AECF - FCs and ETs

Vickyrun, homemade cookies. Yum!!  You are making me hungry.

My son loves my Lemon-bars. However, they need refrigeration. Do you have a recipe for Lemon-cookies that would travel well?

As your sons and daughters report to their ships, you will find they have a FRG (family resource group) or more recently referred to as FSG (Family Support Group) in the old days, these used to be the Navy Wives Club but the Navy has a new look today...it's not all wives sitting at home waiting to hear from the ships!  They do alot to support the ships while they are deployed but they do social outings, dinners, etc. for the families that are back at home.  

 

Our ship will be out for the holidays so they are working on a pillowcase banner to hang in the passageways, so we had a little fun working on our pillowcase this weekend...

 

Mary, love the pillowcase. It is so cute!!  Did you mean these pillow cases will be hung in the passageway of you son's ship?

FSG group sounds great. What if you are a land-locked. Would the FSG be online or do they have gathering in your State.?

Anyone else with a family member in A school for ET finishing Dec 9 or so?

My son is in that group.

Hi Moms, I'm a little sad today so I need to be close to my Navy Moms. First welcome to Hrmqueenme and Mattsmom. This is a great group and we have great conversations and alot of helpful info. Navyblu Congrats to your sons orders. I know Japan sounds far away but what an awesome place to go. Maybe a great chance to go for a visit. Mary, my friend, Great pillowcase. You are an art-teest. I'm sure Nick will be pleased. 

Ok here is my story maybe there is something in here to pass along. Chris finished C school about 2 weeks ago. First the plan was he would take leave and come home but because of Hurricane Irene he evacuated and came home then. So Sat a week ago he decides to start his journey to Washington State. He had 8 days to get there but he did it in 6. Had a blow out outside Chicago. He signed in to his new Ship on Thurs afternoon. Where he was told you're deploying. If he had known before he would of bought extra coveralls and gotten name plates made. Maybe gotten and advance on the PCS out to Wa. So now after driving for 6 days he is jumping through hoops. File travel and hopefully the money gets put in his bank acct. (1500.00 he spent getting out there) He had to register his car so he could leave it on base. All the in processing. Buy uniforms and all the little things he would need. Get patches sewn on. Norfolk is still in whites and Wa. are in their blues.All this on Friday. He picked up a few things at the NEX on Sat. Was not able to get his name plates for coveralls made so maybe I can find a way and get those done and mail to him. So in hind site don't think I'll take care of it when I get to the other side. Always get the advance when PCS ing, Go ahead and buy the extra coveralls and have them ready.etc.. cause you don't know what you are going to find when you get to where you are going. So now he has left on his first big adventure doing what he was trained to do. When saying goodbyes he said he was excited but a little ancy. This feeling for me is a little like bootcamp but different. I know he was trained to do this but I guess it is the unknown for us at home. Sorry I ranted but If it will help pass on that when you sign in be prepared to go. You may have weeks or months before the next deployment or you may only have days.

vickymed, Holly Mackerel!!  Your son must have been pulling his hair out. That is very little notice to go on deployment. I guess you are saying that Sailors should use the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.  I will pass this on to my Sailor. I think sometimes these young Sailors never think about being called out on a weeks notice. They are just so used to the hurry up and wait.

Vickymed, maybe in a way it is better that you didn't have much notice that your son was deploying. It kind of gives you less time to worry about it. I know you can handle him being deployed. It might feel like this is boot camp but remember it is not. He is going to be going on an adventure and he will be able to write to you. Does your ship have a FB page?                                                   I know that it will be hard for me when my son leaves on his first deployment. When that happens I know I will be crying to you ladies for some prayers for sure.  I guess if I were in your place now. I would try to keep myself real busy.

I am thinking about starting a scrap book and title it. From boot camp and beyond, LoL. I think it would be funny if I could read all my old posts from that time and include them in the book too. I know I was a nut back then. Still am.                              

 

 

This is different from BC. Gong off to Boot the realization sets in that they are leaving home for good. They may come back to visit from time to time but they want be there any more. It's only 8 weeks and you hopefully will get to see them at the end. Leaving on deployment is for me leaving to go on the big unknown. There is excitement for them as they go on the big adventure but you are wishing them well and praying for their safety. Hope they send emails and are able to call now and then. I'm just going to check for deals on airfare to Wa. and start saving.I am on the ships family page and they have been talking of the excitement of them coming home and how the pier is just boiling over with love and excitement when they come in. I think he wants his Dad or older brother to come in on the tiger cruise so you can bet I'll be in Wa.

