Naval Aviation

Wonderful news Suzie! So happy for your son and your family!

Congrats to you and your DS, Suzie!  Prayers that the roller coaster ride is over and that you are on top now!

My DS is in Primary in Corpus and is having his tie cutting on Friday!  My husband and I are heading out to be there too!

redheadlass, 

Good luck to your son.  Corpus is a fun place.  A bit humid and full of interesting weather!  I will have more info on what it actually is when we get back, but from what I've gathered, after a SNA's first solo, they have a ceremony and cut off a part of a tie to symbolize that they are no longer "tied" to their on-wing, or to the ground.

Andy'sMom,

Cool! Yes, please pass on more information after you attend the ceremony. Good luck to your son! Have fun visiting with him!  

And he did it!  Graduated from Topgun last week.  13 weeks of non stop flying and studying.  He loved it!  He is finally back home with his wife and son.  Best news for me...they are coming to visit during their leave time!  We will have all kids and grandkids together for 5 days.  Pure heaven!

Congrats CheriH .  My nephew went through ten years ago.  Top Gun may be on the horizon for my son. 

Congratulations CheriH to your son and your family! Huge accomplishment and a lot of work to get there!

My DS recently received his wings of gold and is scheduled to move to San Diego soon to begin training on "Romeos," MH-60R Seahawks -- not sure I said that right but I will learn  :-)  He is trying to figure out the housing market there and where to move. Does any one have any suggestions? Obviously he doesn't want to be toooo far from the base. 

So excited for you and your DS, Suzie!  What a detour that has been. But surely the Lord has used it to grow him and his faith. Our DS did TOPGUN this past summer.  It was challenging and demanding, but I don't think he's ever been more excited. Congrats and best wishes for 2020!

@Suzie  I wish there was a like button on here.  Great news.  As you all may have heard, the three sailors killed in Pensacola were posthumously awarded their Wings Of Gold.  Now back to the Army/Navy game...three years in a row is too much.  Go Navy!

Thank God for healing your son Suzie and for the opportunity for him to continue in service to our country.  My DS will be the lead pilot for the fly-over of the NFL game tomorrow in Charlotte, our hometown Seahawks vs. Panthers.  Sure wish I could be there to see it! Peace and God's blessings to you all.

Suzie - great news for your DS; our DS is definitely enjoying this 'instructor' role and was happy to hear that your DS will have similar opportunities.

Happy Holidays!

Suzie -So glad to hear your DS is back to good health and pursuing his dream!

Fantastic news about your DS, Suzie. I imagine your son is excited to get back into the game. 

Hi all,

I need some words of support...my DS didnt pass his DH board for his HAC board....he has decided based on the options he has volunteered to redesignate. He has worked to hard to earn his wings and he didnt want to loose them. Any one else have experience with this or know anyone??

He is hoping to join the CEC community (Civil Engineering) he has a CE degree from PSU and already passed his FE exam. 

Thanks Gina

HeloMOM2016-Your DS has been counseled by his senior staff and has decided to redesignate? 

My son just got selected for the E2 as an SNA. Anyone out there who has a naval aviator flying the E2? 

Redheadlass- My son is an NFO on the E2 Hawkeye. He is currently on his second deployment. He leaves the Hawkeye community within the next few months but has enjoyed his time there. He has seen a lot of the world and gained wonderful experience that will serve him well later on.  Best of luck to your son. The training road is LONG/Difficult....hang on for the ride.

Congratulations Suzie to your DS and your entire family!

Congrat Suzie!

Suzie, that is amazing! Congratulations!!

Suzie, that is amazing! Congratulations!!

Congratulations, Suzie! Another milestone for your Naval aviator!

Our DS celebrated his 23rd year in the Navy this year in a big way. The Navy gave him a military complex! Unfortunately we were unable to attend his Change of Command due to COVID19 restrictions on international travel. Fortunately the installation posted photos on their social media accounts. It looked really neat and we are beyond proud. Today we were able to log in to watch his first Virtual Town Hall meeting. It was like having him in the living room except on the big tv. LOL. Their household goods arrived yesterday and they moved into their house. They have been living in hotels, apartments and out of suitcases for two months. They bought a car as their car may not arrive until next month. Oh, and their Express Pack which left CA in May, it’s in Virginia. The kids start school Monday. We hope we can visit them in the Spring. We have reservations but who knows. Living in the Pandemic.  

Make sure your sailors get to vote this year! FVAP.GOV released the timelines for mailing ballots back to the US. They will need to have their ballots very early. I have the information for Europe and I was surprised. Deployed FPO AE has to mail them back by 9 October. Landbased Europe APO AE has to mail theirs by 19 October. If your service member needs assistance direct them to the Federal Voter Assistance Program at FVAP.GOV. 

Congrats Suzie!!!!  I know how proud and excited you are.  My son graduated last summer.  Where is he going next?

Helomom, that is amazing! Congratulations to your son!

Any C2 mom's out there with LO's stationed in Japan? What is it like for them and what do they wish they had known before getting there?

