Our son left for Cape May today and is actually in the air right now.  He just graduated from high school in June and I am so incredibly proud of him that he's chosen this path.  I wish that I could be there to see all of the experiences he will go through but we have been reading the forum for a while so I feel like I know some of what he will go through.  I can't wait until he can write and then when we get to travel there for his graduation.  For now though, I wait to hear that he has landed safely and is on the bus bound for Cape May.

Welcome aboard. Let us know if you have any questions, we'll do our best to help how we can. One little piece of advice about Cape May & NJ... your graduation date is Friday, September 2nd. Cape May is a large beach town in NJ, since you say he is flying to Philly, you might not be familiar with the NJ area. That is the last weekend of the summer by shore standards. That Monday is Labor Day. You might actually want to start looking for hotel reservations sooner rather than later. Should something happen, not saying it will but you never know, a hotel reservation can be changed fairly simply. However, if you wait to book, youmight find yourself staying further out of Cape May then you would prefer. Just a little head's up on that one.

Congratulations on the new Coastie.

Thanks for the info. Just got word that his plane landed in Philly safely so I'm relieved. Now waiting for his call which will likely be the last one for a while.

Got the phone call from him so all is well and he should be in Cape May soon. Now I'm anxiously awaiting his first letter so he can give us an address to write back to him.

Well help you out if we can with an address. I'm sure you'll hear from him eventually. In the meantime, let us know how you are doing and of you need anything.

Awesome for your son...I am sure he will have a blast during his vacation at resort Cape May...:-)

Please let him know we all support him and wish him the best.

I'm glad you found us, CoastGuardMom! This is a great source of information, and it sounds like you've got a great attitude. Welcome.
If you have a facebook account, there is also a closed group for CG moms, USCG Moms , and USCG Parents, Family and Friends is an open page with lots of pictures of current recruits.

What are those pages called on facebook? My boyfriend left yesterday as well and it looks like your son and him are together this is a website that someone posted on another forum on here, http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/recr...ations.asp it says they graduate on September 9th and it says that the website was updated yesterday.. but before Nathan (my boyfriend) got to Cape May he talked to me until he couldn't any longer on his phone and told me that his company was Lima and his graduation day is September 2nd.. So I'm confused as to which one is right and how to know for sure..

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes.

Kaileigh I think that my son and your boyfriend befriended each other before they ever left MEPS in Houston because Ben told me about a guy he met named Nathan so I'm sure that is him. There were only the two of them and one girl named Amy from Houston so the three of them were hanging around for the whole flight to Philly. He told me on the phone that he and Nathan were sitting on the front two seats of the bus on the ride to Cape May.

I have been following the graduation dates and was guessing they would be company Lima and his recruiter had already told me that they would graduate on Sept. 2nd if nothing went wrong and they were not held back. We've kind of had a running bet on which company he would be in and it looks like my guess was correct so score another one for Mom.

Hopefully we will get letters next week and confirm what company and will be able to send mail back.

I'm so excited and want to know everything he goes through but will have to hear it bits and pieces at a time I'm sure.


Thanks again to everyone who is so kind on this forum.

Sandy

Yes! They did, I met your son when i was there! I kind of already "know" what the whole boot camp thing is like in a way because my brother, also Nathan's bestfriend, went into the Marines last September and had boot camp for 13 weeks.. And only called home twice (once in the very beginning, and once at the very end).. It's different though, I mean I'm really close to my brother and it was really hard, but it's a completely different story with it being my boyfriend.. I know after these two months are over I'll look back and probably laugh at how emotional I'm being, but not knowing what he's doing, how he is, and not hearing his voice is so hard. I guess it all comes down to being afraid of the unknown.. But I wish you and your family the best of luck as well as lots of prayers! Hopefully we keep intouch and let each other know what we find out! But I'll see you at graduation, whenever it is! thank you!

Yes, it is incredibly difficult to not be able to see or speak to someone when you are used to talking to them everday. I find myself wondering what he must be doing sometimes but I know he's being kept very busy and probably has little time to get homesick. It's probably not as much of a big deal for him is it is for me because I'm a Mom and he's the first one to leave the nest so to speak so that makes it a little rougher. I'm actually doing better than I thought I would but I do try to keep myself busy (but with two other kids that is not too difficult) so that the time will pass faster. We're planning on going earlier in the week before graduation to do some sightseeing since we"ve never been to New York or any of those areas. Still trying to determine the best place to stay but may have to change hotels in order to do some sight seeing in New York area and then go down to Cape May area. Best of luck to you too. Where is your brother stationed?

