Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by harpist mom on May 25, 2013 at 9:40am

Carol, My son is now a CTM and went to BC a year ago in January, and then went to Pensacola tor A school in March. He was initially assigned a job at the Naval Air Station until he "classed up" for the first basic electronics course at the end of May. Due to where his name fell in the alphabet, he missed the next class at Corry Station because the class filled up. He was transferred to Corry Station in August and completed A school the first of November. He is now stationed in Hawaii and working as a CTM.

Permalink Reply by Lauriebelle on May 25, 2013 at 12:58pm

Carol, I live here in Pensacola and my husband works on the naval base here. It is a wonderful place and if you plan on visiting(please do!!) while he's in school. You can stay at the Navy Lodge here and see him during free time. He will have some and can go to the beach and various other things to do. 

Pensacola consists of several Naval, Air Force and Coast Guard stations, Corry Station is a an area full of schools and has the larger housing area for families here. It is close to the Navy Shopping area so he will have plenty of access to everything. NAS or Naval Air Station Pensacola is the main base and is the home of the Blue Angels. It is about 6 miles from Corry Station and he will go there for a lot of different reasons. There is the Lighthouse, the Naval Air Museum, 3 old forts, and the National cemetery there as well as the Navy Lodge and beach accesses. He'll enjoy his time in A school as it is more like college courses. He'll have more freedom and be able to be out and about unlike BC. Good Luck to him! 

Permalink Reply by Kelly (Pink) Curtis' Mom on May 25, 2013 at 1:20pm

I totally know how you feel. The first days they are gone are so hard. My son is a CTM. He left Corry Station last June and is now stationed in Yokosuka Japan. I'd like to tell you they don't send new guys over seas but this is my sons first assignment. The nice thing about this job though is that he is mostly on land ( with access to Internet & Skype!). He went out on a ship for about 4 months and then he only had Internet access when they were in port. I think it helps me to focus on how good this is for him and how proud of him I am. He's definitely changed for the better. I did go visit him when he as at Corry and that was helpful so I'd recommend that if you can. Hang in there!! HUGS!!

Permalink Reply by navymom3 on May 25, 2013 at 8:57pm

My son is also CTM. He has now been in for 2yrs 5 months. When a CTM arrives in Pcola they go to NAS first. As they have  a pre class to take called ATT class which is a electronics class. Once that finish ATT they get moved over to Corry Station to do there actual CTM class. Some will get additional schooling which is called C school some will not. There will be some wait times before stating class and that is normal. But they will keep them busy. They can also do some volunteer jobs which I highly recommend. Mine got to work at the USO and loved it. Plus he got a bunch of volunteer hour in. 

As for sending new guys out of country yes they do. Mine is also in Yokosuka Japan and loves it there. If they work hard and finish in the top of there class they can get there choice of orders as mine did. Mine wanted Japan or anywhere overseas. He loves it there. 

Kelly sounds like your son and mine work together. Since they all work out of the same shop. Mine is currently at sea training a new guy on the Wilbur. 

Permalink Reply by Kelly (Pink) Curtis' Mom on May 27, 2013 at 12:33pm

They probably are working together! My son is homesick and not loving it very much right now. He said he liked being on the ship more than on land. He is coming home for a visit in July so hopefully that helps!

Permalink Reply by caroltrv on May 27, 2013 at 11:17am

Thank you all for the information.  Today is Memorial Day - and for the first time in 5 days I actually feel normal.  The ugly pit in my stomach is gone.  I do however really miss him.  In my heart I kind of knew he would most likely be going overseas - he really wants to go.  He is hoping somewhere where there is snow and slopes as he is an avid snow boarder - but he will take any assignment.

Luckily this was his decision to go and serve and he was so excited about the entire thing.  He signed up last December and I thought the glow would wear off - but it didn't.  The change in him over the past 6 months was amazing.  He was not banner student in high school - but he could have been.  Scoring high enough on the ASVAB to go from CTM gave him the boost he needed.  He volunteered at the recruiting center and tutored kids for the ASVAB.

My DH is having a hard time.  Funny is was the rock right up until we left his swearing in.  We got home and he has been down ever since. 

We do plan on visiting Pensacola in Mid October.  Our thoughts were going to graduation from BC then letting Kyle take a couple of months to adjust to school etc.  Soon as we know more defined plans we are going to make reservations.

Thanks for the info in Pensacola.  Seems there will be a lot for him to see in his off time.  He loves old forts etc.  We took many a vacation and spent time in forts, old cemetery's, battlefields and museums.  The Wall in DC made me cry like a baby.

Where do I find the info for the Navy Lodge.  We looked on line at resorts etc and the prices were a bit high - but I'd spent it all just to see him here and there for a week!

Thank you all for your support.  Anyone been to Japan yet? 

Permalink Reply by Lauriebelle on May 27, 2013 at 12:01pm

So glad things are starting to settle a bit. I am trying to just maintain until he goes on July 16th. I am prepared for that so i hope if he changes rankings it doesn't delay that any longer. I may not manage that too well.

As for Pensacola and the Navy Lodge. Look up Navy Lodge.com and put in Pensacola. It runs about 75 a night. Also there is the Gateway Inn on base which is very nice as well. Look under Gateway Inns on line. Both of these have small kitchenettes and laundry facilities as well as very nice rooms. We stayed at the Navy Lodge when we first moved here as we had pets and they allow them. If you will private message me I will be happy to send you plenty of visitors info. I love letting people know about where we live and all the great places we love off the beaten path.

Permalink Reply by caroltrv on May 29, 2013 at 7:14pm

Thanks for the info - I checked out the Navy Lodge.com site.  Just what we were looking for!  Got my box today.  Opened it and cried like a baby.  His shirt smells just like him - probably wont wash it until we leave for PIR!

 

Permalink Reply by Lauriebelle on May 29, 2013 at 10:17pm

Bless your heart. I know it will help me having had my son go off to college for a semester before he decided to come home for a yr and then join.Although I just keep trying to put it in that place I realize this is much more permanent and that is what scares me most. You'd think being an ex Army kid and wife I'd be ok but he is my baby still even at over 6 foot! lol

Today we got his bank account going and did his weekly check in at the recruiter. I have officially started the calendar countdown but couldn't number all the days without having an anxiety attack so i just put down 45, 30 and 15 days..I will just mosey along as the days pass.

Permalink Reply by harpist mom on May 29, 2013 at 7:17pm

Carol, I know how you feel about the box. It was really hard for me too. 

We are here to support and encourage you during this emotional time!

Permalink Reply by sol on May 29, 2013 at 7:27pm

My Sr PIR is this Friday I'm still crying when a read your comment is like my story repeat again his box is in his room I didn't wash his clothes his pants still fold on the legs I cry every day just like now ;( we are on the way to Great Lakes for his graduation