Naval Aviation

For Moms with Aviators or anyone interested
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  • JudyM

    Helomom, I think you spoke for all of us when you said your DS "was living the dream"! I know I feel that way about my DS.
  • Barb

    Wow to all, sounds like things are pretty sunny all the way around!  Thank you for the support during and after SERE.  SO GLAD to have that behind us!  DS said they told him during the debrief that he did really, really well.  Yay!  We had an awesome visit at his great new house in CA.  It was so good to wrap my arms around him and see that he really was okay!  Suzie, sounds like things are moving fast out there.  My DS was told that they'll do ground school but it could be ages before they are back in a real cockpit.  Exciting times though!  Have a great weekend everyone!

  • Helomom

    Thanks, Navy wife and mom!
  • Helomom

    NurseNavyMom(Shelia)- Thank you! He has worked hard. Took 10 years to overtake his grad year peer group due to the Nurse Corps-Unrestricted Line aviator career reset. Basically he was the guy missing years, nothing from 1997-2001 counted. So, he had to do everything and do it quickly. The clock was ticking and all those 1997 grad year people were going to be competing for command. He's always had a plan.
  • Paymaster

    Sheila....I understand that long deployments, it so hard when you don't see them face to face.  Hopefully you are able to talk with him occasionally? 

    Thankfully mine is stateside.  He was gone early in the year, with no communication available.  I must admit I have been enjoying being able to talk with him each week now!

    Hope you had a great time at the air show!

  • Thetribemom

    Ok ladies, DS leaves for Japan today. Layover in Seattle tonight. Going to join up with his squadron on the 16th. He is a mechanic for the Hawkeye. Any and all info will be appreciated. I can't post much as I work alot , but I get all your posts via my cell phone. He is my child who refuses to ask questions. Such as how do you stay in contact ,phone , computer etc? 

  • Marianne

    Thetribemom:

    My DS is also  Hawkeye. He's been in Japan for 2 1/2 years and should be home for Christmas for the first time since he deployed. I can't wait!

    VAW 115 is known as The Liberty Bells and you can look them up on the navy website. The base is at Atsugi, not Okinawa. You are looking at a 16 hr. time difference even when they are not on cruise. We use email the most, but Skype is awesome when the weekend rolls around. Remember that they are also one day ahead (Intl. Date Line).

    DS will soon find out that summer is hot and muggy while winter is cold and damp. They do better with air conditioning than heat - Japanese "central heat" is not the best. We went over for Christmas two years ago and if we weren't Midwesterners, we would have frozen.

    Let us know if you have any specific questions. A number of people who post here have been through (or are going through) the Japan experience.

  • JudyM

    Amazing weekend coming up. Going to Washington to visit DS and fiancé. They have decided to get married while we are there. I am so excited!
  • Paymaster

    Judy {{Hugs}} so excited for you!

  • Helomom

    Wow, JudyM! Great fun!
  • CheriH

    How wonderful JudyM!  Enjoy!

  • JudyM

    Thanks for the good words. We are totally thrilled to have her in our family.

  • ulua

    Congratulations JudyM!  God bless your son and his bride as they begin their life together. Such a happy time for you and your family.

  • gonavymom

    JudyM congratulations to you and your family.  Can you believe it has been a year already since we met in Kingsville at our DS's winging!  I take it this is the young woman I met there?  So happy for your DS and his new wife.  I don't have to work next Mon, Tues, Wed so if you are still near the base, give me a ring and we can get together for lunch or something!

  • CheriH

    That's cool Nancy!  I love watching the videos of the LSOs on deck.  What is FCLP?  Something to do with carrier landings I assume.  Thanks.

    DS just got back from El Centro.  Whew...Something like 30 flights in 15 days.  He's exhausted...but loved it!  I think he has a winging date!  It happens to be my mom's 80th birthday.  My brothers and families were planning on coming into town to celebrate...I had to tell them I wouldn't be here.  Hopefully we can move her celebration.  I'm not missing winging!!!

  • JudyM

    The wedding was simple, just the bride, groom and parents. Big wedding to come probably next year. Loved being a part of it.

  • JudyM

    Gonavymom, thanks so much for your hospitality. How nice to have a chance to visit.

  • gonavymom

    Great visit with JudyM last week!  That's Whidbey Island behind us from my back deck.  This morning I saw an aircraft carrier out here!  Its so funny to glance out the window and go whoaaa, carrier.  A year ago we were celebrating our DS's wingings in Kingsville.  I got to see some sweet wedding pictures!

  • CheriH

    Love the pics...sweet wedding pic and you two lovely ladies!  

