Sailors becoming Hospital Corpsmen at A School in San Antonio, TX - best rating in the Navy! The Hospital Corps is the Navy's only enlisted Corps and the most decorated in the Navy. Families, friends and loved ones, join in!
Thanks, luvmycorpsman and Dianevdb!! He has already called to inquire about his cell phone... Not surprisingly. Good to know what he can now receive. Like Diane, I think that my son probably has gained some inches.
My husband and I talked last night about his graduation and he seems to know nothing about it other than the date. He didn't even know family and friends could be there! Are they given more information as they get closer to the date?
alexc - Great picture! I'd take it to Sam club and make 1 additional picture. Keep one in a filing cabinet because the ones you put on the "I love me" wall always fade. I wished I would have done that.
Craig...funny thing about the Anderson Hall formal pic for my son's class (120). He is scowling in it. He was soooo pissed because it was hot and there was always a screw up. I have it and that is a great idea about getting it copied!!
JillyBean...the graduation has no limit on family and friends like PIR. Waaay more casual about that because lots of families can't attend. I don't think they found out much about it until a few days before. For example, my son told me to be there around 0845 because that is when the families were allowed into Anderson Hall. I like to be early so I was on base at 0800. He called me at 0805 and told me the families could actually come in at 0815. I told him I was parking the car!! He laughed...he knows his mom.
Thanks! Love the pic. I prefer not to pay Sams club or any copy place. Having kids and having to buy the school pics and pay the ridiculous "package" prices and now military pics and I'm sure more to come... I bought a printer w/scanner long ago. I buy high quality photo paper, scan the original and make a new copy whenever the current one fades. I have the original preserved. Just makes sense in the long run.
Drama, when I bought that first round, we had no one to ask...and that's the color my son specified. He was at Camp Lajuene at the time, so I assumed he asked. Not my call, that was up to him. Coyote fades perfectly to the same color of the Marine cammies, or perhaps that was that Iraqi water. When he sent his first trunk home from Iraq, I just set it on the floor in his room, but the dog was going crazy sniffing it. I thought it was because it smelled like him (and I'm sure it did), but finally I opened it and it just stank! His dog was in heaven! I asked him the next time I spoke with him how come he sent me a box of dirty clothes....and he said those were clean, he had just washed them! It also had some books, part of the many that I had bought at garage sales and second hand stores, so he could just leave them there in Iraq....I asked why he hauled them around "I haven't read them yet". He also managed to keep several pairs of those socks, but they also need plain white cotton socks for when they hit water, fox sox suck up too much water to be worn any place near rivers, ponds etc.
Just curious, does the Navy do add on photo's too?
Man, half the fun is trying to find your original cover (hat). When you can't, you march back with the guy with the smallest head wearing the largest cover (cant even see because it's blocking your eyes), and the guy with the largest head wearing the smallest cover (sitting barely on their heads). ~ha
TDM...about the fox socks sucking up too much water....my son was told that as well! In Molly's group there are moms who make pillow cases and the guys and gals who have gotten them love them because they smell like home and not like your son's trunk of 'clean' clothes! Apparently whether Iraq or A'stan, the water for washing is somewhat challenging, shall we say. I imagine I will be buying more socks, both of the fox and the white variety.
Craig....I always wondered when the military throw their covers up in the air at graduation...how do you get your own cover? Guess you don't! In the photos from BC, my son's 8-point (hats they wear with NWU's in case anyone else wondered) was a size too large. You can hardly see his face. One of the first things he did when he got to Ft. Sam was buy a couple of them in the right size!!!
Drama, the funny thing (and it validates the wonder of those foxsox) is that they trash the white socks and wash the fox socks! My son said he spent a great deal of time harassing Marines about changing their socks and underwear even if they could not shower. He was not impressed.
I remember that they were 12.99 at the time and that they had the padded front like the Stryker. I googled them and found them for 9.99 on another site, but had to pay for shipping. The next batch I just had them mail directly to him with his overseas address and the shipping was free. Sand or Coyote will work. I personally would go with sand because it's a lighter color and that's best to head off the fungus stuff.
