Hi, I am new

[SouthernCalimom Ship 13 Div 333]

Hi , my son arrived at boot camp July 8, 1:00 am , I received the call. I never talked to the recruiter here in Los Angeles, so I am in the dark. ( I feel like driving up to the recruiter office, it's a mile from my home, and talking to her now that Patrick is gone). He's 21, and going back to his senior year at UCLA but has been so quiet about going into Navy. I feel so sad, especially after the 1st call. He did want any hoopla when he went. Just wanted to go and get it done:(

[SouthernCalimom Ship 13 Div 333]

Feel free to email me, any moms that have kids out there ....maybe we can all keep in touch through this.

[lemonelephant]

Join the group, DEP-Leavin for bootcamp in July, to connect with others with loved ones who left the same day and may have PIR together.

You may want to join, or at least check out, Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones), PIR Reference Information, and New Members Stop Here. Once you know your SR’s PIR date and/or division number, watch in Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) and/or at http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group for that once it has been created. There will be a lot of great information and support for you in those groups. Be sure to check out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) and Discussions within the groups. Arrival and What Happens at the RTC within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) will let you know what is happening, but you will also want to check out the other Pages in all of the groups.

(Group names within this reply are clickable links. To join a group, click on the group name and after the group page opens, click on "+ Join..." in the upper right.)

[BunkerQB]

I read on your profile that Patrick is taking a semester off to go to boot camp. It sounds like your son is in the reserves. Otherwise, enlisted recruits go to bootcamp, then A school followed by training in their specialty and of course, finally being assigned out to the fleet and deployment. It's typically a 5 or 6 YEAR commitment - no breaks unless he applies and is accepted into the STAT21 program or the Navy Academy. Your don't need to drive an hour to see his recruiter. Just call him on the phone. But keep in mind, his recruiter can only tell you general information. Your son is an adult. The Navy deals with him as an adult. The parents have no say over the recruit's decision making process unless the recruit includes the parents in the process on his own. Good luck.

[SouthernCalimom Ship 13 Div 333]

Hi, yes Patrick signed up for a 6 year commitment. He said he's taking a semester off and he was attending boot camp for 2 moths ( where he just arrived at Great Lakes) then he said he is going to VA beach for some intel training for 3 months and back home in Dec. . He did sign up for the reserves. Do reservists don't go to boot camp? He said he will come out as an E-3 and then he will go back and finish his senior year at UCLA. He did mention officer training school down the road but I am not sure how that works. Am I missing something? I'm just going by what he told me his schedule will be. reservist must go to boot camp because hes there with the enlisted right now. Thanks Bunker for responding.

[BunkerQB]

Reservist go to boot camp like everyone else. To apply as an officer, he would have to be a colllege graduate. I am not sure the process if he has enlisted as a reservist first. It sounds like he has done some homework and has an idea of what he wants to do - that is good. I am surprised that he didn't apply directly to OCS (officer candidate school) from UCLA. In which case, he would go directly to OCS after completing his degree. My son is a former nuke officer on a sub. My son graduated with an EE degree from one of the UC schools and went to OCS 6 months after he graduated. I believe there are probably more applicants for intel than for nuke (enlisted or as officers) - you son might have thought it might be easier to get in from reservist status - in which case, it sounds like he has a plan. Interestingly enough my best from college (USC) has a daughter who join OCS as an intel officer about year prior to my son's enlistment. She was in Bahrain for a year (in an office building studying photographs all day long), then in Iraq as the intel officer for a group of marines. Yes, she had to learn to jump out of a helicopter and handle firearms. She has been in for 7 years. She re-upped and is currently studying at Columbia for a masters. My son is now happily working in the civilian world and living just 45 minutes from home. :)

[lemonelephant]

After Boot Camp, his "A" School for Intelligence Specialist (IS) is about 13 weeks in Dam Neck, VA at the Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC), but the time there can be longer if he has to wait in Holding to class up and I think there is additiional training after, but I could be wrong and he very well could be back in December. You may want to join Moms of IS (Intelligence Specialist) sailors. The Rating Information Card for IS can be found at https://www.cool.navy.mil/enlisted/rating_info_cards/is.pdf. He will fly out to "A" School the day after PIR. See PIR Day and Liberty During PIR Weekend to help you know how to plan your weekend once you get the form letter. You may also want to join Navy Reserve Moms.

(Group name and the link are clickable links.)