[BillR]

My youngest son leaves for Great Lakes (Navy bootcamp) on Jan 22nd. He's a tall, lanky guy w/not alot of meat on his bones, so I know he's gonna freeze his ***** off.
What else does he need to watch for? Any advice? (for him OR his parents...)

[Teapot]

Finished Basic trng in Canada in June and it lasted 14 weeks. He needs to be able to do at least 19 push ups. Two tall guys in my platoon couldn't do them as their frame was so long.
Then there is the 19 hr work days and PT twice a day along with ruck sack marches and lots of verbal abuse and group punishment for the individuals failings that are a part of training that a lot of recruits find difficult to tolerate.

I am sure your son will do fine. It is only a matter of remembering that all one's buddies are going through the same thing. Knowing that really helps. That is where the bonding begins.
I wish him the best of luck in his endeavours.

Merry Christmas

[squidville_1975]

Originally Posted by Teapot

Finished Basic trng in Canada in June and it lasted 14 weeks. He needs to be able to do at least 19 push ups. Two tall guys in my platoon couldn't do them as their frame was so long.
Then there is the 19 hr work days and PT twice a day along with ruck sack marches and lots of verbal abuse and group punishment for the individuals failings that are a part of training that a lot of recruits find difficult to tolerate.

I am sure your son will do fine. It is only a matter of remembering that all one's buddies are going through the same thing. Knowing that really helps. That is where the bonding begins.
I wish him the best of luck in his endeavours.

Merry Christmas

Canada has a Navy?

[bubllehead]

Originally Posted by squidville_1975

Canada has a Navy?

don't laugh. I went to a party with at least 2/3 of their Sub force in like 1990 and again in 92. Lots of Crown. love those guys.

[squidville_1975]

Originally Posted by bubllehead

don't laugh. I went to a party with at least 2/3 of their Sub force in like 1990 and again in 92. Lots of Crown. love those guys.

Hi there bubllehed, I am a BUBBLEHEAD too.

[BillR]

We just got the first actual letter from him. It sounds like he's doing great. He's impressed with the food, but says some of his shipmates are causing alot of extra PT for everyone with their evening talking and such.
He aced the initial familiarization/saftey class with the M9. (That's my boy!)

[RM]

What is going to do in the Navy? Either way tell him to listen to his LPOs and Chiefs, keep his mouth shut till he has enough on the job to know how to do it and have some humility. The military is about the team and not the person, sometimes taking one for the team is more important than being the center of attention. *


Common sense said if he is told something that sound way out to lunch than to ask about it.

[Derrin33]

+1 to keeping your mouth shut. I went through boot in '02 and have been out the Navy about a yr now. "Eyes open, mouth closed, head on a swivel."

[BillR]

He's signed up to be an Aircraft Mechanic-Hydralics.
I've told him SEVERAL times about keeping his mouth closed. He's not mouthy anyway, but he's NOT a "morning person". He hates getting up early, and I told him that's "part of the deal!"

[tampashooters]

Originally Posted by Derrin33

+1 to keeping your mouth shut. I went through boot in '02 and have been out the Navy about a yr now. "Eyes open, mouth closed, head on a swivel."

+2

The only advice my Grandfather told me was to keep quiet, do what you are told, and don't stand out. Trust me, I saw the idiot's that didn't heed that advice! At the end of my boot camp (San Diego)... the company commanders were like.... uh, who are you? ....Bingo!

(Plankowner) & (Trusty Shellback...back before the wussies ruined it)

Tell him good luck, and express my gratitude for joining....

[BillR]

He just left for bootcamp a little while ago this afternoon.
I knew today was coming, but it's not any easier. The house is WAY too quiet.
Tomorrow for him will NOT be quiet, though.
I passed along all of the "keep your mouth shut" advice; his recruiter told him the same thing.

[Glolt20-91]

Well, good luck, this is not the time of year I would pick to be in No. Chicago. Lots of Great Lakes memories, I think our first paychecks were $28.50 for two weeks; later on, $55.00/mo combat pay didn't seem half bad.

How many weeks does basic last these days? Once he gets his time in, he'll do fine and learn a little street savvy along the way.

I never made it to the fleet and wore fatigues most of my enlistment, so much for seeing the world.

Bob

[BillR]

Originally Posted by Glolt20-91

Well, good luck, this is not the time of year I would pick to be in No. Chicago. Lots of Great Lakes memories, I think our first paychecks were $28.50 for two weeks; later on, $55.00/mo combat pay didn't seem half bad.

How many weeks does basic last these days? Once he gets his time in, he'll do fine and learn a little street savvy along the way.

I never made it to the fleet and wore fatigues most of my enlistment, so much for seeing the world.

Bob

Basic is 8 weeks; after that he'll be in Pensecola for 5-6 weeks for his "A" school.

