Nuke School Charleston

Definately NO to the phone and laptop in GL.  Sorry, but that is the way they are.  I know some people would get these lock boxes that are available new by, but then they have to find a way to get there to get them.  What a pain.  With my son we just waited till he got to Goose Creek.  If you know for sure, you could time it just right and mail his stuff like a couple of days before he gets there.  His address will be Class:  Indoc.  so very easy to send stuff ahead of time and have it get there right about when he does.  My son got there the day before Veteran's day, so they had it off for the holiday.  He went right out and bought himself an ipad, which he had been wanting anyway, so he had instant communication until we sent his laptop and phone.

I don't know about him getting to come home for Christmas.  I mean, I would think so because there would really be nothing for them to do but sit around.  He won't have trained for watch duty yet, by then, so can't even do watch, and even if classes were to start right before Christmas, they still have the 2 week stand down, so I would think he could come home.  but if he got there the 11th, he'd still have to do indoc briefings and that takes a week, so classes woudln't start before the standdown.  i tell you, if he would be flying, and if Southwest Airlines comes your way, I'd book him on that because they have no change fees.  So if he ends up not coming you can just use that fare for a future flight.  Maybe someone knows already what days the stand down will be.  Since New year's day is on a Sunday, I would think they would have to be back to start on Monday the 2nd, but you just never know for sure.

I meant "near by"

pmgcakes- which section was your son in for Power School?  Just wondering if he and my son were in class together.  My son is MM.  He said some of his friends are leaving next week, or so, to head to NY for prototype before the rest of them.  Of course my son is on medical hold now since he had ankle surgery 4 weeks ago, so we don't know if he'll head up there with the rest of them, maybe in Feb., or not.

Hi Kat, he is a MM also, 1104/9 - sorry to hear about your son's ankle surgery, how is he feeling?  hopefully he will head up soon. 

pmgcakes - are you on our facebook nuke moms? 

If not, I will send you a friend request on N4M to tell you about the ankle, if you don't know.  I am sure everyone else is tired of hearing about it.  It's been a long process.  My son was 1104-11.  Which A school was your son?  Maybe they had that together.  Mine was 1107B.

I would enjoy being part of the FB also.  I have so much to learn about the next part of my SR's journey.  (Hopefully this time tomorrow I can stop calling her an SR and call her "Sailor!!") 

Peggy, I sent you a friend request on facebook so I can try to add you to the Nuke moms.

wvnavymom - private message me your facebook name so i can friend you there too.

just sent you my info Kat

Penny - I would have loved to meet you!  I saw lots of families picking up and dropping off their sailors and wondered if any of them were my N4M friends.  

Peggy - if he stays in GL, he will be put in THU (temporary holding unit) and YES, he can have his cell phone and laptop.  My son's PIR was 11/10/11 and he didn't ship out right away because some of his paperwork was misplaced.  He had to stay there until they found it.  He was there for about a week, and he had his cell phone, books, and other random personal things.  It's only if they are still in bootcamp that they can't have personal items.  

I would also like to be part of the FB group.

Good to know navyboundkid.  you have had the experience so you definately know.  send me a private message and I can friend you on facebook to add you to the group.

good morning all!!!

i hope you all have a bright and beautiful day!!!

Hi Tina:

Thanks for the warm welcome (if but 8 hours later).  Am in GC and have my Nuke son asleep in the bed in our hotel room.  Almost like home!!  :)

good morning everyone!!

hope you all have a wonderfully bright and beautiful day!!!

Peggy, I just messaged you.  accept my friend request on fb.

So my son has been in nuke school in Charlston for about 5 months now. He came home for Thanksgiving, which was soooo awesome to see him and he will be here for Christmas too! I was just looking for gift ideas for him because it's not like they have a lot of room to keep things there or much room to carry things back on the plane too. Anyone have any ideas?

Hi Karleen - My son's been there since 11/19 and is coming home next Thursday...OMG I can't wait. I've been trying to figure out what to get him too...and am going to "fall back" on the gift cards...a friend gave me the link for NEX gift cards which I think is totally awesome (https://shop.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx). I'm also considering Subway, Walmart, a Kindle, and maybe just some general VISA gift cards that he can use anywhere. I hope to come up with some other ideas before Christmas too.  Hope these can help at least somewhat.

The NEX gift card is a great idea! Thanks for the link. I'm going to check that out!

I will add that my son LOVES itunes cards, Best Buy cards, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, and Firehouse subs (both by the mall and frequented by our sailors).  he has also enjoyed Olive Garden cards, Hooters cards, Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, and McDonalds.

Another great item that they probably won't buy themselves are the really good razors with the refill cartridges.  They shave so much and the disposables seem to be irritating to them.  I keep him supplied in the good ones when I get them on sale and with coupons for free or nearly free.  I have a stash at home for all of us.  I even put one in a stocking for his roommate that I sent them.

thanks for some gift ideas!!  i was having a little trouble too!   i know the razors seem like a really good idea.  my son was just telling me he has to shave everyday.   another gift card could be taco bell.   one of my sailors favorites!

Even more great ideas...thanks Kat!

Tina41-check to see if Taco Bell is near there.  I am not sure I have ever seen one in that area.  The mall is named Northwoods Mall, and you can pull up a list of restaurants and stores in the area.

I also got my son one of the visor clips, for his truck, that says Please Protect this Sailor.  and a pocket coin of St Michael. He already wears a St. Christopher medal and a cross so I got other things that he could use in different ways.  Also, I haven't sent it yet, and I may wait until Valentine's day, but I got this fairly small remote control helicopter.  Was thinking it could be fun to get him out, like to the beach or something, so he could fly it, and I got one of those games that is kind of like Simon, where you follow the pattern of the lit up colors and numbers to test your memory skills.  Just something simple to pick up and play with every now and then.  Not expensive. 

and of course they always like the toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash, dental floss picks, etc.

