Nuclear School

[meryl (ship 09 division 208)]

Hi. I recently joined Navy for Moms.  My son is finishing high school this year and is in the deferred entry program. He took the ASFAB, scored well and was encouraged to sign up for the nuclear program, which he did.  He is getting cold feet and is fearful that he "can't cut" the nuclear program. Any suggestions on how we can encourage him? His dad and I think the Navy would be ideal for him.

[Mark]

Very classy, good to see your post Michdang.

[meryl (ship 09 division 208)]

Thank you all so much for your comments. They have been very helpful and informative. Each day I looked forward to reading your advice. There is so much to digest and we are still at the beginning stage of it all. Our son is still feeling the same as when I first sought out your help but we have tools to work with now (thanks to you) and my husband and I are not giving up! We aren't going to break his spirit and force him to do this but we can still encourage. Thanks again to all!

[Lou2]

Hello All

My son who is 23 just enlisted. He did really well ASFAB and was told he would do great in nuclear program. So that's what he will be doing after BC. I need to say that I think enlisting in the Navy is going to be a great experience for him. My concern is that he does not go to BC until October 2010. That just seems like a long time. I don't want him to get cold feet or his GF trying to convience him this is not for him -- she's already tried that. She comes from wealth and has never had to struggle for anything.
I'm a single mom and I've taught him and given (not material) him everything I can. He and I know he needs something else. He's been around men of good character most his life, but still is missing something. I say it's the DNA from the other side. Anyway, how can I keep him interested? Does the recruiter keep in touch with him? I have no idea.
Thanks for any thoughts.

[pmgcakes]

Hi NatesMom....it is typical for all Recuites to be in the DEP (Delayed Entry Program) for a long time, my understanding is that it is a mandatory 120 days, I agree it is a long time, so much can happen with too much "free time" on thier hands. Cold feet is not an option, if he , has enlisted, he is obligated to the USN for the next 8 years (48 month commitment, 24 month concurrent contract for the Nuke program and 24 month reserve). His girlfriend does not have a say...Hopefully they can work thru this... Our job is to support them in this decision, it is his job to stay interested.... While in the dep program they are required in to "check in" once a week with his recruiter, also he must attend weekly meeting at the recuiters office. At these meeting they are taught Navy 101, they work on basic information and physical activity (weather permitting)...
Mom Son's recuiter received word last week that he was to ship out to Haiti. gone just like that... I called the office today and spoke to the new recruiter, told him I wanted to come and introduce myself, He was great, spent over an hour with me, answered all the question I had.... My point is dont be afraid, pick up the phone and call them, they are there to answer all your questions... As a Mom I know how hard it is to let go, have faith in your child, He is in for an amazing adventure (as we are too...) ;)

[Lou2]

You are wonderful!! Thank you for the encouragement. I'm really glad that Nate chose the Navy. If it were peace time, he would have chosen the Marines, but as an only child, there is no way he could take that chance now. But if he had chosen the Marines, I would have no other choice but to support him. I wouldn't like it, but that really wouldn't matter.

The Navy just seem so "Nate." It's ok if he and his GF don't work it out. She's 21, still in college and I do not believe she would wait around for Nate to get through training. AND he won't even propose until he has established himself. Good Boy!!!

I had my anxiety attack when I read Nate's e-mail telling me he had signed and everything. I knew it was going to happen, but it was "Wow, this is reality." I had encouraged him from the beginning so it wasn't like I did not know and was surprised by it. My thought was that's my baby! I have a great support system around me, but it's good to hear what is happening in other Moms lives.

Things will work themselves out.

[Michdang]

The recruiter does keep in touch, they do a month PT as well. So he will get the opportunity to still be around all the hub bub. My son said they had a NUKE guy come there and do the PT with the crew while he was DEP. My son was DEP from July of 06 to February 07. He stayed interested, just was antsy to get going on it, so he was a bit cranky by the time he left. And oooooh soooo tired the day he finally got picked up. I imagine he did not sleep at all the night before.

[Ethan's Mom]

This all sounds so much like my son. He gradeuated HS in 2008 with grades way below his ability. He had been in NJROTC, where he took the ASFAB & scored exceptionally high. His senior year he talked about joining the navy, but his dad was very negative. He started going to a junior college, but then signed up for the navy last winter without his father knowing. He just started BC on Jan. 25. I am very proud of his decision and can't wait to hear how he is doing.

[Ethan's Mom]

Gina, I'm glad to hear that they do not have homework. Ethan always did well in classes, but wouldn't do the homework. He was one of those who lost his scholarship to college because his grades weren't high enough. I think the Navy will be good for him. I can't wait until I can communicate with him via Facebook & etc.

[carols_kitchen]

Haven't read all the posts--but they do have homework hours at their secure class rooms. They are called mando hours depending upon how they are doing in a particular week, with a minimum given in the beginning. They log in plus their key card logs them too.

[Ethan's Mom]

Gina,
What happens after BC? I know they go to A School. Where is that? and How long is that? Then what?
I am eager to hear how Ethan is doing in BC. I'm not really worried about him. He has been away from home many times. He was in ROTC in HS, and went to a mini bootcamp for a week one summer. He also went to Great Lakes on a week long ROTC camp. He worked at a cubscout camp several summers, and he went to Germany on a foreign exchange program for 3 weeks. But I'm sure that BC is different than all of those experiences. I think the hardest part (for me anyway) is not being able to contact him. He did not always have contact with us when he was away, but it was always possible to reach us if he needed to.

[Dor(Navy/ArmyNatGrd/AirForce)Mom]

Hi Auroa, My son was 24 when he enlisted and also was very smart and is in the nuke program... He also got cold feet and announced Christmas Eve last year he wasn't going!!! We let it ride but just kept talking as if he were going etc. When time got closer I talked with his recruiter who then spoke with him and well he left for boot camp one year ago and loves it. This year when he was home on leave for Christmas I could tell he was anxious to get back to his friends and new life and ttat is how it should be. i am happy we encouraged him.I don;t know how true this is but the recruiter told him if he backed out it would always be on his record as "a failure to commit" Good luck to you and your future sailor..I am glad you found this site