Every ones feed back has been helpful. Support is the whole reason for this site. My posts are my thoughts and feelings. I reread all of them last night. I understand there have been mixed responses. I think those reading my posts completely have responded with helpful advice. Some read parts selectively and kinda missed it. 

Just providing an honest response in regards to your own experiences is a priceless resource. Not only to me but to all who read. In the future I am sure someone in my shoes will be comforted in learning from the journey we are sharing here. 

We'll do Sir Thanks!... :)

Thanks Tom! The wife and I are proud of our little girl, she's grown up to be a big hero to us!

Yes sir, a fellow New Englander!   As native as the lobstah...ayuh!  My wife noticed a post on Navy moms from somebody that said, they were driving to PIR from southern Maine the same week that we go.  We can't wait to see our new saior!

Actually...and so it continues.  My oldest son just started his second enlistment.  My daughter is doing the overnighter at MEPS tonight.  ASVAB tonight and the physical tomorrow.

This seems familar as I am a Navy vet as are both of the kid's grandfathers.  The feelings with my daughter are very different from when her brother left. I can not say it is harder. But we still have her till July.  Maybe then it will be much harder when she is leaving..

Thanks!  Needless to say I am concered, then again, I'm sure they are not set up to fail and that all needed help will be provided.  This is all new to me, I would appreciate as much information as possible on females in Boot Camp.  I can't help but be a concerned Grandfather!

congrads to Caitlin, I know how proud you are Tom.

Thanks !! I'll put more up in a few days.

Nice photo of you and Caity.

Hello Tom thanks for the friend request. My daughter is currently in bootcamp and obviously im very concerned about her safety. My wife and I were assured by the recruiter that Her safety was paramount. However my wife is reading posts on Navy Mom's about sexual assaults. Any Comments?

http://screencast.com/t/bjGFhy2QyZ

past that code you copy into the multimedia box

that should be "paste"...fingers cannot spell today

there are a million tricks and how to's out there....I might not be able to tell you what TO do, but I have a big list of stuff that I know DOESN'T work!!!!! If you have questions- just let me know

Thank you.  The information on this site is very helpful.

Tom.  Thanks for the encouraging words  ..Very new to this....Son is first to enlist in 2 generations....last were my Dad (Navy, WWII) and my wife's Dad, (Army, WWII) !  This is a a new adventure for us, but we are very proud of him!  He has his first week of boot camp under his belt... we actually got an unexpected call from him  today!  Great to hear from him....He is going SO and is well prepared physically...Just have to get through the mental piece...Looking forward to his PIR on March 18

thank you 

thanks navy dads

Thank you I am so proud of William for his choice to join the US Navy and I know he is going to make us all so proud. My oldest grandson Thomas is now serving on the USS Port Royal whom I am also very proud of. Both of these boys are going to have awesome careers with the Navy. Again thank you

Thanks for the kind words, Megan will be going to Advanced IT in Pensacola when she graduates. She managed to get a good opportunity for herself. She has 25 days left in boot camp. I'm hoping she shines

Thanks again

JG 

Thanks Tom, I have already been looking around, and my wife has been looking for 9+ months :). We are excited for him.  I am sure we will have more questions as time goes on. Thanks for all the work you all do on this site.

Dear all the Dads who read this:: I am a Veteran from 1970-1973 Vietnam Era I was employeed at Great Lakes as  civilian years ago.. WOW.....

Got to see Battle Stations being built....

I would watch the pool USS Indianapolis divers train..

There is a movie coming out soon with Nicolas Cage and Tom Sizemore about the actual ship during WWII. I am a History major from college it will be a must for all to see. While I was there working I ate the food at Great Lake with the sailors it was the BEST nothing like the Army chow I ate in the 70's.

Feel free to ask I will answer anything thing I can. I am retired now..

Gary Swensen  Yankton, S.D. G_Swensen@msn.com   

Hello Tom. 

As a retired, retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, and my bride is a retired, retired Navy Chief Petty Officer (Ex Company Commander in the olden days of boot camp) we could bring to your table over 50 years of Navy experience!  Just ask us what we can do for you, your web site and, most of all, those parents who will have a million questions!

Our nephew Jesse is a "pusher" at boot camp as we speak and we will be using this site trying to catch him during P.I.R. so we can "critique" him. His father is always asking us questions about what has been going on in his career.  Petty Officer First Class Jesse stayed a couple of summers with us in his early teens and we are so very proud of him.

Let us know what we can do for you guys and thanks for taking the time and energy to help parents get accurate info on what is really happening to their kids!

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Here are some pictures of our family of Veterans from the Civil war to Iraq

My dads younger brother witnessed the Flags over Iwo Jima he told me the day I enlisted in 1970.He never told his family and never talked about it again.

I have a 5 page story of what he witnessed on Iwo Jima.   

Gary Swensen 1970-1973 Army 

Thanks Tom, appreciate that and also the information available on the site! I'm sure I will have plenty of questions as I look around and meet with his recruiter this week. He is now in the DEP and I have to be honest, I wasn't thrilled with the recruitment process or the job they talked him into signing  for based on his ASVAB scores but I'm hoping he will be able to switch it if his preference opens while he is in DEP. This is what they told him and he assures me this is normal but I really have no clue - which brought me here as I am hoping it is actually how it is done today. Thanks again for the welcome and thanks to all of those that participate on the site.

Thank you. I am sad he waited over 2 years for OCS and had to resort to enlisting but happy he is finally making progress. I am curious about the number of guests at boot camp graduation. 4 guests, is that correct? Would this include children in that number as well? Thank you for any assistance. Also, this will be a shared profile between my husband Sean and myself, Tori. :)

Hi Tom! Let's face it - there is nothing like a little "Love will keep us Together" to get the toe tapping :)

I joined today to try and find support and guidance as it seems that Jacob has been sent to Ship 5 to be sent home. There was a medical issue that we (I) disclosed to the recruiter but he said was irrelevant because it was over 10 years ago. Turns out it is relevant after all and my son is being punished for it. I've reached out to 2 senators today......is there anything else I should/could be doing?

Hi Tom: thanks for the information and support. My son is doing well and is looking forward to his new adventures.  Thanks again.

Yes my son is back. He finished up his treatment about 2 1/2 months ago and all his paperwork is good. He goes back to MEPS this week and hopefully will come back with good news. He is very excited and looking forward to serving just like I did.

I'm really happy for him. He stuck with it now he feels his grown up life is about to start and he can get into a line of work he wants to make a career of.

Thank you Tom, my son left today, tough day.  He's excited and scared but I know he'll be in good hands.  Thanks for the note!

Thanks for the welcome! My son, William Jr, just enlisted, after waiting around a year to get into OCS. The recruiter mishandled his paperwork, so, a year later, he goes in as a sailor. Still awaiting news on bootcamp timetable.