SandraB, I do not have a lot of insight into the dive prep. He talked to his Dad more and they kept me in the dark. They thought it would be better if I didn't know hence I would worry less. The whole EOD process was stressful to me,as a Mom but at the end it was well worth it. We are very proud of what our son does and of those that will come after him. It is a great family that they get in the process. Know that their new family will also be your family. Stay in touch.
SandraB. - Dive prep is a lot of running, swimming, learning what and how the equipment they will use. They do a little diving, but in a pool. My son said they ran everywhere. They also learn to trust each other. This is where a lot of recruits drop out. My son said on the first day of his dive prep they were asked do you really want to be here, if not then leave and four people left no questions. His class started with 38 I think and 24 went to dive school. I am not trying to scare you but it is a tough. Tell your son to be positive and whenever you talk to him just keep it positive. If you have any more question just ask I'll answer them the best I can. I can tell you that my son thinks he has the best job in the world and he gets to serve his country at the same time. His words to us were "Can it get any better than this":) and he just turn 20 last week.
Karenlee, thank you! I will definitely keep in touch. I am very stressed but try not to let my son know. I have been trying to learn as much as I can about the process. I am so very proud of what he has chosen to do and know that he is joining a great family!
Regina-Thank you! I spoke to my son last night. He sounded very happy! I was hoping to visit him again at Great Lakes but I am not sure if it is a good idea as he will be in the middle of dive prep. I wanted to see what you thought? I would go for a weekend. I also wanted to ask if any one bought their own fins. My son is wanting his own but I think it is probably best to try them on and not order them online. Any thoughts?
SandraB just talked to my son and he said the fins they are training in are the same type that your son will use through out all his diving courses. When he gets issued his own gear,the fins will be the same. They are Rocket fins. If he is looking for a pair of fins for personal use, let me know and I'll ask my son what kind he uses.
SandraB - If you can go for a visit you should. Check with your son first to see when he has to stand watch, they can't leave base on the days they stand watch. I went to visit my son when he was in the middle of dive prep for just Sunday he had to stand watch on Saturday but it was the only weekend I could go. My older son went the following weekend and spent both days with him. About the fins my son just used the ones he was issued.
My son just finished dive prep in Great Lakes and is leaving for Panama City sometime this week. I am so proud of him! I was hoping that you all could give me a little insight as to what to expect. Thank you!!
well congrats sandrab. he has made it past one step. the next one is tough. this where you find out if he really wants it and if he can do it. bay swims are tough. my son is on the last months of eod at eglin. he loves it and says he could not imagine any thing else but his class is not what went to panama city so tell him to hang in there. get rest but stay in shape. good luck
Sandrab I agree with addy. Dive prep is hard and the bay swims are tough. If I remember right, the middle part do EOD school is the toughest. You can check out EOD at the Navy site and it tells you how long they are in each section.
Well I think this part of our lives have been put on hold. Our son was medically dropped from the dive prep at GL until he completes Physical Therapy on his knee. May have to be re-classified and then who knows what. I am proud of him because he has kept his head up and his Senior Chief told him that he sees him in EOD eventually!
Hi there! Are there any wives of eods I could talk to about the training process, when we can move to Eglin etc? Can we move there before our sailor gets there or do we have to wait? Thanks for your time!
meam's They learn the mechanics of how everything is used. There is book work involved, they still work - out a lot, do some diving ( My son loved it ) and they still might have to stand watch. As for visiting I did not go for a visit, but my older son went for a four day weekend ( it was Columbus Day ) to take our sailor his car, they had a great time together. We did visit him twice in Eglin and also went for graduation.
Hi Regina - I've not been on here in so long! Thanks for checking on us. He just arrived in Panama City yesterday so I assume they begin training today. How's your guy doing?
Thank you addy and Karenlee. My son arrived in Panama City on Sunday. He was so happy to get to warmer weather. We are planning to visit over Memorial Day weekend.
Braelen'smom Thanks for asking my son is great. He's stationed in Guam, got there mid March and absolutely loves it says he lives in paradise. Good luck to your son in dive school, my son really enjoyed it.
Regina, you always warned about how hard it would be, but not in a discouraging way. I appreciated your doing that because it helped prepare me for what was ahead of him then, and what still lies ahead. He admitted it was much harder than he ever dreamed and he was very thankful to have made it! Your son is our proof that the hard work pays off!
Hi SandraB! Well they made it together!! Love what God is doing to and through each of them! Big stuff ahead! So glad you guys are going to visit. Get lots of hugs!! :)
Hi Braelen'smom! So happy and proud of our boys! I don't think I will be able to relax until they are completely done! So much ahead of them! God has been so good to us and I feel very Blessed! So many friends are praying for all of them! Can't wait to see Alex over Memorial Day! Any idea on when they actually start? I don't know much about what happens the next 9 weeks.
