Summer Duty Message Drought

BruceRTalbot

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Don’t know if it’s just me, or just my cadet, or if this is typical so I am looking for some feedback from experienced parents.

My freshly minted 3/C is on her first summer duty assignment on board the Cutter MIDGETT home-ported out of Seattle. She reported two weeks ago and so far I have only received two VERY short text messages: one saying she had arrived OK and the other saying she is working long hours cleaning in the engine room.

Is it typical for cadets to be so wrapped-up with the other cadets or the adventure/duty on board ship that they don’t communicate much? I know it’s not a cell signal issue because they have not deployed yet.:confused:
 
Working as a BM1 doesn't provide a lot of free time. Scraping, painting, and shining is hard work.

We found out that an occasional text message (once or twice a week) during 3/c summer training was about as much as we could hope for.

They're learning, they're bonding, they're growing, and they're slowly cutting those kite strings.

I'm with ya, it's tough to take but it's normal, and you're not alone. :sadwavey:
 
Don’t know if it’s just me, or just my cadet, or if this is typical so I am looking for some feedback from experienced parents.

My freshly minted 3/C is on her first summer duty assignment on board the Cutter MIDGETT home-ported out of Seattle. She reported two weeks ago and so far I have only received two VERY short text messages: one saying she had arrived OK and the other saying she is working long hours cleaning in the engine room.

Is it typical for cadets to be so wrapped-up with the other cadets or the adventure/duty on board ship that they don’t communicate much? I know it’s not a cell signal issue because they have not deployed yet.:confused:

Sounds about right. Our experience is much the same, compounded by a broken cell phone. Thankfully his friend is sharing his phone, so the few calls we've gotten have been a God send! It seems appropriate that our "kids" are learning to rely on their shipmates for support and encouragement, with less input from home.

It's tough for a parent to realize that the job of parenting does have an expiration date. If you've worked yourself out of that job, and into the job of advisor/mentor/friend, YOU"VE DONE WELL!! Congrats! :thumb:
 
I have the same experience with one already in the fleet. The calls are few and far between and a lot of it is attributable to long duty hours even when(as is the Midgett) the ship is in drydock. So don't fret. However BT when I speak with mine I'll have him give yours a subtle hint about staying in touch with the home team. :thumb:
 
Don't worry. They are now part of the fleet and thus expected to be part of the team. In addition to learning new things, they may be studying or bonding with their cutter mates. You may not hear from them at all depending on what they are doing :frown:
I know that our Ensign is keeping them busy on the Alex Haley; she's happy to have them aboard :thumb:
They are in good hands!!
 
I was the same way when i was a 3/c. Time just goes by so fast that you don't realize how long its been since you've called home. It wouldnt hurt to give them a call or text. The missed call message was always a gentle reminder that my parents were feeling a little forgotten. Since then i've gotten better about calling home though.

Also for clarification, 3/c fill the role of E-3's (BM1's are E-6's). You'd be hard pressed to find BM1 chipping paint on a 378:shake:
 
This makes me want to cry. D went to WP SLS and will be back today from NASS and attending AIM in July; her daily phone calls are the only thing that kept me sane. I miss her so much already.

I know--I need a life :rockon:
 
I have the same experience with one already in the fleet. The calls are few and far between and a lot of it is attributable to long duty hours even when(as is the Midgett) the ship is in drydock. So don't fret. However BT when I speak with mine I'll have him give yours a subtle hint about staying in touch with the home team. :thumb:

Thanks! And if the "subtle hint" doesn't work he can make it a morale duty assignment! LOL
 
This makes me want to cry. D went to WP SLS and will be back today from NASS and attending AIM in July; her daily phone calls are the only thing that kept me sane. I miss her so much already.

I know--I need a life :rockon:

May be wrong, but during AIM, I think they take up the cell phones, and you'll get NO phone calls. But do not worry, they are having "fun" every day. We're getting ready for a long dry spell of no phone calls (and I bet we get few if any letters) after June 28 for a while. R-Day is coming TOO FAST!!!
 
Yep, they have to turn in their cell phones when they check in at AIM. They will have their cell phones from the time they arrive at the airport until they check in at the academy, so you will get a phone call from them to let you know they arrived safely. Typically the AAP staff who picks them up at the airports reminds them to call home when they get off the plane to call mom and dad and let them know they are there and being taken care of. Some of the AIMsters seem surprised when they have to turn their cell phones in so you might want to prepare them. They usually get them back the night before they head home.
 
May be wrong, but during AIM, I think they take up the cell phones, and you'll get NO phone calls. But do not worry, they are having "fun" every day. We're getting ready for a long dry spell of no phone calls (and I bet we get few if any letters) after June 28 for a while. R-Day is coming TOO FAST!!!

That's correct! AIM definitely seems the hardest out of all of the Academy summer seminars (SLS, NASS, AFASS).

There was a kid in my AIM company last year who brought two phones. He turned in one of them to the cadre but kept the other in his bag. Not that fun when it went off while we were lined up against the bulkhead :rolleyes:
 
And just a reminder to visitors for the robotics competition (last year, Friday afternoon). Your AIMsters are fulfilling the role of a prospective Swab and are not permitted to have contact with you.
You can look and stare and cheer them on but you'll have to wait until Saturday to talk to them about their experiences.
 
Thanks! And if the "subtle hint" doesn't work he can make it a morale duty assignment! LOL

Just heard from our cadet. . . guess the "subtle hint" worked. The cadets are working very long hours with only 5-hours of sleep depending on the duty assignment. Any free time is spent on qual study prep. Was promised one phone call per week on a liberty day. We'll take what we can get.
 
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