DEP-Leavin' for bootcamp in August

Just like WifeNMudder, just wanted to say thank you ladies for all the help and advice. My daughter is now there and this starts a different life for us all. Not sure how to handle her not being around us but I want her to succeed and become an awesome sailor! Thank you I have now joined the Boot Camp group.

Son just found out he is leaving Aug 22 - that's only 2 weeks away!!! This 2 weeks is going to go by too fast :( Excited for him but feeling a little emotional already!

Good afternoon everyone. My son leaves on August 14th OMG 4 days!!! He is starting to get excited. I just try not to get misty around him. I am going to have to pack up his room after he leaves. He said he cant do it. That's gonna suck.

Shelbie's Mom, There is info on phone cards in Phone Cards and Phone Calls. Don't worry if you do not find one before she ships. She can get one at the NEX.

If your future Sailor has yet to ship, then be sure to check out the discussion, Things to Do in the Last Month before Your Future Sailor Leaves for....

If you have not yet joined Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones), now is a good time to do so (especially if you have a recruit at the RTC) and to begin checking out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) starting with OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile) (some of you have changes that you need to make--at least change 3) and then go on to Arrival and What Happens at the RTC.

I have left info on some of your My Pages about your recruit's (or future Sailor's) rating (job/occupational specialty) or field and "A" School. If anyone else needs this info, leave a comment on my My Page with the rating or field and I will comment back on your My Page. I have info on every rating and field. I also have that info for the PACT programs.

Hi all~ joined the page tonight My son leaves 8/16 

My little guy (who is a 6'2" 19 year old) arrived in Great Lakes the night of 8/9.  To me, he'll always be that adorable 6 year old with the blond buzz cut who told me he wanted to join the Navy so he could catch pirates after we watched Pirates of the Caribbean.

I got the box Tuesday, 8/15, but no sign of a letter with an address yet.  I'm learning through lots of posts that I need to be patient, but that doesn't keep me from going on a daily hunt for my mailman.  This might sound ridiculous, but I have worry that other recruits will start to receive letters because they have the address and information they need and my son will be waiting.  I have a whole stack stamped and ready to drop in the mail, but if I don't get my form letter this week, I will not be easy to be around!

to Mattsmomma:

my nephew arrived at GreatLakes on the night of 8/8, so they may be together. We received our box and then the form letter on that following Monday. Our PIR date is set for the 09/29/2017.

We have not recieved any other letters or calls from him yet.

Things are starting to get real.....dropped my son off at recruiting office about an hour ago to finish up final paperwork, then they're taking him to MEPS....I'll see him for about an hour or so in the morning and then off he goes!!!!!

Definitely hard to let go when you have seen or talked to him every single day for the last 19+ years and then radio silence for weeks!  They should make the moms go to DEP meetings - lol!

One week countdown. Reality now settling like the proverbial anchor around my heart. My only child whom I have seen just about every single day of his life is leaving (for good.) Wow! That's amazing when you think about it. Except for a couple of weeks for summer camps over the years, and a few business trips that I have taken, we haven't been apart since, well, birth. Even when we don't really talk a lot during the day, he's there somewhere in my house. I honestly didn't think I would get so emotional before he leaves. I KNEW I would get emotional after he leaves. He's so excited and happy and nervous and thrilled and scared. He's already talking about traveling for his first big liberty. Oh the places he will go. I just have to step back and not get in his way or make him feel sad that I'm sad. Gosh I'm such a ninny right now. Buck up buttercup!

I have one week from today also. I am a mess and didn't see all these emotions coming either. You really have to force yourself to stay strong. Its a tough thing to do! Best of luck to you and your son!

I'm so relieved to see how many other moms are feeling the same way I do/ did - my husband doesn't quite get it, and his efforts to "make me feel better" with logic just make me mostly want to punch him in the face.  Hopefully I will get the form letter this week and that will calm me down a bit.

TNSMOM Hello I understand how you feel.  My daughter is finishing up week 2 with your son.  :)  IT is very hard.  Just write to him daily and pray.  Many people will not understand what you are going through but on this site all Moms get it!  My thoughts and prayers are with you too! 

tnsmom What day did your son arrive in Great Lakes?  I know exactly how you feel - my husband is completely oblivious and keeps "reassuring" me that he's fine and that this was a great decision.  I KNOW... but that doesn't make me feel any less like someone ripped my still-beating heart out of my chest, stomped on it with those spiky shoes landscapers use to lay sod, scraped it up with a rusty shovel and then put it in a wood chipper. It doesn't change that empty feeling in my stomach on Sunday mornings when we used to sit and eat breakfast sandwiches on the deck or anytime one of our favorite movies comes on and I just want to sit with him on the couch and watch TV.  The worst is not hearing from him how he's doing, and not being able to send a letter to make sure he knows I am thinking of him because I'm still waiting for the letter.

tnsmom, my son left today from Jacksonville - about 20 in his group. MEPS was crazy, over 150 kids all branches shipped out today!!

My son goes to MEPS tomorrow a.m.from Lansing MI and heads to Navy boot camp from there. Anyone else leaving Wednesday 8/23?

Blue Mom, I'm going crazy after two weeks without my form letter so I can drop this stack of letters in the mail, I can't imagine what I would be like in a week if I still don't have it.  I hope the recruiter calls you back today!  I'm giving my son's recruiter a call today to see if I can get his PIR date and Division.  I'm pulling for you and feeling your pain!

Called the recruiter this morning and he gave me my son's expected PIR date, ship, division and address.  Wouldn't it be ironic if my letter was there when I got home from work today...

Anyone else in Ship 12, Div 314?

I got two handwritten letters from my son in the mail!  He seems pretty cheerful and in good spirits.  Tough but certainly manageable.  I'm SOOOO relieved and happy!

Hi my son left 8.23. Anyone else's recruit leave the same day? I am sitting here sick and worried. I look at my phone every couple of minutes. I know he won't call for a couple of weeks but it's just so easy to hope that he will sooner. 

Sleep2 I'm so sorry to hear - on one hand we all want our sons back at home, but on the other, we want them to be able to follow their dreams.  This is a real roller coaster ride for sure - my thoughts are with you and your son. He'll find a new path and be great, I am sure.

I see a few of you talking about your kids leaving for BC on 8/23, which my daughter left that date as well!!!! 

If your future Sailor has yet to ship, then be sure to check out the discussion, Things to Do in the Last Month before Your Future Sailor Leaves for....

If you have not yet joined Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones), now is a good time to do so (especially if you have a recruit at the RTC) and to begin checking out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) starting with OPSEC and PERSEC (Making Changes to Your Profile) (some of you have changes that you need to make--at least change 3) and then go on to Arrival and What Happens at the RTC.

sleep2, that is so sad that he made it to BC before finding out that this is a problem for him and now he will be there in SEPS for a few weeks before he can start on his new plans. I put info on your My Page.

I am so thankful for you ladies. My son is in bootcamp now. I just got my 50 second phone call I was waiting for. It's been a long and emotional day. I have been like this since Thursday when we were in meps overdrive getting him ready to go on Sunday. I still miss him like crazy and now I know I have to wait for the box, calls and letters. I like your idea thou of calling his recuirter so I can get his information and start sending him letters. We will support each other.