Jim thank you so much for your guidance. You are making this so much easier for me and his younger brother. I'll be in touch for sure. This site is a true blessing.

Hello Jim,

We appreciate your comments and advice, of course we are very new at NAVYDADS and will be asking a lot of question. Are we able to communicate with her while training?

What is SHIP 5 is this a location were she is staying???

Once again very new and still learning to navigate around this site most of you folks sound like pro's. please bear with use again appreciate your assistances.

Bill & Robin

Turnersville, NJ

Thanks Jim.  My son is at OCS in Newport. Scheduled to graduate July 8.  We're proud of him, excited for the opportunity, and a little nervous. He interned with the Navy's chief historian while at George Washington University and he was a re-enactor as a War of 1812 marine. Got to ride the USS Constitution on July 4th a couple of times.  Looking forward to being a part of the community.

Ed

Thanks for the welcome, it has been a hectic first few weeks for our son, James.  He is doing quite well at OCS in Rhode Island.  Passed his first RLP, was listed second in his class for the fitness (first test), maxed out on the points and finished the run first (second test) so he is hoping to be rated first in fitness now.  Had a perfect score on his Engineering/weapons test and loved the fire suppression and sinking ship drills.  He is pushing himself to limits he didn't know he could reach and we couldn't be prouder of him.  This was probably the best decision he made in his life.  We are looking foward to his graduation in late July and his future training in Florida. 

I have been exploring this site and learned a great deal that will help me understand what he is doing and how to best support him.  One really great idea we had to help him through OCS (and it would work in basic training too) was to have as many friends and relatives write notes to him on cards I bought at the dollar store (8 for $1, can't go wrong) as I could and give them back to me for mailing, I collected about 40 notes.  Everyone who wrote loved the idea too.  I have been sending him 3 each week and he wrote back to us that these note got him through some of his most difficult days early on.  I made address labels for all the envelopes.  For under $25 it was a tremendous support for him.  These notes are in addition to the weekly note we send from home and his twin sends him from Mass.

Thank you for the warm welcome.

Thanks for the warm welcome.  Our family has a rich history of both military and civil service.  We are looking forward to the maturity and growth our son will experience after finally getting started as he has been awaiting boot camp since last Fall.  In high school, his favorite class was the four years he spent in AFJROTC.

thanks jim for being so welcoming and for all the info

Thank you Jim for your comments. He states in his letters he is doing well. From his reports on the physical tests he is doing great. Graduation is in 2 1/2 weeks so that exciting. It will be great to have others mentor me in how this all works. I feel more confident now that we have heard from him and that making it through the pipeline will be something he can achieve. Thanks to everyone's warm welcome. 

Thanks Jim. The military has been a part of my life (USAF, USMC and USN) for many years. I took my son to see the Blue Angels when he was in 2nd grade. He's wanted to fly ever since. It really is awesome to see get the opportunity to live out his dream. I'm excited and so is he. Thanks again, Paul

Thank you for the welcome.  Have a great day!

Thanks Jim  It was a mature decision he made and came up with it all on his own.  Mom and I were certainly surprised when he came home from school one day and said he was going to join the Navy and needed parental concent.  We assumed he was going to go to college and  having served 23 years in the Army....I was like Navy...where did that come from...lol

Thank you very, Jim. Our son shipped to RTC just yesterday. I've gleaned so much from this site already, and hope to learn much more from all of you during his experience.

Hello Jim,

I also do not come from a military background but wanted to join the military when I was young, but due to certain circumstances I did not get to go then life caught up and I had several children.  Now that he made this decision I was very proud but since he left I have been having a difficult time adjusting and have even gone to questioning my parenting for the last couple of years.  I am happy he is there and some of the stuff that I have seen on this site has calmed me down and have me looking towards the future instead when I will be able to shake his hand and enjoy some great Chicago style pizza with him!

Thanks jim will be looking forward to communicating with you all and following the Navy and my daughters career!

Thanks for the Welcome! I just spent four days aboard the USS Stennis on a Tiger Cruise from San Diego to Bremerton with my son and had an unforgettable time. I learned so much that I didn't know and discovered what a great young man my son has become. Couldn't be prouder of him or our Navy!

