New QM Mom

[Britt's Mom]

My son leaves for bootcamp Nov 15, 2011 - after graduation he will stay in Great Lakes for school.

any other new Quartermaster Moms?

[Britt's Mom]

What I have read about QM sounds exciting. Let me know how he likes school.

Did you go to his bootcamp graduation?

[Sheri]

My son is currently in A school for Quartermasters at Great Lakes. I know that there are not too many QM Moms....

[Britt's Mom]

mattsmom:  same here, PIR 01/13/2012, then QM school at GL

we are from southeast GA, definitely not used to cold winters!

my son is ship 9, div 042

[efarmer]

Hello fellow QM Moms!  My son is set to graduate 2/17/2012.  This is all new to us.  We are in Tennessee so we're not accustomed to the frigid winter weather our recruits are experiencing.  I got my first call this week (since the initial I'm here call).  I said it was cold here in Tennessee and he said, "Mom, you don't know cold."  :) I'm glad to have found this group as I know very little about QM.  Since it appears you others are ahead of us in timing, maybe you can keep me informed!  

[Britt's Mom]

mattsmom:  just wanted to check in with you - did your son graduate Jan 13th? We were there in the cold and snow!!!

anyway, we need to private message or FB - so we find out last names - our sons will be together at QM school - they may

already know each other. My son was ship 09/div 042

[msrottievalor]

My son just graduated from QM school 5/22/2012. He said that they pick 2 places they would like to go.If possible the Navy will try to place them in one of those choices. It doesn't guarantee placement of choice.

Hope this helps.

[Yankee's Mom]

MOMS:  Have any of your QM's been assigned to the USS MICHAEL MURPHY? 

[msrottievalor]

Mine isn't. He is waiting for his ship to be finished being built.

[nolanavymom (Ship 03 Div 282)]

I'm glad to read your current post.  It is so hard to find information on QM school.  My son is shipping to boot camp on 20120710 (July 10).  He is QM and very excited.  First, how did your son handle boot camp, how prepared was he?  I'm concerned as my son is not preparing as much as I would like.  HOw long did he wait before he started his QM classes?  Will he get to go home after he is done with A school and before he is assigned?   Sorry about all the questions, I'm just glad to come across a current post. I would appreciate any information.  Thanks!

[msrottievalor]

Not sure if this was to me or not, but am going to treat it as so. I'm really not sure how prepped my son was, I know he almost didn't clear his weight to go to bc. And they keep them so busy those first few weeks that by the time I heard from him (beyond his "I'm here" call) he had it all under control, but then again that may have just been bravado for mom's benefit

. I would say tho the Navy definately brought us closer, he appreciates me much more-I think they see just what us mom's have tried to prep them for the future (also known as "mom really does know a little bit afterall" LOL). And anything they are not prepared for they will get help with. The recruits do become their own family of and they will help each other. It will be rough in spots, but the achievement they feel when it's done will make them even stronger. I won't lie-I was a mess for the first few weeks of bc. He is my youngest and this was his first time away from me. But the change I see in him-is amazing and bittersweet. He is now a confident young man.  

As for QM school, they weren't sure when they would start. There has to be a certain amount of QM's to train. If not, they are on hold until they have enough. Which means they will do jobs and errands as directed (ex: working around their assigned ship). A school started (I think) a week or 2 after graduation. They will find out where they will be assigned from one of their choices towards the end of their schooling. Mine son did get to come home the day he graduated A school. Their job assignment seemed to determine how long they were allowed leave. Anywhere from 1-2 weeks. They can also "save" time by working with recruitment while they are home. I am still learning the Navy speak so when in doubt I am using old fashion English! Hope you don't mind.

I did not make it to his bc graduation (did get the dvd). However, I did get to go to the QM one. It does not have all the bells and whistles of basic, it is very short, but it felt like I was attending the greatest thing in the world. Smaller venue and I had a front/side row seat! There was only 3 sets of parents that attended.

I am sure you have done all you can. I really don't think you can prepare them more than what the recruiter has told them. Just make sure he knows that you know he CAN DO THIS. He will let you know if he needs anything else later. If you do have questions that you need answers for and you don't get them here, don't hesitate to talk to the recruiter. I didn't have questions until after my son left for bc and then I couldn't ask my son, so I called the recuiter and got answers. His recruiter suggested this site to me, but I didn't go to it until several weeks after bc started. And then couldn't find much in the way of current postings to help me, so I called him back.

Hope this helps answer some of your questions.

 

[nolanavymom (Ship 03 Div 282)]

Hi msrottievalor!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I am so glad you replied to me.  You gave me so much information.

Congratulations on your new sailor!  I know how proud you must be. My son is excited about the qm rating.  It is what he wanted and has been waiting since November for boot camp.  I love your advice - just let him know HE CAN DO THIS!   Have a wonderful day and thanks for taking your time to reply.

 

[Hurleygirl]

My son is at BC right now. He left yesterday.  I am still trying to proccess it all.  He will be attending QM school directly after BC in Great Lakes.  I am so curious about what it is he will actually be doing and wish there were some other QM moms to talk with!