Ship 5 Moms(Formerly Ship 17)

Yes plus it will soon be the start of the new fiscal year for the Navy too...:)  All things are possible if you keep trying, not easy by any means, but certainly worth giving it your all....:)

My son has been in FIT since 8/8/13. He still cant pass his run and he also has shin splints.  He told me he has like 4 more attempts or he will be seperated and will have to go back in 6 months and do boot camp all over. Now will he really goback in 6 months or is that what they tell the SR's? Or he said he could take a medical seperation stay for like 3 more months and he said they told him he will get half his pay and half medical for life. He has been in boot camp since 6/18/13 but he was in DEP for almost a year.

I don't even know what to ask.  I'm at a total loss.  My niece SR is being sent home.  I'm on here trying to find the right info to pass along to my SIL and when I'm writing to my SR.  I just want to say the N4M website and all the groups have been a blessing these past few weeks.  I don't know how our family would have gotten through without the info and support that is available here.

Angie  I guess you spark one of my questions.  Do the SR's get their full pay all the way through Ship 05 until they are sent home?  And what's this about reading they get sent home with bills to pay back the Navy for stuff in BC?

For additional information there is a great facebook page, " ship5 SEPS"  I found this group to be really helpful as well as this one,

Thanks Lauren  I'll try there too.  

Yes, Daisy....they have to pay the Navy back for their uniforms, etc....they don't get to keep the uniforms (they are sent home in their sweats, I understand)....but if they have not paid for them yet out of their pay, they must.  They can work out a payment plan with the Navy, someone posted. 

My SR says she gets to make calls on Mondays and Wednesdays.

That seems to differ from what I read before of Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Maybe its M&W for females and T&TH for males?

My son just called, he past his run. He will be going to BS then I will be getting the "I'm a Sailor" phone call Friday. I am so very happy right now. Prayers was answered for my son. He said he had 16 seconds to spare. Wonderful!!

Anybody here with experience re enlisting after being sepped?

Liz'smom,,, my daughter just went to sign all her paperwork again,,, her test scores and physical are still good for at least a year, so that part will not have to be done again.  She re-signed all papers with proper date and then when all is approved she will just have to go to MEPS and either stick with her job or pick another and swear in.   As long as the government shutdown don't get in the way.

Sorry to hear that BBowless! I know it is difficult but be comforted by the fact that he is safe and nothing bad will happen to him. It takes some time to get the required paperwork for them to come back home. It is a disappointment for the whole family. Be strong and positive for him and for yourself. From what I understand they do get the mail that you already sent. They can also be sent books. I think the phone time is limited to the weekend. 

Hello, I am seeking advice.... Just got the call that my SR is going to SEPS.  He has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, which he has never been diagnosed with before.  He was already there with a medical wavier for a knee injury, he went to med because of his knee aching, they gave him Naproxen which is salt based and one of its known side effects is elevated blood pressure. Something just isn't right 140/90 is high blood pressure?  They told him he could re-enlist to me it doesn't sound promising needing two medical waviers. Any advice?

From what my son said, the sailors that try to fight discharge end up there way longer, waiting on appeals, it got to the point that we thought it made more sense to get him home, then to try to reenlist down the road.  If you want additional info, join Ship 5 Seps on Facebook, there is some great info there and I go back and forth between this site and FB, great support and people in the same situation for many different reasons.  Good luck to you both

I have heard that it is actually easier to stay in the Navy if they fight up in GL than if they try and re enlist into an over-populated Navy down the road.  But the road to fight to stay in up there is long and hard for many of them....it is emotionally very difficult.  Ultimately, they will have to decide which is best for them to do.

I learned this morning that my SR is being separated. I do not know the code yet, however he has been told that he is eligible for reenlistment is 6 months and the it was a medical separation. He has only been there since nov 5 so I am really confused. Any advice on what we should do?

What happens when the recruit cannot "prove" a diagnosis?  my son might be put on hold because the dr he saw 11 yrs ago no longer has his records...

