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Post by donna on Aug 6, 2014 20:25:10 GMT
My oldest son signed with the Army National Guard and will be leaving for basic training September 14th. We are very proud of him. My dh, fil and fil's brother were all in the Air Force. My Dad was Army National Guard, so there is a long tradition of service.
My dh was an officer, so he did not have the basic training aspect of the military. As a mom, I don't know what to expect. I know that there will be no phone calls. Does he need to pack some paper and stamps to be able to write to us? I like to know things ahead of time so I can plan ahead.
He will leave for AIT pretty quickly after basic, so overall he will be gone about 8 months. He may be 24, but he is still my baby.
Any info you have would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by doesitmatter on Aug 6, 2014 20:26:43 GMT
I will lift him in prayer for safety and wellness.
My son's best friend is leaving in 3 weeks for the Air Force as well.
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Post by alibama on Aug 6, 2014 20:30:43 GMT
My son is in the Air Force and I remember basic was tough for him but it was horrible for us too. The first time he had been away from home like that and not being able to talk to him was terrible. He did take stamps and paper with him to right. He was allowed one very short call when he go there that told us the address to write him and that is all he was able to say.
My prayers are with you guys!
Tell him Thank You from me!
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 6, 2014 20:31:56 GMT
All the best to him.
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loco coco
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,662 
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Post by loco coco on Aug 6, 2014 20:42:15 GMT
yes send him with stamps and paper! a friend of mine ironed some of the others clothes for extra $ to buy stamps so send him some extra $ if that's allowed! I remember him telling me about the hours on end they had to stand in place. It doesnt sound like that big of a deal but try standing still for hours... its hard! I admire the strength and dedication of our service members so thank you to your entire family! I wish your son luck and I hope he doesn't hate basic training too much  |
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 6, 2014 20:46:20 GMT
I have a son in the Navy. When he went to basic training, they had an official website for it as well as a Facebook page. Both were extremely helpful in preparing us for him to go and to keep us feeling informed while he was gone.
Surely the National Guard has something similar. Did he work with a recruiter you could ask?
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Post by donna on Aug 6, 2014 20:46:36 GMT
Thanks, doesitmatter.
My son has had several friends join the National Guard. Two of them were deployed for around a year.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 6, 2014 20:47:42 GMT
My DH did his Basic at the Air Force Academy over 25 years ago. All they were allowed was a razor and the clothes they were wearing.
Your son's recruiter should be able to answer the question.
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 6, 2014 20:49:33 GMT
Oh my!!! We are almost in the same boat! My son just took the test (ASVAB?) and will be doing all the rest of whatever happen next soon. He leaves for college in about two weeks and I have no idea of what to expect between college, boot camp, training...
I am really proud of my son as well. When we talked about this, he said that he wanted to go to college and he felt as though it was his responsibility to serve-and this was the way he could do both. His intention is try to switch to active duty after he graduates from college. Pretty mature thoughts from my baby boy.
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Post by donna on Aug 6, 2014 20:52:03 GMT
He did work with a recruiter. Personally, I have felt like the recruiter has not been as on the ball as he should have been. This has brought on some additional anxiety for me.
My son has been to two drill weekends and did really well with them. He is a very fit young man since he has worked the last two years as a personal trainer for Gold's Gym. Because of the college credits he has under his belt he is entering as an E3. I think his biggest battle is having to suffer any fools around him.
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,826
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Post by scrapngranny on Aug 6, 2014 21:08:52 GMT
I wish him well. Thank him for his service.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 6, 2014 21:18:20 GMT
I think his biggest battle is having to suffer any fools around him. There will be plenty of those! The military isn't any different than normal life with that regard. I cant ant tell you anything about NG or the Army, as we are AF. Is there a family forum out there for NG where you can ask your question? Surely there is some sort of pack list? Even if your recruiter's information is accurate, they should radiate trust. DH was a recruiting commander and credibility was a big issue for him. |
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Post by mztfied on Aug 6, 2014 21:31:29 GMT
He has lots of new and interesting experiences ahead of him!!! Bless him!!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 22:28:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 22:54:04 GMT
No advice for you, but best of luck to him and your family.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 22:28:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 23:16:27 GMT
It is best if he takes only a very basic shave kit (razor, shave cream, bar of soap and deodorant). Pack it in a plastic shopping bag. A small letter kit would be ok but it only needs to be a few sheets of paper and envelopes. They will call more than write. Writing takes too much time/effort. If you send some writing materials address the envelopes to you and put the stamps on them. Seriously, 2-3 is all he is going to manage for the duration of training.
