Nuke School Charleston

Crmom, They have a comprehensive exam (Comps) the Monday before graduation. My son called me that afternoon after he received his results. We didn't attend his A School graduation since we saw him over Memorial Day weekend when we drove his car to him. He told us not to come for his A School grad, but to come to his Power School grad in Feb 2012. I've read on the nukemoms group that if yoy can only attend 1 graduation, Power School is the one to attend.

crmom - I didn't attend A school grad.  Daughter in law sent me a quick pic of my son receiving his certificate and that was it.  She said that it was short, to the point.  I did make Power School graduation on 6/17 and really enjoyed it.  It was about 3 hours long and 400 + graduates.  Pretty impressive to see them all standing at attention, then parade rest along the walkway behind our seating area.  They came to the podium by sections and each name was called, shake hand, smile for mama's camera, shake a hand, pause and smile for mama's camera.  We were able to get really close to the stage area to get good pics.

I would highly recommend the PS grad.  Our funds are limited in our household so I chose PS over A school, and they were home the night of A school grad.

Does anybody know when they get leave over Christmas?  Also, do they all get leave at the same time or is it staggered.  My son will be in Power School then and my daughters boyfriend and  his best friend will be in A-School.  My daughter and her bf are planning on getting married over Christmas break so we are really hoping they can all be home at the same time.

Good Afternoon!  Question - I'm headed to GC July 21st to deliver my son's car to him.  We'll be in Charleston thru Sun. - leaving Mon. morning.  What kinds of things are available to do in the area?  I've heard about plantations, ghost tours, carriage rides.......  Are there things relatively cheap to do?  Any suggestions would be great!  Thanks!

Mama C~  I would suggest going to the Visitor Center on Meeting Street in Charleston.  It is an excellent place to find out what the city has to offer.  They sell tickets for all kinds of events and they are relatively inexpensive for what you get.  A month ago my sister and I paid $30 for a combo boat ride to see Fort Sumter and an additional 90 minute bus tour through the city.  In all it took up a good 4-5 hours of our day and it was great fun.  Enjoy!!

congrats Wagner's wife!  A new adventure awaits :)

I have a question, and I hope this is the appropriate place to ask.  My son's bc PIR will be August 5th (barring any unforeseen circumstances, heaven forbid!), and he is scheduled to leave for Goose Creek the next day.  When is the soonest we can expect to be able to see him after he arrives there?  We plan to drive there after graduation to give him his box of belongings, and I'm wondering if we should try to get there ASAP after PIR, wait a few days or not go at all if he won't be allowed to see us during that first week or two.  Any information or thoughts about this will be very much appreciated!

I look forward to getting to know many of you as my son enters Nuke school and throughout his experience there!

TEX my sailor originally thought he could leave about 11:00 after A school grad.  Then a few days before grad it was 4:00.  Then the day before grad it was back to 11:00.

The biggest thing I have learned since my son has been in the Navy is NOTHING is carved in stone.  I'm a list maker/checker offer and this lesson has been nearly impossible to learn, but I'm getting better about being flexible.

I booked my flight in to Charleston for his Power School grad with the understanding that he'd start leave after that grad.  I kept asking about his leave chit in case I had to adjust my fun budget to book a flight home instead of riding with him, because I know anything can change until they get that piece of paper in hand.  I was a shambles until he got that chit (had verbal approval).  He officially got the piece of paper AFTER graduation.

Who knew that the Navy (or any other branch of the military) doesn't follow the same calendar or clock that we do!!!

FYI for anyone who is interested:  There are free events at Ft. Moultrie this Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.  The normal entrance fee will be waived for the day.  It's to commemorate an assault on Morris Island's Battery Wagner, in Charleston Harbor.  There will also be some children's activities.  (Just got an e-mail on it yesterday.)

Hope there's some free stuff when we're there for power school grad.

