Hello there

[smoke]

Hello from D.C. Just heard about this site on another forum, so thought I'd join up and see what the excitement is all about.

Been some time since I was in a military uniform, but I look forward to having a few memories jogged.

Steve (STG2)

[KYmom]

Welcome,
Looking forward to learning valuable lessons from you. My son is a dep leaves 7/07

[Barbygirl]

Welcome Steve,

Sure do look forward to wisdom from someone who has been there! My son is in Coronado, CA undergoing the BUD/s Training.

Again, Welcome................Any wisdom that you can share with us now?

Barb

[smoke]

Shucks, I'm already red-faced. Nobody has ever accused me of having wisdom before! Truth is I gotta dig far back to remember stuff. Did two West-Pacs while I was in (out of S.D.). Gosh, the first involved plane-guarding the Nimitz during the Iranian hostage rescue dealio, and the second was off Egypt when Sadat was assasinated. If I recall correctly, my MAIN thought at those times was, "I gotta get outta here!" (heh heh). The second thought was "DO NOT GET MARRIED" (unless the trip involves Australia...;)

I wish I could offer more right now, but I find as I get older that whenever I learn something new, I lose something old...

I'm glad I'm in this forum now as it forces me to pull up some pretty good memories. Tell you son to disregard the little things and don't let them bother him. This is very important. Avoid Captain's Mast, keep a low profile, and he'll be quietly noticed as a potential leader.

I'll have more opinions to offer in the future, for what their worth. Good luck!

[Barbygirl]

Well, gosh, will definitely have to make sure that you don't learn anything new here as I want to hear all the old first hahaha..........

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for you doing your job! I can certainly understand they thought of needing to get out of there...........and NOW!!!!!

So did you get married and did the trip involve Australia?!?!?!?!?!?!

Thank you for your words of wisdom for son. I will most certainly pass them on to him! He is quite determined to receive his Trident! Unfortunately, he is on roll back from class 262 right now and is awaiting class 263 to reach 2nd phase when he will class back up with them. He had some trouble during pool comp..........he's pretty bummed about that........but still seems to be keeping a positive attitude and doing everything he can now to stay in shape for classing up again. He wants this so bad, so I am really cheering for him to reach his dream! Being a mom, it is hard at times though.........It is hard to realize that everything he is going through is something he has CHOSEN and WANTS to do. As long as I can keep that in mind, I'm pretty ok (well, not really, but I try LOL).

Sure am looking forward to hearing some of those good memories from you!

Barb

[smoke]

Enjoyed the visits to Australia, but no, didn't get married. Waited until I was 31 (and long out) to do that. But witnessed a lot of breakups in my time, nearly all foreign marriages. Different cultures and all that...

The reason I said to not get married while in service is because the life he'll have after the military will, with few exceptions, be completely different than that in which he got married. I like to think I looked at it then as a phase, and not one in which I wanted to be tied down, but I wasn't that mature. However, it worked out that way so that's my story, and I'm stickin' with it...

Your son sounds like a fine young man who's got what it takes to succeed. Give him my best, as I'm rootin' for him too.

Regards, S.

[Barbygirl]

I'm glad that my son is not "tied" down to anyone at this point in time. For the time being his focus, thankfully, is on getting that Trident. He really surprised me. He had to report to Coronado by 8/5/06. He didn't class up until 9/11/06. One weekend between 8/5 and 9/11 (can't remember which one it was) I was talking to my son. He reading through the manual they had given him. I asked him where he was. He said he was in his room. Oh said, my I thought you would atleast be on the beach reading. Isn't the weather nice out there today. He said, "The weather is fine. I've been to the beach and now that time is over, it is time for me to concentrate on the reason I am here". I really didn't expect that response or thinking from him.

Hopefully he won't worry about the opposite sex for a few more years yet. He needs to get on a team and get that under his belt and decide if he is going to make the Navy a career or not. After he has done that, then he can THINK about finding someone and EVENTUALLY settling down (or settling as much as he can if he decides to make the Navy a career).

Whether it is just your story (that you are sticking to ;) ) or it is the truth, it sounds like you had a good head on your shoulders for looking at marriage and all that it entails the way you did.

Take Care,
Barb

[glennsmom]

Welcome Smoke,
I echo Barb that we who are new to all of this really appreciate the wisdom that we can pass on to our sons from those who have been there. My son is a MA in the Naval Reserves and his duty station is near Pensacola, Florida. He really needs to learn to not sweat the small stuff. He had planned to trying to remain active after his 15 months are up but now isn't so sure. He is not having the experiences he thought he would.

[XRiderChuck]

Hey Smoke, where u from in SD? I'm from RC myself. I was on the Blue Ridge off the PI during the Iranian crisis...