My 18-YO is due at Fort Benning for BCT on 1/13. He is 18, our first leaving home, and we have no experience with the military. I have a little bit of a control issue and I just don't like not knowing what is going on. Just would like to connect with others that have a loved one who might be with my son and going through the same thing. DS is going to signal school in Fort Gordon after BCT and then is supposed to go back to Fort Benning for AIB training. Fort Bragg is home of the 82nd Airborne and he thought he would be stationed there afterwards. About 2 hours from us and 2 hours from his girlfriend. Now they are telling him AIB isn't a guarantee and that it is possible he will be deployed after finishing signal school.
They usually don't guarantee things. And, once he does get there he has to pass the training too. So, it's not a given in that sense as well.
I know it's hard sometimes to let them fly away from the nest, but that is the nature of things. When my husband retired and we moved for his new job our youngest stayed in Maine. I knew that it was her decision, she's an adult now, and I had to respect her wishes.
I also have to respect her wishes that she now wants to join the military. My job as a mom is to be here to support her in whatever she does and be there with advice should she ask for it.
Well you sound alot like me Zacsmom. My son is at Ft Benning, also in Basic he left Nov. 7th and I thought I wouldnt hear from him, he too has spent little time away from home, lucky for me he kept coming up with things to call me about. Then he got leave for Christmas, which I was very thankful for. He is now 6 weeks in, and graduates in March. A piece of advice, send phone cards, and letters, all the time. Keep the conversations light cause he will be missing home alot. But he will be ok.
Hi, My son just turned 21 signed up for Army Reserve and headed for Ft.Benning a few days ago.He was an only child so this is hard.I tried getting copies of his papers, but all I managed was one that said, Welcome Battalion 010809, Basic Training 011609,AIT 033009, He says he only gets a couple days off after graduation and wants his ipod when we go see him. Then he goes to Ft. Bragg for the AIT. We aren't supposed to see him for 6 months unless we figure out when graduation is. He emailed a text to my phone and I called him at the hotel before the plane left for Ft. Benning. Tell me if you hear anything. You can reach me at hoozyomahmah@hotmail.com. It took me awhile to figure this out. , I'll tell you if I hear anything.Prayers and smiles to you and your child. God Bless.
Graduations are on Thursday. I found a list yesterday that says when it is for each group, but can't find it today. I'll keep looking. My son will graduate April 2nd. My son is already going through cell phone withdrawal. He leaves at 2 a.m. Monday morning to go to MEPS for his airborne physical and then leaves Tuesday morning for Fort Benning. I've cried all day today and have been throwing up for 3 days just thinking about him leaving. This has been his dream for 3 years and I'm so proud of him, just not ready for him to leave the nest yet - not to mention not being able to talk to him but a few minutes every week if I'm lucky. He's been away from home before, but he always called me every day and filled me in on what was going on. I got him a phone card and got a bunch of stamps and cards so I can write. I just wish I had his address so I could send a card for him to get on his first day.
Hi - I am a mother of 2 Army soldiers. My first son went through bootcamp in Fort Benning last January and graduation in May 2008. He is now stationed in Fort Drum, NY and recently returned from his deployment to Iraq (FOB Warrior). My second is currently going through bootcamp at Fort Benning and graduates on Feb 26, 2009. I am proud of both of them as well as your son and all sons/daughters that choose to serve our great country.
I wanted to give you a little bit of information that I hope you find helpful. First, he will be picked up by his recruiter very early on his departure day to go to MEPS for his oath, final paperwork, etc. I went to both my sons' oath ceremony and we took pictures during and after the ceremony. We also followed the bus to the airport. Since your son will now be on military orders, you are able to go to the gate with him to see him off. Talk to the airlline when he checks in to get a security pass. We had about 5-7 people at both my sons' going away at the airport; check with the airlines if there is a limit. Your son will get on the flight to Atlanta and then be picked up by a transport to Benning; about an hour away. There is a USO office if it's a long wait and I actually have a friend that volunteers at that location. Unless your son calls you collect or with a calling card and calls you from Atlanta, you might not hear from him for up to 5 days. Please do not freak out if it's several days since they are not allowed to call right away (typically).
Once in Benning, he'll go through "Reception" in which they do a TON of stuff --- too much to list. The first day of bootcamp is called "Pickup Day" and that might be one of the worst days of his life --- but, he'll survive because it sounds like he's a fine strong man -- good job Mom!! There are then 3 phases of bootcamp: red, white, and blue. Red phase is the hardest part and there are very few privs and that includes phone calls. You will typically get calls on Sundays only so sit by your home phone or cell and take any call from area code 706!!! They only get ~5mins per soldier so keep it brief and POSITIVE!! You son will need to hear only positive things and how he'll make it!!!! If he's down, a suggestion is to break the day down into segments. Tell him that he can make it till breakfast, then he can make it to lunch, then dinner, etc. If he can break down the day into manageable "chunks of time" it helps!! White and blue phases are next. There are more privs during these times and you might even get a mid-week call which will be VERY cherished by both you and your son!!
The soldiers LOVE letters!! Send as many as you can and ask everyone in your family to write him, too. It will actually take about 2-3 weeks to get their address. You can send him off with some letters to open. My suggestion, number the letters and that way you can know which ones he received and which ones were lost in the mail (it happens!!). You can also make copies of the letters to give him if there is one that gets lost. Your son will address a letter from the commander that you will receive about 2 weeks after he leaves. This has a lot of information on his address, graduation, family day, etc.
