CS (Culinary Specialist) Moms

The heart and soul of the Navy-the cook! Let's swap stories and exchange info about our loved ones being a CS in the Navy!
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  • Ellen B

    ruthrod-Being a Culinary Specialist will be quite rewarding-they are looked up to by the crew...they are 'morale boosters', especially when deployed for long periods. They look forward to 'chow time', and our Sailors are taught by the best Chefs around.

    My son was also going to Culinary school prior to leaving for the Navy but knows the respect these guys get. I don't think he will feel this way once he finishes A School and gets out into the fleet. My son cannot wait, but needs to go to Submarine School before he can cook for his 'brothers'. As Margaret said, it is lots of hard work, but well worth it...

  • Margaret_ProudTexasMomof2Sailors

    Karen, I will keep you, your son and his shipmates all in my prayers.
    Keep us I formed. Thanks for letting us know.
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Ok so the CS A-school is in VA now?? I thought they just built the new place in GL Im confussed....
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Well everything is still the same. I just am praying for some time with him before he leaves. School in VA would be good. His cousin is stationed there and we are in NC. about 3-4hrs away from Norfolk.
  • indiana mom

    CS's work very hard.Our 2 sailors are CS's by choice.Very long hrs and sometimes the CS"s arent treated well.Miserable most of the time. Love what they do but fairness is not heard of.But they know there is life after the Navy.
  • oregonmom

    Hi moms, I'm new here, my son is in boot camp going to CS for A school. I look forward to meeting some others whose son/daughter is going to be a CS. My son really has no particular cooking experience but he is very creative so he'll do fine. I'm sure.

    I send my thoughs and prayers to the Cruz family. Such a very sad time for them and for the Navy as a whole. They have my deepest sympathies.

  • DonnaAnn

    My thoughts and prayers are always with all of our brave servicemen and servicewomen.  Donna
  • oregonmom

    Johanna, What??? I thought A School was in GL when did this change?

     

  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    I talked to my SR's recruiter yesterday and he said he didn't hear this. Is it true it has moved to VA?
  • Ellen B

    It's in Ft. Lee, VA. My son is supposed to be shipping out tomorrow from GL's to begin CS A School. They just started their 1st class there last week since moving from GL's. It's big, new and he cannot wait to get there. Hoping the airport is open tomorrow!
  • Ellen B

    http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/jccoe/Special_Programs_Directorat...

    It's an army base, marines there too..all branches learning Culinary together...

  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Thank you everyone for posting this. It looks really nice. :)
  • Ellen B

    you're quite welcome, Junebug...=)
  • oregonmom

    Ellen, Thanks for the info. It all makes us feel closer to our kids. I'm sure he'll be excited to see another part of the country.
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Well that is cool that B will be in VA, closer to home for that time, I might be able to visit him!!

    Update on my B. Reminder he leaves March 29th, he has been liveing at a friends house sence before thanksgiveing. He did not want to live by the house rules. Well anyway things have gotten a little better. He has called his father a 2times letting him know that he is thinking about him and appreciates him. (I did encurage this, and he did it YAY) He promised his brother and sisters that he would come to church last sunday but did not show AM or PM. But then we spent time with him tues night and he spent the day with us yesterday and went to church last night and spent the night. He just left and said he would come to church on sunday but would not come sunday night because of the super bowl (oh well I will take what I can get!) Praying that we continue to get to spend time with him and he makes smart choices when he is away. He has a new friend that is leaveing two weeks before him and they have been working out and hanging out together. He seems like a nice kid. Things are going better.  Hope everyone else is doing well! (sorry so long!)

  • Ellen B

    oregonmom-that's for sure, after the 2 ft. of snow that fell in GL's...he's happy to go elsewhere!! lol
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Has anyone's son left or gone to the new school in VA yet? I have called his recruiter twice and he hasn't heard of this new school yet.  Thanks for any info. I'm just wondering for PIR.....grad/go reasons. Thanks again.
  • Ellen B

    lauren & junebug- Yes, my son is at Ft. Lee now for CS A School. The Navy and Air Force are in the same barracks. He's quite excited, so far.
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Shannon-thank you! good luck to your SR with BS.

     

    Ellen--thank you also. I keep hearing conflicting reports.

  • Ellen B

    yes, Shannon- good luck to your SR in BS...I will never forget that "I'm a Sailor" call..the pride and confidence/maturity in his voice brought tears of joy and relief. You DO feel like you went through it all with them, Lauren!