Oh, and I know that my son bought his own, but this could be a good idea for a gift card at Target, to get an ironing board and iron for their room.  I know, my son is kind of into having his own stuff for his convenience, but it is easier than waiting your turn to use the ones they have there.  And he got himself a thick mattress pad to make his bed more comfy.

Hello, I'm Amber I'm engaged to a Machinist's Mate. He is in A school right now, haven't seen him since he graduated boot camp October 14th, can't wait to see him this Wednesday for Christmas leave. I'm new to this site and thought I would join because I love to soak up as much info as I can about this stuff :)

good morning!!

amber----welcome again!!  i am in this group too!

Great ideas for Christmas gifts. My son comes in tomorrow night! Can't wait!

Hehe Kat, my sailor took his remote control helicopter back to GC with him last time he was home on leave in July. Bet it's the same as the one you got for your sailor. Haven't heard about it recently, it probably crashed and burned by now with all the abuse he was giving it lol...

Less than 24 hrs now and I will be picking him up :) I'm so excited that I'll get to be in his arms again. Christmas is going to be great this year cuz it will be spent with him!

Amber...enjoy enjoy enjoy! 

I have 1 day 15 hours...we're going to pick my mother up at daycare...Cameron will be wearing his uniform...she's going to completely freak out! Can't wait!

My son will be arriving at the airport in 3 1/2 hours for a short Christmas holiday with us and I can't wait!! :)

I very much will :) I'm officially gonna get "the ring" and we are gonna road trip from California to Charleston because he has to drive his truck back there. It's going to be pretty awesome, can't wait to see him tmrw in his blues :)

My sailor is also traveling in dress blues, arriving in about 1.5 hours. Can't wait for my bear hug. :)

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY FOR EVERYONE THAT ALREADY HAS THEIR ARMS AROUND THEIR SAILOR!!!!!  My turn in 22 hours. Ohboyohboyohboy!

my sailor will be home in less than 24 hours!!     HOOYAH!!    i wish everyone a wonderfully blessed and merry christmas!!!   

good morning!!!

my son is home!!!   I thank God for his blessing!!

may God Bless everyone and your families and may you have a Very Merry Christmas!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

may God bless you and your families through this new year!!

hello all!!

hope everyone is doing good!! 

Hello all! It's been AWHILE since I have been on here...I just wanted to let ya'll know that I am one of the two ombudsman at NPTU. If you have any questions...please ask!! :0)

Juliann- I have a question my fiance and I want to get married right after BC but I was told he needed to check into School and then as his Commander if he can, Have they ever said no to some one? Im worried that they wont let him. . .

Hey! sorry for the delay, I am looking into this so I don't give you any wrong information. I should be able to let you know by tomorrow evening..  :0)

Juliann- Its ok take ur time. They gave him a number I could call to ask but no one answered and I left a message but never got a call back. . .

just curious, what number was it?

The number they gave me is 843-574-8033

Juliann - a question for you.  We have all become aware that for the most part the quality and variety of the food on base is beyond poor.  Many of the kids are spending extreme amounts of money to go out and eat when they should be able to eat on base.  At this time last year, I heard that they were provided nice sack breakfasts that they could run in and grab to take to class since they had very little time, and that no matter what, you could find something good to eat at lunch and dinner.  Even heard they'd get crab legs and fried shrimp sometimes.  But evidently there was a change in vendors or something and now any quality of breakfast is non existant for most of them, and the food, when they can get it after standing in line for almost their entire lunch time, is cold, lumpy, probably has been sitting out longer than should be at the wrong temperatures, portions are small, etc.  Some students aren't eating all day long, then at the end of the day they have to go out and find something to eat when they are exhausted and have been pumped full of caffeine all day long with no food.  It just seems like in this environment the qualifty of food would be very important to ensure that these kids get some proper nutrition for what they are dealing with in the classroom.  If they are saying that the food in bootcamp was much better, it kind of makes us wonder.  Is this something that you could check into?

I am also concerned about our kids eating habits. I have heard that the line for lunch is often 25 minutes and they are only allowed 30 minutes for lunch. I would hope they should be offered a well balanced meal on base. I have little confidence that they would make the right choices when foraging on their own. It is well documented that poor diet contributes to stress in addition to other health issues. All of the Moms out here feel the need to do something to fix things for our kids. Please help us do what we can.

Count me in on that!  My son also commented that the food in boo camp was better.  His main complaint is that the mess hall hours are bad. He usually has to eat dinner out.  Our solution was Subway gift cards and stocking him up on cereal and microwave chili when he was home at the holidays.  If he was off at college he would be paying for, and living on, pizza and whatever; so he just shrugs it off.  What I hate is all the energy drinks they live on.  Something called C4.  If you read the ingredients it is nasty, not to mention they all overdose on the stuff.

Regarding food at GC, my son says that the salad bar is all fat free dressings (which about made him gag) but the food service is very high fat.  Double bacon cheese burgers, chicken with cheese, etc.  He eats breakfast there out of necessity and lunch but rarely and only out of desperation does he eat dinner there.  Most of his meals are eaten outside of base and taking a huge toll on his paycheck!

Does anyone know if there is someone we can call or write regarding improving the quality of food & reducing the wait time?

My son also mentioned that the food is very bad, and he is not a complainer.  I am really concerned because the quality (and availability!) of their food is going to have a significant impact on morale.  And mental health.  And physical health.  From what I've heard, this group doesn't need things to be any harder on them than they already are.  Please please please feed them better.