Tina (4/9/12)

Hi Tina, he will need to take his Drivers Lisence and SS card.  Everything else gets sent back home, including the cell phone.  You will need to send him with an activated phone card for his calls home and he can keep that, but nothing else.  Hope that helps!

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-Colleen

Welcome Tina,

First of all it is OK to cry.  I did when my son went to bootcamp, when I passed his empty room, when I received a letter from boot camp, when I went to graduation and when he left for sub school after having 9 days at home.  But the crying eventually subsides and the proudness takes over especially when you see him in his uniform at graduation.  My son said it is best to get into really good shape before bootcamp as the PT's are tough and you don't get much sleep.

Hang in there and read as much as you can find on Navyformoms.com and the internet about bootcamp and sub school.  There is alot of info out there.  Navyformoms.com was my lifesaver. 

Feel free to contact me any time, Tina. I know what it means to be sad. It's a different kind of missing your kids, not like kids just being at college. Communication is often brief, and you can't count on being together for the holidays, birthdays, etc. Don't be afraid to make new traditions like celebrating Christmas/birthdays when you can instead of on the actual day. That's Navy Normal :-)

You will definately want ot look into the boot camp group and then watch for a group for his PIR.  The link below is for a group that is not very active, but the information contained on the pages will help you understand what is going to happen after Boot Camp.

One quick question...I am assuming that he is not going to be a Nuke, correct?  The only reason I ask is that Nuke Submariners do not go to Groton, unless they are chosen to go after Nuke school.

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/grotonctsubschoolaschoolmoms?comme...

Be sure and hug your future sailor for us

Hi and Welcome. 

We are happy to have you on the Navy for Moms site.  You are invited to join either the Illinois or Missouri family page as listed below.  It is a great way to find families in your area and even help plan meet and greets. We also have some packing parties for our troops overseas getting together.

Looking forward to hearing from you in one of our groups!

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/illinoisn4m

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/missourinavymoms

Be sure and let me know if you have any questions!

PS.  Feel free to “cruise” my page and see if there are any other groups that interest you. One of my passions is supporting our deployed troops.  Check out http://www.navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject and see if it is a group you may like to join.

Carol

Hi--that means I'm just east of you, off the i-70/55 at exit 18 in Illinois!  My kiddo is also in subs.

Yes, they can only have their Bible and some letter writing material, including stamps.  They will be sending their clothes and cell phones home to you within the first several days of arriving at Boot Camp.  You will get a call from your sailor saying that he has reached the base.  It is tough not being able to talk to them every day, but know that they are very busy with training and learning to be a sailor.  Send  him upbeat and happy letters about home life often as it helps them feel connected.  My son said that he looked forward to mail call and the letters from home.  Also have other family members and friends write to him.  He may not get all the letters answered, and you may only receive one or several letters from him.  Their letter writing time is short.  Also send with your sailor a phone calling card or two.  They may get to call home on occassion if they have a calling card.  I was lucky and received two phone calls from my sailor while he was in bootcamp.  Also have you sailor order a copy of the Graduation Ceremony on dvd.  It is awesome and you can show it to family members who can't attend.  I very highly recemmend that you attend the graduation ceremeny it is very beautiful and the smile on their faces when the sailors greet their families is very heartwarming.  I shed a few tears of joy when I got to see my son right after graduation.  We spent the weekend with him.  Soemtimes the graduating sailors have to leave that afternoon for their next school, but for the most part most don't leave till that next week after graduation.  Right now I am going through not being able to talk to my sailor as he is out to sea somewhere in the Pacific.  The next time I will get to hear his voice will be when he comes back in from being on patrol.  It is like having him in Boot Camp again.  You can talk to me any time.  I will be here to help you.  Have a wonderful day and enjoy your Sailor. 

38 days, Tina!!!!

Hi Tina,

It was great to meet you yesterday.  Alot of fun.

I don't think I will be able to do the book club right now.  I would really like to sometime though as I love to read and think it would be alot of fun.  Maybe the next one?

I get my hair done at Studio 3 on Jungermann.  It's in the strip mall next to Paul's Donuts.  It's where Quizno's used to be.  Jan does my hair.  Let me know what you decide to do!  Hope to talk to you soon.

Tine, you are so welcome!! We are truly in this together! I have been where youare and not long ago! I;m just an email away!! ohiosangel@hotmail.com

Sorry *Tina lol

Just can't read dates right when I've been up half the night with a sick dog.  I was thinking it said March.  Sorry....bootcamp is still 8 weeks unless there's a push group, in which case it's 7 weeks.  Doubt they do that any more.

Hi Tina,

I live in Kansas City. My son left the 10th. I miss him the minute he was ln the plane. Hope you had a great today.

Talk soon

Roses4bud

Thanks, I'm doing ok.  He's almost made it to week 4.  I'm gonna try to get some sun today and hope for a phone call or letter. 

Tina, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your post.... it was so helpful.. Our son leaves 8/15 and then is heading to CT after his PIR.  Look to keep in touch!