Camp Lejeune and FMTB-East Moms, Families and Friends

Anybody else have a great Xmas?  Our sailor surprised us all and came home on Xmas Eve.  It was AWESOME!!!

Returned home  from a week in NC with our son.  So wonderful to see him.  He did get engaged while we were there,  We took his girlfriend with us,  Weather was a little chilly but wouldnt trade that week for anything!  Such a killer to leave him.  Happy New Year to all!!!!  Have a wonderful night.

Oh By the way...if you are going to FMTB graduation at Camp Johnson have your cub call the DAY OF graduation for a parking pass, not the day before.  Almost didnot get in.  My husband went in two times trying to get us in and they wouldnt let him.  He told me to give it a try if I thought it would help.  I did not drive 14 hours to not see my son graduate.   I went in and asked what we were supposed to do, his phone was off and he was lining up for graduation.  There was another mom there in the same boat.....That poor man at the desk did not stand a chance!!!!!  I am so thankful for his kindness for letting us in!!!  Thank you sir.   

In re the car pass, I got mine the day before graduation.  My understanding is that the sailor has to call the Visitor Center on the same day that you are picking up your pass.  The center is open 24/7, phone # 910-451-2197.

TNM when will you be there ? I will be at CL around the first week in Feb : ) for my sons homecoming : )

Hi all.. been awhile.. alot going on here so not much time for me.  

Kim...My son was able to send me some pics and they put some of Fb as well.

I am glad to hear you are now a soon to be MIL.. did you know he was going to propose?  How exciting you were able to be a part of that.

TennNavyMom.....Oh I know you are so excited!  I have kept your words near to my heart and pray for your son (and you).  Keep me posted.

MIkesmom...congrats on your soon to be homecoming as well!

Hey all, here's a great video from yesterday's homecoming in Jacksonville  - rather than a news story, the camera just runs with natural sound.  Awesome!

LINK:  22nd MEU returns to Lejeune

Nearly 300 Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and Combat Logistics Battalion 22 returned to Camp Lejeune Saturday to family and friends after a 10-month deployment at sea with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Marcy, that was a great video.. My heart was beating so fast hearing the horn on those buses as they pulled in. What a great moment to capture.  

Tenn Navy mom...so happy he is back!  We will keep our prayers for those still there or preparing to go.  Hugs to you

Tenn Navy Mom, please tell your Corpsman "Welcome Home" from us!!!  Glad he's home!!!

Marcy thanks my friend : )

My son was amongst the almost 3000 coming home .. TNM I text you early Sunday morning letting you I was there.. I was hoping to beable to connect with you before our sons got back home... Maybe some other time... I'm so glad your son is back home : ) What a true blessing

TNM - Its always so crazy during Homecomings : ) How is your son doing ? My son will be leaving CL and going to Bremerton ... His contract is up and he is going back to the Blue side.. Thank Goodness !!! When he told me I started to cry..

Got news today.. son is being deployed next month.  Looking to see if anyone knows if the Navy lets them come home first?  He was suppose to be home for 2 weeks end of March but that will change now since he is leaving the end of March for deployment

Hi mamawalrus, usually they get a couple weeks pre-deployment leave but that may change depending upon training, etc.  Hopefully, he'll be able to come home for a bit before heading out.

Kathy...where is your son stationed at now?  I only hope mine can be home that long!  I will PM you...

HI Ladies.. looks like I will be taking an unexpected trip to CL to see my son before deployment.. Can anyone help with how far Jacksonville airport is to CL? are there hotels near base?   My son things we should rent a car so is it a straight shot to base from airport if I do rent the car?

mamawalrus, click on the "View All" tab under Discussion Forum above and go to the discussion on "where to stay" at Camp LeJeune.  When I visited last fall for my son's homecoming I stayed at the beach on Emerald Isle.  Historic Beaufort up the coast is suppose to be nice for a visit.  Not much really attractive on or around the base.  If I remember correctly, Jacksonville Airport (Albert J. Ellis) was about 30-40 minutes from base depending upon traffic getting into and out of base.

Vettespace.. thank you, I found it..

My what a quiet group!  With a Field Med class going on & grad in about four weeks, it'll be beach weather for anyone going.  Can't believe it's been two years since I went to graduation...great experience.

Hi Glenda, my son deployed to the "sandbox" last year as an IA with a unit out of CL (returned in Sept.).  Now it looks like he'll be headed back to CL this summer for his next duty assignment somewhere within 2MarDiv.  Let us know if you have any questions.  Keep the faith!