Vickymed. How long will your Sailor be gone?  It is good to know that a lot of ships have a Family Page. At least you wont feel so totally isolated from your son.  What is PCS?

  I think it is a good idea to plan your trip to WA early. I hope you can get a good deal on an airline ticket.

All of my dad's family live in WA. I heard it is a beautiful State. I was born there but have never been.  Seattle is a fun city to visit. There is lots to see and do.

My nephew is on a sub, and asked me to not send snacks; his mom sent him so much geedunk that he and his buddies were sick of candy!  Of course, on a sub, all the packages come in at once, and they have next to no room to store stuff.  I send magazines they can throw away (Popular Science is ... uh, popular) and socks, a powdered drink packets with a metal water bottle.  We did send Japanese snacks, I knew my SIL couldn't buy those easily.  He likes the flavored tuna packets, and of course, jerky.  Biggest problem for him is he was "hot racking" or sharing a bed in shifts, so couldn't use any of that space to tuck things away.  At least the guys on the surface ships never have to do that!

Mary...the pillowcase is great and I bet fun to put together. It is sure to bring a smile to Nick's face!

Vickimed...Wow..my head would be spinning if we had such an unexpected quick deployment too. Like you said, Chris has been trained well. But I understand how you feel about this being different than BC. I just spoke to another Mom here locally who said the exact same thing you did....the feeling about him being so far away. So...here's lots of big (((((NavyMomHugs))))).

Regarding care packages...just a reminder about the Blue Star Mothers of America. If you feel inclined to check out and join your local chapter, your deployed sailor will ALWAYS be assured of receiving a wonderful huge care package each month. If your chapter is anything like ours, it will include everything from hygiene items, to treats, canned food...the tuna and jerky they all love, socks, t-shirts, magazines, videos, and on and on.

I'm not talking a little box either...these are big! Our chapter gets together for a monthly packing party in addition to the monthly meetings. I think it is great because you can expand beyond just Navy. You get to meet and hear stories from Moms from every branch of the military. You find we are all alike, all have the same hopes, same worries, same pride.

In addition, you can (if you want to) get to be part of some fun community events that raise awareness of how to support all the troops, which of course benefits all our kids. If you have any questions, let me know.

Check them out:

http://www.bluestarmothers.org/

Hi All. And thanks for the many kind greetings as well as good advice. I'm really happy to hear about touring the base. My Dad will be thrilled as will the rest of us.

I feel like I learn so much from you all every time I visit this sight. Matt will be leaving for Norfolk in January and has already been assigned a ship. Lots to learn about that. My son is not a big talker, bless his heart, so I truly value all you guys have to say.

Vickimed - No kidding on stress!! The be prepared is a hard one - when it is unexpected and a first time out. BUT, smooth sailing to them and SO exciting!

Wow o wow, so many deploying and on their first outing! Good luck to Chris, he maybe scrambling but getting underway is what it is all about. Expect him to e working a lot of hours and probably slapped with cranking ...just to make sure his first deployment is a real experience!!

Welcome to all of our new members, glad you have found the group.

Our son is experiencing Thailand now, can remember when his dad made that same port as an FC as well.

FSG operates from wherever the ship is home-ported but they welcome all family members to join regardless of where you live - you just won't be able to
attend their dinners and outings unless you travel to them. But they do a lot to support the ship's morale and welcome everyone's help.

Where your sailor joins the fleet they have the ability to add you to the ombudsman's list, which allows that person to communicate with you. I recommend that you have a conversation with your sailor before they report to the fleet and let them know you would like to have that communication link or the ombudsman is not allowed to share details with you.

Sometimes when sailors report to the fleet, they like to believe they are all grown up and don't need their mommas but we all know that is certainly NEVER the case!!

Traveling today, catch up soon!

Chrissy has been gone a week. I am not worried at all. BC and A school was more worrieseome. Now I know she is well prepeared and doing what she wants to do.

I agree about the Facebook she posts on there every day. 

Anti M. I really feel sorry for submariners. I guess because I would go bonkers in such a cramp space. (and to have to share it. uh uh)

Vickyrun...it's is so good to hear that you are feeling a bit of relief from all the stress you previously went through. Wishing Chrissy much success!

Does anyone have information on the AECF-STG rate?  My son went in thinking he was and STG.  He is in BC and he wrote the other day that his rate is know AECF-STG and he didn't know if that meant he could be both or one or the other.

Sailor called to say he passed his comps for A school, stopped by the NEX for his rating badge (?) and something else & will grad next Thurs.  He plans on coming home for long weekend end of October, first time since Dec 12, 2010.  Guess I'd better finish getting his room ready... =)

congrats whiteclay! He went thru pretty fast!

