Son leaving in 9 months

[alemap118]

My son is signed up and ready tog but his ship date is not until March 15th. I am already feeling anxious about him leaving. And I am trying to get used tothe idea that he will not be living near me for at least the next 5 years, maybe longer. That is the hard part. I know it is for the best. And I know he wants this more than anything so I am so happy for him and so proud of him.

I hope to make friends on here who understand what I am feeling. Unless you have been there and done that it is hard for anyone to understand. So if anyone is from around Martin county or just anyone at all Iwould love to communicate.

 

 

[ChrisAmo]

Every single mom on this site has felt what you're going through. We've all been anxious, scared, proud....you name it, we've felt it. You have a long time to wait for him to leave so enjoy the time you have together. In the meantime, don't panic (we try to save that for the last few days) or you'll be exausted by the time he leaves. My son has been in for 2 years, is about to go off on his first deployment (6-9 months). I've seen him 3 times in those 2 years, for a total of 6 days and I won't see him again until next year. Stay on this site and you'll find all the support you'll ever need.

[alemap118]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have been both mom and dad so I guess I am getting it double.

[alemap118]

I know you a re right. Is your son just out of high school? My son is 23. He wanted to go in right out of high school but decided to try college and working other types of jobs to make sure he was not going to missout on anything. And he says he hasnt. I think I will feel most releived knowing he is finally settled in his life. And I keep telling myself, I can always travel to see him as well once in a while. Thanks for responding and I do hope that once I get through all of this I will be able to help someone else.
Martin county is on Florida on the east coast. Next county up from Palm Beach County. So the nearest naval base is in Jacksonville. And I dont think he will be that lucky to get stationed there. But we will see.

[KLMkathy]

Hi, I have a son 25 going to BC in October 2010. It is exciting and scary at the same time. I feel good about his decision though and glad he made it on his on then told me. About where he will go for school it depends on what job he will be doing. My son will be CTR and his school is in Pensacola. What job will your son be doing? Maybe he will be there too. Kathy

[sunshine73]

I understand. My son is excited and ready but doesn't ship until January. We can all wait together, I guess.

[alemap118]

Well I will be here waiting right with you too.I am so happy I found this site.

[Ozzy]

My son has the date of March 30, 2011 to start Boot Camp. The waiting is so difficult for him, however, I am a nervous wreck and am researching this site and others for all the information I can get. This is so new to me! I guess we can all wait together alemap and sunshine. Scary stuff!! : )

[alemap118]

I am just as new to this as you are. I have been doing the same thing tryingto find out all the information I can find. I know my son will be just fine. But you know the momma bear comes out and I want to protect him. But I know I have to let him go and let him fly. But just hte thought of him not being so close by. And What is it I keep seeing about meet and greet PIR's? I understand it is for each graduating class, the relatives get to meet each other?

[Ozzy]

Yes, I think our son's will be fine, mine thought long and hard about this, he is 22. My son went away to boarding school and then 2 years of college, he is great being on his own and away from home, so I don't worry so much about that. I just want to be sure that he knows what he is doing (he can be forgetful and doesn't ask the right questions,lol). I read more information on this site than his recruiter told him and am reporting back to him all the information.

Not sure about a meet and greet, haven't heard that.

[Lily AJ]

alemap, I have been where you are too........... I am divorced and my one and only son (also only child) left a year ago for BC, finished that and is now stationed in Hawaii. This is our longest stretch, by the time I go see him July it will 8 months since I last saw him. I will say I miss him as much today as the day he left. Sometimes I just wish he was closer in the US to me, I live near Oklahoma City and that puts him about 4000 miles away (guess it could be worse). I keep thinking if he was closer we could visit each other more often.........it has taken me months to plan and save money for the trip I am taking in July to HI to see him, but it is worth it. It does get easier at times, but it is still very hard to be so far away. But like everyone else we just do what we have to do and knowing they are happy, doing what they want and growing up makes it alittle easier. Good Luck to you and just know it does get easier, but will always be hard.

[alemap118]

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. They truly help. Everyone tells me that to also look forward to visiting him in all the new places he will be. And for you to be able to go to Hawaii. How exciting.
How does he like Navy life? How was BC for him? My son is very active so I dont think the physcial part will be hard for him. And I dont think he will have any problems and will be just fine. He teases me and tells me that if he can survive drill sargent mom he can survive the Navy. hahahaha
How soon after BC do you get to hear from him?

