Michele's Comments

You are right about church. That's the way my husband feels, so he's chosen not to attend anymore. I grew up going to church, so that's important to me, but I know God is everywhere and that is good news! My whole week, and weekend, was busy. Kelson entered two tennis tournaments. The first one started last Tuesday and ended Thursday. His second one started Friday and ended yesterday. Today is going to be a very quiet, slow day. I do have an indoor soccer game at 9 pm, but that's all for excitement. My nightly letter to Morgan will be a small one! Have a great day and thanks for the info on A School. That won't be so hard as Morgan will have his cell and laptop, but it'll be the longest we've gone without seeing him. I know he's hoping to get stationed out of the country so maybe we'll have him home for Thanksgiving and Christmas! What a treat that would be.

Oh my Gosh Michele! I said that about the adventure, but it really didn't sink in until I read your comment and you are absolutely right. We are starting a new adventure with them every time because they are our oldest. That's so cool. Morgan will be 20, also. First birthday we haven't had him here. His birthday and my birthday are two days apart, so this will be a rough one for me. Our youngest is playing in the USTA Team Tennis this year. His team qualified for sectionals and are headed for Salt Lake on my birthday. Double whammy. You mentioned several months of training before Wes gets stationed. I thought A School was 14 weeks and that was it. Will it be longer? God has been so good for many, many, many, reasons. We quit going to church last fall. Morgan mentioned in his letter that he was going to church every Sunday. My heart soared; but, at the same time, I was convicted. I knew if he could go to church instead of getting some extra shut eye, there was no excuse for me to stay home on Sunday's. So, I got up this morning and went to church. My own son, not knowing it, blessed and encouraged me. I did let him know too. Isn't it amazing how we connect with some people? We would've never 'met' had Luis not invited me to be his friend and our sons not entered the Navy. There are an awful lot of similarities between us. Hope you had a good weekend.

I'm paring down the details of my day! His birthday is on the 30th, so I'm sending him a weekly card. This week will be from our dog! I absolutely love the fact that some of you Mom's have scriptures on your page. I bet you didn't care what time it was when you heard Wes' voice. Morgan said that they would be able to make a call 3-5 wks in. We received two letters in one day (Wed), that's been it. His PIR date is 8/15. Making reservations helps bring it closer. Morgan and I have always had a special connection, maybe its because he's my first. I don't know, but that's why it makes this no contact stuff so difficult. Every new adventure, and this is certainly one of them, helps us become stronger. God can take care of him much better than I. Morgan's leaning on his verse..."I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." I need to lean on that myself. The poem "Footprints in the Sand" has almost been a constant in my mind. Never has before. I enjoy chatting with you, thanks!

Thanks and keep in touch

Thanks Michele. I am taking heart. These two sites have been such a blessing for me. Thanks for also mentioning about their small space. I feel guilty if, like today, I missed getting a letter out; so, I try and make up for it by writing more. I sent out a couple of 6 pgrs. I won't do that anymore! The first two weeks were absolutely horrible for me. Things are easier now, but I'm still waiting for that first phone call, to hear his chuckle, to hear the way he says 'hi'. There's never any time when he's not in my thoughts. I know that this was not a decision he made lightly, and it's in his blood (4th generation Navy). If it'd been Kelson going into the service, yeah, I could see that. Morgan? No way, although his 6th grade teacher said she could see him in the service. Anyway, thank you again for your encouragement and words.

Nope he thinks he starts this Monday. He has been doing schooling for things they have to do and know. But his schooling for ABE has not started. He and Wes graduated together. PIR 6-20. He was told his school would start the following Monday 6-23. Nope not yet. On hold. He tells us every week "I start Monday". nope, on hold again. I think it takes time to fill a class to start training. If their are 28 kids on hold for ABE and need 50 to justify the cost of training them then O' well. They will wait. I'm sure someone will be number 49 and 50. No waiting for them. I'm not exact on the numbers but that's what I think is the problem. He will probably be there when Wes makes it. Or Wes will be on hold in GL until Evan's group leaves. Who knows. This is a big reason for this site. To help the others that follow behind us. We are Guinne Pigs! But so proud of our boys. They will eventually get settled. I have heard they will not have a place to call home for the first year in the Navy.

