My son leaves tomorrow morning August 25

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by NavyDads CoAdmin Jim Gramza on August 24, 2016 at 9:43pm

Some are ready to go...some are a little apprehensive. He is about to embark on the greatest adventure of his life. Best of luck to him! 

Permalink Reply by Eric Seelig on August 25, 2016 at 2:46am

Hey Gary,

First off, Thanks to your son, for his decision to join and serve in the World's Best Navy!  My son left, for Boot Camp in the middle of June. He's been out of Boot for about 2 weeks now, cooling his heels in Pensacola , FLA, while awaiting his start date for "A" School, he's signed up as an IT.  This is a great time for you and your family, the next few weeks are full of lot's of surprises, be assured your boy is going to do fine and learn lots of new stuff on his journey toward becoming a US Navy Sailor.  Know that you may not not hear from him for as many as 3 weeks, and will definitely not hear from him as much as you would like, but that too is part of the process. Send him lots of letters, they will be appreciated.  Good Luck on this journey,  Great Lakes will change him for the better!

Permalink Reply by Tony Consolo Sr. on August 25, 2016 at 5:22am

Congratulations on your son's new adventure in the Navy. My son left for bootcamp on August 8th. We haven't received a letter but last week we received a letter with his ship, division, graduation date, and graduation info. We've been sending him letterso every other day. I've also included pictuses of home, newspaper clippings, and a joke to keep things light. I rememebr being in Marine Corps bootcamp many moons ago and letters and pictures were a God send. I can't imagine it's changed much. But now holidays will be filled with good natured Marine/Navy ribbing. I hope you hear from him soon. Hang in there we're all in the same boat. Let us know if we can help.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Herring on August 25, 2016 at 9:15am

My son left last week and he was feeling the same way - the nerves definitely kicked in the day before he left and continued until...well....probably until he got there!  We did get the letter with his ship/division/grad date earlier this week but no actual letter from him yet.   Hang in there - everyone keeps saying the 8 weeks goes by quickly.  I am hopeful that's true!!

Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on August 25, 2016 at 9:52am

It is a tough time. We call it the "roller coaster" here. Your emotions are going to ebb and flow over the next 2 months. Trust that there will be tears of both joy and sadness.....and finally of immense pride! I'm so happy to see the other Dads standing in support....that is the whole point of Navy Dads! Follow the advice of those who have gone ahead. I wish your Son the best of luck in becoming a United States Sailor!!!!!!

Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on August 25, 2016 at 9:55am

the days go by slowly, but the weeks do indeed fly by!  

Jennifer Herring said:

My son left last week and he was feeling the same way - the nerves definitely kicked in the day before he left and continued until...well....probably until he got there!  We did get the letter with his ship/division/grad date earlier this week but no actual letter from him yet.   Hang in there - everyone keeps saying the 8 weeks goes by quickly.  I am hopeful that's true!!

Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on August 25, 2016 at 9:59am

I post this periodically, but I do to show that whatever emotions or feelings you may be experiencing others have as well.  Never feel embarrassed to shed a tear or two or to ask for help in dealing with the Navy "roller coaster" as Tom so eloquently put it. 

lest you think you are alone, this was posted by a dad to another member dealing with separation anxiety....

