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Comment by Kim8 on Saturday

Welcome Jennifer G & congratulations to your son! My son is a SWO, commissioned in 2021. I understand the mixed emotions. My son has been stationed about a 9 hour drive from us which has allowed us to visit at least once a year but next year he will be across the country for the next 3 years. At least it's not overseas, right? :) 

I would encourage you to find the ombudsman FB page for your son's ship along with the FRG page, if the ship has an FRG. The ombudsman is the official liaison between the command (the ship) and the sailors families. The FRG (Family Readiness Group) is more about family support & usually will organize events/social gatherings for families of sailors, esp during deployments.

Other than that, I can only say for myself that although the distance is hard my heart is comforted that my son is doing something he's always dreamed of & video calls are the absolute best! The distance is especially hard during the holidays, like now. My son is deployed right now too & will be out to sea on Christmas day so we'll have to chat via FB messenger which we've found to work well for deployment communication. My son has been wonderful with giving us calls every now & again. I hope that will be the same for you! I think my son has enjoyed that my husband & I are so interested in his military life (we ask lots of questions!) & so he's continued to explain what he can to us.  

The first couple months are the hardest, I think, since so much is unknown about military life until you get into it. I wish you, your son, & family the best! Happy holidays!

Comment by Jennifer G on Friday

Good morning all, I am new to this group.  I am incredibly proud of my son's recent graduation as an officer and that he will be serving others as a nurse.  My brain is 110% behind him, my heart is struggling on him being so far away.  I am looking for any thoughts or guidance from other moms on ways they worked through these changes.  What they found helpful or any recommendations they might have.  Thank you in advance!

Comment by Katryn on December 4, 2023 at 9:54am

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.  I was just able to connect with someone stateside at ATT and he told me that we could add a "cruise package" to my sons phone for $100.00 per month and the would have unlimited talk, text, data while on the ship.  He said the minute he steps off the ship though that plan no longer applies and if he uses his phone we could be charged up to $50 a minute.  For shore time, he would need an "international day pass" which is $10 per day or $100 per month...I "think" the cruise package is the way to go as long as he has internet on the ship. I don't want to sign up for something and pay $100 extra per month to find out it doesn't work.  If anyone has experience with this plan, I'd love to hear how it's working.  Thank you all again for the support.  It's really great to know you are out there...:). 

Comment by Anna on December 3, 2023 at 10:01pm

Katryn,

I recently got to take a Tiger Cruise on a carrier with my son who is a Chief Warrant Officer. Officer Country gets wi-fi in the wardrooms and the hanger bay but regular phone calls are non-existent.  There are no cell towers in the middle of the ocean!! :)  My son and I both used our phones all the time to check emails, post pics on facebook, and such like that.  He was able to make a couple phone calls to get plane tickets as we were coming near port but I'm not sure how he did it unless they were wi-fi calls.  My phone was basically a camera and a computer with internet access.  

Hope this helps!!

Comment by M's mom on December 3, 2023 at 6:22pm

Katryn--  It has been 9 years since my son was deployed on a ship, so not sure how ship phone service works now, but when my son has been base-deployed in foreign countries, he has been able to suspend his stateside phone service with Verizon because he is deployed military, then reclaim his old number when he gets home.  He buys a new phone as soon as he gets to the new country, that he knows will work locally.  Then, he gets his phone service from Google on line.  When he calls us, our caller ID shows the number is from "Ontario, California."  When we call him, we are not charged for a foreign call, because the Google service is based in California.

Comment by Andy'sMom on December 3, 2023 at 1:15pm

Katryn - Your son will want to keep his phone!  My DS is currently carrier deployed and uses his phone quite a bit!  You can use WhatsApp to text him when he is in port.  Sometimes there is wifi on board.  And he will want it for its camera as well. I'm sure everyone in his squadron will have their phones!

Comment by CindyN on December 3, 2023 at 12:27pm

Katryn - With ATT use this link to request suspension of their line. https://www.att.com/military/military-landing-page. If I remember correctly it use a more permenant sounding word for the suspensionm like "cancel". But they hold the number for 3 years so when you start the line up when they return, they will keep their same number.  They will also pay off the phone if it meets certain criteria on the timing of when they entered the finance agreement. 

My son has been based overseas vs on a ship needing a phone so I can't tell you any thing about their phone needs if they are carrier based for some number of months. Good luck!

Comment by Katryn on December 3, 2023 at 11:15am

Hello Everyone - My son is getting ready for his first deployment.  He'll be on a carrier and flying the F18-Superhornet.  I am trying to help with the whole "communication part" while he is away.  Could you please educate me on how he might use a phone?  I called ATT (our service provided) and after an hour of getting nowhere I remember that I had this other awesome source for information !  I've read some blogs about the SCRA act which might pay off his phone (which is currently financed) and suspend it for a period for a period of time if needed and I see some folks have opted for burner phones, etc.  Help Please.  I am so lost :)

Thanks in advance !!!!!!

Comment by M's mom on August 8, 2023 at 1:44am

Helomom, I'm sure it will be wonderful to have your son and his family so close now!

My son's first assignment in 2013 was with a squadron of Growler jets at NAS Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, near Seattle. When we visited him, we took a few days to tour Seattle, and did Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture. It was "Fleet Week" and got to see the Blue Angels do a show over the bay!  Lovely area.

I'm sure your son felt the weight of the world leave his shoulders after he left that command, so no wonder he looks more relaxed. He had much more than usual to deal with during the pandemic.  Lots of aerospace jobs around Seattle.  I'm sure he'll find something interesting to do, and his family will probably be glad to stay in one place for a while!

Comment by Helomom on August 7, 2023 at 10:56pm

Thanks Andy'sMom! It’s a little strange having their around. It still feels like they are just here for vacation. The other night they texted us to see what we were doing for dinner. They were over at our daughter's house. Her husband was BBQing. It will be different when they move into their house across the water but still…it’s lots closer than Virginia, Florida, or San Diego. Our daughter's son goes to UW so he is already planning laundry weekend at his aunt and uncle’s house. I must say, our son looks so rested. It was almost immediate after Change of Command. 

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