A School at Port Hueneme

[Mossgirl4]

Anyone have recruits going to Port Hueneme after boot camp graduation?

[Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)]

I see you posted this back in January.  My son is currently going into week four at RTC.  His rate is CM and will attend
A school in Port Hueneme.  I'm looking for a group of loved ones who will have sailors in same A school.  I thought maybe you could help direct me

 

[Mossgirl4]

Hi Terry - You know, I never got a response from anyone on here with a sailor at Port Hueneme so I let it drop. My son is also a CM and when he left RTC there were only 3 other guys travelling with him out there - all CM's. He graduated and left Port H just before Easter weekend, but he absolutely LOVED the experience! I would be glad to answer any questions you have!!!

[Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)]

Mossgirl4: Thank you for answering.  Did you ever find a group for our CM's a Port Hueneme.  My son is enlisted in the DEP program.  Was in it for 11 mos. waiting for a SEABEES job.  Many came up but others on the wailing list got them first.  Finally the CM reserve job came up a month before he would have had to go in with some type of computer job which he didn't want.  So now he will be reserve CM.  He wanted to be a SEABEE so badly. He also wanted full enlistment but thinks reserves will work so he can continue school at a local college and a part time job where he's worked for three years.  He wants to someday do construction management when he gets out.  He never had shown much of an interest on working on vehicles so I am really praying that he loves it.  Does your son like the job?  We live 55.6 miles from Port Hueneme so I'm happy about that and hope that when he does weekend drill it will also be there but we don't know that yet.  Where is your your son now?  Still in boot camp he wrote home this week that he heard that some A schools don't allow them to have their electronics (cell phone, ipod, computer) at first if at all.  Do you know if Port Hueneme does?  He has asked us to bring his cell phone to PIR.  I'm sure those texting thumbs are going through withdrawal :-)

[Mossgirl4]

Terry: Nope, never found a group. My son also wanted active and there were no jobs available so he is reserve. We live in Charlotte, NC, definately not on the coast or near a base (Wilmington would be the closest, I think) so he reports to the naval office here in town for his drill weekends. 

My son was fairly interested in working on cars when he went in and he's pretty happy with the education he received. Funny, though, when he described the classes - it all sounded so sterile! I'm like "did you ever even get your hands dirty" and he says they did but most of the machinery they worked on was brand new! :) So far, he has reported to his drill weekends twice and he hasn't used a single thing he learned! It's all paperwork, paperwork!

Port H definately allows electronics. When does your son graduate bootcamp? If he's grad-n-go he may be able to take his cell phone back to RTC with him. They won't let him use it until he leaves, though. If not you'll have to mail it to him. My son's division chief allowed them to bring cell phones back but he said he better not see or hear them. He was able to use it once he got to the airport and then I mailed his laptop and iPod to him at Port H. You won't get an address until a few days after he arrives.

 

 

[Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)]

Thank you so much for the info.  Your son hasn't used any of his training yet?  What a waste of good training.  Just paperwork for drill weekends sounds horrible.  At least it would be for my son.  He hates to be too still for too long.  Loves to do anything he can with his hands. That is why he wanted Seabees.  My son's PIR date is 7/22/11 and I can hardly wait to see him.  Boot camp is rough on families as you probably know.  He is 24 so older than many in boot camp.  He is in a 900 division and seems to like it....well as much as you can like anything at boot camp.

[Mossgirl4]

Yeah, he's not happy with the drill weekends but hoping things will pick up. I think the transition from A-school to their regular service post (or whatever you call it) requires some paperwork and he is responsible for doing it all himself! Maybe things will be a bit different where you are (?). Anyway, expect a good 12 weeks in Port Hueneme.

So your son has another 4 weeks or so of bootcamp. I think by now the shock may be wearing off a bit and they are really pulling together as a division. I'm really glad you are making the trip to graduation. It is one of the proudest, most moving experiences! Do you have reservations yet? If not, we stayed at the Navy Lodge. I highly recommend.

[Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)]

Yes, things should get better for our SR's after next week (Hell week).  We have all our reservations.  We will be at the Ramada Inn.  I've heard some good and some bad about it, hoping it will be okay.  It is where they hold the Meet & Greet.  Did you go to that?  What is the dress for families attending PIR?  You were winter so maybe you don't know.  My husband wants to wear shorts.  Nice new ones but I am wondering about that...I wouldn't think that is appropriate.  He says it is going to be really hot and humid and he wants to be comfortable.  Hmmmm....I hate the humidity too, but think we should dress up.

[Mossgirl4]

I had planned to go to the Meet N Greet, but I didn't make it. We drove up and I was whipped. I saw all different tyoes of dress. Some people were really dressed up and some were in jeans. I wore nice slacks with a blouse and my husband wore khakis and a sweater. We were casual but not sloppy, you know? I think you'll see a pretty wide range. The bleachers are not very comfortable and you'll be sitting there for a while since they say to be early. If you can get to the top do that so you can lean back again the wall. You'll still be able to see really well.

[Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)]

What good advice.  Maybe we should take a stadium cushion. Hee, Hee!  when you say top do you mean Balcony or just bleachers in general.