My brother after boot camp actually got 31 days of leave because it was right before Christmas and he worked at the recruiter office (recruiter officer training) just because it allowed him to stay longer. He went to Pensacola Floridia for his first A school for about 3 months and now he's in California at LAS LEMOOR for his last A School which he graduates from in about a week and then from there he'll get his orders to go somewhere else.. Maybe deploy but maybe not..

Hi COASTGUARDMOM - My son (ALSO THE 1st born) also left on TUE! We went to MEPS and stayed w/ him until they left! UGH! It's been an emotional ride - before - during and NOW! I am trying to stay busy! - I still have not gone in his room. time ~ BUT hey - I found this site today where they must dedicate one of the recruits from each group to write a journal for them! I cannot WAIT to hear what group our boys are in and hear their Journals.... CHECK IT OUT!! https://www.piersystem.com/go/doctype/763/49039/
AND - OldGUARD2 - i have been reading you for a while and you seem to know the "inside" scoop on info - How do you know the GRAD DATE? And would you really suggest we wait til week 5 for Plane reservations up there ? AND - Any idea where my son is at so I can start sending him letters. I have already started writing to him since he left....keeping him informed of a daily life here, etc. I have gotten some crazy info on these boards about what they will say when they call home too..So- Let HIM talk and Dont be surprised! I cannot believe the day has finally come that I am actually a part of this forum and not just a "reader" of it.....It is a wonderful tool...AND - as for FB - I already tried liking the USCG for the family/friends etc. BUT, I am guessing when my son gets his group name - we can belong to that! I cannot wait. OLDGUARD: can i give you my sons name and can you give me that info yet..? I am soo Thankful for this site ! And i watch youtube videos to make me feel closer to him and all he is going through right now....(Just 8 weeks along w/ other ones out there too) WE R ALL SO PROUD!! And being so close to my first born has made this a bit difficult...BUT I also know that LIFE MOVES ON - We all flew the coop and now it is their turn. Just having support is a Wonderful THING!! Wishing us all Strength through this CHANGING TIME! N

Welcome aboard Nicole. I'm not as much in the know as you might think, I've just been around the Coast Guard my entire adult life. My finace enlisted when I was 18! He is still active duty and going strong. Now our son is also active duty. If he has a career like his dad's that will last well into my retirement that I will somehow be a part of CG life. This website... http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/ has a lot of valuable information. About halfway down the 1st page is a link to a PDF file, the Welcome Aboard packet. It is 69 pages, but has a lot of great info. The grad date is easy, just count 8 Fridays starting with tomorrow and the recruits that started on Tuesday graduate on the 2nd of September, 8 Fridays later.

As for plane reservations, I always recommend waiting! You just never know what could end up happening. I personally know someone that bought tickets the 1st week and they had to be changed... twice! I think they spent more on changes then the original ticket cost all together! Hotel reservations are a different story. You are looking at Labor Day weekend. That will be the last big shore weekend for a lot of people in NJ so everything will book up fast! Also, there is rarely ever a penalty for changing hotel reservations should you need to move that! I'm originally from NJ and I know how crazy the Jersey shore can get. I'm a gypsy now adn can barely keep myself nailed down in one place for more than a few years. LOL

You don't need to give me his name... Here is all you need and you can start sending letters.

SR Son's name
Recruit Company K-185
James Hall
USCG Training Center
1 Munro Avenue
Cape May, NJ 08204-5083

You didn't have to wait until he shipped to become a part of our little family! The CG is a pretty open bunch about sharing ups & downs, so anything you need, post away or send a PM to someone if you have a more private question and we'll be glad to help out. My son is an only child so letting him go wasn't easy but knowing the CG and the life and the jobs... it wasn't that difficult either. I went into his room a few days after he left and said "Oh hell no!" If I had to stay in that house until HE retired, I was not cleaning that disaster! Luckily he flew home to Texas for a week while I was in Wisconsin house hunting and he cleaned his own room! LOL Now "his room" in our house here, is a beautifully decorated guest room and I'll knock him out cold if he comes to visit and messes it up! HAHAHA

Just a word of warning... the days are going to drag by, the weeks are going to fly! In no time at all every one of you will be posting that you are heading out to NJ for graduation and answering questions for new girlfriends and moms and dads. Right now you don't believe me... but it's true. As for that first phone call. I had an idea of when it was coming, week 5, so I didn't move very far from my phone. Well we were watching a movie when the phone rang and it was a 609 area code (Cape May)... I grabbed the remote and flipped it around, could barely control myself, I forgot how to pause the movie, I almost dropped my phone... I was so excited to talk to my baby. But yes, that first call, just listen. Different CC's handle the calls differently. Some make them maintain complete professionalism, others allow them to relax a bit. Either way they only get about 3-5 minutes to tell you everything. It was funny, I was fine, talking to Colin and normal. We hung up and Scott looked at me and said "Where's he going?" I started crying. Poor Scotty... he was like "No, no crying, you did so well talking to him, no crying!" LOL I stopped pretty quickly then the telephone chain began... dad, grandma, aunt, cousin... LOL

Welcome aboard, that's enough babble from me. I was eating my lunch and didn't feel like working, now I suppose I have to get back to my full time job!

