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Comment by M's mom on September 1, 2022 at 12:54am

Helomom:   Wow!   What an awesome trip, and a transatlantic cruise to Rome!   I have only cruised to Alaska and to the Bahamas, but never across the entire "pond," (as the British say.)  Italy is on my bucket list, so I'm jealous!   How wonderful that you were able to spend so much time with your family, and be there for graduation.

Sounds like your son has quite a busy command schedule with enormous responsibilities, but I'm sure he does a great job.  Hopefully, corporate life will much less stressful for him, compared to a naval base commander!   Will your son be looking for jobs close to your city after retirement?  

Comment by Helomom on August 31, 2022 at 6:25pm

 Hi CheriH and M'mom - Yes, we were finally able to visit the kids and grandkids in Italy! Had an absolutely fabulous time. We left Seattle on April 15 for Ft. Lauderdale and took a transatlantic cruise to Rome. After a train ride south, we spent two weeks touring the area with our daughter-in-law during the day and evenings at their house visiting with family. Purely by happenstance we were there for Prom! There must have been a dozen kids and parents gathered at the house for pre prom prep. Our daughter-in-law's mother and sister were arriving our third week for their first visit so we had planned to take a Greek Islands cruise and give them their own special time. Two train rides, a 10 day cruise and we were back at the base. We moved over to the Navy Lodge a couple of blocks from their house. Spent another week touring the area before graduation. 70 students in the graduating class. Graduation exercises were at the MWR park which is located in an extinct volcano crater. Our son was the commencement speaker. Post grad dinner was at a beautiful hotel overlooking the bay next door to the Italian Air Force Academy. Wonderful evening followed by a relaxing weekend including dinner at yet another winery, there are lots of wineries. Our granddaughter will be attending college in Oregon in September so she will be fairly close! We arrived back home on June 8, just in time for our other grandson's graduation here.

Things have settled into more of a routine for our son. While we were visiting he had a big base inspection conducted by a group from DC. Then there were meetings with the man who owns the support site base about facilities updates needed, the mayor, a quick trip up to Rome for a meeting with the Italian government, an aircraft carrier visited and 5,000 sailors needed entertainment and transportation, a small congressional delegation visited. He is a busy guy but we did get an idea of his responsibilities. We had the chance to visit his other base about 2 hours north and poke around that coastal city. Went to see his office at the Ops site next to the international airport, very cool. The three of us took a three day road trip to see the city of Matera featured in the beginning scenes of the latest James Bond movie. We stayed two nights in a cave apartment next to where the action took place. Through all this we got to listen to his decision to leave the Navy. He just feels like this is the right time. It’s been a really good life but realistically if he puts off retirement he would just be older and looking for something else to do. Better to be in your 40's and talking to companies instead of in your 50's. He is looking at the corporate world, that’s where he has the most connections.

So next summer we are heading back to Italy for his retirement ceremony and change of command!

Comment by CheriH on August 31, 2022 at 4:34pm

Congrats M's Mom!  So exciting to hear about his accomplishments and career!  

Helomom...wow! 26 years!  What a career.  I remember you were one of the first to welcome me when my DS was selected for an Aviator path 11 years ago.  I so appreciated your (and others) welcome, advice and words of wisdom when I was a newbie! All the best as he transitions and finds his new path!

Comment by M's mom on August 30, 2022 at 8:46pm

Helomom: 

Yes, it does seem that time has flown since our sons were both on the Vinson at the same time!  Hope your son's command situation in Italy is improving.  I recall you posting that he had a nightmare to deal with during the COVID pandemic with trash removal, etc.  Hope you were able to attend your grandchild's graduation in Italy as you had hoped.   

Congrats to your son on retiring at 26 years!  He has had quite a career.  I know he is a pilot; is he looking into flying after the Navy?  I know he was a helo pilot, but I think you had written that he was transitioning to fixed wing?  If he is interested in the airlines, I know they are scrambling for pilots right now and offering big bucks.  The airlines love military pilots.  In fact, most corporations love hiring ex-military for any position, because they know they will get the job done.  Your son will probably be able to find a great job in any location he chooses to live!   Keep us posted!

Comment by proudmom on August 30, 2022 at 7:52pm

M's mom - I enjoyed your brag :) Congratulations!

Comment by Allison on August 30, 2022 at 7:46pm

Congratulations M's Mom! Sounds like your son has had a great career!

Comment by Helomom on August 30, 2022 at 6:06pm

Congratulations Kim8, proudmom, and M's mom! It so much fun to celebrate these milestones. You are all rightfully proud of the accomplishments of your Naval Officers. Proudmom, your SWO Officer will be at Pier 38? San Diego is a wonderful city. I hope you will have the chance to visit. Our son was stationed in that area several times. We live on the west coast to it was always fun to fly down for a quick visit. M's mom, you are at the halfway point already! That has happened so quickly seems like just yesterday they were on the Vinson. Our son has started his paperwork for retirement next summer. 26 years…time to move on to a new career. He’s not sure what yet but feels like it’s a good time to change. 

Comment by M's mom on August 30, 2022 at 5:49pm

Forgive my pride, Moms, but have to brag that my son was just promoted to Lt Commander!!   He graduated from OCS in September of 2012, so just shy of ten years.  He hopes to get  20 years in, and then retire.  Hopefully, the Navy will want  to keep him that long!   :-)

He is in naval intelligence, and in 10 years has been stationed at NAS Whidbey Island near Seattle, three years at Yokota Japan, 10 months on the carrier USS Carl Vinson, and three years at the US Military Cyber Security Command at Ft. Meade near Baltimore.  He just began a 3-year deployment in England at RAF Molesworth near Cambridge. 

My husband and I have visited him and his wife wherever he has been stationed. (We loved Japan!)   We hope to visit them in England next year.  He and his wife have visited 14 countries so far during his leave in various parts of the world. "Join the Navy and see the World" is the saying!   He and his wife hope to see quite a bit of Europe while they are in England, so the slogan certainly has been true for him!

Comment by proudmom on August 30, 2022 at 11:29am

Thanks!  He is also a SWO, commissioned the same day he graduated in late May.

Comment by Kim8 on August 30, 2022 at 11:25am

Hello proudmom! My son received his SWO commission in 2021. What type of officer is your son?

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