Hi ktssong, nice to see you here and congrats on taking a breather from the afghan group. It seems most of go from here to there for a long time and don't get back to this over here. At least that us my situation. Dealing with the first deployment experience. I am so happy for you and once again grateful for the support and information shared by you and other Moms who guide us through scary stuff. I pray for peace for you your Seabee and your family. I too would. Like to keep this group active. I agree the FRG and Ombudsman are fantastic I get info before sometimes before my Seabee. Take care
Hi Kelly I am no expert but I think that it may have something to do with the battalion . I think some are being decommissioned. I know that Seabees have 2 homeports one in Gulfport and one in Port Hueneme in California. I would think that he is still a Seabee unless he has rerated . You may want to ask the Moms in the afghan group there is more activity there. I have found Facebook messaging to be pretty good for communicating with my son in the sandbox. I wish that I knew more. Maybe you should write or call the Ombudsman to put your mind at ease. I know the feeling thst you get from nit having information . Take care
Is he in the 7? I k.ow that the 40 and the 7 were on the chopping block. My.daighter was in the 40. She is now in the 3. Port Hueneme. There is also a home port in Virgina. It is Little Creek. Also one in San Diego. Both are amphibious I do believe. I would wait amd ask your son, ombudsman only knows general i.formation and if this is just something that will be for a few.... they may not know. If you can email him, do so. I have been told by my daughter to take what is said with a grain of salt, until i hear it from her. Good luck, hope for the best kind of news for you and your son.
Excuse all the typos. I am on my phone and we do not tolerate one another. Lol. I can spell and use capitalization, but my phone has a mind of its own.
A very good friend of my daughter is leaving on Monday for Italy for 3 years. This is "public works". After the 40 came back and decommisioned he never joined a battalion. He just went to C school to get him ready for this new adventure. So it is hard to say what or where your son may be going/doing. That is why my kiddo says to only trust what she has told me. Every Seabee has a different situation. Not trying to start or make anyone mad in here, but I was given very bad information. Not contacting someone cost my daughter a few days in the hospital. I was then told by a few that really know (Ombudsman) that I should have called. She was very sick and went face down in formation due to not eating and a yoeman not knowing his job. She went 4 days and ended up with a bad kidney situation. Now handled and never left to a yoeman (spelling) to do his job. She has it double checked. So every situation is different.
Julie that sounds great but can you fill me in on what that means!!!! I try to keep up on what I might expect in the future....my son is 1 month in Gulfport, can anyone tell me what I should expect in the next month or 2....
Hi Denise the Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist is a required qualification for Seabees. They get a pin for their uniform. It is earned after passing a written and oral test. I am not sure at what point it is required but I know that he has been studying and preparing for it during the deployment. Thank goodness for Facebook to be able to messages easily back and forth. I presume that your son is A school at this time and I believe that once he is assigned to a battalion after he finishes A and ECS that he will work on the pin if he follows the same track as my son. Thanks for support everyone ut always feels like we travel together through all of these experiences !
Hi everyone. Been awhile since I've been on. Have kept myself pretty busy during this deployment. I'm very excited that it's finally winding down. I can't wait for my hubby to return!!
Kelly, my husband is also in 133. We are definitely not decommisioning so that's not why he's being restationed. Since he has been in for 4 years, I'm going to assume he has been with the Seabees for 3 of those (first year is boot camp and schools). If this is the case, that is why he is being restationed. Seabees are only required to serve in the battalion for 3 years. After those 3 years, they can go to shore duty, another battalion, overseas, etc. He has a lot of options and will most likely have a bit of say in what he does....maybe not as much as he wants, but maybe some. He will still be a Seabee. His job title will still be the same. However, if he gets stationed with a group of people who aren't Seabee's, his job duties may change. It all depends on what his orders say. I'm sure he has already put in his wish list, but he won't know if he gets any of those places until they issue his orders. You will definitely know more once he gets home. Just be prepared to "hurry up and wait" as well as have things changed at the last minute (not always, but sometimes).
Julie, congratulations to your son! That's a big accomplishment for a Seabee. So many of them wait until it's being shoved in their faces to get their SCWs pin. It will look good that he got it quickly and while on deployment!
