I HAVE TO VENT!!!

[Shoes2BHappy]

I know that patience is a virtue, but I've run out of it! Our son shipped out on the 30th.. I've been waiting on his form letter, and I know that that could take up to two weeks, but here's the frustrating part..

His recruiting officer is nowhere to be found. When he first enlisted, he was working with a certain recruiter. A couple of weeks before he was to ship out, his recruiter went back to another job, and he was assigned to another. 

He never even met the new recruiter (since it was so close to the time that he was leaving), and on the day before he shipped out, when we went to sign the last few papers and check in, he wasn't there. 

I've noticed that a lot of mom's find out their son's divisions, etc., before they even receive the form letter, and they find out from their son's recruiter.. I called the MEPS office where he shipped out from, and they were so nice, but they don't handle that side of it there. The gentleman I spoke with said he would look into it, and try and find out what he could, but I know they're extremely busy there. 

I know that eventually I'll get the form letter, but it's frustrating that we don't have a recruiter that we could call, even with a minor question. It looks as though his PIR would be July 26th, but who knows??

OK, rant over..I just pray that all is ok w/ my "boy", and that the letter will come soon! (and I'd also like to make our flight and hotel reservations!) 

I hope everyone is having a good Tuesday!! 

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

There you go!  You can embrace and enjoy the emptynest lol!

[Shoes2BHappy]

Well, not completely empty.. I have a high school sophomore, high school senior, and a rising college sophomore home for break, lol!!! We'll embrace the empty nest when they go to bed later ;)

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Lol - definitely wait for the other kids to go to bed - we don't want to traumatize anyone!

[Shoes2BHappy]

LOL!!!

[belovedbyHim]

Yep!! It's MADDENING!!!! This is your place to Vent and also get help climbing back off the walls!!! As PhoenixMom pointed out you are still in the window for the form letter so try and not attack the mailman just yet! ;) 
As for having a "recruiter" to contact, Well the sad truth is this,  Their one and only job is to get young people to Sign on the Dotted line and once they leave MEPS they are Done with them and on to Wooing the next young person!  I'm not bashing on them but so many expect them to be an ambassador of sorts for the families to the Navy (Air force, Marines or Army too) but that is not their purpose or job. It STINKS that there isn't more "Family  training" during DEP but the Navy figures if the kids are "Adult" enough to join up they will be "Adult" enough to inform their families what to expect.  Sadly it doesn't happen often until after they leave and that is where we come in.  So.... What to do now?  My Suggestion is go in your son's room, Yell, scream, cry, beat the living stuffing out of his pillow (You may have 10 minutes), Gather your self and put your big Navy britches on, Remind yourself that No News is Good News, grab a glass of ..... and write a letter to your son telling him off!  Then bur that letter and write a positive and supportive one.  I'm guessing that you'll feel better, more relaxed and then come let us know how you are doing later today!  We have ALL been there, Done that, got the extra glitter hair (Grey hair) to prove it!!  The not knowing and wondering is the worst part of this but you are not alone or wrong for your feelings!!

[Shoes2BHappy]

I'm taking ALL of your advice!!! xo

[belovedbyHim]

Just make sure that there are no other kids in the house... They might get a bit scared at mom Going Nuts!!

[Tammy⚓️Girl]

Shoes2BeHappy - I never even thought to contact our son's recruiter after he left for boot camp.  Our recruiter messed up on the day our son was leaving.  He told our son Thursday --- I'm at Dunkin Donuts order a coffee and my son sends me a text that he is leaving in an hour for boot camp.  Can you imagine?  That's what happened to us.  We thought we'd have one more night with him.  The next day we did get to see our son at Fort Meade when he was sworn in and then off to the airport to fly to Great Lakes.  So many things happened beyond our control.  You'll get the letter in due time.  Hang in there.

[Shoes2BHappy]

What?!? I would've FREAKED OUT!! I've seen a lot of mom's on here say, "I asked my son's recruiter..", etc., so it seemed like everyone BUT me was getting info, lol. His recruiter just disappeared before he even shipped off, ha! 

I'm glad you got to see your son before he left. I can't believe that I thought dropping him off at college was hard..that was child's play! ;) 

[mommymichele411]

I feel your frustration! It's really hard. I have not heard either. It's hard because you don't know if they have made it through the initial stuff or somehow gotten delayed and of course travel plans need to be made ( especially in the summer! ). I just keep sending positive energy in his direction and try to get through the day. Take care of yourself! You are no alone in this feeling.

[Shoes2BHappy]

I finally went ahead and booked a hotel, just in case. At least I know that I can cancel or modify that without a penalty if need be. The flights my husband will handle - he found really good fares, but I told him to hold off a couple more days for that. Even if he purchases flights that allow us to change, we might as well wait a bit longer. 

I appreciate all the responses. Definitely good to know that I'm not alone in this! 

[belovedbyHim]

Hey--- Make sure Hubby clears the Cookies off his computer when you do get the letter and are ready to book.  Sometimes the price goes up for no real reason!
Oh and 2 more notes:  1. Try and stay till late Sunday just in case (Assuming A school is NOT in GL) and 2. Make sure you check rates to all 3 airports!  (O'Hare, Midway and Mitchell) with traffic they are all about the same time frame.