USS Essex Navy Moms

YN responsible for DC? Katie is a DC, but then she already knows who Hans is;) Glad you could see a pic of the event!

Katie mentioned it but said 'they were being kept in the dark' at the point that I talked with her Monday AM

Katie has used ship to shore, but she has purchased them herself at the NEX. At least I am pretty sure that is where she purchased them. When Katie has used them, she lets me know so that when I get the '1 minute warning' I know it's time to say goodbye.

Just got off IMing Katie before she headed back to work. She passed her test, but wasn't promoted since there weren't enough openings in her rate. More DCs passed the test than the quotas allowed. Maybe the Fall will be her time.

Sharon - forgot to ask her about the NEX privileges, but I think parents have to go with their sailors.

Those going on the Gator Cruise....do you know if we have to get a VISA to travel to Japan?

Marianne there are always more that pass than there are spots. If there are 10 open spots for that rank/rate, they take the top ten with the highest points. There are other ways to get points than their test score. They get points for each time they pass the test and for time in rate. This site discusses it: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navypromotions/a/prompointcalc.htm. I also read that they get points for awards, college credits, combat, etc.

The quotas are getting smaller with more sailors staying. It is getting more competitive and they only have so many years to advance or they have to leave. Our kids are fine and I forget the numbers except that they have to be chief by 20.

Does anyone know when the INSURV is finished? I have heard so little from my son since they have been back.

End of the month.

Sharon - I saw the suggestion for The New Sanno in Tokyo - what a nice looking hotel;) Still don't know where Katie booked our stay for after the Gator Cruise in Yoko

Tina, I'm not on Facebook, but I found this pic on the 7th Fleet. Is this your son?

IMd Katie this AM when she was doing her laundry at midnight. We chatted for about 2 hours. Tina - she knows who James is and some of the other sailors that were posted in the recent pics from the 7th fleet.

Can definitely tell you that she doesn't know everyone on the ship, but it does help if I know their rate and can figure out last names and/or a pic. I have a feeling that with all the preparation for the upcoming inspection, the Gator Cruise indoc for the sialors and how to host your family will come after. The INSURV will last 5 days!

Navy Cash is for Navy personnel. Wasn't able to get more of an answer than that since I wasn't on-line when Katie was earlier today.

INSURV will be completed before the Gator Cruise

Ingrid - do you have your information yet for your flights and such. Will you be staying at the Navy Lodge before the cruise? I bought my tickets yesterday and will be arriving on the 10th.

We are flying Delta and Korean Air. Flying into Fukuoka and leaving from Narita. I'm coming with our 13 year old son Thomas and I think Katie will be getting time off to be with us, thanks for the offer though. Katie made the arrangements for after the cruise and I do not know which hotel at this point.

I had checked orbitz, etc., but the best was direct flights via Delta for us. The discount sites were cheaper, but then you had to pay more because of the extra stops in several cities. Where will you fly out of from Floriday?

$1650 to go Detroit->Seoul->Fukuoka and then Narita->Detroit. I sent you an e-mail where I found some similar prices adding Orlando to each end of the trip I am taking. Of course, it does depend on the days you are traveling. I know that when we got the ombudsman e=mail about the command picnic the day before we arrive, Thomas wanted to see if we could leave earlier, but leaving on a Wednesday made the ticket raise by $500.

You can't fly direct from Orlando to Seoul or Orlando to Tokyo, I know that. FYI - according to Japan Airline, peak season for the summer in Japan begins July 9th;)

Ingrid - Katie reserved the Navy Lodge in Sasebo before the cruise and a hotel in Yokosuka for after - but that was her treat and she took care of it.

Did you get the Navy Lodge for before the cruise? What did you end up doing about flights.

Katie called last night from the softball tournament to talk with our daughter Alicia. Alicia is here Fri-Sun and then she will be off to Blind River, Ontario, Canada for the summer at a camp assisting the Camp Nurse. Katie was calling from a softball game - went to watch the guys play and to babysit a 2 year old while her Mom played. Katie said she may not get much sleep for 9 days while preparing for inspecation and then the actual inspection.

Ingrid - I guess Armando asked Katie how much the tickets were to fly over, but she told him I was buying the airline tickets for the 2 of us and she was helping with hotels. Hope your plans come together. Wonder if he could ask at the MWR office for suggestions of hotels in the area if the Navy Lodge is full?

One of the guys on the softball team works with Armando. Katie misses watching Brandon Inge and the Tigers and has been going to cheer on the Essex team. I'm pretty sure she knew he she was before that. I showed her pictures of the sailors whose Mom's are in this group and she recognized him that way as well. Pretty sure when I was IMing her the other night she said that Armando had asked her about the cost of a flight coming over for the Gator Cruise.

From what I understand - it is not a regularly scheduled event - it is 'as the schedule permits'. So you cannot count on it being offered every year or at the same time either.

Kim - that sounds wonderful about Heidi, not just going, but that they did all the fund raising themselves. I'm sure it will be a wonderful experience for everyone.

