Welcome to NavyDads Ken! 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) returned spring '09 from a seven-month cruise on the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and my daughter Kat (MC3) just completed her five-year enlistment on the carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). And Ken this is a great place to brag about your sailor as well! So join in and let us know how Ian 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. Best Regards- Paul

Welcome to NavyDads !

Play the following video for a brief introduction to NavyDads.com

Ken, Welcome Aboard!

When my son first enlisted in the Navy I found NavyForMoms in searching for answers to his future. I just knew their had to be a site for dads but found out 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 hope this site will benefit fathers that follow 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 Ian for his service for me and thanks again for joining us.

Sincerely, E.G.

Hi Ken, My daughter left for boot camp about 4 weeks ago. I am happy to hear that your son Ian is leaving tomorrow. I just want to share with you something that helped me with the separation from my daughter. Most likely today your son is at the hotel waiting for tomorrow's processing day at MEPS. I was told by my daughter's recruiter that I could have dinner that night at the hotel (pay by the Navy) with my daughter and the next day to show up at MEPS around 9:00am and ask to be present for the "Oath of Enlistment" and to take pictures (very emotional moment). Everything worked by the book and my daughter saw my commitment to her 100%, I even went to the airport to say goodbye! So, I hope you can try it and it really helped me a lot and with my daughter as well! Gil

Congrats Ken!! So Ian is on his way..and who said that man don't cry..real fathers do!! So, now is the fun part "the waiting".. very late tonight you will receive a 30 second call from him, just to say that he is ok! In about 5 days you will get "the box" with his belongings then in about 7 days "the family letter" from RTC and in the letter a few words from Ian..no more than 2 lines. I got my first (actual) letter from Sherley in about 12 days and the first call from her in about 14 days. But hey Ken..you’re not alone in this waiting. Also, from the day that you receive the family letter, try to write to your son as often as you can..he will appreciate every single one of them..I promise you that. Gil