Aw thanks Seabeewife20...not gonna lie sounds like he was one of the last to get the pin (still waiting for FB photos to see it!) but I could tell how relieved that he is to have this done. I know that it is really intense with studying for the written and oral test and be deployed too. I just feel now that he has passed I think that it is all more real to him if you know what I mean. Tereza MY son is also BU but did not have this experience hang in there I can only imagine how frustrating it is to just be waiting to start something when you are more than ready to start!
Tereza, this is not meant in a mean way by any means, the slogan "Hurry up and wait" is used by the military for a reason. Unfortunately being placed on hold happens a lot. They only have a certain amount of slots for classes. I know you said some of the newer guys were in the class before him, however, they could have been set up for another class but took leave before A school. They are typically put into the class before someone else, because they are already behind. I could be wrong about that, but it is always a possibility. Tell him to keep volunteering because that looks great in his profile. I'm sure they will get him started soon. I know it's definitely not easy sitting in barracks and waiting to start training, but tell him to hang in there and he will get started soon. Good luck to your son!
Julie, I understand what you mean. It may seem like he was the last one to get it, but there are so many people who have been in for years that still don't have them. I'm sure pictures will come out soon. They have a lot going on right now with deployment winding down, so I'm sure they will get them as soon as they can.
Hi Folks! Do we have any Horn of Africa Moms on here! Im not sure what can or can not be sent over! NMCB 4 is over there right now, I sent a lot of boxes to the SandBox when my son was there for 2 Deployments but not real sure what to do about Africa?? Lisa A
My Seabee is finishing A school in May, returning to Washington. She's a Reserve Seabee. What are the odds she will get deployed as a reservist at this time? Thank you for your help on this!
Hello group! When my Seabee gets deployed, what type of communication will she have back home? Do the allow access to the internet while on deployment? Are they allowed to take some type of cell phone/ipad? I'm brand new as you can tell by my questions.
Thank you so much in advance for helping me understand what communication might be like while she's on deployment....
Hi pir012513 my Seabee is deployed right now. So while your Seabee s away you should suspend cell phone service as they are not allowed. USO has call centers for free phone calls home and international phone cards can also be used for paid phones. There is Internet access in certain areas too so the way that we have had the best communication has been private messaging on Facebook. It has been a lifesaver because on large bases the call centers may be far away to get to very often my son called only a few times over several months. Laptops are ok for personal use but I don't think they use them for the Internet just movies and stuff. I can ask my son and get bavk to you. They get pretty busy pretty quickly so quic Facebook stuff has been great. There is an ombudsman that is helpful for families and each battalion has a Facebook page for news and photos too. There is usually a predeployment fair too where mail addresses are given for care packages ( you will need custom forms and can get free military mailing supplies from the post service website) and letters .I know I put a lot of info in this so if I missed anything let me know
PIR012513-It will depend on where your Seabee is deploying. While my husband was in Japan, he had great access to Internet. We did pay a monthly fee for him to have it though. He used his computer and we would Skype quite frequently. They can have their cell phones in Japan and Spain, but I would recommend getting an international plan added so you don't have roaming charges. We suspended our plan while he was deployed and he used a Magic Jack. They can get those at Walmart, Best Buy, and other stores. It's $49 (I think) for the whole year. The phone number is a local number of their choice. The little apparatus connects to the computer and when they are connected to the Internet, they can make phone calls home without the worry of fees. This deployment, however, my husband has been in Afghanistan. Things work a little differently there. Internet is free in certain areas, but my husband was placed somewhere that we were required to pay monthly for him to have service. It was horrible service and often wouldn't work, especially with a storm. The MWR, where he was, required he paid for minutes to use the phones to call home. Other MWR's offer them phone services for free. Cell phones are not allowed in Afghanistan, so again we suspended the service. The cool thing with smart phones is even if the actual phone service is suspended, If they can connect to wifi they can still use the Internet on the phone free of charge. So as you can see, there are many factors that play in the communication your Seabee will have while on deployment. When she gets to her location, she will find out for sure what is available to her. But even if it's a message on Facebook, a phone call, or a letter in the mail you will definitely have some sort of contact.
Julie, I knew you were and that's why I added on. Should have thrown that in there myself so it didn't look like I was trying to make your reply appear incorrect. We all have good information to share since every experience is different!
Kym wow a trip to Seoul and an awesome opportunity to see your Son !Can't wait to hear about it.SeabeeWife20 it's all good... Glad that we all can share the things that we know with each other since every little tidbit of info can help someone including me too!
