»» Welcome to the MEPS and DEP group ««

Hi! You might want to try the group "DEP - leavin for boot camp in July" as well. Good luck connecting with other Deppers leaving at that time!

kk, he won't need to create a new bank account. If he has all his bank information, including a canceled check, his routing number and account number, he can use his existing bank account. They only start new accounts for recruits who don't have an account, or don't have their bank information.

Well, I had my 1st period of profound sadness today. Matt & his brother were installing a base for their dad's new flagpole. It occurred to me that he wasn't going to be around after Oct 5th. Hubby tried to console me that he would be back, but I reminded him that Matt's leaving the nest. I know he'll be back for short periods, but it's not going to be the same. I better start stocking up on the kleenex:)

kk, I would have him set up an account with Navy Federal Credit Union. It's set up to manage bank accounts from anywhere in the world, and has branches at all major Navy bases and all over the world where Navy ships regularly pull in. It's set up for the Navy lifestyle.

My son is with a different bank and has had trouble accessing his money at times, because there is no branch of his bank within hundreds of miles of his base. It has been a headache.

My daughter is planning to use the Navy Federal Credit Union. Go to their website & you can check all locations. There are several ATM & Banks in our area that she can use when she is home. There locations everywhere.

We still have my NFCU account from when Mike and I were in the Navy and occasionally use it. They have excellent low interest loans and money management programs to help sailors navigate the financial pitfalls of their personal economic situations. (LOL, that sounded like an ad)

Thanks Arwen, I went on line and we can use the same ATM we use for his account now and there is acctual branch close by for when he is home.

Good Luck to both of you!

My son does not go to boot camp untill March 2011 as a CS!! Does anyone else have to wait that long?? He has gotten a full time job so that may help the time go faster. I am so ready for him to get his Navy career started. I love him and am so proud that he made this decision. He is ready to go and I am ready for him to go...in a good way. Ya know what I mean. He really needs this! He is 18 and has the "I am an adult and I should be able to do what I want when I want" attitude. I know this will change when he gets to Boot Camp.....

My husbend and I are trying to bite our tungs when he get an attitude with us. I am afraid that he will say he is going to move in with his girlfriend who lives with her sister and boyfriend. I do not think that is a good idea at all! and he knows that. But it is getting very hard. One day he has a great attitude and when he does not get his way it is a fight. All I can do it pray that we can get through the next 9mths untill he goes to BC. Any advice

Brandonsmom - I know the "attitude" well. It started at 18 at our house. My DEP'er went to MEPS in March - she was offered 3 ship dates - May, July, or August. She took August. She has been contacted twice to see if she wanted to move it up. He may get a call to change the date also.

Dustysmom, Brandonsmom. What relief I feel when I read these posts and think that is exactly how my son is acting. He does not leave until Sept. Before all big events he would get crabby and difficult. He is definately pulling away and if the attiude keeps up I will be ready to let him go! lol Our daughter just arrived in Moscow today on a missionary trip with her youth group. She is just shy of sixteen so I am nervous and really could us the mature helpful son right now.
Hang in there moms.

thanks y'all!

Wow, I am going through the same thing with my daughter. She just turned 18 and is not leaving for BC until January and just thinks she can do whatever she wants now. Doesn't want to get a job cause as she puts it "why should I, I'm leaving in 6 months"...aaauuuugghh!. And I don't really like the people she is hanging out with and don't believe they have her best interests in mind. This is going to be a long 6 months.

I am not having this problem with my daughter. Maybe because she is older and spent 4 years in college. I hope this doesn't change since she doesn't leave until March. :)

My son got a good full time job but I hope he sticks to it and does not mess it up. He needs the money. He wants to buy a car before he goes to BC. I'm praying that we can get through till March. I am praying that he gets an offer to leave before that. But if he does im not sure if he would take it or if he would even tell me about it.....

Sherri - you just described my daughter's friends(& I use the term friends loosely). I only have 32 days left- which is good & bad!

JTM - Moscow is a long way from home. I hope she has a great trip.

Hello everyone, I feel lots of anxiety coming on... 5 more days, I have this constant lump in my throat. July 12 came around REALLY QUICK.. I have list of home cooked meals planned for the next few days..my emotions are all over the place just the thought cooking his favorite meal will bring on the tears. I am sooo proud and happy for him, hes anxious and excited.

