Welcome to NavyDads Scott! I'm sure you'll find the site as fun, useful, and educational as I have. Explore the site and make some friends, add your comments to a discussion or two, read the postings in the various groups-- even start one or two. I certainly have! If you have any questions or concerns about your sailor and what he is going through...ask! I'm sure someone here will have the answer or can point you in the right direction to find out. I'm lucky enough to have two sailors in the family - my son Eric (AM3) recently returned from a seven-month cruise on the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and my daughter Kat (MC3) returned last fall from a seven-month cruise on the carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). And cott this is a great place to brag about your sailor as well! So join in and let us know how Tony is doing! We do ask that you remember that we talk about the Navy here and we must keep the security and safety of our sailors in mind at all times. On the right side of every NavyDads page is an area we call About This Site. Please take a minute and read through the Operations Security (OPSEC) link and the NavyDads Guidelines link.

As a parent of a sailor currently or soon to be at Great Lakes you'll have many questions about what your son is going through. In the Navy Bootcamp group is a discussion called "A MUST READ for All New Navy Parents". Take a few minutes to read through this post as it will do a lot to give you some understanding about what your sailor is learning and why. And be sure to check out the videos as they address many of your questions and concerns.

As PIR draws closer, be sure to spend some time going through the PIR-Tips, Hints and Helps group- we’ve tried to assemble some tips and suggestions to make your sailor's PIR more enjoyable. And stop by the NavyDads official store- Navyoutfitters.com to show your support for NavyDads.

And Scott- thank you for your service to our great country! Best Regards- Paul

Gary, Welcome Aboard!

My son is an ABE aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in San Diego, Ca. and my family and I couldn't be prouder of him. When he first enlisted I found NavyForMoms in searching for answers to my son's future. I just knew their had to be a site for dads like n4m's but I was wrong. So I started this site so us dads would also have a place to call home. I'm new at this and I hope this site will benefit fathers that come behind us. So jump right in share concerns, join groups, share info, and show off your Sailor. I'm so glad to find out their are so many proud Navy Dads just like myself. I hope this site benefits you and your family throughout your sons journey in the Navy. Thank Tony for his service for me and for yours as well. Thanks again for joining us.

Sincerely, EG

Scott,
Is Tony currently at BC, or has he gone on? Is he on Ship 12?

I never went through this. James' grandfather, uncle and cousin all were Navy, and so he's third generation Navy, with a generational skip for me.

James is 24. He joined the Navy as a qualification for becoming a Police Officer, and intended to try for MA, but his aptitude test was so high they encouraged him to go for IS, and he's really hip on that. He has visions of having a SEAL Team at his bidding. His Uncle was UDT, which preceded the SEALs, and James heard lots of stories from that point of view. But he's 6'4" tall and about 160lbs, so just ain't built for SEALs.

He seems to be doing well. We got a call the day after Christmas and talked for 1/2 hour. He's Educ. Petty Officer (at least at that time) and is designing the Division flag.

When he went into the Navy, he was pretty much of a cynical smart a. --. By the time of the call (he's been there since the 8th of Dec) he was saying how the trainers are the best people in the Navy, and he never respected anyone as much, and to tell his brothers that he loves them. Now he's lived 700 miles from home for the past three years, and that didn't have the affect of 3 weeks at RTC. Our tax dollars at work!

Hope to meet some other dads from this Division, and hook up at PIR