USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)

Also, does anyone else have a son on board who will be meeting their new baby for the first time? My son will get to meet his 7-month-old son for the first time! 

Thanks for that info! 

brenda.elaine, that's so cool about the baby :)  Congratulations!!

Hi Sindy!   If you're truly concerned about the driving, it could be well worth the $13 dollar difference to stay one night at Navy Lodge Norfolk (single room $68 total including breakfast) and be just 1.5 miles and a two minute ride down the same street to Gate Five, instead of negotiating the freeway route from the Econolodge.  The Navy Lodge is only six miles from the airport, it's easy to get to from the airport (basically the same directions below) and it would save you a lot of stress dealing with the freeway and a lot of morning commuter traffic.

If you stick with the Econolodge, here are the directions below to Gate Five at the base.  When you get on I-64, start getting to the left lane so you'll be ready to take the left exit onto 564.  From there, you just have to stay on it till it ends, make a left and the light, and go to Gate Five on the right.

I'm using this address for Gate Five - 9079 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23505.  That is the address for the building where you take the official tour of the base and it is right outside the entrance to Gate Five.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS From Econolodge at 3343 N Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA to Naval Station Norfolk's Gate Five at 9079 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA (total distance eight miles):

1. Start out going northwest on N Military Hwy/VA-165 toward Lynn St.  (go 0.64 miles)

2. Turn left onto Norview Ave/VA-247 (there's a Golden Corral at the corner).

3. Take the Richmond ramp and merge onto I-64 West.  (go 2.56 miles)

4. Move to the left lane and merge onto I-564 West via EXIT 276B on the left toward VA-406/Naval Base/Terminal Blvd.  (go 3.26 miles)

5. I-564 W becomes Admiral Taussig Blvd/VA-337 W.  (go 0.58 miles)

6. Turn left at the light onto Hampton Blvd.

7. Gate Five / 9079 HAMPTON BLVD is on the right; turn right at the light just past the Base Tours office into Gate Five at Naval Station Norfolk.  

ps - if you choose the Navy Lodge option, make your reservation RIGHT AWAY as it's going to fill up.  Here is all the info:  http://navyformoms.com/group/norfolksailorsfamilyfriends/forum/topi...

Lastly - if you're going to the Navy Lodge from the airport -

You're already on Norview Ave as you leave the airport, so stay on Norview past the Golden Corral and get on I-64 West towards Richmond and follow steps 3 - 7 below, just continue past Gate Five for 1.5 miles to the Navy Lodge on the right.

YESSSS!!!!!

Navytimes.com:  The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group — and its 4,000 sailors and Marines — will return to their homeports on Thursday, the Navy announced.

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge will arrive in Norfolk, Va., while the amphibious transport dock San Antonio and amphibious dock landing ship Carter Hall will arrive at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Their greenside shipmates, members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit , will return to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The sailors and Marines spent eight months at sea, punctuated by the crisis in Syria, when they were put on high alert.

Fifth Fleet is now the under the watchful eyes of the crews aboard the assault ship Boxer, transport dock New Orleans, dock landing ship Harper’s Ferry and the 13th MEU.

 http://www.navytimes.com/article/20131104/NEWS/311040025/Kearsarge

Will a video be posted with the ship coming in with our sailors all standing around the rails?  A very "sad" mom who won't be able to make it to see our son at homecoming tomorrow due to his father having been injured and in recovery from fractures in his lower back.  Our sailor will be coming home for 3 days at Christmas so cannot wait for that time to come.  Thank you and wish you all the best when seeing your loved ones tomorrow.  My prayers go out to you all.  What a joyous event!!!

The ship's arrival will be covered by the local media, so keep an eye on these TV stations' websites http://www.wvec.com, http://www.wavy.com, and http://wtkr.com for news stories (and hopefully live coverage too) of the sailors "manning the rails" as they arrive!  

How wonderful you will have your Sailor home for Christmas! 

Thank you so much Marcy for the TV stations.  Yes, we cannot wait to have him home even though it is brief and praying no snow here in Maine on the 22nd or 26th when he has to fly.  That is my Christmas present.  Thanks again.

