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  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Hang in there Olga your son will do just fine. I can understand how you feel though. Prayers going up for you and your son. Make sure he gets a good night of sleep and a good breakfast if he has time.
  • Sharla

    My daughter leaves for bc out of Houston on July 9th.  13 days and wishing time would go the other way...lol.  So grateful for this site and all the groups I've become a part of.  :)

  • Jana

    Just thought I would stop by My son's PIR was 5/31 It has been a Journey. You are in the right place The support,  kindness and  information  got me thru BC and is continuing. Be Brave Be Strong 

  • olga

    Hi everyone, Thank you for your prayers.  Franco took his ASVAB and it went really well.  Now, on to the next step.  MEPS, BC and a whole wealth of other acronyms.  I'll be thankful for any tips from the wiser. 

  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Good to hear about your son doing well on his ASVAB test Olga! Deep breaths. You'll probably feel like you're going to lose your mind through all the activity of your son joining, but things will settle down a bit after he gets back from MEPS and gets a rate and BC ship date. Then it will be time to enjoy your son as much as you can until he leaves for BC. Hope all goes well at MEPS and beyond.
  • olga

    Thank you Sierrascrapper for your encouraging words.  I'll take one day at a time. I'm reading quite a bit because I want to participate as much as I can in his life.  

  • riverstone41

    Anyone's kiddo leaving Oct.?
  • doubletrouble

    I'm sitting here reading some of the comments to get caught up and realize that there really are so many other moms having the same overwhelming feelings I'm having right now.  My twins graduated from HS 6/1 and both of them leave in August.  I have had little milestones along the way, graduation then their graduation party....there is nothing else, but them leaving for BC.  

    There is so much to do and I don't even know where to begin.  The boys act like it's no big deal, we're just joining the Navy!!  

  • emmysmom

    I know the feeling doubletrouble..I have twins as well but only one going into the Navy...she leaves for boot camp in August as well.....time is ticking right on by and quick! !! Good luck to you..you must be very proud!!!
  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Wow, there are so many twin Moms on here with both twins joining. I have twin boys, but they are so opposite of each other. Only one is joining the Navy. We have to survive their last year of HS first. LOL You must be so proud doubletrouble! Hang in there and know that this next milestone might be difficult at first, but it is the start of a GREAT future.
  • doubletrouble

    Thank you emmysmom, I am extremely proud of them both! Sierrascrapper & emmysmom, maybe one of mine will be with one or both of ya'lls and they can go through BC together and experience the same feelings since they will know what it feels like to miss their twin.

  • emmysmom

    That would be good doubletrouble....my 2 girls have never been separated...at hardly anything....right now they share an apartment together so one is definately going to be lost. Emily is the more stronger willed and determined of the two...which is why she joined the Navy I guess :)...I joined N4M because, I can cry and worry and no one that I know has kids joining the military and don't really understand why sometimes I get teary eyed thinking about her being so far away from me. So...when I do read all the posts and such, I know I am not alone in this wonderful journey she/we as a family is getting ready to embark on

  • NausetMom

    emmysmom when does your daughter leave for BC

  • emmysmom

    She leaves August 19....out of OKC
  • proudmama

    Hi everyone. I am new to this site. My son is going to bc on 8/7. Anyone else going at that time? We are fortunate to live very close to GL- so I am not sure if he still arrives with his recruiter or if we drive him and drop him off.

  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Exactly 365 days from today, my son will be hopping on a plane for BC from Boise. Wow, this year is going to zoom past us, I just know it. Slightly nervous, excited for his future and SUPER PROUD!
  • Dorothea

    30 days and counting. Let the mood swings begin : ) 

  • USnavymom63

    my son was told he could not leave for bc with alaminated social security card.  So we went to the Social security office and we requested a new card.  here in lies the problem.  Sal leaves for bc on July 11 the card takes two weeks to arrive.  In the interim the Social security office will supply us with a verification letter and a receipt to prove he will receive his card.  His recruiter had a fit and is now saying he cannot leave without his Social security card and a verification letter is no good.

    The social security office says thats not true.  My son is so upset because if bc is delayed he may lose his job.

    what can we do?

