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Hello...my yongest son has joined and in DEP. He will leave next July 15 and he will go to A School to be a corpsman. He is 17 and will 18 when he leaves. I think that he is one who has no clue even though his older brother went through boot camp this past Feb and now is in the fleet and has heard what goes on. We have tried to explain and tell him but he's not listening. I am sure that its because we are parents and don't know anything!! LOL
He doesn't seem to want to prepare for it physically or mentally. UUUGGGG!!

Hi - My name is Carol, my son has been in DEP since April, he will be going to BC in Jan. 09. He has signed up for Nuke - so SC after BC. I am new to this website - I have been learning lots over the past few days!

mine leaves 7/15

those are the divisions and ship ( bulidings) they are in during boot camp but it all changes again when they graduate go to their A schools.

Yes the Division and ship is only for bootcamp. When they go to A school it will be a different address and division and ship will be no more.

Jor-Jean I would encourage your son to work out with the Pre-buds in bootcamp so that he stays in shape to test for the SWCC..that is what my son did and it helped out alot. He was actually qualified for the SEALS pre-buds program before he left for bootcamp but he it was to late to change his contract before he left for bootcamp. So when he went to bootcamp they put his qualification papers on top of his paper work and that allowed him to do the pre-bud workouts while in Boot camp which is much more rigorous than their regular work outs. His bunkmate at bootcamp was also going for SWCC and did the same thing.. This way if he is qualified they can change his contaract in Bootcamp and go staight qualify for SWCC. The only thing that prevent my son from continuing was a lady messed up his paper work at the end of bootcamp and said he needed a waiver for something and in the end he never needed it!! UUGGGG!! So now he has to do a year on a carrier and has to stay qualified for the pre-buds program and if his Captain releases him like he said he would, he will head back up to Great Lakes for the program. I am sorry if this sounds confusing.

Debbie is right we learned this when our first son when to Bootcamp this past FEB. 08 and would like everyone to know that when your son or daughter leaves for bootcamp don't bother sending any toiletries or extras with them even if it is on the list will be returned in the box of personal items (clothes they were wearing when they left) even if it is on the list to bring the only thing they are allowed to keep is their wallet, small poceket size address book and bible, stamps and phone card which I suggest to buy one with alot of minutes (over 1,000) as the pay phone sucks alot of minutes away for "connection fees".

I have even read that moms of daughters had all the under wear and bras sent back to home but if you want to confirm that In Bootcamp forum. check it out here http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/1971797:Topic:288525 everything is "given to them during P(processing) week.
Yes a direct deposit slip is good but they also have you join the Navy federal credit union.

don't forget to send a phone card with him like I said below at least 1000 minutes. other wise they willhave to buy one there! My son brought his driect deposite form but he still ended up with a Navy federal acct. I think that it is easier to work with and when we were there for PIR we added my husband's name to the acct. so that we can pay bills or in our son's case pay us back for somethings!! I am not sure if he just decided to go Navy Federal and forget the other acct. or what I never really asked by I will when he gets home in DEC...Yippie!!

Michelle...Have you talked to her parents??? They definitely need to know waht she is doing. You are wise to be very supicious of this girl and to talk to the resourse officer...You go Mom!!

Ladies this is what I did for my first so who left in Febafter Christmas and it was a hit and I will be doing this again for my second that is leaving in July.
Since he didn't need clothes or anything I got gift cards to his favorite fast food restraunts, the movie theater and the gas staion I put in a Giant and did the box with in a box that had a smaller box within a box but in each box he opened was a gift card.It was alot of fun!

I wouldn't wait until bootcamp because if there happens to be any probelms they can be set back a week or more...which translates into more time in bc and possible going in to a different division than what they start in. Food for thought.

Getting a Flu shot isn't a bad idea...my oldest was sick from alomost the day he got there until PIR...he had to get a Z-Pack ac ouple of weeks in and was on light duty for a few days.

4 is the official # but if yoube my friend I can tell you how it works in a priviate mail.

