Nuke School Charleston

My husband, who is former military, warned me about giving advice to people about housing, moving and marriage in the military.

There is a wrong way, a right way, and a military way to move wives and rent houses.

Doing it the right way the military will pay for your move and most of the cost of you driving your cars and most ( perhaps all ) of your costs of setting up a household.

If you get in a hurry and do not follow the rules it will cost you both money and in a worse case damage a military career ( all though that is apparently unlikely ).

Example: my son received somewhere in the range of $1, 000 to $1,2000 dollars as compensation for the incidental expenses of setting up a household, and he was not even married.  That payment would be in addition to moving and other expenses.

Sailors must get permission from their commanders to get married, or even to bring their wives to their base and live with their wives.

The permission is almost automatic, but they can require them to receive training and counseling, prior to giving permission.  That can take days or even weeks.

I have never been a military wife. So, please do not get in too much of a hurry and just show up, but the more information you gather, the smarter the decision you will make.

My understanding, and this may be wrong, ( to maximize payments from the navy ) the sailor must get a liberty or leave to go back home and move himself and his spouse as part of his moving his household from place of enlistment to his first base.  But that may be wrong, in whole, or in part.

Enjoy the adventure.  You are only  young once :)

With Mother's Day this Sunday I thought that I would share this - I borrowed it from SoCalOhana back in January:

"I will cry without shedding tears, cringe without showing my fears, pray without moving my lips, dream always of incoming ships.....for I am the mother of a U.S.Sailor" Author Unknown

Hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day and big hugs to all of you!  :)

Happy Mothers Day!!

May God Bless you all!!

Micah's mom - have fun visiting with your sailor!  We were just there for A school grad (4/19) and had a great time.

Happy Birthday to your son!

hello all!!

micahs mom--tell him we all say "Happy Birthday!!"  enjoy your time!!

22 days until I head down to see my Sailor girl in Goose Creek.

Hi everybody,

My son is a nuke and in boot camp right now.  His PIR is 5/31/13!!  I am so excited!!  Then he will be heading to Goose Creek for A school!!

I am thinking about a watch as a gift for my son.  I think it is a great idea to let him shop for it.  That way he can select just what he wants, within reason.  = )  My son said that one thing that he'd like to do after PIR was to go shopping. Maybe we'll head to the Gurnee Mall close to RTC and look for a watch.  I'm not sure yet what we'll do.

I think there's about 15 nukes in his div.  My son said he and the other nukes from his div went to a nuke briefing about a week ago.  Also, a couple or so weeks ago, he said that the nukes had to have additional blood drawn, I guess just routine for the nuke program.

It has meant so much to be able to get on Navy 4 Moms and read about the same or similar things that I've been going through or thinking or feeling!!!!  It makes me remember that I am not going through this alone. 

I am so excited about going to PIR!!  I get to hug my son and try not to cry eyeliner onto his dress whites!!!! = )

Dan's mom - When was your son's PIR?  My son's PIR is 5/31/13.

Dan's mom - does the missing them get better?  Mine is just in bootcamp and I miss him so much. 

He put in as his 1st preference to be an Electronics Technician.  I do not know if he got it.  My understanding is that he will be in A school at Goose Creek for 6 months, then I think he will stay in A school for another 6 months for power school, then for prototype school, he will be at Goose Creek or Balsom Spa, NY.

What is the "dolphins" that you mentioned?

Correction -

Oops, I meant that "....he will stay in GOOSE CREEK for another 6 months for power school...."

Mom that loves her son -- "Dolphins" refers to getting your full submarine warfare qualifications.  the badge has two dolphins in it  See the logo for the Submarine Moms' group.

What is the average time it takes for sailors to phase up at A school? My boyfriend is in boot camp right now and I'm thinking about visiting him at A school in SC about a month and a half after he gets there, will he be able to go out on weekends by then? I'm still a little new to all this.

abnoelle (ship 13 div 239)

This May Help - Click Here

Links to the Above and Many other Things Here - Click Here

Thanks! So head should be phase two by the time I go then? (:

He*

GOT A CALL!! I am the mom of a Sailor and he will be an Electrical Tech in the NUKE program!! So proud of him!

hello all!!

bpatt--congrats!!!! tell him we are proud of him!!!!

