Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

1316 members

For families and friends of Sailors who are stationed at Norfolk; for either Sea Duty or Shore Duty Sailors. Just make sure to keep OPSEC issues in mind and not disclose ship movements in advance.

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polli k

Well the deployment that my daughter liked was to Central & So. America after a natural disaster. She even loved being in Columbia where they did their work under armed guard. Of courseshe was part of ship's security at the time and alway did like the guns..Even arirsoft.. Probably why she loved being an AO

Mar 28, 2011
Janae' *My Love is HOME :)*

FI.. Gator, you are so very welcome. I am always glad to help.

Mar 28, 2011
ckmom

Lehigh, My son is on his way to relieve the Kearsarge, it will be interesting to hear about the stories. You will have to keep me posted.

Mar 29, 2011
polli k

My son in law is part of the 26th MEU out of LeJuene I hope that he is not going to be gone but if he is I knowwe can all handle it. We already go through him being in Afganistan for 10 mos. This time if he has to go guess I will have two more people at my house as I told my daughter that she and the 17 month old grandson to come home to Mamma! Will have to wait and see what happens.

Mar 29, 2011
Fl..GATOR

Oh yea!! My whole family are gator fans!!!

Mar 29, 2011
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

Just learned of this, looks like a good thing for our sailors!

Friends and family can create a free Rocketlife 20-page (60 photo), cargo-pocket size personal photo book and the USO ships it to any APO, FPO or MPO address, all for free!
http://www.uso.org/uso_rocketlife_photo_books.aspx
or go directly to http://uso.rocketlifeproduction.com

Mar 31, 2011
dms

that would of been nice to know months ago ill save this info on the photo book for my sailors next deployment and i can pass it on to the Bataan

Apr 3, 2011
ckmom

Thanks dms, My sailor is on the Bataan.

Apr 3, 2011
dms

yes i figured my sailor is on the kearsarge

Apr 3, 2011
dms

welcome to the group

Apr 3, 2011
dms

if you google the ship you can read latest info and read all kinds of info about the ship size,past missions etc...

Apr 3, 2011
diannep

Question, ladies. for any experienced moms out there. RE: my sailor's driver license/car insurance/registration. He is using my FL home address as his permanent address, and is licensed/insured/registered in FL. That is presenting some problems with my insurance rates. Plus it is expensive for him since South FL insurance rates are ridiculous. I need for him to be licensed/insured/registered in VA. Is that possible to do with just having a ship address as his "home" address? Does anyone know?

Apr 3, 2011
duhhuh58 Ship 10/Div 267

he needs to call USAA (it's primarily for military) and they should be able to answer his questions. i don't see why he can't get insurance in va.

https://www.usaa.com

1-800-531-USAA (8722)

Carol

Apr 3, 2011
diannep

Thanks, Carol. I actually have accounts with USAA and had already emailed them, but since it's the weekend, haven't heard back. Thanks so much!

Apr 3, 2011
dms

i read the summit this morning anyone else? good news

Apr 4, 2011
ckmom

Whats the summit?

Apr 4, 2011
dms

the uss kearsarge news paper

Apr 4, 2011
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

Jo, I'm assuming you mean flags on sticks that folks can wave like crazy as the ship arrives? Sounds nice! Perhaps he could write the ship name on each so they become a memento (can't write the date as arrival dates can change up to the last minute).

Apr 4, 2011
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

My son is stationed out of Norfolk. He bought his car from an individual via the classifieds (had it checked by a local mechanic & got the Carfax first) & registered it in VA, which is not his home state by the way. Important: Virginia waives their annual personal property tax fee for active military; they have to provide info & LES statements, so be sure your sailor takes care of this. Annual vehicle inspections cost $16. His car insurance is with USAA & I was amazed at how low the cost is.

Apr 6, 2011
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

He lives off base in an apartment, not in barracks, but I would think the barracks address would work... I'm not sure what address USAA bases his insurance on (home state or VA). USAA folks are always super-helpful and deal with all these questions re the military all the time (as does the Virginia DMV in that area) so why not give them a call and ask for an advisor? USAA 800-531-8722.

The DMV (phone (804) 497-7100) has a good page here:

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/vehiclereg.asp

RE personal property tax: "Any person who is active in the military is exempt from taxation if his/her home of record is outside Virginia pursuant to The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, as amended. However, the vehicle must be registered in the name of the active military person only. If the vehicle is jointly owned and the co-owner is non-military, the vehicle is taxable."

Apr 6, 2011
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

No problem, it's so good we have this group to share what we learn along the way! I found out about the tax exemption here on N4M, and though my son had already paid it, he was able to get a refund - that was a happy day :)

Apr 6, 2011
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

cshore, do you have a Power of Attorney for your daughter? It's helpful when you want to talk to the bank on her behalf. I got a form that was offered free on an attorney's website here in our state, retyped it with our info and my son signed it/got it notarized at a bank in Norfolk. We filed it with USAA (also with his apt management) and it's been handy. It takes USAA two weeks to review and approve it, by the way. Whether they're on deployment or just working long hours, it can be helpful to have mom get on the phone and take care of stuff.

