Expert: Jason Grabill - 1/25/2010

Question
Hi Jason,

I'd like to start by saying how awesome I find this site!!! I googled my thoughts, and BAM! I came across the exact thing I googled and it led me to your answer. Wow. So I'm mainly wanting to thank you for something you provided in your answer. A Mom had written that she was depressed about her son joining the Marines. My thoughts exactly. Maybe not really depressed, but fear of the unknown, my "baby" in possible danger, yada, yada, yada. I'm sure you've heard it all. Even still, my heart swells with pride. He's going to be MP. (He works with the local Sheriff's department now, and he would like to eventually get out and do SWAT, or something along those lines. Anyway, the words that you spoke that made me feeling better were "if your son drives, he's putting himself in danger every day." And that just kind of resonated with me. Thank you. I guess all my other thoughts are the just not knowing. His recruiter was supposed to send me all kinds of info, and never did. I will support my son, even through my fear, and my heart will swell with pride. He leaves for Parris Island August 9th!! How often will I be able to hear from him?

Again, my main goal with this note is to thank you for your words of wisdom!!!

Semper fi,
Carol  

Answer
Carol:

 First, this is the nicest question I think I've ever gotten, and I've been doing this a long time.   I'm glad that something I said helped you out, and made you feel better, and makes it easier for you to support your son.   Makes everything worthwhile.  

 As far as what you were supposed to be sent....tell me what you are looking for and I'll do the best I can to help you out with websites and information.   To answer your first question, yes, your son will be able to write letters basically as soon as he gets to Parris Island (and you'll be getting a phone call that day/night when he arrives, from HIM...but he'll likely sound like a zombie at that point.  LOL  For good reason).   You'll get as many letters a week as he's able to write, depending on his schedule for that week.

 Hopefully, you are  making plans to go to PI to see him graduate!

All the best, and Semper Fi,

Jason