moms of sailors in MM A-school as of NOW started April 2010

[Lion55's mom]

I am in SC now and was over at the base in Goose Creek this evening visiting my sailor son.  I am looking for some other moms of sailors that are in A school now.  I met two of my son's buddies this evening and was sad that I didn't have anyone to talk to about my experience at the base tonight. I took them to get haircuts!  I will be in SC for a month so I am happy to be of service to long distance moms if needed. :}

[Zazzws]

My son finishes his MM "A" school July 9th. Class 1027 A.

[susan906]

My daughter was also in 1027A, I didn't realize they were graduating July 9 (was expecting it to be a couple weeks later). At any rate, she was pulled out of class and put on medical hold. Turns out she's got a bone structure issue which means running causes her to have serious knee pain (she had problems getting thru the PFA in boot camp, and she's still having problems). She's got some new shoes that might help, they gave her six weeks (she got about three weeks left) and then hopefully they'll make some sort of determination whether she gets to stay in the program. (She could have used your help because they sent her off base for the shoes--that had to be expensive taxi-wise :-)

[Casey~ Ryan's Wife, Nuke ELT MM2]

Hey fellow N4Ms :)

I was just catching up on this group and saw this discussion! I love discussions where we meet other N4Ms with Sailors in the same school ours are in. I just wanted to mention though, I see a couple of last names mentioned, and I'm honestly not saying this in a confrontational way, but I'd suggest to edit those posts (you can delete your own posts, edit them, and post them again if you like so the other info is saved). I'm saying this because on N4Ms, we're not supposed to mention anyone's last name, just for security reasons (OPSEC rules, more are listed on the main page of N4Ms). I actually mentioned my husband's last name in a comment on the wall of another group I was a part of on this site last year, and a N4Ms admin contacted me and asked me (respectfully) to remove it. This is a public site and anyone can see the stuff we post. I just realized I may sound like I'm overreacting, but a friend showed me this article:

BREMERTON —

Normally the Navy gives a heads-up before an aircraft carrier comes or goes so locals can view the spectacle. It’s not much time. Maybe a day. The short notice is meant to safeguard the ship’s movements.

But when the USS Abraham Lincoln departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Jan. 13 after a nine-month overhaul, ship officials asked to keep it quiet until they were under way.

“We’re being really careful and not announcing our exact departure or arrival times,” spokesman Lt. Cmdr. William Marks said.

The extra caution stems from recent online terrorist threats directed at the Navy. The group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which has been linked to the Christmas Day airliner bomb plot, posted one of them on Dec. 29. It called on Muslims to gather information about Navy ships at sea, how they’re serviced during deployment, whether there are nuclear weapons on board, and about their crews and families.

“Now with the help of God, every American naval vessel in the seas and oceans — aircraft carriers, submarines, and all of its war machines within range of al-Qaida — will be destroyed,” the post stated.

Lt. Nate Christensen, from the Navy’s Office of Information, wouldn’t comment Thursday, but he said earlier statements attributed to him are accurate.

“The Navy has been aware of the al-Qaida threats since discovery on Dec. 31, 2009,” he was quoted saying in the Jan. 8 in the Washington Times. He said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service circulated information about the threat throughout the Navy.

Lt. Cmdr. Cindy Fields, spokeswoman for the John C. Stennis, said the ship wasn’t under heightened security, and that information about the aircraft carrier leaving Bremerton on Wednesday could have been made public the usual day ahead of time.

“Generally we don’t put out information about ship movements until 24 hours and we still don’t discuss specific times,” she said. “We try not to advertise unless we have to. We’re always concerned about operational security.”

Submarines have never announced their movements except on special occasions.

The recent threats serve to remind sailors and their families to be careful in their communications, particularly now that posts on social networks can immediately go out to the world.

“It’s important that the Navy family remain vigilant in not sharing potentially sensitive or secure information by any non-secure means — to include letters, e-mail, telephone conversations or social media,” Christensen said.

Shaun Turner, manager of the Deployment Support Program at the Fleet and Family Support Program in Washington, D.C., listed things that shouldn’t be posted on social media sites:

—Exact employment dates and return dates

—Port of call locations and dates

—Detailed mission information

—References to crew morale or personal problems

—Details of security procedures

—Information about equipment readiness

—Speculation about future operations.

“The main rule is to simply use common sense,” Turner said. “Think before you post. Anything you post on social media, including photos, is instantly available around the world. When in doubt, don’t post it.”

Really important.....needs to be read.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jan/22/threats-prompt-navy-to-be...



and it made me verrrrry conscious of the kind of people we're dealing with. Thank you! N4Ms usually says if you'd like to share a last name, send a personal message, from your N4Ms inbox, to the person.

[my3sons]

Thanks Casey for reminding us. I know we all get caught up in our excitement from time to time and forget.

[Casey~ Ryan's Wife, Nuke ELT MM2]

I know, so do I. I've caught myself and others have reminded me too!

[Lion55's mom]

got it!

[Zazzws]

susan906: My sailor mentioned your daughter. She is really well liked by her classmates. Is there any way they can keep in touch to offer her some support?

[susan906]

I'm afraid I have no idea. I can barely keep in touch with her myself! (ha ha) I hardly know what goes on there, I assume she's in the same room she's always been in although I haven't asked. She did say sometimes she forgets to go eat because in boot camp they told you when to go, and she doesn't have the regimented schedule now that she's not in class, but she ought to turn up at meals and so on.

I'm glad to hear your comment though, thanks, and she would be glad too. I'll text her.

[Lion55's mom]

My sailor informs me he is in 1028 Alpha. I guess that means 1028 A. Does anyone know if they finish A school each week like they did PIR? I still can't believe how many sailors go through Great Lakes each week. WOW. Now I am kinda nervous to even mention the class number. Cassey has me kind of spooked. I live in the great state of denial most of the time. Guess I better wise up.

[Zazzws]

My son has a plane ticket home on Saturday, July 10th so I'm pretty sure the last day of class is Friday, July 9th. The class finished basic machinery, the first half of the school last week. They studied individual components such as pumps and valves. Now they are studying how all the components work together as a system. Lots of math and physics. Much more difficult or some and lots of study hours for everyone. The students have 4 tests plus a final exam to look foreword to. The minimum GPA to pass is 2.5. Less than 3.0 is frowned on.
On a sad note: A student named Eric has lost several family members in an automobile accident. He is on bereavement leave and will be assigned to another class when he returns to GC.

[Dan's mom]

My son is graduating July 2, he's an MM. The ups and downs of A school are unreal. We aren't going to be able to go to his grad, as we are planning to see him Thanksgiving. Interested in hearing others experience with the sailors in A school. My prayers go out to Eric and his family, what a hard thing to go through.

[Lion55's mom]

Ups and downs are that! I sort of liked being kept in the dark while they were in boot camp. I am supposed to spend the day with my son today after he finishes his study hours. Prayers for Eric and his family. What a reminder that we are all only given this moment in time and should certainly keep short accounts and live and love well.