WELCOME HOME!!!

Video, news story, slideshow of homecoming! http://www.wvec.com/news/military/Thousands-of-sailors-Marines-due-...

If you haven't "liked" this page yet - U.S. Fleet Forces Command on Facebook has been posting wonderful Homecoming photos all day, go check them out! 

Here's a 1 hour 40 minute replay of LIVE coverage of this morning's Homecoming - hope you can spot your Sailor!!  http://www.livestream.com/usnavy/video?clipId=pla_f773563d-c52e-47c...

And…here's a wonderful Homecoming video tribute from U.S. Navy on Youtube!  USS Kearsarge Returns to Home Port

Cindy - love it!  :)

Tiger Cruise photos!!  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.755627264453116.107374195...

What a deal!  "Operation J.I.N.G.L.E. - Are you living on the ship, barracks, or a single Sailor PPV?  Is your family thinking about visiting Hampton Roads during the Christmas holiday?  Hotel rooms are available in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Dec 23 - 26, 3 nights, for $10 a night.  The entire reservation fee will be donated to the Navy-Marine Relief Society from the Hotel/Motel Associations and Convention and Visitors Bureaus of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.  Contact Loretta Russell, Norfolk Navy Marine Relief Society, 757-322-1175 or email at loretta.russell@nmcrs.org."

From US Navy Life on Facebook today…"Sailors depart the USS Kearsarge after arriving at Naval Station Norfolk. Welcome home, Sailors!"

WELCOME new member robtom59!, tell us about you and your sailor!

Hi, my name is Connie and my son will be arriving to the USS Kearsarge in June.  I am new to this and not really sure what to expect.  Any info about the ship or what to expect would be greatly appreciated:) 

Welcome new members!  Hopefully we'll be hearing from some "seasoned" Kearsarge moms.  It's been a while since my son was on the Kearsarge with his Fleet Surgical Team (he wasn't ship's company), but he had a great experience on her, on USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) and USS Wasp (LHD-1) and earned his Surface Warfare pin. I've toured two; they are literally awesome ships, second-largest after aircraft carriers.  I posted two videos above that give you a bit of life on the Kearsarge.

Some tips -

Sailors really like NavyRackPacks for their racks.  It's a darkening curtain with storage pockets that hangs inside their regular curtain in their rack, helps with sleep and provides much-needed extra storage.  Pat is the owner and she is great, so if you have questions email her.  Your sailor's last name is embroidered on it free, too. http://www.navyrackpacks.com

Be sure your sailor has a rechargeable AT&T "Ship to Shore" phone card for calling home.  (They just need the codes to use it, not the physical card.)  You can add time to it by calling the 800 # and recharging.  They can buy one at the NEX and give you the codes, or you can order online and keep it, whatever.  Here's the link, scroll down to see a single card:  https://shop.aafes.com/scs/Product.aspx?deptid=42000

You'll want to be added to the ship's Family Readiness Group, and the Ombudsman's list.  The FRG plans events and shares news.  The Ombudsman is the command's official liaison with families.  There is a Discussion above with info.

Here's a link to a Single Sailor Deployment Checklist:  http://www.vp4.navy.mil/deployment/Single_Sailor_Deploy_Checklist_F...

Care packages are how moms make it through deployment LOL  Use the USPS large size (12"x12'x6") priority boxes.  Regular or specially marked FPO/APO ones get the same discount rate.

The USPS will send to you, for free, a pack of 10 or 25 FPO/APO large-size priority boxes; and you can mail up to 70 lbs for the special military rate of $14.85 when you send to an FPO address.  Here's the link:  https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDo... and go to "Select Format" at right to choose 10 or 25.   (You get the same rate if you use the regular large priority box btw.)  Be sure to use the full nine-digit ZIP code when mailing to his FPO address or it won't get delivered.

The N4M group Care Package Ideas has a ton of good ideas in the Comments and in the Discussions, it's a fun group and we'll help you with getting familiar with customs forms (easy) - http://navyformoms.com/group/carepackageideas

New members!  A message today from the Kearsarge Ombudsman Team:

Good morning Kearsarge Family,
I hope you have all been doing well. There has been a very heavy turnover on Kearsarge in the past few months.

