SEALs/SWCC

[sjtina]

Hello. I am a veteran mom with a son who had a SEAL contract. As you will eventually find out, spec ops divisions are a bit different than the other divisions. I am glad to help with any questions or support for this very bumpy ride. Best of luck to your sons.

[AZKmom]

Hello everyone!!  Just wanted to pop in and say hi.  My son graduated 11/23 and is currently in preBUD/S at Great Lakes.  If I can answer any questions, please ask!!  I also live about an hour away from Great Lakes, so if you have any questions about weather, etc.  I might be able to help in that way as well.  Your time is getting short!!

[AZKmom]

I'll share a little of our experience so far.  After PIR, you will be able to spend a little time with your new Sailor.  We walked over to the NEX and bought souvenirs (shirts, hats, coffee cups, etc).  They will know what time they need to be back at their ship to make the move to the other side of the base and will most likely constantly be checking on the time so as not to be late. haha   We did not give our son his phone at that time, but others did theirs.  He borrowed a phone and called us later that afternoon when we could pick him up again.  Pick up will be at a different gate than where you went for PIR.  You will go to the main gate and park in a visitors parking lot.  It is where you will be doing the dropoff/pickup during the weekend.  He will know his liberty hours....when he can be picked up in the morning and when to be returned.  Be aware, it can be quite a walk from the gate to his ship.  My son wanted to be dropped off an hour before he needed to be signed back in to make sure he found his way and was back in time.  When we picked him up is when we gave him his cell phone and iPod touch.  He also has since purchased an iPad and now uses that instead of his laptop.  During pre BUD/S they will have "phase ups" of liberty.  Phase 1 they can leave base, Phase 2 they can wear civilian clothes, Phase 3 they can spend the night away from base.  We live close to GL so we have been able to get down and deliver his Xbox and his small tv.  My son's class has now phased up 3 times and is planning to come home for this weekend for an overnight.  He and a buddy got a room at a nearby hotel this past weekend just get off base and sit in a hot tub.  :)  when they are off base they can also find places with free wifi.  We skyped with our son last weekend while he was at the hotel. I think there are places on base where they can also find internet access.  Hope some of this helps!!

[Travelbugg]

@AZKmom--- Great stuff!! Thanks for sharing... I do have another random question. I wont be going to PIR, and so I'll probably have to mail my SR's phone to him afterwards...but in the meantime they are moving bunks, so that means their address will change, correct? Will the SR's know their new addresses in advance? It seems to take about 4-5 days for a letter of mine to reach him, and another 7 for his to reach me...so I guess my concern is 2 part: 1. Should I stop writing him a week before PIR because my letters wont get to him anymore? and 2. Does that mean I wont actually be able to mail his phone until a week after PIR? Not the end of the world stuff here, I know... just a question. Thanks! :)

[AZKmom]

I've been told that mail that arrives at RTC after they have left will be forwarded to their A school.  So theoretically, it would just be forwarded to them while at preBUD/S. I know my son received some his boot camp mail after he had graduated and moved to the other side of base.  I don't know for sure how long the "forwarding" would take so might just be safer to wait until you have his new address.  I'll ask my son how long it took for him to find out his new address. We knew it within the first week, but I'm not sure how long he knew it before he passed it on to us :)  

[AZKmom]

@travelbugg....my son said that their new address was posted in their new ship.  So your son should have it right away when he moves to the other side of base.  I would suggest you have him borrow someone else's cell phone and give you a quick call/text with that new address so you can get his cell phone on the way to him as soon as possible.  When he calls you after Battlestations that he's a Sailor...you can come up with a game plan to get him his phone.  :)