My daughter just got back from her first 6 months on a ship

[Patricia Gorrall]

I was so happy to see her after the 6 months at sea. But I have a question to all those parents who have had their sons/daughters go out.....Did they put on weight? Is it like the 15 pounds that the kids put on when they go away to college. Do the ships have gyms ....what is the food really like....can they eat healthy

[sean'smom]

Good Morning! Could you please explain to me what a Tiger Cruise is. My son is in the Nuke program. Is this something the family can do ?
thanks,
Sean'smom

[itsaparent]

The little I know about a tiger cruise is this: when a ship is done with it's tour a family member or two can travel on the ship from the last port to the home port. I don't know if this happens at the end of every tour and I don't know how they decide what crew members can invite family.

[Millye]

My daughter has been deployed on the USS George Washington since 6/09 and has lost 14 pounds. She said she will be so glad to be back in port so she can get some other things she loves to eat. She has said that the food is ok, just not to her tastes all the time. I'm sure it is hard to please so many sailors who come from varying backgrounds and have different ideas of what is good to eat. We've sent her "goodies" to add to her diet while she was deployed. She called from Manila so excited-they had found a Mexican restaurant and she got to have fajitas, which is one of her very favorites. She just had her PFT and scored an excellent rating on it, so I know she is keeping in shape while out to sea.

[Angela Rose]

My daughter came back in April and she said that she gained about 20 pounds while out. She started working out on the ship and she came back smaller than when she went. We were there in VA when the ship pull in to port and it was great seeing her after 7 months. She was so happy to be back on land and to see us there. There food ship got hijacked by the pirates while they were out and all they had to eat was trukey for breakfast, lunch and dinner blaaaah until the next ship delivered more food. She said the food was disgusting. We sent here lots of goodies while she was out and she would sale some of it to her shipmates.

[intheknow]

Shipmates shouldn't be selling food to shipmates. This makes me crazy. When I was at sea we shared - especially if there was an issue with food. Sometimes food while underway is comfort and I just can't imagine selling comfort to a shipmate in need.

[Anti M]

I used to send my hubby packages when his ship in the Persian Gulf (remember Desert Shield?). His shipmates would offer him money for the snacks, the ones from Japan were hard to come by and very popular. Sure he sold them. I was furious, but didn't stop sending. It did seem as though homemade goodies were shared, not sold.

They weren't out of food, they were just tired of the same old thing. That's what he told me.

He was way too thin when he got back.

[Proud to be a Navy mom]

HI, My daughter says the food isn't very good, but she tries to eat as healthy as she can. When she has the time she works out at the gym. I think if she didn't work out (at least a bit) she would gain some weight. She's always making the comment "Are you trying to make me fat?" (1) can't always work out, or too tired) (2) I send her wayyyy too many snacks and candy :) lol. I think it really depends on the person, what they eat, what they do on the job, and if they get enough exercise.

[LINDA]

each sailor has to do 3 months duty in the mess hall,,,so the food on the ships is everyones job.My son just got back from deployment and the first month out he was still on Mess Hall Duty.........

[Angie F.- WA: HM mom]

Andrea, (FYI for the others on this thread), I have gone to your page and see that you have a vision issue and MUST use CAPS, at least for now, dear lady. I'm sure you have gotten some comments about turning them off. Don't feel bad, we're just glad you are here to get the support and info you need. :-)

I bet some of the other N4Ms you will soon get to know and/or who have Sailors on the same ship will help encourage you through the long 6 months. Contact the (Ships) Command Ombudsman to stay in the loop when he's gone and also look for a Group here on site that is for his ship. Send lots of care packages and letters/emails to him while he's away! If you can be there when the ship returns, GO! LOL Meant to shout that, homecoming is amazing and touching to be part of. =)

[Michelle]

No matter how they look on the outside...The best part is the hug they put on your heart when they say, "I missed you Mom!"

[bryan]

They have gyms on ships. Most times while deployed you have a choice between eating, sleeping or going to the gym depending on your work schedule.