That's Seaman John Crego to you!!!

Okay, today seemed almost cluster-ish at points, but it was all worth it!! We were right on time, but saw first hand why the shuttle leaves at 7 am. There was a butt-load of people trying to get into the graduation. I'm glad we drove in Vinnie's car (oh yeah, more about fun in Chicago later).

I don't have any pictures of the crowd waiting in line to get in because that was prohibited and there were enough Navy security guys that I wasn't going to take a chance on losing my camera. Suffice it to say, each graduating recruit could invite 4 people. They graduated 978 sailors in this cycle and I think they all invited 4 people and then some. Here's a shot from inside the graduation hall (I forget what it's called):

Okay... this give you an idea of how big the hall is. There are 8 graduating classes today. They do this every Friday - really wild if you think about it. Unfortunately we are setting on the opposite end from John, so we couldn't see him. Funny moment - we had to walk around the building to get to the seats were were at and he marched right past us. No pictures due to the security, but Teresa was all like "LOOK LOOK RIGHT THERE" and they all looked alike to me, it was hilarious. After about an hour, they made the announcement everyone was waiting for ...

LIBERTY CALL!!

After that it was a madhouse. Luckily once we got to the floor it was relatively easy for John to find us rather than us finding him. Of course I have no more pictures of the ceremony or John on the base. Here's one of him back at the hotel:


Don't he look sharp? Of course I have to toss in one of him with his biggest fan (Emma herself)!


Immediately afterwords we left base and went to the Full Moon Diner that was across from the hotel. Amy (his mom) got a migraine so we took her back to the hotel and we sat around for a bit chilling out while John spent some quality time - with his laptop and Zune. Can't fault him for that - 2 months with no music short of marching diddies.

More a little later. Need to organize thoughts!

Train ride? More like train wreck!

Okay - we are finally at the hotel out in Great Lakes, IL. This place is kind of BFE if you know what I mean. Take a look at it on google maps, you'll agree. Drive 20 minutes in any directions and there are good sized towns. This place seems almost truck-stoppish.

About that train ride! Who ever that that shit was romantic is out of their freaking minds. Due to the seating arrangement we sat in the front row. Lots of leg room - no tray table. Mind you we were right next to the door and the next car up was the lounge car. So on a pretty regular basis SLAM... door open.. SLAM door closed! Yeah, and if that wasn't bad enough, the car was dark, but not by us - a nice halogen beam light to show the door lit us up really nice. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a chiropractic appointment in Chicago.

This is how I describe it: Imagine riding in an airplane seat, mounted in a pickup bed, going down a bumpy road occasionally making sharp turns in any direction.

13 hours of that! Oh yeah, the train was an hour late getting into Rochester, should have known something was up.

Now let's talk about the hotel! FFS! We spend the extra money for the Jacuzzi suite, it will be fun for all of us - especially Emmers - she'll love the bubbles! First of all the TV is a POS with crap reception for having DISH TV. UGH! So we start turning down the bed and Teresa notices a HUGE "stain" of something on the box spring. Vomit? Blood? It's dry and that's all I can tell you. SIGH - I'll take that side. She goes the other side and what does she find in between the bed and night stand? ROACH MOTEL!! YES!! That's right... time to change rooms. Oh, all of the King rooms are booked? Bummer, looks like well be getting a refund (more on that later) and moving to a smaller room. Oh well. Tomorrow is the big day!

Heading out!

Okay - it's time to go. We're all packed and ready to go! An exciting moment for us all - first time train rides and going to Chicago!

We are all very twitchy knowing that we will soon be talking to John. I'll do my best to post from Chicago!

3rd Letter From John

Hello Crego Family,
as of now there are 12 days left of boot camp. This past week has been pretty much hell. We've had a personal inspection in our dress uniform, pictures were taken this past week as well and so far the total has come to $211 because I ordered a couple of frames that came with a deal and ordered a package that was a value pack that came with the cruisebook. It has 2 8x10s, 3 5x7s, 2 sheets of wallets and 1 11x14, the book and some other things I can't remember. I don't think I told you but if I did I don't remember, we will be graduating in our dress blues. I'm going to keep the pictures (with me) because it will be too much to mail them. They'll be picked up on October 7. Battlestations which is like our final test will be next Sunday and its a 36 hour even where we won't be able to sleep at all, so I guess it'll be like the first day of boot camp. Then after that we'll be getting out Navy ball cap if it's successfule. The the whole week will be nothing at all, just sitting here doing whatever I guess. Well thats all for now, I guess the next time I talk to you guys will be in person. So love you guys.

John Crego

2nd Note from John

Hey there!!

SR Crego coming to you from Great Lakes IL, and I'm not having fun yet! I hope you guys miss me as much as I miss you guys. Just thought I'd let you all know that I got my extra teeth taken out and I'm a hurting unit. My password for the 360 is (blah) on the (blah). Well give Dan the address as well so he can write me. Nothing else is going on. Miss you all, and love you all as well.

John Crego

15 minutes of John

Got to talk to John for a little bit today. He got a reward phone call for doing well on a performance test. Not much going on, he misses everyone and the food isn't so great. Wanted me to tell everyone Howdy and give Dan the address so he could write.

That's about all!

First Letter

Well we got a letter from John today. Great to hear from him, but it seemed very cryptic, but as promised here you go..

Dear Dad + Teresa + Emmers,
24 Aug
I guess it 's weird not having around the house. I'm actually homesick, wich should be a surprise. Another suprise is that I havent' cried myself to sleep on my wee pillow.Today and yesterday I had to (??) so I was made as an example to the division. It wasn't that bad. Well it's going to be a while before I send this out, so I'm going to update till you get this.

