My husband left for BCT (Basic Combat Training) on Monday. I felt like the weather knew how my mood was because it rained all day. I woke up early knowing that I had just a few short hours left, so I wanted to eek out every minute I could. We had breakfast and just kinda sat around. Around noon I took him to the recruiters office and said our goodbyes. I could tell he didn't want anyone to see us say good bye because he asked me to park a ways down from the recruiters. He hugged me goodbye gave me a kiss and said I'll see you soon. I knew I couldn't lose it while he was still in the car. I didn't want him to leave with that picture in his head. He got out and opened the door to the back seat and then said goodbye to our two little ones. Jaden ( 3 year old daughter) hugged him as tight as she could and told him she loved him. She knew he was leaving for a while, but I don't think she grasps how long he'll really be gone. Max (our 7 month old son) smiled happily in his car seat. He closed the door turned and walked away. I watched him until he was in the recruiters office and then I left, tears streaming down my face.
I had been preparing for this day since April. My husband had a rough time of getting into the army. When he first made the decision to join he was about 60lbs over weight. It took him over a year to finally get down enough that they would allow him to sign his contract. When he had finally signed and had a date of when he would ship it felt like it would never come. 6 months is what we had to wait for him to leave. It could have probably been sooner had he picked a different MOS( Military occupational specialty), but he was really interested in learning the ins and outs of fixing some type of machinery. He was so excited the day he came home and told me he had picked 15R (Apache helicopter repairer). So we waited 6 months. That felt like forever until the day he left.
That evening he called me and let me know he had made it to the hotel. If your husband or boyfriend or fiance hasn't left yet you soon learn that they make them stay in a hotel the night before the actually get on the bus to go to reception. I was able to talk to him a few times that night which was nice. The next morning he went to MEPS (military entrance processing station) resigned all his paperwork and then was shuttle off to the airport to get on the bus. Yes you read that right they took him to the airport to get on a bus lol. I talked to him a few times that day before the bus made it to his final destination Ft. Benning, GA. At about 1140 that evening I got what I though would be that one last call at least for a while. 3 maybe 4 min long. Hey I am here and they are getting ready to take our phones so I don't know when I'll get to talk to you again. I love you and please tell JJ and Max that daddy loves them.
Lucky for me the next evening I got another 3 min phone call. I was so excited, but what I was hoping for was the address to where I could send mail. That was the first thing I asked and was informed that I wouldn't be getting that until he was done with processing. He told me that they'd gone over all his paperwork, took copies of all our documents and that he had received his new uniforms. He then informed me that on his first pay check 300 dollar would be taken out. I asked for what and he told me that they take it and put it on a card for them to use to buy supplies like tooth paste, soap etc. In the background I could here the other men talking to their families one even saying I love you. Finally I heard 2 more min from the drill instructor. We said our good byes and I told him I loved him and that I knew he would do great. The one thing I've always been told is to stay positive for them. Don't bring up anything negative that is going on at home. What does that mean? I'm afraid to tell him how much I miss him, if I haven't slept because of our son or anything. So what do you talk about? I guess it doesn't matter all that matters is that I got to talk to him and I know he's OK. The last phone call was on Tuesday and I've been glued to my phone since. I'm so worried I will miss his call especially when I'm at work. At this point I suppose I won't be getting another call for a while.
I am not the most patient person and I've been waiting for days to hear something or get something in the mail. I want to know when I can get my ID and when can I start taking our kids to the doctor. Max is way over due for a well baby check up. I asked around and finally was told how to check if we had been entered in to TRICARE which of course meant we had been entered into DEERS (Defense Enrollement Eligaility System). There is a phone number you can call that tells you if your covered under your "sponsors" (i.e. soldiers) social. I called yesterday and we are finally covered. Now I just have to wait for the letter from is commander so that I can go down to the CDC in Atlanta and get my military ID. You have to make an appointment which I've done for a week from now. I figure I should have my letter by then and if not I'll just push the appointment out a few days.
