I don't know if this is the proper place to put this but I'm running out of things to try. My son recently went to boot camp and that first call home after he got there was one of the hardest I've had. He wasn't sure if he'd made the right choice and told them he wanted to leave. He was told he had to stay or go to jail. This was during the first 24 hours he was there.

I asked my son how long they said he'd have to stay in jail and then heard him ask someone who was with him at which point his Captain whose name I won't put here, took the phone quickly from my son and asked me if I had any questions. I repeated to him what my son had told me... he had to stay or go to jail. The Captain quickly told me it's a volunteer Army and that my son probably wouldn't go to jail. If it's a volunteer Army then how can they tell him point blank, stay or go to jail?

I was told he'd call back 2 or 3 days later so we could talk and decide if he'd made the right decision. I know being away from home was hard so agreed a couple of days more to adjust to things there might make all the difference. When a few days passed and no call... my husband called the Captain direct and asked to speak to our son to find out how things were going and if he decided to stay. I was a military wife for 20 years so I know I can't always expect things to be how they are in the civilian world but the Captain told my husband he'd give the msg to my son's Sgt and I guess it was naive on our part to think we'd be getting a call. More time passed, we called again.... again we were told a msg would be taken and again we waited for the call. After doing this several times we called my son's recruiter who'd told us the day my son left... if we needed anything to please let him know and he'd help us. Well that call wasn't returned either.

This all started the first week of October and still no call. A 3 weeks ago we got a call from my son's girlfriend. He was allowed one call so called her and asked her to relay a msg to us. He was told he was being discharged for medical reasons (asthma) and would be coming home in 2 weeks. Well those 2 weeks passed and he was told he'd be leaving by Wed. Nov 17. He also told her he'd probably be coming home by bus since it was cheaper. Now my heart felt like it dropped to my feet. If he _is_ being discharged is he having to pay his own way back home? He's in Ga. and we're in Md. I'd happily pay for him to fly home or even drive to get him... but I guess after being a proud military wife for so long... it breaks my heart to think this is happening to my son. I guess I feel let down by it all now. I have no idea where my son is now or if he's even okay. I'm very concerned. I'm sorry if for taking so much space here... I just want to know if he's okay and if he's really coming home. :cry:

Ma'am,


I am sorry that your son's chain of command has not returned your calls as of late. There are a couple courses of action that you may take in order to attempt to speak to your son while he is in training. First, however, if your son is being sent home, the military will pay for him to travel, however they see fit, be it plane or bus, to his final destination, if they are putting him out on a medical discharge. he will not have to pay out of pocket, nor do the let the service member choose how he/she wishes to travel. If a bus is the cheapest, then more than likely, a bus is what the Army will spring for.

On the second issue of not being able to speak to your son, please read my reply to "Laura's Mom" in this same forum and if you have any additional questions, PM me on here. I will check back later on to see if you have replied or send me a Private Message (PM). I hope to hear from you and I hope I have been of some assistance.

DS2000

[quote:ce3a421179="DS2000"]Ma'am,


First, however, if your son is being sent home, the military will pay for him to travel, however they see fit, be it plane or bus, to his final destination, if they are putting him out on a medical discharge. he will not have to pay out of pocket, nor do the let the service member choose how he/she wishes to travel. If a bus is the cheapest, then more than likely, a bus is what the Army will spring for.[/quote:ce3a421179]

I apologize if I made it sound like I had a problem with him taking a bus home. I don't at all. Even if they sent him horseback I'd be happy... it just threw me for a loop thinking they were 'kicking him to the curb' to get home however he could on his own. I guess having things relayed through his girlfriend didn't help matters any. I know things don't always get passed along how they are intended. Hearing through a relayed msg he has broken fingers now didn't help either.


[quote:ce3a421179]On the second issue of not being able to speak to your son, please read my reply to "Laura's Mom"
DS2000[/quote:ce3a421179]

I read your msg to her and yes I have considered using the Red Cross... I guess I'm trying hard not to be an over protective mom since he is my only child. I didn't want to make things difficult for anyone else. I just wanted to know if he is okay.

20 years as a military wife taught me patience like you wouldn't believe. I learned to be mom, dad, mechanic, carpenter, cook (yea I put that last as I'm still working on that one. )

You have helped me more than you know. You took time to listen and responded and that means a lot to me. Thank you.

hey mommabear, you sound just like my mom and dad, dad was in for 20, like your husband, let me just tell you that the army may not be right for him but they will make sure he gets home allright and take care of him while hes there. so please dont worry about your son. im sure he'll be home soon