Vette- be sure to have your cub look mine up when he gets to CL in June! Mine is with the 2ndMARDIV now but his new orders have in moving closer to home in the fall.

Glad you got to hear from your son : ) My son just left CL after 3 1/2  years and is headed for Washington State with his new orders...

Morning Navy Family...eldest child heads out soon for Lejeune. Will be stationed at the hospital. Looking to connect with moms that know this area...thanks!

My son heads to Camp LeJeune this summer. I realize it's better to speak less than say more, so to keep him safe and out of hot water, I'll share more of my perception than his information. I've experienced a variety of emotions since he enlisted last autumn, and his penchant for being a Corpsman, a Doc to the Marines, is noble and scary both. After boot camp graduation, we took him to dinner at a local restaurant. The owner showed us to a table, then asked my boy where he was headed. When he answered, the owner said, "Son, I'm a Marine. Thank you so much for your service. We'll always feel a bond for our Corpsmen." I saw a bond between the two of them, something outside of our family. It was a blunt and bold reminder that my son is his own person, and his experiences will be worldly, outside of our own circle of family. And we felt a surge of pride that has remained with all of us. 

Josephine, thank you for sharing this vignette, beautifully written and it perfectly describes the range of emotion and experience.

@Josephine...we just found out that our son will be heading to Camp LeJeune this summer as well.  I too have experienced a range of emotions and yet my proudness of our son has superseded my worry at sadness.  Of course it is the rollercoaster of emotions we all experience.  I have no idea what to expect when he gets down there to Camp LeJeune.  Do any of you mothers know if they are still allowed to have contact via cell phone and Skype, or are they cut off as they were in their original Navy bootcamp?  

Can anyone give me an idea of what time of room my son will have at Camp Lejeune? He had a really nice room and closet in SA, and I am afraid he is under the impression he will have something similar. He is planning on dragging out there a mountain of stuff.

Thanks...he is all checked in as of yesterday. Thrilled to have his own TV and WiFi...not exactly thrilled with the "newness" of his environment. He did meet a Navy Chief that is from our hometown...he purchased a Ball ticket for our boy...that made him happy. Seems he has made some new friends and was hanging out last night. 

Good Morning all! My son just arrived at Camp Lejeune this week. He hasn't checked in yet, but should soon. He has spent the past two years working in a clinic on the reserve base in New Orleans. He is excited to finally be assigned to a Marine Unit. I must admit that I was happy with him working on a Reserve Base!
Can anyone tell me what I can expect with him being at CL?

Its a good idea for him to have his car.. "M" had his . Its a HUGE Base . I have been there only once but have had two children there... I'm really confused .. Why is he going to a Marine base ?

Closest airport is OAJ, in Jacksonville. It is less than twenty miles from CL. 

Lori I am so confused I almost FB your son to ask him what is going on !? Green side ? What !

Sweetie that's why I haven't and I wouldn't let him know I was just going to say "hey I hear your going to CL.. I would never let him know about our conversations

: )

Moms---question: my son is stationed at CL. I wanted to know if anyone knows if their address is their bldg number/room number or do they have a Box number?

I want to send him a care package, and need to know how to send it.

If they are at CL for FMTB, be careful with the care package.  They have to do push-ups for them everytime they receive them.  My son said it was worth it though.  My daughter was so upset when she sent her brother two CD's of over 80 baby pictures when my grandson was born while our sn was in FMTB and they made him do 80 push-ups.  He said it's all part of the game but we were so worried. 

The Baymount hotel its in the discussions it like on page two I think.. Tell the kids to drive safe and enjoy

lol here's the info on the Baymont Inn & Suites, scroll down to "For Attending FMTB graduation" - the link to the hotel is there; also car pass info and maps are there too - FMTB & Camp Lejeune/Camp Johnson info, links, where to stay

Could be something great!  Fingers crossed he gets the orders he's hoping for.

URGENT

My corpsman needs direction.  He has a start date of today.  What building does he report to?  He is on base, but no one seems to know where is to report. 

OMGosh this is his first day ??? Yikes.. Isn't there a main building that they ck into first the one right by the maim gate

sharonscar, Reception Center Bldg 60

CampLejeuneMap.pdf

sharonscar, Actually it's Bldg 59 next door to 60...