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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  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Brandon's pie! I told him he needs to make me one when he comes home!

  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    That pie looks DELICIOUS!!!!!!   Love the flowers on the top. You must be very proud of him. :)
  • Val-ACD-(ship 12 div 034)

    Looking forward to spending Monday at Fourth at the Fort celebration

    at Fort Lee   and having Austin  come up to church tomorrow.    The joy of living only 45 minutes away!    

    Is there anyone on here whose sailor graduates on 7/29?      

  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    I didn't get pie pics either Shannon! Congrats on your son graduating from sub school and some needed leave time. :)
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Denise..when does your son graduate? is he with my son? mine graduates July 15th. his name is Brandon.

  • Karen H.

    Wow those pies look so good.  Talked with my son over the 4th.  He will graduate on July 15th and will then go to San Diego for first ship duty.  We did find out the ship name.  The best news is he will get to come home before his first deployment.  I have not seen him since graduating boot camp in February. 

     

  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Hi karen, we are going to the CS graduation if you would like to mesg me your sons name maybe I can take a pic of him for you. I will post pic's of the graduation. Also the CS school has a facebook page and they post LOTS of pic's of every graduation.
  • Val-ACD-(ship 12 div 034)

    HI Shannon,   Is your son in the class that graduates on 7/29?   If so he knows my son, Austin.   Austin will be going on to sub school after the 29th.   We got to spend the fourth of July with him but there was a big storm there and the fireworks event got cancelled.   At least got to take my son and a friend of his out to dinner.  

    This class has their first exam on Thursday.     Praying they all ace it.   

  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

  • wismama (CS mom)

    My son is just starting his A-school in Great Lakes. Looking for any advice and support you all have.
  • Val-ACD-(ship 12 div 034)

    Wismama - My son is halfway through CS A school at Fort Lee. He is enjoying the cooking and all he is learning. The facilities at Fort Lee are brand new. Other than adhering to army rules it is a great place. Work hard and study well is the best advice for the sailor. Give him much encouragement wherever he ends up.
  • wismama (CS mom)

    Val-ACD-What kind of things can they bring to A-school @ Ft. Lee. He was asking his sister to bring his PS3 when she passes through Chicago, but sounds like a waste for her if he can't take it with him. If you could let me know what he can take technology wise; that would help.
    Thank goodness for this site because I was prepared with what he could have and when he could have it; right after PIR. Without you all for help, I would have been in the dark.
    My son is very excited about his new career. Nice to have a group out there to talk to.
  • Ellen B

    Well, my son finally got his orders...USS Nitze DDG 94 in Norfolk. He will be happy to start his CS job after all this time.
  • Val-ACD-(ship 12 div 034)

    Hi Wismama,
    When my son left boot camp we gave him his lap top in a black case, a kindle, and a cellphone. HIs laptop case was stuffed with other odds and ends from home. Compact electoronics are fine. You can ship other things out to him if needed.

    My son will be going to Groton CT for sub school after CS but we don't know when yet. I heard the wait had been awhile - my son is under the impression that he goes right after grad. - we'll wait and pray.
  • Ellen B

    Val- my son is at Groton now, disqualled from subs so going surface. He waited 5 1/2 weeks after graduating A School in Ft. Lee. Hopefully your son won't have to wait that long to get there!
  • wismama (CS mom)

    lauren- right now my son is just a happy camper to have his lifeline again... his computer and internet. He does rent movies but also has the netflix streaming. I didn't think of the portable DVD player. That might have been alittle lighter to cart around rather than the old mac book bought when he was in school. When they get to the fleet, do they lose contact for long periods of time? Just curious. I'm sure my son will adjust just fine. Me on the other hand; it would help to know what is coming.
  • Ellen B

    I'm told by 2 Navy mom's that their sailors have been able to e-mail from their ships. It's sporadic, but great to hear from them anyway.
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    hello ladies! Brandon graduated A-school this past fri. We went and watched the graduation and brought him home! He has spent a good bit of time with us but of course he is spending lots of time with the GF too. He bought a car today...he is still talking about getting married before he goes back. But idk...He will do what he will do..RIGHT? I love him and she is a sweet girl but they are both young...He has to be in Norfolk the first of aug (I think)
  • Val-ACD-(ship 12 div 034)

