How to prepare for deployment!

Neese lives...down the street from me but I have not heard from her since Christmas. Her son was getting married during the holidays and I just don't know when she is returning from that trip. If we don't hear from her this week...I'm sending out the rescue dogs!!! :-D

Thanks for the info Mary....yes, let her know she is missed by all of us here!

Hope Kim doesn't mind but those are all great resources Carla. Thanks!

Your pulling on my heartstrings there with those! Really, they are wonderful! Thanks for the beautiful messages, the caring spirit, and the peaceful thoughts!

Best laugh I've had all day! I love the shirt - my boy just left for a long time.

where is the surviving deployment group?? I sure can't have too much info about my son's current deployment. Thanks.

Yes, I had to go to your page Kathryn and link from there. The word Surviving was misspelled that's probably why it didn't come up for me. I don't see why there should be any difference if a word is not spelled correctly. Should have come up anyway.

I had the same problem with the spelling but I found it from the link. thanks

It took about four weeks before my son received his passport. Had to mail him his birth certificate and it had taken about a couple of weeks before he received it. Never thought of sending it overnight. I almost fogot about the certificate while he was home on leave before deployment but he remembered to give it to me.

There was no reason why the Navy would have kept the bc. How long has it been? May have to get another if it's been quite awhile.

Thought I'd come find out what its like to get ready for deployment. Looks like the to do list is the first to check out!

Yes, my son had his brand new IPOD touch that we had just gave him for Christmas stolen on his ship also. It is hard to believe that would happen. He reported it, but he said he expected the worse. I agree with you Sherry, you would think think that it wouldn't happen. But, I hear that it happen quite often.

I am going to see my son graduate C school July 2, he will come home July 22nd before he leaves for Japan. I won't be seeing him off, so to speak, will I? I mean, they will probably fly him over there right?

Wow Rhonda, we'll keep our fingers crossed for you!

I think it will never matter how old our kids are we will worry. I think we worry even more when they are in the military. It is very hard when they are deployed and we can't be there to do for them, or when they are stationed a long ways from home. Navy08mom, I hope your son get better soon.

Hi. Also new to the group. My son will deploy soon, also. I am trying to get everything I can organized before he comes on leave before shipping out. Love all the helpful tips.

My son's home port is Norfolk. He is on his first deployment. Sure miss him, but e-mail has made it easier. He's not a big writer, but he's trying. Hard when they can't say much but how much sleep they're not getting. lol

My son had a contact person on his ship when he was done with A school. He went through the same kind of zip, zip, too. He'll have to ask what he can bring. I have heard that Skype doesn't work on board, but don't know. Navy e-mail is our lifeline most of the time. (he will get an address when he is on ship)
Thanks for the encouragement, CindyH.

Hi Ladies, I am new to this group. My son will go on his first cruise in July so I am looking for lots of info.

Janie, you are one day closer to seeing him again also.

Yes, Penny, he is! He is an AM on helos

We have a very close family friend ( I call him one of my sons) that is EOD. He is stationed on the East coast. I think EOD are some of the bravest guys out there! Tell him Thank You for me please!

Mine emailed last night and said he would try to call this afternoon

Hugs Cherie! My son won't leave for a few months but I am already feeling a little overwhelmed. We are here for you!

indybova, it's normal! lol The unknown gets to me also. My son will be leaving soon also. My son is also in San Diego and loves it!

Indybova, I know it is hard, and wish I could say you get used to that, but you dont. You just 'adjust' for a season, and 'learn' all the time (sometimes, over and over again! Hint hint!) That is the way of military life, no matter which branch. Thankfully, here we have others in the same boat...years ago, it was not so. More alone then. You learn to lean on others that have been/or are going thru it. Dont worry. One day the tables turn and you get your opportunity to "pay it forward" as I said years ago!

He's on the Lincoln. They are leaving SD today :(
Which is your son on?

Kim, this is on navy.mil today. The buildings give great perspective for showing the Lincoln's size. Got your first care package ready to mail? :)

San Diego, September 11, 2010 - The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) departs San Diego bay for a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

Thanks Marcy, for sharing that! Someone posted a video on You Tube of the Lincoln leaving today and it just makes me so proud of my son and for all those serving!

Ray Ray my son is deployed and all I know is he's in the Pacific Ocean. They don't give exact dates until just a little before they ship put and usually you won't know which ports until they get there or leave. Things can change from day to day. Sorry I can't help anymore than that.

indybova, Thank the Lord for emails :) I did get a unexpected call this morning but he called to talk to his baby girl. I did get to talk some but the look on her face was worth me not talking much. She misses her daddy and he misses her terribly.