Due to an injury in dive prep at GL my son was medically dropped from the program, but hopes to re-class and come back in a couple of years. One thing for sure, all the guys he has met through this process are great! I wish them all success in their endeavors. He is moving on to STG and starts training on Monday.
DJsmom, we stayed at the Sandpiper in Destin. It is really nice,close to the beach and about 20 minutes from the school. They have all kinds of cottages to accommodate any size group. We went for the week and we thought the rates were reasonable. Enjoy your time there. Does he know his duty station or what group he will be with? I know he still has to go to GA, MS and CA before he moves. Exciting times ahead and I know how proud you are.
Karenlee, thanks I will check it out as we are now in " season" so I'm sure things will be a bit more costly. I am gonna go Friday and he graduates Tuesday then need to fly back ASAP as my daughter moves into college the 22nd. Lol never a dull moment. And yes EODMU5 in Guam. He is really exited. He just passed sector ocho. Maybe you can explain ...
DJs mom, I didn't know they graduated on Tuesday. Ben did on a Friday. Wow,you have a busy schedule coming up. Ben is EODMU8 in Spain. A coworker of my husband is going to Sandpiper next week and she thought her rate was pretty good. We went in June the first time and March for graduation and the rate wasn't much different. H should have some free time before he graduates so you will get to spend time with him. After Ben graduated he had to go take the test to move up to E5 which is about a 2 hour test so we did a celebratory dinner that night. Not sure what sector Ochoa is. I'll have to ask.
Has anyone attended the dive school graduation in Panama City? I am thinking about attending and was hoping my son could come home with us for a few days. Graduation is scheduled for 7/2 and he is telling me that he has to report to Pensacola 7/3. How do they go about requesting leave and does that even sound possible? Thank you! He hasn't been home since he left for boot camp 1/6.
Dive school graduation was a small and quick ceremony for my sailor he finished Aug 7, 2012. As far as I know no one attended that graduation. The one to attend is EOD school. He had to report to EOD school quickly as well he did however get time over Labor Day as I can remember they had a 4 day weekend. Once he gets settled at EGLIN AFB and that's in Fort Walton Beach not Pensacola he should be able to request leave.
Hope that was helpful.
Dive graduation is not anything to go to. My son said he had to leave the next day for Eglin. From our experience he didn't get any time off until Christmas. Well he had a long weekend for Thanksgiving but he stayed there with some of his friends. He loves it. EOD school is tough so, you really don't get time off until the surface school ended at Eglin. Hope that helps
I agree with DJsmom, dive school is very short and sweet. EOD is the one you want to be at. They really don't like them taking leave during school. They are off around the holidays at the end of the year. The other holidays they normally have a 4 day weekend. If the banks are closed the Navy is also on holiday.
DJsmom, addy ship 04 div 811, and Karenlee, thank you all so much for the information! I don't know what I would do without this site and all of your wisdom!
To DJsmom and anyone else that will be going for an EOD graduation. There is a great restaurant called Beach Walk at Henderson Park. It's a little pricey but we felt Ben deserved a great dinner. Their address is 2700 Scenic Hwy 98. There is also McGuires Pub at 33 Hwy 98. There is also a huge shopping center about 5-6 miles East on 98. Can't remember the name but you can't miss it. The sector your son passed was IED. That is a tough one. Hope everyone is doing well.
Addy62, next they go to jump school at Bennington, field training in MS and more field training in CA. What is his graduation date? My son is in MU8. What unit is your son going to? EOD graduation is very special. Enjoy your time there.
Addy62, my son is in Rota. I think he will like it there. Our son is on a dive team right now. He's getting ready to take the test to move up from basic EOD to become an EOD Tech. Good luck to your son and Happy Independence Day.
Addy62, talked to my son yesterday and he would like to know your son's name and said if your son wants,Ben can answer any questions for him,so if you want you can send me his email addresses at mrandmrspms@hotmail.com and I will send it on. It will be about 3 months before he makes it to Rota with all the other training.
Karenlee, i will get Tyler's email for Ben. Sounds great. So where is he now and when did he graduate from Eglin? So you think it will be 3 months from EOD graduation before he leaves. We want to have a Christmas vacation before he goes.