  • doubletrouble

    Hi proudmomma! I have a son leaving 8/7 also. I have twins & their best friend leaving in Aug. One of the twins & the friend on 8/7, maybe they will get to know each other. Welcome to the group. It is amazing, you realize you are not going through it alone & have the support of moms that have been through BC before.
  • proudmama

    TexasProud- thanks so much for the info- I did join that group as well. Thanks for the advice!

     

    Doubletrouble-  Thanks for the welcome! Our sons might end up knowing each other- what a small world! I have read the explanation of what to do in preparation for leaving for bc- I don't think anything really prepares you for your son/daughter joining the military. But, I am going to give it a college try! I am really very appreciative for N4M's as my son enters the Navy.

  • Boo's mom

    Hi, my son will be leaving for BC in Aug. and we are having his going away party at the end of the month, I have seen others talking about ordering the Navy rubber ducks, I have gone on the web and looked but Amazon and another one are out of stock, does anyone know where else I can find them? Or is there anyone out there that has some I could buy?

    I really want to get some for the party but keep hitting dead ends!  HELP! lol

  • squid

    For ducks try orientaltrading.com.

  • squid

  • Boo's mom

    Thank you so much for the dickie info!  I found some and got them ordered! Yeah!!

  • YooperMom

    Ha!  Thank you Shawzaam!  I so needed a chuckle!  Didn't know you could order "them".  lol

  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Those duckies are really cute.  Just a word of caution...don't expect them to actually float like a real rubber duckie in a tub.  I've had friends buy the fun ones and they didn't float like they expected, they just flopped upside down in water. 

  • FLmom

    Happy 4th of July, Moms. Hope everyone enjoys your day. God bless our country.
  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Happy Independence Day DEP Moms. This holiday has more meaning in my life now than ever before. God Bless this GREAT nation and watch over our Future Sailors and the ones who are already serving our country.
  • Boo's mom

    Ok! Ok! I did mean Duckie not dickie info! (OOPS!) lol  Glad I could give you a good chuckle YooperMom! :) ha ha But I am so excited about the RUBBER DUCKIES!  :)  

  • FLmom

    My son had his wisdom teeth out yesterday - all four of them. I wanted him to have them out before he left for boot camp. He did great. No pain. One more thing we will not have to worry about when he is at boot camp. Also received his Sailors Bible and thin, slim black wallet in the mail yesterday. Marking things off the list. The list and days are getting shorter.
  • proudmama

    FLmom- I am out of town right now to help my daughter who just had a baby! I'm feeling out of sorts because my son is going to bc on 8/7. I have 6 kids and I'm trying to help all of them with their own agendas!  All of this to ask probably a really dumb question... where did you order the slim wallet from and any slim Bible will do? Hope I'm not being a pain!

  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    FLmom, hope he recovers quickly . We were thinking that we wanted to get my son's wisdom teeth out before he left too. Just because I would hate for him to have to make up days in BC and still feel miserable. I've seen many Moms post that they had them out in BC and got through just fine. Anyone else have thoughts on this topic?
  • NausetMom

    I was going to have my son's wisdom teeth out before he went to BC but the recruiter told us he then would have to wait 6 months to go to BC.  

  • FLmom

    The recruiter knows that My son was having his out and never said anything about waiting. Would be upset if that is the case.
  • Tikkie

    My son's recruiter wouldn't let me have my son's wisdom teeth out because it would "change his medical status." I would have preferred to have them out before boot camp! I too would like to know where you ordered the wallet.

  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Hmm...good info. I will have to talk with the recruiter about it. My son doesn't go in til next July. But I would HATE for anything to get in the way.
  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    I had a friend who is military stop in at their uniform shop and pick one up for my son. You might be able to find one on the NEX website and since your son is in DEP, you should be able to order it online. Hope that helps.
  • FLmom

    Proudmamma, I got both items through amazon. Just search Sailors Bible,I found one for $6.00. Then search thin, slim wallet. I do not really like the one I got :( but it will do until he is through boot camp. Hope this helps...Sounds like you have your hands full.  You are not a pain. I love being a part of this group...

  • Disy (Ship12Div371)

    My daughter had her wisdom teeth out last month and we checked with our recruiter and it didn't change her status - she leaves July 31. One of the reasons we decided to have them out prior to BC was only because she didn't want to miss 2 days by being in medical having them out. She had all 4 out and did great!
  • Disy (Ship12Div371)

    LOL! Just realized I called him "our" recruiter ! He is such a nice guy I feel like he is a family friend !
  • FLmom

    Same here Disy, I do not want anything to take away from studying or doing what you do at boot camp :)
  • Tikkie

    I just wish there were consistency among the recruiters about the wisdom-teeth issue. Grrr... Still, wee love our recruiter and call him "the third parent!"