[NurseNavyMom(Shelia)]

alemap118 and all other new navy moms, I would like to share my experience with my son. In 2004 I was going through a divorce, my youngest child, a dgt. was entering high school and my son , who had been at college for 2 years, joined the Navy and went off to boot camp. To say I was stressed, is an understatement. But Moms, I am still alive today and so proud of my son and how far he has come and what he has expereinced and the opportunities that this Navy life gives them. He turned 21 in boot camp in August 04. His PIR was Oct 1 and he was chosen as the "Honor Recruit" for his division(now called ship I think). We had 3 hrs, with him that day because he was a "grad and go" and flew out to A school to train as a Yeoman (Administrative Assistant) in Meridian, Mississippi that same day. Because he had 2 years of college credits, he entered the Navy as E-3. He was first in his class at A school and got his first choice for his first duty station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was home for Thanksgiving that year but left for Hawaii on December 5th. That meant first Christmas away from home ever in his life. I went without seeing him for a year!! That was harder than boot camp for me. Has not happened since. He loved Pearl Harbor and was there 3 years and while there many things happened. First he eloped-Yep. I was a mom that got that call that he was married. Now he had gotten engaged and we had met her, and thought we would be planning a wedding, but they eloped . Next he got to be involved with 2 of the Pearl Harbor events honoring the WW II events. He got to meet actual veterans of that fateful day in history when it was bombed. He said he would never forget meeting those veterans and felt it such an honor. He was involved in many VIP events and met Admirals and met Jim Neighbors"Gomer Pyle".. He also got to meet President Bush and Laura Bush and Condalessa Rice. He loved his job and got early promotion to E-4. When he left there he just got E-5. Next duty station-Lemoore , California, an assignment with the Black Aces squadron (pilots and their crew). He traveled with them wherever they went. This lead to his first deployment, aboard the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. He got to go to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Guam. He got certified in scuba diving on this cruise. He earned his aviation warfare wings and decided to make Navy his career. But he now wanted to be an officer in Aviation. When he returned from his cruise he enrolled in a Community College there in Lemoore, and was working on completing his Associate Degree in Business Administration. Now he took these classes outside of his regular Navy duty job, on his own off time, During this time he also played on the Navy bases's Football League Team, and basketball and softball teams. And he also played on a local semi-pro football team on the weekends during his off time too. All of this going on at same time throughout the year. He wanted to obtain his Bachelors Degree, become a Commissioned Naval Officer and wanted to be in Aviation as a Naval Flight Officer. He obtained 10 Letters of Recommendation and applied for a 2 year Navy ROTC Scholarship and was very fortunate to have been awarded this on his first try. He had served his 5 years active enlisted duty committment and now was going into the Reserve Officer Training Corp. In one week he graduated from the Community College in Lemoore, California, packed up his house on base to move across country to Indiana ( wife had to do this traveling move with her parents, as he had to fly to Newport Rhode Island for 7 weeks at Navy Science Instiute to start his Officer Training.) He graduated from that with a Leadership Award. Next , he had to move to Tampa Florida to attend University of South Florida, to be with his ROTC unit. Moved his wife down in Sept. 09, 3 days before their 4 year anniversary with 3 cats and 2 dogs, my grananimals. He will begin his Senior year in Aug 2010, and will become a Commissioned Naval Officer in 2011 after he graduates with his Bachelors Degree. He has passed all tests for Naval Aviation thus far, including both pilot physical and academic testing. If selected for NFO, Naval Flight Officer, will start Flight School in Pennsacola sometime in the next 6-9 months after graduation in 2011, as training slots open up in the flight school pipeline. I got to visit them once in Hawaii, and 3 times in Lemoore, California. I have visited twice in Tampa. So you get to visit them in awesome places. Their dreams include for the future to be stationed in Italy. Rota, Spain and other exciting places . He has had an awesome experience. But let me tell you it was not easy. It was a lot of hard work, sacrifice of a social life, dedication and committment to his dreams to get this far. Currently besides attending USF, he works part time at Best Buy selling computers. I as a mother, am so proud and his making a decision to join the Navy opend him up into opportunities that he would have not experienced in the civilian world. All I can say is he is very "driven" and always has been. I wish the best for your future sailors and may they aspire to see the world and become proud men who serve our country. I thank them for them wanting to serve their country. This military Navy life is not for everyone, but for many, it is an awesome adventure!! Enjoy the ride and remeber, its not the destination that is so important on this road of life, it is the experiences along the way getting there. Destiny awaits your recruits!!! May God Bless their journey!!