Boot Mamas will prevail

Since Daniel signed on with the ‘Semper Fi’ folks about three years ago, I can see just about every emotional hurdle I leapt, jumped, and in some cases, staggered over.

I was a bit dewy-eyed, to be sure, but I made a conscious effort to look on the positive side of every situation. It’s not hard to travel to the land of worry, negativity, and criticism--I was staying far away from that.

Last Monday I listened as new Marine moms talked about boot camp, boot leave, deployments and phone calls. Some stumbled over the acronyms that will become part of their everyday speech.

These are the new initiates; the 'boot mamas' of the Marines.

It’s tough, being a military mom. We’re not enlisted; we were drafted.

The new moms will figure it out. They will sort out their feelings and figure out how to navigate through the land of Expeditionary Units, cutting scores, and C Schools.

Enlisted or drafted, it doesn’t matter at all. This is our family now, and we love our family—unconditionally.

--Tiffany

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Around the military:

Participants in the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition fire at targets as the night sky is illumintated with simulated munitions, adding a breath of realism to the night fire event. The competition was held at Sept. 27-Oct. 2 at Fort Lee, Va. (photo by T. Anthony Bell)

Personnel embark on a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 166 (Reinforced) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) in support of Marine Exercise (MAREX) 2009. Sailors assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) are participating in MAREX 2009, a multilateral exercise that promotes cooperation through civic action programs and training with the Timor-Leste and Australian militaries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joseph Seavey/Released)

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Benje Stinespring entertains children in Hula Banda village. Indonesia, Oct. 11, 2009, while a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 delivered 45 shelter boxes to earthquake victims. Stinespring is the flag aide to Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet. Each box contains materials to sustain a family of 10 for several weeks.U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Greg Johnson