Everyone - thanks for all your posts re: your difficulties. It is so nice to know that I am not the only one in this boat! My sons are both leaving Nov. 2 and there are days that I wish it was next month. They are both 18 and graduated in June but we told them they did not have to get a job because they plan to spend time with each set of grandparents for several weeks this summer/fall. Who knows it may be years before they see them again as they live in different states. I am so tired of nagging about the stuff I want done around here since they are home all day. It makes for a tense household but I guess this is part of leaving and cutting those strings. I feel all of your pain and thanks for being here!

Just wanted to add - my daughter & boyfriend stopped by last night. We had a good visit. She told me she had another call about leaving for BC early. She turned it down because she agreed to lifeguard until she left. She will need a good reference for her security clearance, so she did not want to leave her employer suddenly. She also waited until recently to begin working out. We are headed to a lake to swim when we both get off work. I'll be the one in the lifejacket!!!

KK~Congrats on today! We will all be praying for you and your son today. Thank-you for all the great advice.

KK- God Bless! What a great reminder of the strengths that got our children where they are today. Best of luck today.

kk- wonderful words, i agree totally it seems that the only people who understand are here! it is very hard to listen to all the "rosy" pictures that are painted of others go off to their parents painted future. i never imagined that my son would have made this choice, the road here has been a difficult on and i know that more difficult times are ahead until November when he leaves (so far). Much luck today and for your sons future, keep us posted.

KK - just remember too that some Moms paint a rosy picture of what their kids are doing and it isn't always the entire truth or they do not know the truth. We are experiencing this with my mom's best friend - our kids are the same age. She just brags on her wonderful grandsons - my daughter sees them at frat parties & grandma is not getting the full story.

Thanks for the Olive Oil idea - I am praying without ceasing.

LOL - I'm sure that as parents/grandparents/guardians NONE of us get the full story!! Oh to have a "do-over" and be able to live my teen years again knowing what I know now! Good foundations, love, prayers, and a little luck and our kids will land on their feet too; despite some rough starts. We all have to learn life's lessons on our own, otherwise they are meaningless.

Its good to know my daughter isn't the only one acting like this. Of course I think I had the same attitude when I turned 18, I guess its payback time. I pray everyday for her to do right and keep on the straight and narrow.

4 more days til he's gone. . . I don't think I'm ready to cut the umbilical cord. . . READY OR NOT HERE IT COMES :(

proudmom-im sure he would love it but we are in NC......I wish we would get the call that he could go early!

I too wish she would get an earlier ship date, not just for my sanity, but the weather is going to be insanely cold in Feb and March for her and we are from Arizona.

Did you go to the ceremony? Did your son leave from there to go to boot camp?

Hey Stephanie,
Kudos to you for sticking to your guns ! When my son signed up (Late April), I asked him to complete the semester that was in progress....nop he wouldn't. I gave him the choices: quit and repay me the tuition money I put out or finish it out. He still quit but will repay me. Then I put down some guidelines and deadlines: Must work until he leaves ( Nov 9). I will pay car insurance and cell phone (until he starts A school) if working but if he quits, both will be canceled. So far he is working hard and making good decisions, thank you Lord !!

Proudmom, my daughter is at the Bell Canyon one.

Well, my son is in the delayed entry program. He signed on to be a nuke and won't start BC until April 2011. Is their anyone on here who's son or daughter will be going in around then?

March 21...Welcome to the wait! My son signed a month ago as an OS.

Brandon just went to his first DEP meeting the other day. He said he passed everything. He should be fine with the fitness. But Im just praying we can get to the shipout date. We have had a BAD day. We saw him going down the road with his GF in the truck when he was supposed to be at work. Keith called him told him to come back to where we were.He had quit his job and was going to the movies! Dad took his keys and is not going to give them back. I am alway stuck in the middle! Please Pray for us! Now he is at my mothers and says he will come home tomorrow or monday. He gave me his word that he would go to church in the morning with my mother. He also said that his boss said he could come back? Not sure about that. But sence his dad took the truck away I guess I will have to take him back and forth untill he has the money to buy his own car. Please pray for him and us.

seems like many of us are in the same boat (no pun intended) similar situation with my son, shortly after WE gave him a car, he was seen drive unsafe in the school parking lot. We took the car away, he chose not to work, and has move in with his grandfather, who fills his wallet, gave him another car, and so on.....i could go on and on! this was a while ago, he did graduate HS and is scheduled to leave in Nov. Maybe it will be earlier and he can start to learn some responsiblity and mature! Don't get me wrong , i am still scared for him but i know that he has made a good choice in joining the Navy! I am right there with you and the bad days and from what i read here we are not alone.

