Final stretch of this leg of the Navy journey

jiller59

5-Year Member
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Nov 3, 2011
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Next month DS will commission as an Ensign and graduate from University of Michigan with a degree in Nuclear Engineering. For those out there just beginning this journey, I can only say believe in yourself, learn from your superiors and ask for help when you need it. DS was an excellent high school student and leader. He struggled during his first semester at college but has improved more each semester while taking on greater roles in the battalion. Looking back, even the roles he did not enjoy at first were fabulous learning opportunities and he does not regret any job that he was given; he worked hard and stayed focused on the goal.

He passed the Nuke interview in November, received his orders in February and heads to Charleston in June to begin the next phase of his education. The dream of serving as a Submarine officer gets closer with every step.

My best wishes to the young women and men who are beginning to explore their service options, those who are looking forward to taking the first step in the fall and those who are further along. To their families I say congratulation for your part in their successes; continue to be there as a sounding board and just enjoy the ride! I wish you fair winds and following seas.
 
Many sincere Congrats to your DS!!!! How exciting!!!!!

We are starting this journey x 2 (I have twin senior boys). One, however is holding his breath for USCGA as 1st choice. :)
The other has always stated he has wanted to go into Nuclear Eng.
 
Congratulations to your son jiller. Hope you're able to make the commissioning ceremony. You'll find that even as time goes by your heart swells even more while you become prouder and prouder. DS will enjoy Charleston.
 
Congratulations to your son jiller. Hope you're able to make the commissioning ceremony. You'll find that even as time goes by your heart swells even more while you become prouder and prouder. DS will enjoy Charleston.
Thanks Kinnem. We will be there and then some! We rented a big house, will be fetching family from other states and plan on a great time. My son's best friend while growing up will graduate from the same school, so his family will attend the commissioning as well. My father, retired Marine/Naval Reserve, will be DS's first salute. I plan to bawl, just sayin'.
 
Many sincere Congrats to your DS!!!! How exciting!!!!!

We are starting this journey x 2 (I have twin senior boys). One, however is holding his breath for USCGA as 1st choice. :)
The other has always stated he has wanted to go into Nuclear Eng.

Thanks mascara_mom, and best wishes to you and your sons!
 
Congrats and God Speed to your DS.

Now, parent to parent.
1. Get ready to pay out your eyes for their uniforms as a commissioning gift.
2. Ask him what year does he want to do for his coin? Maybe that is just an AFROTC thing, but they always have the 1st shirt at the commissioning, and the 1st salute they return is from that 1st shirt. They give them a silver dollar. DS chose to give the 1st shirt the year he entered ROTC.
3. Be prepared to cry. I did not cry at DS's graduation as they announced his name, but it took everything in me to hold my tears back as I watched his father administer the oath to our DS.
4. Start searching Orbitz for cheap airline flights to wherever he will be stationed at in the near future.
 
Congrats and God Speed to your DS.

Now, parent to parent.
1. Get ready to pay out your eyes for their uniforms as a commissioning gift.
2. Ask him what year does he want to do for his coin? Maybe that is just an AFROTC thing, but they always have the 1st shirt at the commissioning, and the 1st salute they return is from that 1st shirt. They give them a silver dollar. DS chose to give the 1st shirt the year he entered ROTC.
3. Be prepared to cry. I did not cry at DS's graduation as they announced his name, but it took everything in me to hold my tears back as I watched his father administer the oath to our DS.
4. Start searching Orbitz for cheap airline flights to wherever he will be stationed at in the near future.

1. DS has told me he already knows the cost of his uniforms and plans to pay for them himself - I specifically asked him that after reading about the cost on this forum. I guess there is a Naval Officer "starter set" that they can purchase; it's probably sufficient for NPS. He's been measured and I think the order is in.
2. I know he will give a coin to his first salute, but haven't asked him anything about the year or where he will get the coins. I'll follow up with him on that.
3. Of course I know I will cry - I cry during Memorial Day parades and cried at the last 3 commissioning ceremonies we attended, even though I hardly knew anyone!! (we were in town to move DS home, and were permitted to attend commissioning).
4. I would love to go to Charleston - he will be there through December, then he will either stay in Charleston or go to New York (Nuclear Power School and Prototype), after that I guess it will depend on which submarine he is assigned to.
5. What I don't know is how the move from college to Charleston is going to work. 5 weeks from commissioning to reporting in SC, and he doesn't get that time off. They are immediately assigned to the University's unit. DS told us he thinks he may get a week's leave though. Any input on this would be fabulous!

Thanks Pima!
 
Congrats to you DS jiller59. As far as time to get to Charleston, just ask PNS-they will give him plenty of time to get there. Where does your son plan on living in Charleston. DS completed NPS last March and lived in Mount Pleasant. It was about a 25 minute drive to School but a much nicer area than Goose Creek. We live in Florida and drove up 3 times in 6 months to see him. Charleston is a great area with many nice restaurants. DS heads to Pearl Harbor after completing SOBC in 2 weeks, maybe our sons will cross paths someday.
 
Congrats to you DS jiller59. As far as time to get to Charleston, just ask PNS-they will give him plenty of time to get there. Where does your son plan on living in Charleston. DS completed NPS last March and lived in Mount Pleasant. It was about a 25 minute drive to School but a much nicer area than Goose Creek. We live in Florida and drove up 3 times in 6 months to see him. Charleston is a great area with many nice restaurants. DS heads to Pearl Harbor after completing SOBC in 2 weeks, maybe our sons will cross paths someday.

DS has a high school classmate who graduated from the Naval Academy last year. He also recommended Mount Pleasant; thanks for the recommendation. So, your son had free time to spend with you during NPS? So great that you could visit him. Where did he do Prototype? Was there/will there be any kind of a graduation ceremony for NPS/Prototype/SOBC? Wow, he is really close to actually being on a sub!
 
DS has a high school classmate who graduated from the Naval Academy last year. He also recommended Mount Pleasant; thanks for the recommendation. So, your son had free time to spend with you during NPS? So great that you could visit him. Where did he do Prototype? Was there/will there be any kind of a graduation ceremony for NPS/Prototype/SOBC? Wow, he is really close to actually being on a sub!
DS went in almost everyday for study as no material can be taken off base. Study hours are determined by how well you do on tests. If you do poorly, you will be required many extra hours for study. They do want you to pass and seem to know how to get people thru. DS went to Saratoga Springs for prototype, again a very nice area in the summer, actually this winter was not bad. There are graduations for all 3 schools. We just went to the NPS graduation last March-It was a nice ceremony. We will save our travel money for multiple trips to Hawaii.
 
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