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The lighting of a blue candle is a tradition with several different stories. The candle is lit for sailors separated from their families during the holidays, for sailors in danger far away, or to light a sailor’s way home. It’s also popularly used as a way to mark the time recruits complete the most arduous part of their training–in a sense, to bring them “home” to complete boot camp and become sailors.
Ross begins what is known as “Battle Stations 21” at 2200 tonight. This is a 12-hour grueling rite-of-passage aboard the Navy’s 210 foot long (3/4 scale) destroyer, the U.S.S. Trayer, a simulator first commissioned in 2007 and loaded with Hollywood-style special effects. Events through the night include missile attacks as well as fires and flooding from undersea mines. It’s designed to replicate terrorist attacks, battle damage, and at-sea disasters. Every recruit must pass battle stations before becoming a sailor.
If Ross doesn’t pass it, he will not graduate.
Recruits in his graduating group (which includes eleven divisions–each division has approximately 80 recruits–some are mixed, male/female, and some are all male–Ross is in an all-male division) have been going through battle stations since the middle of last week. Some of them didn’t pass. They will retake battle stations this week, some of them with Ross’s division. Ross’s division is one of the last in his graduating group to go through battle stations. If any of them don’t pass, there will be little time to try again. They will be retaking battle stations the night before graduation, if necessary.
Which will make for some pretty tired sailors on graduation day.
Some of those who do not pass will never pass, and their careers in the Navy will be over.
Here is a CNN on-scene video about Battle Stations 21.
Ross. Will. Pass. And this Friday, I will see him here:
And I’ll need some tissues.
(That’s a long video, but if you just watch the first couple of minutes, you’ll get an idea of the pageantry.)
I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning to start driving to Great Lakes, Illinois, with Weston and Morgan. I’ll be updating as I can. (At some point after battle stations, Ross will be allowed to make his “I am a sailor” call. I don’t know when that will be, but I will already be on my way to Great Lakes.) Thanks for understanding if my post schedule is more haphazard than usual while I’m on my trip. This weekend, Ross will have liberty before heading to South Carolina for two years of nuclear power training as he prepares for work on Navy submarines. Not sure what all we will be doing this weekend. Ross asked for some good food and a long shower, and he said he wanted to see the sun!
P.S. You can light a blue candle for Ross and the others boys in his division tonight, if you want! It can’t hurt!
P.P.S. If you have a child joining the Navy, I can’t say strongly enough–join Navy for Moms. Saturday night, I had been on the phone with my dad for about half an hour. He talks really slowly and I had sat down and clicked on the internet while he was talking. I clicked on my division group from Navy for Moms. There was a message from another mom of a boy in Ross’s division–she said they had been given a reward and were at the NEX making phone calls RIGHT NOW. She was on the phone with her son. I said, “Dad, I HAVE TO GO. Ross might call!” My dad is 85. He has never used the internet. Not only did he not understand the magic by which I had this piece of information, it was hopeless to explain it, and it took a few minutes to get off the phone. Believe me, the phone didn’t leave my hand. Within minutes, it rang and it was Ross!!!!!! I said, “I knew you were going to call!” I got to talk to him for a whole hour. The internet really is a beautiful thing. You can find Navy for Moms here.
P.P.P.S. I told Ross that I’d watched this graduation video on YouTube and couldn’t wait to see him marching at his graduation. He said, “I hate marching. It will all be for you, Mom!”
UPDATE 08-11-10: Ross passed Battle Stations 21! HE IS A SAILOR!!!!
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on August 10, 2010
Followed the bidding on Ebay, thank you for showing us the winner---fun.
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You will love the ceremony – I attended an Army boot camp graduation of a son’s friend in Augusta, GA a few years ago – even I cried!!!
Best wishes….
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P.S. My dear hubby was in the Navy during Vietnam!
GO NAVY!
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Jill
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I wish you a safe journey and a joyful reunion with your son!
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I hope you all have a wonderful time together.
My hubby was a Marine during Vietnam.
God bless our troops! God bless America!
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You have much to be proud of- Ross WILL pass!
These ceremonies always bring tears to my eyes.
My niece is an officer in the Navy and I have yet to go to any gathering- even the picnics make me cry- without being touched by the dedication and sacrifice made by the young men and women of America in the military.
I’m praying for you and your family.
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What an intense training. It may not be exactly what real situations are like, but it gives a much better idea to the recruits what being on a ship in bad situations is like.
Safe travels to you and the kids and have the best of fun this weekend once Ross gets his liberty. Don’t worry about us, we’ll just be anxiously waiting for pics!
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“He said, “I hate marching. It will all be for you, Mom!””
Have a fantastic trip. I will be praying for Ross in his journey tonight…although I just know he will do well.
I know Kleenex stocks will be up this week!
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We are all proud of Ross….of all your kids and you!
I will find a blue candle and burn it tonight for Ross and all the ‘gonna be sailors’.
Safe trip, Suzanne.
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Have a wonderful time with your new sailor.
Thank you for sharing all the trials/tribulations and happiness.
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I am a 6 week old Mom of a military kid. It is such a new world and I know that talking to other Moms really helps. We just got through the fears of basic training, so I can only imagine how you and the other Navy Moms feel. I will keep you and Ross and the other sailors in my prayers.
Aimee Ryan
Edmond, OK
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Congratulations to Ross and to you for raising such a fine young man.
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With many thanks for their service, may they all come home safely.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/heidi533/ForRoss.jpg
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Congrats Ross!
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Congratulations, Ross. Bust a button, Suzanne!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH ROSS AND YOURSELF!
A JOB WELL DONE.
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