If your corpsman ends up deploying in the cold, I'd look at those warm ones, and if he/she deploys to the Middle East , those fire retardant ones look great. But I wouldn't spend the money for them for every day right now.
DramaSoul... Thanks! The cost of those school picture package deals that they try to sell us each year just keeps going up and up, so I finally realized a while back, this is just stupid. I 'll order one big one, scan it... save it... and then I can print out copies any size and any time I want. Now I'm so glad I've got this figured out, I'm sure my son will be taking some as well. In fact he kind of already hinted at it. Good to know I'll be useful. :)
JillyBean, such confusion! Originally my son was told October 23, but then became unsure. I talked to him this afternoon and he said the instructor said the graduation is October 30th! I have reservations for the 23 rd that I can change with no charge, but I sure don't want to do it twice! Have you heard a different date? Class 200, anyone else?
Alexcmom's son and my fiance are in the same class. Hey, Alexc! ;)
I am a little frustrated: It sucks that I can't be at my fiance's graduation tomorrow. No money to fly down, and couldn't get off work. :( Oh well. There will be other opportunities for me to be with him for other events. I ask, though, for everyone to send good thoughts and prayers for those who are taking the advancement test later on this week.
Love you Luv. :) And they know how much we love them. I told you months ago there's a reason that our boys ( okay men) were brought together. More than six months later and here we are. Wow. seems like yesterday in some ways doesn't it? Stinks that we won't be there, but they know how super proud we are of them! And if they don't it's only because they haven't been lurking on facebook or here lately. LOL :)
NavyGirlzMom... Thanks for the tips! I actually was already doing the flash drive thing but hadn't thought of the Walgreens thing. Always appreciate great new ideas!
Any of you who may have to change your flight reservations...this is what happened to me. My son's date to fly home (after his graduation) changed so I had to change my flight. Originally USAir made a big deal and said it would cost $200 PLUS the difference in the ticket. I kept going up the chain of command, as it were, until I got someone who could actually do something. I told this supervisor that it wasn't my fault, the Navy changed my son's orders so I had to leave earlier by one day. She said they would waive the fee THIS ONE TIME if I showed up with a copy of his orders and a copy of his ID. I was still charged with the difference in the ticket. I get to the check in at SAT and I have all the necessary paperwork and the guy could care less!! He didn't need to see it. I stressed over getting it. So know I book flights that involve going to see my son on Southwest if I can. They NEVER charge for a changed ticket or for luggage for that matter!
Is that the METC Facebook page? They got great shots of every one getting their certificate and all of the award winners. Better than what I got being there.
TDM...my son told me that when they came back from a field training, some of the guys would just fall into their racks WITHOUT GETTING A SHOWER!! He found this to be disgusting, needless to say. He said the quarters get kinda rank as it were. The socks are still about 12.99 a pair but worth it according to him. I think the ones I got him were the Stryker. Good point about waiting to see where they are deployed before buying the special ones. I am thinkin' I may need a pair myself.
NavyGirlzMom...great idea about Walgreens. Thanks so much.
Maboltship13Div293- Yes, I am on Facebook- just sent you a message on this site. Got my son's graduation photo and division photo today, I was really nicely surprised, since my sailor told us that we would receive them in six to eight weeks,
I'd get there at least 1 hour early to see all the plaques and photo's in the building. The parking is really hard to find. We had to park down the hill at the very last parking area, so take that into account. He may want to take you to the club on base for food. It's actually at the top of the hill. So make sure you wear comfortable shoes. You will need them. It's a hike.
They will encourage you to move around during the graduation to take pictures and get those awesome pictures. So make sure you move around.
If you have a car, they have a lot of nice restaurants north of the base on I-35 exit 172 & 173. If you get that far, bring your son to Randolph AFB, it's at exit 172. It is really nice, and their exchange is really nice.
