Naval Aviation

For Moms with Aviators or anyone interested
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  • aggiemom

    Thanks ladies. And Congrats to Color (I'll have to look up what PPC board is)

  • Rose

    aggiemom, Austin Woods is a good apartment complex.  Nice units, 1, 2, and I think maybe 3 bedroom units.  Handy to base and stores, etc.  Helpful management folks.

  • CheriH

    Congrats Leslie! How exciting for your whole family.

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Well first steps towards the  aviation pipe!  He got medically cleared yesterday. Today he got an email needing to fill out a month what he wanted to move and what not!! 

  • Dawn

    Sweet southern lady. Is your son at OCS or finishing Primary?
  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Dawn, my husband is in the STA-21 program so he's in NROTC. He'll be leaving for flight school some time after Commissioning.

  • Dawn

    I am not familar with STA, what is that? Always something new to learn! My son is starting primary
  • Dawn

    Ok, just googled STA-21 so see what it is. There is a face book page Naval Aviation Support group you might want to join. Helpful for those heading to Pensacola. Great way to meet other girlfriends, wife's, families with LO going on the naval aviation journey!
  • Dawn

    Nancy W. that is great! Yes the navy is very good about recognizing great potential and developing it. They offer wonderful opportunities for our LO's.
  • CheriH

    Oh Suzie...how fun!  Enjoy it!

  • Barb

    Suzie, I love it when they have all those maps out!  Great picture, I hope your visit was wonderful.

    Our son (Advanced at Kingsville) said that he was told they may go a year and a half for training due to reduced flights as a result of the sequester.  He had his first two instrument flights this past week and is now down a few days with a stuffy head.  Still loving it all though!

    Have a good week everyone!

  • JudyM

    Barb, my son is also in Kingsville. It is the government, just be patient and go with the flow.

  • CheriH

    Had a lovely treat tonite!  Talked with my DS for about an hour.  I called him about some tax stuff, and then got to hear all about his recent flights, what he's learning, about his IP's and lots of acronyms.  He is so excited about what he is learning and doing.  He's only a few flights away from his solo flight (primary.)  He and his wife have made some wonderful friends, love their church and are so happy with married life.  It is so amazing to hear how they have settled into this life they have chosen!  Makes for a very happy mom!!

    pedsdoc:  so glad you had a wonderful time with your DS.  How fun!

  • Helomom

    Hi Moms! Just returned from our son's graduation March 6 from the War College. My husband, our daughter, and I flew out Monday night arriving in Newport, RI on Tuesday. Graduation was Wednesday and we flew back home to Seattle on Thursday. The nor'easter was just hitting as we were leaving with wind and snow. We flew back thru Atlanta with no delay, our son and his wife were flying thru Newark and after several delays/cancelled due to weather in that area, they were able to fly out to San Diego.
  • Helomom

    I just know all of you want to watch this (hahaha) so here is the link. DS is near the end of the grads due to last name. http://www.usnwc.edu/About/News/March-2013/U-S--Naval-War-College-G....
  • Helomom

    Totally awesome photos, Kathy B. You are rightly proud of your amazing daughter!
  • Helomom

  • Helomom

    Thanks, Leslie!
  • JudyM

    Hi all. I have been a bit absent of late, just worried about DS. Got word he completed his quals this morning off Jacksonville. Should have winging in Kingsville April 12th or so. Feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders!

  • Paymaster

    Big Congrats to your DS Judy!

     

  • Diane2557

    I join in your prayers for the 3 Navy crewman. My son flies the Growler at that base and knew the pilot; I think the other 2 were students. I just got off the phone and all flights are suspended for at least the next 2 days. It is a small base and therefore everyone is very close. My son's wife is already on the phone talking with other navy wives to coordinate support over the difficult days ahead for the families.

    May God embrace the three Navy crewman and their families.

  • Barb

    Thinking of all of our sons and daughters right now, praying for their continued safety and prayers for those crewmen and their families.  I called our son just to hear his voice and know how fortunate I am that he is still just a phone call away.  Hugs to everyone.

  • Dawn

    So very sad
  • Helomom

    Thank you, Nancy. I think you summed up how we all feel.
  • JudyM

    Anyone been to winging at Kingsville? When do we need to be there?

  • momk

    Thank you for the welcome, Nancy W. And lovely prayer. I am reeling from that news, and so torn between thankfulness that my boy is ok, and sorrow for the families who did not get the text or call or email assuring that their son or daughter was safe.

  • Dawn

    I can't find where it talks about air wing closures do you which article that is in?
  • Navygf820

    Dawn, I was looking for the same thing. I can't find the article either. My boyfriend is down at NAS Pensacola, been there since January, and still hasn't begun his training. I'm always looking for news about what is going on based on the budget cuts and sequestration. Nancy W. - can you put a direct link to the article about the Navy Air Wings and the halting of basic training? Thanks!

  • Michelle

    My thoughts are with the families, and all of you at Whidbey.  

    Navygf820,  even in better funded times, my son waited about 6 months to start API after OCS, so don't get discouraged.   He just did his carrier quals and should soon be finding out what squadron he's assigned to.  It's taken 3 and a half years to get to this point from the start of OCS.  I'm hoping the boat will be able to get in a few more quals in the near future, since I know several of you have ones about ready.  