My brother is graduating next week from A school (it went so fast!). Can  anyone recommend a nice and affordable hotel? I was only able to get leave for two days, so I'm going down the day before and coming back after graduation.

I've stayed there as well and never had any issues.  For the price and the distance to base - pretty good.

thank you!

Anyone here have a son in Class 1302-4? How do you know when they take their final exams before graduating from Power School? Is there a list of who graduates from that class? I never hear from my sailor and I want to surprise him for his graduation but the surprise will be mine if he doesn't graduate.

There is no list of graduates until you get to the PS graduation and get the program.  It is up to your sailor to let you know whether they passed or not.  Typically, they have their test only a couple days ahead of the graduation and things are pretty hairy, especially for those going on to Prototype immediately and have to get out of the barracks.  So... it could be that you will get a surprise - either for the good or the not-so-good.  We will be praying for the GOOD.

Hi moms (& all), My son is in nuke school, and I'm going to visit him in August. I got on here to see if anyone had hotel recommendations.. I see that Micha's Mom recommends the Quality Inn, so I'm going to look into that. Any other suggestions?

I'm going to be staying in the Marriott's Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston North/ University Area June 6-13.  It is just north of the base in a good area according to my brother who lives in Charleston.

hello all!

fresno---we have stayed at the foster creek villas.   your sailor may have to reserve it for you.   they are nice,  not sure how long you are staying.  they are on base.  they have one-three bedrooms.  

Fresno, I also recommend the Foster Creek Villas if you're interested in having a complete apartment, with full kitchen and laundry room for (usually) less than the cost of a hotel. We stayed there three times while our son was down there, and loved them. As Tina mentioned, your son will have to make the reservation, but you can talk to them first to see what's available, then just have him make the call.

britefuture- I am.. I'll be in GC sometime this evening.

MomThatLovesHerSon, this discussion in the Nuke moms group:

Your Sailor's Schedule Upon Arrival to GC!

should answer many of your questions.

For prototype, they can request one or the other, but there is no guarantee they will get it.

But they do CONSIDER their requests?

Yes, they seem to.

I mean, any words OF wisdom?

Hang in there,  I know it is tough and I am a Dad.  My son in through A school and half way through power school.  I am amazed at how much my son likes it there.  The indoc at Goose Creek is nothing like boot camp.  They have to wear uniforms but they can go eat fast foot, go to Best Buy, etc....  I would encourage you to do your best to encourage him and then set a date or a time to call so you have something to look forward to.  Some of the kids to not connect right away as they want to have a little freedom and it takes a while to get situated.  They have to get their rooms ready for inspection and go buy cleaning supplies and junk.

Hi MomThatLovesHerSon,

When I read your post, it sounded like I could have been the one to write it. (Except the crying on the phone when I was talking to him.  My son would have never let me live that down!)   I will just let you know, it does get better.

My son is starting Phase III of A School.  I have already driven down to see him twice.  He is absolutely loving it.  It is great to see him making friends, and being so dedicated to studying and doing well, and having fun.  So far, he has seemed to adjust to the Navy Life pretty well.

My best advice to you is to take it one day at a time.  I dread the time when he is out to fleet and on a submarine.  It will be months between the times I can communicate with him.  So right now, I am sitting back and trying to enjoy the ride. 

Try to focus on the positives and have pride in the fact that you have raised a great kid that is becoming a great man!  And remember, you are not alone in your feelings.  :)

I wanted to say, the Quality Inn was REALLY nice and we were extremely close to base. The hotel was really nice and upgraded our room too when we checked in. 

Wanted to share, got a text earlier today from my son who started A school on Mon. 6/10/13.  They were going to the beach today!  He is happy, content, confident.  That makes me feel better.

I am planning on going to see him on the Fourth of July weekend.

hello all!!

I am back from a weeks visit with our sailor.  we have fun!!  went to cypress gardens which is beautiful.   I also got to have a girls day with my daughter-in-law and her friend,. (I live with all guys so it doesn't happen much!)  we went shopping and walking around Charleston.