Moms/Dads/Families with Nukes in Ballston Spa, NY

Happy Thursday!

I know there is a PT graduation tomorrow - Bravo Zulu to all those graduating and to those that are attending - Have a great time with your Sailor!

Yeah MichianaMom!  Welcome to Ballston Spa!  I think we have a pretty big group heading this way.....I hope everyone's ready for the cold! (That is one thing about BS that my son is not enjoying LOL!)

Happy RED shirt Friday!

Hi All - Happy Monday!

SlezaksMom - I'm thinking his class # would be before 1401.  My son's is 1401 & he didn't start proto until 4/14/14.

Wishing all of them success!  Keep us updated ;-)

Bravo Zulu!

Wendy - keep us posted on when your son takes his boards.

I have heard of some sailors go up there and then not be able to start for months.  It all depends on the situation going on there at the time.  Just know that regardless of when it starts, they will keep him busy doing something.  And regarding how many do not make it - like it was said before, it just all depends.  There are some classes that go thru unscathed, and then there are some that get hit fairly hard.  It all depends on the individual sailors.  Some bust their butts to make sure they get thru and others struggle from day one in spite of busting their butts.  Some do so much better with book learning and others excel at the hands-on learning.  Prototype is 7 weeks of books and then the rest is hands-on and being tested over that.

Hi Anna and welcome! 

In my sons case he arrived 1/13/14 and didn't start proto classes until 4/14/14.  He took his 50% exam in early July and as of right now still doesn't have a grad date.  Technically if everything would have been running smoothly it would have been coming up soon, but it's moved to Oct, then Nov and now maybe December!  Just depends when everything falls into place so to speak!  He started out in MARF & then they moved his class to S8G (some kind of delays but they can't really say - OPSEC). (Those are the 2 different plants in BS.)

As Penny said the first 7 weeks is books and then the hands on begins.  My son is still waiting for the hands-on to begin!

I've heard of a handful of sailors being dropped for various reasons.....I don't know what portion it is though.  Proto is a different set of challenges than A school & power school.  Before it was classroom setting - M-F pretty much 8-5.  Now it's classroom then hands-on, 7 days straight, rotating shifts with little time off in between.  The key is for them to find a balance & somehow make it work!  It can be done ;-)

Read "A Sailors Perspective of Prototype from 2009" above.  It will give you an idea of what they are going through.

Of course we will do our best to answer questions (& help to alleviate your concerns!).  The nuke mom's group is still probably the best place to get answers as there aren't a whole lot of us on this page, but there's a few of us here who can help out - Penny's son is staff so she has lots of knowledge.  There's another mom on here whose son is also staff - why am I drawing a blank on her name right now?! Oh I think it's NancyJo!  Anyhow, welcome and try not to worry and of course be prepared to hurry up & wait! LOL

B'sNukeMoM, I'll let you off the hook since these days I mostly lurk...I read but don't say much. Totally unlike if you knew me face to face! :^D

My son is staff at the MARF plant until December when he will finally get to his ship. What everyone has said is true, they work shifts and it's pretty wearing on them. They learn to balance work and play.

If I had one word of advice it would be to not be shy when you go after signatures in Proto. It's good if you can get a study buddy and try to work together when possible. When they start and get the book of what needs signatures it seems almost impossible but they can do it.

Hang in there, Anna. Your sailor will figure it out. And we are here for you.

Thanks for popping in NancyJo!  I knew you were around ;-)

In addition to being assertive about getting signatures, as NancyJo states, the other HUGE thing is going out and getting some black out curtains for the bedroom so they can sleep in the middle of the day.  It will take a huge adjustment to getting used to sleeping all hours of the day and switching it up every 7 ish days but they really have to learn at the end of 7 days to do everything in their power to make it an environment for rest and quickly starve their bodies of sleep so when it is appropriate to sleep their bodies are ready.  Otherwise once they start up the next shift they will be behind the 8-ball and be extremely tired, irritable, irrational, and unable to concentrate on what they need to be learning. 

Thanks for the tips. I did get him black out curtains right away and it is very helpful, Congrats to those that have passed their boards and are finally graduating. What a long process it has been for this group with all the shutdowns. 

bethr311, well done for your son! I know how proud you feel. It's a long, hard road but he did it. Hooyah! Does he know what's next?

Aw Wendy - sorry he's not closer to home, but nice that your sister & her family will be close to him.  Guess you'll have to plan at trip to CT - I hear it's nice!

Getting close for those of you heading to graduation on Friday!

Pack your warm clothes!!!

beth, that's where my son is going! he won't report until Jan. They have a terrific group here on N4M, and while I do this more than Facebook, their captain posts wonderful videos and pics there so join there also. Yea!

Wow - how exciting for all of you - bethr311, 5Sailor1AirmanFam & Wendy4Cody!  All of you with sailors graduating on Friday.  Bravo Zulu!  Doing the Happy Dance for all of you!

bethr311 - the same offer I made to Nancy Jo stands for you & your sailor.  We are just about an hour from San Diego so if your sailor ever needs anything or if you make it this way for a visit please do not hesitate to contact me!  I always love to meet other Navy Mom's ;-)

5Sailor1AirmanFam - does your sailor have orders yet?

Hope everyone has a great day!

Kathy - that's awesome that your son will be at the same place as your husband!

Slezaksmom - that's awesome! Glad everything worked out. Enjoy graduation tomorrow - hugs to you & your sailor ;-)

Wendy - glad you made it there safe! Have a great time tomorrow! Hugs to you & your sailor too ;-)

That made my tear ducts leak, Wendy.  I am so thankful for angels out there that are put in our path.  Enjoy your day tomorrow - I loved (and attended) both graduations up there back in 2012.

Happy RED shirt Friday!  Can't wait to hear from everyone how graduation went.