Angie,,, they do not need all the original waivers repeated unless it more than 1 year from separation.  They only need a waiver for reason of separation if they want to give it to that SR.  I know this first hand from my daughter.  Most that have the guts to go back and go for their dream they do make it through boot camp if they did their homework at home before returning.  firefly25.  I am not sure any medical separation can go back,, he will need to talk to recruiter.  Hal's Mom,,, if this is really what your SR wants,, tell them to go talk to recruiter and see if they can go back.  Marines think they are better,, they are not,, their boot camp is basically the same....they are the a division of the  Navy!!!

Kristi-Triton=004-111513... 140/90 is high especially the bottom number,,that number should be below 80.  Yes that med probably caused it... if I were him I would try to fight in GL to stay,, stop the meds,, have BP checked daily and just deal with the knee pain if he really wants to get through...

is there a group for Temp Hold Unit (THU) people?

I dont see too much activity in this group but does anyone know when the holiday leave times will be approved for THU people?  my son said he put in for the second one but i dont know if its approved yet.  Also, if the leave starts on a friday, is it friday all day, or friday after working hours?

SRmom ship14/div032, Ship 5 is also for sailors who are held up in travel plans for various reasons.  Being there doesn't necessarily mean they are being sent home.  They have to have a place to house the recruits and sailors who are not in basic training and Ship 5 is for separation from the RTC to wherever they are going next.  Phone access is very limited.  There is a number listed above that you can call and ask to speak to your son.  I found it nearly impossible to get anyone to respond to that number so I began calling the Chief of the Deck.  I'd use that option sparingly, but if you absolutely need to talk to your son, it may be your best option. Be aware that you will probably hear the HIPAA excuse with every call you place.  They are misapplying the HIPAA law, but you won't get around that without your son signing a waiver for them to talk with you in every office he enters - one form won't take care of it.  Wishing you and your son well. 

My heart goes out to all of us who had hopes for their loved ones who wanted to serve their country and was told they cannot. My son did 5 weeks of basic training and now is being sent home. I want to fight this but my son says no because he will have to stay in ship 5 until a decision is made which can take months, and he doesn't want to do BT all over again. I need time to get over this, it seems as if he is ok with the decision but only because he misses home so much. I think not being home for the holidays make it tough too. I am working on closure but feel like the Navy let us both down. I am so proud of him either way but it sure would have been nice to see his dream come true.

Wow, it's been a while since I've come on here. My husband was separated on Valentine's Day 2013, a month into his BT. He went in with an awesome rate, his RDC's praised him for being a stand-out recruit, and he was promoted during his training. He ended up coming home two weeks before he would have graduated. I'm back because one of my good friends from school has recently been separated. I'm heartbroken for her. This was her dream for as long as I've known her. She'll likely be wasting her birthday and Christmas stuck in SEPS. But, I know that this could very well end up being for the best.

I just wanted all of you to know that your loved one WILL move on from the Navy, and they will likely be much better off that way. Now that we've been through the worst (Really, it was awful. Our lives were in shambles. I know how each of you feel.) and have picked ourselves back up and then some, we are so thankful that our lives are not in the grips of the military for the next 6 years. The Navy is now in purge mode, but hasn't decreased their recruiting quotas enough to make up for it. They can and will kick your loved one out of RTC on made up terms (such as sudden "asthma" for having a cold or "anxiety" for admitting to ever feeling nervous) in order to "fix" their mistake. My husband saw, first-hand, the influx of separated recruits after the sequester early this year, which happened shortly after he was moved to Ship 5. Their reasons for being separated got pettier and pettier by the day. This is not limited to recruits either, fresh sailors (and sometimes even experienced ones) can become targets of this as well. It's awful and it's wrong, but honestly, who is going to tell them no?

I know it feels so terrible right now, but I promise that it will get easier and easier. As long as your loved one has the drive and determination (which they must have for being brave enough to ship out), then they will make it through. There are other ways to serve your country without the Navy, and there are so many great careers out their that your loved one can make theirs if they really want to. Hang in there!

