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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  • pat ship 9 div 329

    TX Trina

    I just texted my son and told him I am getting a feeling that it might be more than the shutdown. Getting there from GL was also sketchy . I am wandering if there is an issue with the command or the demand for CS and cooks in all the branches. When I was in the MC 30 years ago we at least knew what was going on even wiith Grenada.we knew about a week before. And I thought the Marines were the last to know First to go.

  • pat ship 9 div 329

    TX Trina

    My son is graduating this week. He said the ceremony is very small and I also heard on here it is sometimes done in the classroom. The site does welcome visitors for graduations but I have not seen any postings for Navy Graduations just Army. Are you thinking of going to your sailors graduation?

  • TX Trina

    Pat - Does your Sailor know where his duty station will be after he is off hold?  I can't figure it out either - but I'm sure there is a reason.  Maybe they just can't tell us since we are civilians? lol

    No I'm not going - I just wanted to see if anyone else is so I can hopefully see pictures.  I sent the FB site a private message and am hoping to hear from them.  I know they post pictures each week of the Sailors that graduate but not many.

  • pat ship 9 div 329

    TX Trina

    yes my son was told where he will be stationed I will send an invite to you and PM his duty station

  • TX Trina

    Pat - sounds great :)

  • NavyMomDPL

    And I am still waiting for son to be released from  Fort Lee. Many got to leave this morning and the rumor is they are gonna try and get the rest out tomorrow. He graduated over two weeks ago! He does have his orders for after leave

  • TX Trina

    Hope your son gets to leave tomorrow and get home before going to his duty station NavyMom!!

  • NavyMomDPL

    Thanks TX Trina for your thoughts

  • TxPafamily

    Our SR graduates the 25th. He can not wait to go home. He said after only one or 2 arriving, suddenly they are pretty full in the barracks. He was to be on hold for at least a week. Now that the shut down is over, they will be getting him out right after graduation, possibly that day. The military is making the arrangements, he makes up the difference in cost. I am not sure what that means, but we transfered funds into his account so he could go home to TX.He heard that the final orders were online  for them, so he was going to try and find a NAVY computer to use his password and find out. He was to report to a carrier in for refitting in Norfolk. But the military is known for last minute changes. As a CS I am sure they have need on base for a cs in Norfolk, but you never know. The graduation on the Ft Lee site does not say NAVY as it is an all branch class, it is listed I think as Cullinary class. I think they are just intent on leaving there.

  • pat ship 9 div 329

    TxPafamily

    My son is also graduating on the 25th. just wandering if you could give me his name so my son can talk to him regarding the information. I will send a friend request to ensure OPsecs is not compromised

    much appreciated

  • NavyMomDPL

    Still no son on leave or any word when he will be. 

  • TxPafamily

    DPL The military makes the arrangements for leave and to next duty station. I think they have to make up the difference monetary wise for the cost it would have been as a direct to duty station. Not sure. Up to date orders were to be on a military computer only, this week, not sure my nephew had time to get there. He said something about they were all shorted on their mid month pay. He was going to save his end of the month pay. But told may be shipped as soon as right after the gradauation. Could be they had to pay for something they didn't know about. It sounds like everything is a last minute. I guess my sister-in-law will get a call from one of the Houston airports to come pick him up. He had requested when he joined for leave in between A school and duty staion. Not sure if it makes a difference. He also requested west coast first, then overseas, and east coast. Guess where he his being stationed. Just as well he can take a train up to us if he has a long weekend or something.

  • pat ship 9 div 329

    CS Parents and lived ones
    Headed down to Fort Lee. I WILL try and get some pictures if the class and post them on the Facebook page. LET me know if anyone has aspecial request
  • NavyMomDPL

    TxPafamily

    Thanks for infor, he did have a set of orders as far as I know he is still heading to the USS George HW Bush. We have no idea why they are holding him. He said the computer to check orders has been down so he can't see if they have changed or not. I worry his paper work has been lost in the back log. My son asked for east coast

  • TxPafamily

    Our sailor got his orders today. Can leave right after graduation tomorrow. Since his duty station is so close, he has to pay for full flight home and back. Will go to his duty station the day before Anyone who has a sailor on the east coast needs to keep in mind that we get Nor easterns, and snow. If one or 2 major airports close (New York, Philadelphia, DC), it disrupts the entire east coast. He called the airline and got an active military discount.So he is cleaning and packing tonight. Found someone who can press his uniform for inspection, so he is all set. Not sure his Mom knows he got his flights, and which airport he is landing at. Guess she will wake up to a text message. she knows he is coming home.

