Waiting Patiently - Trying Not to Think

My friend Huggy, who was enlisted in the Navy for over 20 years, sent me the most interesting information concerning Dominic's final phase of Boot Camp - BATTLE STATIONS! This a 24 hour make-or-break experience that serves as the culmination of his last eight weeks. After reading the article it seems as if the recruits are put into created "war zones" to replicate a terrorist attack on a ship. All this is done, as close as you can get, on the new $82.5 million Simulator Battle Stations 21 trainer onboard the Trayer, a new "ship" recently put into service at the Navy's boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill.

It is said that this is quite alot for the recruits to endure, but it helps them to be all that more prepared when going into battle! It is believed that "Only the Strong Survive!" After the recruits pass this last phase, they then trade in their ball caps they wore all during camp, with the word "RECRUIT" for ones that say "NAVY." The men and women are now true United States Sailors! This is known as the capping ceremony. This is a very emotional time for the sailors as it is now the end of one of the most trying and difficult times in their lives - Navy Bootcamp!

Although I have been more than proud of Dominic through this whole "bootcamp" ordeal, after reading the information about the Simulator Ship - I now know how brave, loyal, and tough my son Dominic really is! I am a nervous wreck thinking about any of it, so I am trying not to think tonight as I lay down to go to sleep! I read somewhere that Dominic will be able to call us as soon as he completes these Battle Stations, to share his great news with us! So of course, that is all I can think of right now!!! Waiting patiently!!! Trying not to think!!! Waiting patiently!!! Trying Not to think!!!!