Naval Aviation

For Moms with Aviators or anyone interested
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  • gonavymom

    Leslie:  Thank you for all the great information on winging.  What a beautiful family you have, I can only imagine how proud you are.   My DS should be winging in Kingsville in around 6 weeks.  His CQs have been affected by the Truman situation so hoping that budget cuts don't push the process out even farther.  He has been in Kingsville just over a year.  He will be flying F18s but don't know where yet.   Any other Kingsville moms on this timeframe?

  • lsP3Orion

    Leslie,  I'm so glad you were able to go to Rory's winging and you've really captured what the essence of what it was all about!  What a wonderful family and to be honored as you were!  Beautiful pictures!

     

    I haven't posted much, but have been reading everyone's posts!  My son passed his P3 board last week and is now Flight Commander!  It was very grueling - so my thoughts are with Conor - good luck to him!!

     

    Granddaughter is due April 17th (my older son's BD) - pilot son will not be here for the delivery as he will be deployed, but home about a month later after she gets somewhat in the groove of having a new baby - he'll miss all the fun, first month stuff :)

     

    I may come down to Florida after the baby is born, but will probably wait until my son is home so I can see him too - I'll let you Florida moms know!

     

     

  • Paymaster

    It doesn't matter how long they are in, your heart always drops when they call to inform you they are deploying. 

    Mine call last night on his drive into base for a none scheduled deployment.  Couldn't tell us where or for how long.  Its the nature of their business.  Gods speed to all.

  • Paymaster

    Thanks, Leslie.   Its the nature of the beast.  I am a old hand at this, but is still is a hard pill to swallow.  I miss talking to him.

  • aggiemom

    My son graduates OCS next week and will be going to Pensacola next. He is looking for a place to stay with at least one other guy. Any suggestions or recommendations? 

  • Dawn

    Aggiemom. I sent you friend request with some information
  • USNA Mom

    Hi Ladies, I am new to you all and have learned from reading the thread.  Excuse me for just jumping in but after reading aggiemom's request for Pensacola housing, I wanted to jump in to warn her son about a Property Management firm named South Pointe.  They have a racket going where they have a lawyer send a letter to the kids about a month after they move saying that the kids never gave in their paperwork and keep the deposit.  The kids are no longer in the area and cannot do anything about it.  It happened to me son and his friends and after posting on another site, I found out that this is common. I would hate to see someone else have the same experience.

  • Barb

    Leslie,

    Congratulations! 

  • Barb

    aggiemom, My DS lived in Austinwood apartments in Pensacola and everyone was very nice.  He had his own one bedroom apt, but there were lots of guys there sharing 2 br.  It's just a few minutes down the road from the base and just a minute or two from the Walmart and Target.

  • Dawn

    Congratulations!
  • Helomom

    Congratulations, Leslie! Bravo Zulu to Conor!
  • aggiemom

    Thanks ladies. And Congrats to Color (I'll have to look up what PPC board is)

  • Rose

    aggiemom, Austin Woods is a good apartment complex.  Nice units, 1, 2, and I think maybe 3 bedroom units.  Handy to base and stores, etc.  Helpful management folks.

  • CheriH

    Congrats Leslie! How exciting for your whole family.

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Well first steps towards the  aviation pipe!  He got medically cleared yesterday. Today he got an email needing to fill out a month what he wanted to move and what not!! 

  • Dawn

    Sweet southern lady. Is your son at OCS or finishing Primary?
  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Dawn, my husband is in the STA-21 program so he's in NROTC. He'll be leaving for flight school some time after Commissioning.

  • Dawn

    I am not familar with STA, what is that? Always something new to learn! My son is starting primary
  • Dawn

    Ok, just googled STA-21 so see what it is. There is a face book page Naval Aviation Support group you might want to join. Helpful for those heading to Pensacola. Great way to meet other girlfriends, wife's, families with LO going on the naval aviation journey!
  • Dawn

    Nancy W. that is great! Yes the navy is very good about recognizing great potential and developing it. They offer wonderful opportunities for our LO's.
  • CheriH

    Oh Suzie...how fun!  Enjoy it!

  • Barb

    Suzie, I love it when they have all those maps out!  Great picture, I hope your visit was wonderful.

    Our son (Advanced at Kingsville) said that he was told they may go a year and a half for training due to reduced flights as a result of the sequester.  He had his first two instrument flights this past week and is now down a few days with a stuffy head.  Still loving it all though!

    Have a good week everyone!

  • JudyM

    Barb, my son is also in Kingsville. It is the government, just be patient and go with the flow.

  • CheriH

    Had a lovely treat tonite!  Talked with my DS for about an hour.  I called him about some tax stuff, and then got to hear all about his recent flights, what he's learning, about his IP's and lots of acronyms.  He is so excited about what he is learning and doing.  He's only a few flights away from his solo flight (primary.)  He and his wife have made some wonderful friends, love their church and are so happy with married life.  It is so amazing to hear how they have settled into this life they have chosen!  Makes for a very happy mom!!

    pedsdoc:  so glad you had a wonderful time with your DS.  How fun!