Hi, I'm new to this group looks like my sons deployment is coming up. Thank you everyone for all the ideas. Honestly, I would never have thought of all the details I see listed and find the information very helpful.

Michele, so sorry not to have responded sooner! My son is on the last leg of his first ship deployment & he's had a great experience. I sent my first care package the day he left; putting them together & mailing them off has been fun, & he's enjoyed sharing with his shipmates.

How to find your ombudsman:
http://www.navyformoms.com/group/whatsanombudsmanandhowtocontactthem

I am new to Navy moms and don't really know my way around. My daughter has just been told that she will be reporting to san diego. I have learned from this web site that the destroyer she will be stationed on will probably be deployed this month. She will be finished with A school and testing next week but is not scheduled to graduate until Dec 8th. What will happen if ship deploys before she graduates? Will she get to come home before deployment?
kzimm

Thanks indybova,
I talked with my daughter last night and she thinks that she will be allowed 2 weeks leave after her graduation on Dec 8th. I am praying that is true. I am not prepared to celebrate Christmas next week when she comes home for Thanksgiving!! We just found out all this info 2 days ago!

Kim, how great to have two weeks! Don't go into a dizzy over holidays or let that distract from having a fun visit, for her being home with family w/o stress is #1 :)

Thanks Marcy, I just hope she is right and that she does get to come home, I don't know how reliable her information source is!

Hi Elaine! My son is stationed in SD also. He is deployed on a carrier at the moment. I know how you feel. One thing about him being on the ground is he will be able to talk and email you on most days. The ship is a totally different situation. Hugs to you!

hi everyone this is my question my son is still in A school what can i do to help him get ready for deployment when its his time to leave.

Kelly, before my son deployed, the Navy had different types of information seminars for them. They were about finances, Power of Attorney, and stuff like that. They also have different ones for those with families. I am several states away from where my son is stationed and I didn't have to do anything for him but I do send at least one care package a month to him. I sent him a ship to shore phone card (it's the only one that works on the ship) and I got the number off the back of it so that I can add minutes to it if I need to. I email him almost everyday but I don't get replies that often. They work 12 hours a day and 6 days a week and sometimes more. It's not that he doesn't want to talk or meail, he just doesn't always have time.  I try always to let him know just how proud I am of him and that he has my support. I try not to be needy! lol The Navy takes good care of them and gives them a lot of info before they leave and what to expect.

thanks kim for this info it is very helpful

Kelly thanks for telling me about this sight. 

I have a son that is getting ready for deplyment soon.  New at this it came as a surprise this morning.

Any advise will be helpful  Thanks Barb

My son found Purex Three-in-One laundry sheets super-helpful when he was on his ship, by the way :) One sheet is soap, softener and anti-static. Once he got a sense of how many he was using and could figure out his use, I included refill packs in a care package.

My son used the Purex sheets also. I had sent him the starter kit and he told me the hard cover was hard to store so he got rid of it. I only sent the refills afterwards. Our deployment is almost over! Praise God for that!! I will see my son soon!

Hello every one these is a very help full site as a mother of a son who will be deployed for the first time and our first military in the family, I am not really sure on what can I send how big of a packages and so on, it is nice to read all these diferent ideas on what to send.

And is nice to read of all the diferent parents who are in the same situation for support.

Welcome Angelica! I put this together for getting started with care packages - Care package and customs forms tips and tricks 

This is a great group, good reading and a place to ask questions & share:  http://www.navyformoms.com/group/carepackageideas

And you're so right, we're all in this together!  :)

 

The priority mail flat-rate boxes are so great, you can send up to 70 lbs for $12.95, what a deal! Info for ordering them (they're free) is in that tips & tricks page.
One more thing, some items are appropriate for using a space saver bag that you hook up a vacuum cleaner to. Jam & cram! :)

Marcy thank you for the link you posted, it is very help full it is help full to read about the fact of sending extra stuff for others;), and yes you can express your concern to others about having one of your family members living but is not the same unless you are expressing it to some one who is in your same shoes, and not to same on something so minning full like these;))

Hello all, I am not a mother but a big sister of a Sailor fixing to deploy. My mom is Sandra AM Mom on here. It is very hard for this big sister too!!!! I look forward to getting to know all of you and the support we can bring each other!

hi navysis glad you joined us any questions you have feel free to ask there is a mom to answer or a sister who can field your questions once again welcome.