Moms of IS (Intelligence Specialist) sailors.

Laurelbc- Funny! Ssssoooo your son has the Xbox!! LOL  My son mentioned that one of the guys had one. I talked to him yesterday and he said he wants his as well but he wants me to wait to send it to him until classes start. He said he wants to see how much school work they have before he gets it. I was surprised he didnt want it right away.  Has your son started classes yet? The PIR group that just arrived doesnt start classes until the 11th I think.

Hi Laura- he will probably be leaving on Saturday AM, early AM!  I was supposed to meet my son at 2:30 AM at the Ohare airport but they were running a little late. Got to spend a little bit of time with him before he flew out at 5:30 AM. Really just depends on what flight they can get them on. I think there were 13 Sailors ship out to IS school.

Hello Ladies.....My daughter is still at BC.  PIR 7/15.  How soon do they know their orders before PIR?  I have booked our hotel for the entire weekend but not sure that we will need it if she is a grad and go.

The new (since March) rule of doing things after PIR, is that unless they are staying in GL, everyone flies out Sat.  We saw our daughter Fri. after grad., til 7 and then she went to O'hare @5AM and her flight went out @9AM.. so we had a few hours with her at the airport.  Make sure your sailor knows what airport they are flying out of and at what time they will be at the airport. They fly out of Midway, Ohare and Milwauk...  The best way to connect with them at the airport is to meet them near the USO, they have to check in there when they get there. At O'hare, it is terminal 2. 
She went up to the airline desk and asked for a guest pass and they let us through security.. I think most airlines will do that. I know Delta had passes at the USO, but we had to get one from the ticket attendents.

Hope that helps!

Thank you Ladies.....very helpful information. 

Do they have this information prior to PIR or will I find out that day (which airline/airport?)

Hello, everybody.  My daughter graduates from A school at Dam Neck June 24 and then she stays for C School.  She has her car and she had no problem getting a pass. She just needed registration, insurance and she was good to go. She hasn't had any problem with guys harassing but it could start at any time.  She is a blond so they think she is a dumb blond.  She isn't and she is showing them that she isn't!!! She is 6th in her class and doing great!!

I've been on edge these past few days, my hubby should graduate from "A School" tomorrow and they are doing there final exercise.  I still don't know when his "C School" is going to start and if his request for Leave has been approved. If it is approved then he is coming Home(thank god). If it is not approved, or if his "C School" starts right away. Then I am coming out to visit him. The hard part is I am going to have to buy Plane tickets at the last min, either way. This is going to get Pricey. Anyone have any good suggestions to buy a Plane ticket that isnt going to cost us an arm and a Leg? I just want to see my Husband SO BADLY. Since Dec, we have only seen each other for 1 weekend in Feb. (when he graduated from Boot Camp). This is Long overdue!!! I am from California, and I have an infant and a toddler. So it would be much easier for him to come and see me. Thanks everyone

where are you all staying when you are down there? I want to go, but can't find anything cheap. 

Gateway Inn and Suites is an option too. Run by the Navy housing also, like the Navy Lodge you will need your sailor to sign you in to get the rate.

Navywife- sorry to hear about your husbands class!! What happens now? How many chances to they have to pass as a class? Is this the finall test they take at the very end, like battlestations in BC??   I would suggest Southwest as well, you can change yout ticket with them for free.

LisaB and laurelbc- My son is on duty today as well...funny they are all on the same day!

Great info on the hotels, thanks! I am thinking about going out over the summer some time to visit for a few days and I havent started really looking into all the details yet. I guess I should if I want to go out over the summer :o)

Hello Ladies.....

My SR will have PIR on 7/15 then heading for Dam Neck.  I am really enjoying reading your posts and learning about what to look forward to.  I got a call from her on Friday and we were discussing it....I know she would rather be there already!

I am lucky enough to be only about 5 hours from Dam Neck so already plannign a visit after she arrives and can have guests....

Thanks for all the great info!

Hi all.  Three weeks until my son starts boot.  Hoping someone has an answer to my question. 

I live near Great Lakes so I will definately be at his graduation.  Will I be able to give him the black bag with computer, cell phone & IPOD at graduation?  If yes great, if not, then is my only option meeting him at the airport? Thx in advance!

Hi folks! I hope everyone is doing well. Just heard from my kid. He is scheduled to come out of Korea next month and has hard copies to report to Whidbey Is., WA at some point after he leaves Korea. Now he has been told that he is headed for Japan almost as soon as he reports to Whidbey Is. Does anyone have a sailor either at WA or Japan that we could hook up and chat?

