Dreading the date....

ACooper

Moderator
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
27,772
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
IN
#1
February 25th.

My oldest son (23) is all signed up for the military, passed all testing, ASVAB and physicals. Finished up his fall college courses before Christmas like everyone else in college.

Way back when it was official and he had signed up, February seemed so far away........now it's looming very tall and scary :(

I am so terrible........I don't want him to go! Of course I haven't and won't say this to him, but he's my baby and I'm so scared. Seems like everyday I get on facebook, there's another picture of a soldier who's had some terrible accident befall them........or the pictures of all the soldier coffins lined up :(

Gah......I'm rambling. I'm doing it HERE so I don't discourage my son who WANTS to serve his country. I AM proud.........but I'm still so frightened for him. *sigh* February 25th, how I hate you.
 

Dakotah

Kotah BEAR
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
7,998
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
GA
#2
(((hugs)))
Be strong. Its going to suck and you are going to cry and you are going to miss him so bad you feel sick to your stomach. As a mother, you worry. But be proud of him, as I know you are.
Give him lots of hugs and kisses, even though he might think you are overreacting, you are his mom and that's what you do.
He will be fine :)
Again, (((hugs))) and everything will be okay :)
Not to long from now, my mom & dad will be joining you.
 

joce

Active Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2005
Messages
4,448
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
40
Location
Ohio
#6
I'm sorry :(

My brother left for Afghanistan right before Christmas. My moms a mess. Has been since he signed up two years ago. His specialty, defusing bombs! Two years o training before leaving.

There are support groups. My mom got Ativan from her dr.no joke. Only thing that helped her. Says shell be a little crazy till he gets back no matter what.

Think of all the amazing experiences he will have. Really more good than bad. Ill be thinking of him!!!!
 

Dakotah

Kotah BEAR
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
7,998
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
GA
#7
I'm sorry :(

My brother left for Afghanistan right before Christmas. My moms a mess. Has been since he signed up two years ago. His specialty, defusing bombs! Two years o training before leaving.

There are support groups. My mom got Ativan from her dr.no joke. Only thing that helped her. Says shell be a little crazy till he gets back no matter what.

Think of all the amazing experiences he will have. Really more good than bad. Ill be thinking of him!!!!
Oh God EOD specialists (is that still what they are called military folks?) is some tough stuff. It is so hard when they leave around the holidays :(
I'll be praying for your brother and ACooper's son as well <3
 

joce

Active Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2005
Messages
4,448
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
40
Location
Ohio
#9
Oh God EOD specialists (is that still what they are called military folks?) is some tough stuff. It is so hard when they leave around the holidays :(
I'll be praying for your brother and ACooper's son as well <3
I think. My brother was really bad to my mom so be glad your son is honest. He told my mom pay for school and apartment and he wouldn't sign up. He did anyway for the most dangerous thing without telling her. But I will say he likes it. His last two years of training were mostly in Florida and he went fishing in the ocean all the time and made some great friends. He was top shooter in his group. He really came out of his mommy boy shell and I'm proud of him.

He's been gone training but the deployments real. He's on Facebook though and my mom and I go gather up stuff to send him and his friends (pepperidge farm discount store cookies by the giant box cuz we can't cook. They don't mind!). I wish he could have been here when his dog passed. I bawled more because he wasn't. She lived for him.

Gah. I'm crying.

And have a good computer and send him with one if he gets deployed. We skyped with our friend literally daily. My brother doesn't like me that much though lol!
 

Dakotah

Kotah BEAR
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
7,998
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
GA
#10
I think. My brother was really bad to my mom so be glad your son is honest. He told my mom pay for school and apartment and he wouldn't sign up. He did anyway for the most dangerous thing without telling her. But I will say he likes it. His last two years of training were mostly in Florida and he went fishing in the ocean all the time and made some great friends. He was top shooter in his group. He really came out of his mommy boy shell and I'm proud of him.

He's been gone training but the deployments real. He's on Facebook though and my mom and I go gather up stuff to send him and his friends (pepperidge farm discount store cookies by the giant box cuz we can't cook. They don't mind!). I wish he could have been here when his dog passed. I bawled more because he wasn't. She lived for him.

Gah. I'm crying.

And have a good computer and send him with one if he gets deployed. We skyped with our friend literally daily. My brother doesn't like me that much though lol!
Aw this made me tear up.
EOD is a dangerous job, a friend of mine has a buddy in the Army as EOD. This guy loves his job and is suppose to be going in his 2nd deployment at the end of the spring. I am very nervous for him but even though i don't know him to well, very proud of him.

(((hugs))) Joce.
 

sillysally

Obey the Toad.
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
5,074
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
A hole in the bottom of the sea.
#12
(((hugs)))

My step brother is special forces in the Army and has been enlisted since he was 18 (he's now 41!). He is over in Afganistan right now, and I won't lie, we are scared every time he goes over. However, this is his thing, what he lives to do, so as his family we just worry and love and support him. You sound like you've done a good job with your son :)

If you need anything don't hesitate to ask.
 