Hi ladies,

Haven't been on here in a while because summer is busy busy for me. My sailor has been at GC since June and I'm finally planning a visit in 3 weeks. Any recommendations on what to do while I'm there? I keep Googling the area but it seems like everything that pops up are tourist attractions. I live in a tourist town myself so I'm not to keen on that. I'd love to have some ideas so we don't waste our precious time making plans. Thanks :)

We really enjoyed the Carriage Tour and Harbor Tour.  Lots of history and beautiful sights plus you SIT DOWN!!!!  We sat along the battery one evening and watched a full moon rise over the harbor while the breeze blew. (so relaxing). We enjoyed eating at The Noisy Oyster (my flounder was delish!!!)  We also popped in to A.W. Shucks for a meal.  It is such a beautiful town we are looking forward to going again before our sailor hits the fleet.  Palmetto Carriage Co. does a tour that takes you through the residential district BUT that tour stops at like 5 or 6 o'clock so the residents are bothered.  The houses are incredible.  Loved the Market!!!  wish I'd had unlimited funds, the grass baskets are gorgeous (with a hefty price tag)

My DIL took me to Marrington just to walk around and it was very peaceful and quiet with walking trails.

MJ214 - I was just in Charleston this past weekend - wonderful city!  Just as an FYI - and this is coming from a local that we met, plus she's former Navy and works on the base still - she said depending on where you plan on staying for hotel to make sure you stay more north up around Ladson, Summerville or Goose Creek area.  We stayed at the Clarion Inn on Dorchester Rd. and our friend said we weren't in the best of areas.  Hotel was fine, just the area was questionable.

On Saturday, we went to the Aquarium ($19.95/person for adults - if sailor buys tickets and shows ID it's a dollar discount for all tickets).  Then we parked downtown in a public parking garage ( we paid a total of $10 for parking all day) and walked the city.  We went down Market St. and shopped in the vending area - anything and everything is sold there - pretty amazing!  Then we walked down to the pier and walked along the Waterfront Park area, past the pineapple fountain and all the way down to Battery Park.  Really neat area - walked up Meeting St./Rainbow Row and saw all the historic houses - some you can walk thru.  We ate at A.W. Shucks - great food!  Be prepared to possibly share a meal - the portions are pretty good sized.  Try their side of Grits - very good! 
The USS Yorktown is across the bay from Waterfront Park and the Aquarium, also the Hunley (submarine).  Isle of Palms beach is a really nice beach - water was really warm!  We ate Sunday night at California Dreamin'.  It's right on the water and people actually dock their boats and go eat then leave by water.  My son has been to the Noisy Oyster and loved it too! 
Like TN Navy Mom said, there's always a Carriage Ridge and Harbor Tours, but those can be somewhat expensive. 

Depending on how much time you have, you'll have to pick and choose what you want to see.  One weekend is NOT enough time to see everything.  Next time we'll go do other things like Patriot's Point or Fort Moultrie or Harbor Tour.

The BIGGEST advice I can give you is to MAKE SURE you have a GARMIN with you and to know how to use it!  We didn't go anywhere without ours.  The roads are kinda crazy and right now there's construction going on, so things are a bit turned around. 

Hope your visit to see your sailor is an awesome one and hopefully it won't be so hot as it was when we were there - 95 degrees with humidity of at least the same!  Take water wherever you go - you'll need it!

Have a blast!

Thanks Mama C! I'm looking at a hotel near the airport/Tanger Outlet center. It's right in between base and downtown. I'm not too picky so I should be OK.

I'm definitely going to look into those restaurants and check out rainbow row/meeting street. We're both early risers/late to bed so I hope we can fit in a lot of what we want to do. Thanks so much for all the advice. I can't wait to be down there. And as for the weather, it's been 95-100 with humidity here too...yuck! But at least I'm used to it!

MJ214 - Across the street from the outdoor vender area on Market St. is a Visitor's Center.  They have alot of brochures and a map of the city, so you can see right where you are and where you want to go.  Everything is marked and the different brochures have prices on them, I believe.  Sometimes certain attractions come in package deals or you can do them ala carte.  We just walked because we ran out of time.

Tanger Outlet area is nice - lots of good stuff there.  Have a wonderful time and give lots of hugs and take lots of pictures!

Hi wamomofchris(7/290),

I was worried too when I first heard about the reality of failure rate in the Nuke program. My SRs recruiter made it sound like it was only 10%, so I was shocked when I found the N4M website and read what's really happening! It seems like it's a little bit above 50%. We are really going to have to be their positive support team and help them through it. They can do it!! Is your SRs PIR 9/1?

Thanks Penny!

I'm sure I'll take you up on your offer to come ask questions :) It's sad if it's something like underage drinking taking these young sailors out of the program. I hope that lots of encouragement, in every way, will help our SRs get through to become Nukes!