My Kid Has Officially Joined The Navy - Aviation Ordnanceman

[Sinister]

In retrospect I should have approached my time with a better attitude.

I find myself saying that quite a lot actually...

But anyway, tell her to stay away from all the crappy attitude and negativity.

Are we gonna have a ceremony when we decommission @Keendriver or just barrel him into that junkyard with the rest of the old useless things?

 

[Mike]

But anyway, tell her to stay away from all the crappy attitude and negativity.

Yep, I’ve already schooled her on that

 

[Keendriver]

But anyway, tell her to stay away from all the crappy attitude and negativity.

Are we gonna have a ceremony when we decommission @Keendriver or just barrel him into that junkyard with the rest of the old useless things?

Can you say hypocrisy boys and girls?

I knew that you could.

 

[Mike]

We dropped Emily off at the hotel in Little Rock on Sunday, she had to be checked in by 1700.

For as much as I pushed for her to get to this point, it would not have taken much for me to have just brought her right back home with me. Leaving her there was very difficult, and made for a very quiet 3 hour ride back home.

She was at MEPS at 0400 on Monday, final processing there, and then sent over to the airport. We texted back and forth there until she boarded the plane at 1430. Plane left early, and arrived early. First time in an airplane for her, she thought it was going down when it turned sideways over Lake Michigan to double back toward the airport (I watched the entire trip via flight aware).

Once at O'Hare, she checked in, wasn't allowed to talk on the phone, but was allowed to text. I sent pics of popeye and crap to lighten the mood.

Final text said she was headed to the bus. That was the last I heard from her. At around 1900, she made her 10 second phone call to Maria, letting her know that she has safely arrived and that she would not be contacting us again for a few weeks.

Monday night, I know she was kept up all night, and so was I. Simply couldn't get the thoughts about what was probably going on with her during processing. For the last couple days, been thinking about it almost constantly. Might not be concerned at all if it was a son, but it's one of my girls, and this is the first time one of them have been anywhere that I cannot in any way step in and help them if needed.

I'm excited about the transition at the same time. Can't wait to see how she comes out of this. Graduation will be some time in May, can't wait to be there.

 

[Tramm01]

We dropped Emily off at the hotel in Little Rock on Sunday, she had to be checked in by 1700.

For as much as I pushed for her to get to this point, it would not have taken much for me to have just brought her right back home with me. Leaving her there was very difficult, and made for a very quiet 3 hour ride back home.

She was at MEPS at 0400 on Monday, final processing there, and then sent over to the airport. We texted back and forth there until she boarded the plane at 1430. Plane left early, and arrived early. First time in an airplane for her, she thought it was going down when it turned sideways over Lake Michigan to double back toward the airport (I watched the entire trip via flight aware).

Once at O'Hare, she checked in, wasn't allowed to talk on the phone, but was allowed to text. I sent pics of popeye and crap to lighten the mood.

Final text said she was headed to the bus. That was the last I heard from her. At around 1900, she made her 10 second phone call to Maria, letting her know that she has safely arrived and that she would not be contacting us again for a few weeks.

Monday night, I know she was kept up all night, and so was I. Simply couldn't get the thoughts about what was probably going on with her during processing. For the last couple days, been thinking about it almost constantly. Might not be concerned at all if it was a son, but it's one of my girls, and this is the first time one of them have been anywhere that I cannot in any way step in and help them if needed.

I'm excited about the transition at the same time. Can't wait to see how she comes out of this. Graduation will be some time in May, can't wait to be there.

Can’t remember where you’re traveling from, but you probably won’t know for dead certain that she will graduate until the day before — we left Idaho and had just cleared Moline when got the call — somewhat nerve racking

 

[Mike]

Can’t remember where you’re traveling from, but you probably won’t know for dead certain that she will graduate until the day before — we left Idaho and had just cleared Moline when got the call — somewhat nerve racking

Yeah, from the videos I have watched, it was likely do to the final exercise that they do. Traveling from Northwest Arkansas.

