Sub Moms

Tulip - I hope your sailor is safe! The incident has been made public. It must have been scary. 

My son is out on deployment and since he is not married or have a girlfriend he is forwarding his mail to me. The post office would only hold it for 3 months. This is a long deployment. He received a letter from the commissioner of the revenue about submitting LES by Dec 3 to be exempt for CY2022. I am assuming this is for his vehicle tags. I was going to call the offices to see how to delay info since I don't have this info. The ombudsman has not reached out at all. I know my son put me as his contact list. I know each boat is different. His last boat was great with communication. Thank you for any help.

Hi LoriM,

Please proceed with caution on this. The commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service would not need his LES. I don't believe any State's Dept. of Revenue would need his LES (exempt from state income tax is a form filed with this tax income return). Vehicle tags are usually from a Dept of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or similarly named agency, not the Dept of Revenue.

If you believe this is related to his tags, I suggest you find the contact the State agency that issued the tags using a phone number found in their website (not in the letter) to confirm the need for this information and if they routinely ask for it.

My thoughts,

Jodi

I

Thank you Jodi, the phone tree person just called me today to introduce herself and I mentioned it to her. She said to contact the ombudsman. I was also going to call the actually DMV. I don't trust anything that comes in the mail. 

The USS Nevada made a rare appearance in Guam:

USS Nevada makes stop in Guam

B’sNukeMom… Thanks for sharing! My sailor has talked about boomers in the past as an option for the future. The story helped me to understand a little more. Much appreciated!

My son was on a Boomer for the first 5 years in. It is difficult on the family as they run silent for several months, almost never port. The only communications are plain text emails. It is difficult for the sailor to get computer time to send email. He would receive our emails in print form after they were screened. If there is a death in the family while they are underway, they would only be told if they could be removed from the boat without jeopardizing the mission.

Depending on the boat, 1 care package the size of a shoebox or gallon baggie, will be delivered at some point during the underway.

My son is now in Guam on a Sub Tender (AAA for submarines) It is a ship with the tools and crew to repair subs. 

My son did a ride-along on the Nevada that turned into a 10-week "strategic deterrent deployment". That technically entitles him to wear a boomer pin, but he says that isn't really done unless you are actually assigned to that community.
That was a long 10 weeks.

With all the craziness in some parts of the world it is nerve wracking when your sailor is "out". I'm glad he's back safe and sound.  Daily praying for all our troops that are active.

lorib1010. My son spent 5.5 years on the Monty. Most of his time was spent in dry dock, due both to after the collision and then planned maintenance after a deployment. I think he has lots of interesting memories of that tour.

Hi Lorib1010, my son has been with the Montpelier since 2017 and just recently left to begin his Shore Duty. I know he will miss the friendships he has made on the sub. Luckily his Shore Duty is in Norfolk, so he will still be around to run into former crew mates, here and there. 

Hi ladies, My son's been in Washington for about 10 months, assigned to a boomer but, his sub has been in dry dock.  He called briefly a few weeks ago & said he was being loaned out to another sub. Unfortunately he did not have the boat name nor his crew color. His wife (got married a month ago) just got an email ...she has been trying to send a reply but, can't get it to go through. Is boat info. in the original email address & if not is there another avenue to obtain it????

Hi Catskill Mountain Gere, The only way that I’m aware of to get the ship email address is to contact the Ombudsman. My sailor is in Washington State at Kitsap… beautiful place!

Dear Hammer, Thank you, I touched base with my daughter in law. My son is also stationed in Kitsap & I have to agree is a beautiful spot.  

HI Navy Moms,, 

My sailor told me last week he might be going out west for an assignment on a fast attack.. so in a few months i will transition to that group. 

regards,

Navy Mom dawn

Catskills your son is probably with my son right now… I have not heard from him at all… but if someone got an email then I am happy to know they are still going… just wish I knew when they would be back… I know I can’t but would like a rough idea so I don’t plan my summer vacations Incase he gets to come home for a  lil bit 

Dear AP's *nuke*mom, Finally got a call (at 2:30 am) the week after Easter. I was so happy to hear his voice, it was worth waking up!  He was back but, going out again soon.  I'm in the same boat for planning the summer. It's a guessing game. Wishing you luck with your summer plans.    

Got our deployment handbook. Now it's real.

Constantly in prayer for our sailors and the incredible things they do to keep us free.

well I just got the text that my sailor is a bonafide submariner

Yeah!! BZ!

Congrats love4Leo25! I remember that moment with such fond memories. Prayers for your sailor to enjoy a safe and successful career! My son just finished up nine years this month. He is now officially a civilian and enjoying an incredible career opportunity at a defense technology company. I haven't posted in a long, long time. Blessings to all the moms here. 

Sub Moms... I have a question regarding commendations. My sailor has received a "Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet Letter of Commendation". While I'm thrilled that he was recognized for his work... I'm trying to understand if this is a big deal or if it's just an "atta boy" kind of thing. Any guidance is appreciated!

The Hammer-First BZ that's a good thing.  Letters of Commendation are ways that sailors are recognized for their performance, so receiving one is a distinction.  A Flag Letter of Commendation is worth one point and helps expedite advancement.  

