My son is just starting Pre-Buds. Should I join the SEAL Dads group or is that only for Dads of actual SEALS? What would be the best group for me to join?

Thanks for the advice about joining SEALS Dads group. I'm a bit hesitant to do that yet, wondering if there's a group for the pre-BUD/S group that includes my son at Great Lakes? I know there's such a group for the Moms...?

Thanks for the great advice to help me get started. 

Thank you for the welcome, Calvin.

My boy just landed in Chicago and arrived at Great Lakes last night.

This is the first time I've ever joined a internet group of any sort and look forward to exploring this site and  getting to know the folks here.

Calvin, thank you for the welcome, and from Paul as well.  I see that I have a bit of homework to do, not sure what I can post yet. However, my son is on schedule to graduate early next month , the whole family is flying out to see him. 

Hi & Thanks for the Welcome,

My experiences with children & the military go back to Desert Storm when our Oldest was in the Army Reserves and hit sand on Day 1. He later attended the US Naval Academy - USNA96 & currently is a USMC Major,... his younger brother is a 10year Soldier/Musician currently in Afghanistan, our daughter was a Soldier for 5 years & is now a Mom, our youngest son is a new GM aboard the Anchorage looking forward to his first cruise. He was an EM3 the Nuke program but due to illness was dropped halfway through. That usually means you're all the way out but he lucked-out and was accepted for GM school. Seems he found he likes things that go BOOM! '-)! :D

Calvin...

Thank you so much for your warm welcome.... My boy Cesar just left a week ago. As a matter of fact yesterday I received the box with his personal belongings... I feel proud of him but I iss him a lot. I am definitely looking forward for graduation day.... This page is very complete and helpfull...today I jst printed out the 8 week training so that I can follow it. I know time passes by really fast and that God will take care of my son.

Again thank you for your wlcome, your words, and your support.

Proud Navy Mom Mariza  Hooyah !!!

Thank you very much..........., Gary

Thank you so much for your quick response and help!

Calvin, thanks for the welcome. As a Navy veteran with a son who has just joined the Navy. I appreciate all of the efforts made by you guys to keep us informed.

Thank you for the welcome, Calvin.  I've been on NAVY4MOMS, and I also get Google Alerts.  I learn a lot from my son's wife.  She's involved in everything that she can be to show her support for my son.  It also helps her learn everything, which she "interprets" (haha) to me!  Andy is on the IKE, it's his first deployment, and we are all finding it adventurous and heart-wrenching at the same time.  Thank you, again for the welcome and your help offered.

Calvin,

Thank you for the welcome and sharing your info with me. It is all very much appreciated. I wish I had a week just to spend on the site to read about everyone. Unfortunately I don't, but I did want to get back to a few of you guys and say thanks to you and your kids for your assistance and service. I will look  for that Special Operations group you mentioned. We recieved our first letter from our son today and he is doing very well. Paying attention to details, Doing well on his PST and PT and so far flying under the radar :). he does miss being able to eat 5 or 6 times a day. Talk to you later.

Thank you for taking the time to welcome me. It was a proud moment to have been there when he was swearing in. I have pics of his grandmother, grandfather, as well as myself doing the same thing. How do I post these pics ?

Thanks for the welcome.

We got our sons form letter yesterday, with his address. His first mail call  should be great.

This site has  great information and I'm sure I will be utilizing it often.

Calvin, Thank you for replying to my inquiry. I'm looking forward to my trip to Great Lakes this week. I'm proud of my daughter, Amanda. She is smart and agressive and the military way of life suitd her, I think...
She's listened to my stories about the military when I joined and she even likes wearing my old fatigue jackets and such.
I like that the Navy is keeping parents and grandparents informed. I believe I'm going to like the Navy Dads site too. I will post every so often and check in to get the latest info.
Thanks for responding.

Hal Hoadley

Thank you for the welcome. I very much looking forward to any information I can obtain. Thank you all for your service.  Mike

Thanks. I look forward to talking to you all. My son arrived in GL,Illinois Monday.

