Ship 9 Div 145

[CMD]

I just heard from my son's recruiter that he is in Ship 9 Div 145.  He left for bootcamp on March 14.  I would love to chat with others in the same group.  I received the box of clothes on Monday, and he had written a little note which I was happy to read.  This has been harder than I expected but after a week I am not so weepy like I was at first.

[CMD]

Hi Cathy,

I agree it is a grieving process, I had sent several kids (including my recruit) off to college without a tear but I still get a little weepy when I talk or write about him at boot camp (like now lol).  There are lots of nice people here who also seem to have gone through this so I know I am not crazy.  I am sure I will be a mess at PIR.  

My son has been interested in the military for years as well.  Most books and movies he likes are military related.  Have you seen 'Act of Valor' btw?  My son dragged me to that shortly before he left - war movies are not usually something I would choose -  but I really enjoyed that one.  It has real Navy Seals in it and it is a fairly realistic portrayal of missions they go on.  The technology and the planning are so amazing and exciting.

How long does your submariner sil go for deployments?  I have heard that is a good way to go, and my son expresses interest in it...but it must get so cramped and stinky ... I am sure the folks in it develop a very close bond but seems like you could really get claustrophobic.

Caroline

[cjg]

Our sil is usually out for four months. He is 6 foot seven so he hits his head alot on the boat. (they call the subs boats) Our son did sign up for sub school and he is six foot two. The a school is on the east coast. It didnt look nice when we were there. The guys in a sub are family. They do get anxious down there, but the commander knows that and lets them blow steam off sometimes. As I was reading different blogs on this site, there were suggestions on to fight the stink. lol I guess the air in the sub is pure oxygen so when they surface after a long mission they have to be slowly put back into the "polluted" air that we breathe. Kinda interesting.

[Donna]

Hi Caroline,

 

We went to see Act of Valor two days before my son left for bootcamp.  Only problem was I had taken with us my 14 year old daughter that fell apart about 35 minutes into the movie.  Not a very wise move on my part.  I had to take her into another cartoon type show (the name escapes me)  while Andrew watched Act of Valor.  On the up side he enjoyed the movie very much. 

As for the PIR,  we'll all be pulling out the carton of tissues! lol

donna

 

 

 

[Donna]

Hi Cathy,

So nice to hear from you. Like you we can't wait to get the call or letter!  Really wish I knew if he was happy, enjoying himself and looking forward to his future  in the Navy.

My tears have stopped but the desire to speak to him grows stronger and stronger each day.

Have you made your plans for graduation?  My family and I will be staying at the Marriott.

 

 

[cjg]

We live within the 50 mile limit, so he wants to come home for the day. Probably to see the dog and his friends, not his parents. lol

[cjg]

We finally got the letter. He had to have his two wisdom teeth taken out. Not very happy about that. He was complaining about the shots and just general complaining. We know that this week will obviously be better. He always had something to complain about at home, too. The recruiter stated that we could get a call on Easter because it will be an easy day. Notice the word could? We are all waiting for the first call, right? Will  be able to talk for a few minutes or will it be like the scripted first call?

 

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

cig   here is the link to your PIR group lots of info and support there

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir-05112012

 

click on the link then click on +JOIN

[CMD]

Hi,

LOL about the complaining.  Our son did some of that as well, especially about the shots.  Six shots with one really bad one in the butt and then they had to haul all their stuff in a 60 pound backpack to the permanent ship with the pack bumping his sore butt.  He had already had his wisdom teeth taken out so he was spared that.  That isn't much fun so hardly blame your son for fussing.  

That is good to know about Easter.  I think they get to call three weeks into it, so it would be the right time.  It should be a longer call but from reading stuff on here they can be long or short or nonexistent based on how well the division is doing.  If they aren't doing stuff correctly or testing well they may be punished.  We will be home all day anyway so hoping we get a call.

Caroline

[Donna]

I had to rec'd a letter from my son on Saturday.  Glad to read what you and other moms have written since my sons detail was very limited and this gives me some good ideas on what to ask when I write my next letter.  Mostly he talks of missing everyone and that he is trying his hardest.

Like you I to am waiting for that first call.  If it comes on Easter not sure anyone will be home.  Sure hope he calls the cell phones!

 

Looking forward to May 11th.  Thats what keeps me going.

Thanks for listening

[cjg]

Did anyone else get the first call?  We received a call on Thursday late afternoon. He sounded great. He is the person that devlivers the mail to everyone. He said noone else wanted to take a test one day, so he volunteered not knowing what the test was about. He likes doing that job because it makes everyone happy when they receive their mail. He has always liked to make people happy. We could hear a change in him already. A good change!!

After three weeks, the two of us have settled into the empty nest comfortably. It will be weird to have him home for the day, and if our daughter comes to visit it will be different, too. She is supposed to come in the fall, even if her soon to be husband has to go on a mission.

Enjoy your first calls, everyone-

Cathy

PS Eric even got to post one thing on facebook.

[CMD]

Cathy,

We got a call Thursday as well.  Actually two calls because he called us first and talked 10 min or so, then called his dad, grandpa and brother, then called us again.  He had an hour, I guess.  He sounded great.  He has several friends and really likes his bunkmate.  He said the division had just won their first flag for academics.  That they had just completed the first part of weapons training and that he had to study hard for a weapons test next week. He was proud he passed the first PT test but failed the first personal inspection and compartment inspection.  He thinks he now knows what they want so he hopes he does better on the next one.  His job is 'ship staff' which is cleaning the floors and dusting the barracks.  He said its a pretty crappy job but that he doesn't mind - 'it's chill'. LOL. Food is 'boring'.  He wants something to read so could I send him news articles, magazine clips, recipes, anything. They just got their white dress uniform and it is really nice.  Their division is all male.

Div 145 must be doing well for them to get their calls!

Hoping for a call today on Easter so keeping my phone nearby, but seems unlikely.

I'd love for others to share what they heard too!

[cjg]

Hope you are all doing well and anticipating May11. I talked to our sons girlfriend this week and she is sooo excited to go and see him. We have been receiving a letter a week. He says they have mandatory letter writing a couple times a week. Our daughter told me today that Eric will be receiving some special mail from her fiancees sub. I guess it's going to to very cool. My husband and I talked to a navy guy this morning at the doctor's office and he said we will probably not be able to recognize our own children because they will be changed physically and they all look the same with the uniforms and haircuts. lol It's been a fun month reading the letters and thinking/praying for the guys in ship 9 division 145.

Cathy