 

STG is a sonar tech, not an FC or ET.  They're just in the advanced electronic field too. Much shorter school.

Yeah I don't get that - they earn the badge then have to go buy it at the Nex! The Navy shuold give it to them! Geesh cheap Navy.

LOL, considering how many different patches you need to update all of your uniforms each time you advance, and how many sailors there are, it would cost millions in tax dollars.  But yeah, I used to think that myself.  At least ONE!  And then you have to buy the collar devices too when you advance.

With the old dungaree shirts, we could use iron on crows instead of an embroidered patch.  If you were very careful, you could add another chevron when you jumped from E-4 to E-5 and up to E-6.  That's when every ET or FC came out of school as a petty officer, and no one had seaman stripes on their dungarees.  MUCH cheaper than the new NWUs. Wore out faster too, but so, so comfy.

No, they don't take the advancement test, but that's basically what A school is.  They do have to wait until the rest of the Navy hits the advancement cycle to go up to the E-4 they have earned by completing their school.  

The old way was you got your crow when you finished school.  Made future advancement cycles very confusing and off schedule.  

Angie, they do have to complete their military leadership courses to advance  don't they?  Is that a petty officer indoc class now?  We just handed in the complete workbooks (I vaguely recall???)

Woo Hoo everybody! Our sailor graduated "A" school! Now we wait to find out where "C" school will be! Congrats to him and all his fellow graduating ET shipmates! You all studied long and hard!

Wow Barb!!  What a great picture. Thank you for sharing. Did you and your husband make a trip to GL?

Great Pic. Congrats. My Daughter just started ATT school last week. she will be an FC after A school. When I was in I bought all my rating badges. they are very expenive from what I remenber but them that was 15 years or so ago. You need to realize you are not buying these all the time just everytime you get rated. Every couple of years.

I am so excited that son is in A school until mid Dec, but wont know until he has orders where/what/etc. Just plan and pray. He has worked hard. Have not seen him since PIR and probably wont until his leave.  Sent a lame pkg but it shows we care.

So if he finishes before Christmas does he take leave or wait for orders? First of our many advendures to come, We are looking forward to good things

 

Thanks everyone for the congrats and kind comments.

R'sproudmom...no, unfortunately, we did not go up to GL. I really do miss him!

Connie...actually he didn't send the pic! I kept an eye out for it on the TSC fb page and grabbed it!

Odi.. I forgot...is your son an ET or FC? Did he start "A" school around August?

Maybe others here know for sure, but I didn't think they could take leave before they get their orders. But I would imagine Christmas standdown would be a bit different, and many want to take leave during that time. We too, are hoping our sailor will be able to come home during the holidays. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Yes they will be allowed to take leave at christmas school closes. just need to wait and see when they set up the time frame.

Odi and ProudGMBarb. Yes, they are allowed to take leave after finishing (A)school and before starting (C)school.  They will only be allowed to take 10 days and they must put in a Chit.

Thanks Sandy - He is hoping to be able to meet us at his sister's (so kids avoid snow). I am telling everyone to not plan, but................cant help it

GodnG8r, Happy Birthday to your Sailor.  You're right. Time goes by way too fast.

GoldnG8r...Happy B-Day to your sailor!

Odi...I hear ya about trying not to plan....I'm really looking forward to seeing our guy.

Sandy and Kim ...thanks for the info.

I don't feel sorry for her. She is in Italy having the time of her life.

Hi all,
Found outtodayhome owing date for our son's ship and what is last port will be. All I can say is IF I had know that I could go to MY dream vacation by joining the Navy...I would have joined a long time ago!!!

Hope all is well!

My sailor graduates FC A school October 21st. Yes....we are going to GL for the graduation.   I am so proud of her!  What a change in her since January. 

I am happy to make the 7 hour each way drive for only 4 minutes. I am so amazed and proud of the adult she has become. Go Navy

Leanne...Have a safe trip and ENJOY! They study long and hard. Your sailor will appreciate you being there.

 

Thanks for the well wishes! 

Leanne, have a safe trip and a wonderful visit with your daughter.

Christmas stand down dates just posted on the FB page...Dec 16-Jan 2

 

Deb what fb page would that be. I can't find it. Please let me know and thanks fir that dates. :)

*for the dates!

Deb I found it! Yay!!! I am so excited I can start planning and booking our flights! :)

Remember, don't book their flight out for too early in the morning, the schools have to process out a LOT of sailors that day, they have to have their rooms inspected as some of the barracks will be shutting down and the ones staying behind will move into other rooms for a while.  Get them back a day early if you can, NEVER book the last flight into the area.

Thanks for the advise Anti M