New girlfriend of a to-be sailor?

[Eliza03]

    I'm brand new to this site so I apologize ahead of time for any mess ups. So, here it goes. My boyfriend and I have been talking for a while, though we haven't been together for very long. From the beginning I've known about his plans to join the Navy when he graduates in December. I never thought it would be a problem really. I was raised by the Navy myself. I'm accustomed to the lifestyle, but the closer it gets to December the more anxious I become. I can't help but wonder what will happen to us once he joins. He's pretty much told me that if I ask him to stay then he will, but what kind of a crap girlfriend would I be if I let him do that? 

    I know boot camp is difficult and I've read some of your stories on here about how your significant others personality changed while they were there. I'm wondering, how much strain did boot camp put on your relationship, and how did you keep his spirits up? What happens after he graduates boot camp? I know there are other schools he has to go to, but where and for how long? And once he finishes school will he be assigned to a ship right away or deployed? I wasn't alive for the early stages of the Navy with my father, so this is completely out of my area of experience. I want to learn as much as possible about what he'll be going through so I can better understand and plan around it. We're both so young (he's 18, I'm 17) and the odds are already so stacked against us. I want to do whatever I can to help him, and to help us. Any help/advice is very much appreciated!

[brianna1013 (Ship 11 div 366)]

Hi! Im Brianna! My fiancee just graduated Friday and I must say how much he has changed! Boot camp was hard on me at first with the no communication and having no clue how he was doing I got very lucky and his was only about 7 weeks. You are still in school which will help a lot while he's gone to stay busy! But over all yes it was very different seeing him after 7 weeks of no communication but our relationship was strong enough to survive it sounds like you guys have known each other for a while and you will bounce right back once you get him away from RTC! lol I had the weekend with my fiancee and the entire time he was pressed on time! Every night he went back 1-2 hours earlier than he had to to get ready for the next day! But like he said they were always on the go for 7 weeks it's hard to just snap back right away, which is very understandable! Depending on what his job is will depend what school, where and how long! My fiance already knows his orders after school he comes home for 10 days then to WA and deploys Oct '12. So many people will tell you your too young and all that stuff but if you love him and he loves you enough you guys will come out on top. Oh and graduation is amazing!! I am faGirly new to navy life but i saw your post and figured i might be able to help! Message me if you have any other questions! Good luck and welcome aboard :)

[Anti M]

If you know the rate he signed up for (job, by exact title), then it will be easy to find where he will go to school and how long it usually takes.  You'll want to find the support group for that school, as the time it says on paper for A school is always shorter than it really takes.   As for what happens after school, there are a lot of variables, much will depend on his rate.  So find that out first.  

 

Separation is difficult, and some guys withdraw to protect their feelings.  And once you're a sailor, you never quite bounce back to being a civilian.  Usually the changes in the SR are positive, so a good thing for you is to stay busy ... with positive things such as education and becoming able to take care of yourself.   Learn as much as you can here, some of it will apply, some of it will not, but the basics are all the same for young couples.  

 

I was a Navy brat too, once upon a time.