Rjmakmom Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 He's wanted to join the Army since he was 8yo, but I can't believe he's actually gone. The house seems so empty without him. He'll be at Fort Jackson, SC until late late April, then Ft. Lee, VA for 13 weeks. He went in as a wheel mechanic, so after training he can be stationed anywhere in the world, since wheeled vehicles are everywhere. My girls are having a tough time with him leaving, especially my 15yo- they are really close. Prayers would be appreciated as we all adjust to this new life. 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) I can only imagine it's difficult. But yay for him! Following his dreams, serving his country. Good things! Hugs momma. Edited February 24, 2016 by athomeontheprairie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Hugs and Prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Congrats to your DS for having his dream come true! The first weeks require one to make adjustments, and there is a lot of running, etc., but after that, everything becomes "normal" and hopefully he will be happy that he joined. You will be able to keep in touch via Skype, WhatsApp, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 ((HUGS)) I've been there and it's hard to believe how much you miss them. Think ahead of how proud you'll be when he graduates from Basic! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 ladybugs Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thank you for your family's service. I don't imagine it is any easier for a child to go away to college then it is for them to join the military. A child leaving home is hard anyway you slice it. I hope your daughter and son continue to have a close relationship and that your son is able to do what he always dreamed of. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Praying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valley Girl Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Another thank you for your family's service. May he stay safe and you have peace in your heart as he follows his dream. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Prayers. It is very hard but he will learn so much. Really. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 ladybugs Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Actually, it is a bit different. Parents can communicate with kids who leave for college; communication with kids in basic training is severely limited. I didn't know. I am sorry if I offended. I always thank any person in military uniform (or police for that matter) but I know very little about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 :grouphug: I did my Basic Training at Fort Jackson. It's a good place, he'll do great there. A lot of really hard work, but when I was there the people in charge were genuinely concerned for our safety and well-being. I have a lot of fond memories from Basic Training. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 He's wanted to join the Army since he was 8yo, but I can't believe he's actually gone. The house seems so empty without him. He'll be at Fort Jackson, SC until late late April, then Ft. Lee, VA for 13 weeks. He went in as a wheel mechanic, so after training he can be stationed anywhere in the world, since wheeled vehicles are everywhere. My girls are having a tough time with him leaving, especially my 15yo- they are really close. Prayers would be appreciated as we all adjust to this new life. Awww. I'm sorry. That must be tough. Praying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Praying for all of you. Thank you for your family's service to our country! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Actually, it is a bit different. Parents can communicate with kids who leave for college; communication with kids in basic training is severely limited. :iagree: Except for letters! Letters are the best thing ever when you're in Basic Training. I had friends send me postcards because they'd let us hang them up, and it was nice to get new pictures regularly. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisa in Florida Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I went through this two years ago when my son went to Marine boot camp, so I feel for you. It really is an odd experience. I don't know about the Army, but there is a very active Facebook page for parents of Marine recruits. Once I found it, it was really good to connect with other parents going through the same thing. You might search Facebook for similar Army groups or ask your son's recruiter. My son is stationed in North Carolina, so he gets home several times a year, but it's still not easy when he leaves. You'd think I'd be used to it after two years. Praying for you and your son! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaPagnato Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 :grouphug: to you, mama! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosaicmind Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I've been there twice and I'm still there. Our oldest 2 sons wanted to go into Airforce since middle school, so each went in right after high school. They did wonderfully and have loved every minute. The bad part is being deployed, which happened to oldest twice. After his second deployment he couldn't handle doing anything and started having nightmares and considering suicide. December 12th he was honorably discharged due to being 50% disabled due to PTSD and MDD. He had served just over 4 years and attained the rank of staff sergeant. He gets a retirement check and disability but he's yet gotten his papers to start seeing a counselor at the VA, so I've put my counseling degree to work a little and we've loved and supported him here at home. He's considering using all that money for college and finishing his degree at Purdue. Our other son loves it so much he's going to put in his 20 years and retire. Neither has regretted their decision. