Thread: Parent - Advice and Chat in here - ARCHIVE

Originally Posted by mummybear

bloody_11th yes I've used the "play the grey man phrase" and also "play the game" too. By that I tried to explain to my son that assuming he hadn't done anything really stupid he should look at all the shouting and extra inspections etc as part of an "initiation game" and not take it too personally.

Luckily most of his section (who were forever getting in trouble for one thing or another )learnt to play that game too and once the shouting had stopped and they were left alone were then able to laugh it all off together. They were all very successful with this and all but 1 of them (who eventually chose to leave and regretted it ever since) passed out last August.

Naturally if you hear of anything you really are unhappy with phone up and talk to them. Often there are very simple explanations and sometimes wild exagerations too from the JS. I know that overall the staff at AFC whilst having VERY large barks are also quite cuddly underneath it all lol (Wonders how Trig will respond to my analysis lol)
d

Hope your son is ok and not too upset I'm sure you'll be having calls soon saying how well things are going for them all xxx

I was only looking at the RSM and Provo Sgt the other day and thinking how cuddly they looked !!!!!

my js said he had a wicket report from platoon commander and corporal so he is chuffed. Passed all inspections too. (Platoon 11 Cambrai)
He did say though that there are a few new js's who came in are not nice and trying to push their weight around....don't think they will last somehow.

Passing in letter arrived this morning. 2 adults and 2 children allowed, but to ask if more were needed.
We will only be using 3 tickets so there's bound to be some extras for those who need them.

Suzzie

son phoned tonight totally upbeat the corporal had given them a inspirational talk about discipline. he hopes it works with those in his section who arent toeing the line.
they had meeting with all in their capbadges which he enjoyed

Originally Posted by Evie_W

Hi All

Can I just say that my son left home at 16 to join AFC Harrogate in Sept 2007. he completed his full year and went on to join the Para's.

I remember having all the same apprehensions as you do now and crying all the way home from Harrogate.

It will be a long year but it does fly by and my son passed out as a Jr Corporal, talking to him now he says that he absolutely loved every day of his time in the college.

My son has just returned from his first tour of Afgan and I am so pround of him it hurts.

I am truly convinced that the college made my son the man he is today.

My thoughts are will all of you mum's out there, but it is worth it all in the end.

My son did the same, passed out in Sept 2007 and joined 3 para, went to Afghan etc, his brothers there now, just started.

Which Para btn did your son join?

Have just got our letter for passing in parade.

I rang and asked about numbers because we have a step-parent situation going on. As long as we don't exceed the four allocated places it's ok.

I was also told seven for passing out which means adult siblings will be able to attend.

I'm beginning to stockpile tissues for 16th! lol x

Hi there

I haven't got my letter yet about passing in. Do you know if you have to give names of people who are attending...??

Morning.

A poem a JS Mum sent me:-

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit!

xxxxxxx

another is on ¨Sept intake 2009¨

Originally Posted by jaxster

Hi there

I haven't got my letter yet about passing in. Do you know if you have to give names of people who are attending...??

Yes, you do. It has two spaces for parent/guardians, two for siblings and one for extra guests (cleared by AFC) although I was told we could only have 4 places.

Originally Posted by mini59

Originally Posted by jaxster

Hi there

I haven't got my letter yet about passing in. Do you know if you have to give names of people who yare attending...??

Yes, you do. It has two spaces for parent/guardians, two for siblings and one for extra guests (cleared by AFC) although I was told we could only have 4 places.

Very many thanks for the info xx

Hi everyone, this is my first posting. I'm actually the dad of a JS who joined AFC(H) earlier this month. He's in Waterloo platoon. It's very interesting to read other peoples comments and shared feelings.
For the last few years while our son was at home we rarely saw him..out with his mates, attending Cadets or hidden away with his computer. But now he's gone, there's a huge hole in our lives. The first few days were pretty bad with the missus in floods of tears etc. but almost 3 weeks on, things are a lot better. We didn't think it was going to be quite so bad as it has been but now we're very positive about things especially as he appears to be doing very well and doesn't sound as though he's missing us at all.
In only a few more weeks we'll be attending the Passing-In parade and then we'll take him home for a week, so that's something we're both looking forward to.
I recall the College CO's address in which he told us "after 6 weeks your sons/daughters will be different people to the ones you said goodbye to" and after listening to our JS on the phone, we can detect that already.
We as parents of a JS are just as everyone else is.............indescribably proud of our JS.................and immeasurably grateful to the extremely capable staff of the AFC for allowing our son to follow his dream. Many thanks.

Originally Posted by Trigonometry

Originally Posted by mummybear

bloody_11th yes I've used the "play the grey man phrase" and also "play the game" too. By that I tried to explain to my son that assuming he hadn't done anything really stupid he should look at all the shouting and extra inspections etc as part of an "initiation game" and not take it too personally.

Luckily most of his section (who were forever getting in trouble for one thing or another )learnt to play that game too and once the shouting had stopped and they were left alone were then able to laugh it all off together. They were all very successful with this and all but 1 of them (who eventually chose to leave and regretted it ever since) passed out last August.

Naturally if you hear of anything you really are unhappy with phone up and talk to them. Often there are very simple explanations and sometimes wild exagerations too from the JS. I know that overall the staff at AFC whilst having VERY large barks are also quite cuddly underneath it all lol (Wonders how Trig will respond to my analysis lol)
d

Hope your son is ok and not too upset I'm sure you'll be having calls soon saying how well things are going for them all xxx

I was only looking at the RSM and Provo Sgt the other day and thinking how cuddly they looked !!!!!

ABSOLUTE CLASSIC !!!!!!!! when my daughter was at afc she had the dubious privelige of being there at the same time as rsm mack .the merest mention of his name used to send js and ps scattering in all directions even the officers suddenly remembered that urgent phone call when he was on tha warpath . oh happy memories !

Madre-Mia
beautiful, you brought tears to my eyes.XX
Suzzie

Originally Posted by LooseScrew

Hi everyone, this is my first posting. I'm actually the dad of a JS who joined AFC(H) earlier this month. He's in Waterloo platoon. It's very interesting to read other peoples comments and shared feelings.
For the last few years while our son was at home we rarely saw him..out with his mates, attending Cadets or hidden away with his computer. But now he's gone, there's a huge hole in our lives. The first few days were pretty bad with the missus in floods of tears etc. but almost 3 weeks on, things are a lot better. We didn't think it was going to be quite so bad as it has been but now we're very positive about things especially as he appears to be doing very well and doesn't sound as though he's missing us at all.
In only a few more weeks we'll be attending the Passing-In parade and then we'll take him home for a week, so that's something we're both looking forward to.
I recall the College CO's address in which he told us "after 6 weeks your sons/daughters will be different people to the ones you said goodbye to" and after listening to our JS on the phone, we can detect that already.
We as parents of a JS are just as everyone else is.............indescribably proud of our JS.................and immeasurably grateful to the extremely capable staff of the AFC for allowing our son to follow his dream. Many thanks.

Hi I couldnt put it better myself well said thank you.....

Hi All,

I've just got to share this ............ I got my letter regarding my son's Passing Out Parade in December!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kind of brings it home when the letter says 'only 12 weeks to go'!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo he's almost there (and so are we!).

It doesn't seem five minutes since we were all excited about going up to Harrogate for the Passing In Parade, and it brings it all back hearing you all talking about it. I'm sure you will all have the most fantastic day.

Rose xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx