Recruit Training did not go quite as we expected. We spent a ton of money on needed supplies, excitedly marked all items and carefully packed the seabag. We then sent ds off to 2-weeks of Recruit Training, only to have him sent home after 3 days due to a major panic attack. The CO and XO both expressed to ds as he was leaving that they were very upset at having to make this decision, but felt like they had to for his safety.

Ds was, of course, heart-broken. He spent the rest of the day and most of the next in his room. This also meant that he would not be able to attend the Advanced Training (Military History of Pearl Harbor) or advance to E2.

The cadets were at the pool doing their swim training and ds was supposed to jump off the high dive and then swim across the length of the pool in his utilities (pants and shirt). He balked at the high dive so they said it was okay to jump from the side of the pool. He got partway across the pool and did not realize a)a SEAL diver was 2-feet behind him and b)he could stand up and touch the bottom of the pool if needed. He flipped out and thought he was drowning. They got him out of the pool, but he went into a full-blown panic attack. He was shaking, hyperventilating, and the muscles in his arms were contracting. The CO, XO and Medical Officer were afraid he could possibly have another panic attack later in the RT and they did not want to take the chance that the next one could be worse.

I don't know the reason for why this happened, but I am trusting God that he has a plan for ds's future. We are hoping that the new Sea Cadet unit in SC will have a winter Recruit Training for ds to attend, but in the meantime we will be enrolling ds into swim lessons to help him get over his fear of the water. He does fine in our pool, but it is only 4-feet deep. He does not like water in his eyes, not even shower water.