Moms of IS (Intelligence Specialist) sailors.

Yay!!! A few weeks early but we have a beautiful grandbaby!!! Now if I could whisk him home from Japan (with his mommy and daddy too, of course!) Daddy is at sea right now but he will get to meet his son soon.

Hoping everyone has a wonderful day.

Congratulations Mary.  

mom w - now that bootcamp is over, it gets easier, but school is hard. You can talk to him in the evenings. So keeping in touch is much easier.  Depending how far you are, you can even go visit.  Once they're able to wear their civies they seem to relax too.

Thanks Blondie and BarbRags! Blondie, he will get to leave the boat soon and this has actually worked out for the best. If little Declan had been born on time, Chris would not have gotten to see him but a couple of days. Now, he will be able to enjoy seeing him during his time off ship. That is good since Liz has been sick almost everyday since month 1, now he will be able to give her some much needed time to rest, relax, and hopefully be able to do a few things for herself during his brief time home before returning to his ship.

Gone to look at baby pictures!!!

Ohmygoshgeez Blondie! How adorable! I can't wait for spring when they might be able to come home for a couple of weeks!!!!

Yay Blondie! I know you are super pumped! Give her a biiiiigggg Navy Mom squeeze!

Saw this on my son's Facebook page...a funny twist on a serious subject:

Do you like OPSEC and ham?
I do not get it, Sam I am.
I do not get OPSEC and ham.
We must use it here and there.
... ... We must use it everywhere.
You CAN share it in a car.
But you CANNOT in a bar.
You CANNOT share it in a text.
You CANNOT share it at the NEX.
You CAN say it in your house.
But should NOT tell a random spouse.
You CAN say it in the shower.
But do NOT go sharing at happy hour.
DON'T make the Ombudsman sweat.
DON'T post it on the internet.
You CANNOT share it in a tweet.
That would not be very sweet.
Beware of Facebook and Myspace too.
It's tempting to let your feelings through.
You Cannot tell it to a friend.
NOT even at the very end.
It is a privilege to know a date.
DON'T tell ANYONE or they may be late! Oh, I get it, Sam I am. Now I get OPSEC and ham! I will not tell anyone. I will keep hushed until they're done! I will not tell him or her. I will not tell my dog with fur. I will not tell my child's teacher. I will not tell any creature. Thank you, THANK YOU, Sam I am. Thank you for clearing up OPSEC and Ham!!!

I LOVE the quote at the top! The first thing I said to my son when he decided on IS was "So does this mean the next time you tell someone 'I could tell you but I'd have to kill you' you will actually mean it?" Being a teenager he rolled his eyes but I did catch a faint laugh too. Looking forward to talking to you ladies although it may be a week or so before I come back to this forum. Have to get a few more things straight for PIR (11/8) first.

Oh and Mary (Chris' mom) I umm "borrowed" your OPSEC post to send to my son in BC. Thanks :)

Welcome MrsGregsMom! Feel free to ummm "borrow"...I ummm "borrowed" it too! lol Hope you enjoy PIR! It's an awesome experience.

Hi Ladies,

I am going to go see my son for Thanksgiving in Dam Neck. I am so excited I haven't seeen him since Sept 13, boot camp graduation.  Can anyone suggest a good place to eat for Thanksgiving?  

Hi Ladies I'm baaaack! lol

PIR is just a week away now and I'm starting to get excited. BC seems to have gone well for him, he was selected as an Honor Recruit and was promoted to E2 recently, both of these make me less worried about upcoming Battlestations but I am still a little bit anxious. Can't wait for the "I'm a Sailor" call so I can relax a little. : /

I've been reading the discussions and was wondering if anyone had any advice, suggestions, words of wisdom, etc for those of us with soon-to-be-sailors headed "your way"? So far I've learned that nothing is ever written in stone and the only thing that is "typical" in the Navy is that things change so you have to roll with the punches. Very frustrating for families but I suppose I will get used to it eventually...maybe. lol  Thanks in advance.

Hi Mrs Gregsmom.

The weather is starting to change in Chicago.  As I'm sure it is in your neck of the woods.  Wear layers to the PIR, so you can sit on a jacket as well.  The bleacher bench seating is not very comfy.

Give yourself plenty of time to get onto the RTC side of the base. (Different from the regular base)  The traffic lines tend to be long for the PIR ceremony.  have a fantastic time.

