Moms of IS (Intelligence Specialist) sailors.

He's been out of boot camp almost 2 years.  He was made E-4 after C school.  He went in as an E-3

My son went in as an E-3 as well and the earliest potential he has for E-4 is after A school graduation.  At least, that's how I understand it.  The rank thing is interesting because they don't get to wear rank in boot camp until after Battlestations, which happens at the very end of boot camp.  Up until then, they are all considered "Recruits" with the potential to be Sailors if they pass all the requirements.  So my son went in at E-3 and finally got to actually wear that rank during the last week of boot camp in the days just prior to graduation.  

Where are some of your IS sailors stationed? thanks!

A few sailors have done other IS C schools while waiting for their C school to class up. I've never heard of one staying at GL to train in another rate. Totally uncommon since boatswains mate is ship's company while ISes are generally "attached" to a squadron, ship, base, etc. Always good to know more (believe me it helps them when it comes time for advancement testing).

All IS contracts are 8 years (6 active, two inactive reserves).

The sailors cannot be advanced to E4 until after their C school when they pass their national board exam or whatever it is at the end of C school. Anna's son was the same way. They get their crow once they are at their first station. Each command is a little different in how long the sailor is there before they are "frocked".

My son is stationed with the Pacific Fleet. He has been in back-to-back assignments overseas. I'd rather he be Atlantic/South American Fleet so he could be stationed much closer to home but....He has his family with him so he is happy and he LOVED his first station. Seoul, S Korea.

Good luck to all!

My son also did back-to-back deployments.  Meaning no shore duty in between.  Both assignments on aircraft carriers.  Even though he was on different carriers both of them headed out to the sunny, sandy area.

His current duty station is in Norfolk.  The East coast carriers head out to the Mediterranean Sea/Arabian Sea/Persian Gulf areas.  The West coast carriers head out to Japan/Korea areas.

His orders haven't been officially cut but his new assignment looks like Italy.  He's very excited!  It will be a three year assignment.

Promotions on a ship can be strange.  Even though a sailor has enough time in grade to be promoted, some commands say that the time wasn't served on their ship so the waiting period gets extended.  The ship's command wants the sailor to prove himself/herself aboard ship before they recommend promotion.

All in all, my sailor loves what he does and is extremely happy that he chose IS.  It is a small community and it is easier for sailors to get recognized and make a name for themselves.  Plus the IS rates really push the sailors towards education and advancement.

My son is also stationed in Norfolk, but is currently on deployment onboard a ship.  He had a deployment last year in Afghanistan teaching the Afghan Air Force.  He was prior AO, switched to IS in 2008.

My son has about 3 weeks of A School left at Dam Neck. I believe they have to earn the privilege of wearing civilian clothes, to have a car, to have liberty/leave. One of my son's friends was able to go home on a weekend and get his car but his parents did live fairly close by. I believe C School is also at Dam Neck.

kc74 thanks for the info. 

wow lots of comments today im glad to see people whohoo my sailor just graduated Aschool today Cschool also there they get out when they have time bus or shuttles I believe and some have vehicles if family is close enuf

 but usually not a lot of time . .  my sailor has been stressed since he arrived but he got his orders which he is pleased with and is doing much better with school

My son is in C school.  He only has a couple months left. He has also received his orders and is very happy with them which really helped with the stress. A school taught him how to study in the most efficient way.  I think C school has been less stressful in that he knows what he will be doing. He is very excited about graduating and starting his career.

@dogdoc:  đon't. The less said the better.   They work with computers, somewhere. 

I will tell you that my son was first stationed in South Korea and is now finishing his time in Japan. I will tell you this fall where he is going next. Many of those places have several bases (some are Navy, some are joint commands, some are intel based for all branches and/or several nations) so I have learned after a while to not be too specific anymore about the actual base he is at. There are several bases in Japan so saying he is there is no biggie really. Once he and his family are safe at their next assignment I can post more about that one.

Laura, Chris had to wait a few months before he finally got his written orders this time. I tend to think that when they work with squadrons, things that require paperwork takes much longer than average to process. Best of luck to him (I know Chris would still be jealous if he knew there had been an opening soon after for Italy). 

I can tell you some of the places he has done 2-5 day port of call visits..Brisbane, Australia, Guam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Dubai, Monte Carlo, Hong Kong and others I can't remember. He has also taken vacations to Cambodia and Vietnam. 

The C schools are also at Dam Neck and if I'm not mistaken they are in the same building as the A school. There might be some training times that are not in the building, but that's where the Intel schools are all based.

My daughter has been an IS for 5 years. Has preformed in more then one specialty but was trained in one. She has re-upped and will cross train in a new specialty for her new orders.

JM,

So cool to "see" you still!!!!  Congratulations to your daughter!!!!!  My first Navy daughter got out and is going to college, but now her twin sister is an officer!!! IS son is still in!!!!  How is your son????

Hi Anna. My son is now out. He had a hard time of it, he was an IS also and was given an Honorable discharge after 3 years. Ladies, I'm here to tell you, this isn't an easy rate. We've experience what good the military life can do for you and what is can do to you. It has been good to our daughter but not so good for our son. It isn't for everyone. My best to your children, ladies; I hope they're  blessed as my daughter.

