Ship 02 / Division 933

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

Anybody else out there with this Ship/Division?

[annev]

Thanks - didn't want to have to be finding something just before we leave!

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

I need to start looking for one.  I'm going to look at Office Depot and Staples - they might have something plain with accommodations for a laptop too.

[annev]

I just looked online at Staples - they have a couple of black laptop backpacks by SOLO - $50-60. Didn't look like they would have too much in the way of logos to cover.  We checked our old stash of backpacks and they have another color with black.  It is probably something he can use for quite some time anyway.  Did you just find out from other moms - or was there something official on the web site about it?

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

I saw it mentioned many times on N4M - don't have any specific quotes.

If you need to see it yourself, do a search on N4M (upper right corner in a search box) on "backpack" and you will see many comments. 

One posting mentions that they sell large black back packs at the NEX on base, so I suppose we could wait until then.

[annev]

Yeah! got another letter today and he sounded good!  Said this was hell week, 4 inspections, being trained hard. But said that meant less time for IT.  (But some are getting it individually for small mistakes.)  He said they saw most of their competition last weekend in the drill hall. They thought their division was really bad marching, but said they looked great in comparison to the others!  They did so well their RDCs let them sing cadence on the way back - something they normally can't do until they pass drill inspection! The senior division that has been mentoring them is graduating tomorrow - and then they will be a senior division - said they saw the division they will be mentoring and they looked worse than theirs had been!  He also said they continue to hear rumors about graduation - and they are definitely planning for the highest brass - and training for every possibility!  They are hoping for the president!  Definitely very focused - makes me proud and so glad he is a part of this group! 

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

WooHoo!!!  Thank you so much for posting this.  It is very informative.   I am hoping there will be a letter waiting for me when I get home tonite (and one with ex-hubby who will share with me).  You son is such a good guy for writing and explaining all this.  It is so cool to hear that they are marching well and that they will be a senior division real soon!  In a way, I wish my son had a normal PIR, but it is what it is and I am VERY proud of him no matter what.

If/when I get a letter, I will share whatever info there is.

Thanks again!

[Coach]

Got two letters yesterday.  He said everything is going fine. He hates PT, the arobics part anyways, but what do you expect from a former wrestler.  He said that if four people got perfect scores on the next test then everyone will receive an hour long phone call, so everybody is studying hard.  It might just be a ploy by the RDCs but who knows.  They haven't practiced outside yet, just all indoors.  More info when I receive it.

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

Two letters!  Wow, that's great.  Thank you so much for sharing that info, Coach.  It would be nice if they did get long phone calls - I don't think the RDC's would purposefully lie to them - that seems counterproductive.  4 perfect scores out of 70 or so seems a more than reasonable goal.  They had really hot weather until today, so I'm glad to hear they've been practicing inside.  Again, thanks for sharing.  I'm hoping I'll have something to share after work tonite.

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

I sent a customized questionnaire to my son and he sent it back with responses - received today 6/9/2011.  My son is very closed-mouthed so I don't get much information out of him.  Anything is better than nothing!
He says things are going pretty good in general.  Things are getting better.
They have their dress uniforms.
They had their pictures taken - he did not wear his glasses.
They don't worry about inspections because they don't count towards graduation.
They are very picky and it is impossible not to get a "hit".
They have everything so they are not stenciling anymore.
Div. 933 is getting better - things are starting to fall into place.
He liked that I sent a plastic bag to store letters and asked for an additional bag.
He is sleeping and eating well, but everyone is sick.
He said to make photocopies rather than send articles.
He said swimming test was easy.  The water was cold.
He said the hardest thing to get used to was putting on the boots fast.
He said the hardest thing to learn was the UCMJ Articles.
Asked if he would do it again, his response was "Do it again? No."

 

Hope you all get good letters from your loved ones.

 

 

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

I sent my son my son a customized questionnaire that I got back today.  He said he irons every night and he's not the best, but he is pretty good.  He said the divisions are falling into place.  He's sleeping and eating well, but everyone is sick.  He said to make photocopies of news articles - don't send clippings.  He really liked that I sent him a plastic bag to store letters and asked for more.  (I sent a gallon size zip lock bag.)  He said the swimming test was easy - water was cold.  The answer to the question:  What was the hardest thing to get used to was "Putting on boots fast."  Asked if he would do it again - answer:  "Do it again?  NO".

[annev]

Thanks for the suggestion on the plastic bag - hadn't thought about it, but opened the envelope I had alredy closed last night and stuck a bag in! 

[Paula (was Capricorna)]

You're welcome!  My son said he did not get in trouble for it (even though the envelope was sort of bulky).

Another tip that was posted that I just learned is, if you SR is prone to blisters - suggest he wear 2 pairs of socks at one time - the extra cushion should help prevent blisters (unless the boots are too tight to begin with).