    May they all stay safe.

  • jamielss

    My son graduated OCS in December of 2013. Hes been in Pensacola with the other classmates waiting for 3 months now. He call this morning and he is classing up on Friday - only 2 or 3 of them. They cancelled IFS. So now in the A class there are A+ (went through IFS or have their pilots license) and A- don't have either. My son is A-. He is a little worried about the lack of preparation for API but i think there will be no more IFS for awhile for anyone.

  • Paymaster

    Welcome Momk!

  • Navygf820

    jamielss- what OCS class was your son in? My boyfriend was in 04-13 and graduated on Dec. 21, 2012.

  • Helomom

    IFS is a relatively new class and it is not surprising that it has been cut. Classes graduated new pilots before without IFS and they will do so again. Tell your aviator not to worry, just study hard. Very nice summary Nancy, we all have to remember that we are winding down from 10 years of war. The unfortunate problem with the sequestration is that the military was mandated to make across the board cuts. A more targeted approach would have allowed commands more flexibility. Commands are penciling out their adjustments as fast as they can.
  • Helomom

    Pedsdoc- When we bought our house we had a 12% interest rate on our FmHA loan. Our kids have a 3. something on their home loan now.
  • jamielss

    Navygf820 - he was in same class! we probably at the graduation!

  • Paymaster

    Navygf820...Just a friendly message from an old mom, yYou may want to edit your last message as we try very hard never to publish our children's names for security reason. 

  • jamielss

    ok - no more names! NavyG - mine is now having to wait another week due to paper work so maybe they will be together!

  • Michelle

    You can remove your message by hitting the X on the right side of the message box when you are logged in.  It only appears on your entries.

    Pedsdoc, the quals were in the F18, so end of advanced I guess, not the T45.  There has been a lot of waiting time, due to lots of people in the pipeline at certain points, the way flights are scheduled, and considerations we know nothing about.  Its a long road, but he loves it. 

    Nancy, good food for thought!

  • Barb

    On a lighter note...my DS is in Kingsville and the Commodore is retiring this spring and heading to our son's alma mater to take over the NROTC unit there!  Small world, huh?  Since he is retiring soon, the Commodore wanted to go up for a flight and rode with our son last week...a pretty cool "IP"!    This week is all sims, two a day.  He said it's likely that fewer flights will be the biggest sequester-related change for him...it will just take a bit longer to get through.  That's okay with us, it sure feels like he's been moving along fast to this point.   Have a great day!

  • JudyM

    Barb, great that your DS had such a distinguished passenger. When does your won wing? Our DS wings April 12.

  • momk

    Thank you for the welcome, Paymaster!

  • lou2949

    DS redeployed in late Feb. after being home for 2 months from a 7 month deployment......should return mid summer but I've read the deployment of the carrier that was to replace them has been canceled so I guess they could be extended......DS told me their carrier ops will be cut by 55%.....he wasn't sure if that was for all aircraft or just the fighters......DS is NFO on the E-2......he does know that his airing is one of the 4 that will be grounded when they do return......DS is scheduled to be in the Sept. class at Top Gun but that could be delayed as well.....he hasn't heard about that yet.....they are definitely feeling the cuts though.....
  • lou2949

    My heart breaks for the families of those lost in the crash Monday morning.....been hard to think of much else.....these cuts are minor compared to what those families are going through now.....
  • Michelle

    I've been wanting to find that poem, thanks Nancy.  My dad read that at my brother's funeral, it always makes me tear up too.  My dad was RCAF and the poem was written by a RCAF (Canadian) pilot during WWII. 

    NavymominOhio and James, my DS is headed to Oceana.  He just got patched.

  • Marianne

    We are all worried about the safety of our LOs due to the sequestration cuts, let alone the long term effects on careers. Short term, my forward deployed son is already seeing cuts in planned training trips back to the States. They don't have the simulators where he is at, so the only way to stay at peak is back Stateside.

    For the "official" letter that went out from SecNav yesterday, go to

    http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/03/02/department-of-the-navy-respo...

    I am so angry at the politicians for playing games with our LOs lives that I am spending a ridiculous amount of time sending emails to D.C. Let's pray that they get their act together soon.

  • gonavymom

    JudyM: My DS wings in Kingsville on April 12 also so I am looking forward to meeting you in person!  Just got news yesterday that he completed his CQs. Continuing to lift in prayer all of our dear ones and especially the families of the three lost on Monday.

    NancyW: If you find out about a public memorial service for the 3 at Whidbey, I would be interested in meeting you and going to the service together.with you. I will see if I can find anything out also.

     

  • JudyM

    gonavymom, my DS qualified this past week also. Looking forward to meeting you in Kingsville.

  • JudyM

    Marianne, the sequestration letter is pretty scary.

  • gonavymom

    NancyW:  there is a link to a TN TV news story that indicates there will be a public memorial on Tues. March 19 at NAS Whidbey but I was unable to get any information.  I will keep trying.

  • Navygf820

    Suzie - your Dare to Dream photo album is amazing! I am mentally storing ideas for a photo album for my boyfriend when he finally gets through API and winging, etc. I teared up more than a few times. What is it about a man in uniform? No doubt you are an incredibly proud mama. It's awesome that he had such a passion for flying at such a young age!