I think our grown children can get into a lot of trouble if to much is shared and the worse is if others outside us can see locations and times.  It's more of a safety issue.My son tells me less and less and that's O.K. because all I really want to know is if he is happy with his choices and the future potential.

JM,

I so understand your comments.  My daughter had bad experiences in the Navy and is out on disability.  My son has learned how to make it work for him and even wanted to help his sister but in the end she decided to get out and go to college.

"Needs of the Navy"...the reason we write in pencil and not pen.

Erase Italy and pencil in Hawaii.  And move it up a few months while you're at it!  Keeps things interesting.

Mary - I guess the Italy openings are a hot ticket and are few and far between.  It's no wonder getting orders assigned are like a bumper car match.

All in all, it's Hawaii and it's finally a shore assignment! 

Laura,

We all understand those last minute changes!!!  Needs of the Navy is right!!  Gotta love these roller coaster rides!

Goat,

It depends on so many things.  Like where your sailor is attached, ship or shore command.  Where they are stationed.  It's impossible to determine ahead of time.  My son started as an AO attached to a squadron and he was deployed many times.  Sometimes still in the states but away from home base other times deployed on a ship in the middle east.  As an IS he's been in Afghanistan and is now on a ship in the Gulf area.  But many times he's just been at a shore command.  One thing to keep in mind - - - it's always the needs of the Navy!!!! 

Goat,

Keep us posted as to what he ends up with!!!!

A school is 5 weeks of general IS information.C School is different. It just depends on which one he chooses before you know how long it will last. And you also don't know how long the wait is for classes to start because they want to start a class full not with just a few people. They also need their full attention to their studies. They can't take study material home, it all has to be done on base. My son waited until after he finished C school before they got married. Hope that helps.

A school has changed then. When my son was there, 5 weeks was about the time they phased up to full privileges His A school (and all IS A schools at that time) was 13 weeks and then the C schools were 5- I think about 9 weeks? I don't remember for sure. Someone correct me if I am wrong. After 6 years my mind is a bit more feeble. :-)

.

My son was going the special forces route, but ended up dropping due to injury and just found out he got IS. Since he's already gained weekend privileges, he will retain those when he gets to VA, correct? Also was wondering if there is a FB group for families of sons/daughters in IS? Feel free to send me a private message with a link if it's not allowed to be posted on the page. Thanks!

JinCincy - sent you a friend request, My son is IS, also in VA.

Hello,

I'm new to the Navy and I really appreciate the feedback I've already received!  My daughter has PIR in a couple of weeks and then off to VA the next day. Just wondering what or what not is provided as far as bedding, sheets, blankets, pillows. Is she required to bring her own? Trying to plan what to send her or if she'll have what she needs to carry her over for a week or two. Any feedback, input is appreciated.

Susanr,
Your daughter will be given bedding and such while she's at A and eventually C school. You might want to caution her about taking too much stuff with her to Dam Neck because as soon as she graduates she has to get all her stuff to her next duty station. Also, I will just let you know that some find A school to be rather intense. It is a lot of studying and the studying can only be done in the classrooms because of security. My son switched to IS after spending 4 years as an AO and even as a fleet returnee and all his experience, he really had to buckle down and pay attention to his studies!! He's married and didn't even have his wife stay in VA with him. She was in Colorado until just before his graduation from C school.

Goat,

CONGRATULATIONS on the upcoming marriage!!!!  So happy that things have worked out so smoothly for both of you!!!!!

I was wondering if someone could give me some information. My daughter has been an IS for almost 6 years, but she will now be cross training to a different IS job between her current job and reporting to her new command. Because she will be moving crosscountry, how does she go about moving everything, getting her daughter across country for us to watch while she is at school and finding a new place to live once she is done with training. It seems very complicated with her going from one coast to the other. . I know the Navy will help move her household goods, but when would that happen, before she reports for school or after. Doesn't seem logical for her to keep her apartment for almost 3 months when there will be no one living in it, since school is more then 3 hours from her current command. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

JM,

As far as her household goods she might want to put her stuff in storage until after her school and then put in for her pcs move once she gets to her next duty station and finds a new place to live.  That's what my son did.  How old is her daughter?  Would she be old enough to fly?  I know airlines can arrange for children to fly on their own but I'm sure there are some limitations.  Not too sure how that works, no experience there!!!!

Kids can fly alone but you generally have to pay for someone from the airline to escort them during the trip. The cost varies greatly by the age of the child and the airline. I don't know what the limits are but they are pretty strict about it all nowadays. My niece was 14 and only got out of having an escort because she was flying with my nephew who was 17 at the time. I agree with Anna, temp storage for now...move her things across country later when she sees what her housing situation will be like and when housing will be available.

Our Granddaughter Chloe is almost 4, so she is too young to fly alone. From the sound of it, it would probably be best to keep some thing for her use while in training, put the rest into storage until she is done with her schooling, then have her household goods and furniture moved across country. We will also need to get some of Chloes' things across country too. Just a lot of back and forth trips is what it sounds like.