USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)

Thanks for that heads-up Carol :)  BTW here's the link to USS Kearsarge's FB page USS Kearsarge

My daughter is on that list of Third,second and first class petty officers posted on FB and now I'm on it every hour waiting for pictures!
It's an addiction.

Marcy I need to steal that "Stimulate life in the Navy" thing.
Thanks!

Couldn't find my daughter in the Petty Officer Frocking album on Facebook so I counted all the people on the earlier list and find 28 people not on the album.
This really saddens me. :(
They just put it up so I hope they have more.
I really miss seeing my daughter there. :(

They told me that some couldn't make it and there will be other frocking ceremonies so I'll just keep looking every day!

Hi Diane!  Ship pages seem to vary in their activity depending on the ship's activity.  Since your questions are more general than ship-specific, why not come join the group Norfolk Sailors - Family and Friends and post your questions and concerns there.  The Virginia Beach area is preferred by many for quality of life.  Your son will want to avoid traveling through the tunnels or over drawbridges to work if possible, as the traffic can really back up.  Regarding the Navy Lodge, I can offer this :) I posted it in the Discussions area of the Norfolk group:  Navy Lodge Norfolk info and photos.  The area is beautiful and has much to offer; he and his family will find much to enjoy.

Hi gretchen, welcome. my daughter is on the ship, I'll ask her to say Hi   how old is Kasie

Welcome to the Navy family, Gretchen!  Oh dear, don't worry, she'll do great and we're all here for you!!  She's on a great ship, and Norfolk is a great place to be based.  Be sure to be on the Ombudsman list, and join the Family Readiness Group - send them a request message with yours and your daughter's names, her rate and rank, and your relationship.  Also, come join this group, it's pretty active and lots of nice folks :)  Norfolk Sailors Family and Friends

*just realized I used the word "great" three times LOL - oh well, it all IS pretty great!  :)

Photos from Thanksgiving on the Kearsarge, looks wonderful!  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.556861734329671.150322.11... 

The Kearsarge has the greatest Ombudsman Team, and the best Navy ship newsletter :)  Thank you for this "Welcome" message!

The Kearsarge FRG has posted a great new fundraiser item, check it out on their Facebook page!  :)

I don't remember some of the Navy terminology these days hahahaha!!
But I'm sure it will come back to me.

Welcome to N4M Dwan!  Wonderful about the phone call!!  You could cram a fleece blanket into a care package box ;)  Does your name mean you have two family members serving?  

Good story from navy.mil:  Kearsarge underway for COMPTUEX

Do y'all agree with CAPT Nielsen's comments about his Sailors?  I'm betting you do :)

am ready to see my girl soon....any suggestions on where to stay close to ship?

How great for you!  The Navy Lodge on Hampton Blvd is the nearest, is nice and has good rates; you can make the reservation, but she'll have to check you in - here's info http://www.navyformoms.com/group/norfolksailorsfamilyfriends/forum/...

Nothing to worry about - they're able to maneuver wherever it's safest, unlike folks stuck on land!  The Kearsarge captain, FRG and Ombudsman teams are phenomenal, they're great at keeping you informed if there's ever anything to be concerned about.  The brunt of this storm is headed north of VA, and it seems Norfolk often avoids the worst of the weather.  So send your warm thoughts to NY and Boston, they're basically shutting down tomorrow by noon and it's really going to be something for them.

News to know about out of Norfolk - the aircraft carrier USS Truman's scheduled deployment tomorrow (Friday) was cancelled Wednesday - just two days' notice to thousands of sailors - due to budget cuts.  Sailors across the Navy to feel impact of carrier change

And just a reminder about OPSEC :)

Here are the OPSEC guidelines for us all to observe:

✓ Donʼt discuss future operations, exercises or missions.

✓ Donʼt discuss dates and times of when we will be in port or conducting exercises.

✓ Donʼt discuss future destinations or ports of call.

✓ Donʼt discuss security procedures, movements, or arms.

✓ Donʼt discuss readiness issues and numbers.

✓ Donʼt discuss specific training equipment.

✓ Donʼt speculate about future operations.

✓ Donʼt spread rumors about past, current or future operations or movements.

✓ Donʼt discuss deployment or homecoming dates (including Tiger or Family Day Cruises)

✓ DO assume the enemy is always trying to collect information.

✓ Keep in mind there is NO guarantee of security for information transmittal, or that a chat room or forum described as “military” has its membership restricted to militarypersonnel and their families.

✓ Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email, phone, chatrooms and message boards.

Hi all, new here! Im curious to know if there is a place, to learn the way things work, during the week of deployment? Are there events, special rates for families etc..

Thanks,

Kim

what is there to do on base before deployment?

Welcome Kimnsc!  First - remember we must observe OPSEC here - be sure to read the guidelines above.  The Family Readiness Group takes care of events and can answer questions - see the links above in the first Discussion.  The Navy Lodge is located just off the base, and offers good rates for families of sailors - your sailor has to check you in.  Otherwise, life on base is business as usual prior to ship deployments.  When you ask what to do on base before deployment, you mean the day of?  With a photo ID, you should be able to go out on the pier and watch all the preparations as they depart.  If you hustle, you can jump in your car and go out to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, walk out onto the fishing pier, and see the ship pass by as she heads out to sea.  You may also see the LCACs roar out of Little Creek and join the ship, pretty cool :)

Also - since you're new to the deal, ask the FRG team about the "No Loved One Left Behind" program - they will pair you (the newbie) with an FRG member (a seasoned spouse/family member).  Pretty wonderful concept!

