AECF - FCs and ETs

Helen...Matt must be so happy and excited! I wish him a safe journey...with fun and adventure of course! I can imagine your happiness for him as well. He's waited a long time for this. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you hear from him before they pull out. Please keep us posted!
I sure wish we all lived closer...we are not related by blood, but it sure feels like family!

Sandy, Helen,Vicky,....thanks. Yes, we all look forward to hearing success stories. What is so great about this forum is that I know and I can feel that each of us is equally happy and proud for every sailor, not just our own. They work hard, study hard, put their lives on hold, and on the line if needed, and I can't imagine feeling any other way about any of them. Bless them all!

Good morning!

We just came back from the Enterprise Homecoming. Doug was only with the ship for a few months (they flew him out after he graduated c school). It was one of the best experiences!! And, we got a visitor pass to see the ship. I am amazed at everything these guys (and girl) know! We got to shadow him for the day and see what he does. We met his supervisor and all his co-workers and how they live on the ship. It was truly an experience i will never forget!

Now that the ship's home, he and a fellow sailor got an apartment together. At first we were kind of hesitant, til we saw their living conditions on the ship. After we realized  what small space he really has, we went with him to look at apartments. It was interesting to see how well these guys talked to the apartment managers to make sure they got everything they needed in writing! They really have matured!!

Joann, My son is an ET on tne Big E also. He just started working on it when it got into port. Is yours an ET or FC?

Watching the ships leave.... that really depends on the base, the ship and the job your sailors does.  Some bases dont' allow more than to drop them off, they don't want civilians on the area.  Sometimes your sailor must be onboard hours and hours beforehand to work.  Homecoming, oh yes, a thousand times yes, but departing?  You'll need to find out from the ombudsman whether or not it will be authorized.  There are situations when it is not.

Debbie, I am glad you got the opportunity to see your son's ship sail off into the wild blue yonder. I know that you already miss him but are happy for him at the same time. He is starting a new adventure.

My son is only shipping out to (C)school in September. I will have six more months of my son being a student. I am going to have mixed feeling when my son goes on his first deployment. I am going to be really happy and excited for him, but then I know I wont hear from him much. I have gotten spoiled with Skype and the Cell phone. 

 

Anti M...thanks for the heads up regarding not all ships allowing civilians when ship is departing. Not something some of us newbies would think of.

Just a note...I saw a news article about the Stennis leaving Bremerton today. It also went on to state exactly what time it was pulling out and where the ship was headed...which I won't repeat here....because I thought the Navy did not want to broadcast locations of where their ships are. I know it's a big ocean out there, but the information they gave sure seems to be enough if someone wanted to go looking! I know we are not supposed to give out locations on this forum either, so shouldn't it also apply to the news media?! Or am I being anal? lol.

Debbie....holy cow...sure hope I'm as fortunate as you were...that friends and family cruise day sounds great, and being able to board the ship for final goodbyes would be such a joy! Guess it just all depends...like Anti M said. But like Sandy, I still have a bit of time to wait before I have to worry about all that. Our sailor is also still in school. What an adventure...it's good to hear stories and experiences from those who have already been through it! Thanks!

If anyone is interested, you can order a Free Blue Star flag here:
http://www.mybluestarflag.com/

Becky, he is an FC. But his apartment roommate, who spent a lot of time with us, is an ET.

The way I look at announcements for departures is the Navy has a team who asses the information they release. We don't!  

The big carriers going on long deployments do make the effort to have a family day.  But the smaller ships are less likely to be able to pull it off.  Costs a lot of money for those cruises too, any we know how budgets are going!  Hill AFB has cancelled the big family day and air show on base two years running now due to budget cuts.   Sad, the military loves to show off.  What is weird is the individual sailors often complain about family days, because it means a LOT of work for them.  But they love it too.  Face it, fleet sailors aren't happy unless they're complaining (you won't hear it the same way, moms never do).  It is like bragging.

LOL *assess*

Anti M, I am choking on my coffee!!  That was the best miss-spell ever.

Anti M has funny fingers!!!!