MicksMom

Active Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
3,978
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Warren Co, NJ
#13
(((hugs)))
Be strong. Its going to suck and you are going to cry and you are going to miss him so bad you feel sick to your stomach. As a mother, you worry. But be proud of him, as I know you are.
Give him lots of hugs and kisses, even though he might think you are overreacting, you are his mom and that's what you do.
He will be fine :)
Again, (((hugs))) and everything will be okay :)
....
Dakotah, how can someone so young be so wise? :)

Coop, some advice from an Air Force Mom- do all that Dakotah sugegsted, but also, take it one step at a time. The first thing you have to deal with/adjust to is your son leaving for BMT and then Tech School (or whatever the branch of service he joined calls it), and the restrictions that go along with them. Then you'll be adjusting to him living at a duty base, and, most likely not being close to home. Deal with deployment if/when it comes.
 

ACooper

Moderator
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
27,772
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
IN
#14
Thanks everyone. I am glad I have this outlet where he doesn't see.

I try VERY hard to be supportive, but it's getting close and he talks about different aspects of it constantly now. I know it's part excitement and part nerves on his part as well, but it's hard for me to smile and nod and gets harder every day.

Looks like he will be doing BMT in South Carolina. After that is Tech training, then I do believe he is assigned air born training as well?? He is to be 91 bravo, or wheeled vehicle mechanic.
 

MicksMom

Active Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
3,978
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Warren Co, NJ
#15
...Looks like he will be doing BMT in South Carolina. After that is Tech training, then I do believe he is assigned air born training as well?? He is to be 91 bravo, or wheeled vehicle mechanic.
Army, right? Something our son told me to help with my nerves , "Even if I do get deployed, I'm a mechanic. I'll be on base (he's ASM-Aircraft Structural Mechanic).
 

Taqroy

Active Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
5,566
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Colorado
#16
((((((hugs)))))))

My brother graduated AF basic in November. My mom was a complete wreck the entire time and while I felt bad for her and I do worry for my brother....he made such an EXCELLENT choice. He's 22, has an associate's degree, had no idea what he wanted to do, and was basically just floating through life. So now he's going into the Air Force (he was EOD but I think he's switching) for six years, he gets training, he gets to travel, and hopefully he'll get out with a GI bill and a much broader perspective. I'm really proud of him. And better, I think HE'S really proud of him.
 

*blackrose

"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
7,065
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
33
Location
WI
#17
Not a mother with a son that is enlisting, but that is Micheal's plan for the fall. He'll be talking with a recruiter and getting dates finalized around March.

Not looking forward to it. At all. But I've already made my decision to support him in this, so my not-so-happy feelings don't really get to count at this point. But still. Bleh.
 

ACooper

Moderator
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
27,772
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
IN
#18
Army, right? Something our son told me to help with my nerves , "Even if I do get deployed, I'm a mechanic. I'll be on base (he's ASM-Aircraft Structural Mechanic).
Yes Army....much to his grandpa's chagrin, LOL He was AF, his brother was Navy, and his other brother was Army........they ALL THREE told Steve do AF....but of course that just made him do the opposite :rolleyes: But yes, that is my one shining spot in this.......he's a mechanic and not infantry.

((((((hugs)))))))

My brother graduated AF basic in November. My mom was a complete wreck the entire time and while I felt bad for her and I do worry for my brother....he made such an EXCELLENT choice. He's 22, has an associate's degree, had no idea what he wanted to do, and was basically just floating through life. So now he's going into the Air Force (he was EOD but I think he's switching) for six years, he gets training, he gets to travel, and hopefully he'll get out with a GI bill and a much broader perspective. I'm really proud of him. And better, I think HE'S really proud of him.
Steve's been kind of floating as well. He got certified in welding, something he wanted to do since he was little. Then there were no jobs open to him without a year or more experience (you know the market right now!) Then he flip flopped..........prison guard (we live close to 2 prisons, joy) no no....paramedic..........no no.....prison guard........meh, I don't know what to do, I'll just work in the shipping department till I figure it out. Then a couple years ago he started talking about the military.........I figured that too would pass. Well it didn't.

Like I said, I am proud of him.....but I have ALWAYS been proud of him.

He's 23, doesn't drink...at.all. No drugs. He's a health food/exercise nut for the most part. He's a dog lover. He doesn't have kids floating around (says he doesn't want kids at all....for now) He goes to work everyday...even when he was in college, he is responsible like that. Pays his bills. I could go on and on....can you tell I love him very much? LOL
 

Taqroy

Active Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
5,566
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Colorado
#20
He's 23, doesn't drink...at.all. No drugs. He's a health food/exercise nut for the most part. He's a dog lover. He doesn't have kids floating around (says he doesn't want kids at all....for now) He goes to work everyday...even when he was in college, he is responsible like that. Pays his bills. I could go on and on....can you tell I love him very much? LOL
The similarities between him and my brother are eerily similar. LOL. Kyle went for machining instead of welding and does drink, but pretty much everything else is spot on. Weird!

I think it's probably different because he's my sibling and not my kid, but while I've always adored him and been proud of him...I've also wanted to kick him really hard a time or two. :lol-sign:
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top