Addy62, usually shortly after EOD graduation,they head to Ft Benning in GA. That is a 3 week course. Ben said it is like being back in boot camp because a lot of guys and girls from the army go there when they finish boot. Ten they are off to MS for about 3 weeks for field training. Not sure exactly what they do there but I think they do some medical in the field stuff. Then it's off to San Diego for more field work so I would figure that he has about 9 more weeks of training after graduation. Depending on how the training falls I would guess that he will be in San Diego around the Christmas holidays. I am sure that he will have leave around that time. You can either have Christmas or New Years but you do not usually get both while you are still training. Ben graduated from Elgin in March of 2011 and was in Spain the first part of July. Ben is with a dive team out of Rota. He got back from Romania a few weeks ago and will be headed to Africa the end of the week. Don't know where in Africa because we don't always get to know that stuff. It will be the 3rd time there. He has also been to Germany which he liked. Africa not so much. They usually wait till all the guys get there to form up the teams but they get to do a lot of cool stuff- jump out of planes,dive in the ocean and of course blow things up!! His team was over here for 6 months of training in VA which happened in Sept so he was home that year for Christmas and had almost a month off. Things change somewhat when they join the unit. He was back to San Diego for training halo and haho this past fall and then was home around the holidays to get married. It is an exciting time and I know you can't wait for graduation.
Proudmomof2, has your son been thru EOD school in FL? Guam is a duty station after they complete training which takes around 42-52 weeks to complete. He can always come home on leave. Not sure where you live but from the Midwest, Guam is about an 18 hour plane ride but my son was there twice as a port stop and liked it.
I'm here!! Graduation is Tuesday! So excited for him! Bravo Zulu! The weather sucks right now ... Thought I was going to be beachin it but its raining. Good thing I'm getting to hang with both of my kids.
Have a great time. Graduation is so neat. Sorry the weather is not so good. Sometimes it is windy at graduation. We wore coats but it was March. Congratulations to your son and to you too for making the ride that it was. Exciting times ahead.
Karenlee
Mar 18, 2013
SandraB
Hi Karenlee. Thank you for your prayers! I have been reading how tough the course is!
Mar 19, 2013
Karenlee
Mar 19, 2013
Regina
SandraB. - Dive prep is a lot of running, swimming, learning what and how the equipment they will use. They do a little diving, but in a pool. My son said they ran everywhere. They also learn to trust each other. This is where a lot of recruits drop out. My son said on the first day of his dive prep they were asked do you really want to be here, if not then leave and four people left no questions. His class started with 38 I think and 24 went to dive school. I am not trying to scare you but it is a tough. Tell your son to be positive and whenever you talk to him just keep it positive. If you have any more question just ask I'll answer them the best I can. I can tell you that my son thinks he has the best job in the world and he gets to serve his country at the same time. His words to us were "Can it get any better than this":) and he just turn 20 last week.
Mar 20, 2013
SandraB
Karenlee, thank you! I will definitely keep in touch. I am very stressed but try not to let my son know. I have been trying to learn as much as I can about the process. I am so very proud of what he has chosen to do and know that he is joining a great family!
Mar 26, 2013
SandraB
Regina-Thank you! I spoke to my son last night. He sounded very happy! I was hoping to visit him again at Great Lakes but I am not sure if it is a good idea as he will be in the middle of dive prep. I wanted to see what you thought? I would go for a weekend. I also wanted to ask if any one bought their own fins. My son is wanting his own but I think it is probably best to try them on and not order them online. Any thoughts?
Mar 26, 2013
Karenlee
Mar 26, 2013
Regina
SandraB - If you can go for a visit you should. Check with your son first to see when he has to stand watch, they can't leave base on the days they stand watch. I went to visit my son when he was in the middle of dive prep for just Sunday he had to stand watch on Saturday but it was the only weekend I could go. My older son went the following weekend and spent both days with him. About the fins my son just used the ones he was issued.
Mar 26, 2013
SandraB
My son just finished dive prep in Great Lakes and is leaving for Panama City sometime this week. I am so proud of him! I was hoping that you all could give me a little insight as to what to expect. Thank you!!
Apr 29, 2013
addy62
well congrats sandrab. he has made it past one step. the next one is tough. this where you find out if he really wants it and if he can do it. bay swims are tough. my son is on the last months of eod at eglin. he loves it and says he could not imagine any thing else but his class is not what went to panama city so tell him to hang in there. get rest but stay in shape. good luck
Apr 29, 2013
Karenlee
Apr 29, 2013
nswc80
Well I think this part of our lives have been put on hold. Our son was medically dropped from the dive prep at GL until he completes Physical Therapy on his knee. May have to be re-classified and then who knows what. I am proud of him because he has kept his head up and his Senior Chief told him that he sees him in EOD eventually!