WOW!!  Thank you for your detailed reply!! That was Great!  -  But, just curious...How do you  know Which Recruit Co and Hall ?  -  Inquiring minds wanna know!      U brought tears to my eyes about that first phone call!  CUZ I could just feel you through the words!  and know How Excited I am going to be!  Its soo weird...they have confused feelings of anxious-scared-nervous, excited etc.  And us - We are Proud/Happy/Sad/Excited etc.  - Funny how life is...
Life moves on but nobody can ever prepare us for the day that your baby takes their leap into Adulthood!  (esp. if you were closed to them - like we are!)  - But it is def. for the good.  I have another son going into 10th grade soon...Soo, I still have one at home.  BUT - I must say...I cannot wait until I can be a "gypsy" - PS, HOw do I PM you ?  Thank you for the greetings and will be speaking w/ ya!  Thanks again!  N

The uscg.mil website, that has all that info about company name and hall and address. So you see, I'm not that in touch, I just know where to look. LOL

For PM, under my name is a little envelope, feel free to click that and send me a private message if you like. Most people you have to request to be a friend first, I have mine set that anyone can PM me at anytime, no friend request needed.

I am still proud/happy/sad/nervous when it comes to my son's career. My ex-husband too for that matter. He just returned in January from a year in Iraq. I was so proud of him for going and accomplishing all that he did there. But there were nights I literally didn't sleep because I was concerned, worried about him, hadn't gotten an email in a while... So even as the ex-wife, I still worry. My ex just took over his first ever command in the CG... I am so proud of him, he worked so hard for it.

Nicole, I had a list of questions for the recruiter and one of them was about his graduation date and he told us that they should graduate on Sept. 2nd unless they get held back for one reason or another. I was also told about getting airline tickets too early so will probably wait on those but am looking now for hotels because I don't want them to be booked. I did see a list on the Coast Guard Website about hotels that give special discounts for one night or so for people attending graduation so you may want to look at that. I'm sure our boys are both in the same company since they left on Tuesday and I'm guessing it will be company Lima but they update the website with the graduation dates on Friday so I'll check then. By the way, where are you from? We live in Texas and have never been to the East Coast and are looking forward to it.

Old Guard, you also brought tears to my eyes talking about that first phone call. I cried when I got the last phone call and had to say goodbye so I'm sure I'll do the same when I finally hear from him.

I'm going to check those websites and hopefully get a glimpse of him. I find my self daydreaming alot during the day trying to figure out what he might be doing or going through. Hopefully, the time will pass fast.

Sandy

Sept 2 is Kilo-185... Straight from the website... http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/recruit/FAQs.asp

Company Hall Graduation Date
F185 JAMES 15 JUL 2011
G185 HEALY 29 JUL 2011
H185 MUNRO 05 AUG 2011
I185 HEALY 12 AUG 2011
J185 JAMES 19 AUG 2011
K185 JAMES 02 SEP 2011

Lima should start next week and graduate on 09 SEP 2011

Not sure if I'm wrong or not but I thought that possibly Company K was held back because they should have graduated the week after Company J on Aug 19. There is a gap between Aug 19 and then jumps to Sept 2 so somone must have been held back. That brings me to my next question.....can more than one company graduate at at time? Because if not that would mean that Company Lima which I believe my son to be in would automatically be going more than the 7 1/2 weeks of a normal boot camp.

There was no shippers on July 5th because Monday July 4th was a federal hoilday. (If they did process a company on July 4th, August 26th would have been graduation, there is your skip.)  Recruiters & MEPS were closed that day so they couldn't process anyone to ship on Tuesday. Week skipped, letters don't. You'll notice the week after your recruits graduate on Sept 2nd, there will be no class the week of September 6th, Monday the 5th will be Labor Day. Recruiters, MEPS again closed. Week skipped for holiday.

Okay that explains the skipped week then. The question I still have though is when will this class graduate? Our recruiter told us if he shipped on July 12th that they would graduate on Sept. 2nd. Do they ever have more than one company graduate at a time?

Trust what the recruiter said, I have said it, it is only a matter of looking at a yearly calendar and counting 8 Fridays. July 12th would be September 2nd.