  • Helomom

    Hi Moms! Just returned from our son's graduation March 6 from the War College. My husband, our daughter, and I flew out Monday night arriving in Newport, RI on Tuesday. Graduation was Wednesday and we flew back home to Seattle on Thursday. The nor'easter was just hitting as we were leaving with wind and snow. We flew back thru Atlanta with no delay, our son and his wife were flying thru Newark and after several delays/cancelled due to weather in that area, they were able to fly out to San Diego.
  • Helomom

    I just know all of you want to watch this (hahaha) so here is the link. DS is near the end of the grads due to last name. http://www.usnwc.edu/About/News/March-2013/U-S--Naval-War-College-G....
  • Helomom

    Totally awesome photos, Kathy B. You are rightly proud of your amazing daughter!
  • Helomom

  • Helomom

    Thanks, Leslie!
  • JudyM

    Hi all. I have been a bit absent of late, just worried about DS. Got word he completed his quals this morning off Jacksonville. Should have winging in Kingsville April 12th or so. Feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders!

  • Paymaster

    Big Congrats to your DS Judy!

     

  • Diane2557

    I join in your prayers for the 3 Navy crewman. My son flies the Growler at that base and knew the pilot; I think the other 2 were students. I just got off the phone and all flights are suspended for at least the next 2 days. It is a small base and therefore everyone is very close. My son's wife is already on the phone talking with other navy wives to coordinate support over the difficult days ahead for the families.

    May God embrace the three Navy crewman and their families.

  • Barb

    Thinking of all of our sons and daughters right now, praying for their continued safety and prayers for those crewmen and their families.  I called our son just to hear his voice and know how fortunate I am that he is still just a phone call away.  Hugs to everyone.

  • Dawn

    So very sad
  • Helomom

    Thank you, Nancy. I think you summed up how we all feel.
  • JudyM

    Anyone been to winging at Kingsville? When do we need to be there?

  • momk

    Thank you for the welcome, Nancy W. And lovely prayer. I am reeling from that news, and so torn between thankfulness that my boy is ok, and sorrow for the families who did not get the text or call or email assuring that their son or daughter was safe.

  • Dawn

    I can't find where it talks about air wing closures do you which article that is in?
  • Navygf820

    Dawn, I was looking for the same thing. I can't find the article either. My boyfriend is down at NAS Pensacola, been there since January, and still hasn't begun his training. I'm always looking for news about what is going on based on the budget cuts and sequestration. Nancy W. - can you put a direct link to the article about the Navy Air Wings and the halting of basic training? Thanks!

  • Michelle

    My thoughts are with the families, and all of you at Whidbey.  

    Navygf820,  even in better funded times, my son waited about 6 months to start API after OCS, so don't get discouraged.   He just did his carrier quals and should soon be finding out what squadron he's assigned to.  It's taken 3 and a half years to get to this point from the start of OCS.  I'm hoping the boat will be able to get in a few more quals in the near future, since I know several of you have ones about ready.  

    May they all stay safe.

  • jamielss

    My son graduated OCS in December of 2013. Hes been in Pensacola with the other classmates waiting for 3 months now. He call this morning and he is classing up on Friday - only 2 or 3 of them. They cancelled IFS. So now in the A class there are A+ (went through IFS or have their pilots license) and A- don't have either. My son is A-. He is a little worried about the lack of preparation for API but i think there will be no more IFS for awhile for anyone.

  • Paymaster

    Welcome Momk!

  • Navygf820

    jamielss- what OCS class was your son in? My boyfriend was in 04-13 and graduated on Dec. 21, 2012.

  • Helomom

    IFS is a relatively new class and it is not surprising that it has been cut. Classes graduated new pilots before without IFS and they will do so again. Tell your aviator not to worry, just study hard. Very nice summary Nancy, we all have to remember that we are winding down from 10 years of war. The unfortunate problem with the sequestration is that the military was mandated to make across the board cuts. A more targeted approach would have allowed commands more flexibility. Commands are penciling out their adjustments as fast as they can.
  • Helomom

    Pedsdoc- When we bought our house we had a 12% interest rate on our FmHA loan. Our kids have a 3. something on their home loan now.
  • jamielss

    Navygf820 - he was in same class! we probably at the graduation!

  • Paymaster

    Navygf820...Just a friendly message from an old mom, yYou may want to edit your last message as we try very hard never to publish our children's names for security reason. 

  • jamielss

    ok - no more names! NavyG - mine is now having to wait another week due to paper work so maybe they will be together!

  • Michelle

    You can remove your message by hitting the X on the right side of the message box when you are logged in.  It only appears on your entries.

    Pedsdoc, the quals were in the F18, so end of advanced I guess, not the T45.  There has been a lot of waiting time, due to lots of people in the pipeline at certain points, the way flights are scheduled, and considerations we know nothing about.  Its a long road, but he loves it. 

    Nancy, good food for thought!

  • Barb

    On a lighter note...my DS is in Kingsville and the Commodore is retiring this spring and heading to our son's alma mater to take over the NROTC unit there!  Small world, huh?  Since he is retiring soon, the Commodore wanted to go up for a flight and rode with our son last week...a pretty cool "IP"!    This week is all sims, two a day.  He said it's likely that fewer flights will be the biggest sequester-related change for him...it will just take a bit longer to get through.  That's okay with us, it sure feels like he's been moving along fast to this point.   Have a great day!