AECF - FCs and ETs

I found this graphic, I thought it was good as the "Mom Thinks" pic is excatly the picture in my mind of what FCs do.

Vickyrun...very cute graphic!

Ari'smom... ahhh yes...May/June is just around the corner. We sure look forward to any time we can get with our sailors, don't we?!! Those few days go by soooo quickly. I feel bad for them...everyone wants a piece of them when they're home...family..friends.

Keep us posted and let us know when your sailor receives her orders!

Helen, nice pic, enjoy him, my son smiles now too....

Vickyrun-too funny, forwarded it to my son for a laugh as well.

Good morning, Thank you.

I emailed Chrissy yesterday , still waiting for a reply. Also still waiting to hear back from her Ombudsman. Anyone have any ideas about what I can do for Chrissy, if there is no family member able to go to Homecoming?

Vickyrun.  Love that picture.  Forwarded that to my daughter for a good laugh.

ProudGMBarb - You are so right about sharing them when they are home.  I remember Christmas break I had to have her pencil me in between her friends and her cousins.  I hope this time she won't be as busy.

Vickyrun. .. ask her if she doesn't have duty for homecoming.  Sometimes the single sailors will volunteer to take duty so the married ones can go home with their spouses.  Everyone forgets the ship doesn't just shut down, there's always part of the crew working.  But it is good of you to try to have something nice for her.  Sometimes the USO does something for the singles too.  

AntiM, How do I contact the USO in Virgina?

vicky,

will she be coming into norfolk?  if she doesn't have duty or anyone going to homecoming i can be there friday, saturday or sunday to meet her if you want.  take her out to eat.  hell, if she has a few days off i can bring her down to my house, i live on the outer banks in nc and my house is always open to the sailors.

carol

duhuh - what a heartwarming offer - not my sailor but thanks for reaching out.

well, the offer stands for anyone that has a sailor in the norfolk area.  i grew up an air force brat and dad was always bring the single guys home for a good meal or just a place to hang out for awhile.  my daughter is stationed in norfolk and i'm only 1 1/2 hours south on the beach.

Thanks, Mary, I just got back on this morning.

Yes, when a crew/work center is running well, they know who needs what and will work with each other to make sure everyone get a fair shake.  

Thank you Mary for the ph. number And thank Duhhuh I will keep you in mind. I just need someone to greet her and give her the lei, once I find out how to order it. My brother Paul lives in Arlington, VI so I am trying to talk him into going to Homecoming. but I am mad at him since he never went to visit Chrissy before she left on her hsip, Maybe I will just have Mom "put the screws" to him. I already talked to her and she is mad at him too. MEN!

If she does have duty, Can't Paul or one of her friends just give her the lei then she can go back to work? I lived in Hawaii for six years, the lei tradition is know to me, very important, it is what I want to give her. Yes, she gets leave about a month after Homecoming, but the lei has to be given after she gets off the ship.

Mary, Happy Birthday to Nick. Chrissy's 27th Birthday is on Friday. Her first birthday at sea. I agree, How did our babies grow up so fast?

Duhhuh....thank you for reaching out! Navy Moms are the best!

Mary.... Happy Birthday to your son! Sounds like your Birthdays are close to each other? Hope you have a wonderful time together in Hawaii...take lots of pics to share with us!

Feb. seems like a busy birthday month!  I celebrated mine yesterday! The best gift was an awesome telephone chat with our sailor! Every time I talk to him he sounds more mature...the best part is he sounds content and happy.

Vickyrun...Happy Birthday to Chrissy on Friday!

Yes Ladies..all our sailors are growing up! Wishing them all lots of happiness, success, safe adventures, and joyful homecomings!

I don't think we'll ever see any ships pullling into any ports here in Arizona, but if there is anything I can ever help with...give a holler!

My son just received orders after graduating in December from "A" School. Next week he will be heading to Kingsville TX for 2 years. In MAy is is scheduled to go to Pensecola FL for a few months og "C" school. This is all so new to us. I am hoping he loves it. So far he seems very happy with his naval career and is exited to get on with the next leg of his journey. Any advise or words of wisdom is welcome.

wow helen, looks like loads of fun!

momcarla, i didn't even know there was a navy base in tx until you posted this, lol.  congrats on the orders.  mine finishes a school end of march beginning of april then the wait starts

Helen - WOW on that tiger cruise

Congrats on orders momcarla!

Helen...WOW...what an experience! Great pic....sure can see the motion!

Momcarla...Congrats on your sailor's C school orders! The next chapter begins!

Mary...Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Connie....can't wait for baby pics!

