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Comment by Diane2557 on January 25, 2009 at 1:48pm

Alice, my son is now in Whidbey Island, WA learning to fly the EA-6B, too!! After almost 6 months of classroom study and sims, he was to have had his first flight this past Friday. Unfortunately, as the weather goes in the northwest, it was cancelled on account of fog. He was first disappointed with this assignment since he wanted the F-18, but, he is now excited about it and the area. He and his wife just bought a condo 3 minutes south of the base. Perhaps our sons will meet there if your son returns to WA.

Comment by Paymaster on January 17, 2009 at 5:48pm

Leslie.....Thanks for the kind words. We think he is a outstanding officer. He is not one to tell us his accomplishments, but we more hear it from his fellow officers and flight crew.

We do not live near our grandchildren, wish we did! We live in northen California and they are in Virginia. It kills me that we are so far away at times like this. If we lived closer we could really be of a help to our daughter-in-law. Just taking the girls for an afternoon or day so she could have a break now and them would make be feel better. She has all the reponisiblity 24/7. Both her and our family live here in California. Actually her parents live in the same town as us. The kids where high school sweethearts and they where 2% couple. If you don't what this means, it is where a couple is dating at the being of their time at the academy and manage to stay together and get married at graduation.

Since Jarrod had a girlfriend here in town, she attended UC at Davis, we always picked up and delievered him to and from the airport, some visits it was the only time we had alone with him, Yes it was nice having all the other USNA families around. We could and still can count on one another for support.

Actually one of the young men from our town ended up being in Jarrod's squadon in Norfolk and they went to Iraqi together and where roommates.

Far winds and following seas,
Jody

Comment by Paymaster on January 16, 2009 at 4:31pm

Leslie.....Thanks for hearing me. I know what you mean about putting them back on the plane. We live in an area that there where about a dozen families that had students at the academy. We where and still are a close group. We would all be so excited when they would be coming home and all would dread when we had to put them back on the plane.

The first deployment we where here in California when he left and it was not to bad to say goodby, we knew it was only suppose to be a 90 day deployment, it turned out to be 5 months and his Admiral had to go a get him from his deployment because the commander there was not going to let him go, because he had learn to depend on Jarrod.

Second deployment was tuff. Our second granddaughter had just been born and she was only 12 days old when he had to leave. It nearly broke my heart to have to take the baby from his arms and watch him walk down the gangplank to his palne. I think it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do as a mother.

This time I am not sure why it was so hard on me. He called when he was on the bus heading to the plane to say good bye. I think it was because the times before he was flying and had his crew with him and I know that they are a true team and look out for each other. This time he is on an IA with the Army and is on the ground. He is commanding a group of Army specialist and does not have that team enviroment.

We did get a very late night call from him last night. He was doing well and had just gotten into base. He sounded well. We asked if he needed anything and he said he was good. He had just gotten our first goodie box. He said he and his guys enjoyed all the goodies, he said it lasted about 30 minutes.

Leslie, what class is your son? Will he come home for spring break?

JOdy

Comment by Paymaster on January 16, 2009 at 2:26pm

Our son also went through SERE in California. He pretty well new what it was all about. My father's last assignment in the Marine Corp was as in instructor in SERE. They use to call him the "Goat". Our father made sure all of us kids (2girls and 2 boys) all new how to take care of ourselves in the wild from a young age. Guess I just passed some of that along to our son. Plus being at the academy he was use to going long periods without sleep.

He did say it was cold, nothing that they couldn't over come.

He did say once you get to that level you are going to make it no matter what. Its the light at the end of the tunnel.

I guess growing up in the Corp I just learned not to ask and that they will tell what they can when they can.

I must say it is great having this forum to share information and let your feelings out. The ones that you can not tell your child you are feeling.

Our son just left last month for his thrid deployment to Afghanistan. For some reason I really had a hard time telling him good bye this time. I was a wreck for several days after his departure, but I have my Navy mom to share those things with.

We had a saying when he was at the academy, that there are just sometimes that no one else will understand what you are going through but another Navy Mom. It is so true!

For some it is hard to remember that you are not the driver any longer and the you have now become the back seat passenger. Things and life change and life goes on.

Fair winds and following seas,
Jody

Comment by Gail (Gailie) on January 16, 2009 at 1:25pm

Yes I know about SERE. It is a tough but necessary and they learn so much and are so tired after the experience. It really provides them with the strength to get through what they might endure if they are captured. So glad our son went through it. It really opened his eyes.

Comment by Growlermom711 on January 16, 2009 at 1:24pm

My son went through SERE out in Calif. It is very Top Secret and he would not talk about it. They do survive it, and you want them to be able to take care of themselves in case- I have found too that some things Moms are better off not knowing detailks about!

Comment by Growlermom711 on January 13, 2009 at 3:15pm

My son flys the EA 6B Prowler, which is changing to the Growler which is an F18 Super Hornet. He is in Calif. now, but hoping to return to Wash. state with his wife

Comment by Growlermom711 on January 13, 2009 at 11:06am

I am so glad to find this group-I can really identify with you guys since my son has been a Naval Aviator for 7 years!

Comment by Gail (Gailie) on January 5, 2009 at 11:57pm

My son Derek is a back seater in an F/18A Hornet and I am new to this site this evening. Hope to meet some other moms to connect with. He is currently stationed in VA Beach at Oceana home from his first deployment in June of this year. Derek has been in Pensacola, Lemore, Persian Gulf and now VA Beach.

Comment by Julie on January 5, 2009 at 5:32pm

Hi Leslie,
Yes!!! that's the place- really neat. I thought I overheard our waiter say that there are approx. 2 million dollars (bills) stapled to the ceiling. It feels like your in a tropical rain forest. We had a great time and the food was awesome. They even have a $100 hamburger!!
Pilots have special places to hang their mugs until they return.
Anyway, we probably won't be back soon- going back to visit Andrew next month in Kingsville. Depending on what he gets in the tailhook division will determine where we will be visiting next.
Good luck to your son
Julie

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