NAS Jacksonville

Hi Jim....Happy to hear your son is doing better.  Prayers for all of you.

Jim,

I'm sorry for your son's disappointment and the trial his diagnosis may cause him.  I hope you stay on N4M and keep us up to date with news of the new path he takes and his many successes along the new road. 

Jim, so sorry to hear that about your son. I wish him the best.

Just came back from a wonderful week in Jacksonville! My son is now a married man!! Wow has he grown up since he has been in the Navy!! So proud of him:) I stayed on Amelia Island loved it there!!

Son just rec'd orders for Hawaii. Does anyone know if the Navy ships his car or does he arrange this on his own. Is there a charge? Thanks.

Becky the Navy will ship his car and his household goods if he has any. 

Thanks, navymom3. All of your help is really appreciated.

PTS stands for Perform to Serve. Here is a link for it.

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/milpersman/1000/140...

Jim, I'm so sorry to hear of your son's illness.  Life sure has a way of thowing us curve balls. 

Awww, what a great picture Jim!!  Swimming with the dolphins.

I have news.  My son is getting married this summer.

Congrats Tee-1.  Is his bride to be Navy too?

Jim, glad to see that your boy is feeling good. Is he still going to get out?

@zzsMom, no, she not military.  They met while out on the town in St. Augustine. 

Hey, Jim. 

Sorry to hear your young man is down again,  Loved the "swimming w/ dolphins" photo and to know he is experiencing some ups as well.  :) 

Mine competed in the Tough Mudder this weekend.  He finished and said it was the most grueling 2 hours of his life...he did not say that about SERE.  Other than that, all he does is study, study, and then there is some studying in his spare time. ha-ha

I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend with some pausing and reflecting for those we have lost. 

So sad to hear about the mission sailor.

http://www.navycs.com/blogs/2013/06/02/a-chief-petty-officer-is-mis...

My son Graduated today As a petty Officer, E-4 Navy AIrcrewman!!!! I am so proud of him 18 months of hard work!! Next hes off to Whidbey Island Washington, for his first duty station:)

Congrats on your son's graduation.

Congrats omama!  That's awesome!

Bravo Zulu omama!!

My son got his E-4 on Sunday!  He finally sent me pictures last night! 

Congrats.

Bitter sweet news Jim.  I pray that his transition goes smooth and that his health improves.

Jim,

Good news if there is an end in sight so your boy can move on.  Avionics is a very good living.  (My family was in the business for several decades.)  I think the wait may have been long, but, perhaps, it has given him time to manage his symptoms and learn to live well.  I love hearing the updates!

We were down at JAX  off and on over the last week while vacationing at St. Simon Island, GA.  Loved seeing my boy!  We were going to go skydiving together, but our scheduled day up was the ONLY day it stormed while we were there.  Bummer.  There will be a next time.  :)

Skydiving?  Wow I can't imagine doing that. So sorry that you were rained out.

Jim, so sorry that your son has to leave. I hope his medical problems are under control now and he can get on with his life. Best wishes for him.

Donna,  We strolled around the downtown/village of Amelia Island and went to St. Augustine,, which is where my son wanted to take us after a tour of the base.  I suggest going where your son wants to go and see the things he's found interesting while there.  :)

Jodi-alum,  Skydiving has been on my to-do list for 35 years.  It's been put off for one reason or another over the years.  Now that my son is a skydiving junkie, he wants me to do it with him.  I'm in!  Maybe the next trip down in October??  I need a volunteer to take pics because my husband will have his eyes closed.  LOL

Renee, my older son did one skydiving trip but that is not something I want to even think about! I think if I had to do something like that I would have my eyes closed too haha. I admire someone who has the guts to do it. I wish you a safe landing. My Navy son is a rescue swimmer at JAX right now. He will be jumping out of helicopters, closer to the ground but I think just as scary!

@Donna - Look up in the discussion forum above and Kalynn has a great guide.  We have done almost all her suggestions over various trips and have NEVER been disappointed.  I would highly agree with her on the Trents Seafood place that is just outside the main gate and I would also suggest a place over towards Mayport that is called Taco Lu's.  Great place that my sailor and her shipmates found.  It is a slight drive and is always crowded but a good meal at a good price and the building is just cool. Leave a little early for dinner and make your way down to walk on the beach around Atlantic Blvd at sunset then hit Taco Lu's, you won't be disappointed. Fenandina Beach area is a great area if you have a day that you can just take a drive.  Enjoy your visit.

Congrats SpecialK on having your son stationed near by. How lucky you are! It usually seems like if you live on the west coast they get stationed on the east coast and visa-versa. Good luck on your search. My son has two friends who are living off base. One lives somewhere on Atlantic Blvd but I'm not sure how nice the apartments are.

Welcome SpecialK, take a look up in the forum discussion at Kalynn's Things to Do When you Visit of for your Sailor.  So far I have found the girl is never wrong on her suggestions :)  I have always stayed at the Gateway on base and have always found it to be clean and well worth the money, last time I was there $68 a night.  The cottages that Kalynn suggests look really nice but I have never had the oppurtunity to stay in them but if the whole family was visiting I think they would be great. Enjoy exploring Jacksonville.  I would highly suggest a GPS if you have one.  There are no direct routes to anything in that city!

It's been a little over a year for our family. Sometimes it doesn't seem like that long but he still has another 5 years to go. He's been in Jacksonville since 6/8.

1windhaven-Maria, I too am a Texas Mom :)

Jodi-alumni Ship 4, Div 818...one year or two I can tell ya it doesn't seem that long. My has at least 2 1/2 to go but I secretly hope there will be many many more!

ZZsMom, I too am hoping that he decides to make the Navy a career. He still has FRS to complete and then he will go into the Fleet. Right now he is enjoying it but I don't think he has thought much about extending his enlistment but that may change once he gets out of school. Where else can you see the world, get paid to do it and "retire" after 20 years?

Hi everyone, my son is stationed in Jacksonville also and has been there for a year now.  He has been in 2 years in Dec.  We live outside of Tampa and feel lucky he is close.  I am also hoping he makes a career out of this.  No jobs here so he may as well stay in.  

Love it Jim!  Where did he get it? 

Jim, That is a terrific birthday gift! Happy early birthday to you. You know we are all envious, right? :) Have a wonderful time with your boy!!

Awesome gift Jim!  Enjoy your time with your son!

1windhaven-Maria, Just west of Fort Worth in Weatherford

That's really cool Jim!  Love it!  Enjoy your sailor!  @TamNavyMom - Enjoy your son's graduation!