Susan's Page - Garrett's Mom - GM's!!!

Susan, you will have to explain cold.....here we had freezing rain then snow last night and snowing again today. It is suppose to be around -20 below zero my middle of next week with subzero highs. It was about 60 when Devin got there last night.....so that feels like a heat wave for us.
How does your son like the base there? Dev got in at night so it was dark. He was excited to be there and anxious for daylight today to check everything out.
Have a great weekend

Darcy

Hi Susan. Things are not looking real good right now. The place where I work is closing their location, so a lot of us will be out of a job.They will continue to pay us for 90 days though so that is good. I may have to sign up for unemployment after that if I don't find something.my son is doing good,still going through his training.he didn't make it home for Christmas but is going to try and get home after his training is done. it was nice to hear from you again. take care.

Susan, what your going through is very normal. when Justin first left for boot camp I cried every day for almost 2 weeks,thought the same thing- I was being a crybaby.My sister has a son who is also in the navy and he is making a career of it.He has about 6-8 years to go to retire from it.I talked to her and she said she went through it too. I remember every time I would go by his bedroom the tears would start.Even now after him being in for a year,when I have to see him off at the airport it feels like my heart is breaking.He tells me not to cry but it just feels like a piece of my heart is missing when he's gone. i know it's going to get tougher when he does have to deploy because he won't be able to call on the phone like he does now,and not hearing anything for 2 months or more is going to be hard for me.So your not alone,your a mom who loves her child. Letting them grow up and letting go is not an easy thing to do. Just hang in there but you can write and talk to me any time you need to. take care.

Susan, have him check with his commanding officer to see if they shut down the base for Christmas.I know in Great Lakes they did-they call it stand down I think, and Justin got to come home for 2 weeks. Also he can go on the computer to a site for them called my pay and look at how much time he has built up for leave.Justin was just home in September but says he may be able to come home for a week at Christmas,depending if they stay up and running or not and if he has enough leave time.I hope he does but if not I will have to tough it out,and it will be a tough one for me.First one with him not here.Gets hard at times but I guess we have to expect it with them in the military.

Susan, Yeah I know it is pretty scary. I try not to think about it but sometimes it's hard not to. My son usually tells me whats going on but not all the time. I know the things he will be doing will be very dangerous at times, and I try to support him the best i can but inside i am shaking. I try not to let him know as I don't want him to worry about me,want him to stay focused.It's not what I would have chose for him( his Job) but since he did I just get through it the best I can. I just take the time I get on the phone with him talking and laughing and it helps me get through.Plus coming to NFM'S and talking with the friends I've met.Hang in there.

Susan, your welcome. LOL on the pulling teeth. sounds like my son at times. Does your son know where he will be going after Mississippi? my son is in Little Creek, Virginia.that is where he will be stationed for the next 3 years unless something gets changed.

Hi Susan, my son was in Mississippi for 26 days. They learned some of the medical training they may one day have to use ( tourniquets, treating someone with a gunshot wound to different body parts and how to treat each one). They did some scenario's where they had to confront possible enemies and how to handle the situation and look out for each other, how to use different weapons they will one day use, some range shooting practice. A variety of things really but very helpful and important things they need to know to do their job.

Hi again Susan, I can't belive your son has been in GL for almost a year now, no wonder he is ready to move on!!!! I hope he gets great orders and they come soon. Keep in touch.

Hi Susan, Gunners mates do a lot of different jobs. They can be stationed on destroyers and cruisers to man the large guns on the ships, or they can be stationed on the larger ships that transport marines (amphib ships) to manage small guns for the marines. They can be stationed with special forces in order toprovide logisitics, manage weapons, do training etc. My son is currently teaching foreign troops with the expeditionary warfare group. He travels to foreign countries in order to teach a variety of things, some related to weapons, some leadership skills etc. He will have a lot of opportunities to attend other navy schools. If he gets assigned to manage the large guns on the ships, he will go to C school which usually takes place after A school. My son has been to a ton of navy schools including instructor schools. The gunners mate rate is a good one. Hope this helps, please let me know if there is anything else you need to know. Good luck!!!!