    I saw the picture of your family at the graduation on the CS facebook site. They posted the fun video of the class too. Congratulations to Brandon and the rest of the graduates from CS.
    Looking forward to graduation on the 29th.
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Val I see you are in VA , that is nice you will be able to go to the CS graduation. I guess not many parents go. It is a small program but I am glad I was there for it. Brandon's class was very small, not sure why?? I am upset because they did not post the pic of the entire class on the stage. I know they took the picture? OH well I took one too and it turned out good. Val I hope you son enjoyes his job, Brandon is excited because he is on a small ship he said there is only 3 or 4 CS's on the ship. The ship page says it is set to deploy in the Fall.

     

  • Diann CS Mom

    How do I find class start dates for A School? My son graduates boot camp September 9th and hubby wants to make some plans on going to his A School graduation. Any help will be appreciated!
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    There is really no way of knowing untill he gets there. Brandon did not know his A-school graduation date untill he got there. Sometimes they don't start right away. They have to have enough for the class.
  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Johanna that would be great if they were on the same ship...I wish I knew on of the CS moms on his ship..: ( I posted on the ship page asking if anyone was the parent of a CS and I have not gotten any answer. He is glad it is a small ship.

  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    My son got married when he came home after CS school.  They just went to the courthouse and plan on doing another ceremony with friends/family next year. He reported to SD on a Friday and by the folloiwng Friday he was flown out to his ship. It has been hard on his wife being alone in SD but she has a job and is keeping busy. We were able to see her last week when we went for a visit. 

  • wismama (CS mom)

    my son just arrived @ A school today. Now I am considering checking out when his graduation is so I can see the area, and him too of course. How much time is there before they are assigned to a ship after graduation? Do they get leave to come home before?
  • J&R's Mom

    What is the link to the Facebook CS site?
  • Val-ACD-(ship 12 div 034)

    Here is the link
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Center-for-Service-Support-Learning-S...

    You can see past photos and videos of the past graduations and see what the facilities are like.
  • Lisa

    Wismama, my son arrived at the A School in Ft Lee today too! He said the new barracks are so much nicer than the ones in GL. He's happy to finally be there.

     

  • wismama (CS mom)

    SailorMomLisa... the housing would have to be better than GL. The building my son was in was slated for demolition next month. I'm sure the new ones will be much nicer. My son was just happy to be moving on. Didn't hear much after he got off the plane. Glad to hear the housing is nice.
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Johanna--we wanted her to stay here and not move to SD but we couldn't convince them of that. :( At least SD is only 5 hours by car for us, not too bad. Her family came out the right after he left which helped and we just got back. She is on her way back here today as her grandma is very ill.

     

    Ft Lee barracks are way nicer than GL. My son even had a fridge in his room, which he loved. Until he got moved to the trailers after graduating but that was only for a few weeks till they got their paperwork in order.

  • Karen H.

    Hi everyone my son is home after CS shcool in Fort Lee.  He arrived home last Friday and is here for 2 weeks.  I am so happy to see him. It is his first time back after leaving for bootcamp last December.  He has changed even more than when we say him in February.  He is looking forward to San Diego and that I am very happy for him. 
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    My son was at GL for about a week after PIR before leaving for Ft. Lee. It may have changed since January. Maybe he is a Sat. departure? If so, the Navy will transport him to the airport about 2-3 AM and he will leave a few hours later. You can meet him at the airport. Also, there are no overnight visits. Those were stopped shortly before my son's PIR in January. (again, subject to the change by the Navy.)  :)
  • Cheryl

    My daughter is set to PIR on 8/19. Maybe they will be in the same class at A school. It's hard to say how much time we will get with them after graduation. I'm only planning on Friday and maybe some time at the airport Saturday.
  • J&R's Mom

    Hi Everyone, my son is at home on leave for 2 weeks after completing A School at Ft Lee.  He was glad to be off the Army Base, but liked the dorms better than GL, and met some good friends that he will always keep in touch with.  We are blessed as he got stationed in San Diego, 1 1/2 hrs from our house, he is young and single so that suits him just fine. 
  • J&R's Mom

    Cheryl, my 2nd SR PIRs on 8/19 also!  so we will be back in GL then, are you going to the Meet & Greet?

