Son in FIT

[ldrider51]

We got a letter from Brandon yesterday. He's pretty down, homesick, bored. I don't think the boredom helps his attitude at all.

[02152007navy]

Oh I'm so sorry for Brandon...its hard, its not going like he thought.
He will get through this...many more have went before him and came out ok,
but I know how you feel as a parent you cant help him...

Just send letters of encouragement, try to keep him up beat about it...just a small snag in the big picture of it all...he will get though this...

ask Kristie...he daughter should be so disappointed and you know...she is not letting it get her down!!
Talk to Kristie...she knows where you are at right now...she might help you though this!!

[Kristie]

Best thing you can do for him is to just keep encouraging him.....writing to him....sending pictures....but most of all just keep praying for him to have the strength to get thru this time....

[Will'sMom]

Just wanted you to know that Brandon is in my prayers. In the meantime, continue to encourage him with cards and letters.

Melanie

[JodieAK]

I'm so sorry to hear that Brandon is having a rough time. Please do keep writing him encouraging letters every day, and pictures. Being at FIT is okay - he'll be okay. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there, Mom!

[ldrider51]

I've gone from hoping to get that phone call that he's passed his run to dreading the phone call to tell me he's going to the separation division.

I don't believe he is gonna' make it. Each of his letters has sounded more and more down. This last one sounded like a whiney little boy. In four weeks his run times haven't improved - he's still up just longer than 13 minutes. I figure he's got to be getting close to wearing out the RDCs' patience with him since his run times aren't improving.

We've sent encouragement, suggestions, his mother and I even each sent 2nd day express mail letters to him.

I think he's given up and is just marking time now.

[Rhon]

I will be praying for you son and hopefully his spirits get lifted up, that has to be hard when you are so down and such. Keep us posted and hang in there and we are all here lifting this up in prayers:) Keep us posted.

Hugs,
Rhonda

[METOC_Mauk]

I don't mean to come off rude if i do at all.But is your son a guy who is in shape and can do the running,push-ups,sit-ups.but doesn't because of lazinesses.or is he more like the type that went in a little heavy,just sqweeked by the fat % test.the reason i ask is my bunk mate was the first type of person i listed and i was the ladder.if hes the first type then not only dose he have his RDC's pissed off but he has is fellow shipmates as well.nothing worse than someone who is trying to pass that run and fail when thay ran entire time and see the lazy person stop on the corners were RDCs cant see you because their tired.but if your son is the second type then he just has to let his body get out of the routine it's used to and push through the pain.it all comes down to how bad he wants it.when i went in i was 24 and had 13:25 time-42 push-ups-and 55 sit-ups.when i came out i was 12:15 time-86 push ups-95 sit-ups.if your RDC's see him trying thay wont let him fail.Every time thay run at Freedom hall theirs RDCs who Run with recruits who tell them"I'll be running a 1min lap pace,this is what you need to do to pass."but just let him now that its going to hurt but as long as you don't quit on the PT days he'll be fine.believe me those PT days really make results.

[ldrider51]

I don't mean to come off rude if i do at all.But is your son a guy who is in shape and can do the running,push-ups,sit-ups.but doesn't because of lazinesses.or is he more like the type that went in a little heavy,just sqweeked by the fat % test.the reason i ask is my bunk mate was the first type of person i listed and i was the ladder.if hes the first type then not only dose he have his RDC's pissed off but he has is fellow shipmates as well.nothing worse than someone who is trying to pass that run and fail when thay ran entire time and see the lazy person stop on the corners were RDCs cant see you because their tired.but if your son is the second type then he just has to let his body get out of the routine it's used to and push through the pain.it all comes down to how bad he wants it.when i went in i was 24 and had 13:25 time-42 push-ups-and 55 sit-ups.when i came out i was 12:15 time-86 push ups-95 sit-ups.if your RDC's see him trying thay wont let him fail.Every time thay run at Freedom hall theirs RDCs who Run with recruits who tell them"I'll be running a 1min lap pace,this is what you need to do to pass."but just let him now that its going to hurt but as long as you don't quit on the PT days he'll be fine.believe me those PT days really make results.


I don't take your response as rude.

He was close on the weight, not quite as close on the fat %. He always does fine on the pushups and curl ups - no problem at all. His brother and I both begged him for four months before he left to take the running seriously or they would kick his ass in boot camp.

He tells us he's running the entire 1.5, but he's just not at a fast enough pace. I told him him needs to be running at a pace to make the time, no matter if he crapped out before the end or not - if he did crap out, slow to a jog for the rest of the 1.5. Each time he does it, he'll last longer before he craps out until he's able to make the entire run at a passing pace.

I don't really know what the heck is going on other than after being sick and not passing his motivation is down, his attitude is down. We've tried to encourage him by letter, I chewed his butt by letter, but each of his letters is lower and lower now.

So I don't know how much he really wants it now. If that's gone, there's no way he'll make it.