FIRST POST My son ships out 9/22

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Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on September 18, 2015 at 1:25pm

Welcome to Navy Dads, David....My best advice to you is to watch the videos for Basic so that you will have a feel for what Adam is about to undertake. It will be as big an adjustment for you and your family as it will be for Adam. The next 8 weeks are a "roller coaster" of emotions and trust me....there will be some tears. The worst part is the lack of communication with your Son. You will get the "I have arrived" 30 second call. About 10 days later you will receive the "box" with items Adam is sending home. There will also be a Form Letter arriving that will have Adam's Division and address so that you can send him letters.....and send lots! Begin writing when he leaves....it will be good for you and welcomed by him! Every Recruit says that letters from home are what helped them get through this transition! The Form letter will also have the information for PIR (Graduation) and helpful information regarding hotels in the area. Make reservations early as rooms fill up fast.

   Make good use of this site and ask any questions that come up. We have all been through this and understand all of the feelings that you will experience. You are becoming part of the Navy Family and we are all here to support you. I wish Adam the best of luck as he begins his journey!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Day Pesnell on September 18, 2015 at 2:39pm

Welcome aboard David!  Glad to call you, Adam, Rebecca and everyone family.  I retired last year as a Chief Petty Officer after 21 years and we sent our daughter AnnaLee to RTC on 9/1.

I hope that you have plans to do last minute things around town or close to home that you've wanted to do, but haven't had the time for or things that you'll want to do as a family.  We had a busy Saturday running around Memphis and the area doing fun things.  Sunday was a little lazy around the house, helping her pack up things in her room and such.

On Monday, we had an appointment with her recruiter to meet him at the office at 3pm to fill out the remaining things she needed, but then found out we really could have done it earlier in the day and relaxed.  We took her from the recruiting office because her brother had a JV football game that night.  She was supposed to be at the hotel at 8pm, but we arranged to bring her there at 9pm and then spent the rest of the time with her until 10pm when she was supposed to be in her room.

Tuesday, swearing in day and the first day of their Navy career, we went to MEPS an hour or so before the swearing in ceremony.  You may want to check with your recruiter and/or MEPS if you have more people going more than you and your wife.  Due to space restrictions, our MEPS only allowed two people on the floor, no exceptions.  This meant that our son was not allowed up, but he had a couple of my daughter's friends to hang out with downstairs.  At our MEPS, they broke up the ceremonies between the services and there was plenty time for pictures during and afterwards.  After everyone were officially Active Duty members, they drove them to the airport and we met our daughter there.  Her flight wasn't leaving for six hours, so we had a lot of time to eat, hang out and such. 

It's a tough time on all, especially the Mommas. 

Congrats to you all and welcome to the family!  Someone is always here if you need them.

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Permalink Reply by David Keith on September 18, 2015 at 3:56pm

Tom,

Thanks so much for your advice. I'll check out the videos.

Tomorrow we're hosting an open house for about 30 of his freinds plus some family friends that are older. One of the things I'm doing there is setting up a table with some smallish cards and envelopes that the guests can write messages to Adam, seal the envelopes, and we'll mail them to him spread out over the course of the next six weeks. I've heard that mail is the highlight of the week.

I think this website will help me get through this.

Best regards,

David

 

Tom L said:

Welcome to Navy Dads, David....My best advice to you is to watch the videos for Basic so that you will have a feel for what Adam is about to undertake. It will be as big an adjustment for you and your family as it will be for Adam. The next 8 weeks are a "roller coaster" of emotions and trust me....there will be some tears. The worst part is the lack of communication with your Son. You will get the "I have arrived" 30 second call. About 10 days later you will receive the "box" with items Adam is sending home. There will also be a Form Letter arriving that will have Adam's Division and address so that you can send him letters.....and send lots! Begin writing when he leaves....it will be good for you and welcomed by him! Every Recruit says that letters from home are what helped them get through this transition! The Form letter will also have the information for PIR (Graduation) and helpful information regarding hotels in the area. Make reservations early as rooms fill up fast.

   Make good use of this site and ask any questions that come up. We have all been through this and understand all of the feelings that you will experience. You are becoming part of the Navy Family and we are all here to support you. I wish Adam the best of luck as he begins his journey!!!

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Permalink Reply by David Keith on September 18, 2015 at 4:01pm

Jeremy,

Thanks for the information. We were planning to take Adam's sister to the swearing in ceremony as well so there would be three of us.  I'll have to check that out to save an awkward situation from happening.

We have been doing things all summer to check off the bucket list, but the time seems to be racing by now. Check out the profile picture of Adam catching his first permit down in the Florida Keys. I know we can't do it all so that will give us ideas for his leave.

Best regards,

David 

Jeremy Day Pesnell said:

Welcome aboard David!  Glad to call you, Adam, Rebecca and everyone family.  I retired last year as a Chief Petty Officer after 21 years and we sent our daughter AnnaLee to RTC on 9/1.

I hope that you have plans to do last minute things around town or close to home that you've wanted to do, but haven't had the time for or things that you'll want to do as a family.  We had a busy Saturday running around Memphis and the area doing fun things.  Sunday was a little lazy around the house, helping her pack up things in her room and such.

On Monday, we had an appointment with her recruiter to meet him at the office at 3pm to fill out the remaining things she needed, but then found out we really could have done it earlier in the day and relaxed.  We took her from the recruiting office because her brother had a JV football game that night.  She was supposed to be at the hotel at 8pm, but we arranged to bring her there at 9pm and then spent the rest of the time with her until 10pm when she was supposed to be in her room.

Tuesday, swearing in day and the first day of their Navy career, we went to MEPS an hour or so before the swearing in ceremony.  You may want to check with your recruiter and/or MEPS if you have more people going more than you and your wife.  Due to space restrictions, our MEPS only allowed two people on the floor, no exceptions.  This meant that our son was not allowed up, but he had a couple of my daughter's friends to hang out with downstairs.  At our MEPS, they broke up the ceremonies between the services and there was plenty time for pictures during and afterwards.  After everyone were officially Active Duty members, they drove them to the airport and we met our daughter there.  Her flight wasn't leaving for six hours, so we had a lot of time to eat, hang out and such. 

It's a tough time on all, especially the Mommas. 

Congrats to you all and welcome to the family!  Someone is always here if you need them.

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Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on September 18, 2015 at 6:09pm

You are more than welcome, Brother....Here if you need anything!

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Permalink Reply by Phil Shannon on September 18, 2015 at 6:37pm

almost 4 years ago when our daughter told us she wants to join the US Navy we had a crash course, big time! My wife and I aren't veterans but both of our fathers were. Luckily I had some friends, one guy at work and one guy from high school, who was in the US Navy until a couple of years ago. We asked my friend from high school for the best rates and he came back and said the Crypto Tech rates are one of the best for preparing for a high paying job after you get out of the US Navy. 

Here I am so many years later, she is CTT2, she loves her job, has an apartment one block from the beach, has seen several countries around the world aboard the USS America LHA-6 and her current plan is to re-enlist after her 6 years comes up, and try for 4 years in Hawaii. 

My advice (besides what I posted on the CT group) is do the best to prepare your son for PIR hopefully he goes in well rested. Tell him, don't take anything personal, they have to break them all down in order to build them back up the Navy way. The first couple of weeks are always the toughest and for you, no news is good news after you get that "i'm here at Great Lakes" call. Write some letters. 

ANother piece of advice, don't be afraid to ask questions. There are hundreds if not thousands of us that went through everything you are about to go through, and we got you & your families backs' 100%

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