Apr 30, 2013
bex1986
Hi there! Are there any wives of eods I could talk to about the training process, when we can move to Eglin etc? Can we move there before our sailor gets there or do we have to wait? Thanks for your time!
May 4, 2013
meam
Hello,
Could anyone tell me what to expect when they get to Panama City? Has anyone gone down there for a visit?
May 6, 2013
Regina
meam's They learn the mechanics of how everything is used. There is book work involved, they still work - out a lot, do some diving ( My son loved it ) and they still might have to stand watch. As for visiting I did not go for a visit, but my older son went for a four day weekend ( it was Columbus Day ) to take our sailor his car, they had a great time together. We did visit him twice in Eglin and also went for graduation.
May 6, 2013
Regina
Braelen'smom - how is dive prep going ?
May 6, 2013
Braelen'smom
Hi Regina - I've not been on here in so long! Thanks for checking on us. He just arrived in Panama City yesterday so I assume they begin training today. How's your guy doing?
May 7, 2013
SandraB
Thank you addy and Karenlee. My son arrived in Panama City on Sunday. He was so happy to get to warmer weather. We are planning to visit over Memorial Day weekend.
May 7, 2013
Karenlee
May 7, 2013
Regina
Braelen'smom Thanks for asking my son is great. He's stationed in Guam, got there mid March and absolutely loves it says he lives in paradise. Good luck to your son in dive school, my son really enjoyed it.
May 7, 2013
Braelen'smom
Regina, you always warned about how hard it would be, but not in a discouraging way. I appreciated your doing that because it helped prepare me for what was ahead of him then, and what still lies ahead. He admitted it was much harder than he ever dreamed and he was very thankful to have made it! Your son is our proof that the hard work pays off!
May 7, 2013
Braelen'smom
Hi SandraB! Well they made it together!! Love what God is doing to and through each of them! Big stuff ahead! So glad you guys are going to visit. Get lots of hugs!! :)
May 7, 2013
Brenda
Hi!
Anyone on here have a husband/son leaving may 26th for PC?
May 8, 2013
SandraB
Hi Braelen'smom! So happy and proud of our boys! I don't think I will be able to relax until they are completely done! So much ahead of them! God has been so good to us and I feel very Blessed! So many friends are praying for all of them! Can't wait to see Alex over Memorial Day! Any idea on when they actually start? I don't know much about what happens the next 9 weeks.
May 8, 2013
SandraB
Hi Karenlee! Thank you for your prayers!!!
May 8, 2013
nswc80
Due to an injury in dive prep at GL my son was medically dropped from the program, but hopes to re-class and come back in a couple of years. One thing for sure, all the guys he has met through this process are great! I wish them all success in their endeavors. He is moving on to STG and starts training on Monday.
May 8, 2013
Karenlee
May 8, 2013
DJsmom
Jun 1, 2013
Regina
DJsmom- I don't think there is a guest limit, seven of us went to my sons graduation. When does your son graduate?
Jun 1, 2013
Karenlee
Jun 3, 2013
DJsmom
My next question is ... Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels for graduation?
Jun 5, 2013
Karenlee
Jun 6, 2013
DJsmom
Jun 6, 2013
Karenlee
Jun 6, 2013
SandraB
Jun 10, 2013
DJsmom
Hope that was helpful.
Jun 11, 2013
addy62
Dive graduation is not anything to go to. My son said he had to leave the next day for Eglin. From our experience he didn't get any time off until Christmas. Well he had a long weekend for Thanksgiving but he stayed there with some of his friends. He loves it. EOD school is tough so, you really don't get time off until the surface school ended at Eglin. Hope that helps
Jun 11, 2013
Karenlee
Jun 11, 2013
SandraB
DJsmom, addy ship 04 div 811, and Karenlee, thank you all so much for the information! I don't know what I would do without this site and all of your wisdom!
Jun 11, 2013
Karenlee
Jun 12, 2013
addy62
my son is about to graduate EOD school. any info on the next stops for him
Jul 2, 2013
Karenlee
Jul 2, 2013
addy62
Karenlee, he graduates late september and guess where he is going, Rota
Jul 4, 2013
Karenlee
Jul 4, 2013
Karenlee
Jul 7, 2013
addy62
Karenlee, i will get Tyler's email for Ben. Sounds great. So where is he now and when did he graduate from Eglin? So you think it will be 3 months from EOD graduation before he leaves. We want to have a Christmas vacation before he goes.
Jul 7, 2013
Karenlee
Jul 8, 2013
Karenlee
Jul 29, 2013
DJsmom
Aug 17, 2013
Karenlee
Aug 17, 2013