When you come back, just get off at exit 162, that will bring you right to the back gate. (if you have a pass). It's right next to the barracks.
It's going to be a beautiful day for a graduation and seeing Central Texas today, it's gorgeous, the rain has passed, it's cool, cool, cool (for us anyway!) and green, green, green! Congrats...and if you have time, do head up to Fredricksburg and have that peach bread pudding at the German cafe, and check out the Nimitz Naval Museum! just a long enough drive to see some Texas Hill Country and a long conversation with your sailor!
haha I love it...boy how did I get caught or should I say who told on me?? Actually the better story is that it took me 45 min to find my way out of the base shhhh don't tell anyone lol. It was an awsome trip and the night before graduation I can't even express what an amazing time I had with my sailor son! I just wish there was more time.
Ahh the days of boot camp and A School grad. Sometimes it seems the more they can communicate , the further they seem to get. It could also just be me letting him leave the nest. His is the first full week I have empty nest. Damn it's quite! On the brighter side, I'm now going to the gym 3 days a week! And this is the last day of jury duty for me!
NoCalNavyMom
Sep 16, 2012
NoCalNavyMom
Sep 16, 2012
JillyBean
My husband and I talked last night about his graduation and he seems to know nothing about it other than the date. He didn't even know family and friends could be there! Are they given more information as they get closer to the date?
Sep 16, 2012
NoCalNavyMom
Sep 16, 2012
Craig
alexc - Great picture! I'd take it to Sam club and make 1 additional picture. Keep one in a filing cabinet because the ones you put on the "I love me" wall always fade. I wished I would have done that.
Again, Congrats to your son....
Sep 16, 2012
Craig
For those that wonder what the graduation looks like, here are some pictures:
Looking at stage, Air Force in front, Navy in back
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
Great pics...laughin' 'cause there were no AF in my son's graduation...only Sailors lookin' mighty fine in their dress whites!
cyndyj...my son wanted the sand and/or green color. That's what the Marine sgt. told him to get when he asked.
TDM...is coyote a sort of brown/tan color? My son LOVES his socks.
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
Craig...funny thing about the Anderson Hall formal pic for my son's class (120). He is scowling in it. He was soooo pissed because it was hot and there was always a screw up. I have it and that is a great idea about getting it copied!!
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
JillyBean...the graduation has no limit on family and friends like PIR. Waaay more casual about that because lots of families can't attend. I don't think they found out much about it until a few days before. For example, my son told me to be there around 0845 because that is when the families were allowed into Anderson Hall. I like to be early so I was on base at 0800. He called me at 0805 and told me the families could actually come in at 0815. I told him I was parking the car!! He laughed...he knows his mom.
Sep 17, 2012
alexcmom
Sep 17, 2012
maboltship
Div293...yup, I met him in the best buy, picking out phones. Such a nice Sailor!
Sep 17, 2012
maboltship
Div293...Are you on facebook? I took some pictures of all those guys together.
Sep 17, 2012
daubersmom
Hi maboltship, glad to see some other moms from our PIR group.. he was div 296..
Sep 17, 2012
TexasDocMom
Drama, when I bought that first round, we had no one to ask...and that's the color my son specified. He was at Camp Lajuene at the time, so I assumed he asked. Not my call, that was up to him. Coyote fades perfectly to the same color of the Marine cammies, or perhaps that was that Iraqi water. When he sent his first trunk home from Iraq, I just set it on the floor in his room, but the dog was going crazy sniffing it. I thought it was because it smelled like him (and I'm sure it did), but finally I opened it and it just stank! His dog was in heaven! I asked him the next time I spoke with him how come he sent me a box of dirty clothes....and he said those were clean, he had just washed them! It also had some books, part of the many that I had bought at garage sales and second hand stores, so he could just leave them there in Iraq....I asked why he hauled them around "I haven't read them yet". He also managed to keep several pairs of those socks, but they also need plain white cotton socks for when they hit water, fox sox suck up too much water to be worn any place near rivers, ponds etc.
