USS George Washington Sailors

My son had his Ipod stolen the first week.. He was so mad.  He locks everything up, yet his bicycle stays outside and no one touches it.  They have little room to store stuff.  He has not told me of anything else stolen but I am sure there has been he just won't tell me!!

Hi All, Just got back from 4 days at Pismo Beach.  Much needed R&R for hubby and I.  Yep, it is my daughter who is an MA (equivalent to MP)  she gets VERY frustrated with the stealing, but like BigD said, without SOLID identifying marks, it is very hard to prove that something is stolen. 

ABC.....that's so cool.  Hopefully, you'll see her again before they pull out.  Have you decided if you're going to stay in Japan to have the baby, since hubby won't be leaving?  I'm thinking that your window to fly is closing slowly but surely :-) 

Julie, we gave our daughter a new laptop.  When they are out to sea, the only handy way to communicate is via email.  Also, tie some sunscreen in the ribbon, as I think they will be going to sea shortly after he arrives.

 Congrats, Ringtone!!

While my sailor was in A School, he was recommended for PO3d Class. He still is on the base...not sure when he'll be onboard.. I pray that his recommendation gets approved.

Again,congrats to you AND your sailor!

mollie- i was SO tempted to yell out kelcie's name from the taxi, but i didn't want to creep her out.  :)  we are in the process of trying to move on base so that i can be closer to everything i need (and the hospital), so maybe i'll run into her again one day...i'll run up and give her a big hug! :)

also, i went to an outing last night with a bunch of sailors and there was a conversation about the stealing issue....it is DEFINITELY still going on, but here's what made me sad.  i heard that many times (of course, not always), it is the security guys doing the stealing.  i'm sorry, i don't know the technical terms, but when one of the racks were empty, security went in there and got caught stealing money!  :(  angers me and makes me very sad.... saiors stealing from sailors is bad enough...

abc...I'll give Kelcie a "heads up" that if some little pregnant gal comes up to her and gives her a squeeze.....it's most likely you :-)   You can bet I'll say something to her about security being suspect in some of the thefts......she'll be livid.  She would personally kick anybody's %@& if she caught them, no matter their rate (or rank probably).  Hope you do get to move onto base, I would think that would be much more convienent, and hopefully save you 2 some $ also.

Congrats to all who had their sailors advance!!  Kelcie will be out in 4 months, I doubt that she even took the test this time around.  Having that PO after your name is great.  I don't think she even had to "crank" because she was already a PO3 before she got to the GW.

mollie- you may want to tell kelcie to look out for the girl w/ the baby in a stroller! :) 

and yes, congrats to all who passed!  my husband has also advanced!

A list is actually poisted about who makes PO? Where? I probably don't need it yet myy sailor is still on base..but for future reference.

 Thanx!

 Thanx heatheroes.

 I am new to this...are the letters their rates? I didn't see MMFA.  I really don't suppose my son would be on the list yet because he is not on the ship. Do they only test after they get on the ship? Sorry for all the questions but I wanna understand (;

Thanx.

myhero, I believe that they test either annually or bi-annually.  Can't remember how long they have to be at one rank before they can test for the next.  I think it also depends on if they get an "early promotable" on their annual eval.  Kelcie made PO3 in just under 2 years after going in. They test at every base, probably on, or close to the same time.

abc......baby in a stroller???  R U anticipating an early delivery? Or just hoping for one :-)    I know that the waiting can be torture!  

natalie, congrats to shane!  i'm not sure what a petty officer is (although i hear that term a lot)...all i know is that my husband advanced to E5(EM2)....that is all i know!  haha.

and mollie, i know that the deployment is coming up, so i figure by the time i'd have a chance to see her, the baby would already be born.   and a c-section is a very real possibility for me right now, so i actually may be having the baby 1 week earlier than expected...that is, of course, if i don't go into labor even sooner! 

well, it's my hubby's bday today, so we are off to spend the day together!

abc......look hard for Kelcie before they pull out.  She won't be back to Yokosuka.  She will separate from the Navy this fall, before they end this year's cruise.  I can't believe that she's already been in for over 4 years.

C-section???? I hope not :(   I know that they are VERY common, but the healing time is a drag.

If your hubby is an E5, he is probably a PO2 now!  I think that a PO3 is an E4. Congrats!!!

oh, mollie!  that's great!  so will kelcie be home for good?  now that my sailor advanced, he's seriously considering re-enlisting...we're hoping to get to charleston if that's the case.  and yep, i learned that he IS a PO2... glad i know this now.  :)  there are so many titles (ie-E5, EM2, etc etc), i can't keep track!  i still get irritated when he speaks in "navy lingo".... i ask him to speak in english.  hehe. 

i'll try to keep my eyes peeled for kelcie! :)

abc...at this point, it looks like she will be heading to Virginia when she gets out. Her sweetie leaves Yoko for Virginia just a few days after the GW pulls out, and it looks like she will head to Virginia  to join him at his base (he extended) when she gets out.  But at least she will be on this side of the Pacific again.  I know she will be a more regular visitor to home once she gets back to the U.S.

I know what you mean about the "military lingo", I've learned a lot since Kelcie has been in, but most of it is still foreign.

Stephsmom...yep, your explanation is right.  Just because they pass the test, doesn't always mean that they get the rank.  Different rates have a different number of slots available that get filled from the ones that pass. I think it has been pretty "slim pickings" for slots the last couple of years :(

stephsmom and mollie, thanks for clarifying!  i told daniel what i learned and said, "see, now that the navy moms explained it in ENGLISH, i understand it better now!"  he was trying to explain all this to me the other day and after a few minutes of not understanding, i told him, "ok, just stop.  i don't get what you're saying and i'm over it now."  :)  haha.  i said it in the nicest way possible, of course!

and mollie, it will definitely be easier with kelcie stateside.  i'm so jealous that she's getting out soon!  how awesome it'll be to only be a few hr. plane ride away!

