Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

You may want to go through the Red Cross or his chaplain. The Navy really watched over and helped my sailor when my dad passed away. I was glad someone was with him, my sailor, to make sure he was ok and not alone. His command didn't let him be alone for many hours, maybe a day. Something to consider.

Thank you all so very much for the suggestions! I contacted the ombudsman, who contacted his command and my sailor called me!! They've been unable to use their cell phones. I'm now on the ombudsman AND the FRG email tree and I joined the IKE Family NavyforMoms group. This group is awesome and you guys ROCK!!

creolemommy,

One of the sailors who comes over to our house on the weekends is up in Newport News. I'll ask him tonight and get back to you

Is your son married?

I'm asking because my husband and I invite sailors over to our house on the weekends. We feed them and play board games on Saturday evenings and on Sunday we have a regular Sunday dinner with homemade bread and dessert. If you think he might be interested, we can pm you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

My son just got to Norfolk on Sat. He has been going to chowhall to eat. but he thought as well as I he didn't have to pay but got charged today. Did hego to wrong mess hall or does he need to talk to someone

Just found about he has no money in bank...kids in the morning I going to put money in his bank

Texasmom79,

My son was stationed at Norfolk for almost 2 1/2 years and as far as I know there was so to speak a chow hall it was more like a small restaurant that cooked breakfast and lunch and if I remember correctly my son says it was like $5.00 for breakfast and that was just one plate. He had to eat out everyday and believe me it showed in his bank account. I know all to well about having to put money in the bank account, but its a shame that they have to go out to eat instead of being provided food at no charge. On the sub my son didn't have to pay, but he was on shore duty the whole time except for a few weeks.

abuon18: he lives in barracks and he is in the HSC9 sqardon i dont know if is shore duty i do know when he ships out in Dec. he text last night told me NOT to send money he is stubborn husband and i check his bank last night $4 uggg!! going to call the bank when open see how i can put some in his Navy aco.

If his barrack is like my son's in Norfolk they have a small kitchen and my son cooks for himself. 

This is my understanding of how meals work throughout the military, someone who knows better, please correct me if I am wrong. EVERY sailor gets a monthly basic allowance for subsistence (BAS), currently $369.29 for enlisted and $253.63 for officers. This is a tax-free allowance that they get in addition to their base pay. It is intended to cover food/meals.

IF they are assigned to a barracks or onboard a ship where they are expected to eat all or substantially all of their meals in the galley/chow hall, the Navy will deduct almost all of their BAS and issue them a meal card to use in the galley/chow hall.

if your son does not have a meal card, then he should still have the additional $368 BAS from which he's expected to buy his food/meals whether he eats in the chow hall or anywhere else.

He can check his LES (Leave & Earnings Statement) to see if Discounted Meals are being deducted. If they are deducting for meals, and he doesn't have a meal card, he should bring this up with his Section leader or HR, otherwise, he may just need to work out a more disciplined financial budget.

TexasMom, I just noticed you said your son only arrived there on Saturday. If he's coming from a training command, or someplace where he had a meal plan, and is now expected to pay from his BAS, it may take awhile for payroll to catch up, but he should be covered from the day he gets there. 

Hi, NavyMomofOne. My AG has been there since a year ago October. What rate is your son? How does he like it so far?

Hey! My son arrived in Norfolk on 2/11 and is staying on his ship (USS Gerald Ford). He's in IT and has one friend from IT School with him. He's very independent so I don't get too many questions (or answers, for that matter!) from him. But I did like the CAR FAQs and gave him that info. since he does have his SUV with him. His brother is in the Navy on the West Coast but calls or texts when he can. He's been in for 2-1/2 years. Most of my friends thought I would go thru changes due to the "empty nest" but I kind of like it! My husband enjoys it when they're home on leave and when they go back to base. 

For all you new moms,

My husband and I have been here for the last almost 16 years opening our home on the weekends for sailors(soldiers and marines too) to come over. We feed them and play board games, sometimes mini golf, weather permitting. We've gone to re-enactments, the circus, Williamsburg on Veterans day and Busch gardens. We like to give them a place to hang out if they want to come. If you think your sons or daughters would be interested, let them know about us and we can pm you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

P.S. My husband spent 20 years in the Navy: 10 years enlisted and 10 years as a Navy Chaplain.

Good evening.

Nice that your sailor has a friend with him. They seem to have a hard time adjusting to a new station, not that many of us are open to change. I would be nervous I know.

I don't get many questions or answers either. My sailor is quite the introvert, even with us.

I am nervous about the empty nest. I have a 23 year old that lives maybe 15 minutes away from us and works with my husband and a 14 year old still at home besides our sailor.

With one in the Navy you must have known a little of what to expect. I had no idea when I put my "baby" on the plane to go to BC what I would be in for. I am hoping he makes a career out of it though.

Is Norfolk your sailor's first duty station? Is he adjusting? How does he like Norfolk? Must be crazy to have one on each coast. What state do you live in?

