don't know what to expect while my 18 year son leaves for boot camp in a month

[Sara Ship 07 Div 012]

My son has joined in the reserves.  He is in the delayed entry program, was sworn in last Wednesday the 24th and we actually met the recruiter last night.  Charlie is leaving the 4th of October for boot camp,  I have to admit at the moment I am a little in shock from it, we had encouraged him to join the Air Force active duty, and he had changed his mind after doing most of the paperwork, didn't want to leave the area he said.  Then this - Mom, Dad - this is what I have done.  I think I need to know what to expect from the boot camp experience.  I am concerned that it is going to be very rough on him.  He is an only child to a couple of people that didn't seem to be much more than kids when we had him, we were just a couple of years older than he is now when we had him.  He is a lot lazy and hates being told what to do - big surprises are in store for him.  Any advice that anyone can give me to help prepare him in the short time left that we have him home, I would really appreciate it.  Thank you so much....

[DebbieBTexas]

What was his ship date? Lukes is Oct 6. He has a dep meeting tonight. I don't know what night he spends in San Antonio to get his physical and swear in again and then leave. Is that tomorrow or the 6th?

[Sara Ship 07 Div 012]

Charlie's petty officer told us the 4th, when I had Charlie double check, he actually was going to go to Denver on the 3rd and then ship out the evening of the 4th (today).  Just got a call from him at the Chicago airport about an hour ago.  Guess they had about an hour wait at the airport, and then a 45 minute bus ride to the base.  Just feels so strange knowing I won't see him for a couple of months.  On top of it we got bad news about his grandfather.  My husband's dad was diagnosed in January with cancer, has gone through radiation and chemo, and the test results they got yesterday show that the cancer is still there, and they can't do do any more chemo or radiation.  His heart is not well enough to handle it.  They are in Florida and we are hoping to get them back here in the next month, where their main home is.  I am asking everyone to keep it quiet about the diagnose and I am hoping he doesn't remember that they were supposed to find out yesterday.  I just don't think he needs to have that to worry about on top of everything else. 

 

Enjoy the little bit of time you have with Luke before he ships out.  Was reading on here that some mom's stick little notes in their kids wallets.  That sounds like a good idea, like a little surprise for them.  Just a nice little idea.

[DebbieBTexas]

My son left MEPS yesterday. I was doing "Ok?" until one of the guys in uniform asked if I was OK. I started to loose my grip. I had such a mixture of pride and sorrow. My son had listened to his Chief and had volunteered to be the guy in charge of getting all on the bus. I watched him alert the bus driver that all were not there. I will miss him very much and going into his room is very difficult now. But I know he is excited and this will make a great change in his future.  

Last night he called a couple times during the transportation part of the trip. But when he went to get on the bus he let me know this would be it till I got the OK call. I was a sleep but was awakened at 2:00. Then about ten minutes later the call came. I could tell he was trying to say exactly the right thing. You could hear others saying the same thing. It seemed like he was being watched. But I just listened and then I when I asked if he was ok, his reply was less stressed and quite enthusiastic "yes" I was able to go back to sleep. He made this choice, and although he was not looking forward to boot camp, he was prepared for it. I miss my baby, but he was going to grow up anyway. This is just so abrupt and I feel so cut off. I can do this. I have been through worse. It's just an emotional time. He is the youngest, so it's really quiet here. Must be time to plan a trip.

Good luck ladies. We will get through this. Atleast it's not the Marines or Army.

[TalonsMom]

I hear you! I miss mine too, and he only left this morning. I feel so cut off too. About how long before you got the OK call after he left that day?

 

 

[Hyunjoo]

Please tell him to check his ego... and attitude at the door... or he may be home sooner, and humbler than expected. If he can keep his eyes open and mouth shut he'll learn to become the man you knew was inside.

[gaskins34]

CAN U SEND PHONE CARDS IN THE MAIL?

[nowsheila]

yes you can, I did twice

[gaskins34]

Thank u Sheila!!Im really in a depression state my daughter never been away from home so this very stressful !

[Missy Bailey]

well i can honestly say that it will be sad to watch him leave, however he will be a changed person when he gets out , for the better i mean , the best thing you can do is write him and give him support it will be hard at first but then it will get easier, time will eventually fly by . it may not seem like it now but you are almost there at the end , keep your head up and just give him positive things in the letter , he does however need to know that you are still there and standing by him ever step of the way , 

 

sincerly ,

missy

[TalonsMom]

Hi, My son left this morning for Boot in the Great Lakes. Will I get a phone call from him letting me know he is there and ok? I can't find the answer anywhere so if I am missing it, I do apologize for the redundancy. Thank you so much!

Shelly (aka Talon'sMom)

 

[Aaron's mom]

Most of the time you get a quick call when they arrive. Occasionally, some recruits don't get that call right away. In the Navy, the saying is "no news is good news". If you don't hear from him, don't worry. It will be tough on you for the first few weeks, but it will get better. I didn't think I would survive my son being gone, and here I am! You should hear from him by week three or four. Letters will come regularly by about week four as well. Watch for "the box" to arrive, and the form letter within about a week to ten days. Start writing letters now, and as soon as you get his address in the form letter, send those letters. Stay positive! I promise the hole in your heart will heal soon. Hugs.

[TalonsMom]

Thank you so much!