Sorry for the confusion.  No rental car, I sent his via car hauler from a private contractor.  If anyone does this, becareful because you get a ton of companies wanting to do business.  I don't have a good source for rental cars.  I'm saving my pennies for the hotel coronado tho.

Navy Seal quote of the week
Dana Perrino (Fox News) describing an interview she recently had with a Navy SEAL. After discussing all the countries he had been sent to, she asked if they had to learn several languages?

His reply:
"No ma'am, we don't go there to talk."

Looking for a group if your boy is 293 ...Come join Class 293 group

I was just pointed to this-http://www.navysealmuseum.com/index.php

SEAL dads give a hooyah to 293!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And of course 287!!!!

Congratulaions to 293.  At the request of my boy in 290, we have been praying for them during their exceptionally cold HW. 

Just wanted to share a poster that Robert Schenck made for me. He did such a Great job.

I would like to publicly Thank the people of Hertz car rental agency at the San Diego  air port for being as fantastic an organization as they are because after being in coranado area for two weeks we some how dropped off our rental car at 430 in the AM to catch our flight back to NH leaving our camera on the passenger floor along with my wife s  sun glasses and never thought of them till ten pm at night when we searched high and low for them .we some how thought oh darn there in the rental car . so we tried calling and couldn,t get thru but they have a great lost and found dept with there web sight and they returned our call at 11pmso we dropped them a line and yes they had them waiting for us to call thankfully  we can all imagine the  very important picture to us that were in the camera. in our community we have to recognize the extra special company,s that help us out .so i would like to highly recommend the hertz rental company for this reason and the fantastic people who are with them . Thank You  i highly reccomend them if you lookin for a rental who knows could happen to any one of us .

this was posted today by a fellow woodworker (Travis Johnson)  on The Patriot Woodworker----thought it was appropriate here:

As many of you know, in my real job as a welder, I build Frigates and Destroyers for the US Navy at a well known shipyard here in Maine. Over our last 150 year history we have launched over 400 ships and on Tuesday our latest ship returned from sea trials. It is the newly commissioned USS Micheal Murphy.

We are very proud of this ship because if you do some research for this ships namesake, you will realize the sacrifice he gave to this country, and having his mother walk around the shipyard has inspired us all...so much that many of our hardhats sport the sticker that says..."Let's do it for Murph!"

We did just that...

By the US Navy's own recognition, this ship was the best Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer to go through its sea trials. Only minor issues surfaced during its week long sea trials and it made two record-breaking marks. I don't think it would be a breech of national security to say that it was the fastest ship to come up to full horsepower (in excess of 50,000 hp) in the shortest time, and the speed in which it acquired targets. In fairness the ship was sent to trials before it was really ready and so it was in a rather dirty state from the construction process, and that was where it got some poor marks. That will be cured over the next few weeks as we finish outfitting it, cleaning it up, just before the US Navy takes this ship to sea and defends our freedom.

There is a fine line between pride and bragging, and I hope that all can tell the difference here. If nothing else we are very proud of what we built in the 4 years it took to build the USS Micheal Murphy, and the US Navy personnel should be proud of the new formidable weapon they have at their disposal. At the same time, every US Taxpayer should be pleased with the new defender of freedom about ready to ply international waters and to have what Ronald Regan suggested decades ago..."Peace through Strength".

Camo-Dad, Your message came over my BlackBerry differently from what I'm seeing below.  Is your son in pre-BUD/S?  If so, neither of my 2 sons ever mentioned "the bell" being present until they made it to Coronado. Obviously, you need more details -- but if your son has met all of his requirements -- this kinda sounds like a NSW head game to me.

I was wondering the same as Jerry. Is he in Pre buds or in BO or acutal phase right now? If he's in BO,or phase and performing that well-its testing character. Instructors can pick up on those who are unsure of their committment.

Stories from our son are the same - the instructors push the guys at all levels, looking for cracks. BUDs Prep, BO, Phase 1. From what I heard, it sounds like a higher percentage of the younger guys drop.  I would guess that the command has stats from the last couple hundred classes. They say that getting thru P-1 is 90% mental, but thats also assuming that the fitness level and commitment  are there. One of the telling video's online is the recruit that said (paraphrased here): "They can make me cold, wet, tired, hungry, miserable, but the only thing they can't do is make me ring the bell". If your son is in the top end of the group in his timed evolutions, and is committed to the concept that "quitting is not an option", then he should consider trying to power thru it.  My wife is on the NavyforMoms website, and has looked at the DOR group - there are alot of sad, unhappy, frustrated, sense of failure, posts there. Whatever your son decides, he has to be comfortable with it.

Camo-Dad, If he has met all performance requirements and he is not injured he is good to go.  Ringing the bell or not ringing the bell will always be his choice -it's a gut check.  My prayers are with him and all those like him that have answered the call. 

My son shared this quote with me just before Hell Week.  He has since graduated SQT.

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

"Citizenship in a Republic,"

Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Jim, BUDS Class 273 chose that quote for their Hell Week Shirts. The back of the shirt has highlight from the quote on it. I also use it as a tag line on another site I belong to.

Good luck to all Class 294 this Hell Week. Hoo Yah!

To all Dads who may be attending Class 289 SQT graduation this Fri, I'll be there wearing a Navy Blue sports coat with a Double Blue Star lapel pin (in honor of both my SEAL sons)! Please introduce yourself. HOO YAH 289 (and all our SEALs)! Jerry M

Congratulations Jerry M!  What an honor to have two sons with what it takes to earn the SO rating.