Maddie...if you go to the following page, and scroll down a bit, there is a paragraph, "Proper Display of Blue Star Flag"

http://www.mybluestarflag.com/about-2

by the way, what your son-in-law said sounds correct according to the guidelines..

Anti M...or Chief Angie....what ye say?

Maddie... yes, I may be wrong but I read it to say that flag can be displayed if you are an immediate family member of someone serving in the Armed Forces during a time when the US. is engaged in war OR hostilities. It does NOT include grandparents; however since it says foster parents who stand or stood in loco parentis, I would think grandparents who served as "parents" would be included, otherwise the service person wouldn't have had a parent! duh.

What is also unclear is that it does not state that the serviceperson has to be stationed in the location of the war or hostility...just that it be a time when U.S. is engaged in war or hostility. A little fuzzy there to me.

quote >>The Service flag may be displayed, in a window of the place of residence of persons who are members of the immediate family of Service members serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States may be engaged, for the duration of such period of war or hostilities.

“Immediate family member” is defined as: wife, husband, mother, father, foster parents who stand or stood in loco parentis,stepmother, stepfather, parent through adoption, children, stepchildren, children through adoption, brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. Unfortunately, the definition does not include grandparents. unquote

Let's see if Anti M or Chief Angie can educate us.

Sammy - my son just started A school yesterday. Did anyone else's ET start?

 

Is the Franklin BEQ 834?

Odi... yes BEQ-834 is the Franklin. I also answered your post on the ET/FC page with the address. All the best to your son!

Angie...Maddie...YIPEE! Thanks!
(that website should change their wording to include grandparents!)

Angie...so true! Gotta keep up with the changes. What's that saying? "The only thing certain is change"

Helen... more ((((((NMhugs)))))). Will keep your hubby, dog, and of course YOU in my prayers. Sorry you are going through such stress, and hope your hubby feels better very soon. Hugz and blessings coming your way....

Helen;

Helen,

My thoughts are with you.  You're in a difficult place right now but you're not alone.

Keep us posted.

Helen, I hope your hubby feels better soon.

It is really hard when things go wrong all at once. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Helen - it is SO hard to always have to be the tough one! Sending hugs and prayers your way

 

Helen, I am so happy that the docs found out what was wrong. Let us know how he is doing.

Helen,

I just checked in to see if you'd posted anything else.  I'm so glad I did.  What a relief for you. I'm sure that you wish you were with him but how great to know that he has such caring people with him.

((hugs to you))

 

Helen, Glad all went well. Where in Michigan is he? (I live in MI)

Helen...so glad to hear your hubby is being taken care of. May he have a very speedy recovery and back in your arms soon! Now...take care of yourself!

Luv1031, I read a brief paragraph in the Navy Times about the situation of the missing Sailor.  My heart goes out to that Sailor, his family and the crew of the ship. I am praying that he is found safe. There is still a very good chance that he will be ok.

Luv and Sandy...I also was just reading an article at the same time you both posted. Here it is:
http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/search-under-way-for-missing-sailo...

I too pray he is safe.

Before anyone asks me, River City is a new to me term.  But it comes from "Reduced Communications", RC, River City.  Means no personal communcations.

Helen,

Yeeks, what an experience for your husband (and his doctor!).  I'll bet he wishes you were with him.  Wishes for a speedy recovery.

I hope your pup's health stays stable for the time being. You have plenty going on right now.  Take strength in your N4M support.

Wearing your anchor necklace during your son's deployment sounds like the perfect way to keep him close to your heart. 

Karla W. Congrats on the new addition to your family. A future sailor in the making..lol

Karla, congratulations to you on the birth of your new Grandson.

Helen, I am glad everything turned out well with your hubby's surgery. Appendicitis is nothing to fool with. Sounds like he had good doctors to help him.

Helen, so glad your hubby's surgeon was good at hide and seek! Wishing him a speedy recovery.
I agree with you about the newspaper articles. I brought the same thing up a few posts ago. The media makes me crazy.
Hope to see a picture of your deployment bracelet. Very creative of you.