Apr 6, 2011
dms

I have one for my sailor for all accounts and the auto the banks must have a copy of the POA in their possession before anything can be done. i had to fax a copy to her bank just to deposit a check, that took weeks

Apr 6, 2011
dms

my sailors auto is on base in storage it is up on jacks and they start the engine up every 2 months

Apr 6, 2011
Lrose27

Hello everyone! My husband is serving onboard the USS Ponce. We have been here in Hampton Roads for 10 years. We have 2 children. I also served in the Navy for 6 years. I am hoping to connect with other familes to talk or hang out and to give or get advice. Happy to be a part of this group!

Apr 6, 2011
ckmom

Karen my son did the same thing. We have it in the garage with a car cover over it. Thats his baby!!LOL His mind is at ease knowing his car is ok while on a long long deployment.

Apr 7, 2011
ckmom

Karen, there's nothing wrong with that, he's very smart.

My son been driving a 1996 ford pickup since he's been 16 that was my husband truck and just kinda claimed it. Took very good care of it. Great shape, drove it down to Pennsacola for him to have in A school. Then he drove it home before he went to Jacksonville for C school. I think the gas mileage killed him. While he was home on leave looked for a different car, and found a 2005 mustang he fell in love with. So now we have his Mustang next to my husbands 1972 Mach1 Mustang, and he wants his truck park in there also out of the weather. lol KIDS

Apr 7, 2011
dms

welcome to everyone

Apr 7, 2011
dms

I am in CA originally from CO my husband served 20 yrs in the army. went through desert storm while we were stationed in germany. both our children we born in germany. our sailor just decided one day to join. we were shocked. she was disappointed with how the dental office she worked at tied the children down to perform procedures and the children would be scared and screaming

Apr 7, 2011
dms

so thought a job in the navy would be better but found out civilians are dental assistants so she chose to M1A1 our sailor is happy

Apr 7, 2011
dms

police

Apr 7, 2011
dms

still can't get comfortable with my daughter carrying a 9mm

Apr 7, 2011
dms

our sailor has a toyota scion will be happy to have it right there. when she is off the ship

Apr 7, 2011
dms

welcome to our group

Apr 8, 2011
dms

yes my husband works on a post in CA and he told me he could be out of work for up to 3 weeks He already has a salary freeze for 2 years. we just save as much money as we can

Apr 8, 2011
Ken-55 (OS Dad)

Hello! . . . my son's PIR was 2/18/11 and he's currently in A-school at Great Lakes. He's an OS. Just got his orders to report to Norfolk after graduation. He's assigned to the USS Anzio. N4M was a great help to get us through boot camp. I'm hoping that this group will be as helpful during his deployment(s). ;-)

Apr 9, 2011
dms

Hello and welcome

Apr 9, 2011
angelicasailorsmom

Thank you Karen I will ask my son tomorrow I beleive he does!

Apr 10, 2011
Ken-55 (OS Dad)

Thanks all for the welcome!

Karen, my son's played hockey since he was little, Navy parents are a lot like hockey parents. ;-)

I'm a member at NavyDads also, but I've found N4M's a great place to hang and get info. N4M made PIR easy . . . it was as if I had been there before, I knew what to expect. As soon as I knew my son was going to Norfolk I came here looking for a Norfolk group.

I've applied to join the family web at www.anzio.navy.mil , would that be the best place to get/share info about deployment? I'm aware of the importance of OPSEC, but I'd like to know what my son's up to! ;-)

Apr 10, 2011
TJ's Mom

Hi All,

My son is aboard the USS Leyte Gulf. He will be stationed in Norfolk when he returns. He wife is looking a place for them to live. They would like to live in the Virginia Beach area. Can anyone suggest apartments or townhomes community that are in a nice and save area?

Thanks in advance for any help and I hope you have a great rest of the weekend!

Apr 10, 2011
dms

I read that virginia beach is a good place to live

Apr 11, 2011
SubWife2011

Yes, VA Beach is a good place to live, but so is Chesapeake, Yorktown, Hampton, and Portsmouth. I would never choose to live in the City of Norfolk, that area is just to sketchy.

Apr 11, 2011
SubWife2011

If anyone has any questions about the area feel free to ask me, I grew up in the area and still live here until this summer.

Apr 11, 2011
SubWife2011

It will be a little more expensive to stay at the ones on the beach depending on what time of the year you come. But I am not too familiar with the hotels on that side of the water sense I have not had to stay in a hotel here.

Apr 11, 2011
Fl..GATOR

Hi, I need help again!!!! LoL Is there a map of bldgs. of Norfork base on line? Looking for Grogan(sp?) hall address on base? Thanks

Apr 11, 2011
TJ's Mom

cshore7222, Was the Navy lodge clean and nice? I am thinking about staying there for homecoming.

Apr 11, 2011
dms

yes i saw pictures that a navy mom took it is remodeled and looks very nice

Apr 11, 2011
Sue(Daniel's Mom)

My husband and I stayed at the Navy Lodge and it was very nice. The phone # I have is 1-800 Navy Inn. If you call they will need your sons/daughters name and rate. They will book the room in the Sailors name and he/she will have to be with you when you check in. We felt that the rate was reasonable $64 to $74 per night depending on what type room you get. The Navy Lodge is just down the road from the base. It only took our son about 5 minutes to get from the base to the lodge. Oh, mu husband was not able to view it on the Net either. So calling might be your best bet. Good Luck !!!

Apr 11, 2011
Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

I put all the Navy Lodge info plus photos in the Discussions area up top a few weeksago...it's #7 on p. 1.

Apr 11, 2011
dms

my sailor wrote me this am back from liberty from the historic place you can get real italian food

Apr 12, 2011