Blake Owen's Blog – December 2014 Archive (5)

Sitting there with my 4 month old grandson enjoying a lovely Christmas morning my phone starts to jump off the table. RTC had uploaded 612 photos of our SRs for a nice Christmas surprise.

There my boy was in clear living color enjoying his morning bowl of Special K  and bananas while studying his Blue Jacket manual. He seemed oblivious to the photographer. Why am I not surprised. :)

It was a nice and unexpected surprise to see him in his NWUs doing his thing. I found him…

Monday he called his mom for the usual "extra information" they always seem to need for those getting a high security clearance. I'm not sure they really need this info because I know for a fact that the information they asked for was already clear, concise and correct. I remember going over everything with my son to make sure all the "I's" were dotted and "T's" were crossed. I think they make random choices to see if there are in inconsistencies in the information given to recruiters and…

I had five letters ready to go so those are getting mailed today. He will have something to read over this weekend. Got reservations at the Navy lodge and that is covered. Somehow I was late to the party as all the suites were gone. No matter I was still able to get a room with a kitchenette so we can cook for him.

He sent the form letter last Thursday so they are humping it. I'm glad he is graduating two weeks sooner than we speculated.

Now it's time to hunker down, write…

Well that was faster than I expected. I had my son send the box to my workplace because I knew it needed to be signed for. Imagine my surprise when I saw that box with my son's name on it sitting on my desk today. I didn't expect to get emotional about it but it came upon me all of a sudden. I'd been okay since I dropped him off at the recruiters office. I may keep the box to store his letters and other mementos from RTC, "A" school and beyond. 

I got his call late Monday night but I…

Dropped my son off at the recruiter's office yesterday to send him off on his great adventure and his new life. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. We've been very tight for 24 years and all in one swoop there is an instant and long separation. I remember the day he called me on the way home from his physical in August. It got real when I heard him say"Dad, I ship on December 1st."     Gulp!

I am so happy for him because it is the culmination of a lot of hard work…