JenBo thanks for the encouraging words. My son will overcome this I just hate how his hopes were high for his future and now it is up in the air. He can reenlist at a later date but at this point has no desire for fear they will do the same thing to him again. Its just not right. I get they want the elite to protect us but more balances and checks should be done prior to boot camp in my opinion. He told me to let it go but it makes me angry how they are treated. Anyway off to work I go, one more day closer to seeing my son!!!

Proudmomma94, I understand how you feel. Everything becomes a huge question mark. They definitely can be treated horribly in SEPS. Sitting cross-cross on a hard floor, staring quietly at a wall for 5-6 hours? That borders on torturous.

My husband had no desire to reenlist either. We didn't want to have to go through all of that again just to have him sent home a second time, regardless of any waiver he may have gotten. His recruiters were so surprised he never showed up at their office again. It sickens me, because I know that his separation is treated as a running joke in their office. They're just terrible people sitting on their military high horse.

I don't think it's a mistake that these people are sent to boot camp. I'd be safe to say that a good majority of those who were separated were 100% fit for the Navy. From the stories I've read over the past 10 months, as well as from what my husband has witnessed, they are actively looking for any excuse they can to kick their recruits out. They'll jump on any chance they get. Whether it's overhearing that the recruit misses home (which they all do) or springing an asthma test on a recruit who is sick (which most of them are). Personally, I don't think the Navy is a good career choice anymore, unless you can accept that there is a probability that you will give up everything just to be kicked out through no fault of your own. But, most of them will never be warned of this. I know that's all some of these kids ever wanted, though. It breaks my heart.

I hope that you'll be reunited with your son very soon! Have high hopes that everything will turn out for the best. They definitely did for us!

My son has only been at RTC for 10 days.  He was apparently unable to reach me tonight and I had to hear from his girlfriend that he is being discharged.   She did not ask any of the questions I would have.  Is there ANY way to reach him and/or get assistance finding out what the heck is going on?   He had severe breaks to his leg in 2009 from an automobile accident and she said he was limping, so I am sure that it what it is related to but he is still really just a kid (18) and I want to find out information and help him any way I can.  If anyone has tips I appreciate it.   

Hi Cookie, so sorry to hear! Your son will have to sign a waiver in order to discuss his separation with you. If you don't hear from him soon, I would try calling public affairs (847-688-2405) as they can get your recruit to call you back. Although, it seems like he's trying to get a hold of you, so he will likely be able to call soon. My husband was able to call me pretty often (almost daily), and even got internet access sometimes, so it may be worth a shot sending him a facebook message or an e-mail. Make sure your recruit has enough minutes on their phone card, as their allowed phone time will increase (they are entitled to at least 2 calls a week while in SEPS).

The address to send him mail while in SEPS is in the group description above. You can send even send him books/magazines to combat the boredom he will experience. I sent my husband some Sudoku puzzle books, which seemed to help.

Remember that if he tries to fight it, he will be in SEPS until his case is resolved. He'll have to speak to legal to find out all of the details. If he decides to go home, he can try to reenlist in 6 months with waivers (depending on his discharge code), but it will be very difficult to get back in given how overmanned the Navy is at the moment.

The first step from here is for him to sit down with legal and tell them what his decision is. This should happen within the next two weeks, but probably a bit sooner. If he decides to go home, he will most likely be on his way out within another two weeks of his legal appointment. It took my husband three weeks to get sent home from the day he was separated, but this was back in February/March.

Good luck and stay strong! You will both get through this just fine!

I just got word from my friend that SEPS does not allow packages anymore, so I would double check with your recruit before you send any books out! Sheesh, I guess checking packages is too much work for them now. Good old RTC.

Just wanted to let you know that my son made it home safe! He got in around 12:30 a.m! His dad and him planned to surprise me so he knew a week ago that he was coming home but told me he would not be here until Friday. So he came into my room and woke me and surprised me! Good thing I had the welcome sign up in case he came home early on Friday. Again I want to thank all of you for your support and kind words, not sure how I would have handled all of this without your guidance.. God Bless and take care. I wish you and your soon to be sailors the best!