  • NavyMomDPL

    My sailor still on hold two weeks now after his graduation for CS school 

  • NavyMomDPL

    I am heart sick right now, my sailor finally got word today. Some one screwed up he should have been on leave for two weeks now and oh ya you have to report to Norfolk by 11 tonight. You can ask then if you can have a short leave next weekend. I just don't understand. He did what they said , man up you will leave when you leave. Needs lots of prayers right now

  • TxPafamily

    Maybe when he gets to an actual NAVY Base they will straighten things out. He has definitely not been on vacation at FL. Can probably go to his commanding officer or what ever to get it straight. The shut down fouled things up. He should not have 14 days of his 30 a year allotted, taken away from him. If he was on leave, some one should have asked him what he was doing there. They wanted the ones who graduated out ASAP today. Taxi was $40, but our sailor found a couple others going to the airport at the same time, so they shared the ride. He is in the skys between Atlanta and Houston. His mom and sisters are so excited. There was a bit of panic, when he wasn't sure if he had enough for the taxi. Make sure your sailors know how to access their bank records online.

  • pat ship 9 div 329

    Could someine give me the link to the Facebook page for CS school. Just want to post the. Pictures if Class 300.
  • NavyMomDPL

    TxPafamily, pat ship 9 div 329

    My sailor has been told to talk to his commender once he gets to Norfolk and they could let him him come home for a short leave. He was asking rank why he was not going home and after the first week he was told to Sailor up he would leave when his orders were ready and to quit asking. He is on a train and was told to check in if anyone was around tonight to check him in. I suspect that he will be in a hotel until monday by him self. Pat my sailor told me you reached out to him thank you for doing that . Enjoy you time with kids.

  • TxPafamily

    As long as they had him working at some sort of duty, he was not on vacation.

  • TxPafamily

    FYI :Our sr has learned kindness toward our military in his first leave home. When we wired money to his account so he would have the full fare, our bank waived the $20 fee. Not sure if it was the bank manager herself or the bank. On the flight from Richmond to Atlanta (had a lay over to Houston) a man got up from first class and gave him his seat. He said he had been in the Navy at one time. He can not believe the kindness because he is military.

  • Jackie

    I wont be able to go to graduation this week. is there anything i can send?like for example at bc graduation they jad care packages families could buy and it would be given to sailor. does anyone know thats been already or that is going.
  • YooperMom

    My sailor is graduating this Thursday...and then heading back to GL.  Anyone else in the same situation?

  • TxPafamily

    yooper, I assume from what you say he has a couple days of leave, and then is on hold at GL for Ft Lee. Ft Lee is a state of the art culinary school for all branches of the military. All but the Army students stay in separate barracks on the Army Base. Because of the shut down, a lot of the graduating student from there were on hold. As soon as it was lifted the barracks filled up. Our soldier was on hold for a month before he was sent to Ft Lee. Then they were told they would be on hold for at least a week after graduation. However the shut down lifted and they got them out ASAP either to their post or home on leave. Just so he is aware Ft Lee is ARMY. Also the class my sailor was in, it was very limited on where you could go on base. He did learn a lot there, but was surprised that it was much harder than basic. As in all branches you never know when your orders will be changed. The hold time could change, where they will be stationed, it is a way of life. Good luck

  • YooperMom

    Thank you TxPafamily.  I should have been more concise.  Graduating from CS school at Fort Lee tomorrow (something about it being a long weekend due to Veteran's Day) and flying out Friday back to GL.  I'm pretty sure the "orders" have our sailor working in a medical clinic...though could they have some kind of need for cooks?  We're all hoping they change quick.  And your comments about the shut down make sense. Our sailor was so excited to get into the kitchen (the first chunk of time seemed to be devoted to food safety, nutrition, class work).  They had never been "happy" to make potato salad before.  :)

  • Jackie

    Yes my sailor is also. do u know when they leave ?
  • Labornurse

    Graduation day mammas!! Haven't heard about leave for my sailor yet. On hold right now. :-( seems to be the Navy way-ON HOLD. I think we ALL can take a break from the kitchen when our sailors do come home. Lets see what they have learned. Have a wonderful day everyone!
  • Jappj

    Ok Moms,

    I just spent the day at Fort Lee with my sailor!!! had an awesome time. 

    Can anyone tell me how graduation works for CS A school?  I kind of feel a little lost.  I seemed like there was so much information of BC PIR and nothing for this.  I'm not sure where to stay..... If anyone has attended a graduation and has any suggestions I would appreciate, also if anyone has a sailor graduating the day before Thanksgiving and is going to the graduation, please let me know, and let me know where you are staying.

  • Jappj

    Oh by the way my son is class 030 if this helps.  Is there a FB page for this group?

  • sunshinefam

    Hi I am new to this group. My son just graduated from BC last week.  He is on hold at GL until Dec. before they go to fort lee.  I was looking forward to going to VA for thxgiving.  I am a little sad not to see him.  This is the 1st thxgiving without him.

  • sassymom9503

    Hello Everyone I am so Excited!!!  I get to see My Son in 8 days at his PIR I couldnt be more proud of Him and the closer its gets the More I am getting antsy I cant wait to Hug My Boy.... I cant beleive its already been 9 weeks the first half seem to drag on but this last half has gone by so fast so much so that I havent heard from my Son since 10/22 and I just realized its been that long...