Boot camp is 8 weeks. Normally, 1 company starts on a Tuesday and graduates in 8 weeks on Friday. They don't tell an entire company you all stink, 100% of you are staying an extra week and graduating in 9 weeks or to another company say you are so exemplary we are going to boost you out of here in 7 weeks. One company starts, one company graduates. In some very rare instances, and I haven't heard of this happening for quite a long time now, if a class is too large they will split a group coming in on a Tuesday into 2 forming companies. Then yes, you might have 2 companies graduate the same day under those circumstances. That is not the case with this group and I don't think they have had to split a company in the 2+ years since my son went to boot.

I was looking at the calendar and trying to project ahead but forgot to subtract the week of July 4th so that would make his company be K instead of L. Thanks for clearing that up.

I thought someone said there was a website (not sure if it's facebook or youtube) where you can see recent videos/pictures of the recruits but I didn't find it so if someone could provide that, I would appreciate it. I would love to be able to get a glance at him with his snazzy new haircut that he will have.

Also, how long will it be before this company starts with their weekly journals so that we can read them?

Thanks.

I am so overwhelmed with all the information. I first so clueless about my fiance leaving now I feel so in the loop. I am extremely glad that Old Guard is so helpful. I live in Jersey I am about 2 hours north of Cape May so if you have any questions about hotels and traveling around this amazing state ask away. I will be at graduation without a doubt. I can help any questions about the area. I am looking forward to meeting everyone. Make sure everyone joins the Facebook group here is the direct link. I can't to get to know everyone over the next few weeks and officially meet everyone at graduation. http://www.facebook.com/groups/1239...10047?ap=1

I didn't know you are from NJ. I was born in Perth Amboy, raised in Piscataway. I left to marry my Coastie and been on strange adventures ever since. LOL We are divorced now and I was back in Jersey for a while but now I'm in Wisconsin. I've been all over as a Coastie wife and just a basic vagabond, too!

Either one of you could probably suggest somewhere to look at staying. I would like to find somewhere along the beach if possible and was thinking I might try to find something halfway between Cape May and New York since we want to do some sightseeing in that area earlier in the week before graduation. We may end up having to stay in two different hotels though so I 'm still looking at all options.

On Thursday you are going to want to move closer to Cape May. The traffic can be nightmarish on the Garden State Parkway and you could miss the whole thing if you stay too far away! As far as places closer to NYC, that's a crap shoot. Try and stay at a brand name, that will be a lot safer. Down in Cape May you will find all local mom & pop places, that will be fine, truly your only alternative.

As a PS to that... if you stay somewhere in NJ, closer to Newark airport or something... best bet for getting into NYC, take the train!  Driving in NY is an adventure and expensive!!!!  You can park at a train station, take the northeast corridor, zip into Manhattan, getting off at Penn Station, right in th eheart of midtown, go play, go back to the station, hop on the train and voila back to the car & the hotel.

If you want my number or my parents, they live in central Jersey, we'll be happy to get you where you need to go and have a fun time.  Been going to NYC since I was about 3 years old with my dad.    My dad still loves going to NY as often as he can.  My dad would be willing to serve as a tour guide if you wanted one.  He is retired and loves anyone Coastie... so he would go to NY with you and show you the hot spots. 

HI mom! I hope you do not mind me calling you mom. Old Guard is right. On thursday you will want to be in Cape May. My best suggestion is to fly into Newark airport or philadelphia airport. There are major hotels like the Sheraton which can get pricy or like Howard Johnsons are little bit more reasonable. There is about a 120 mile difference between New York City and Cape May...so you want keep that in mind. Hotels can be found for price ranges and all locations. My best suggestion look at orbitz or expedia or other cites that are similar for deals. May of these websites will offer great packages on flights, rooms, and car rentals. From travel experience I always booked everything thru Liberty Travel. The great thing about Liberty Travel is that if you print out a price quote from an website or other travel agent they will match the price for you. This way you can a major travel agency on your side in case something goes wrong. Also keep in mind that the shore towns like Cape May thrive on four months out of the year. You may want to consider looking at hotels 5-10 miles away from boot camp because the prices will be cheaper. Just beware to give your self enough time because during the summer months traffic increases drastically. My job is only about 5 miles from my house and during the summer it will take about 20-30 mins to work. I live in a big summer house town. If you need help navigating pls email me and I can give you my cell. I will def without a doubt at graduation. I would to have the company at graduation since I will be going alone. I would be happy to help sight see. I will be going down to Cape May few days prior to the graduation.

ANd I have lived here my whole life. I was born in India. But been in the states since I was 2. I have moved away few times but always come back to Jersey.

Thanks for all the info. It definately gives me more information than what I had which was just looking at a map of New Jersey trying to figure out where to start calling for hotels.

I'm so excited because hopefully this week we will get our first letter since today was the first Sunday he was in boot camp and able to write a letter.