I sure will keep you updated and my son is soon to be 19. I look on this site see so many challenges he will face and I am sure he will do fine.  Naturally you have a worried feeling but that is the unknown of not knowing what they are going thru and very little or no contact while at boot camp although we have written dailty he will receive a tone of mail.  I will be happy when the Battle Ship 12 is over in a few weeks and to know he will be amongst the many others that will be Graduating Jan. 25th thanks for replying to me.. God Bless OUR Recruit Sailors & Those that serve now.

thanks for the nice welcome, and the web site is great plenty of answers and great videos

Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I was proud of my daughter when she joined the Navy but I was also very worried because of everything going on in the world. Before she left she signed me up for Navy for Moms on Facebook and they have been awesome! I grew up and live in Groton, CT from my front porch you can see General Dynamic Electric Boat Division. My father worked and retired from there so when I was little I attended quite a few boat launches. I live 2 miles from the Naval Submarine Base, 1 mile from the National Guard, and across the river is the Coast Guard Academy. At 8 am every morning I sit on my porch and listen to them play colors. I tried to join the Marines but didn't pass the physical. I wanted to serve my country so badly but couldn't, so I figured if I couldn't serve at least I could support. I am the President of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Chairperson for our Veterans and Family Support Program. So that is a little more about me :)

One of the first things I did is review OPSEC. I then removed my last name from my profile. I never uploaded any pictures no added my son's name. I am reviewing the Posting guidelines now. Thank you for the reply.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome.  Everyone has been great welcoming me to "the fold".

We just got back from dropping off my daughter for the last time at her A-School barracks, so hopefully I will now have the time to go through the website and experience everything.

Thanks again.

Thank you for your kind words, Joshua landed in Chicago a half hour ago and is excited to get started.  We are excited for him also and I will be checking in on a regular basis, God bless. John

Thank you for the warm welcome the website has been invaluable tool for me to learn. Thank you again.

Thank you, Calvin.  I really appreciate it. 

Thank You for the Invite! Looking forward to watching My Daughter Fly like an Eagle! 

Thanks for the opportunity to join !!! Im excited to share my sons Navy adventure with him !!

Thanks Calvin, and glad to be aboard.  Great site, and his mom really liked Navy for Mom's as well. It helped us both out immensly while Michael was in boot.  I'll check out the other groups and thanks again.

Regards.

Thanks a lot for the warm welcome, very much appreciated. As soon as I have news, I will post what I deem necessary and appropriate.

Have a great day, and thanks again for reassuring me!

Cedric

Thanks Calvin, I'm looking forward to connecting with every one.  Have a wonderful day!!

Thanks Calvin & I apologize for taking me so long in respondinthe . I have had a crazy work schedule. Due to that, I haven't had alot of time yet to spend on the site, but the time I have has been great. Hopefully, I will get to spend more time with everyone soon. Everyone seems to be so helpful to each other. Thanks again

Hi Calvin, thanks for the welcome!  Like you, I don't know much about military life having not served.  I was in the last draft lottery and didn;t get called.  My brother was a Seabee in 1969 in Vietnam and my olderst son was a navigator on the Nimitz.  Now my youngest son joined becasue he couldn;t find a job in law enforcement after graduating from college wih a BA in Criminal Justice.  He has three more weeks of boot camp before going to MA "A" school.  I can't wait to go to his PIR.  My son and daughter are going too.  We're all so proud of him.  Thanks for all the information.  I have checked out the web site and joined a few groups.  It helps to have others in the same boat to cope and understand all of this.  LOL...  I look forward to being part of Navy Dads and sharing my experience with everuone.  Hoo Rah!

Thanks Calvin. I'm glad I've found the site.The information has been very helpful so far.  I'll definitely keep you posted on what's happening with Marques.

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'll be sure to poke around for info, ask question that I need to and help out where I can. 

Thanks Calvin, i appreciate the welcome aboard. 

Thank you for the welcome, and for the information.

Thanks for the warm welcome.My father-in-law was in the Navy in WWII aboard the USS Wadsworth in the Pacific,he said it was the best job he ever had.Then two son and now a grandson. I can't wait to get back to Great Lakes to see him graduate.what I have seen of this site so far is great,so much more info than I had when my sons went in.Thanks to all who but this together . God Bless you    Mike

Thanks for the info.  Schedule PIR is 9/27 (SR Killough, Caleb, Ship 09 DIV 370). So far only 2 calls home from Caleb to his Dad. The first one at 2:am local time (the safety arrival) missed that one.  But last week they connected for a few minutes.  Caleb was #1 in his first physical assessment.  So happy for him.

Calvin,

I appreciate the warm welcome.  I'm extremely proud of my daughter and can't wait to see her at graduation. She is scheduled to graduate on 27 September and I'm counting the days. After 24+ years of service I retired from the USAF last summer, so I understand military service very well; however, the Navy is distinctly different service and I'm unable to offer my daughter any sound career advice.

I've learned quite a bit from the website already. 

Joe

Calvin, thank you for the "welcome" to NavyDads. Really glad to be a part. My son just deployed last night, so membership here is going to help a lot.