26 Aug
Well I have a job in the division. I am the mail PO which is pretty cool (be)casue I have something to keep me going here. Also what I've started doing is 8 count bodybuilder. Start with 50 and increase as i go along. I'm doing these because my division is full of screwups and have problems following orders so we do it everyday.

31 Aug
Well today I'll be sending this out. Grandpa Crego sent me a letter which was a suprise. Haven't gotten anything from my Mom yet, I think she called you asking for the address. A lot of things have change(d) since I've called you, like my feelings of (being) here. To be honest, I really want to come home, but I know I need to stick this out. Well noothing else is new just that I twisted my knee in PT which is about it. so I'm going to write more letters. Hope to get a letter from you all.

Love - John Crego

I'm wondering what he means about the letters commment. I've sent 3 so far and one from Emmers as well. I guess he'll be in for a treat then as soon as they get there.

Fun info for Graduation

Got the info pack for John's graduation today. If all goes well, his official date of boot camp fun being over is October 10.

Looks like it will be me, Teresa & Emma as well as John's mother (Amy) and grandmother (Jezanna) attending.

I'll let you know how it goes!

A Few Thoughts

I sat down last night and wrote John his first letter (from me) and dropped it into today's mail. According to that boot camp letter, all USPS mail takes 5-10 days to be delivered. Jeez! That's a long time. If I would have known that I would have give him one or two to take with him and open up "when needed."

Speaking of that letter, there was a couple of blurbs that stood out. The first one talks about "Transfer from Recruit Training Command" (boot camp) that states: "It is the Navy's responsiblity to provide recruits with transportation to their next duty station." Then right after that is the second point that made me think: "Upon successful completion of basic training, recurits normally transfer directly to thier next duty station for technical training. Leave is usally granted during the time between their initial technical training and thier first permanent duty station."

WHEW!! Okay, that sounds very intense, but what I think it means, is that unless the school is full, John will be going directly to Florida with no opportunity to come home (Rochester). All the info I look at seems to make me think his "A" school will be at least 9-14 weeks. Some "ratings" (that is the job class) go shorter, some go longer. I tend to think that 3 months of intensive training would get you ready. This is totally just a hypothesis on my part. I could call Chaz, his recruiter. Let me do that.

OH MAN! Just got off the phone with Chaz. I'm right, but I'm wrong too! John WILL NOT be coming home at all until after "A" school. The school is most likely 6 months!! Nice! Looks like we'll be going to Florida after Christmas. I sure hope he gets liberty for that!

I found this little thing on the Navy website to kind of give you a time line for basic training.
http://www.navy.com/about/during/bootcamp/

Oh well... bye for now!

We have contact!!!

I got to talk to John today for about 15 minutes. He called to get some address and phone information for his background check. While I was hunting it up, we talked about how everything was going. He said his new hair cut makes his ears look a little big, but the uniform is really cool. He's a little tired and homesick but it is all a lot to take in. Much beyond that, we just chatted it up.

It was quite the day because after I got off the phone with him, I went to the mailbox and found "THE LETTER." This is the basic DOs and DON'Ts for family and friends for a loved one in basic training. Here they are:

1. Write letters. As many as you want.
2. Do NOT send food.
3. Do NOT send pornography.
4. If you send MONEY please make sure it's by Postal Money order.
5. You can send photos.

Now keep in mind (this is from the letter), the recruit has a limited amount of storage. With those guidelines in hand - get to writing!! Oh and speaking of that. Please AND I DO MEAN PLEASE do not get him worked up over any DRAMA that might be going on around here. I want John to keep his head straight and not get worked up over who said something to someone else and who might be seeing who. If you care for John, you will respect my wishes on this.

You can reach him at:

SR Crego, Johnathan
Division 379 USS JOHN F KENNEDY
Bldg 7116
Recruit Training Command
Great Lakes, IL 60088

Signing off!

What's in the box??

Today, another indicator that John has arrived at boot camp. His dirty clothes. Once you're issued your military duds, you get to trash, donate, or send your clothes home. We got a shirt, jeans, belt, shoes, and one sock. I have no idea where the other sock is. It's not in the box, so this is another mystery for John to explain. Inside one of his pockets was his boarding gate stub. I kept that in case it was a "scrapbook opportunity" for Teresa.

Good News!!

Soooo... we didn't get the "Arrival" phone call from John, so after a phone call to his recruiter and a loooong weekend, I called the Public Affairs office at Great Lakes NTC. After getting her to spell it correctly I found out he was there. Apparently the phone call is "voluntary" so we will have to wait for a little while to find out why there was no phone call.

Either way - he's there and that's the important part!

Pictures from the ceremony!

Here's the first one! It's official! Once you watch the video (see below) you'll know that John is now the property of the US Navy.

Recruit Crego is headed to Great Lakes Training Center on a 7PM flight tonight. Once there, the next 48 hours will be a blur as he goes through processing.


As promised! the video! Sorry it's sideways, I thought I had this corrected using Quicktime Pro, but for some reason Youtube tossed it back to sideways.



Here are some more pictures as well!


He's trying to look all serious, but he was actually super nervous.












All Emma could tell people that she met all this week was "my brother is going to Navy school..."

She loves her Johnny-boy!










Here's a full shot of the of the Ceremony room.















Keep checking back for letters from John!

First Blog Post

Okay - this will be the official blog of John's basic training. I'll be posting his letters here letting everyone know what's going on and how it's going for him (if he writes).

Date of Swearing into the United States Navy: Aug 14 2008 - 10:30AM

9 Days and counting!