Well I got to say I cried alot before my first son left and when he left for BC,I cried when I saw him the frist time at PIR and I cried when we dropped him off at the chapel the last day of Liberty PIR weekend, sometimes I cry just thinking about him...I can say now that when I cry at least now it doesn't happen as often and last as long or hurt as bad. I don't say good bye....to final...I say "see ya later!" Even though I may not know exactly when I will see him, I know I will see him later.

Now as my second son goes to DEP meetings I feel some of those old feelings that I thought were gone long ago but at least NOW I know that they are normal and I am not going to have a e-motional breakdown. My youngest will be easier in someways (been there, done that) but harder as he will be the last to leave the nest and he will be doing a different job. I'll let you know how that goes next year when he leave for BC!LOL
Take care moms...remember we are all in this together, we are here for one another and we will get through it!!

Hugs to all~ Angie

Double Ditto for Kathryn's comment below! It is very important that our sailors-to-be, feel that we support their decisions 100%...I let my son know from the start that if he saw me with tears in my eyes...it wasn't sadness alone, but also pride in his decision, and the fact that life was changing.

Jor-Jean- It might just how I feel but I think that it is Ok to see you break down but explain to him why...for your love for him, out of your pride for him, the part of letting go for you is hard, knowing he will the same young man but changed for the positive. He needs to know it isn't because you don't want them to go but because you are his mother and you will miss him and that is ok.
And you don't want to cry in front of him that is ok too. But know it will come out in the strangest places!! LOLGrocery store, at the post office, in the shower, where ever it hits. Remember every emotion you have has been felt by all of us Moms who have let go before to some degree or another... and they are normal!! You are not crazy!! Believe it or not the weeks will suddenly fly by and the next thing you know you will be at PIR and you will be crying happy tears of pride at the new yong man who is standing before you. We're here for you!! Lean on us to get you through because only other Navy Moms understand!!

Cassie's mom my youngest son leaves next July too. We can be feeling the same together!!LOL

Doreen... All the feelings and emotions you have are normal!! and it is ok to feel them..My question is this...Knowing that your son is going to sign when he truns 18 wouldn't it mean more to him to have your blessing now than to wait and sign because he can? Remember your not losing you son...as bad as it hurts..How do I know?? I have already let one go to the Navy and he is qualified for SEALS too...so I know how you feel....now my second has joined at 17 with our permission of course. I knew he would at 18 anyway too. Is it any easier?? NO! I guess the one thing I try to keep in mind is that they were really never mine... God gave me these boys to grow and nurture but they have always been his..I found with my first son during a time when people from my church were praying for him right before he left for bootcamp .... I said to God "Lord I trust you and I release him to you" as I am bawling my eyes out an barely able to say it..Hardsest word I have ever said ....it all became easier in the sense that dayI knew it really wasn't up to me anyway. Did I still cry alot?? Do I still cry?? A resounding YES too both!! But when I do it isn't out of fear anymore it is out of pride and I miss him. The tears don't last as long now and it doesn't hurt my moms heart as bad either.... You too will come to that point. The point of trusting and letting go..... to let him become the man that God has in mind and planned.
Can you all imagine one year ago there was NO Navy for moms??? What did all the moms before us do?? No other moms to talk...no other moms to get info from?? When I joined March 1, 2008 I was number 46...We were all figuring things out together then and we will continue with 10,000!! We're here for you!! Together we will get you through!! Hugs to you!!

For you Doreen and for all Depper moms having a hard time!!

Congrat Rene' to you and your new recruit.....The book "Honor, Courage, Commitment" Is a awesome book...as you read it there are a few things they don't do anymore. One is they don't march every where anymore...they have new "ships" aka buildings and everything is self contained in there ships, they don't have service week and Battle stations are done in one building. Hope that helps as you read this fabulous book.

oh Michelle, I'm so sorry about your dog. our dogs are a big part of our familys.

I am so excited for you and Craig.....I know how hard that test is my oldest sailor also did that test....I remember timing him when he was swimming at the gym....

I know you're so proud of him! Congrats! My depper, Jeff, had to pass the same test (SWCC) and he was telling me the other day that EOD's are with them when they are on the boats. It's one big brotherhood!

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