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Write a lot and keep your head up. He's going to do great things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eliz Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 :grouphug: :grouphug: Praying for him and for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tampamommy Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Praying for you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Actually, it is a bit different. Parents can communicate with kids who leave for college; communication with kids in basic training is severely limited. :iagree: Yes, it really is different. We got one phone call in the middle of the first night saying "I'm here, I'm fine. You'll get information on where to write to me. Good-bye.*CLICK*" They were also allowed a 15 minute call on Father's Day. Other than that we could only communicate by letters. They weren't allowed to receive food, magazines, newspapers, phone calls, texts, or anything else. They would be punished for anything other than a letter and their phones were confiscated. It's tough on a mom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 (edited) :grouphug: I did my Basic Training at Fort Jackson. It's a good place, he'll do great there. A lot of really hard work, but when I was there the people in charge were genuinely concerned for our safety and well-being. I have a lot of fond memories from Basic Training. I too did Basic Training at Fort Jackson. My mother flew to my graduation and told my drill sergeant, "Thank you for doing in 12 weeks what I couldn't do in 17 years." I started college at 19 a completely different person, and I still credit my academic success to the discipline the Army instilled in me. This will be a lifechanging experience for him. Thank you both for your service. :grouphug: Edited February 25, 2016 by SeaConquest 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) Best phone call from basic, " I'm fine. After you as a mom the drill sargent isn't that bad!" Click. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜³ðŸ˜„Hang in mama. Edited February 26, 2016 by joyofsix 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thessa516 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Bumping up! Graduation should be soon for your son! Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 (edited) BTDT Go Army Parents was very, very helpful for me when my son was in Basic in '11. http://goarmyparents.com/but they have a Facebook page now that you might prefer. ds is still grateful to me for writing EVERY DAY WITHOUT FAIL even when he wasn't able to write me back. What he missed most was music. I wrote the lyrics of his favourite songs in the margins of his letters. He really appreciated that and they either didn't mind or we didn't get caught. I didn't want to get a cell phone but ds wound up giving me his when I found myself not wanting to leave the house for fear of missing one of those 3 minute phone calls. He still pays the bill for it even though he had to replace the actual physical object twice, once when I dropped it and another time when it became obsolete. ;) I hope you're able to go to your ds' graduation--I couldn't, but he bought me a DVD. Basic really did change him, but for the better. It also changed me. I do not need to know anything more about you than the subject line of this thread to accept you as family. Please feel free to PM me if you need to. I have a younger child and health issues so I don't always see everything here. Edited April 18, 2016 by Guest 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 That is so young. I can't even imagine. Your son sounds like wonderful young man, and I am in awe of all who volunteer as he is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Hugs, and thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Indeed Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Been there. My son left for the Navy in November. He was in basic for Thanksgiving and Christmas- graduated New Years Eve. Prayers. It was the hardest thing I have ever done as a mom- dropping him at the recruiting station before he shipped out. He is doing well now in his school- graduates mid July- but from homeschool mom to no contact for 9 weeks was tough! Now we talk several times a week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalytic Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 (edited) BAH! Wrong thread. Edited April 18, 2016 by Catalytic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rjmakmom Posted May 5, 2016 Author Share Posted May 5, 2016 My son graduated Basic Combat Training a week ago today. Family Day and Graduation were 2 of the most amazing things I've ever seen. He's doing well, we got to spend almost 4 whole days together while we transported him to Ft. Lee, VA where he'll be for the next 13 weeks while in school for his MOS. He's pretty sure he's going to Korea for a year after, and don't know how I'm going to handle that, but one step at a time. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Congratulations to you both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El... Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 How cool! Best wishes for him (and you). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 I have family that have served in Korea and they all LOVED it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2OandE Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Congratulations! Korea! I'd start planning a vacation there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thessa516 Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :patriot: Congratulations!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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