  • Barb

    NNM, glad for you!  Enjoyed the photos too.

  • CheriH

    It's official!  We have a winging date.  July 25th.  Good news is that it doesn't conflict with my mom's 80th birthday.  Now to figure out winging gifts.  I'm going to comb through all your suggestions.  Did you know that the guy in Milton closed the business?  At least that's what it looks like to me.  Sad.  Kingsville should be nice and warm in late July.  Guess I'll start looking for a navy sundress.  Can't wait!!!

  • Barb

    Hi Cheri,

    Congratulations!  We found a guy in Pensacola that did the matted pictures, I think I posted his contact info a while back and he did a great job!  At our DS's winging the unit also gave each wingee a framed photo of the T45 with wings.

     

  • Rosemarie

    Hi Everyone,

    Looks like my LO will be based in Coronado and needs to start looking for a place to live. Does anyone have any info on where to look for affordable, nice rentals in San Diego? Real Estate or rental agents?? Neighborhoods or communities to definitely look at, or to avoid??? Help!!

  • Helomom

    My son and family are currently on Coronado. It's crazy expensive. They pay $4000 a month for the house they are renting. I would say start with the contacting the squadron and the Housing Office.
  • ulua

    Happy Mother's day to all you lovely Navy moms.  Whether our LO's are near or far, we keep them in ours thoughts and prayers every day, and forever in our hearts.

    Cheri- Congrats on the winging, its every bit as wonderful as you are picturing it to be.

    A toast, to each of you on Mother's day!

  • JudyM

    Have a great Mothers Day everyone. Weather we are fortunate enough to have our loved ones with us or not, we are still proud Moms of amazing children!
  • JudyM

    Cheri, yes winging is an amazing experience. Enjoy every minute!
  • NOAM

    Happy Mothers day to all military moms!!

  • Barb

    Suzie, That is so awesome!  It brought tears to my eyes.  What a truly special time and wonderful memory!

  • JudyM

    Suzie, what a great Mother's Day. So happy for you.

    DS going to the boat on Tuesday for CQs. One of the things that give us Navy Moms gray hair.

  • NFAO

    Suzie - a wonderful story and a handsome picture!  I hope our sons can meet up at some point in VA Beach!

  • CheriH

    Suzie...your Mother's Day weekend sounds like heaven!  And the picture is beautiful.  I'm sure you will treasure that one!   

  • Barb

    Beautiful picture!

  • JudyM

    Great picture, great memory!
  • NFAO

    Suzie - they're in the same squadron; he's been there since January.  He'll be flying Super Hornets so he just started Sim training last week.

  • Helomom

    Love the photo, Suzie! Hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day. We went to the Seattle Mariners game with our daughter and family. Unfortunately I missed a call from DS out on the boat but on the plus side, now I have a voice mail I can listen to whenever I want. It's the silly little things...
  • Barb

    Helomom, I know what you mean...I save every voicemail and text exchange, just in case I need a boost.

  • Paymaster

    Don't we all save those voice mails.  Ok is it me or did they just add a "Like" button on the "Discussions Forum"?

  • Helomom

    Hmm. I think they did add a "like" button.
  • Helomom

    Paymaster - Just checked "das boat". They don't have "like" buttons on their page. Hmm.
  • CheriH

    Oh wow...great pic!  

  • NOAM

    Oh Suzie - that is totally awesome!  What a wonderful surprise.

  • ulua

    Suzie-I hope you get that one framed, its amazing!

  • Barb

    Great picture!  That's one to treasure!

  • JudyM

    Flyboymom, how interesting that your DS is back flying the T-45. I have often wondered what comes next. My DS is soon to be assigned to a growler squadron.
  • Paymaster

    Flyboymom....congrats on reaching your milestones in your life.  It will be interesting to read your post as you travel down this new road.  Best of luck you and your family.

  • Helomom

    Flyboymom-iPhone info. In the upper right corner where it says Menu (graphic is 3 dash lines), click on that and the drop down menu will give you a list with Desktop view or version... Pick that. You can pinch and zoom from there
  • JudyM

    flyboymom, will post when he gets his assignment which I think should be in a couple of weeks. DS and new wife just had an offer accepted on a house in Anacortes. Hopefully, that will work out.

  • Helomom

    JudyM-Where in Anacortes? My mother lives there, we are going up to visit on Sunday. Tuesday will be her 90th birthday. She could use some Navy nearby :-)
  • JudyM

    Helomom, they are buying a house on 37th Street. However, DS is doing CQs right now out of San Diego. His wife is in Dallas with her family. They will both be back next week.  We hope to go to Anacortes again in July or so.