 

[mndriver]

You'll get a call as soon as battle stations are completed. About three days before graduation if memory serves me right

 

[Injun]

Ah, yes... Great Mistakes.
Class #809 for me, too many years ago to count. Lots of walking, sing the first half of the Navy anthem going through the tunnel toward the galley, the second half on the way back..

I wish I had seen this thread last week. I could have given her some pointers. But she'll be fine. And she'll do well. Lots of opportunities in the Navy.

 

[Injun]

Smurf suit for the first phase, don't mess up the bright work, confidence chamber where a 4'11" DC Chief scared the crap out of all of us...

Memories...

 

[ironpony]

Memories...

A little off around the ears please...

 

[ironpony]

Wakey, wakey...

 

[Mike]

When we talk about it, I brush off an concerns with a simple comment.....

“It’s just the Navy”. Not meant to disrespect, but a Marine Corps Dad is going to tease about boot camp in any other branch of service.

She got called “Uber” quite often as well.

Always brought a laugh until the final day, could definitely see the nerves were beginning to build up. Made sure she knew how proud I was about what she was doing.

 

[ironpony]

Don't know how the squids Navy goes about it, but the other 3 branches are all about the same when it comes to the haircut, and general torment by the dudes in Smokey Bear Hats.

 

[Mike]

Received a phone call from the kid today. Totally wasn’t expecting it, and it was great to hear from her.

They sit in a holding pattern for a few days because not enough recruits had shown up.

Started off with about 100, 25 set back, so they are at around 75 total now. Folks were set back due to failing the initial physical fitness test. How do you show up and fail this?

Emily has the top scoring of all the girls.

She is now the Yeomen, and has several minion yeomen (her words) below her. With this position, provided she holds it, and with the other knowledge requirements, she may be graduating as an E3. I’m dumb on Navy Ranks, so don’t know what that is called. For now, I will call it a Navy Lance Corporal, lol.

Graduation date is set for May 1. No surprise, the graduation ceremony is cancelled already unless things drastically change.

On top of that, the recruits will be held for a minimal 11 day quarantine after graduation before they head to their school.

If, at all possible, I will try to be able to take her to the school. Not sure if that will be allowed or not.

Never, in a million years, did I think when we dropped her off that anything could happen to prevent us from watching her graduation. This is a real bummer.

 

[ironpony]

 

[ironpony]

The use of the word "rank" for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. The term is "rate." The rating badge -- a combination of rate (pay grade) and rating (specialty) is worn on the left upper sleeve of all uniforms in grades E-4 through E-6. E-1 through E-3 have color coded group rate marks based upon their occupational field. Group rate marks for E-2 and E-3 are worn on dress uniforms only. Personnel in paygrade E-1 do not wear group rate marks. Chief Petty Officers (E-7 through E-9) wear collar devices on their white and khaki uniforms, and rate badges on their Service Dress Blues.

 

[mndriver]

Bummed to hear that new.

Glad you got the phone call.

 

[Sinister]

Graduation as an E3 is amazing. I graduated an E2 because of my ROTC I’m High School. Nobody graduated E3.

We had one guy in our company who did 4 years in the Army before the Marines so he had a hash mark and graduated E4. He was going to do all fours services to get his 20.

 

[Mike]

Graduation as an E3 is amazing. I graduated an E2 because of my ROTC I’m High School. Nobody graduated E3.

We had one guy in our company who did 4 years in the Army before the Marines so he had a hash mark and graduated E4. He was going to do all fours services to get his 20.

I reached E-3 right after I finished my school and landed at my unit.

Later on, I tried to land a right hook on an officer and watched the rank quickly disappear, LOL.

 

[mndriver]

Made E3 in ait, E4 by 6 months TIS.

Got into a couple "fasttrak" programs in ait and as a result made rank due to college credit and asvab scores out the roof.