Karla...Congratulations on the arrival of your new Grandson.

Want to share this with you all. Very important info regarding pics taken with cell or smart phones that are posted online...they talk about the safety of our children and grandchildren, but this could apply to the entire military as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vARzvWxwY

Barb, thank you for posting that video. I have been aware that my Iphone has built in GPS in it. I never post from my Iphone to my PC ever!! I heard about there being a code where anyone who has a GPS can figure out where you are. (if you post you photos)  

My son said that he is going to turn off his Iphone while over-seas. 

My Sailor has finished ATT!!! !!!  Gets his certificate tomorrow.  Hallelujah!  PIR was 4/29. Lets see how long till A school starts.  

I contacted  headquarters for the movie theatre at Gurney to send R. a gift card.  The lady explained that ordering on line would be easier. I chose the cheapest shipping rate which was US mail.  I get an email from The lady telling me that she upgraded the shipping to next day FedEx.  Her way of thanking R for his service and he would have it for this weekend.  Well, they attempted delivery three days.  I called FedEx to find out what was going on.  Of course it has to be signed for and the delivery guy could not get in the building. They suggested R. come to the FedEx office in Great Lakes to get it.  I said yeah right.  Take a taxi with a liberty buddy to the FedEx office during THEIR business hours! So they returned the card to the nice lady and she is going to send it out to him  again via priority mail.  Sounds cazy.  Telling you all this so you know how FedEx works on the base.  I would never send anything any other way except US mail anyway.  Job security.  Hubby is a postmaster.  

YAy for your son finishing ATT R'sproud mom. My son PIR'd one week ahead of yours. They competed ATT a week early, and he started A school last Monday - hope your son has a short hold also. I was so happy our wait was brief.

R'sproudmom...Congrats to your sailor! Got my fingers crossed for ya that he starts A school soon!

Just too funny about the FedEX deal. I'm with you...ship US Mail!

R'sproudmom, Congratulations to your Sailor.

Odi, I am glad your Sailor was not put on hold for long and started (A)school right away.

I have a question.  Do AECFs go through the extra security checks that the Nuke people do?  Should my son go to boot camp with names and addresses?  If so, who should they be?  All this is assuming that I don't deliberately with hold the info so I get an extra phone call.  No, I would never do that.  At least I don't think I would.  Of course it's only July and my son doesn't leave for bootcamp until November.  Hmmm.

jacqueline, your son's recruiter should handle all of the paperwork for your son. He/she will tell your son what he needs for security purposes. 

My son's Dad is from Great Britain. We have lots of family in the United Kingdom and Australia. For security reason my son had to provide the recruiter with all of his aunts and uncles names. (and grandma's)  This is because our relatives on my husbands side of the family are not American Citizens. If your relative are all US citizens then you won't have to provide their names.

Have your son talk to his recruiter about this. You can call up your son's recruiter and ask questions. They will be happy to answer them for you. Although they can't give you legal advice.

Just make sure that you don't leave out any important medical information. I have heard of several SR being Separated from the Navy for not disclosing medical information. Discuss this with your son's recruiter.

Jacqueline...Like Sandy already said, your son's recruiter should handle all necessary paperwork. Your son should have received it all soon after he signed up. When he leaves for bootcamp, he won't be taking anything with him except the clothes on his back and a piece of paper they give him.

And yes, disclose anything and everything that might come back and bite him in the you know what. Even financial / credit issues. Our sailor was a victim of identify theft (long story) so we had to show police reports and everything to prove he was not responsible for the alleged debt in his name.

R sent me a picture by text, of his certificate.  I know it's just a piece of paper, but boy did it make me smile.  Just the fact that he sent it lets me know that he was thinking of me.  Good feeling.  Have a blessed weekend everyone!

R'sproudmom....awwww...how sweet of him. I know what you mean...any kind of contact is cherished. I can just see you now...probably have it pinned to your chest so you can touch it all day long! Or put it on the frig...just like we used to do when they were kids!!!  Enjoy it!