Getting cold feet

Comment

Comment by Frank Simao on August 6, 2015 at 6:08pm

I went through Army BCT at 17 in 1979. My dad, a WWII vet gave me some sound advice. Keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open, and you will be fine. Do what ever they tell you to do, no matter how stupid it may sound. You want known for your accomplishments, not what you say. As for the cold feet, tell them that is just eight weeks and will go by faster than they can imagine. When my son first was allowed to call home, he sounded depressed and ready to quit. I talked to about how the RCTs are messing with your head and stick it out. It will get better. As time passed would look back and laugh about his time there and he began to make friends, he got more comfortable. I kept telling him that when it is all over, you will laugh about that 8 weeks with your new  friends from all over the US. We also talked about the opportunity that he was being given instead of no job prospect of going to school when he was not sure what he wanted to do with life. I assured him that once through BCT and his first duty station or contract, he could get out or try one of the other many jobs available to the sailors, and if the navy turns out to be a one hitch, then he still had the GI bill to help him start life. Many of his friends from High school have quit college because it was not what they expected. I would encourage them to give it a try and try your best, because life in the military is not as bad as many imagined, and will at the very least give them some great experience and a new respect and appreciation for what we have and take for granted. The y are joining a brother/sister hood that people who have not been through it, can not understand.

Comment by Patrick J. Doherty on July 31, 2015 at 8:51pm

Our son did not express the "cold feet" to me.......lol.....perhaps, to his Mother.....   I drove him to where he needed to be "when" he needed to be present......then met him when I said I would (MEPS) before he needed to be separate from Dad.   He's my # 2 of four sons......and I truly suspect he was nervous - we encountered other things together in his lifetime and negotiated them together - without realizing all of the ramifications of his Enlistment experience, I suspect we helped each other through this change of life experience.    I am proud and happy to report he completed his first year of enlistment earlier this month...... Judging from the loving/paternal sentiment expressed for your son, I suspect your son will feel his father's (and family's) support and demonstrate his ability to thrive as he works through Basic.   Congratulations!!  

Comment by Todd G. on July 30, 2015 at 12:09pm

Thanks for the comments! I have spent 28+years in and around the Air Force. My Son, Dallas, stated that he would never join the military! I asked him why? He stated that the military would "brain wash him", I just laughed. 6 months later and no money left for college he woke up one morning with a new outlook on life! I am going to the Navy recruiters office to see what he can offer me. He leaves for boot camp on December 1st to be "brain washed". Lol. I am proud of my Boy! This is where the cold feet issue arises. He has a habit of saying one thing and then does another, as do most young men and women. What are your , as parents, advice for the possibility of a mind change again?

Comment by Carl jarvis on July 28, 2015 at 7:24pm

Basic is only to transform them from civilian to Sailor. Its all about mental transitioning. It is rough and I will not sugar coat it but it's all about your mind set before you go. Learn your 11 General orders,  Chain of  Command and the Sailors Creed before shipping out and it will make it easier when you do get there.  Good luck!!!!!!

Comment by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on July 28, 2015 at 4:30pm

I'm pretty sure that everyone second guesses themselves....especially when they hit Basic!

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