I feel like our journey has finally started. He is doing his training and I am holding down the fort at home. I'm crying at least once a day, but its getting better. I'm excited at the prospect of what our life is going to be like and I can't wait to continue the journey. Sorry this was so long I just really want anyone getting ready to go through this to know what its like step by step so maybe just maybe they'll be prepared as much as you can be. One mistake we have already made is not getting a POA (power of attorney). Without one I can't do a whole lot when it comes to debt in his name or finding things out, but lesson learned and I'll see if I can get one and send it to him so he can sign it and send it back.
I had been preparing for this day since April. My husband had a rough time of getting into the army. When he first made the decision to join he was about 60lbs over weight. It took him over a year to finally get down enough that they would allow him to sign his contract. When he had finally signed and had a date of when he would ship it felt like it would never come. 6 months is what we had to wait for him to leave. It could have probably been sooner had he picked a different MOS( Military occupational specialty), but he was really interested in learning the ins and outs of fixing some type of machinery. He was so excited the day he came home and told me he had picked 15R (Apache helicopter repairer). So we waited 6 months. That felt like forever until the day he left.
That evening he called me and let me know he had made it to the hotel. If your husband or boyfriend or fiance hasn't left yet you soon learn that they make them stay in a hotel the night before the actually get on the bus to go to reception. I was able to talk to him a few times that night which was nice. The next morning he went to MEPS (military entrance processing station) resigned all his paperwork and then was shuttle off to the airport to get on the bus. Yes you read that right they took him to the airport to get on a bus lol. I talked to him a few times that day before the bus made it to his final destination Ft. Benning, GA. At about 1140 that evening I got what I though would be that one last call at least for a while. 3 maybe 4 min long. Hey I am here and they are getting ready to take our phones so I don't know when I'll get to talk to you again. I love you and please tell JJ and Max that daddy loves them.
Lucky for me the next evening I got another 3 min phone call. I was so excited, but what I was hoping for was the address to where I could send mail. That was the first thing I asked and was informed that I wouldn't be getting that until he was done with processing. He told me that they'd gone over all his paperwork, took copies of all our documents and that he had received his new uniforms. He then informed me that on his first pay check 300 dollar would be taken out. I asked for what and he told me that they take it and put it on a card for them to use to buy supplies like tooth paste, soap etc. In the background I could here the other men talking to their families one even saying I love you. Finally I heard 2 more min from the drill instructor. We said our good byes and I told him I loved him and that I knew he would do great. The one thing I've always been told is to stay positive for them. Don't bring up anything negative that is going on at home. What does that mean? I'm afraid to tell him how much I miss him, if I haven't slept because of our son or anything. So what do you talk about? I guess it doesn't matter all that matters is that I got to talk to him and I know he's OK. The last phone call was on Tuesday and I've been glued to my phone since. I'm so worried I will miss his call especially when I'm at work. At this point I suppose I won't be getting another call for a while.
I am not the most patient person and I've been waiting for days to hear something or get something in the mail. I want to know when I can get my ID and when can I start taking our kids to the doctor. Max is way over due for a well baby check up. I asked around and finally was told how to check if we had been entered in to TRICARE which of course meant we had been entered into DEERS (Defense Enrollement Eligaility System). There is a phone number you can call that tells you if your covered under your "sponsors" (i.e. soldiers) social. I called yesterday and we are finally covered. Now I just have to wait for the letter from is commander so that I can go down to the CDC in Atlanta and get my military ID. You have to make an appointment which I've done for a week from now. I figure I should have my letter by then and if not I'll just push the appointment out a few days.
I feel like our journey has finally started. He is doing his training and I am holding down the fort at home. I'm crying at least once a day, but its getting better. I'm excited at the prospect of what our life is going to be like and I can't wait to continue the journey. Sorry this was so long I just really want anyone getting ready to go through this to know what its like step by step so maybe just maybe they'll be prepared as much as you can be. One mistake we have already made is not getting a POA (power of attorney). Without one I can't do a whole lot when it comes to debt in his name or finding things out, but lesson learned and I'll see if I can get one and send it to him so he can sign it and send it back.
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