These are always fun to watch - Navy Week in Review Feb 2 - 8

Cheryl, that teddy bear is so sweet!  Did you two connect?  

Just have to say, the Kearsarge FRG and Ombudsman Teams and Kearsarge leadership really set the bar high.  I hope you all are receiving their communications and availing yourselves of their terrific support!

I'd love to join you Sindy. Is that it your avatar pic? I'll use it as my Facebook pic.

My son is on USS Kearsarge. Is this the main group?

Awesome, Sindy. Thanks for that info! I just requested to receive updates from the Ombudsman. My son is going to miss out on the birth of his firstborn, a baby boy, due in only 3 weeks. :-( My own husband did not return from a deployment with the Seabees until our daughter was 5 months old, so I remember vividly the sacrifice of separation. It's hard.

Awesome, Sindy. Thanks for that info! I just requested to receive updates from the Ombudsman. My son is going to miss out on the birth of his firstborn, a baby boy, due in only 3 weeks. :-( My own husband did not return from a deployment with the Seabees until our daughter was 5 months old, so I remember vividly the sacrifice of separation. It's hard.

I don't think that she does. She just moved back to CA from VA a few weeks ago. She's living with her parents. 

Welcome Brenda!  Are you and your daughter-in-law on the Facebook pages for the FRG and the Ombudsman?  Links are above in the Discussion Forum.

And away they go!  Fair winds and following seas; bless them all, and their families and loved ones :)

 you can receive google alerts for any ship. I find it very interesting

Hard to believe it was 10 years ago today I was on Kearsarge for the War in Iraq. It was a very crazy 2 days of running flight ops. Hope they have a safe cruise this time. Thanks for keeping us free Folks.

Happy news Angelika!  Rob, thanks for your service; bet you have some stories to tell for sure.  DMS - Google Alerts are great!  

Marcy the stories are mostly all good. I would not change a thing. Retirement aint too bad either but being retired I am still working 40 plus hours a week but I love what I do.

my daughter will pcs to san diego in aug or sept she will leave the ship from wherever they are. she will fly to va then ca to see us before she signs in. she just re enlisted for 6 more years. she will have 5 yrs in this month and has made E-5. she is taking classes to get her AA . so proud she is doing well. and she is an MP  picture Barbie with a badge. that's our daughter

She's beautiful!  Congratulations on her reenlistment, and having such an accomplished and goal-oriented daughter - how proud you must be!!  

In keeping with the Ombudsman's recent message - remember that anything posted on social media (here, Facebook, etc) can be read by anyone - and be mindful of what's put in emails too, as they can be shared be others unbeknownst to the original sender.  

OPSEC guidelines -

✓ Donʼt discuss future destinations or ports of call.

✓ Donʼt discuss future operations, exercises or missions.

✓ Donʼt discuss dates and times of when we will be in port or conducting exercises.

✓ Donʼt discuss security procedures, movements, or arms.

✓ Donʼt discuss readiness issues and numbers.

✓ Donʼt discuss specific training equipment.

✓ Donʼt speculate about future operations.

✓ Donʼt spread rumors about past, current or future operations or movements.

✓ Donʼt discuss deployment or homecoming dates (including Tiger or Family Day Cruises)

✓ DO assume the enemy is always trying to collect information.

✓ Keep in mind there is NO guarantee of security for information transmittal, or that a chat room or forum described as “military” has its membership restricted to militarypersonnel and their families.

✓ Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email, phone, chatrooms and message boards

Announcement: I am now a Grandma! Alonzo Frederick Weatherly was born April 4 to my son ABHAR Andrew Weatherly and Kristal Weatherly. Kristal and Alonzo are doing good. She is staying with her parents in California during this deployment. I am in Kentucky and will get to fly to CA to meet our grandson in a few weeks! Kinda sad that my son will miss out on so many months of his baby's life, but I am thankful for the sacrifice that all of the sailors and Marines are making. My own husband was in the Navy and did not come home from one deployment until our daughter was 5 months old. That was with the Seabees back in 1998. 

Happy news, how wonderful!!  You have to post photos when you get there :)  So grateful for all Navy families and their sacrifice, but the rewards are so great too.  Not to mention all the cute Navy baby stuff lol  Congratulations to everyone!

How long does the Kearsarge typically deploy for? I heard 7 months or 8 months, but then I also heard that they may be out to sea a few months longer than that because of budget cuts.

Due to so many factors, there is no "typical" deployment anymore.  the USS Bataan and USS Iwo Jima ARGs were out for about nine months on their last deployments, each due to different circumstances.  Are you on the FRG and Ombudsman lists and Facebook pages?  Those are the #1 sources, and if you have special concerns you can always email them privately too.

ps Brenda, N4M prefers that we not use our last names here for OPSEC reasons :)

Thanks, Marcy, for both sets of info! I've got my account updated with middle name instead of last name for my username. Yes, I'm on the Facebook page & Ombudsman list. I am praying that my son will be home before Christmas. I'd hate for him to miss his son's 1st Christmas.