New Navy Mom

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Permalink Reply by CJ Matt's Mom on November 5, 2008 at 11:48am

I am a new Navy mom and am so blessed to have found this site. You're right that sometimes we are so "green" that we don't even know what questions to ask. And, if you do have questions, where to go for the answers. Unfortunately, because this is all new to my son, he can't provide a lot of information. It seems that many times, the Navy only tells him just what he needs to know for the moment. It is wonderful to read of other perspectives and ideas and to know that you are not alone in your situation. Thank you for being there for us, so that we can be there for them! Proud to be a Navy Mom, CJ Rudd

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Permalink Reply by Judi Yergensen on November 5, 2008 at 6:12pm

Hi i am a new navy mom to,is your son in boot camp now and if so when does he graduate? Don't worry you are not alone ,we have all been in the same situation. We have had help as 2 men that work for my husband are Ex Navy so they have helped us. Plus Chances best friend in high school went through boot camp just before Chance did so they have helped us to. They seem like they tell them all kinds of things when they get there to see if they can take the stress,but he finds out the correct answers in the end, does that make sense.They told him when he first got there that after boot camp he would be sent away to New York for a year away from his wife. and she wouldn't be able to go. But now he has found out that he will be able to come home 1 1/2 weeks after boot camp and get his wife and go to SC where he had told him he would be stationed when he first signed up. so they seem to play with where minds to see if they can handle things, thank God my husband went through boot camp in the army, so he could calm me down and explain to me what they were doing.Chance will be training as a Nuclear Engineer what will your son be doing? Don't feel so green we are all in the same situation, and we are all hear for each other . It's hard to say don't stress your self but it gets better the longer they are there, and the more letters you get from them. Hope i haven't rambled on to much just trying to help
Judi Yergensen

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Permalink Reply by CJ Matt's Mom on November 5, 2008 at 6:59pm

Hi Judy, My son is actually out on his first deployment right now. He is an FT and just earned his dolphins. He is stationed in Norfolk which is about 2 hours from us, so he's been able to come home pretty frequently since being there. He was in Groton for his A school so we were delighted when he got Norfolk. This deployment has been long, however. And because it was his first one we didn't know what to expect like how often we would hear from him by either email or phone. I also didn't know about sending him packages and how long it would take for him to get them. The first one I sent was full of homemade cookies which were VERY stale by the time he received them! I also know that space is a real issue so I was unsure of what kinds of things I could send him. So this website has really helped me. Thanks for your encouragement.

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Permalink Reply by CJ on November 5, 2008 at 9:16pm

Maybe this will help you and your son communicate. My Daughter served 3 years on a carrier and 1 year in Iraq. During this time of course I was not to ask questions as to her where abouts, but had a good idea of where she was going. So having said that we made up some codes for our conversations. When I knew Hong Kong was getting close she would tell me that she was having Chinese food tomorrow or on Monday. When she was in Iraq she would tell me how many birds flew over that day. The birds were the mortors coming in bound and if I didn't hear them when she called that was a good thing. We also used her birth date as a time guide - add 2 days - subtract 5 days, that sort of thing. It really helped me know where she was and it was a relief. I also had a world map to to watch her travels. Her husband is stationed in Japan and will be station state side for 3 years so we are looking forward to that. I hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Judi Yergensen on November 5, 2008 at 5:27pm

Chance graduates from boot camp on November 21st. I have 6 boys who have gone on to different careers, but i think this was the hardest one to see go. I think it's the no contact thing, the other 5 boys can call home anytime, even if its just to say hi. But this one i have shed so many tears over ,its the letters, where he sounds so desperate, then you dont get one for another week so all that time you are worrying till the next one. But i can say they get better, and they ajust to there lives there, then you get a 5min phone call where you try and keep it together and not sound like a mother thats losing it, and its hard, probably one of the hardest things i've ever done. i cry everytime i write to him, every time i think of him and i've always prided myself on not being one of those over protective moms, i feel stupid.All you can do is write them as much as possible and tell them they made the right choice. I am so proud of Chance he is going on to be a Nuclear Engineer on a Submarine. He will be inSC for now we will learn more about what's happerning when we get to his graduation. if there is many one else out there just needs someone to talk to please feel free to write. This is the first time i have really written anything on this site but it sure helps just reading everyone's letters that have been there and understand you. I live just out side of Grand Junction CO. I am from England i came over here with my now exhusband who was in the Air Force and am now married to a Ex Army Guy, it is so different being a Military Wife than a Military mom.
Thanks for being there Judi Yergensen

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Permalink Reply by Janis Kay on November 6, 2008 at 7:54am

Hi Judi,
I'm a new navy mom too. My son grads on 11-21 and will go to Nuke in SC also. Have you joined the Nuke moms also? You should, I have learned a lot there. I know exactly what you mean about how you are feeling and the desperation in the letters. It's so hard. This is my oldest son so I have nothing to compare, but I am thinking this is terribly difficult. I'm so looking forward to seeing him in 2 weeks! I'm sure you are too!

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Permalink Reply by Lili Christensen on November 12, 2008 at 5:41am

Hi! I am kinda a new Navy mom, have 1 son in Japan and my baby just went to SC for nuke school, I saw this post about the nuke moms group, please let me know how to have access to that group also. God Bless our children!!

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Permalink Reply by Navy for Moms Admin on November 16, 2008 at 8:02am

How to join a group-
click here!

CC

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Permalink Reply by Becky Johnson on November 5, 2008 at 7:57pm

I am the Mom of a son DEP. He is to leave for boot camp January 22 and then A school for a corpsman. He can't wait! I know this is what he has wanted for awhile, so I am encouraging him to study and be as prepared for it as possible. He has put on 25 pounds of muscle to get ready for boot camp and to carry a corpsman bag (he started at a skinny 132 pounds) and is taking a medical terminology class since he just finished an EMT class and felt he needed more in understanding medical wordage. It amazes me how this has focused him after he had such a hard time getting anything above a C or D in highschool. So, when he told me his plans I was soooo happy. He parachutes for fun and flies around with a friend on weekends who got his pilots license at 18. To say he is a thrill seeker is an understatement! I am more worried about his mental stability. His goal is to be a corpsman for a Marine Recon Unit. His brother is on his second deployment as a Marine Infantryman and is not real thrilled his brother's goal is corpsman. It has caused a little rift between them. Of course they still love each other, but Adam has seen the worst that a corpsman is handed. Is there a corpsman Mom that can offer me some insights? I would sure appreciate it.
Becky Johnson

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Permalink Reply by Lisa in Michigan on November 5, 2008 at 9:52pm

Hi Becky, there is a group for corpsmen moms. Just go to the groups page and type in corpsmen moms in the search box. I'm sure the moms there can answer all your questions.

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Permalink Reply by Becky Johnson on November 6, 2008 at 9:00am

Lisa, Thanks - this site is going to be so helpful!

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Permalink Reply by Military Mom on November 13, 2008 at 11:38am

Gosh Becky....what a mix of emotions you must be having. Tell your sons thank you for me...what they are doing is the most important thing they will ever do. I can relate to the rift between your marine and navy sons. My sons probably have the same thing. My oldest was a marine and now that the youngest joined the navy my oldest teases him that he is a wimpy squid. But I also know that my oldest does not want his brother to go through what he did in Iraq. Being a corpsman for the marines is very demanding but it sounds like he is well prepared for what he is about to do.
Good luck to all of you.

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