Hey, Kevsmom93!  Yeah, I'm still here.  No one will take the job!

SUB EMAIL ADDRESS:  Please look in the right hand ---> column to find an article on how to email your sub sailor.  You don't need to wait 'til it's given to you.

I posted last summer that my sailor is now on an aircraft carrier (after 15y on subs).  If someone would like to be admin for this group, tell me!  It's not hard and you'll meet the greatest people.  I've been at this for 16 years now & still love it - but need to transition off.  Thanks! ks

Hello Everyone-

I'm in the middle of a move this month, but the silence has been deafening these past few days so thought I would take a moment to say "hi" to other moms who experience the same.  Hoping when things settle down with work and move toward the end of summer, I will jump in more often. My sailor arrived at his first duty station at Pearl late in October. Mine's a Nuke, and it seems he has been out more than in these past nearly eight months. I do count myself lucky that I've heard from him a few times--more than I expected via email--no matter how unlike his "voice" the emails seem. Surely someone else is writing these? When I write I usually try to thank whoever is reviewing them while they are pending...

I noticed in the comments earlier that someone received a deployment handbook? Is there such a thing?!!! I'm learning that having a submariner in the family is a learning curve, much the same as raising a child from scratch--by the seat of my pants, ha ha. No training manuals, right? Regardless, I do have pictures of the frozen north and his eyelashes fringed in ice which he sent to me following the declassification of ICEX 2022. They were eerily awesome! So excited for him, and missing him oh, so much! My best to you all! Prayers for all our sons and daughters "somewhere out there..."  

SoD

Thank you, Shea! He seems so happy, so that really helps. He earned his dolphins and star re-enlisted while way up north, so looks like he will be in for a while! I'm supposed to be in Kona October 2-9 (for a first time ever trip to HA) for my daughter-in-law's Ironman, but he is due to be out again during that time for who-knows-how-long. I'll have to wait for another opportunity, unless the fact they have been gone so much already means their schedule might change. I'm prepared for just about anything, ha ha. 

@ShipOfDoodles, my son was at Dam Neck in Virginia Beach on Shore Duty for 3 years. He absolutely loved it there, so much so, that when he put in for sub duty again, he choice to stay in Virginia Beach, in the hopes that when his sub duty is over, he can go back to Dam Neck for Shore Duty again. 

LindaGirl and Shea--thanks for sharing! Good to know Dam Neck is a good duty station! I'll keep you posted on whether or not his "required" leave the latter part of August is still a go. He was told to take leave before they depart again early fall, so if he gets to come home as per the approved chit, we will consider ourselves lucky!! My son was reluctant to make his entrance into the world 24 years ago, so at 41 weeks, at age 40, I had to be induced. He STILL took his time. Not surprised he loves sub life, ha ha!

LindaGirl,

Sent you a friend request. Stay strong.

Wishing you all a good Monday and keeping all our sailors in prayers for strong leadership and strength of character to navigate rough seas.

Okay, so I thought I read this somewhere. What can my sailor do if he is over a year behind getting additional diver pay?

He was qualified in February of 2021 and still has not received additional pay.

Any info from other moms?

Thanks,

CSW, my son just got back pay from over a year ago. There are forms your son's yeoman will have to file. The pay will come in at different times because there is a separate from for recent back pay and another form for pay owed past either 6 months or 1 year, I forget which one my son told me. The Navy is very quick to take money from the check, but backpayis very slow.

Nonna B-

Thanks! I'll let him know.

Please pray for my son and his crew to have a safe 6 - 7 month deployment, when they leave. I don’t know why I am so anxious about this one.  Between both of my sailors, I have been through more then one deployment.  Maybe because it’s been awhile since I went through the last deployment. All I know is I wish this one weren’t happening. 

LindaGirl I pray daily for our sailors safety as does our church every Sunday. I think we're all getting extra anxious given the state of the world, but need to remain strong that everything is in God's hands!  We're with you in this!

Absolutely LindaGirl! We will pray for a safe deployment and return!

LindaGirl, my son is also getting ready for deployment but for a shorter time. I, too, am more worried about this deployment. I am sure my worries have much to do with the current state of the world. I keep all our sailors and their families in my prayers, but I will offer an extra one for you and your son. 

Thank you all for the prayers for my son while he is on Deployment, just keep them coming and I look forward to the day when I can post that he and his crew are back, home safe on US soil, thanking you all for the prayers that kept him safe. 

My sailor left about a week ago for a short training deployment. I have been praying for all the sailors. This is his first under surface and first deployment. A handful were re-assigned from one boat to another just for training purposes... I am keeping them all in prayer. May the Creator of all keep our minds and hearts stayed on HIM and May HE guide and keep safe our sailors. 

Cath Bubblehead, that is way too long for any family not to have seen their loved one. I am so happy for you. The anticipation is always so exciting. I can’t wait to hear from you after you have him back, knowing how happy and blessed you will be. 

My son just received his assignment for the Jimmy Carter.  He won't be heading to Washington until next year.  Was wondering about expectations and advice.  New to the Sub world!!