of '12. He told everyone at that time that he had been on meds for ADHD. He had been off meds for at least 1 1/2 years by the time he signed up. Recruiter told him he would be fine, but if it came up at bootcamp to LIE about it and not say anything. Well, at Moment of Truth, my son was scared to death and spoke up about the meds and ADHD. They put him on a "psych watch" but let him continue with training, except for weapons. After a couple of days, they decided he was fine and took him off psych watch. He was scheduled to go to San Antonio for A school and had even been told that after A school he would be assigned to FMF, Fleet Marine Force as medic. He graduated PIR 6-7-13!! He was put in temp housing ship 5 after grad to wait for medical waiver. We got to spend the whole weekend with him! By the following Friday, he called to say that the dr. was telling him his odds of staying in the Navy were very slim. And on the next Monday, he called to say he was being separated. He is still in GL and I haven't heard from him in over a week. Legal hasn't returned our multiple messages since June 25! My heart is absolutely broken for what my son is going through. Seems they are being treated so unfairly and are being humiliated to make matters worse. Do any of you know if the fact that he already graduated will work in his favor? We don't know whether to try to appeal or just try to get him home!

Mattsmom, your son is allowed on facebook every few days.  You can send him a message on there whenever you want and he will get it.  Hang in there.  My son is still in there, but he finally got to see legal Wednesday.  If anyone on here wants to be facebook friends with me, friend request me on there: Donna Cummings

Thank you Angie and Donna C. After I posted my first message this morning, I continued to read through old posts. I found a phone number that someone had posted for Ship 5. I called it and a real person answered the phone!! I gave them my name and son's name, told them how long it had been since we had heard anything and was eventually transferred to someone who got in touch with the officer in charge. Within the hour I got a 5-minute call from my son!!! He is fine but is miserable and hasn't talked to legal in almost 2 weeks. He doesn't know anymore whether he still wants to fight or not. He signed the privacy paperwork a couple of weeks ago so we can get info about him. He's been there 88 days. Don't you just KNOW it will take them 179.9 days to get him out of there!! He said they lost privileges because someone kicked a door. Said he doesn't have supplies to write letters---guess they took that away from him too. He hasn't been able to get on FB in over a week.

chiefswife, I tried to find you on facebook, what does your profile pic look like?  It won't tell me by location

Hi Yoshi, There were 3 Brian Yensho IIs on FB! Which one is you??

Also, is there a FB group for ship 5? I found it very convenient to keep up with the PIR group I joined on FB. Anyone interested? We could start one if there isn't one already.

Mattsmom, can you start one?  I don't know how.  Chiefswife, I still haven't found you on Facebook yet.  But I have some good news to share.  My son is being sent home to CA on a greyhound bus either Thursday or Friday.

Does anyone on here have a family member with last name of Hodge who is in SEPS?  That is my son's closest friend in there.

Hello All! My son went to BC on Wed. June 5th.  On Fri. June 21st he was sent to Ship 5 after learning that his blood sugar was higher than they would like.  He FINALLY saw legal today, Tuesday, July 9th.  He said from this point it can be up to 15 working days from now.  He also mentioned that working days means Mon. through Thurs.  They don't work on Fridays.  He is so ready to come home.  It is not an ideal situation for these former recruits being treated sometimes worse than recruits.  But, as he says, at least he is getting paid.  When we first found out, it was devastating for all.  Now, not so much, because I am not impressed with the bureaucracy of it all at the expense of well-meaning kids' lives, not to mention at the tax payers' expense.  It will be January before my son can get back into school. I have tried to enroll him, but all Fall classes are already wait-listed.  The good news, is that my son has had plenty of time to process this ordeal while there and realizes he is one of many who are going through this.  He is taking the time to rethink his future.  So maybe God does have a plan.  It is just a matter of being patient to see where this all leads us.

If she gets put onto ship 5 you will hear immediately.  They have to allow the one phone call.

Hal's Mom, if you are on Facebook, that is good because they are allowed on there at least 3 times per week if they pay 5 dollars, so it is the fastest way to communicate

Can some of you guys Facebook friend request me?  Donna Cummings, Pleasant Hill, CA.  My son is still there.

I joined the FB group mentioned by Kathy(Momof'IT'Marshall). Thanks for that info! My son has been in ship 5 since June 7th, which was also the day he GRADUATED!!! He finally has some word that he may be able to come home within the next 2 weeks. I want to be excited but I'm skeptical. I think I'll believe it when I see the whites of his eyes!!

Jo(Bre's mom) I'm so sorry you are having to go through this.  My son has been home for a few weeks now after being separated from the Navy.  He, too, told me in his first phone call home from Ship 5 that he was a failure.  Same thing, too, - he said they ripped his name tags off his uniforms and threw them away.  He picked them out of the basket and brought them home to me, and I cherish them.  The decision our children made to enlist and serve their country is one that is nothing short of admirable.  Their time (although short) in BC is tough but it makes them strong.  As far as I am concerned, those that must endure time on Ship 5 are heroes, as the Separation experience is difficult.  Your daughter cannot have visitors while on Ship 5 but she can write, has free time to read, watch movies; she will even be allowed 'internet' time (for a fee).  My son would give this advice - ask for a job or two while on Ship 5 - it helps to pass the time.  He was in charge of laundry for his separation division.  As hard as it is to be positive, try to make friends within your SEPS division.  He still keeps in touch with two young men from FL who were with him during his time on Ship 5.  Write!  If your daughter does not have $, send her some, as they need it to purchase snacks, phonecard, etc., even internet time while in SEPS.  She will be able to phone you a couple of times each week.  If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to friend me on FB  Donna Giroux Dickinson.  I'm looking for some help, myself, if any of you moms are coping with children who have been home from SEPS for some time. 

Wishing you all well.  For those who will see their sons/daughters within the next couple of weeks - I'm SO HAPPY FOR YOU.  To be able to hold them again is a wonderful feeling. 

donnad:  I find your posts on here to the ladies so very positive and inspiring!  I hope that you can continue to stay on this group to help others through!  So glad that your son is moving on with his life and doing well!

diannep and Marylou - thank you!  It is such a blessing to be able to share with other moms/dads/loved ones going through the same thing.  My son was doing well but unfortunately has seemed to hit a wall.  We are struggling but will get through.  Just found this FB page that was created and am hoping to find some solace in that community as well.  Hoping to keep in touch, too, with you all, as we have this common bond. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/535221726514465/

Donnad, I am on the fb group also.. you will find our Admins are amazing!  My daughter has been home a week now- I love being able to call her whenever I want, to hug her and kiss her goodnight...she got home on July 3rd.. it was an amazing 4th of july for us! 

To Everyone else here.. remember, every SR goes through things differently, mine didn't mind being in seps..I know it's hearbreaking, but I promise, you will be ok, and when you get to hold your SR's for the first time, it's amazing,, so take a deep breath, and do something for yourselves.. renew your energy.. You all deserve it!

My son got home last night after a 3 day Greyhound bus ride from Chicago to CA that had 5 transfer points, one 5 hour layover, and one 10 hour layover.  The Navy didn't give him any food vouchers so he had to use what little money he has to buy McDonald's here and there.  Also he had no cell phone, but did have minutes left on his phone card so he was able to call me everytime he transferred.  He was not allowed to keep his boots that he paid for.  He is okay, but a little dazed and confused.  He will need time to adjust, but at least he is finally home.

AWESOME DONNA (Chantily6971)...I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR SON AND I AM GLAD THAT HE ARRIVED SAFELY!!!  :-)  TELL HIM I SAID HI AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO KEEP IN TOUCH!