     

  • Cheryl

    Yes. We are planning on going to the Meet & Greet. My daughter is 02/940. Your son is going to CS school also?

     

  • Cheryl

    J & R's Mom- Where do you live? We are in Orange County. My daughter is hoping for San Diego as well.
  • J&R's Mom

    Cheryl - R is already done - he just finished. He is the one is San Diego.  We live in Grand Terrace between Riverside & San Bernardino.  J is in BC now, he is Ship 10/Div 267.  J is an Advanced Electronics.

  • wismama (CS mom)

    My son's PIR was 7/8 and he was in GL for 10 days following. Now he is in VA. @ Ft.Lee for A School. We got to spend the weekend with him after graduation. He did have to check in to GL first, so we didn't get to actually see him until 3:30 the day of PIR if that helps. I didn't have that info to start with so I thought it would be just a little while before we got to take him so we waited by the gate for a while. Definitely go have lunch first, then come back.
  • wismama (CS mom)

    Subject to change as Junebug states of course.
  • Lisa

    Cheryl & J&R's Mom, We are from the Temecula area in Riverside Co. My son is beginning his A School today at Ft Lee-he arrived last Wed. He PIR'd on 7/8 and his hoping to be sent back to San Diego.
  • wismama (CS mom)

    My son also requested San Diego or anywhere warm I believe. Apparently, Northern Wisconsin doesn't do it for him anymore.
  • Ellen B

    lauren & johanna- my sailor is home on leave. He finally got his orders for surface/1st duty station. He is a CS on the USS Nitze DDG-94 in Norfolk. I know you said starting out on a smaller ship is the best...any other thoughts/advice. I know as soon as he reports they will be underway for a month...wasn't Zac on a smaller ship?
  • Cheryl

    CAn anyone tell me how long A school is? I have heard 4, 5 or 6 weeks. Not that you can plan on anything with the Navy, but I was just wondering.
  • Val-ACD-(ship 12 div 034)

    Once classes begin then CS A school is 5 weeks long. My son got to Fort Lee on June 22nd, began classes on June 27th and will graduate in 2 days on the the 29th. Since we live close to Fort Lee he will come home after graduation and then we will bring him to the airport that evening so he can be on his way to Gronton, CT for sub school. All of the class departs either the day of or the day after graduation. Other than the 4 of them going on to sub school the rest get to take leave before heading on. Looking forward to graduation on Friday!
  • Junebug (Ship 2 Div 918)

    Those with sons graduating now or shortly are lucky they get to depart so quickly. My son waited two weeks after graduating from CS school before he was able to come home for a leave. So that was two extra weeks at Ft Lee, in a trailer. Not a fun time but they made it work. :)  Congrats to all the new CS's!!!!
  • Sharon ~ K's Mom

    HI Ladies, I am new to this site. My son just started classes this week.

    Talk about not being a happy Navy mom is a understatement! My son has been totally screwed over. He is in this program by default and they don't care. Long story and not ready to go into detail. Just don't understand how they can do the things they do and know they don't even care about their people!

  • OMG hes a Sailor (div180)

    Well Brandon Thornburg and Erica Thornburg got married yesterday! I thought they were going to keep it a secret untill the real "wedding" when he gets back from his first deployment but they just could not keep it in!!!  Please help me pray for them and thier new life together as Hubby and Wiffy! May God Bless them in every way! She will stay home when he gets back from his first deployment.

     

  • DonnaAnn

    After many months in San Diego, my daughter is finally deployed on the USS Mobile Bay.  Out to sea they go.  Was happy that she was home for a brief visit. Will miss her and think of her always.  My daughter and my Best Friend. God Bless our Military... Donna
  • Sharon ~ K's Mom

    Congrats to Brandon & Erica, prayers that they will have a very happy, healthy, blessed married life!! Congrats to you!!!

    @Danellie, thank you!

    @Donna, Prayers for all on the USS Mobile Bay!