Naval Aviation

For Moms with Aviators or anyone interested
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  • Dawn

    That is so neat Leslie and JMwrites that your kids will be roommates! My son is sin primary so I have a while to get where u moms are and I am so thankful to have u al that are further ahead than me for questions and support!
  • ulua

    Yes, being 'washed out' is a common navy phrase for failing a training program. Pedsdoc, There may be personal bias or regional dialect difterences that make that phrase offensive to you...  A very old term for failing flight training was "fallen angel", I'm sure someone else may find that offensive.  Always good to ask for clarity, especially on a discussion site.

    Congratulations to Judy and JMwrites! We've had our share of anxious, sleepless nights worrying about our LO.  I imagine these past few weeks wondering if your son was going to wing must have been very hard, I wish you safe travels and a wonderful winging!  

  • JudyM

    Thanks ulua, there were a few anxious moments . . . and I am sure more to come.

  • Dawn

    Well said nurse navy mom. My son is also a bit untraditional. No prior military and at age 27 (already had degree and had been working) decided he wanted to be a naval aviator, took the tests and was put into the next OCS class. He finished OCS two months before his 28 th birthday. He started primary a month ago.
  • Jamesmum

    Dawn, I think our sons must be very close in timing. Mine finished OCS in Dec. and is in API. Does yours manage to phone home once in a while? Mine is frustrating the heck out of me right now!
  • Navygf820

    Jamesmum, your son is frustrating the heck out of me too! ;) also, jmwrites and others who have gone through winging or close to winging- what event causes pilots to 'wash out' right before the end? Is it one single event/test or the process itself gets too overwhelming? Thanks! I know I'm not a mom but you ladies always provide such good information and support!
  • JudyM

    Nancy, I agree with you that the support here does help. However, everyone deals with stress and worry differently. I personally withdraw and you don't hear from me. Others need more support. I hope we can all find the level of support we need here.
  • JudyM

    Leslie, well said. Scary, but true.

  • Dawn

    Jamesmum yes they are close, mine graduate end of July. He usually calls after I have sent a text asking how he is LOL. I tell him how nice it is to hear his voice once I a while instead of just text. Hint Hint. Yep. They aren't real chatty but I know he is extremely busy. I tend to hear from him a bit more when things are a bit slower. He tells me come down any time and visit ( I can stay at his house) so I may do that soon.
  • JudyM

    Great News! DS just got his assignment - he will be going growlers at Whitby Island. That was his first choice and he got it. We are thrilled he will be on the West Coast. Only a few hour flight away.

  • Paymaster

    Congrats Judy on your son's assignment! We will have to lunch when you get back from his winging.
  • Dawn

    Congratulations to you and your son Judy!
  • CheriH

    Congrats Judy!  And how exciting to have him relatively close by.  

  • JudyM

    Thanks everyone for the well wishes. We are thrilled.We all want our children to achieve their dreams.

    Nancy W, I will have to talk to you about Washington and its weather.

  • Barb

    Congratulations in wingings and first choices! Sounds like a great day all the way round!

    We were in fret mode until just a few minutes ago--successful first flight in the front seat--an Admiral in the back! Success and a happy phone call!!
  • Marianne

    Congratulations on wingings and first choices! It seems like half our "Navy time" is waiting for news. How great it is when our children get to make their next step.

    Sheila and Leslie: Have to say I'm a Big 10 fan and wasn't too happy last night, but I am with you all the way tonight. Just watching those two Native American sisters play has me on your side. Good luck!

  • Dawn

    Great news JMwrites!!! Very happy for u a nd your family.
  • CheriH

    Congrats jmwrites...enjoy the celebration!!!!

  • JudyM

    Winging in Kingsville was amazing. Christine, so great to share it with you.
    This was an awesome group who put on a great ceremony and a fabulous party.
  • Dawn

    Great new jmwrites. What a great feeling you all must have seeing get those wings. I look so forward to it!
  • TennMom

    Keep us posted Shelia, you are in our thoughts and prayers (it's what N4M do best!)

  • Barb

    Agreed.  Thinking of you and sending prayers to you.

  • Paymaster

    Sheila....Hope you recover quickly from whatever it is you are suffering with.  Get well my friend!

  • JudyM

    Sheila, always good thoughts and Lots of prayers.
  • Paymaster

    Finished a quilt for my youngest grandson to take to day care.  I had made a quilt for him when he was born, but there were so many scrapes left I felt like I had more than enough to make another quilt.  So I did.  I used up all my mistake blocks and the left over scrapes.  I figure it would be a great quilt for him to take to daycare when he goes, its one of a kind and I worked in his name when quilting it.  Lets see someone take this quilt!

    Daycare quilt 

  • Dawn

    Paymaster. Absolutely beautiful!
  • Marianne

    Paymaster: The quilt is beautiful. All that from "scraps"!