We met up with our son at the airport at the USO and brought him some casual clothes to slip into his backpack, as well as his laptop, Ipod and cell phone.  If his flight is early enough in the day then you can ask for a gate pass and spend some time with him at the gate before he departs.  We had several hours.

You might need to bring him some Advil.  The plane to Norfolk was tiny and had propellers!  LOL!

Thanks Laura,

I've heard of alot of suggestions for what to bring to the airport for my son but Advil wasn't one of them. Please don't be offended if I hope and pray they have a different plane by now! Yikes LOL 

We were planning on taking a shuttle to PIR because I was warned about the nightmare traffic can be. Is that a better idea or should we take our rental car and leave as early as possible that am?

How much contact and how soon do we get with our Sailors when they get to A school? BC is awful as you all know and I don't want to expect too much too soon and be disappointed and frustrated when he gets there. I'm bringing his phone to the airport for him does he get to keep it and use it right away when he gets there? That all being said I know he won't be able to talk and text everyday and all. I will let him lead mainly as far as that goes because I know he has a lot of work to do there. I'm just still suffering from lack of communication blues at this point. Thanks again :)

MrsGregsMom, My son really never said anything about the plane ride. It might depend on how many sailors are going (how heavy the plane is) and who the pilot is.

If you plan to be at the airport around say 6:00am, you might very well catch him and then yes, he will want small electronics such as his cell phone, laptop or tablet, iPod or other MP3 player.

Chris called me I think while they were on the shuttle from Norfolk to Dam Neck although it might have been right after he got into his room. I remember he called home like 3 times that evening and then 2-4 times a day most days until he started classes. He wanted to make sure I sent all his "essential" stuff that first week or so. hahahaha 

During A school my son had a little more time for calling home and weekend visits. During his C school time (which started for him the immediate Monday after A school graduation) his major focus was on learning all he could, and studying for his IS3 exam at the end of C school. There are of course many restrictions during their time at Dam Neck but overall the communication is more often and they are able to watch TV, movies, listen to music, get online, etc during their free time. If you have a pretty good relationship with your sailor, I promise you, A school and C school will be much better! 

Hi MrsGregsmom,  My son arrived at Dam Neck Sept 10th. He left to the airport, O'Hara, at midnight and his flight left at 8 a.m.. They are so exhausted from staying up all night they are zombies by the time they get on their flight. My flight left also to LA at the same time so it worked out great. There is only a handful of IS traveling to Dam Neck from PIR. There are not that many with that rate.  I think he had around 11 with him. It's a small group. It is one of those small commuter flights and they are fine. Just loud if you have ever been on them. I gave my son his phone, laptop and a pkg of boxer/briefs. When I got home I sent the rest of his clothes. A few weeks later , he wanted his car since taking a taxi to Walmart on the week-end wasn't his cup of tea, so we sent that from Los Angeles and filled it up with his TV, and winter coats. He's enjoying his time. In school during the day and they have to study inside the school at night, mandatory for the 1st phase but it goes quick. Breakfasts are fine, but he was warned lunch/dinners aren't to tasty. Last night he said a group went to the Olive Garden for dinner so they are getting out and relaxing too. I get a few textes and calls but he's busy plus he's a little older (23), and focused on just getting through school. 

It's oficial he's a Sailor! Next stop Damn Neck, for him anyway. I can't wait for Friday and PIR and most of all HUGS! Thanks for all the info SouthernCalimom Ship 13 Div 333, Mary (Chris' mom),and Laura I appreciate it. Going to start getting the things he asked for during his phone call together. I will check back in after PIR. Thanks again!!!

Congratulations MrsGregsMom, I'm sure it's a huge weight off your shoulders.  It will be much easier while he's at Dam Neck.  Hopefully he'll have some warm weekend to enjoy the beach.

MrsGregsMom,

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S  ! ! ! !

MrsGregsMom, WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on getting yourself a sailor! We look forward to getting input on conditions at Dam Neck, habits, rules and regs that as visitors we may need to know, etc. From Friday on, things will get a bit easier. You are going to be so surprised at the physical and emotional changes in him over the past several weeks. Enjoy your time with him!!!

My Sailor flew out of O'Hare and had a connecting flight.  

Mine was also out of O'Hare.

O'Hare as well.  Sailors arrive at O'Hare by busses every few hours.  Once they get to the ticket counter for a boarding pass, you can go up to the counter with him and the agent should (most likely) give you a gate pass.  You will be able to accompany him to the gate and hang out there.

