Quote from Riskmanager:
Buy your son a copy of "Unleashing The Warrior Within" from Richard J. Machowicz. If he likes it, he can make some of his seminars afterwards (www.bukido.com). Strongly recommended, might help him reach his high goals like it helped me reach mine so far (got an interview as a prop trader tomorrow
).
Cheers
Hey RM, thanks for the tip. Maybe I should read it for myself. I got the feeling my son won't have a lot of time to read anything in addition to what he's required to a this point.
The regimen is so incredible, he actually had a valid excuse for not writing to me or his grandmothers. They kept him so busy that my first two letters I wrote him at boot camp sat unopened in his locker for almost two weeks. Did not have time to even read his mail, let alone write.
I drove up to see him in Goose Creek, SC three weeks ago (that's where the nuke school is). 10 hour drive from S. Florida each way. He had arranged to study extra during the week so he could spend all day Saturday with me, and most of Sunday. I got up there dinner time Friday, we went to dinner, and I got him back on the base by midnight as required. The next day (Sat.), he had some kind of duty, and physical training until 3 pm, but then he was free to be with me. But with no prior notice, he was informed that he had to report for something (can't remember what...maybe a surprise inspection), and couldn't see me at all on Sat. So I figured; well, at least I get Sunday with him. Uh-uh...didn't happen. Someone in his division messed up and all "shipmates" were denied liberty. So I drove to Myrtle Beach, got on a plane, and went to NY for the remainder of the weekend. Had to fly back to Myrtle beach, get my car, and drive back to Palm Beach. 20+ hours of driving, and I got to see him for three or four hours. Bigger fish to fry than seeing the "old man"....but really, the study courses are grueling, and while I was disappointed that I didn't get more time with him, I was thrilled that he has grown up so much and devoted his efforts with such intensity. For some people, like my son, the military is the exact right place to grow up. No mother since he was 10, and I could never discipline him. The Navy could accomplish accelerating his maturity in 10 weeks much better than I did in the previous 9 years.
He stands a whole lot taller, has more self confidence and self respect. His friends are not the same babies he hung out with here....for example his roommate is a 24 year old grad of U of Calif, Davis, with a degree in philosophy.
Best of all, is his pride in himself, what he does, and pride in his country.
His big problem now is when he comes home in a few weeks for Christmas leave, he isn't sure if he is supposed to bring his dress whites (summer) or his dress blues (winter). Florida is not the typical climate. This is the big worry from a kid that a year ago would NEVER tuck in his shirt, or wear clothes that weren't 10 sizes too big. Now he's an expert at ironing

Pride himself in it. Hope he cleans his filthy bedroom while he's here
Well, sorry for boring everyone and boasting about my boy, but he's what I have, and I am so proud I just want everyone to know. It's a truly warm uplifting feeling to see your son become a man virtually over night. And the best part is that contrary to how things were when I was drafted, the military today is about "keeping the peace" rather than "kill or be killed". (at least it's supposed to be). Everything they are learning so far in regards to military strategy is about deterrence. Winning by being "smarter". In 10 weeks of boot camp, he spent about one hour learning how to shoot a rifle. zero hours with a pistol, and zero hours in hand to hand (I guess the Marines and Infantry do all that stuff exclusively now). When I was in, all we did was prepare to fight.
Hopefully, no one will need to fight ever again if we can win the war on terror. To do that, we really need to do it with our brains rather than with our bombs. Which is my real objection to this war. I agree in the objectives, just not in the tactics.
Peace.

RS (proud papa!)