HOO YAH JERRY M!  My vote go to you for father of the year...congrats!!

Thanks Dads for your good wishes and comments.  Attending one graduation is great -- attending a second is beyond amazing!  (PapaUrsa - I appreciate your vote but I don't think I deserve it, apparently all the credit goes to their SEAL Moms anayway!). HOO YAH!

Congratulations to all really enjoy your next few days it is a fantastic time . i would love to know what the gift to the school is our son was in 2eight7 class these guys are fantastic . again congratulations to all and ENJOY 

Congrats to the class of 289!

Jerry - I know their Moms do a ton for our Sailors, but my wife doesn't like it a whole lot when I give Hoo Yahs to other woman...lol.

Still to have two sons make it through is a tribute to your whole family.  Thank you for the great job you did raising and directing them!

To 2-8-9 and the rest of their dads (and moms), likewise congrats and HOO YAH!!

Congrations to all the guys awarded their trident today and to their families. 

Has anyone spoken with someone who has a son who completed BUD/S to find out whether it's better to hold off on visiting until after BUD/S or whether it's good for them if we visit during BUD/S?  If so, when is a good time vis-a-vis the Phases?

Haven't heard anything from our son recently.  I went to Coronado the week before HW, and had a nice visit, but with their obligations even his weekend time was limited. Best to let your son decide when the best time is - There is some info on the SEAL website about what they're doing in Phase:  http://www.sealswcc.com/seal-default.aspx#

We're getting used to the idea that if/when he gets to the Teams, we're not going to see him, or know where he is or what he's doing.

Knowing that he's doing what he wants, and serving his country is as good as it gets.

HooYah 294

My son is in SQT- we did not visit during BUD/s as all phases are intense and are not particularly conducive to visits as time available to visit is so limited plus young men are just intent on surviving.  SQT is intense but, while there is not an abundance of free time, the environment is more of learning than just surviving so there seems to be a mental adjustment more conducive to communicating and a visit .  Not sure what others have experienced, but that is my impression.

I think that's valid tk.  My son is in SQT as well.  We visited over the Thanksgiving holiday which was "walking week" ...or the week after HW.  We got a place off base where he could rest up some so it worked out well.  I agree with Russell that we all should probably take our cues from the guys.

We went out between Phase I and II. He had to go get his gear and we visited while he was cleaning and getting things ready at night and had the days for what ever.

Any word on Class 295 securing Hell Week?  How'd they do?  Hoo Yah Navy SEALs!

Hell week secured for Class 295 !!!! HOOOOYAHHHH !!!!

HOOYAH to 2-9-5 and their parents (btw, you can exhale now)!!

Is it outside of OPSEC rules to know what % of guys secured through Hell Week? or the actual number?

Regardless - Congrats to those guys! Hooyah!

The site administrators can best answer that, but from what my son told me, and what has been written here before, specific #'s, %'s, dates, should be private discussions with your son, and not put on any social media.  Although they are "just" in training, part of that training is that what they will be doing is mostly covert - so get used to keeping the little that you will eventuall hear from your SEAL private.

HooYah to all of the recruits that have chosen this path.  Knowing that there are still young men willing to take on this challenge makes me proud to be an American.

As a proud dad of three boys I have been occasionally guilty of  bragging about their achievements and adventures.  Perhaps one of the hardest transitions will be simply telling people: "He's in the Navy.  That's all I can say."  This is something we all need to accept given the nature of our sons' calling.  It will be a challenge for many of us but one that pales compared to the ones our sons face day in and day out. 

Steve, I like that....kind of.... I want to brag, to be proud, to let people know what a great kid I have.... And as a public speaker, I find it hard keeping my mouth shut at any time! LOL.... Learning and will do.

Rog - We have son in two nine four and directly after HW there was a "Come to Jesus" with instructors and our young men, and subsiquent talks to parents to NOT SAY or Post ANYTHING.  They can have movies with active duty "team guys", but if we post "our son is doing well" - they will PT them as punishment.  Unfortunately the instructors will go to extremes to identify anyone visible.  I deleted the private group created on ND.com because the instructors could see the name and took it out on the class. 

Instructions from our son - We now say "Our son is in the Navy and pushes paper - and we couldn't be prouder of him."  We watch "Acts of Valor" in private and realize it isn't just a movie.  The life they've chosen will be hellish difficult and dangerous - get used to it.  (Get the DVD and watch the director comments and eleted sceens - its real). 

Bottom line - they are right!  Nothing should be said, as their and our lives could someday be endangered.  I am on my knees daily praying for his safety and strength - again something I am getting used too. 

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, but there is no room for public pride when you have a "team guy".

agreed, "omitted" Thanks. Since my son decided to join the Navy, I'm more committed to those daily prayers than ever - and not just for him, but for all. Haven't seen the movie yet, but plan to....

Omitted, very good post. We all have to be very careful of what we say and where we say it. Acts of Valor was a more that a movie for me and sounds like for you to. There was a video posted here on NavyDads about the Angel Flight. When you get a chance click the link and watch. I have listened to it several times, always after a news story about something happening to one of Hero's.

HooYah to each of you and your guys.

good video. Thanks for sharing it Calvin....