The only time they won't issue a gate pass is if the airport is extremely busy or during heightened security.

If you guys can't find each other, tell him to meet you at the USO, at the bottom of the steps that lead up to it.  The USO prior to going through the security checkpoint (there are 2 at O'Hare). 

My sailor didn't leave until early afternoon.  I would get a later flight just in case.

My son had a 1:15 flight.  I know crazy I can remember that.  He got to the airport around 2am.  We ended up meeting him at USO.  You're able to go upstairs to get them.  Have him wait there for you.  It's so much more comfortable for them.  The have big comfy chairs usually they have snacks and drinks for them too.

My son flew out I think, at 11:00am. My flight left earlier but he had to leave GL for the airport at like 5:30 or 6:00 that morning. I was ok with leaving him at the concourse with a bunch of other sailors. He had his electronics so he was fine and he even called me twice before I boarded my plane just to say thanks for coming to PIR and he wished us a safe flight home.

Is there a FB page for IS or for Dam Neck

Runner LHB  -NAVY AND MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER

NMITC  It's the base fb page

Leosil,

Got your message - - if you look at the top right side of the group page, just above the list of the members, you will see a "Leave Group" link.  Click that and you will be removed from the group, and will no longer receive the email notifications.

Thanks for being a member - - sorry to see you go!!!

Hi all!

Just thawed out from our sub zero temps, and dug out from all of our snow. 

I hope that all is well with the group!  Me, I'm just waiting for Spring!

From the posts we had on here a few weeks ago it seems that most of them fly out of O'Hare. If the travel is during winter months I would guess that Midway would be an option but there is a large USO office at O'Hare so I think they try to ship most out from there.

Welcome aboard and I hope she enjoys her time in.

O'Hare is the airport for Norfolk.

Thanks Barb!

We shipped my sons car about 2 1/2 weeks after he got there,  He was allowed to use it when it arrived.  He was also in civilan clothes by then too.

Things must have changed at the command a little. My son was not able to use his POV until around week 6. He was able to wear civvies in his room by the end of the first week. I know a few things concerning phasing up has changed over the past few years since my son was there. Good to get newer information. Can someone send a general phase up guide to me and I will try to revise the information in the discussion on "Now Your Sailor Is At Dam Neck".

Are all the C schools for IS in Dam Neck?

Yes Lizzie. 

Also, my sailor stayed in the same room for "A" and "C" school. 

His roommates changed when he was there (they all started at different months) but he never moved rooms. 

My son stayed in DN for  A and both C schools, but he changed dorms.  They actually put him in the hotel for a week when he started his second C school.  He had a few different roommates.  

Ok, we've had a couple of dads here and a couple of men just looking at the IS field but I believe LizziesHusband is the first male spouse here. So out of curiosity, I would like to know how you feel about your wife becoming an IS? Also how are you dealing with bootcamp, or is 2/28 her ship out date?

Mary (Chris' mom) Currently my wife is in Boot Camp, her PIR date is 2/28. I am not sure how I totally feel about her being in IS. I know she is a reservist and it is just a long time waiting at home for her to finish A & C school. I am not dealing well with her being gone at boot camp. We have been married coming up on 5 years in June, no kids. My mother was on the AirForce4Moms and my mother-in-law was on ArmyMoms, they both said to come here for the most support and get any question asked. I am so confused about things, and how it will work for transitioning back to civilian reserve life. Please tell me as much as you can about A & C school.

Depending on where you live she could be assigned to other branch bases. I know one IS reservist who does not have a Naval reserve unit for hundreds of miles so he is assigned to an Air Force base. That base was not the closest to his home but was the closest one with the ability to have an IS. Some bases just lack having a secure enough place for the IS's to work. I know one who started out as an IS but then switched to IT. After his training he became attached to a Seabee unit and did 8 mos in the sandbox. It varies by their job specialty, home location, and how actively they seek deployment. I have not heard of any reservists having ship duty as an IS but I also can't say it does not happen, I've just not heard of it.

LizziesHusband,  I don't know how far you are from Damn Neck, but you can go visit and stay.  Their Navy Lodge is hard to get a room at.  They are busy during school, it's hard and there is a lot of studying, they're not allowed to take any material out of the classroom, so they spend many hours there after class and on weekends.  No cellphones in class.  In the end they say it's all worth it.  

Glad to know, I am in florida. I am hoping I can see her once a month.