Leaving

[Pike60]

Tomorrow my oldest son is leaving for Fort Benning to start his new life as he calls it. I am going to miss him but we still will have his new wife here with us as well as our other 2 kids. I know others here on this forum have loved ones serving also, so tell me this. How long does it take to get used to the idea of one of your children possibly going into harms way? Please keep him and all other service men and women in your prayers.

[bearmgc]

For awhile, one son wanted to go into law enforcement, but then decided against it. I think there would be some similarities to a soldier serving overseas, except, that at some point, the soldier's duty time is up.
For a short time, while he was considering LE, I thought about it and my heart ached. But my spiritual beliefs held fast. Every person, I believe has a purpose in life, and when they recognize that, they choose whether to fulfill that purpose or not. Some people just know right off. Ultimately, God's will be done.
I pray that your son stays safe, but more so that he finds what he was meant to do. May he follow his "bliss." Life is for living. I am grateful for your son's service to our country.

[Dee]

Tomorrow my oldest son is leaving for Fort Benning to start his new life as he calls it. I am going to miss him but we still will have his new wife here with us as well as our other 2 kids. I know others here on this forum have loved ones serving also, so tell me this. How long does it take to get used to the idea of one of your children possibly going into harms way? Please keep him and all other service men and women in your prayers.

Pike! I had two sons that took their air borne training at Benign. One went to Bragg after that, completed his training and went to the 82nd Airborne. He left not long ago, and I hope he never goes back in. One tour in Afghanistan, and two tours in Iraq. The last one was as bad for us at home as the first. You don't watch the news, because your afraid you'll hear something you don't want to hear.
God be with you and your son.

[Badnews Bob]

Pike
  I hope you never get used to it, Not to be smart about it, I think that as long as you never get "used to it" That means you are worried and you care about you youngins. Worry about him and hope and pray he dose well but in my opinion never get used to it.. I don't think my Mom and Dad ever did.

[Slowhanddd]

I have four boys.Aged from 41,twins 31 and the youngest is 29.One of the twins went in the Army right out of high school.Eleven months in Bosnia and ten months in Iraq.Worried,sure did.Now both the twins are LEO's.Worry more about them now than I did when one was in the Army.Hope I never get used to it.Makes me think about them more often and we talk just about every day.Slow

[Swampman]

My son just got back from Afghanistan.  I put him in God's hands and I didn't worry about it too much.  Our fate is up to Jesus Christ.  He controls everything.  Once we accept that then it's much easier.

[myronman3]

  it will be hard on him, and the kid that leaves you will never come back to you.  what you will get back, will make you more proud than you can ever imagine.   they do very special things at fort benning.  i went there a child and left a man; and it wasnt because of the call girls of colombus.   oh the memories, and it seems like only yesterday.      God bless and watch over your son. 

[Carl l.]

Pike60, Believe me you will never get used to it. I have two off my family over there now. Now saying that; it is their choice in life and I have to honor that, but that don't keep me from worring about them. Carl L.

[Pike60]

Thanks for the responses. Just watched him leave from the recruiting station on his way to St. Louis and then on to Benning. His wife is taking it hard so my wife and I are taking the rest of the day off in case she needs us. This will be the longest strech that I have gone without talking to him. It will be strange. Now it is back to using snail mail for correspondence which will also be strange. May God bless you and yours and keep our service men and women safe. Also a sincere thanks to all the LEO's and firefighters for the jobs that they do every day with little or no recognition.
Pike60

[myronman3]

from what i remember, they let you use the phones a couple of times a week.  he wont have much time to talk, so make it count.    first things first.....tell him 1.  one day at a time, dont worry about tommorrow, focus on what is before you today.   2.  do not believe rumors floating around.  3.  in the reception center, sleep with your wallet in your underwear right next to his most prized apendage-i am dead serious about that.  they also will take him to the pay counter to get a mandatory pay advance.   KEEP THAT MONEY ON HIS BODY AT ALL TIMES.  under NO circumstances is he to put the money anywhere except for on his body.   

[Questor]

If you're not used to it by now, you probably never will be. Just plan on enjoying seeing him when he comes back. He will have matured a lot by then.

[Anonym]

I did Basic and AIT at Benning.  Best summer I ever had, and that's the truth.  Sand is a bit gritty on the knees and elbows, but as long as he keeps his nose clean and does what he's asked, it will be one of the most memorable moments for him.

As for you, stay involved and show your love and support for him.  Every soldier loves to hear from home and know that he's loved/missed.  If you send him any "care packages", send enough for him and about 60 other Joes and he might get a sample of what you sent him.

Myronman gave you some good advice to pass on to him.  It's a life-changing experience.  He probably won't be any "better" or "worse" than he always has been, just different.  He'll have experiences and make friendships that will last beyond his time there.  My hat is off to him and every other soldier who stands for freedom. 

Anonym

[slim rem 7]

what dee said.. rest in the lord brother..best you can..i know it ll be hard ..you and your son have my prayers.. slim

[ironglow]

Pike;
  You never "get used" to it, that is to say you can forget about it. My most recent being my Marine grandson. Benning may allow a couple phone calls per week, but the Marines allowed none..but did encourage writing. I believe most veterans here will tell you it is a great growing process. You will notice it in his letters and especially on his first leave at home. Encourage him to pay heed to his leadership, especially to the NCOs who have "been there, done that" ..their advice is invaluable.
  Should he be deployed to a combat zone, take the advice my grandson gave his bride.." Don't watch TV news or listen to radio concerning the war, it will only put unnecessary strain on your nerves. Besides, if anything bad happens..you will know before the TV & radio reporters do."
  Thank him for his service and may God bless his efforts. BTW, I don't know your spiritual situation, but you will notice how often posters here have mentioned how greatly their faith helped them to bear their burden. It sure has worked for me...

[d_hiker]

You always worry about them.  My son recently found out he is headed to Afgan.  This will be his third deployment, first two to Iraq with one of them being 14 months.  His wife left him while he was on his 2nd deployment.  He is now a single parent of two boys.  So we will be doing what ever it takes to help out.

Prayers do help, both for them and yourself.

[ironglow]

d_hiker;
  There is a friend who rents a house from my son, he served with the army in Afghanistan several years ago and was wounded by an IED.
  He still carries shrapnel in his back..too close to the spine to operate. While lying in hospital, his wife left him and their 2 kids, the little girl being still in diapers. He had to leave the Army even though he did not want to..but it was the kids or the Army..no real choice.
    He works every day now, in spite of some pain. Recently his runaway wife brought suit in an effort to take the kids. He was fortunate in getting a sensible judge..and she was sent packing.
   Keep the faith, do what you can to help and don't forget ..old ghosts can come back..be ready.

[teamnelson]

Pike, your son is in good hands, and will have a lot of folks looking out for him, from the evil Drill Sergeant to the Battalion Chaplain. My daughter leaves this June for the academy, and while I'll miss her, I've told her straight up that when it gets tough and you feel like quitting (and we all do) that I love her enough to remind her of why she made that choice, and hold her to it. There's a lot of pride in the accomplishment of walking across that drill field in your best uniform bearing a title that only a few will ever wear.

I've been doing this since '87, started out Army, then Marines, and now a Navy Chaplain with multiple combat tours to Iraq. Its scary for me to imagine my daughter doing what I've done, but I've learned to "trust the gear" so to speak, and I know it'll do right by her. I wouldn't trade anything for the look on her face when she got her orders this week.

[d_hiker]

ironglow,

My son's boys are 20 months and 5 years old.  He has his hands full.  And we are prepared for the ghosts.

Thank you for your comments.