[robert7355]

Bill:

Make sure he signed up for the GI Bill & College Fund. Also, when he gets to his permanent duty station he needs to find the satellite college campus on base. Most if not all bases have this. The Navy will give him tuition assistance to pay for school and it won't count against his GI Bill or College Fund $$$. There's no reason why he can't get a minimum of an Associate's during his 1st tour. Since he's going in to aviation field I would highly recommend Embry Riddle. They're a top-notch institution and have satellite campuses as well as online classes. They will also give credit for his Navy schools.
http://www.erau.edu/

[behr70]

Bill,

I think he will find recruit training challenging and rewarding. Instruction has come a long way in the last decade from the classroom through "Battle Stations", the final test. There are fitness standards and his recruiter should be running a pre-PT test prior to his departure for training. It is not that difficult. If he can perform 50 push ups, 50 sit ups, and run 1 1/2 miles in under 13 minutes he will do fine. He should of been given a "Delayed Entry Program" Booklet. This is for him to study and obtain naval knowledge on items such as rank, first aid, customs, abbreviations, and naval tradition. This will help him considerably in training and possibly help in accelerated advancement. As stated earlier when he arrives at recruit training he will be offered the Montgomery GI Bill. This is a one time offer. Do not turn it down. It amounts to 100.00 a month coming directly from his paycheck for 12 months. So 1200.00 total. This investment pays out just under 40,000 for college. It can be used anywhere from 2 years of service until 10 years after ones discharge. The navy also has tuition assistance, currently 100% up to 15 semester hours per year free. Here is a link for some more educational information including Embry-Riddle.

https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/rat...te.cfm?rate=AM

AM "A" Scool should be located in Pensacola, FL. A Beautiful place, I was stationed there for a number of years. He will be arriving just in time to constantly see the Blue Angels rehearsing for thier summer/fall shows.

Jay

[Sturmgewehre]

Tell your son we're all quite proud of him. Oh, and show him these pics. This is what it looks like up here right now. :D

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...property_3.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...property_2.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...property_1.jpg

[ShootNMove]

He'll pass the physical part no problem. If he can't, then he shouldn't serve anyway. I definitely agree that he should keep his mouth shut no matter how smart or capable he is. Tell him to just do his PQS and get warfare qualled ahead of his peers, that pretty much will guarantee you a good eval. What's he doing after boot camp?

[ShootNMove]

Okay, I see that he'll be an airdale, Pensacola is nice, I was just there last month. I would check out Arizona's benefits on college before electing for the GI Bill. I chose the GI bill but in my state, we have the Hazelwood act which gives you 150 credit hours tuition at a state school, BUT you have to use up your GI bill first. Career guys have little use for the GI Bill, had I elected a bonus, I could've invested it and been happier than with the GI Bill. If he plans on only doing his first enlistment and getting out, the gi bill can help.

One thing I would've done differently: Set up a Roth IRA before shipping out, and setting up an allotment to max it out every year. Retiring after 20 years on an enlisted salary is only possible if you have a good amount of money saved, another job, or you retire to a 3rd world country.

Also, prepare yourself for a lengthy deployments. He has a good chance of ending up on a carrier and they do the longest deployments in the Navy.

[standerson]

I've been retired from Uncle Sams Canoe Club for about 10 years.

1. You can learn more with your mouth shut than you can with it open.
2. Say "Yes and No Sir" to Officers NOT CHIEFS! He'll learn that the
hard way the first time he does it to a CPO.
3. Repeat 1.
4. If he's not a morning person, he soon will be.
5. Tell him to get all the college credits he can while he is on active duty.
6. Repeat 1.

Tell him to get an overseas billet if at all possible. Travel and have a good time.

[Mrhat201]

Tell him to listen to anything anyone over him says, and don't mess with any one with chief in their title.

[BillR]

We got back home late yesterday after traveling to Great Lakes for graduation. The ceremony was awesome, but it was f-n COLD. It snowed almost a foot during graduation day on Friday, and it was snowing sideways as they were marching in.
He also got his orders slightly "modified". His A-school is now in Oceana NAS near Virginia Beach. He heads out there from Chicago in about 11 days. The good part about that is we had all day on Saturday to spend with him.
He's got a great attitude so far; I just hope and pray that it continues and he doesn't get in with the wrong crowd.

[Derrin33]

Well seeing that he is an Airdale, carrier time will come. As a former flightdeck yellowshirt, the best advice is.......Mouth shut, head on swivel. The lines painted on the flight deck are there for a reason. Walking behind aircraft is ok, but there is a certain way to do it. If a man or woman in a yellow shirt tell you to do something, it's best to listen. KEEP YOUR TOOLS OFF THE DECK!!! Show up for FOD walkdowns...PLEASE!! And remember, no flightdeck crew (V-1) cares about your wing spread. Anyway, the flight deck is an AMAZING place to be. Just tell him to listen, and always watch! All this was done in humor, but so very true!!!

[bwphoto]

Congrats BillR. I'm proud of you and your son! Keep the updates coming.

[bfg1971]

Please pass my congratulations on to your son. Make sure that he has signed up for the GI-bill even if he is in a state that pays for college you still get the money.

Second get signed up for Thrift Savings Plan. They may not match your contribution but it is a tax credit when you are junior enlisted and not making much yet. The credit goes away at $50,000 AGI. If you make less than 15K the credit is 50% of what you put into the savings plan. The credit does down in value as you make more.

Third if he decides he doesn't want to stay in any longer and absolutely knows he will attend college. Buy they GI-bill kicker for $600 just before getting out and get an extra $150 a month for 36 months of school. I bought mine less than a week before getting out. Made $4500 on a week long investment.

Get the Navy to pay for as much college as you can. Take CLEP and DANTES exams. The Navy pays the testing fees. I recieved a BS in nuclear engineering tech based on my navy schools, a statistics course the navy paid for, and 1 clep test.

Now I'm in grad school and the Gi-bill is paying for it.

One more thing to tell him. Thank you!!!

[BillR]

He arrived in Virginia Beach this week for his A school. He got his wish, as he'll be working on F-18s. He called yesterday just to tell me he was watching some of the Blue Angel pilots practicing.
His school is scheduled to end on 5/14. After that, who knows where he'll be stationed.