So, my son has been in Ship 5 since 12/19 and STILL HAS NOT SEEN LEGAL.  He says he feels like he is in prison and is now being told that legal may be closed next week for the weather.  I CANNOT UNDERSTAND that.  He is being seperated for something they already gave him a waiver for, now he has been robbed of his holidays and has to continue to be stuck while they get to take off because it is cold.   This is CRAP!  Today he said he officially hates the Navy.

Cookiechand so sorry to hear this news. My son had to wait almost two weeks to see legal (not as long as you) but it did take awhile. He too left with a bad taste in his mouth about the whole waiting period. I hope all goes well with you and your son. I do recommend that he go see administration not sure where that is but they are the ones who made the appointment for my son to see legal. He was fed up waiting for them to contact him so he did it himself. See if that helps. Good luck!

It was been six months since my son came home from SEPS and some time that I have been away from this page as well as the FB SEPS page.  I needed a break, as some of you might imagine!  I agree with so many of the comments and remember back to the day I received the call from my son who was transferred to Ship 5.  Disbelief, pain, anguish....no other way to describe it.  I will tell you that it is unfortunate but not only the Navy who is separating these brave young men and women for little to no reason. (My son hurt his knee in BC was told he had little to no cartilage in it.  Long story short - not the same story our Orthopedic doctor has said!). My son's best friend who left for Marine Corps BC the same week my son left for GL is being separated from the Marines.  Was told that there are hundreds of recruits headed to BC (Marines/Navy) and if you cannot score in the top of your class in the school you have selected, you are O U T!  My son's best friend, coming home - has to start all over again.  At least he has my son who has been through it all to help him with his transition.  As hard as SEPS is (living on Ship 5), tedious the entire process is, all will be well in the end.  There is a great new path in life waiting for your sons/daughters/loved ones.  All part of the greater plan.  Hang in there, everyone.  God bless you all!

donnad thanks for your insight. I agree with you there is a better plan for our loved ones. It is just hard to know their original plan didn't work out. Its all a learning process for sure.

So....we are up to the 28th day in SEPS....anyone else think this is RIDICULOUS??   My son was amazing enough to volunteer his service.....but they don't want him due to an old leg injury.....he failed no PT tests mind you, it was just sore one day......so if they don't want him SEND HIM HOME!!!!!!!!1

SR arr GL less than 24hrs on the part of the anything to disclose SR felt it was necessary to mentioned fact that he was tx ADHD but been off meds for approximately 10mos prior to BC now being SEP was mentioned during recruiting process however no waiver was filed due to not being on meds and cleared thorough neurologist anyone with this similar experience and any positive outcome with possible appeal or reenlistment 

So very sorry, xsubman.  I think the problem is that the recruiter did not file for a waiver for this.  I'm not sure the length of time he was off the meds is sufficient for the Navy either.  But then again, they do as they like!  The Navy is overmanned now and so they can be very selective.  Sadly, your story about waivers not being filed is a very common story on this site re: those being separated....he is entitled to have support from Legal up there, and if you want to be involved in the process, you need to tell him the next time he calls to sign the document that allows you contact with the powers that be up there.  Otherwise, they will only deal with your SR. 

I'm so very very sorry....

just got to brief chat with son on internet just in case anyone trying i saw somewhere on here they can sometimes get email and such.

How soon after your SR's went to ship 5 did you hear about it from them?  My SR has not sent a letter in 2 weeks and another mom in his group just posted 4 SRs were separated.  

Well if you are looking to move things along, I made contact with the Command Master Chief Matt Laing of RTC within 48hrs my son was in legal and talking to him, they had him call from legal he will be home Friday. Just saying. Good Luck.

Wow, talked to our son tonight, and 62 SR are coming home tomorrow. What an end to a emotional roller coaster for us. Finally closure to this ordeal. Anyway, thanks for the support and God Bless and good luck.   

Hi what that means is probably that she has been transferred to ship 5 and once there they are an indoctrination of ship 5 rules  and policy of unit which means she will then be able to phone home again shortly have to have that to call so sorry and good luck 

What are the odds after they graduate and go to ship 5 due to medical waiver that their medical waiver will be denied?