Hey Michele, I do think they are assigned to a fleet when they start school or when they finish school. Since Evan arrived in P-cola he thought he would start school the next week. and the next, and the next , and the next. Get my point. From what I have found in my research is that he will be on hold for 2-3 months and have heard of some kids who have been on hold 6 months. Evan thinks one way and I think the other. I beleive this could be the reason why the Navy is in no rush to send Wes and the others to P-cola. It seems to be the pattern in P-cola. They are stuck on the beach waiting. Not a bad thing. I hope Wes can make it down there soon. I know it is more laid back there. Also it is beautiful. He will love it when he makes it there. When Evan finally starts school he said it would be 17 days. Then home for a week or two and sent to his new home. Japan, Italy, etc. We do not know. He is hoping for norfolk, va on the USS George Bush.

Hey Michele, I hate to hear that Wes is not getting much freedom. Just tell him to count down the days until Pensacola. From what we gather from Evan they get time off everyday. They can leave base, go to beach, shop, etc. I know Evan said the buildings are back to pre Katrina. With GL's it must be something with being so close to bootcamp. Maybe his instructors and always in bootcamp mode. Hope it gets better for him before he leaves. After what they went through in bootcamp they've earned some liberty in my book. Keep me posted. EG

Michelle. I won't say anything to Morgan about A School being tougher! I was talking to a Mom on MySpace and she mentioned that her son had just passed his first phase of school in Pensacola. Has Wes mentioned anything about phases? I wonder if each school is a different set of rules. Wes has access to his cell and computer doesn't he? That would be freedom for Morgan! How I miss him, and his curly hair! He said it was really short.

Hey Michelle how are you? I read what you wrote on ask a sailor. Evan is at the mall now I just talked to him, I believe Wes will be happy when he gets to Penn. Evan loves it and I am so glad. He has not classed up yet all his friends he went with have done so they start on Friday so hopefully Wes will get there soon so he can have a BC brother with him. Tell Wes to hang in there. ttyl

Hi Michele. It's nice to meet you, though I didn't intend to sneak past you! It's okay if you don't like the Cowboys. I enjoy watching GB because one (maybe two) of our BSU players is now a Packer, so I do cheer for GB as well. I also like the Panthers. Cowboys have it because when I was very little, I used to sit on my Grandpa's lap and cheer for the Cowboys. He was probably their greatest fan. That is until they fired Landry. He quit watching them after that. He passed away 4 1/2 years ago. I'd like to think he and Landry are having some great talks in Heaven!
Morgan's PIR is 8/15. We just received his first two letters yesterday. I was about to go nuts. Other Mom's, whose sons entered after Morgan or the same time as him, had already received their letter. All those in his division are ready for their "freedom".
He'll start A School immediately in GL. He's going into the health field. He was taking pre-requisite classes at North Seattle Community College to become an LPN before he decided he wanted to join the Navy. His dream, though, is to become a Pilot.
He was also in Seattle to be a member of the UW Husky Men's Gymnastics Club. PT is too easy for him so he decided to start getting into a little trouble just to get IT. He said he thought the officers were on to him so he was going to have to change his tactics!

Hi Michele, there are several aviation ratings open to volunteer as aircrew. Some mechanical ratings (AD, AE, AM) can become Flight Engineers on the P-3 Orion. The FE is responsible for aircraft preflight, postflight, and necessary maintenance. They are trained as virtual experts in the engines, accessories, hydraulics, flight controls, fuel management, and electrical systems. In flight they assist the pilots with monitoring the gauges, recommending power lever settings, and transferring fuel between tanks. It's an important job with a lot of extra hours at work (usually nights and weekends when nobody else is around except the crew). Sometimes ATs can try for FE, but there are other options.