If you have a sailor headed for Korea let them know that if they take advantage of cultural offerings, travel opportunities, etc, it is a great place. Chris has really enjoyed himself there (although after 2 years overseas he was ready to come stateside for a few years) and in some ways he regrets having to leave. He has said often that he wanted to go to Japan for a week or two, HA! I guess the Navy showed him! Now he can live there for much of the next 3 years...oh well, it's all in the needs.

Would love to get with some IS moms in Japan and will also be looking for IS moms on his ship when I know for certain which squadron and ship he is attached to.

Have a great night all. Hoorah Navy!

Navy Hugs

Laura,

As far as I know they are still not allowed to have electronics at graduation. I remember some of the sailors being put on hold at GL. As soon as they had checked out of BC and went across the street to the base and checked in I think those folks were able to but those are folks staying at GL for their school or who for some reason are on hold for a while. Otherwise, I believe the rule is that you must wait until they are off the bus at the airport for them to take possession of those things. They are also free to use them during their time off base that weekend but before they get out of your vehicle they must give them back to you. That question is best answered by someone whose sailor has recently arrived at Dam Neck to make sure that neither command (Dam Neck, nor GL) has changed their policy.  Good luck and congrats on soon having a sailor!

JonsMom,

How in the world have you been? Good to hear from you! Yes, I know one other IS who was on the GW as well, stationed out of Japan. He is also attached to a squadron (or at least was). Carl and Irene are very seldom online  though so I have no idea where Cam is now. It would be great to hear from someone though. I'm not certain yet but he thinks his squadron is attached to the Truman which is home ported in Norfolk (go figure..). I don't know how all this works so it will be interesting over the next few months.

Speaking of not knowing how things work, we are also learning about Navy Household Goods Dept and what it takes to get moved from one duty station to the next. (Another of the drawbacks to Japan, he was going to try to get an apartment or house off base at Whidbey...don't think he will do that in Japan). Maybe we can post more on moving in a couple of months.

Hope you, Jonathan, your daughter, and mom are all doing well. A big Navy hug for Jon next time he is home! Thanks for info.

Mary 

Mary,

Catherine can help you with some of those questions regarding moves and travel since that is her job there at Kitsap.  I'll ask her if her PSD handles Whidbey as well.  I'll be sending you an email about some other particulars!! 

So will Chris be coming stateside for a little while at least or will he be going right to Japan?  Looks like Steve and I will be leaving NY soon.  Not sure where we'll end up next!!!!

Laura,

Sorry - don't know what the policies might be now.  Things like that do change but I do know that after my daughter graduated she stayed at GL until the following Wednesday.  She was not allowed to have anything else with her than what she had during bootcamp.  She stayed in the same barracks she was in along with some other sailors who had to wait until going to their school.

JM,

Good to hear from you - - how are you and your sailors??

Hi Anna, as you know our boy and his girl got married in May now we just have to see about getting their 2 cars across country. Still trying to figure out if they can get rembursed for the cost of gas since it will be over $1000. Our girl is doing well, and is 32 weeks along as of this Friday, both she and "Chloe" are healthy and doing well. I will hed up to Whidbey end of July to help out.

JM,

So happy to hear that they are doing well.  We are just 3 weeks away from Catherine's wedding which is being held in Michigan!!  All of our kids and their spouses and the grand baby will be able to attend.

How exciting that you will be going to Whidbey to help your daughter!!  How long will you get to stay?  I got to go to NV just after Chris's daughter was born and stayed for almost 3 weeks.  Still wasn't enough time!!!!

Keep us posted when the big day comes!!!!

JM,

I will send you a friend request pronto...all info is greatly appreciated.

Anna,

I'm looking right now to see if I still have your number. Nope, have had to get three new phones lately and many of my contacts got lost. Wait! I found one! Will actually try to call you right now. If you don't hear from me today see if you still have mine or I will email you. In the meantime from what he understands he will likely only be at Whidbey a matter of days or maybe weeks at most. :-(  Looks like I might have to call you again crying my little eyes out. I remember calling you when he found out he was going to Korea...crying. (I also remember you calling me about to burst when you knew before me he was going to DC!) That was funny! 

Better run...got company coming over for dinner in a while.

Big Hugs all!!!

Mary

My SR's PIR is 7/15.  It there a particular airport that they fly out of in IL?  And where do they fly in in VA?