Thanks, Glenni! We were flying home last December when we got a strange text from him about the family going to this foreign city to check it out in July. We thought, interesting. He must be looking at a big summer vacation. It was about a week before we got the Official news. He had 6 months of course work scheduled in Texas, DC, Newport, and CA prior to leaving. He had just finished the Texas coursework when COVID19 hit. All of a sudden all coursework became online. Then all PSC moves were frozen, especially all moves outside CONUS. Finally they packed out the beginning of June and moved into the Navy Lodge with their 2 suitcases per person allowance for travel and the dog. Finally in July they were off and traveling, arriving at their destination and going into 14 day ROM in the Navy Lodge at their destination. That was followed by a 10 day “get up to speed quick transition“, change of command, outgoing CO and his family left, and he has hit the ground running. Lots to learn and lots to do. We are still hoping to visit in April. 

I'm a bit behind on the posts here...so Congrats Helomom on your son's achievements!  That is amazing.  I sure hope you get to visit...wherever he is.  I know you are proud of him and his family...that is the reward for all the sacrifices we make!  So, a big pat on the back to you and a Navy Mom Hug!!!

Thanks, CheriH! It has been a wild time, this Navy career of his. This assignment is the biggest yet. Their kids are excited, his oldest is a junior this year so she will be graduating from the DoDEA school. The younger one is entering middle school. Their school is a middle school/high school combo. They actually have a foreign language class together. We talked to them last weekend and got a video tour of their house on base. He lives in Flag Officer country. Hahaha. They didn’t ship enough furniture to fully decorate the place so housing is providing extra stuff to “properly” fill their entertaining spaces indoors and out. Fun stuff! 

Congratulations Helomom to your son and your family!

Has anyone here had to arrange a HHG shipment for their LO overseas? Any helpful hints? This is for a smaller, under 1,000 pounds, shipment. Thank you!

My son is preparing to take the ASTB in January. He's a midshipman 1st class and will graduate and commission next December. Does anybody have any suggestions? He's an Aerospace engineering major with a high GPA, so he's strong in math and science and knows a good bit about aviation.

Glenni,

There is a wealth of information regarding the ASTB on www.airwarriors.com .  Your son should look there.

Thank you Chris! I think he's pretty familiar with that page. But I'll remind him to check there as he makes final preparations.

I have an ASTB question. My midshipman just took it today and got 8 7 7. His commanding officer thinks that should be fine for an aviation slot. Honestly my son was hoping for at least all 8's. He is at the top of his NROTC class, so should he be okay with that score? Or would he be wise to take it again to try for 8's and 9's?

Glenni, I asked my DS. He is a P8 Poseidon Pilot and Instructor, was NROTC and was commissioned in 2014. He said your mid is fine, nobody gets 9s, he got 7,7,8. Only the top 4% gets a 9, with 8 he is between 89 and 96% and a 7 is 77-89%.

His GPA and class standing should count more than the ASTB when service selection rolls around.

Heleno, thank you so much!

Hi Glenni. My DS earned his wings of gold 18 months ago and has done great since then. Here's what he said in response to your question: "He did better than I did. I got 7 5 6. What is needed to qualify is flexible and dependent on current needs. I would be thoroughly shocked if his ASTB scores held him back though."

Thanks so much, Allison! That's encouraging. They are submitting his name to the Nuclear commission this spring because they have to due to his major and GPA. But they are adding a note that says "This midshipman does not want to be a Nuke." Hopefully that will be enough to let him fly instead!!

Glenni, My DS was also afraid of being sent to Nukes due to his major and high grades in physics and chemistry. He knew people that were sent to Nukes even though it wasn't one of their selections. He was getting himself ready emotionally to accept it, even though he really wanted to fly and really did not want Nuke School. It worked out for him. I hope it works for your DS too. I was told it all depends on where the need is for your class.

Glenni- Our son was NROTC and was commissioned as a Navy nurse in 1997. He was always interested in flying. After 3 years in the Nurse Corps, applied to and was accepted to Navy flight school. It took a great deal of perseverance but he was able to convince his command to support his re-designation from the Nurse Corps to Unrestricted Line Officer and he received his wings in 2001. As an aviator he went on to become the CO of a squadron. Post Command he has served as the Deputy Force Readiness Officer for Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and as the Force Inspector General for Commander, Naval Special Warfare. Currently he is the Commanding Officer of a large multi site international base. Bottom line, your son's Navy career isn’t written in stone at his commission. Hard work and perseverance can lead your midshipman down paths he may not even envision. It can be an adventure! 

Suzie, Helomom and heleno, thank you so much for your encouragement!

My sometimes a pilot Naval aviator was in Texas for the week last week. It was nice to have him in CONUS for a short time but he has been back at the grind in Italy this week. He was stateside getting his sim time in and his requalification completed. If the COVID situations improve in EUR he might get more time in the cockpit. 3 PCR COVID19 test to get here, 3 PCR COVID19 tests to get back and they had to send his driver to pick him up as not many trains are running. Sure wish we could go visit, haven’t seen them all in person since March 2020. Someday…

Helomom, I know you really miss seeing him. Hopefully, they will relax COVID resrictions soon.

As time goes on for our DS's naval aviator career, I seem to have fewer questions and haven't been as frequent on site.  But I had to share that our DS, now a training officer in a squadron in NAS Oceana participated in a flyover at Fenway Park at the Boston Red Sox game a couple of weeks ago.  What a thrill for us who live outside of Boston and to top it off they flew in/out of Hanscom Airforce base, which is close to our house so we were able to see them take-off the following day and meet his Squadron CO, XO, and CAG!