Hi Mary,

I do know that their navy.mil emails are scanned to be sure that info that should not be coming in or going out is stopped.  I've never had a "decipher the code" in the box happen to me, but I did have one email one time come back to me as "undeliverable" or something like that.  It's been a while ago, but when I looked at the email, I thought that it was automatically "kicked back" because I HAD used some terminology that might have been on their "stop" list.

abc, it must have been cool to see the GW depart.  Is the base feeling kind of like a ghost town now that it is gone?  How is hubby doing with not being on board for this cruise?  I'm sure that he is more than glad to be able to stay on base with you.

Millye, this is also Kelcie's last cruise.  In fact, she won't actually even complete this one.  She will separate in late Sept/early Oct.  It will be good to have her back in California again, that's for sure.  She has started putting in online applications at a few places already, and she bought a brand new car thru the dealership on base that she will pick up at a dealer here locally when she gets back. 

Let's hope that this is a nice CALM deployment for everyone aboard.

you're welcome (everyone) for the pics!  that's what i'm here for. :)  and navy ma, YES... i can only hope that there will be bulkhead seating available during the holiday.  i can't imagine trying to travel with a baby in a "normal" seat.

and mollie- it was VERY cool to see the GW leaving...so even if i don't get to see it again, at least i know i got to once.  the base definitely feels emptier, but on a positive note, i'll be able to buy things at the NEX without everything being sold out! hubby is LOVING that he got to stay behind.  i even have a picture of him with the gw sailing in the background and he's got a nice big smile on his face.  he knows a few others who also got to stay behind and they actually had a "mini party" that morning at the pier complete w/ lawnchairs and beer!  as happy as i am, it was still emotional for me because i had to watch all the wives and families say goodbye to their sailors.  as we all know though, it's never "good bye", but a "see ya later!"

you're welcome!  seems like this is either a first cruise or the last cruise for many of your sailors and yes, it's always an emotional time, but they'll be fine and they'll get to visit various ports and get some free time. :)  as for me, i would mostly send snack/food type items (ramen, easy mac 'n cheese, slim jims, rice crispy treats, candy, etc.).  sometimes, sailors can't find the chance to eat on the shp or they get hungry at odd times.  i also send toiletries, but usually ask what he needs (chapstick, shaving cream, etc...)  and of course i send something sentimental or silly (a card, pictures, stuffed animal).  for me personally, i've always tried to limit sending things like little toys because it's not really my sailor's style and all it does is take up what little space they have to begin with.

the best way to ship is to use the flat rate boxes at the post office.  you get a little discount for shipping to a military address also.  from my experience, packages take an average of 10-11 days to arrive.  again, this is just me and i'm not the best at sending creative care packages.  i know the ladies on here have TONS of great ideas! :)

Awh...LoveDolphins...that sounds SO sad. As a mom,it has to tear you up....because us moms want to fix everything.Is this your sailor's first deployment? I haven't heard anything from my sailor since an email last week,giving me his ship email.He didn't state anything else ):

 Just keep encouraging your sailor...I keep reading that is our job.Maybe suggest he speak with the ship's chaplain? Good luck to you and your sailor.

I think my son could not come home because he blew off a watch so he was not given leave.  Also I think he is being very free with his money and ran out...  That's what I think...

LoveDolphin, i think MOST sailors go through those tough times at some point.  my husband is a VERY easy-going, upbeat guy who likes to think positive.  the ONLY thing i've seen him get frustrated and upset about sometimes...is being on the gw.  maybe it's because the ship is so big?  never getting straight answers and getting the runaround is all part of the game...but from what i see, it DOES pass.  hang in there.  :)

kate, flight tickets will vary!  i'm from chicago and the average cost seems to be about $1200-$1500 roundtrip.  my sailor called an airline directly last thanksgiving and was able to get a military discount.  he flew to chicago for about $1000.

and navyma, i hear you on the $$$ issue.  it is crazy!  i know our sailors don't make THAT much, but they make PLENTY to live off of and save, yet they don't!  since getting married, my hubby has been saving so much, but the 4 years before we married?  he didn't save ONE DIME in those 4 years.  many of the sailors join the navy at a young age and they are faced w/ these nice, steady paychecks and don't really learn how to manage.  as hard as it is, i think you're doing the right thing because it'll be a valuable lesson to learn for his future. 

and kathy!  john has a new gf?  :)  i hope he caught himself a good one!

Hi all....sounds like lots going on since they deployed.  This is Kelcie's 2nd and final cruise with the GW.  I know she has had some very frustrating times with the politics on the GW, but overall, she usually tries to make the best of things.  Her 1st duty station was not political so it took some adjusting. 

Somebody asked if they can get email while on deployment.  Yes, that is the primary means of contact when they are at sea.  They only have access to their cvn73@navy.mil  email, so be sure you get that address from your sailor.

Yep....it's amazing the amount of $ these kids can blow thru.  Kelcie really blew thru it when she first joined, but has gotten much better lately.  Unfortunately the X boyfriend was a large part of it, but now that he's out of the picture, things are looking much better as far as the $ savings goes.

I am VERY lucky and get emails daily from Kelcie, but I think that's just the difference between sons and daughters.  My son lives 2 1/2 hours away and we are not in contact nearly as much as I am with both of my girls.