It kind of depends on where they are deployed to. Yes, smart phones are great for wifi. When my daughter was in Guam, she was able to purchase a pho.e plan from the cell phone company there. She had unlimited calls to the US. Not every place is like that. Magic jack is what i have heard most use. Again, she has only been to Guam so that is the only information i have.
Kym, how awesome is that. Vacation and your son. Enjoy it. We are still waiting to hear where deployment is going to be. Problem is it is not far off. Lol
Seabee wife, I heard you were in CA and got to see the most beautiful Seabee in CA! Lol. She said she could not pass seeing you since you were not that far from her. Glad she did, I think it helped her.
Hi all....my son had PIR 3/1 also, he is now in Ft Leonardwood for his A school (EO). Sounds like his actual schooling will not begin until 2/13. What do they do while they are waiting?
Welcome to Gulfport, my son is a BU, his PIR was 12-21, he loves it there!!! If you have any question feel free to ask there are a lot of experienced Moms here!
Welcome! My son is almost done with "A" school, he is a BU and has been in Mississippi since Dec. He loves it there, especially the weather, since we are from Mass...(it's been a horrible winter). He told me last nite that 14 were coming in this week!! I don't know where she is coming from, but there seems to be plenty to do in the area and on base!! We have plans to visit next month...I can't wait!!!!! There are a lot of experienced Moms here so if you have any questions I know they will have the answers!!! Good luck & Welcome!
denise<att'smom, she is going from Monterey CA (DLI) to Naval Base Ventura County, in Oxnard CA. She is going to be a CM? Not sure what all that entails but she is very excited. SHe has been at the DLI for almost 10 months. I just hate she is having to leave all her friends. Her boyfriend was recently shipped to Pensecola so a whole lot of seperation anxiety going on LOL!
Julieb1019....did your sailor come home!!! Mine said he got to watch the arrival, he was excited, he said they were the last to come home and no one else will be going!!! Yeah!!! How special for them!!!! So happy for you all !!!!
" JOB WELL DONE "
Joanie, we were visiting our son in Gulfport last weekend and on the main road, there were a 100 or so signs welcoming them home. I don't know exactly how many signs but you could tell they were made by children and family members. It took everything in me to not tear up, it was just an awesome site!
Any other moms with SeaBee in Port Hueneme, CA? My son PIR date was 2-8-13. He is loving the weather and has completely phased up. Will graduate in May as CM. Don't know where he will go after that.
Kathybship13Div099 my daughter is headed there from the DLI in Monterey and is going to be a CM as well. She reports on Monday. I am very nervous about the move she has been a CTI for the past 10 months and has loved Monterey and made great friends. A little sad to see her move on but she is excited about the new opportunity!
My son is stationed in Gulfport now too. Done with ECS last Friday. He saw a 133 come in. He said it was amazing. We spent this past weekend with him. We were on base a couple times. All the signs are still up. Amazing sight. He is an EO.
Hi everyone have a concern one of my Seabee son buddies has a terminally ill mom in Michigan this buddy says that he has no money to get home and no family to help what happens in these emergency situations ? Short notice flights are very expensive I feel terrible for him
Hi update a bunch of guys pooled their money and helped out to get a ticket for this young man to get home today. Thanks for advice and glad that he will be able to get home in time too
Hi everyone I am enjoying my son' s 3week leave at home for the first time in a year. He is doing well after his recent first deployment. He decided to chip in with a buddy for a PO Box in town so mailing stuff will be much easier instead of using the APO address.
Julie, sooo happy for you both, what a special time, this has probably been the fastest 3 weeks of your life! ...my son is Graduating tomorrow and will leave Gulfport for Key West !!! He is soooo lucky !
Hi DaltonsMom...my son graduated with your son on 3/22. He will be starting A-school classes soon. He is still in GL awaiting for his orders. Where is your son taking classes? My son will also be a CE and is going to Sheppard AFB.
Key West sounds so awesome and I am sure that you are planning a trip Denise ! And yes I wish that I could stop the clock but since I can't I am already planning my next trip to visit in GP in the fall.it never feels any easier to always having to let go I am very proud of him.
SarahsMom - Sorry I haven't been on in awhile. I love having my son in A school. We have been able to skype every sunday night which works out great for him. He is loving everyhthing in Pt Hueneme. He should get his orders for his next station sometime this week. He is hoping for Greece. I am excited but very nervous to see where the next step of this journey will take him.