Good morning, I am a Happy Mom today! I got to IM Chrissy last night and it was morning her time, so I got to say Happy Birthday on her birthday morning. I was crying tears of joy. Good thing it wasn't skype. She hates to see me cry. But I am happy. I was on FB hoping she would come on and she did! She liked the video I sent her and the pic. Then I lost her, but that happens.

so, now you will stay up every night on facebook in case............haha, not quite a joke as that is the most frequent "conversations" I get with our son and I enjoy them

Vicky...enjoy your Happy Navy Mom Day!

Happy B-day to Chrissy!

Good morning all, just realized four years ago today - our son left for bootcamp.  

Helen & MarinewifeNavyMom, it appears when the Navy releases that info - its okay but ...not if you or your sailor does.  Personally Helen, I'm just glad that big ole' battle group left Pearl Harbor before I arrived (for selfish reasons!!) 

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Good Sunday morning, Thanks everyone.

I iagree Helen, sometimes OPSEC is odd, but hey that is the Navy for you. Lol. 

I am getting email from the FRG about Homecoming but nothing form the Obudsman yet. 

Mary, Happy Navy Anniversary to Nick. Have fun in Hawaii with all your handsome men. I stayed on Kaui once, it is very beatiful. Bring us back some pics please.

vicky,

you won't hear anything from the obudsman about homecoming, just the FRG

what is an FRG?

Yeah! What is a FRG?

odi,

is the Family Readiness Group, every ship has one.  talk to your sailor about getting you on the mailing list, they are a wealth of information

Ok, thanks. I thougth the guy didn't like me. Lol

Soo what does the Obudsman do then? Only call if someting bad happens? Her Dad gets that call, then Dad has to call me.  

the only contact i've ever had with the obudsman is when my mother died and i needed to find out how to get jes on emergency leave

Well, we are at least 6 months from being on a ship as C school is coming up. Do I ask him to put me on the FRG list now or wait?

i don't know if they have a FRG for those in school you may have to wait until he's assigned to a ship.  FRG's, as far as i know, are ship specific

Well, I have some good news. My son finaly got orders to his ship. It is the USS Gonzalez, DDG 66.  He won't be reporting for awhile yet. He still has to finish C school.

Congrats Sandy!  When did he PIR? Just wonder how long the jump thru all the schooling took

Odi, his PIR was August 6th, 2010.  He still has about a month or two of school to complete. Seems like he has been attending Navy school since he was born, LoL. I think our Sailors are getting a wonderful education that will serve them well for many years to come.

When my son first joined the US Navy.  I used to count the days and months. Now I am used to it.  Time seems to be passing by fast.   

Sandy...congrats on the good news....I know you've been waiting and looking forward to hearing what your sailor's orders will be after C school!

All our sailors are moving on and growing up!

I don't have dates yet...but our guy told us he will be getting a 1-month leave to come home after C school...before flying out to Japan. Hope you will have time with your boy too!

Sandy, Congrats on your son's orders. They are sure happy when they get orders to the fleet, because school seems almost over then.

I don't have any days to count down yet, I haven't heard the excat date of Homecoming. How can I get my brother and sister-in-law to go if they don't have a date to plan to go on? This is driving me crazy!!!

leaving bright and early in the am to surprise my sailor in GL a day early!  so excited to see her!!!!

Anti M., You were right. Chrissy said she has duty on Homecoming. She doesn't wantt me to invite her Uncle and she doesn't want the lei. Made me cry.

But the Good news is she will be staying three days at a hotel near me when she gets leave. And she wants me to bake her some Christmas treats. Lol Funny cause when I told her before Christmas I could bake when she came home she said No, but now she wants me to.  Gotta love her.

Vicky, she might have a watch where she can't leave her station, she couldn't wear the lei in uniform and I bet she has no place to keep it, so she doesn't want to ruin one.  Betcha!  So a "Leave Lei" would be better!  And then she can make dirty jokes with her shipmates....

Thanks Anit M., that is a good idea, maybe I can find a florist here who does leis. I used to make them myself when I lived in Hawaii.  

I love leis, but here in Utah they are hard to find.  Hawaii, well the land just throws blossoms at you!

Wow, no, but it was in one of those forums.   Can you search by their discussions?  I know it is possbile, but I haven't tried it for quite a while.

Helen, Can hardly wait to see my son in this situation! He is still in A school.  I'll be a mess when the ship pulls in!  Glad you had a wonderful, I mean AMAZING, time!

Helen, also thanks for the pics!

Helen.... WOW!

Hello Ladies...hope you are all having a beautiful Navy Moms Sunday!  I wanted to share a video I just watched. Not what we normally post here....but I think you will all enjoy it. Very touching indeed.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/W86jlvrG54o?rel=0