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Comment by Steph on May 14, 2010 at 7:14pm

Dianne, I will PM you.

Comment by diannep on May 14, 2010 at 6:22pm

Ladies: My son just arrived in Newport News. Sponsor just left him in his room. He is so down...no one there. He is alone in there...no one else around. Said there is no galley so he is on his own for food. Does anyone know about living arrangements connected to the USS TR? His place is temporary until Monday when he will be moved across the street. He was told not to go outside at night. I can't stop crying...he is so down. Any info will help. Thanks.

Comment by arlene40 on May 11, 2010 at 10:01am

Diannep, yes, it is my grandson, I have a grandson and grand-daughter in the Navy and a Grand-son in the US Coast Guards. My Coast Guard grandson will finish up 2 years in June. He is out on ship 3 months at a time, Yes, the bunks on the ship are tight...I had seen that picture and when you said 3 high, I remember seeing that Yes, my grand-daughter loves it. She was in the US Navy one year the 12th of March, that was the day my other grand-son graduated from Boot Camp. My Grand-daughter has been involved in the Celebration of the Fleet they have gone to different ports along the eastern coast and docking at the piers. They will be in New York later this month for their celebration. They have big block parties at the different city.. They were at Charleston a few weeks ago and my daughter went there and took her little 3 year old to see his mommie. My grandson in A School does have a room all by himself. I was able to google the site and actually able to see the exact building he is living in.. right on the ocean. He loves it there, but it is so far from here. I am 70 years old and it is so far for me to go there etc. My other grandson just had to go to Alamedo Ca. That is 490 miles from San Diego. He really tried to get on the east coast. He did not have a choice to where he was going unless it was further away than California. He said he tried to get a fellow Coast Guard man to swap and let him to to Key West Florida he even offered to give him lots of money to swap, but he would not. He does not get real good grades so he is way down the line on choosing where he can go etc. Well must get busy. I am trying to save my money to go to San Diego soon. Of course I want to go to Norfolk too. If I go there it is not so expensive for I can stay with my grand-daughter, but San Diego it is different cost lots.

Comment by diannep on May 11, 2010 at 9:45am

Arlene: I'm assuming you are talking about your g-son in A School? My son too told me that their "apt" on base at A School was very nice. Common area and separate bedrooms (but all had roommates). It isn't like that on the ship! They have "racks" to sleep in...I think 3 high...very small....kind of roll in and roll out...not room to sit up in. But it is very encouraging to know that your g-daughter likes the ship. Thanks for sharing that!

Comment by arlene40 on May 11, 2010 at 9:22am

Oh, yes.. expressions :-) it probably does stink!!!! I don't think they have any room. Possibly double deck beds very small is what I saw in a picture, but I really don't know. My grand-daughter is on the ship lots.. they go out for a few days then come in etc. They have done one tour to the middle east since she has been assigned to it and they were gone 6 months. She has really enjoyed her tours, seen a lot of different things, countries etc. But she does have her own apartment off base when she gets back to Norfolk. My grandson, who is finishing up his A school got to choose where he wanted to go and he put Norfolk, however he had actually been on the ship my grand-daughter is on and he asked for the same ship. However, even though he has those orders to go there the last of June he has filled out a package where his time will be extended to years and he would stay in San Diego till about Nov 2011 in school. Several different schools he would attend before going to Norfolk etc. I imagine it is rough if you actually have to stay on a ship 23/7 all the time. But I thought that they pull them off the ship and they have their own rooms, on base. now my grandson has his own room, by his self with a ref, microwave and TV etc. they still are very strict. Has guards at the entrance to building and have to salute etc as coming and going, has inspections of their rooms, everything has to be put in place and organized according to their rules etc. But he is enjoying it. He now has a girl friend and last night they were somewhere and fixing to watch a movie together. He said by the computer.. They have common areas they can relax in etc. of course I know you all know that...I really enjoyed my visit to the base in Great Lakes, just to see what all they have for them and also to see how the sailors are so friendly with each other etc. they need that..

Comment by diannep on May 11, 2010 at 7:46am

Arlene: I think when my son's friend told him living on a ship stinks...he didn't mean that the ship smelled....just that he didn't like living on the ship! I would imagine that they do keep the ship very clean!

Comment by Steph on May 10, 2010 at 7:36pm

Ang, We made that move in 2001, and we just got back to Norfolk from Hawaii last week. If you haven't already, you need to get in touch with the personal property office to set up to have your household goods picked up. You can also go to https://www.smartwebmove.navsup.navy.mil/swm/ to set this up online. If you set it up that way, you just need to make sure you take a copy of your husband's orders to the personal property office in order for them to process your move. If you would prefer, you can do a DITY (Do IT Yourself) move where the Navy pays you to pack everything and move it across country yourself. I prefer to just let the movers pack everything and move it for me, so I'm not totally sure how to do one of those, but I think you can talk with the personal property office to find out about it. Your husband can also submit paperwork to PSD for advanced travel pay and DLA (Dislocation Allowance, I think). During your trip across country, make sure you keep the receipts for all gas, food, and lodging. He will need them when he goes to PSD in Norfolk to submit his travel claim. You may end up getting money back because the advance travel pay is only about 80% of the full travel pay for your transfer.

Comment by diannep on May 10, 2010 at 7:27pm

Thanks again, Arlene. Good for your Coast Guard grandson in his saving! Wonderful! My son has saved alot of money too when he lived at home, going to school and working. I'm hoping he continues that in the Navy.
He knows good saving habits...so it is up to him now. I too have told him that being single, now's the time to work hard at saving in the military with so much paid for. He has told me that he knows that and to stop telling him! HA! So we'll see! Thanks for all of your info. I'm sure my son will like it up there. When he's with buddies, he's happy! Good luck to your military grandchildren! God Bless Them and You!

Comment by arlene40 on May 10, 2010 at 3:19pm

She might have been E3, for she just now became E4. she may have gotten quicker approval because of her being married and having a child. Of course I would suggest any single person to stay on base as much as possible for it helps them to save their money. One of my grandsons in the US Coast Guards, Basic training at New Jersey then went to San Diego for over a year, then he just went to VA for more training the first of the year, living on base every where he has lived, he has been in service 2 years in june and was home a couple weeks ago and had saved $25,000.00. So this was very good. He is tickled and said he is very careful how he spends his money. My grandson in the Navy may not be as saving, but he has only been in service since middle of January, Graduated March 12, and he has saved quite a bit, had over $2,000. in savings and had $500. in his checking account...but I don't think he is as disciplined as the other grandson is. He says he is saving 75% of his check each pay day... I have not heard them complain about the ship smelling or not being clean for they have to keep them clean etc... that is one of the rules.

Comment by diannep on May 10, 2010 at 2:53pm

Thanks, Arlene. My son said they can't live off base until they are a certain rank. Your granddaughter must have been that rank (he is an E-3). Thanks for the info!
Congrats to your g-daughter on her promotion. That is wonderful!

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