Another thing is that Soldiers Chapel has pictures posted online so you can search through the pictures to see your son. It's VERY cool and it was really cool seeing my son's face!!! The pictures for my second son haven't been posted yet but I check weekly. Just google Soldiers Chapel for the link and then follow it to your son's company and batalion.
The best thing that you can do is be a good support for your son. What you can do for yourself....is find a support group for you!! The Blue Star Mothers (BSM) is the BEST - well, my chapter is the best in my opinion!!! I suggest that you become a member and make a difference for the service men and women and within your chapter where you live. I'm now a 2 star BSM since I have 2 sons; a star for each!! These ladies KNOW what you're going through!!!
Good luck and hope this helps ease your mind a little more. Contact me if you want. My thoughts and prayer are with your son as he starts a new chapter in his life.
I looked up the blue star mothers and unfortunately there are no chapters near me, and I seem to do ok, but everything makes me cry from commercials, to poems to a pic of my son. I willget through this, just learning to untie the apron strings.
I was very bummed when I found out that the pictures of the soldiers on Soldiers Chapel are temporarily unavailable. Here's the information that was posted on the website: "Due to some changes in our information management policies, we are unable to upload pictures to the website. Unfortunately, we do not know how long this situation will continue. Thank you for your patience and your support. We hope to be continuing our website in the next weeks and months to come." We'll continue to monitor weekly to see if the pictures become available.
Just wanted to check on you and see how you're doing!! My son's best friend left on 1/15 and his pickup day was 1/23. Wouldn't that be a "small world" if they were in the same company?!?!? Let me know his pickup day, company, and battalion once you get it so that we can compare notes. My son is in C Co. 2nd Bn 47th Inf Regt 192nd. Please keep me posted!!!
I don't know what pickup day is. Googling only gave me hits were they were physically pickup up the soldiers in buses. My son was scheduled to go to BCT on 1/23, which is a Friday. He actually went 1/22. Today he is 6 days in. I haven't had a phone call since he got to BCT on Thursday, neither his girlfriend or I have received a letter since reception, and we have not received an address letter, so I have no idea about anything. I've made some connections via e-mail that have been beneficial. I'll post when I know anything.
Yes, Our only son shipped there from Michigan to begin basic training. We've received a letter from him and he is in 3 plt. C. Co. 2/54 Inf. He is scheduled to graduate 04-24-09. Do you know which training battalion your son is in ? Is there a web-site that would have these battalions arranged like this so you could converse with other parents whose loved ones are in the same outfit ?
Hi, my husband left the same day your son did and i just got a letter from him today saying he will graduate on April 2 and there will be a family day on April 1st! I AM SO EXCITED and i know you are too, if you ever need to talk, you can always feel free to talk to me! Whittney
Got my son's address finally and he is in B Co, 2nd Battalion, 47th INF, 192nd BDE. He started BCT 1/22. If anyone has a son in the same Battalion I would love to hear from your. You can e-mail directly.
My husband arrived at fort benning for boot camp on 1/22/09. He's been able to call twice. The first time was last Sunday. The second was last Thursday 1/29/09. That was the last time I've heard from him. During that call, he told me the doctor thought he had a heart murmur. He was seeing a cardiologist Friday. He was under the impression he would not be allowed to continue boot camp and would be coming home. But I've not heard from him anymore. Does anyone know if the army will discharge him due to a heart murmur? I'm worried about him!
My boyfriend joined the army and left on 1/14 for BCT. He was in reception for a week and began on 1/23. Does anyone know when graduation will be? He's in F Co 2-58th IN ITB, anyone in a similar unit? I really need a family of people to help me through this. I'm having a problem coping with this all. I miss him so much and I worry about him constantly. I get a letter every day since he left, sometimes two letters a day. This event is killing me internally. I need a support-line and there isn't a support group that can handle this type of thing.
It's been almost 2 yrs now since I was in the same shoes as you are. Just to let you know my son not only made it through basic training at Ft Benning, AIT at Ft Bliss but has finished his first deployment to South Korea and is back in the states at Ft Hood now. This experience has changed his life in many, many ways. Joining the Army was the single best thing he has ever done for himself. He is a strong, committed individual now with goals and a future. He loves what he is doing and therefore I am a happy mom.
I just wanted to drop you all a line because I remember the anxiety of sending my son off to the Army and how these forums helped me a LOT! I thought maybe sharing our good exprience might be helpful. Good luck to you all!!
Anyone know how it works after graduation? How long we have with them until they are sent off to their orders? I will be going 3 months without seeing him and then the small break of time to see him before he is sent off to AIT (wherever he is going) This has been a very hard experience for me and I just need some input.
Can I sign him off base and drive him to wherever he needs to go? He asked me to marry him before he left so therefore if I decide to accept the proposal I will be considered his fiancee. I know you have to be family to "sign them off base". Can I drive him instead of the army taking him to the airport? I have so many questions and no one to ask them to.
My son recently went to Fort Benning to Boot Camp. He started on 15Jan09 and is supposed to graduate 26March09. He is the oldest of my three sons and it has been so hard not knowing what he is doing everyday.We are very close and this is the first we have not talked on a daily basis. I worry so about him, but I know this will be a great thing for him. My son is in D Co.2nd BN, 47th INF Regt. If any of you have sons in the same unit I would really like to know. My son is also heading to Fort Gordon GA for AIT.I would really love to chat with another mom going through the same thing I am. I hope to hear from someone soon. You can E-mail me as well.
We'll continue to monitor weekly to see if the pictures become available.