My son just arrived in Norfolk last night for his first official Navy Duty after BC. He will be stationed on the USS Wasp. Are there any other Mother's with sailors on the USS Wasp?

I know as parents we raised him to not be dependent on us and to Fly the Nest. I am so proud of his choices but as a Mom with her oldest child gone, I miss him terribly and wish he was back home with me. I can understand why Mothers have a midlife crisis during this time in there life. So many changes happening to fast. It seems the older they get the faster time seems to slip by. I still have my 16 yr old daughter at home and she's so helpful keeping me preoccupied. I'm glad she has decided to stay at home and go to college 10 minutes away.  Now to get through her Senior Year. Many I wish they were babies again. 

Welcome aboard. We are 2 days drive from our sailor in Norfolk. It has been kind of hard. I do have an older son that lives 15 minutes away and works with my husband and a 14 year old at home. The house sure would be quiet without all of them.

Welcome 1ProudMomofNavySon!

We hope your son enjoys his time in the Navy! 

Just thought I'd let you know that my husband and I have been inviting sailors into our home on the weekend for the last 16 years. We feed them and play board games with them, go mini golfing, and other activities around the area. 

We'd be happy to invite him over if you think he would be interested.  You can go to our page on this site to find out more about us.

Yvonne and John

Wow! Things sure do happen quickly. My son arrived at his ship on Friday, he thought he would get his 10 days leave once he arrived at his new station. BIG Navy Suprise, The ship pulled out of port Saturday morning and heading out to sea. He's going to 2 ports up the coast then to the middle east in June for a 6 month deployment. He wont be back till December. It happened so fast, I'm still in shock. 

I want to send him an Easter Care Package, How long do you think it will take to arrive? I want to make sure I send it in plenty of time so it's not late. Also I'm sure chocolate will melt so does anyone have any suggestions about what you have sent your Sailors? I know there's not room for a basket or plastic eggs. I've discovered Pinterest has some ideas too.

Wow, whirlwind Co-TwinSalorsMom. Nothing like jumping in the deep end for your sailor.

Way neat that you got pictures. I would look like a deer in the headlights too. He will adjust. Whirlwind. No chance to second guess or get nervous.

My don deployed that first time so abruptly June 2013. He has sense be back, deployed again and is currently in Norfolk and his ship is doing a series of short underways. He did not re enlist and will be leaving the Navy in November:(  He has a twin also in the Navy out of Hawaii who so far is quite satisfied and last we talked was re enlisting. He is currently deployed on a sub. 

Does anyone know if the sailors can receive emails when deployed? I do not have a way to contact my son and wanted to send him a few words of encouragement on his first few days out to sea?

To 1ProudMomofNavySon - yes on most ships, they can receive email while deployed.  However, emails have to be sent to their Navy accounts.  Hopefully you have his Navy email address.  They will not see them immediately, just whenever they have time to log on.  Accessibility is determined by their rate (job duty).

I mostly FB message with my son. fun, almost like talking.

Someone asked about Easter care packages. Since my son will not be home for Easter, I too would be interested in sending a package. Please let me know your thoughts about the package getting there in time. I hear playing cards are a good item to send, even little toys they can goof off with in their spare time, beef jerky, maybe some protein powder (if I can find it in small enough packages). Any other ideas? 

Michelle, is he deployed? If he is, don't send chocolate-it melts. :) DVD's are good, cookies individually wrapped and in a strong box, little toys are good. I use to send some of the sailors who come over to our house(when they were on deployment) those and cookies and sometimes DVD's of the Little Rascals(original)-gives them something to laugh about. For their birthdays I made peanut brittle  in a round pan and put a hole in the middle so they could put a candle in it.(I sent the candle too), balloons they could blow up, (all the things we did when they were little.) I think they and others who celebrate with them get a kick out of those. :) 

Yvonne

My son says PF Chang's at Town Center in Virginia Beach and there's a comedy club called Funnybones right next door.

Yvonne, he is not deployed... yet! We're getting pretty close though so they take the ship out a lot. And, I got my paperwork in for the Family Day Cruise.  I am so extremely excited for it! 

Thanks for the great ideas! As always, you are a blessing to us Navy Moms who have sailors in the Norfolk area! Thanks to you and your husband for all you do! God Bless you both!

I keep thinking the same thing dwaynesmom!  My son even said I missed a signature but when he turned it in, the girl told him it should be fine... fingers crossed!!!

Good for you Michelle! I hope you enjoy the Family Day Cruise!

Yvonne

Wasp mom - My son is not assigned to the Wasp but he is on it. He contacted my dad for his birthday. He says things are pretty good out there and has decided he's looking forward to this deployment. I hope you hear from your sailor soon!

I was able to text him last Thursday for a few minutes. He's only been a sailor on the Wasp since March 3. So he's pretty new. He is liking it alot better than when he first arrived. I mailed his first Care Pkg Monday for Easter. I hope he gets it in time. I've never mailed a box before so I'm not sure how long it takes. I wish all your sailors the best of luck and I know you can't wait to hear from them. Happy Easter everyone.