    Leslie: I hope Conor will enjoy Japan. My DS is also a Conor and has been over there for almost 18 months. He has 18 more to go. Atsugi is a fairly small base, especially when compared to Okinawa, where the George Washington is based. We were in Atsugi for Christmas, and he'll be any easy train ride from Yokohama and then on to Tokyo. It's interesting that your son will only be there for six months, but I hope he'll get a chance to see some of the country. Last summer  their cruise kept getting extended and they barely got back in time for Thanksgiving!

    I'm sure he's aware of this, but tell him to prepare for heat and humidity. Of course, when we were there, it was the opposite! Very little snow on the central plain, but cold and rainy. Japanese houses have horrible heating systems! Luckily, we brought lots of layers.

    Where will he be staying? Atsugi is very short on BOQs, but there are a lot of apts. and houses nearby. The housing allowance is generous because it is ranked as the most expensive Navy station. Good luck to him!

  • Helomom

    Hello moms. DS has started the next phase, he has checked in as the PXO. Heavy training load for the next 10-12 months. Classes in Pensacola, Newport, Fallon, and San Diego plus the FRS to get backup to flying cert. Busy schedule for sure!
  • Helomom

    @Navy wife and mom - He's west coast and the best part is so are we! He and his family have orders for about 42 months in this cycle. In the last 10 years they have moved 7 times, 4 times coast to coast. Of course he will be TAD or deployed about half the time but at least our grandkids will be in our time zone.
  • Paymaster

    Got to give a shout out for grandkids being in the same time zone as the grandparents!!

  • Helomom

    All is right with the world, Paymaster. We already have tickets to fly down and babysit in June while the parents are in Newport for CLS. YAY!
  • Paymaster

    Momster welcome to our group!

     

    Suzie....Thank you for the kind words.  I don't watch much TV.  I usually have it on, but just for the noise.  Sewing relax's me.

  • JudyM

    DS and his girlfriend drove here from Texas and arrived Friday afternoon. He is moving to Whidbey. Only had them overnight, but thankful for any time I have.

  • Paymaster

    Ah Judy, its so wonderful to have them, if only for the evening!

  • Momster

    Thank you, NancyW and Paymaster!  New here, trying to read as much as I can.  Very informative forums!

  • Helomom

    Welcome to the ride, Momster!
  • Paymaster

    Oh Sheila....I hope things go better for you.....

  • JudyM

    Sheila, praying is what we do best and it is heading your way.
  • Dawn

    Thinking of you Sheila
  • Helomom

    Good luck, NurseNavyMom. I had thyroid issues about 8 years ago. Scary and no fun.
  • Barb

    Welcome Rockmom...never hesitate to ask what all the acronyms stand for, there are tons of them used here and tons more that your SNA (Student Naval Aviator) will share with you (I try to write them down because our DS gets aggravated when I don't remember!).  Our son is training on the T-45 in Kingsville right now with a December 6 winging date!  That is a going to be a very busy time as we also recently found out our daughter is expecting our first grandchild here in Michigan on December 3!!  (That was why I asked a few weeks ago how "hard and fast" those winging dates are) We are so excited and have already begun working out our Plans A, B, and C for how to dovetail these two major events together.  Our daughter hasn't told her brother the due date yet...we wanted him to enjoy the news before putting the two things together.

    Glad to hear the updates from all...Sheila, will continue our prayers for you and improved health.  It's great to have moms here from all along the timeline...it helps us to know what's coming and provides some comfort while our kids are far from home.  Spring has finally arrived and life is pretty beautiful right now.  

    Have a great week everyone! 

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Moving to PCola in a 9 days!  Hubby commissioning in 4 days!

  • CheriH

    Just got back from a trip to P'cola...had a wonderful time with DS and DIL.  The beaches are beautiful, the seafood delicious and the fellowship delightful.  The highlight was a trip to Whiting and a visit inside the sims building.  Got to see where he spends so much time, see how they work and hubby actually got to sit inside the mock cockpit.  Then we watched flight ops and heard the details of what he does inside the plane.  

    He's halfway through instruments and selection is coming soon.  Can't believe it. A year ago this seemed so very far away!

  • ulua

    Hi all you lovely Navy4moms!  Rainy spring day in Northern Cal, glad we got the garden work all done this weekend.

    Congrats to you SSL(Whitney).  The commissioning is very fun and you will enjoy P-cola. You will have a fun summer, enjoy the beach.

    Sheila- get well soon, stay positive. 

    Pedsdoc- hope all is well with you & your LO.

     

  • Paymaster

    Ulua....Nice to hear from you. Hopefully I will get my garden in shape this weekend.
  • aggiemom

    I wanted to share what my SNA sent me for Mother's Day but can't figure out how to add a picture. Can somebody clue me in?

  • BeachBunny

    aggiemom-to add a picture...click on the second tab(image tab) above where you type....find picture on your computer...change the size to around 300-400.........hit ok....:))

  • aggiemom

    Thanks. Most send their moms flowers for Mother's Day but this is what was in my card and I love it. Now I need to figure out what to put it on.

  • CheriH

    Love it aggiemom!  Where did he get it?  I'd love to get one too!

  • JudyM

    Live it Aggiemom!