My Nephew is a PFC!

[Red_Dazes]

It's official! He just graduated from the Marine Corp on Friday! And is officially a Private First Class! He is on a ten day leave and I will be heading down to Cali on Tuesday to see him! ^_^ I am so proud of that kid! I got to see some pictures his stepdad and grandpa took from the closing ceremonies. He looks so grown up! Not at all the Gang-ly lanky teenager I remember!

We grew up together, since we are so close in age. And I've always thought of him as my little brother, so this means so much to me^_^


^_^ Just thought I'd share! I'm absolutely bubbling right now.


....SQUEEE!

I got pictures from the family!! I am so sad I wasn't there to see it!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/Crimson-Screams/PFCKylePrintz.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/Crimson-Screams/PFCPrintz.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/Crimson-Screams/PFCPrintz2.jpg
PFC Printz -2 photos

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/Crimson-Screams/Platoon2111.jpg
Platoon 2111

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/Crimson-Screams/KylePrintz.jpg
Members of Platoon 2111 - Printz is the one at top middle.


Attached are:
With Grandfather
With mom and step-dad

[draggar]

Good job to him!

[Nurian]

Excellent!

[taxguykarl]

:grats:
And thank him for his service.

[AccountingDrone]

squeeee....

and if he heads overseas for deployment, PM me, I do great care packages ... and I dont currently have any guys on my care package list [they all rotated back home]

I just need to know little things - favorite candy or junk food [like a specific thing like those root beer barrel candies, or nuts, or jerky] and if there are any allergies. I like to send over stuff like individual packaged eye drops, adult baby wipes, the small packets of tissues, snacks, crystal lite or koolaid for adding to canteens of water, silly stuff like the occasional mcdonalds happy meal toy, and one guy wanted a handful of autumn leaves. Also any reading preferences - sf, cowboy, vampire/horror and whatnot +)

[sms001]

Thank him for his service for me, and congrats, and my gratitude to you and the rest of the family that is so supportive of him.

[Red_Dazes]

squeeee....

and if he heads overseas for deployment, PM me, I do great care packages ... and I dont currently have any guys on my care package list [they all rotated back home]



^_^ I definitely let you know! I'm sure he would appreciate that alot! ^_^ thank you so much!

My Beau and I agree you are absolutely amazing for caring so much for our boys! ((and/or girls)) in uniform!

[tropicsgoddess]

w00t!!! Congrats to your nephew! :grats:

[AccountingDrone]

^_^ I definitely let you know! I'm sure he would appreciate that alot! ^_^ thank you so much!

My Beau and I agree you are absolutely amazing for caring so much for our boys! ((and/or girls)) in uniform!

LOL, military traditional family ... we have been here since the 1630s, and every generation has someone in military service, and we tend to marry other military family members. Makes it easier to understand each other. It really is a very different mindset than most civillians can understand [or so it seems to me. I remember leaving a message board because I got told that they hoped my husbands sub got sank for being 'warmongers' and I should leave him.]

We normally have 3 or 4 guys over any given holiday, way better than hanging out in barracks. Although a couple years ago one guy was sort of surprised when everybody trouped out to pick the turkey for dinner [well it is a farm, but in his defense he was from downtown LA] and I tend to like to 'adopt' single guys because there are a lot of people out there who don't seem to want to be supportive, and some guys take heat from their families and friends for joining up.

Really, it doesnt have to actually cost much at all, and stuff that is from home makes it less lonely. There are actually commercial websites for people who dont have the time to do it themselves:

http://stores.treatmysoldier.com/StoreFront.bok is one I regularly recommend, you can even pay for a package to be sent to some random troop if you dont know one :)

http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html gives you the parameters to follow for care packages. I like to pack in tupperware type plastic boxes. Keeps the stuff safe in transit, and gives them something they can store stuff in that is vermin proof and sturdy.

[hope this isnt a nono per site rules ... ]

[AccountingDrone]

Actually, a military life isn't bad, on the whole once you are out of combat zones. *If* you can be disciplined and follow rules.

You are employed at a job that has no layoffs, no mass firings. You don't have to figure out what to wear any given day [they will happily tell you what the uniform of the day is] you get a regular paycheck, and there is a chance for advancement in ranks, free and reduced costs for education [mrDrone was working on a liberal arts degree just to have something to do underway] and after 20 years you retire with half basic pay, and you dont have to wait until you are 65 to collect [it has been paying our mortgage and taxers for the past 3 years] and I have medical insurance until I die as a benefit :)

I can really recommend it for most kids that are not entirely certain what they want to do. They are now recommending a more aggressive program of saving money by direct deposit - and if you opt for the education savings fund they will match it so you can end up with more money for schooling. I know a guy that had been saving $100US a month since boot camp and he just bought a house cash 3 months after retirement. Another guy off mrDrones boat had been investing in a horse ranch in [IIRC] Tennesee with one of his brothers and is getting close to retirement.

[Red_Dazes]

Thanks for the Info Drone! Wow. that really does sound wonderful. ^_^ Good to know he will be well taken care of ...((if he doesn't get blown up....>< that is my biggest worry))

I really think this is the first time someone in my immediate family is going into the Military. And my other nephew will be heading in next year. So its a very new experience for everyone. Specially me, since I have been the anarchist of the family for years...anti-war, anti-"The Man" etc... >< hehe, now I have to change my thinking and actually be supportive. ^_^

[AccountingDrone]

Thanks for the Info Drone! Wow. that really does sound wonderful. ^_^ Good to know he will be well taken care of ...((if he doesn't get blown up....>< that is my biggest worry))

I really think this is the first time someone in my immediate family is going into the Military. And my other nephew will be heading in next year. So its a very new experience for everyone. Specially me, since I have been the anarchist of the family for years...anti-war, anti-"The Man" etc... >< hehe, now I have to change my thinking and actually be supportive. ^_^

It is easy to be supportive, think dorm with really crappy living conditions :D

Depending on his MOS [military operational specialty] he could be perfectly safe and never get sent to a war zone. mrDrone had been in every warzone between 83 and '03, and I have cousins who were in between 64 and um ... 99 who also pretty much hit every hot zone, and a couple in right now that are not in war zones at the moment. There are seriously way more people not in a war zone than are in war zones =)

and for the heck of it, mrDrones retirement speech picture:
http://www.geocities.com/aruvqann/a011_11.jpg

and this is my buddy Christian, isnt he cute? he was a pilot in the German army ... military guys are just like regular people:D Nothing scary there [except how he plays a dwarf hunter in WoW ...]:
http://www.geocities.com/aruvqann/selbst.jpg

[ta2ooed1]

I just have to say WOOT!!ELEVENTY!!

For cute guys in uniform ;)

[RavenStarr]

That is wonderful. Tell him I said congrats and thank you:)

[Dave1982]

Why has no one said this yet?

SEMPER FI!

[AccountingDrone]

I just have to say WOOT!!ELEVENTY!!

For cute guys in uniform ;)

I love driving around on the Sub base here in Groton ... the little baby sailors are soooo cute.

boat vs boat games (http://www.ctf74.navy.mil/imagery/2008/08/080813-N-8467N-005.jpg) mmmm, healthy young men ...

[AdminAssistant]

The Music & Theatre building on campus is right next to the Military Science/ROTC building. They go in uniform on Wednesday. rowr

[Red_Dazes]

Why has no one said this yet?

SEMPER FI!

SEMPER FI! Indeed!!!

[trailerparkmedic]

Congrats and Semper Fi! Please thank him for what he's doing.

Military life when you're on base can be lots of fun. When he's deployed, lots of letters and small packages of Kool Aid or Gatorade for canteens are hits.