I Need Some Info For My Son. He Is In BC Right Now, He Is Going To GP For A School For Seabee BU..... Can Anyone Tell Me About A School And What Comes After?
julieb1019
Jan 20, 2013
julieb1019
Jan 24, 2013
Tobianne
Jan 24, 2013
Tobianne
Jan 24, 2013
Tobianne
Jan 25, 2013
NavyWife2010
Is anyone's hubby doinf FEX training right now?
Jan 28, 2013
julieb1019
Jan 29, 2013
deniseMatt'smom
Jan 29, 2013
julieb1019
Jan 29, 2013
SeabeeWife20
Hi everyone. Been awhile since I've been on. Have kept myself pretty busy during this deployment. I'm very excited that it's finally winding down. I can't wait for my hubby to return!!
Kelly, my husband is also in 133. We are definitely not decommisioning so that's not why he's being restationed. Since he has been in for 4 years, I'm going to assume he has been with the Seabees for 3 of those (first year is boot camp and schools). If this is the case, that is why he is being restationed. Seabees are only required to serve in the battalion for 3 years. After those 3 years, they can go to shore duty, another battalion, overseas, etc. He has a lot of options and will most likely have a bit of say in what he does....maybe not as much as he wants, but maybe some. He will still be a Seabee. His job title will still be the same. However, if he gets stationed with a group of people who aren't Seabee's, his job duties may change. It all depends on what his orders say. I'm sure he has already put in his wish list, but he won't know if he gets any of those places until they issue his orders. You will definitely know more once he gets home. Just be prepared to "hurry up and wait" as well as have things changed at the last minute (not always, but sometimes).
Julie, congratulations to your son! That's a big accomplishment for a Seabee. So many of them wait until it's being shoved in their faces to get their SCWs pin. It will look good that he got it quickly and while on deployment!
Feb 17, 2013
julieb1019
Aw thanks Seabeewife20...not gonna lie sounds like he was one of the last to get the pin (still waiting for FB photos to see it!) but I could tell how relieved that he is to have this done. I know that it is really intense with studying for the written and oral test and be deployed too. I just feel now that he has passed I think that it is all more real to him if you know what I mean. Tereza MY son is also BU but did not have this experience hang in there I can only imagine how frustrating it is to just be waiting to start something when you are more than ready to start!
Feb 18, 2013
SeabeeWife20
Tereza, this is not meant in a mean way by any means, the slogan "Hurry up and wait" is used by the military for a reason. Unfortunately being placed on hold happens a lot. They only have a certain amount of slots for classes. I know you said some of the newer guys were in the class before him, however, they could have been set up for another class but took leave before A school. They are typically put into the class before someone else, because they are already behind. I could be wrong about that, but it is always a possibility. Tell him to keep volunteering because that looks great in his profile. I'm sure they will get him started soon. I know it's definitely not easy sitting in barracks and waiting to start training, but tell him to hang in there and he will get started soon. Good luck to your son!
Julie, I understand what you mean. It may seem like he was the last one to get it, but there are so many people who have been in for years that still don't have them. I'm sure pictures will come out soon. They have a lot going on right now with deployment winding down, so I'm sure they will get them as soon as they can.
Feb 18, 2013
Lisa A
Hi Folks! Do we have any Horn of Africa Moms on here! Im not sure what can or can not be sent over! NMCB 4 is over there right now, I sent a lot of boxes to the SandBox when my son was there for 2 Deployments but not real sure what to do about Africa?? Lisa A
Feb 22, 2013
PIR012513
My Seabee is finishing A school in May, returning to Washington. She's a Reserve Seabee. What are the odds she will get deployed as a reservist at this time? Thank you for your help on this!
Feb 25, 2013
julieb1019
SCWS photos posted today on facebook yeah he looks so good!
Feb 26, 2013
PIR012513
Hello group! When my Seabee gets deployed, what type of communication will she have back home? Do the allow access to the internet while on deployment? Are they allowed to take some type of cell phone/ipad? I'm brand new as you can tell by my questions.
Thank you so much in advance for helping me understand what communication might be like while she's on deployment....
Feb 27, 2013
julieb1019
Feb 27, 2013
SeabeeWife20
Feb 27, 2013
julieb1019
I should mention that I was speaking from perspective of the sandbox deployment Seabeewife20 thanks for your info we learn from each other every day!