  • NausetMom

    After reading all the comments about wisdom teeth, I am sure my son will be in good hands if the Navy dentist thinks they should remain or be removed.  Will see what they think in August when he leaves for BC.

  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Thanks for all the good info TexasProudSailorMom. We will discuss it with his recruiter and then let my son decide what he wants. I would prefer to have them out first so there are no interruptions during BC, but from what I understand they are pretty proficient at it when they do it at BC, so I'm not too worried either way.

    Disy- funny how you use those references to your son's recruiter. My son's recruiter is quite the character from the times we have met so far. I'm sure that after a year we will really get to know him well. Ironically, he graduated from my high school the year my son was born.

    Tikkie- my son's recruiter is a Petty Officer and we pretend to slip up and call him his Parole Officer instead of Petty Officer as a joke around our house.
  • RG/socal

    Hi folks, I'm new here... My son is due to be shipped to BC Oct. 31.  It might be sooner if he does well on a test he takes today at MEPS. I'm amused at the mentions of recruiters... I've never met my son's recruiter, I don't even know his name!  This whole process has my son doing it alone.  I'm very supportive, but I think he want's to prove himself already. He doesn't even want me to go to his PIR. Silly boy! It's good to see all the support here. Thanks all.

  • NausetMom

    Hi RG/socal - My son also has done this whole process by himself.  I also have never met or talked to his recruiter.   I have to say they have been great with answering his questions.   I am also proud and supportive of his decision.

    So many of my concerns have been answered on N4M and I have to thank all of you for the support we give one another.

  • Justine

    Hi All! I'm a newbie here. My baby isn't scheduled to leave until Feb 3, 2014 so we have quite a bit of time still.  His recruiter told him that since he's in DEP for so long she wants him to learn everything in the start guide ASAP so he can be DEP leader. He looked at me and said, "wow, pressure is on already."

    Since I'm a single mom I have been trying to get as much info as I can about all aspects of what his life will be like the next few years.  I love that my questions and concerns can, and have been answered here. A big thanks to everyone!

  • Disy (Ship12Div371)

    RG/SoCal I think we only know our Recruiter because we had to sign the papers as she was 17 when she went down to MEPS and because she has been a DEPPER for so long - I have to say that once she was sworn in neither the Chief or the Recruiter ever called me or spoke to me about her - everything is now their responsibility - as it should be! But her Recruiter did really good things - texting them on New Year's Eve offering rides at any time if they needed it - came to their Graduation! Nice guy! It's kinda good to know that they are forging their own way but at the same time have peeps that seem to genuinely care about them!

    This website has been great for information but what amazes me is a list of moms who stay on here supporting and encouraging all the newbies! I wonder if they know how much we appreciate having this anchor! I don't want to list names because I would leave someone out but I hope they know who they are and accept my thanks!
  • Sierrascrapper (ETN2)

    Welcome to the new DEP Moms. You will find so much helpful info here and on the N4M site and feel like you fit in. My son leaves July 2014 so we'll be here a while too. I already feel more confident about the path my son has chosen and hopefully I will be able to stay strong when the day comes. Reading about everyone's experiences means a lot.

    -Justine, funny you say that about your son and the pressure to learn. My son had his first DEP meeting last month and he said that he thinks he will probably be one of the leaders since he'll be there so long. He said that a lot of the DEPpers didn't have much memorized yet and their Chief was expecting more of them. He has been working hard on his memorization and has already learned the Sailor's Creed, the 11 General Orders of a Sentry and the ranks, and phonetic alphabet. He's got a lot of work to do, but he loves it already. I try to quiz him off and on at random times. Like rattling off a number and having him tell me which of the General Orders it is or I will say what is an O-6? My eyes welled up with tears when he recited the Sailor's Creed for the first time.
  • RG/socal

    I'm getting it more each day.  My son is 22, so it only makes sense that he is doing all this on his own. No pass on the exam at MEPS today, so Oct 31 it is! He's disappointed at not passing the exam, but is satisfied with the A-school he will be going to as originally planned.  He just would have liked the other better.  I reminded him it is all in God's hands.