Any Submarine Navy Moms out there?

[Amber]

Our son is out on his first trip as a rider to get quallified. Anyone else have a son in subs?

[Navy for Moms Admins]

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/submoms

[Kathryne]

Hi Amber my son Josh is finishing his training in Groton. He has been assigned to his boat which is the USS Tennessee, but it is in dry dock so he will be a rider as well so that he can get qualified. There is a sub moms group on here as well, you may want to join that. They have a lot of information to share. Where is your son stationed? Hoping to talk with you soon....Kathie

[Amber]

He is on the Springfield for now. He is temorarily stationed in Porstmouth, NH while his ship is in dry dock, then on to Pearl Harbor.

I found the sub mom's group after I posted that thread. Oh well should have spent somemore time hunting around first. I was so excited about this website I got ahead of myself.

[Amber]

I tend t write about twice a week but he is not so great at answering so I live for his phone calls.

The first time he called it was like 5am our time and the phone ID said bahamas or something so I answered it ready to give someone an ear full for the prank call, low and behold it was Michael! We were so excited! I went and woke up the two girls and we all piled on the bed with three phones and two dogs, talking and listening and talking, it was like Christmas in October. It was wonderful!

I am actually thrilled for Michael, I have always hoped my kids would experience far more than Ohio life and that they would get to see the world. It is a thrill to go get the computer and look up where he is and see how far from home he is and all he is experiencing.

It's great to have this site! I am really grateful for all the other parents on here and the community having a child in the service creates. ~A

[CP Chrissy]

Hi Amber,
I'm a submarine mom also. My son, Elliott is in Kings Bay, Georgia, assigned to th USS Rhode Island. He said that it takes a couple times of going out on patrol before you adjust to "Sub Life". But now that he's be out about 6 times, he says that it isn't that bad (He also says that the "chow" is better on the sub, than you can get on base.) . I wish you son nothing but good luck and smooth waters--------Chrissy

[Wanda J.]

Hey Chrissy! I'm Wanda and our son has just reported to Kings Bay. We helped him move down last Sunday and is will already be leaving on Wednesday to go out and meet the Rhode Island somewhere. Is Elliot on the boat now?

[Kathy (Michael's Mom)]

Hi Amber,

My son Michael has been in the Navy for 5 years now. All on a sub as a sonar tech. He was stationed in Guam for 4 1/2 years and now in Australia. He is finishing up their "A" school and then will go out and get his Australian dolphins. Welcome aboard.

[Amber]

Wow how cool! I didn't realize you could do that for other Countries! I bet my Michael doesn't know that yet. I wonder if getting his second dolphins will go quicker since he has already done it once?

[Kathy (Michael's Mom)]

Amber,
From my understanding, this is like an foreign exchange student program. He and 3 others were hand picked for this program, it also takes just as long to earn their "dolphins". He hopes to have them shortly.

[Anne (Bobby's mom)]

Amber my son Bobby is stationed in Kings Bay on the USS Maryland. He is a MT and currently out on his
1st deployment. So it has been an adjustment for me and his wife. The hard part is not hearing from him plus
his dad and I are about 10 hours away so I try and talk to his wife everyday so that it is a little easier for
her.

[Cari Shiveley]

Hi Amber, My son is on the USS Hawaii in Groton. It has been in dry dock but just got back in water yesterday. He has been endlessly trying to complete his quals. He has 4 more to go to get his dolphins (fish). He first went out last Feb first and was back first of may. He had to work in the kitchen most of the time doing dishes. I told him he would have a nice complexion!! It is pretty tough until you get those quals out of way. Tell your son to try his hardest to get them done while out on the "boat" (whatever they call it when they leave out for 3 or 6 months). If he does not get them done then, it will be very hard after that. Mike got finished with his schooling last Nov or Dec I believe. Then went in Feb for 3 months no ports! Spent his 20th birthday in the panama canal.. At least the boys back home cant say theyve done that. Where is your son and on what boat.

[Amber]

He is out as a rider on the USS Springfield. He will be on the USS Greenville when he gets back. It is in dry dock in NH. He will be in Pearl Harbor as his homeport when the Greenville is all done.

Michael said he has either 5 or 7 quals to pass in all. He has been out since September and has passed his first one so far. He is working on his second one but is on KP duty for the time being, he said they don't get to work on quals while doing that. So he is just spending a lot of time studying whenever possile.

Mine is a Michael also! Mine will spend his 23 somewhere over there. It is in January.