Sharon - glad you are feeling better. You leave in just a few days! I'm sure your countdown has begun. Looking forward to meeting you and Ingrid in Sasebo;)

Ingrid, will your hotel be close to the base? Did Armando ask for and get time off while you are visiting?

Sharon - what about Steven?

Katie IMd Friday AM for a while before I left for work. She said with the upcoming INSURV they are extremely busy and will be until it is over. Only available thru her navy e-mail. Katie has not heard, but figures they must be having some kind of orientation for those hosting family after the inspection - how else will they know what is going on for the cruise. The sailors should have the weekend off after the cruise.

Have you started packing? Taking dramamine or anything for the cruise?

Ingrid, will Armando be able to spend time with you on the other days after he gets off work duty?

They had the Gator cruise in August of 2008. There is no guarantee that they will have it again.

Sharon is leaving a week earlier than Ingrid and I. I'm not even sure what to pack beyond the list they gave us for the Gator Cruise. Katie said sometimes its cool in the 'racks' at night and I should bring a hooded sweatshirt or jacket in case it is cool at night. Definitely closed toe shoes for the metal steps.

Tina, Kim and KIm from TN - I know Katie knows who your sons are along with Ingrid's and Sharon's so Thomas and I may just meet them.

About 2 weeks ago I sent a care package of 4 different batches of cookies and so did my daughter Alicia. They arrived last Monday and Tuesday and were gone the next day. Katie says the guys are wondering if I am going to bring them cookies when I come. They just love homebaked goodies;)

Katie says her chief wants to marry our daughter Alicia - he just loves her baking. He too is married! I teased Katie that I wanted a picture of the 'cookie crew' when I get there.

Please give my son a hug from me.

Kim - Wouldn't that embarrass him?!?

He doesn't get embarrassed and he has a good sense of humor.

I'll see what I can do;)

Katie may know a lot of the sailors, but I guarantee she doesn't know all 1,200 on board.

Ingrid - I e-mailed you a copy of the list they sent in the packet.

I heard from my son by email this morning. He said one more day to go. He has been up 48 hours straight because his system went down. I have no idea what he means but he said that the inspectors said that the system was one of the best NATO systems that they had seen. I would love to hear this in laymen terms.

I'm glad you heard from him. I have rec'd 1 e-mail from Katie since it began and siad they 'would be working their butts off!' She said they would be getting very little sleep - sounds like his crew isn't getting any;(

INSURV's stop-light system, where red is below average, yellow is average, and green is above average

Wonder if the yellow was over all or in one area?

Thanks for the report Kim. Enjoy you time in Nashville;)

Hello, my daughter is on the Essex and I am here in Japan now and will be on the Tiger Cruise

Just think...last year they where in Australlia for the 4th of July.

I am staying in my daughters hom out in town.. She and her husband are both stationed here. I have been here for about two weeks, its very green, lots of lights and lots of rain!!!!!!! We went to the aquarium today and it was very nice! Huge sea turtles and a dolpin show. Look forward to meeting everyone on the cruise.

mitzmauswer - I was IMing Katie last night. She says Ashley is one of her favorite corpsman;) Actually I asked her if she had met you and that 'did you know they were from Saginaw?' Katie was calling from a softball game 2 weekends ago and following around a 2 year old, so I know you've met her. How long are you staying in Japan?

I am here until July 21st.

Mitzmauser - I'm sure you are having a wonderful time being able to stay with your daughter and her family for over a month! Sure it will be hard to return to MI. I know how hard it is to say 'goodbye' when Katie visted home at Christmas.

Ingrid - Did Armando get any time off before the cruise? I know Katie said her 1st class didn't take care of approval of her chit & now he's gone for a few days. Katie's chief was asking if everything was set for her to be off for our visit-said he'd look into it.

I asked Katie about the 'yellow' -- she said we passed and that's all that matters;)

90s and humid here, unfortunately Sharon wrote on her blogspot that it is hot, humid and rainy in Osaka and Kyoto where they have been. Hope there's a break in the weather by the time Ingrid, Thomas & I head over on the 9th.

I'm here in Japan with Katie!!!!!! Rode over with Ingrid and Armando to Sasebo.

Say hi to everyone for me and have a GREAT time.

Tina - I met your son yesterday at brunch. Katie tooks us the the Harbor View and he was there. Katie took us on the ship briefly, as she needed to get something. Sawher berthing - she says the middle rack is the best - which is what she has. One of the guys from her division showed Thomas the guys berthing. Katie is on 72 hours Liberty and will have to work Tuesday until the chief says she can go. It's so nice having her here with us at the Navy Lodge and watching her sleep.
We walked around base, thru Nimitz Park and up town thru their style of strip mall and then out to dinner at a TexMex with a friend, then went bowling on base.

Katie told him that 'our Mom's know each other' and I added 'thru Navy4Moms' - you're right - that was just about his reaction;)