USS Essex Navy Moms

I have a choice of airports. Philadelphia and Allentown are the closest. But Harrisburg, Newark, JFK, Baltimore, Washington are all under 3 hours. There is a non stop from Tokyo to Newark that is $1600.00 right now. I don't know how long or how much it would be for him them to get to Tokyo.

He has 18,000 air miles with Delta and United and I have $18,000 with Continental. Too bad we can't combine them. Continental are lifetime but United expire in the spring and Delta next fall.

Did everyone get the letter from Captain Hart via the ombudsman?

Tina - It was an update of the weather and what they have been up to and what they will be doing. I sent it to you via pm, so I hope you got it. I don't have your actual e-mail to send it directly to you that way.

Thanks Marianne, I just read it. My son wants me to grab an airfare if it looks good. I am afraid that it is too much money to take a risk until he has his dates confirmed. The two airfares will be over $3000.00.
What do you all think?

Kim - I think I would be sure of the leave dates and when he wants to fly for sure - is his girlfriend going to be able to get the identical days off? Katie told me over the phone when the leave actually starts and when she thought she could get a flight out, but I didn't write that down. Katie is careful on when she returns so that she allows for any flight delays/time difference so she is back on base before her leave is up. -- I think I'd make sure of the dates before I bought any tickets - that would be the charge $$ for changing the tickets x 2;(

Oh, and Happy Birthday Kim

Kim - I know Jonathan is in the 1st pic, what about the 2nd one?

Yep that's him. I saw the first one but not the 2nd. Thanks.

Sharon - The pics came from the 7th fleet news
http://www.c7f.navy.mil/
They have quite a few pics of the Essex recent activities

Mom2lance - I signed up the the USS Essex site Ombudsman to receive the news

Susanna - That's great that you heard from Micah. Since he is in Air Traffic Control, he was probably busy with them being involved in their recent exercises and the harriers and helos.

I have been hearing from Jonathan regularily because we are looking for airfare. He is on the computer every chance he gets. He wrote last night that the boat "was a rocking". It made him sleepy. Anyone getting sea sick?

I miss my daughter, she is in the USS ESSEX and she is DC (damage control)
She is really homesick and I am missing her badly. My heart huts so bad when I think of her. I have not seen her for almost a year. Her name is Cassandra, please pray for her as I will be praying for all your sons and daughters. God Bless all of you.

goitia67 - Katie must know Cassandra since they are both DCs. Katie is taking the 2nd leave as well.
Katie's chit was approved and she will be flying home just before New Year's Eve.
Robyn - you do know that when they are underway skype can't be used, at least that is my understanding.
Kim - I heard from Katie today, but she didn't mention the 'rocking of the boat'. I'll have to ask her.

Jonathan is waiting for his chit. I started a discussion about airfare for the holidays this year. Jonathan is taking the New Year time again. What are your kids finding for airfare? It is really high this year. Last year the airlines had set aside fares for military. This year they are offering 1% to 5% off. The online websites are doing better than that.

Kim - Katie mentioned hoping to get her flight scheduled this weekend. Last year when she came over Christmas I found a rate of about $1,200 and she booked it for just a little less. This year I have been searching and the prices are definitely higher;( Katie's flying a little later and that may make a difference, plus overall I think airline prices are up.

Is your son trying to flying out of Fukuoka or Narita?

A 'chit' is what they use to request leave. If Micah is thinking about it, he'd better submit one.

KIm - Katie said in an e-mail today....We are following a storm, I've been, told so the seas are rocky - yes, but not too bad. We have had worse this float already.
goitia67 - I asked Katie if she knew a DC named Cassandra - she said - no, I know an HT. Like always, do you have a Last name?

My sons next orders are for Norfolk.
I am thrilled. It is a five hour drive from my house.

Kim - I read on the Japan site that it was your son that 'sunk the ship'! Great pics of the sea sparrow. I see that is your new profile pic as well.

