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Comment by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on January 11, 2024 at 11:59am

Comment by Chipmunk on January 10, 2024 at 10:39pm

Good Evening everyone!! Thank you ladies for sharing with each other. I apologize that I am just not posting a lot on here. My son was an ETN2 by the time he left the Navy this summer. In many ways, I struggle being able to relate to everyone that does not hear from their sailor while at GC, as my son actually started calling his siblings more and stayed connected with us. We were his lifeline. But in Prototype he had a chief ask him what he did to decompress or handle difficult situations. When he told the chief that he called home, the reply was, "Well, what about when you are out to sea, and you can't call home."   - I don't know if that is part of what your sailors are being told, or not, but it could explain some silence. And the BC mantra of "No News is Good News" still applies. It even applies once they are out of the Navy!!

I am glad NucMomTami shared a little bit of a timeline. - I just bumped my discussion - Nuke A school daily schedule back into the discussion queue above, but you should be able to click on the blue hyperlink and go straight to it. This was written over 6 years ago now, so some things may have changed. But my son helped me write this information, so be sure to read through the comments as I added to the discussion as he progressed. It explains a lot of the time schedule, terminology, and such. 

I was a stay-at-home mom during his time at GC, so I knew when I could "catch" him back in his BEQ, or he often would call me after a test, because he knew that even with the hour time difference, I could generally answer the phone and talk. Saturday morning was his down time, and he would Skype with his younger brother, while doing his laundry and playing some video games. Some things they played together. Because he was under 21 and they were expected to "tell" on anyone that was not abiding by the rules, my son pretty much stuck to himself during A school. He did not have a car, but he rode his bike and would help friends with their runs for PT. The ETNs at that time had PT 2x week, plus the 5K run that they did once a week. I don't know how things have changed since COVID, he was out on the ship by then. 

On Sundays my son usually slept in a little, and he never went to church, although a few of them tried to start a Bible Study and during Prototype one of the assistant chaplains was bringing in pizza at lunch and they were having a short Bible study/ devotional time then. Generally, after lunch, on Sundays, my son was at the Rickover building, studying until about 10 pm or so. Occasionally, I would receive a "good-night" text from him. They are told to be sure to keep Momma informed, because they don't want Momma's calling NNPTC to find out about their sailors, but it is still up to the sailor to do so. 

Some moms have told me that their sailors have told them it is just too hard emotionally at times for them to call home. It makes them homesick. 

Comment by NucMomTami on January 10, 2024 at 4:29pm

I always think about the letter we received after they got there that talked about how they are purposely going to stress omthe Sailors out to the point of extreme because their job when they get on a ship or sub will be very stressful and rigorous and they will need to learn how to handle this in all situations. I am just giving him his space and allowing him to begin the process of growing up and being on his own and trusting in the Naval process of making a great nuclear engineer sailor out of our son.

Comment by G'sNavyMom on January 10, 2024 at 4:03pm

Q's Momma - thank you!! It's been a tough adjustment. I'm trying to find that spot and wanting to do the right thing, but I'm not always sure what that is. I appreciate the insight so much!

Comment by G'sNavyMom on January 10, 2024 at 3:47pm

NucMomTami - thank you so much for this information.  This is helpful!! It's hard to understand something when you're not familiar with it. Sounds so rigorous and exhausting.  Prayers and positive thoughts for our Sailors🙏💙⚓️

Comment by NucMomTami on January 10, 2024 at 3:35pm

The silence is totally normal. Our sailor started in late Nov. So far he is explained to me that it's very rigorous a lot of study hours and not a lot of sleep. For example, he goes to school from 7:00 to 4:00, runs back to the barracks to use the restroom and grab a dinner, then heads to study hall where he is at till about 10:00 p.m. and then back to the barracks to shower and go to bed. They are required to do at least 15 hours a week in my son's a school but he's been doing more like 23 to 28 hours per week so you can imagine how exhausted they are and probably not in the mood to talk. Also keep in mind they cannot take their phones anywhere near the school or study hall so their fun time is extremely limited. Then the weekends come and they just want to probably shut off their brains. Mine has been bowling a lot with friends on the weekend and sends me little updates here and there but I try not to bug him because I know he has a lot on his plate right now. It will get easier as time goes on but I think they're new and trying to figure it all out.

Comment by G'sNavyMom on January 10, 2024 at 3:22pm

Hello everyone 💙I haven't been on here much because of life events that have been a distraction. My Sailor has started Nuke school. I'm really struggling with the silence from him though. I'm reading this is normal? It's difficult for me to understand Navy life and what their daily lives entail, things their told,  etc. My Sailor doesn't say much about it for me to understand,  but maybe they can't? I'm guessing. I'm not sure. Is it because their schedules are so demanding and they don't have the time or their focused on their responsibilities,  etc.? Just trying to understand something I'm not familiar with. I don't ask a lot when i send texts or when i have talked to him,  i just try to be the positive in his life i always have been. We have always been close. Anyone that can help me understand I would appreciate it💙⚓️

Comment by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on January 9, 2024 at 10:58am

Comment by Chipmunk on January 3, 2024 at 8:56am

Pizanche & Gigi - Thinking of both of you. Thank you for sharing as well! Even though my son is no longer in the Navy, I still follow his ship. They have been out on deployment for a long while now. I am glad to know of others who have sailors out on deployment, as it helps me think about each one of them a lot more personally. My thoughts and prayers for both of you. 

Comment by Pizanche on January 2, 2024 at 3:28pm

Thank you! 🙏 

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