"I know you have seen some encouraging comments from other members, but I wanted to weigh in here too. On 28 January, a month after completing college, my son was sworn in to the Navy DEP. It was a couple of days after that when it hit me....after 23 years of a daily relationship with him everything was about to change! I knew joining the Navy was going to be the absolute best thing for him. But in spite of that, I became very depressed. I had no idea what I was doing but googled Navy support groups. I found this site. I remember posting my first comments.....reluctantly because I thought others would think of me as less of a man.....how depressed I was already at the thought of my son leaving and he was not leaving for boot until 1 May. Well the responses were surprising! All the admins and a number of other members put me at ease when they responded that every dad on this site, if they are honest with themselves, experienced the same thing. I also followed the great advice from the admins to read as much as possible on this site. All of this really helped! But then came the week before he left. I became very upset and just wasn't sure how I was going to cope. It really took some work to get it under control. Then the day came to put him on that plane to Great Lakes. As the tears flowed, it was my son in a bit of a role reversal that said, "dad, it's going to be just fine." Well from that point everything happened just as it was described by the admins and other members on this site from receiving the "kid in a box" to the form letter to the first phone call. The best advice I received after his departure was to write often. I didn't really think my son would care that much because my son has always been very independent and not the "home sick" type. But I found out two things in writing the letters: he loved them and encouraged it and they were very therapeutic for me! In the 7 weeks after I received his address I wrote 16 letters. All typed, no spacing, and not one under 4 pages long! I would never have imagined being able to come up with that much to write about....but you will be surprised. It truly helped the time move along as well. Then believe it or not, PIR was upon us. My son graduated on 28 June. The only thing I can say about PIR is that as it relates to my son, it was the second greatest day of my life......second ONLY to witnessing his birth! When you see your sailor march into that hall and you realize he/she is now a part of something greater than themselves, it is an indescribable feeling of pride. A feeling that washes away all the tears and angst of the previous 8 1/2 weeks of separation. Now as I look back, I am amazed how time has passed so quickly! As of today my son has been out of boot camp almost as long as he was in it. He is in Pensacola attending IT A school. This is totally different from boot camp. It resembles being away to college as you can communicate freely (voice, text, e-mail) with the exception of when they are in class. So to wrap this up, as others have said, hang in there! You too before you know it will be in the same shoes as many of us....looking back wondering where the time went and posting comments to help parents going through that which you have endured. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful this site is to help you through it.....from really good information to Navy FAMILY who are there for moral support. God Bless you and your son for his service to our great country!"

Permalink Reply by Mark on August 25, 2016 at 3:54pm

My daughter left Tuesday, August 23. She called and let us know that she arrived safely. Looking forward to this new chapter in our lives.

Permalink Reply by John Alan DeMarco on August 25, 2016 at 4:23pm

I recall my first days on here... Looking at post from those who were near the end or done. reading your messages I remember my feelings like yesterday. Here seemed so far away. It is hard the first few weeks. Your routine will help. Don't get consumed or it will pass slowly. The first few weeks will anyways. I missed my sons first call. He graduates next Friday. We got one 9 minute and 51 second phone call. I just got all of his letters back today. He had said he was running out of space so I sent a huge mailer. Looking at all the letters I wrote over the last 7 and a half weeks... Couldn't believe it is almost over. Enjoy the tough times too. He had the letter from last week he forgot to mail and one final one stuffed in there. I was hoping. Utilize the group and continue to write. There is a navy mom, navy mom face book, navy dad Facebook, a Facebook PIR group for your recruits PIR date. All of that will help as you see others are going thru it with you and you can talk. My son never spoke until the day before. He had been told he was delayed til feb. of 17 and then told the next day he still shipped out as usual. That happened a week before his ship date. He had got a cut on his head and told me the Sunday before shipping he was going to see if his recruiter thought he should wait. I told him it was my opinion but to be nervous was normal. When I dropped him off at the recruiting office I remember his recruiter saying he looked nervous. Rest easy, they all go through it to some degree. I believe they will all find the first couple of weeks hard, my son wrote how hard the first night was. I think they will all experience homesickness. After it is all said and done it will fly by, and now I get to pass on to you...it will be over with before you know it. Pray and pray for your recruit. Enjoy the journey and I pray your anxiousness will be replaced with peace. And I hope you will pass along when your journey comes to a close to the next family who will take your spot. And share a little bit with them. God bless you during this time and may He see you through!

Permalink Reply by Carlos Acosta on August 26, 2016 at 12:10pm

My son left about almost two weeks ago and we did not get to hear from him when he got there, and I am still waiting for his mailing address so I can find out what happened.  Even though it would have been a two minute phone call it would have helped the emotional situation, but it didn't happen, I have slowly adapted to him not being here, but as the days pass its just that much closer that I get to see him graduate!  My son was very eager to leave he had no regrets or nerves but I wonder if his state of mind was the same when he got there.  Good Luck!!!!

Permalink Reply by John Alan DeMarco on August 27, 2016 at 7:13am

Hey Carlos, praying for you buddy! I was expecting 2 minutes on my sons call. I got 15 seconds out of a deep sleep. And he never said bye. It was tough. I am sure there was a reason. There are so many gaps we will not get filled in until they are done. I wish you peace thru this journey my friend.

Permalink Reply by tracy ward on September 5, 2016 at 3:41pm

Guys i went through this in early august,and it is tough to handle but your recruit will write and you will get a couple of phone calls so hang in there! its all worth it.

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