Daughter having second thoughts..... HELP!!

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Permalink Reply by egvolpe on August 26, 2009 at 11:08pm

We will all keep her in our prayers. I have a daughter that just left the Navy after serving for ten years and a son looking forward to going in. Don't forget you have friends that know how you feel.

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Permalink Reply by Mr. & Mrs. Fig Ship 11. DIV 335. on August 28, 2009 at 2:35pm

My son went in when he turned 17 as well and was in the DEP program. Just keep incuraging her. Just to let her know my son says its not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. On a scall of 1-10 he says its a 7 at Boot Camp. He has never been the sports person and he was over weight when he first got in the DEP program. He lost 30 pounds before he left. He is now the AROC for his Div. in boot camp and loves its, says he is having the time of his life. The first week is tuff but worth it. Plus tell her this, if she does the DEP program she will be an E-4 straight out of Boot Camp. Our son will out rank his recruiter when he graduates boot camp. You need also need to be in the recruiters office once a week with her for support. If they know they have the support at home they will do anything they can to help you.

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Permalink Reply by NavyDCmomma on September 5, 2009 at 5:53pm

You know what, your instincts are right on mom...my son wanted to go in since the age of 12. Everyday it was different, for eight years!...each branch of the military, different jobs, you name it. I just had to let it go and not emotionally or rationally invest in any one place for him.

In the end, when he would start the conversations, I would listen, he would tell me what he is thinking and I would say, "Well, if I had to play devil's advocate, then..." and, "On the other hand, the good thing about that is...you are better suited for...such and such...its more your thing and you are more likely to be successful"...and there is always, "Well would you like to hear my objective and honest opinion on that one?" A very calm and frank discussion without being a win/lose, right/wrong debate is the best way to handle it with a teenager.

Just be the sounding board...

Many times the immature ones that can't handle it are culled out at bootcamp.

Also, be sure to tell her that everyone there is away from home and when you get her address you will send her letters,pictures (not of parties please) and postcards from home...and, the reason you go to bootcamp and to classes is to get the training and learn. Many of them want to know everything before they get to their ultimate job.

Do you have US Navy Sea Cadets near you? That is a great way to test herself.

http://www.seacadets.org/public/programs/nscc/

Good luck and I hope she goes for it!

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Permalink Reply by sharpie558 on September 8, 2009 at 10:36am

I can relate to you. My daughter signed up on her 17th birthday. We spent a year on the DEP program. It was hard some days she was going some days she was not. She did leave July 7, 2009 and just graduated last week from basic. It is hard to keep them motivated when they are involved in a weak DEP program. I did not push and she made the descision to go on her own. I too think it is a great thing to do. There are a few resources on the web that provide some good videos to watch. I think the best thing for my daughter was finding friends that were inlisted and talking to them. She became really serious about going when she talked to more serving individuals. I am not a fan of facebook or myspace but this is where she met them and she began asking questions. My duaghter was a four year cheerleader, this was not the path we thought she would take. We came from a small northwest Colorado town that did not have a lot of support for students joining the service. When she got to basic her confidence grew and she was selected to be RPOC. Which means she was in charge of the division. This position generally changes hands a few time throughout basic..in this case it stayed with her the whole time. Alyssa was scared about leaving home also. We too are very close. She made friends at the hotel before they shipped off to Great Lakes. A couple of the girls were in her divison, so she made some connections. It was strange for me to leave Great Lakes last week to see a confident and beautiful young woman and not my football cheering little girl. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by kpmom on September 17, 2009 at 2:28pm

My son (oldest now 31) enlisted in the Navy through the DEP 13 years ago. He did it with the agreement he would get the school he wanted (Corpsman), which he did. He's been a Corpsman for 13 years and was recently accepted into a commissioning program. He's going to college full time as an active duty E7, and is doing great. The Navy has been a wonderful experience for my son. He said it's the best decision he could have made. He sees his fellow classmates from 13 years ago and the majority of them are feeling the effects of the current rescession. He says he almost feels guilty because he really has not felt much.

My younger son is in the Navy Reserve and is at a Federal Service Academy currently. So I have 2 Navy boys :)

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Permalink Reply by Jonyboy1988 on September 30, 2009 at 5:24pm

I think your daughter should go to college and see what is out their first. She has lots of time to decided wheather or not she wants to enlist in the Navy. My nephew was 22 when he joined the navy. No regrets waiting.

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Permalink Reply by Viki on September 30, 2009 at 9:51pm

Tell her my daughter Jenna is on her way as I type, to Pearl Harbor Hawaii as her pick station.
She came in 1st in her cryptology class and got to pick where she would live.
Hawaii !!
Ya can't do that with any other job. Go NAVY !!

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