Sharon - Guess that's on the positive side. Also less officers than enlised. Katie had to do the Officer's laundry for her cranking.

Just sent Katie a package of a few things she needed and the 3 kinds of cookies and a candy. Hopefully it will make it by her 2nd anniversary;) Katie entered 10/8/08

Marianne, Jonathan left for boot camp 4 years ago today.

Kim - Did Jonathan sign up for 5 years when he went in? Has he decided if he will re-enlist?

Heard they'd being seing land soon - not sure where yet.

Jonathan had to sign up for 6 years. His FC training usually takes up to two years. He finished early and was sent to Japan in the spring of 2008.
He hasn't decided what he is doing. The ship he is going to is in Pakastan right now. They left at the end of August and it is not expected back until spring of summer.

Sorry, spring or summer.

Kim - What ship is he being sent to? Is it based out of the East coast then? Have you heard about his travel plans for December yet with his girlfriend?

He said that he is still coming. His chit has not been approved and prices are going up. He said that he has a month leave when he moves and "we" will visit then also. He hasn't announced any wedding plans.

His orders are not official, but he has his choice between the USS Wasp (LHD1) and the USS Kearsarge (LHD3). They are the ships built before and after the Essex. Both are stationed in Norfolk. He is leaning toward the Kearsarge, which is the ship currently in Pakistan.

Have any of your sailors been stationed in the U.S? Their site was talking about this long deployment a year ago. I had heard years ago that they go 6 months out and 6 months in port. I guess it saves fuel to have them go a year overseas, then have shorter deployments up and down the north and south American coast. I am just guessing.

Norfolk is only a 5 hour drive for me. I am going to be really upset if he ends up deployed in Afghanistan for a year. I heard they are building a naval base there.

Kim - Sounds like even if he is in Norfolk, his ship would be out to sea for long periods. Sorry I can't help with questions about being stationed in the U.S. since you know Katie is just starting out. Maybe someone on the Japan site has a sailor that served previously in the U.S. I think Katie has heard that the Essex will be out for a longer deployment next year. I know they will be going to Australia again at some point.

NNS101002-08. USS Essex Conducts Exercise Habu Nag with India
-- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=56358

Rec'd emails from Katie the last few days. Saw pictures of replenishment, but didn't hear if the last pkg I sent has made it to her yet. Katie said she couldn't say where they were or when they might be in a port, but thought around Thomas birthday. FYI - Thomas was born the Sunday before Thanksgiving in 1996.

The last pkg her sister Alicia sent she had asked for special popcorn and almonds from a shop in the Upper Peninsula. I guess she is not sharing those. The triple chip cookies and ginger crisps were gone in a matter of hours.

Kim, what a great story. We are all proud of him.

hi now japanmom was spicysmom how is everyone doing , im back finally still not at home with net but on line again a step up huh , deb

good job hans keep it up congrates to you too kim ...!deb japanmom

Overseas Tour Extension Incentive Program

This probably has been updated since it was posted, but it is a navy pdf. I know that Katie has talked about being able to come home for 30 days next year. I know one of the guys in her Division is taking 30 days after they return from deployment.

1. Policy. OTEIP offers eligible enlisted members the
opportunity to receive their choice of one of four incentive
options for extension of the Department of Defense (DOD) tour
length for 12 months or more.
a. The following options are available:
(1) Option A -- $80 per month special pay for each month
during the period of the extension.
(2) Option B -- 30 days rest and recuperation (R&R)
absence during the period of extension.
(3) Option C -- 15 days R&R absence plus round trip
transportation at government expense from the location of the
extended tour of duty to the port of debarkation in continental
United States (CONUS) and return during the period of extension.
(4) Option D -- $2,000 lump sum payment on the first day
of the 12-month extension.

Jonathan talked about that last year. He asked for an extension in Japan and it was denied "by the higher ups". I guess I will hear all about it when he is home.

Thanks Marianne for the information. Last year Jonathan told me that others 'that where due to leave' where offered 1 month leave at Christmas or a ticket home to stay. I think he was hoping.