If you are a new family member to Kearsarge and have not already been added to our distribution list or if your contact information has changed, please email us the following information to kearsargeombudsman@gmail.com:

Your first and last name
Your Sailors first last name
Rate
Rank
Relation to your Sailor

When is the next Tiger Cruise?

I'm new to the group. My son is on the Kearsarge. He reported in June. Thanks for adding me. 

Iona

Did you tell the clerks the ship is not deployed? You shouldn't have to fill one out for mailing it stateside,

Even if a ship is stateside, I've heard some post offices will ask for it - frustrating.  If they insist and you can't get around it, not to worry, the customs form is simple.  

Just fill out the "From" section with your info, the "To" section with your sailor's name and the FPO address.  Be sure to use the nine-digit ZIP code, if you only use five-digit ZIP it will be returned to you.  Just write it in the lines, the FPO address doesn't conform to the spaces for city, state, zip etc but don't worry about it, they accept it any way you enter it. 

Then list the items, the number of each, and approximate value.  You don't need to be super-specific.  For example - Snacks……..3………….$10.00

Personal hygiene items…….2………$15.00

Total it up, mark the box at bottom "gift", sign and date.  To the right at the bottom, there is a section with several options under "If non-deliverable."  I always check the box "Redirect to" and write in "Deliver to ship chaplain" and figure they'll find him or vice versa.  Fortunately, I have never had a box not delivered to my sailor on a ship  :)  This is what the form looks like (at least, before the update with the sender's phone) so you get an idea:

Wishing a prosperous and peaceful New Year to everyone with a loved one on USS Kearsarge!  

Here's a heads-up for those who bank with Navy Federal Credit Union, posted today by Naval Operational Security (OPSEC) -

Be aware of a spear phishing campaign targeting users with a Navy Federal Credit Union account. There are multiple senders and the subject line of the malicious emails vary, but appear similar to "Account Alert," "NFCU Notification," "Notification Alert," or "Account Notification." The email contains an attachment that links to a phishing page.

OPSEC Best Practices: Verify links and sources of emails.

In the news today:  MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) composited as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), March 16, and will spend the next six months training with the U.S. Navy's Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group for a deployment this fall.  Full story:  https://www.dvidshub.net/news/157929/26th-meu-composites-future-dep...

My son is on the Kearsarge.  He just reported today.  Thanks for adding me.

Looking ahead! LOL  Here's a great article about homecoming traditions, and an infographic too -  "Return to Homeport: U.S. Navy Homecoming Traditions" 

Keep warm this season with new shirts available from the USS Kearsarge Family Readiness Group!  https://www.booster.com/frgforeveranchored?utm_source=fb_share_desk...

Fair winds and following seas!!  

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (KSGARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26 MEU) departed from Norfolk and Little Creek, Virginia and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct 6.

USS Kearsarge hosts steel beach picnic at sea:  https://www.dvidshub.net/news/181672/kearsarge-hosts-steel-beach-pi...  

Sailor Stepmom, see the Discussion above "Links to USS Kearsarge FRG, Ombudsman Team and official ship FB page." You can contact the Ombudsmen and see if your sailor has added you to their list.

Hi Everyone, I am Maryellen Peller and I am with a group called Heads At Ease. We Make and ship handmade pillowcases to our deployed Military. We are currently working on the USS Kearsarge and would like to know if any of the families would like to help. We are sending 1 pillowcase to each man and woman on the ship. We have already received the blessing from the command to send them. You can check us out on our N4M's page - Heads At Ease. If you would like to donate or help you can contact me @ mepeller@bellsouth.net or leave a message on our page. Thank You for your time in this matter, Fair Winds and Following Seas.

To all the valued members of USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Navyformoms.com is being updated and upgraded by the agency that oversees it, and part of this effort is making room for new members.  To do so, members who have not been active since 12/1/15 will be removed but will be able to re-join.  If you haven't posted since that date, please do so right away.  This is all part of an effort to make Navyformoms.com the best it can be for everyone, seasoned moms and new members alike.  Thanks and watch for good things to happen!