OPSEC - PERSEC & stuff.

[MarvinKMooney]

Out of curiosity, did everybody read the section on OPSEC and PERSEC and watch the video? I am a new Navy mom, and I found it enlightening. Had to go back through my FB and IG accounts and delete hashtags and change privacy settings. I guess maybe I wasn't thinking about this as clearly as I should have. The recent shooting scared the crap out of me (and everyone else here, I'm sure).

I wanted to say thanks to the admins out there, making sure that all us proud moms are also good navy moms and we're protecting our SR's. I didn't have any clue about the cropped photos - WOW! I will be discussing that fact with my teen daughter, too! Thank you from the heart.

On a sidenote: I am feeling like a kind of bad mom, because I'm not "heartbroken" like most of you seem to be. My son is not my "baby" anymore; he's a man who made a man's choice to serve his country. I think I'm more of a baby than he is right now! I'm riding the emotional waves, tearing up and sometimes choking back the big sobs, but I'm trying to tell myself over and over that hey, the kid had to go somewhere - and this sure as heck beats the couch-surfing that his buddies are doing all Summer. I am proud, and I know that he needed to get out of my house before the man-child in him exploded and we all went nuts. He wasn't ready for 4 year university, and he knew himself. I should have been so lucky at 18!

My MarvinK left on 7/15. His first phone call actually came in 2 parts. The first one didn't mention The Box. The second? Well, it went like this: "Uh, Mom? It's me, MarvinK. I am calling you back because I failed to follow instructions the first call. You will be receiving a box . . . "

Is it wrong that I actually giggled when I hung up, even as I cried? :) My sweet MarvinK, he liked to know everything and he always thought ol' Mom and Dad were kinda dumb about making him do chores and follow instructions. Woopsie-poopsie! Truthfully, I am hoping that he's cleaning a toilet or two right about now . . . maybe I'm in the minority, judging from some of the other posts? Oh well, I miss him to bits, but I am SO thrilled that he's following his path. And if that path can include folding his own clothes and cleaning up his own dang bathroom, then so much the better!

Much love to everyone out there struggling with this; I feel you.

MarvinK's Mom

[Goruck mom]

I just laughed aloud teadinf this my son forgot to mention the box I knew about it from the website

[MarvinKMooney]

When did your son go, Goruck mom?

[lemonelephant]

Goruck Mom, Check your My Page.

[MarvinKMooney]

:::::RUNNING TO MY MAILBOX NOW::::::

[MarvinKMooney]

Nothin' yet. 

[Andrewsmom]

MarvinK's Mom - Loved your post!  As a two year Navy Mom, I really appreciate all that my son has learned, including the cleaning, etc....  Although, he does tend to fall back into his old, messy habits when he's home for a visit.  Maybe when he gets a few more years under his belt it'll be second nature?

Yes, there are so many positives in joining the military.  As I mentioned in a previous comment, the BC time is relatively short in their new life.  I missed my son terribly the first few weeks and he was 21, with two years of college, before he enlisted.  He has since been on a 6 month deployment and the only contact we had was via infrequent email.  Although we had a general idea of their planned route, he couldn't say where he was until after they left a port. 

BC can be tough for some, but they are safe, eating well, exercising, and learning a lot.  I sent letters, inspirational or silly cards, and cartoons almost every day.  He loved getting mail but I think it was also somewhat therapeutic for me, too. 

I wish you all peace and comfort during this time.

[MarvinKMooney]

Thank you! I'm comforted knowing that it gets easier. Those deployments sounds like a challenge.

We are already writing letters - but I'm discovering that either I live a fairly dull life. I can only write about my tomato plants so much! Lol

I love the sample questions and letters on here.

[Andrewsmom]

I found the "questionnaire" letters to be the best way to get information from my son.  He was never a big writer, so his two letters he sent us didn't have a lot of info.  I would have sent more of the form letters had I known about them early on.  I copied some of the questions and then added a few more.  Not only did he answer the multiple choice questions, he added many comments!  It was the best way to communicate with him at BC. 

Would love to do the same now but I'm still waiting for an address.... and he's been at his new post for a few weeks. 

[lemonelephant]

For others, there are links to questionnaires in Letter Writing & Fun Stuff/Questionnaires to send to your Recruit.

[HoneyLemonTea]

Thanks for sharing sometimes reading posts i feel bad that maybe i am not sad enough that my son is gone, but you made me feel like i am not the only one. My son left 7/16. he forgot to mention the form letter, but they didn't make him call back.

[MarvinKMooney]

What part of the country are you in? Have you gotten your box yet? I was just picturing him getting screamed at "Did you tell your mother about the box, Recruit?" Lol

[lemonelephant]

Check your My Page.