    I asked him the last time we spoke and he still said nothing about leaving GL for School so I am just waiting for the Navy to break the News to him... Im just hoping he stays on Hold as you all talk about so I can have the weekend with him when we go up there next week

  • minnie822

    Hello to all,  I am so excited my son graduates today and I am getting ready to go to the airport to pick him up. He will be home for thanksgiving. The only problem is we have an 8 hour drive to the pick him but it is worth it just to have him back home for a couple of weeks.

  • YooperMom

    Has anyone else had their CS get assigned after graduation to a non-CS duty?  Ours will be working in a dental clinic with a possibility of a couple days a month at the galley.  Seriously?  I'm guessing there's a glut of CS's, and only so many places for the women...but a dental clinic?  And yes, she passed all her tests with good numbers.  Sorry, I'm venting. But I'm also curious.  Trying NOT to read too much into this (there's something I'm not being told, maybe she really screwed something up, ect.) and I'm trying to be supportive.  She is one of the weird ones that WANTED to go far, far away.  And now she's pretty much back where she started. 

  • Jappj

    Ok my son graduates CS school in Fort Lee Va, next Wednesday yes its the day before Thanksgiving.  I plan  on attending the graduation but have no information on it.  Can anyone help me out??? What time does it start?  Where do I go when I get there?  are any others who are graduating that day planning on attending?

    I feel so lost.  there was so much information on PIR and now nothing someone help please!!!!

  • musicmom of a Sailor

    jappy - My son graduated almost 2 years ago from Fort Lee.  The ceremony was late morning. It takes place in an auditorium at one of the buildings (sorry I can't remember the name of it). It is much smaller than PIR.  My son's class had perhaps 30 or 40 saillors in it.   It lasted perhaps an hour and then the sailors were able to spend time with families.  Many of them went home for a leave before their first assignment.  Your son should have more specific information.  Fort Lee isn't very hard to get around in.  There are several hotels nearby.  Hope this helps....

  • sassymom9503

    Hello all Our PIR weekend with our son was amazing
    He is on hold at GL until Dec also then onto A school
    He's a bit nervous but I'm sure he will be fine
    I'm however hoping the letting go part gets easier
    Today I'm struggling my mommy heart breaks
    Once more but I'm so proud of him
  • sunshinefam

    Good Morning, most of us that are new moms to the group sons have been on hold until the been until the beginning of Dec. But transition to a less strict environment, my son got use to quickly. If he wants to leave the base, he must travel with a liberty buddy. Which I think is a great idea as well as a curfew. Also, I can communicatewith him as much as I want. As for letting go, many of us are struggling with the same feelings.
  • NavyMomDPL

    sassymom9503

    I am waiting for that mommy heart break to ease as well. My son did not get to come home after A school due to shut down mess ups. He is assigned to the USS Bush. He is at a place again until  right before Christmas where I don't get to have much contact with him. I am counting the days until Christmas when he will be home. Then have deployment to face after the the first of year. I too am so proud of my sailor but the heart break of missing him remains 

  • sunshinefam

    NavyMomDpl..where is the Ussbush located? Why was the communication limited? I am looking forward to the holidays as well. We have a big dinner planned.
  • Jappj

    Heading to Fort Lee tomorrow for my Sailors CS A school graduation!!!@! Excited for this but sad at the same time as he is flying to NH (his home) to spend 14 days with his dad and sister and step mom (uggh) and then his adventure continues in San Diego not sure when I will get to see him again but so very proud of my sailor

  • my3rdchild

    My son is at Pearl Harbor - anyone know if there is a Chipotle Restaurant there? I would like to send him a gift card for Christmas.  Any other fast food restaurants there?

  • Queencity

    Do sailors in A school in Ft.Lee attend classes on Sat & Sun?

  • NavyMomDPL

    As far as I know the sailors are off on the weekend. They can pull duty on the weekend. My son usually got at least on day over the weekend of duty

  • NavyMomDPL

    I think every sailor struggles, have him seek out Chaplin to talk to.

  • sassymom9503

    My Son is starting School on Monday I believe PIR 11/22/13

  • disneygirl64

    Hi CS moms my name is Tammy and I am the proud mother of an SR CS. He has wanted to be a chef like his dad since he was old enough to walk and talk and his first job was a tiny prep cook for his dad at the ripe old age of 6. When he got his CS job at meps he was so happy. He is hoping to stationed on an aircraft carrier when he is done with his schooling. My main photo is of my son and his very proud dad standing in front of the restaurant where he got his start. 

  • Em's Mom

    I wonder if our kids know each other. :) mine is Whittaker. She graduated last Thursday. Always wanted to be a chef, too!! :) nice to meet you all.
  • disneygirl64

    I'm not sure my son shipped out on the 8th of this month, so he hasn't been there very long.

  • Em's Mom

    Hey ladies! My CS was talking to supply officer and they want to send her to baking school, possibly others, in a few months. (She just arrived on ship after A school). Where are these schools and how long is the training? Thanks!