He returns in the spring and he has 1 1/2 years left to serve. I have no idea if he will re-up. (maybe that had an impact?) Anyway, I am thrilled that he will be stationed so close to home. I still don't know if I will be getting a future daughter-in-law. His email said that he will get a month off when he returns and "they" will be visiting again.

I hope I will still be welcome on the Essex site, because I don't plan on leaving you guys. LOL.

Susanna - They can't track the box once it leaves the USA;(

Susanna, the zip code is San Diego. It usually arrives there in 2 days. After that it is the navy. Jonathan just got his package two days ago. I think mail comes with supplies and they need a lot of supplies when they are out to sea.

Susanna, where did you mail it? If you sent it to a Japan address, they can track it and it will go through customs. If you sent it to his FPO box, they can only track it to that zip code and it will not go through customs. The post office still requires you to fill out a customs form. I do not know why. Do you have a tracking number? If so, you can track it yourself.

Welcome reeniegalla!
I sent you a friend request.
I assume your daughter will have a sponsor. Even so, she should go the the ships website and print the bus schedule from the airport. She can make a free phone call to the U.S. at the uso. When my son was on leave before going I told him that I will be extremely worried until I get a phone that he made it safe.

She should apply for a credit card that does not have a foreign exchange fee. I only know of capital one. My son uses one from the navy exchange. Every time he uses it outside of base, he is charged a fee.

She should get some Japanese Yen for travelling. Take a pillow for the flight. My son took an old one and tossed it when he got there. If she gets lost at any of the Japanese airports, ask for the DoD. Department of Defense. There is always someone there at Narita. I assume Fukuoka is the same.

My son got his birthday box a few weeks late. He was still thrilled. The box made it but the cookies where crumbs. He ate them anyway.

reeniegalla, cranking is an assignment that all the new sailors get. They work in the kitchen, laundry, etc. It is long hours but it only lasts three weeks. My son said that it is a possiblity that they could do it more than once unless they are E5 or above. I haven't heard of anyone doing it more than once.

Kim, I know nothing about the absentee vote. I don't think my son has looked into it. I was thinking about it today. We have to vote on a new Governor. I am ashamed to say that I have not researched any of our choices for Governor or our U.S. Senator. I started looking today. I learned that our "Democrat" choice for U.S. Senator is and ex-navy 3 star General(retired around 2001). I sent an email to my son asking him if he knew anything about him. This is the first time that I have asked my son for advice. It is comforting.

My daughter sent Katie cookies that had cream cheese mixed into them (not a layer like it would be in a roll) and they arrived moist and just fine - Alicia was worried that they would go 'bad'. I have sent a pan of brownies since my sister was successful in sending that along with a can of frosting to Afghanistan when her son was over there with the National guard. I'm sure a pie wouldn't survive since cookies sometime are crumbs and boxes occasionally get crushed;( I've sent peanut brittle, fudge, cookies, brownies and such.

Katie had mentioned that she was going to be busy, but didn't say why. So I asked. She replied "Yea we are having another inspection so things are alittle crazy around here. They seem to be going very well though."

I found this on another site:
http://www.navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject/forum/to...
I also learned that marshmallows are good to use in your packages as protection.

I make homemade jams. Jonathan loves it when I send it to him. I pack it well. Let me know how it turns out. If I have time, I am going to try pecan or pumpkin pie for his Thanksgiving.

Wow! Who knew! Glad someone has tried it and shared it. I just may have to trie the pies myself;) Thanks Kim!

My son emailed me to say that his leave was approved. In the end of the email he said: P.S. I got a NAM today! (Navy Achievement Medal)

He didn't explain what it is, or why he got it. I will have to ask the experts on the Japan site.

Congratulations - What great thing(s) did he do to receive the Navy Achievement Medal? (Was it for sinking the ship??? - just kidding!)

So glad to hear that he will be coming home for a visit.....did he get his tickets yet?