Sep 17, 2012
Craig
Just curious, does the Navy do add on photo's too?
Man, half the fun is trying to find your original cover (hat). When you can't, you march back with the guy with the smallest head wearing the largest cover (cant even see because it's blocking your eyes), and the guy with the largest head wearing the smallest cover (sitting barely on their heads). ~ha
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
TDM...about the fox socks sucking up too much water....my son was told that as well! In Molly's group there are moms who make pillow cases and the guys and gals who have gotten them love them because they smell like home and not like your son's trunk of 'clean' clothes! Apparently whether Iraq or A'stan, the water for washing is somewhat challenging, shall we say. I imagine I will be buying more socks, both of the fox and the white variety.
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
Craig....I always wondered when the military throw their covers up in the air at graduation...how do you get your own cover? Guess you don't! In the photos from BC, my son's 8-point (hats they wear with NWU's in case anyone else wondered) was a size too large. You can hardly see his face. One of the first things he did when he got to Ft. Sam was buy a couple of them in the right size!!!
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
alecmom....GREAT idea. I have a printer/scanner. Just never thought of printing pics! HAHAHA.
Sep 17, 2012
maboltship
Hi daubersmom! Glad you are here also:)
Sep 17, 2012
TexasDocMom
Drama, the funny thing (and it validates the wonder of those foxsox) is that they trash the white socks and wash the fox socks! My son said he spent a great deal of time harassing Marines about changing their socks and underwear even if they could not shower. He was not impressed.
Sep 17, 2012
Katze90210 (3/113)
Sep 17, 2012
TexasDocMom
I would look at the bottom two on this link: Military sox on foxsox.com
I remember that they were 12.99 at the time and that they had the padded front like the Stryker. I googled them and found them for 9.99 on another site, but had to pay for shipping. The next batch I just had them mail directly to him with his overseas address and the shipping was free. Sand or Coyote will work. I personally would go with sand because it's a lighter color and that's best to head off the fungus stuff.
If your corpsman ends up deploying in the cold, I'd look at those warm ones, and if he/she deploys to the Middle East , those fire retardant ones look great. But I wouldn't spend the money for them for every day right now.
Sep 17, 2012
alexcmom
DramaSoul... Thanks! The cost of those school picture package deals that they try to sell us each year just keeps going up and up, so I finally realized a while back, this is just stupid. I 'll order one big one, scan it... save it... and then I can print out copies any size and any time I want. Now I'm so glad I've got this figured out, I'm sure my son will be taking some as well. In fact he kind of already hinted at it. Good to know I'll be useful. :)
Sep 17, 2012
NormaH
Sep 17, 2012
luvmycorpsman
Alexcmom's son and my fiance are in the same class. Hey, Alexc! ;)
I am a little frustrated: It sucks that I can't be at my fiance's graduation tomorrow. No money to fly down, and couldn't get off work. :( Oh well. There will be other opportunities for me to be with him for other events. I ask, though, for everyone to send good thoughts and prayers for those who are taking the advancement test later on this week.
Sep 17, 2012
ashley1026
Sep 17, 2012
NormaH
Sep 17, 2012
DaniHMItalyMom
Can't make it to the son's graduation tomorrow. If someone could post pictures it would be wonderful. Congrats to all the grads tomorrow!
Sep 17, 2012
ashley1026
Sep 17, 2012
luvmycorpsman
There's a Facebook group that posts graduation photos. If you want the link, just let me know.
Sep 17, 2012
JillyBean
NormaH, I talked to my husband and he's heard the 23rd and the 30th.
Sep 17, 2012
alexcmom
Love you Luv. :) And they know how much we love them. I told you months ago there's a reason that our boys ( okay men) were brought together. More than six months later and here we are. Wow. seems like yesterday in some ways doesn't it? Stinks that we won't be there, but they know how super proud we are of them! And if they don't it's only because they haven't been lurking on facebook or here lately. LOL :)
NavyGirlzMom... Thanks for the tips! I actually was already doing the flash drive thing but hadn't thought of the Walgreens thing. Always appreciate great new ideas!
