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Comment by Helomom on September 14, 2009 at 8:01pm

Ombudsman Appreciation Day is today! Thank you Dusty at HS-7 for all you do! It's quite an undertaking. http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48221

Comment by Helomom on August 24, 2009 at 3:06pm

Much sympathies to all of you regarding the lack of emails...especially to you BarbB as you have been demoted. What is that saying? A son is a son 'til he takes a wife... My son flew back this weekend from training exercises in Fallon with the squadron. I know he was flying back as my DIL sent me an update text yesterday morning with his ETA. I sent off a quick "Welcome Home" text to him. I got a reply this morning..."Thanks!" Yep, he must be home.

Comment by Helomom on August 19, 2009 at 8:01pm

An average deployment is about 6 months but can be extended if world circumstances dictate it. Deployments have been extended to provide civilian support for natural disasters and for combat readiness. They used to be closer to 8 months. I've never seen one come back early.

Comment by Helomom on August 19, 2009 at 2:48pm

AlwaysReady- My daughter-in-law just says the more holidays, anniversaries and birthdays he misses the bigger the jewelry needs to be. After 7 years she has some really nice stuff. hehehehe He wasn't deployed on their first anniversary, just had a regular training flight and was supposed to be home for dinner. And then the helicopter broke down... emergency landing, ground crew was dispatched to find them and fix the bird. They didn't have the parts, the helo crew had to stay with broken bird... She had a lovely lobster dinner for one. Welcome to the Navy.

Comment by Helomom on August 19, 2009 at 1:31am

Thanks for the confirmation AlwaysReady! My son flies them in, your husband sorts them out. Go HST team! This may sound crazy but I'm really ready for the mission to start. All this run up stuff just drives me crazy. They are here, they are there, back and forth. My son is with a squadron attached to the Truman. They aren't in JAX, they aren't on the boat. They are training. Sheesh.... It's like pulling off a bandaid... just go and come home. Yes, it's another holiday season gone, another kid's birthday missed, another anniversary missed. Get 'r done and get home. And a big YAHOO to Mary. You go girl!!

Comment by Helomom on August 18, 2009 at 1:26am

Take heart ladies... I just looked back at my son's emails from his last cruise. They left from the west coast and went to the Arabian Gulf and back. Looks like he was averaging an email to us per week. Sometimes it was two weeks, a couple times it was a three week stretch. It really depended upon the mission at the time. They were working 12-18 hours a day with a few 20 hour days thrown in for good measure. He did say to just keep sending emails, he enjoyed hearing from home even if he didn't have a chance to write back. We sent care packages every other week. Sometimes they arrived in bunches but we sent them twice a month anyhow. We sent the little boxes you can get from the USPS. He did say on his last two deployments that they prefer that you stick to the USPS boxes as they are easier to handle along the way because of the regular sizes. Odd sizes were harder to palletize efficiently. Am I correct, AlwaysReady?

Comment by Navy for Moms Admin on August 13, 2009 at 12:22pm

Hey ladies -

I know we've moved off the topic of OPSEC, but I wanted to drop in and remind everyone of why it's important to keep it in mind before you post. Remember that the site is public and viewable to everyone. That doesn't mean you can't share information with one another, but before you do make sure you take a look at the section of our Community Guidelines titled "Don’t Jeopardize the Safety of Our Sailors: Remember OPSEC (Operational Security) (Don’t Sink Ships With Loose Lips)" to learn more about what you shouldn't be posting to keep your sons and daughters safe.

You can always send me a PM if you have any questions :)

Elle

Comment by Helomom on August 12, 2009 at 1:35pm

Melissa and others-I'm sorry you all haven't had much success with communication from your ombudsman. I will say that in the 7 commands my son has been affiliated with this is the first time I have ever been included. Remember, these people are volunteers with families of their own so I'm assuming like everything else there are great ones and there are, shall we say others... I've been a Navy mom since before email, 1990, when our daughter was active duty. I think we all have an expectation of communication now that I didn't have so now I guess I have lower expectations. I look for news where ever I can. I read the local newspapers and TV news online for the city they live in and they laugh at me for knowing more than they do at times. I did call a ship line once in 2003 when they were underway and the cheery little message from the captain was that they were underway. OK... knew that. Deployment can be a big news blackout depending on what is happening and what their schedules are. Any communication is a wonderful surprise! I have saved all of emails he has sent when he is out and have matched them up with news stories for a scrapbook. I'm so glad you are getting good news from your son Pat L D! Isn't it wonderful that they can email from the ship now instead a letter that sometimes could take two weeks to transit.

Comment by Helomom on August 12, 2009 at 11:31am

I've never been there for a departure or a homecoming. We usually give him time with his family and visit later or they fly here. We have always lived a ways from where he's been stationed. I'm just thankful for video chatting, phone calls, emails and his wife. Oh and a special shout out to the squadron ombudsman! I have had more information in the last month than I have ever had. We have had two lovely vacations with his wife as we had reservations all planned but by the time we took the trip he was gone somewhere. We recently spent 10 days with his family in JAX... he was there 3. I may try to hit homecoming sometime but that is probably going to mean expensive short notice airfare and begging for time off work. We saw him at Christmas before Gulf War II, about 3 weeks before the Afghanistan IA, I'm thinking about flying down in October but I'm not sure when he will be there, I may just visit my daughter-in-law and grandkids. It's just the way it is and I expect nothing else. He's my son, and I'm proud of him everyday. He's knows that. Hey, he put some photos on Facebook this weekend so I know where he is right now! I was excited!

Comment by Helomom on August 12, 2009 at 12:57am

Okay people... I know some of you are brand new to all of this and it's the first time your kids are so far away but here's the deal. The boat goes when the boat goes and gets back when it gets back. You'll know where its going after it get there. Sorry but that is the way it works. It's tough...I know and it never gets any easier. My son was in Afghanistan for a 6 month IA and I finally found out what his job was about 4 months after he was back stateside when he sent me a copy of his medal information. Our kids don't have normal jobs. They don't live normal lives. We as parents and families just have to sit on the sidelines and wait. Pat L D and others have given you the ombudsman info. If your kid is with a squadron, try contacting the squadron ombudsman. They will tell you whatever they can but the kicker is... it's a need know kind of thing and only the sailor needs to know. Oh, and if you find out something... you never repeat it outside the family.. immediate family. The Navy isn't joking. And after 12 years it isn't any better... sorry.

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