They will give him an advance on his pay and take a group to the post exchange to buy what they are allowed to have in their barracks. They are going to have it ALL micromanaged. He will need the approved towels, wash clothes, t-shirts, socks, underwear, running shoes. They will tell him what color, brand and how many of virtually every item he is allowed. Anything that deviates from the approved items will either end up in the trash or he will be forced to put it in storage where there is no guarantee it will be there at the end of training. So don't send anything with him that you have an expectation of coming back; that includes luggage.
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Post by donna on Aug 6, 2014 23:27:33 GMT
I wonder when his recruiter plans to tell him all of this? He does have 1 or 2 more drill weekends before he goes. They were working some during the last one on things for basic.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 22:28:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 23:34:05 GMT
When does the recruiter plan to tell him is the wrong question. When does your son plan to ask him? that is real question.
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Post by christine58 on Aug 6, 2014 23:34:47 GMT
My oldest son signed with the Army National Guard and will be leaving for basic training September 14th. We are very proud of him. My dh, fil and fil's brother were all in the Air Force. My Dad was Army National Guard, so there is a long tradition of service. My dh was an officer, so he did not have the basic training aspect of the military. As a mom, I don't know what to expect. I know that there will be no phone calls. Does he need to pack some paper and stamps to be able to write to us? I like to know things ahead of time so I can plan ahead. He will leave for AIT pretty quickly after basic, so overall he will be gone about 8 months. He may be 24, but he is still my baby. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated. My nephew is doing the same! He left at the end of June for boot camp (National Guard) at Fort Jackson SC...then he's off to Officer training school at Ft. Benning. He also has been accepted into the Intel program in Arizona (can't remember where...LOL) He worked quite closely with the NG before he left so he knew exactly what he could and could not do. Quick call when he got there, then at about three weeks, he wrote letters. No cell phone etc. He has an account that my brother and SIL can put money into. |
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Post by donna on Aug 6, 2014 23:35:26 GMT
volt, you are right.
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Post by airforcemomof1 on Aug 6, 2014 23:38:40 GMT
Sorry I can't offer any answers to your questions because my son was a commissioned officer so no basic training. I will say I understand your emotions. I know you are proud but also worried. I was, too. Prayers for you and your son.
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Post by scrapsuzy on Aug 7, 2014 4:16:47 GMT
My nephew is doing the same! He left at the end of June for boot camp (National Guard) at Fort Jackson SC...then he's off to Officer training school at Ft. Benning. He also has been accepted into the Intel program in Arizona (can't remember where...LOL) Two of my sons went Army National Guard to help pay for college, and they both went to BCT at Ft. Jackson. My brother also went ANG went to BCT at Ft Benning. My oldest son also went to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA after BCT and got his 2 year Associate Degree in Russian, then they sent him to Ft. Huachuca, AZ for intel training. Then he went back to college, in the Army ROTC, and when he graduated he commissioned into the Army as an officer, but doesn't really use any of his training from the ANG. (He does, however, plan to use it when he gets out of the Army, which is several years from now.) Anyways, back to the question of what to expect. Both of my boys wrote quite a bit while they were in BCT (but my son who went to Boot Camp with the Marines did not... but that's my "doesn't get homesick" kid). We were told not to write until we received our first letter, because the address may change (and it did, with both of them). We did get a phone call when they first arrived, but all they could say was they arrived. My oldest son made extra money by taking firewatch for other guys, and by making beds and shining boots. I'm not sure that was all quite on the up and up, but there were plenty of guys willing to have him do it, and he never got in trouble for it. (But then, this is the same kid who made money in college by selling Little Debbies and Twinkies and drinks to his dorm mates, and who made money in high school by selling toothpicks at lunchtime.) Honestly, the time went pretty fast for all of us. When my oldest was deployed... that's the time that dragged on forever.  |
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