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
Any of you who may have to change your flight reservations...this is what happened to me. My son's date to fly home (after his graduation) changed so I had to change my flight. Originally USAir made a big deal and said it would cost $200 PLUS the difference in the ticket. I kept going up the chain of command, as it were, until I got someone who could actually do something. I told this supervisor that it wasn't my fault, the Navy changed my son's orders so I had to leave earlier by one day. She said they would waive the fee THIS ONE TIME if I showed up with a copy of his orders and a copy of his ID. I was still charged with the difference in the ticket. I get to the check in at SAT and I have all the necessary paperwork and the guy could care less!! He didn't need to see it. I stressed over getting it. So know I book flights that involve going to see my son on Southwest if I can. They NEVER charge for a changed ticket or for luggage for that matter!
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
Is that the METC Facebook page? They got great shots of every one getting their certificate and all of the award winners. Better than what I got being there.
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
NormaH....isn't that the truth? My son's gf knows way more about what is going on. Fortunately she always sends me a text when she hears what's up.
Sep 17, 2012
DramaSoul
TDM...my son told me that when they came back from a field training, some of the guys would just fall into their racks WITHOUT GETTING A SHOWER!! He found this to be disgusting, needless to say. He said the quarters get kinda rank as it were. The socks are still about 12.99 a pair but worth it according to him. I think the ones I got him were the Stryker. Good point about waiting to see where they are deployed before buying the special ones. I am thinkin' I may need a pair myself.
NavyGirlzMom...great idea about Walgreens. Thanks so much.
Sep 17, 2012
NoCalNavyMom
Sep 17, 2012
DaniHMItalyMom
luvmycorpsman - Please let me know what that facebook page is. Thanks for your help.
Sep 17, 2012
KaylaRae
DaniHMSchoolMom:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Basic-Medical-Technician-Corpsman-Program/172740489489255
http://www.facebook.com/#!/METC.mil
Sep 17, 2012
KaylaRae
you have to copy and paste them
Sep 17, 2012
OKCsuzieq
Sep 18, 2012
Craig
OKC - Congrats to your son...
I'd get there at least 1 hour early to see all the plaques and photo's in the building. The parking is really hard to find. We had to park down the hill at the very last parking area, so take that into account. He may want to take you to the club on base for food. It's actually at the top of the hill. So make sure you wear comfortable shoes. You will need them. It's a hike.
They will encourage you to move around during the graduation to take pictures and get those awesome pictures. So make sure you move around.
If you have a car, they have a lot of nice restaurants north of the base on I-35 exit 172 & 173. If you get that far, bring your son to Randolph AFB, it's at exit 172. It is really nice, and their exchange is really nice.
When you come back, just get off at exit 162, that will bring you right to the back gate. (if you have a pass). It's right next to the barracks.
Sep 18, 2012
OKCsuzieq
Sep 18, 2012
maboltship
Div293, I think I found you? I received your message:)
Sep 18, 2012
TexasDocMom
It's going to be a beautiful day for a graduation and seeing Central Texas today, it's gorgeous, the rain has passed, it's cool, cool, cool (for us anyway!) and green, green, green! Congrats...and if you have time, do head up to Fredricksburg and have that peach bread pudding at the German cafe, and check out the Nimitz Naval Museum! just a long enough drive to see some Texas Hill Country and a long conversation with your sailor!
Sep 18, 2012
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom
@KaylaRae, just added your Facebook links to the top of the page; thanks!
Sep 18, 2012
Craig
OKC - Lets hear the story.... How was it?
Sep 18, 2012
Craig
Someone sent me video of OKC driving her sailor back to base to make it back before curfew. Here it is.... j/k
Sep 19, 2012
OKCsuzieq
Sep 19, 2012
Katze90210 (3/113)
Sep 19, 2012