Feb 27, 2013
SeabeeWife20
Feb 27, 2013
julieb1019
Feb 28, 2013
Tobianne
Kym, how awesome is that. Vacation and your son. Enjoy it. We are still waiting to hear where deployment is going to be. Problem is it is not far off. Lol
Seabee wife, I heard you were in CA and got to see the most beautiful Seabee in CA! Lol. She said she could not pass seeing you since you were not that far from her. Glad she did, I think it helped her.
Feb 28, 2013
Dylansmom
Mar 2, 2013
PIR012513
Hi Dylansmom, contact me. My Seabee is there. I'll share with you what I know:)
253-336-6412
Mar 2, 2013
Sandria
Hi all....my son had PIR 3/1 also, he is now in Ft Leonardwood for his A school (EO). Sounds like his actual schooling will not begin until 2/13. What do they do while they are waiting?
Mar 2, 2013
deniseMatt'smom
Mar 3, 2013
SarahsMom(Ship03/Div176)
I have a daughter moving to the Seabees on Friday!! She is sad to leave her current command but very excited about the new opportunity!
Mar 19, 2013
deniseMatt'smom
Mar 19, 2013
SarahsMom(Ship03/Div176)
denise<att'smom, she is going from Monterey CA (DLI) to Naval Base Ventura County, in Oxnard CA. She is going to be a CM? Not sure what all that entails but she is very excited. SHe has been at the DLI for almost 10 months. I just hate she is having to leave all her friends. Her boyfriend was recently shipped to Pensecola so a whole lot of seperation anxiety going on LOL!
Mar 20, 2013
deniseMatt'smom
" JOB WELL DONE "
Mar 21, 2013
Joanie Tyler's Mom(133 Bees)
My son got home from the desert yesterday..So glad he is back in Gulfport.
Mar 22, 2013
ArmywifeNavymom
Mar 22, 2013
Momofahousefull
My son is home too! One of the best hugs I've had in a long time! Great job 133!
Mar 22, 2013
SarahsMom(Ship03/Div176)
Congrats to all the 133 Sailors and their Families! Reunions are the best!
Mar 22, 2013
KathybShip13Div099
Any other moms with SeaBee in Port Hueneme, CA? My son PIR date was 2-8-13. He is loving the weather and has completely phased up. Will graduate in May as CM. Don't know where he will go after that.
Mar 22, 2013
SarahsMom(Ship03/Div176)
Kathybship13Div099 my daughter is headed there from the DLI in Monterey and is going to be a CM as well. She reports on Monday. I am very nervous about the move she has been a CTI for the past 10 months and has loved Monterey and made great friends. A little sad to see her move on but she is excited about the new opportunity!
Mar 22, 2013
deniseMatt'smom
Mar 22, 2013
Lynette
My son is stationed in Gulfport now too. Done with ECS last Friday. He saw a 133 come in. He said it was amazing. We spent this past weekend with him. We were on base a couple times. All the signs are still up. Amazing sight. He is an EO.
Mar 27, 2013
julieb1019
Mar 28, 2013
deniseMatt'smom
Mar 29, 2013
julieb1019
Mar 29, 2013
SarahsMom(Ship03/Div176)
Mar 29, 2013
julieb1019
Apr 7, 2013
deniseMatt'smom
Apr 8, 2013
jody
My daughter left for boot camp on april first after BC she will be a SeaBee So proud of her............ any info would be nice thank you
Apr 8, 2013
DaltonsMom (Ship 13 Div 127)
Apr 8, 2013
deltaflyer59 Ship 03 Div 124
Hi DaltonsMom...my son graduated with your son on 3/22. He will be starting A-school classes soon. He is still in GL awaiting for his orders. Where is your son taking classes? My son will also be a CE and is going to Sheppard AFB.
Apr 8, 2013
julieb1019
Apr 8, 2013
KathybShip13Div099
SarahsMom - Sorry I haven't been on in awhile. I love having my son in A school. We have been able to skype every sunday night which works out great for him. He is loving everyhthing in Pt Hueneme. He should get his orders for his next station sometime this week. He is hoping for Greece. I am excited but very nervous to see where the next step of this journey will take him.
Apr 16, 2013
DsMomma
Apr 24, 2013