Thanks Jim! No military family here, when he said he was joining it was out of the blue. Wife and I could tell he wasn't into going to college just wasn't sure what he wanted to do.  After the initial numbness wore off when he told us it did start to make since and I have to say, like you said, this is the most mature decision he has made.
And I have to add here that I am very glad we found this site, the information we have gotten in the last few days on here has been extremely helpful!  And I still have lots on here to read!!
Thanks again from a soon to be Navy dad.

And a Thank You to all the other families on here who are going through or have gone through what we are feeling right now!  He hasn't even left yet and we can already feel the support and feel like one of the group here.

Reading many of the comments you can almost feel that lump in the throat that I am sure many of you had, and then I hear the swelling of pride and it helps that lump go away!

Thanks everyone!

Thanks Jim. Good to be aboard! Grandson nearing end of 4 th week and seems to be doing OK. We are all proud of him and doubly happy to have this "new" community of Naval dads to keep us in touch. thanks to all! BTW I like to go by Larry and it should be easier to remember!

Thank you for adding me to the group -- Looking forward to some great information sharing and support.

Thank you for adding me to the site. Also thank your son for his service. Hopefully he has been directed how to put in a claim the the VA for his disability. It is very important that he get rated for all injuries incurred while on active duty. If he needs help the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is a very good organization to get help. They even provide free lawyer to represent you in cases of appeal.

Thank you, Jim

thank you so much for all this info. my youngest son decided to go navy at the last minute. my older son has been in the marines for 4 years and will be hone any day.  I think my younger one leaving was harder. I did cry when they both left for boot camp. but just knowing both my boys are so far from home scares me. having this group is a huge help. and a pleasure to meet all these familys who are going through the same thing. thank you so much for running it. 

thank I did find the number and also the form to mail them for his pictures ill give them a call thank you so much.

Thank you for the welcome, Jim, and thanks to your son for his service.

I did come from a military family, Dad was a Masterchief, so I was born and raised in the Navy.  I joined as an ET, served nine years; married an ET who did a full 20 to retirement.  When my nephew and my young friend joined, I knew my info was out of date and I ended up over on Navyformoms,  With that site down, I thought I'd check out Navy for dads, make some new friends, and maybe connect with some I already know.  Great to be here! 

Thanks Jim. I believe it was Cody's most mature decision too. And hopefully, Congress will treat the enlisted as they deserve. I am proud of both his sacrifice and his wife's. They are giving a lot back to this country that so many take for granted.

David

Nothing new to report this morning on N4M.  They are still trying to get it un archived!  I spoke with John at the ad agency yesterday and he is just as frustrated...He had been told it would be back up at 4pm EST on Tuesday but no such luck....

Thank you for the warm welcome Jim.  I'm here to help in any way I can.  If you get some new moms who are lost or have questions I will be more than happy to connect.  Not sure yet how this site works but I'm sure I'll learn soon!!!!

Thank you for the warm welcome and words of encouragement. Thank you for hosting yet another Navy for Moms refugee. I have found some great groups in the last few days, this one included and I am completely humbled by the "Take this person under our wing" feeling I get every time I join one of these Navy groups. I greatly appreciate that. Thank you!

Thank you, Jim, for your understanding words....truly thought there was something wrong with me re emotional reaction but after reading many a comment here....see I'm not alone.  

Thanks Jim my son is in the Dep program and will going to Nuke school.I am prior Navy and definitely a proud dad.just wanna thank all the parents who children are currently in and also their children for defending this great country.

Jim:

   I have read many entries on many forums and still cannot glean clarity to a question that remains as follows:  On January 6th, I will drive (NOT walk on) to RTC for my son's PIR. Since I am driving, do I need to go to the Visitor's Center to check my ID and to get my hand stamped, or can I drive directly to Gate 8 at the Ceremonial Hall, park there and have my ID check upon entering the Ceremonial Hall.

Given the extreme cold at Great Lakes, I am trying to minimize outside walking for my wife, my civilian son and me, who will be attending the PIR of my Recruit, soon to be Sailor.  Thank you.

Thank you Jim!

Thank you, Jim. Appreciate the comment!

Jim thank you for the welcome note.  I am less apprehensive for my son and more relieved that he made the decision to join the Navy.  I drug him around the world in my Army career and new that the Army was not for him.  He made a very mature decision and I can see it is already paying off for him in the changes Recruit training has made in him.  I very much enjoy the site.  It has been invaluable in bringing my Army wife up to speed on life as a "Navy Mom".  

Brian