If Wes is very athletic, loves to swim, and would like to be involved in rescue, he could try for Rescue swimmer. This would place him in helicopters, primarily.

If he really likes troubleshooting and repairing avionics systems, he should try for In-flight Technician. I don't know if they are still training techs on the P-3 Orion, but that's a great aircraft to work on as an IFT. The new maritime patrol aircraft in development is a modified 737, but not sure if they're assigning crew to them yet. Another high tech aircraft is the TACAMO modified 707, which have a very high priority mission (meaning they'll always have money to fly). The P-3s, 737s, and 707s do not go aboard aircraft carriers, they are land based (US and overseas).

Once he's partway through his avionics school at Pcola they'll ask the students to complete a "dream sheet" or duty preference form. Around that time he could ask about aircrew opportunities and learn about the specific requirements (flight physical, swim qual, aircrew school prerequisites, etc). If he wants to put forth more effort, and go above and beyond, it's a good opportunity...but the cost is more time away from home, and working in a close environment with people who may not share the same moral values.

Does this answer your question? Blessings, Kevin

Michele it was great. All three were from California. Glad they had the chance to see that Mississippi isn't as bad as people make it out to be. We have a boat so we took them on the river most of the weekend. They were amazed at the lilly pads, gators, and crazy people on boats everywhere. They hadn't seen anything like it. Everyone here welcomed them with open arms. The sailors wore my wife and I out.PHEW! It was great seeing our son. We are so blessed to have him so close to home right now. We had american flags everywhere in the yard, hanging from the house, a navy flag flying, a banner and a sign on the door that said ( all roads lead to freedom ). They loved the welcome. They all had a great time and the pride of them being sailors really showed. So in a nut shell we wined and dined them and sent them back to Uncle Sam. Our Navy has some really fine boys. thanks for asking.

Great to hear from you. I was an instructor while active duty in the Navy and now my wife and I own our own home based travel agency business. I am not in the public school system, I teach adults how to supplement their income and work from home.

The NJROTC program is a great opportunity for our kids to get a taste of what the Navy is like. Our son Ron did his first 3 years in High School in that program and it got him an automatic E-3 paygrade from Day 1 in bootcamp (basically and extra $600+ a month in adult terms). I highly recommend it to all kids regtardless if they want to join the military of not... teaches them a little bit of discipline.

Have a great day. Look forward to talking again. Dave & Chrystal

Thanks Michele. I too am proud of our young men and women who serve. We are kind/sorta a military family. What I mean is, my dad was drafted in WWII, but was deferred. My brother was A.F. My wife's dad was Corps, her brother was Corps. Her sister married a Marine. I am a Navy vet. Both my sons did four years in NJROTC and now the older one is enlisted. The younger one has back problems and cannot pass the physical, but would join if he could. I look forward to PIR. I hope it will be more exciting than mine back in '79.

Michelle thanks for the hearty welcome. Its great to know that there are other parents who also are committed to supporting all our children who choose to defend our country.
It wonderful to have someone and somewhere to turn for information and general support. Thanks again!

Hi Michele, Glad to be aboard. Adam goes to boot camp Aug 28 and after graduation its on to Nuc School in Charleston. Once he is done with that training he has volunteered for submarine duty. He has a lot of hard work ahead of him but I know he can do it.

Thank you for the warm welcome. You are correct, I am very excited to see our son PIR. Like I told Chrystal my wife (also a Navy 4 Moms member), chances are pretty good that a big tough guy like me will be bawling like a little baby when we see Ron PIR.

As for questions, please feel free to ask away. I am very proud to have served my country for over 20 years and, much like yourself, I am an educator too; I just teach about the things that I have knoweldge and passion about... our Navy is amognst one of them.

Thanks again, I look forward to talking to you soon. Dave

Yes, the Sailor's creed also looked excellent!
My "nit-picky" was actually the comment calling me an officer...can understand the misunderstanding. Hope your 4th was great! Kevin