    Let us know when you get 'the call'...blue candles are lit =)

  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    B goes to GL March 29.....WOW when I read "your son goes next mth" I was like NO not next mth.....but oh ya Next mth! OMG!!!!!
  • oregonmom

    I am so excited when I read posts on this site because it is one step closer to my son's future. If any of you have any tales to tell while your loved ones are in CS school, please share. If you know what they can see while in VA that would be fun too. xoxo
  • oregonmom

    Absolutely, Johanna. How does your son like Norfolk? Was he a cook before he got into the Navy? Does he feel like he has a variety of cooking skills? Thank you for letting me ask the 20 questions. xo
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Johanna--thank you so much for keeping us new moms informed. :) It is a great help.
  • oregonmom

    Loved the bragging. I'm impressed. Does he have a type that he likes to cook? ie. Italian, etc.. and/or baking too or just meals. I ask so many questions because my dear son is not at all trained and had a bit of an interest in cooking but not as a career as far as I thought. I also just like to ask a lot of questions lol.

  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Johanna--love the bragging!!!!  I love reading about our culinary SRs.

  • oregonmom


    Congrats Shannon to you and your son, that gives me goose bumps!! Step 1 check! We'd love to hear how things go in A school. It's so exciting to imagine what comes after that. Keep in touch and many blessings.

    Thanks Johanna.

  • Ellen B

    HOOYAH!!! Congrats, Shannon!!!
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Congrats Shannon!!!!! That is great news.

    Does he leave GL right after graduation for CS school?

     

    Again, congrats!!!

  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Shannon- I agree with Lauren's mom. So much to do in Chicago (I grew up there). So many museums that he could get into (free) also.

     

    (I added a comment to your wall). Thanks.

  • t1014l

    can anyone tell me what kind of hrs a CS works during the day, seems like prepareing all 3 meals would make for a long day.
  • t1014l

    thanks for the info, my son ships to bc aug 8th. Now is a school moved to virginia, or is it still at greatlakes?
  • oregonmom

    Thanks for the heads up on the hours. I wonder if he would have made the choice to be a CS if he really thought about the hours. I hope my SR loves the job and I know he'll have a brotherhood (which seems to make him tick) with the sailors he works with. N4Ms is the best and I really appreciate all the sharing you all do. It gives us a tie with each other and keeps us closer to or SRs, soon to Sailors!!
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Yippee!!! So glad he is finally there Shannon. Two more weeks till my SR and Oregonmom's SR PIR! I'm not sure if graduation from "A-school" is a "big deal." Maybe depends on the school? Do they do a big ceremony? Will he go to Groton right away or have some leave? Maybe you could go to graduation from BESS? (I know, too many questions this early).  Have a good day.
  • oregonmom

    lauren*nikosmom Junebug's son and mine are both in boot camp are heading toward PIR, Yay Junebug we're in a cruise pattern now!!! How exciting Shannon. Maybe our SRs will hook up at some time. How big is the group of CS Sailors? 106
  • Ellen B

    Lauren is correct. My son graduates this Friday and my husband and I cannot go, but the facebook site will post their pictures and possibly a video of graduation, as I've seen from past classes. While, I'm told that they are nice, they don't last very long with so many less than a PIR. My son has to remain at Ft. Lee for a minimum of 2 weeks before going to Groton.

    I'm proud to say that his entire class is an Honors class...the first one since the program was moved there from GL's.

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Center-for-Service-Support-Learning-S...
  • t1014l

    where is the cs school now
  • Ellen B

    Ft Lee, Virginia...It's an army base. Our Navy shares a building with the Air Force.
  • oregonmom

    Coongrats Ellen, Its awesome that your son is graduating and on the next step!
  • Ellen B

    Thank you all, ladies!
  • Ellen B

    Class 080 Graduation Video [HQ]

    Thought you ladies would like to see this grad video that was put together for my son's CS class...

  • Elle

    @Jen0338 CS school is 4 weeks long the school and is located in FT Lee, VA.  Culinary Specialists are in charge of all the cooking done on Subs and ships and they typically work long hours.

    http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Center-for-Service-Suppor...

     

  • Elle

    @Jen0330 Your welcome :) @ Shannon you are correct it is five weeks but, for some reason they start the first week as week 0 and so on.  My SR started Feb. 7 and graduated March 11th.  They moved CS "A" school to VA back in Decemeber.  It's a brand new facility in which they combined all the military branches for Culinary.
  • aveoamare(Ship02div925)

    Hello ladies (and men?)  My husband is in BC now, he's in his third week.  His contract says he will be going to school for culinary.  He wasn't too thrilled about it, he's never been much of a cook, but they didn't give him a choice.  He is also signed up for subs.  How often do cooks get deployed?  How long are their work days? Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated!
  • aveoamare(Ship02div925)

    Thanks for the info =)  Do CS's get deployed more or less than other jobs?  Or is it all the same?  I hear that more specialized people get deployed more often.
  • aveoamare(Ship02div925)

    Would I have that paperwork now?  He is only in BC, does he sign that stuff later on?
  • aveoamare(Ship02div925)

    thats okay, I understand now.  Thanks for the info guys =)
  • Elle

  • ltolerNCcoastmom(ship03/Div155)

    Once you go through A school, do you automatically go to C school? Or what is after A school if you don't go to C school?
  • aveoamare(Ship02div925)

    what is a school and c school?  which one is culinary school?