It is nice to know that we are not alone. I just want the last mths with him to be happy. He wants everyone to think "Poor Brandon his parents don't let him do anything and treat him so badly" His dad and I have always been there for him. Taken him to church all his life tryed to teach him to do right. Gone to all his sports games sence he was just a little boy. I guess he will remember all this when he is missing home in BC. Still praying that the call will come for him to go sooner!

brandonsmom and BBWinthemoon, sounds like you both have your hands full with your sons. I guess I'm lucky that my doesn't cause me any problems. He's taking a summer class at our local community college. He's then going back to college this fall fulltime. He'll have almost 2 years of college completed before he goes in. He's going in mainly to get money for college. He didn't want huge student loan payments. The navy's going to pay off his current loans and then he'd like to try to get into the STA-21 program to finish. If that's not possible maybe he can finish it while he's in or wait until he's done. He was doing well in college but I think he needed a break and a change. He seems very contented with his decision and so is my husband and I. We are having problems with some family members who have quit talking to us because of this and I don't understand it. This has hurt him deeply. Hopefully they will come around. I do know I'm proud of him because he thought long and hard on his decision.

Jo1- I am happy and you are blessed that you do not have problems with your son but I pray that your son has enlisted in to the US Navy because he is dedicated to defend his country first and formost not just for the free schooling.

Brandonsmom, he is very dedicated in the things he does. He wanted to enlist right out of high school but we talked him into trying college first. His grandfather is Airforce retired and he has alot of respect for him. Most people who enlist do it for the educational benefits that the military offers them.

Jo- I have to say I do not agree with the statment "Most people who enlist do it for the educational benefits that the military offers them." That is a great benefit of the military but I don't feel that it should ever be the main reason someone enlists into the US Military. I feel positive that most of the other moms feel the same.

My son was not interested in going to college, it is not for everyone right out of high school. I hope that one day he will change his mind and it is a HUGE benifit that the Military provides for that. I believe that he chose to enlist because of the future that he can have with a steady income and learn something about himself, life and a skill that will one day take him to the civilian world. I am not sure how much he understands about serving our country and the meaning that this holds, I am confident that this concept is going to come real fast. I am proud of the choice that he has made, even with all the difficulties that we have had during teen-hood.

thanks you that was very well said! Any yes this group has been wonderful for me!

I have watched several of my daughters highschool friends grow up when they joined the Navy. They are no longer "clueless" and are so happy with what they are doing now. I hope to see my daugther grow up like they have. I'm not sure if I would be able to send her off without N4M's. Thanks to everyone. It's less than a month to her ship date!

BrandonsMom.... I have learned through trial and error.... 19 or 20 is plenty old enough to take responsibility and consequences for his choices.(especially house rules) I know it sound cold or hard but If he knows right from wrong and still chooses wrong, well he will have to accept the consequences. Pray for strength for yourself and guidance for your son. My prayers are for you.

i think my son has just signed his SEALS contract....oh boy.....i think he will be leaving December....tears already

Great for him, I have another son whose dream was SEALS but was color blind... Good luck to him and we will all pray with you when he is away!

My son is color blind too, he said it knocked him out of other jobs too. He was kinda down about that.

Hi kk you will be done BC & A school and we will still be here waiting..keep us posted please on how he is doing!

Hello everyone, today my son left to GL what a long day it was very emotional on my part, he is on his flight as I post this. The hours spent with him in MEPS were precious, we laughed, we cried, reminised about his birth and baby years. . . I will miss him dearly, as he begins his new journey. I'm so proud of him. Now I will just sit tight and wait for my " I MADE IT PHONE CALL" The house has an emptiness to it, his car hasnt moved all day :(