Moms of IS (Intelligence Specialist) sailors.

Carolyn - That is great news about the college credits.  I knew they got some credit but I thought it was only 20 ish.  I know that he wants to work on his degree so that will be a great way to start!

Let me know if you ever travel through the Chicago area.  I will serve up some of those meatballs with a lasagna!

Haha!! Carl and Irene, don't be fools!! Just thought I'd hop over and let you know that Chris made it out to ship safely. I'll chat with you by email after your awesome trip. Give Cam a big Navy hug for me,... "Sayonara" and safe travels to you all. I'll put this date on my calendar for next year although I doubt I have the finances to get there... Fair winds and following seas

Hugs, Mary

LisaB,

As I understand it A school graduation isn't a big deal and is not attended much by families.  However C school graduations are a little more of a ceremony and several parents I've known have attended.  We attended our son's C school graduation and it was nice.  There were quite a number of families there.

The A school graduation is not a ceremony...at least it wasn't last year!

We attended the C school graduation and it was a formal ceremony, with a couple short speeches and then they brought them up on stage to receive their certificate. It was nice meeting the people our son had been with in school and seeing the base. So I thought it was worth it! The ceremony itself isn't long...just interesting being there!

Kim,

That's the same way it was for our son's graduation.  It was very nice and some of the IS instructors went around talking to the families.

Mom2aSailor, Congrats!!!! My son was in Bahrain a couple of weeks ago waiting to be called out to his ship. Then they ported in Dubai for the holiday weekend. He said it is really hot there, like 126 degrees. He tends to think it is humid there too, when it is THAT hot. He is just getting his first taste of ship life though.

Ok, the wind has really picked up in the past three or four minutes as the remnants of this tropical storm starts coming through in earnest so I am out of here for now....

Navy Hugs! Mary

PS Anna...I get to do a Tiger cruise on the Bush!!! Of course we can't be notified when yet but I will keep you posted right after it happens...eh, you know I will call you beforehand. :-)

Mary,

OMG!!!  I think you need a traveling companion!!!  And I know who you need to ask to come with you!!!  Someone who has a son named Chris!!!!!!!!!!   :)

Carl, Glad you had a safe and fun trip! I probably won't be doing that ship soon (expenses) but I am getting to go on a Tiger cruise before long on the Bush. I have heard from some of the folks at the Bush page that their Family Cruise was awesome as well. Maybe I will get the opportunity to do one someday. Yes, I have heard that saying about Fuji...I have also heard of a few fools :-)

It's hard to believe how far our men and women have come in under 3 years. Cam is an "Old Salty" and Chris is a Korean Conflict Veteran who is getting salty himself now. Nothing new happening except our group (the BUSH and its ships) had a nice weekend in Dubai but are now back out somewhere. Will be interesting to see how he compares shore duty to ship duty in a couple of months.

I hope all have a good day and Carl, I will be looking forward to the email and hopefully seeing a picture or two. 

Navy Hugs to all, Mary

Get ready for a possible list of questions everyone. 

My son landed at Dam Neck today! 

And so it begins...

Laura, hahaha! That's why most of us are here...we had so many questions and still do sometimes! Congrats on having a sailor and please tell him thank you for his service.

To other moms, dads, wives, DEPpers and folks at our page...Please tell your sailors a special thank you today. It's people like them who are keeping us all more safe here at home.  

My son is also at Dam Neck now. I'm just happy that we can talk on the phone again!

Hi julieb - I double checked with the post office.  Certified only pertains to letters.  I send the packages insured and I insured them for $200 each.  The cost of insurance was an additional $2.85 for each box.

Hope this helps. 

Laura, You are correct. I don't know why they never learn. When my son was there we went throught the same thing. Certified is for documents that are signed for. Insured is for packages. I think the instructors all have a list they must memorize' and no one has bothered to revise that statement in the list. lol The cost of insuring a box is also considering the value of the items in the box. I have sent things in the Military boxes and insurance was almost nothing. I have also shipped in odd boxes and the insurance was over $20. That's when I learned it is actually cheaper at times to use two Military boxes rather than one larger box. It sure was hard though squashing his peacoat into one of those small boxes!

I hope everyone has a great day!  

tntsather913,

They are free from the US Post Office.  Just go into any post office and ask for the military flat rate boxes. 

Yes, you can get them at the PO or you can go online and set up an account. When you call, place an order for the military kits. They are free and deliver right to your door. You also get a large roll of priority mail tape, customs documents, address labels, etc.

Thanks so much for the info...

Kim, Thanks, teehee. I like this one too! I have seen his pic a few times now at facebook or at flickr where his former command posted things happening around the area, but he only recently went to sea. The BUSH is really good about posting pics each week so families and friends can keep up with events (after the fact of course). He has only been there since the middle of August so out of 5,000 or so sailors onboard it was just luck that he got his pic on so early.

I hope everyone's sailors have the opportunity for a photo to be posted. They deserve the credit and recognition. I think it makes them feel good too when they can email or write home and say, "Hey! did you see?..." or "Here is a copy of a pic..."   

Everyone have a great day! Tell your sailors, soldiers, grunts, fly-boys...all thank you for their service. A big hug to the moms and dads.

Will be leving in a few days to see my son at Dam Neck. Major road trip! Driving from Chicago to bring him his SUV.  (will fly home!)

Going to go to Doc Taylor's & Bad Ass Coffee as recommended by you folks!

Wish me luck!

Mom2aSailor, if her orders have not been written and etched in stone then the Navy can change them for sure. What they do about it is up to them. Normally they would give her a sponsor at her next command who she would stay in close contact and report delays to etc. It is too early for her to be getting that info yet so it's all up to folks at Dam Neck to make it right. Most likely they will start the school sooner for those who have clearances. I know it takes something close to an act of God for the orders to change, but I also know they changed my son's orders after he started C school. Sorry but for now she will have to stay in limbo.

On a brighter note woohoo Laura! So glad you get to go see your sailor! Although it is a bit chilly now, if the weather is nice the beaches should be great!! It is supposed to warm up again by the end of the weekend so keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Mom2aSailor-I know you are excited for her and I'm sure she is so ready to move forward in her training. It does all work out in the end!

shadowcrzn-classing up is the process where a sailor may be put on hold after arriving at the school until there are enough sailors to make a full class. Once they complete A school and make ready for C school it might take even longer...or not. While they wait to class up they are busy taking care of things on base, learning more about how to secure the base, doing small jobs to maintain the buildings and grounds, etc. Never a lack of work! Hope this helped a bit.  

Just T-The schools for OpIntel start more frequently than the others. That is what a majority of the sailors end up in. Besides it is a shorter school. It generally does not take as long for them to class up but most of the time they do not like to start or be mid way through an A school or C school during the long holidays.

Mom2aSailor-Congrats on that C school start. It's a load off her mind I know. :-)

HAPPY 236th BIRTHDAY, US NAVY!!!!!