USS George Washington Sailors

My son leaves for Japan mid January- any tips on what to send with him/not send with him? He is an ABE- We are trying to think of practical Christmas presents as well.

Thanks

http://www.gw.navy.mil/core/welcome/Narita%20Airport%20INFO_Optimiz...

We could not find one when we were looking for it back in Nov. Here is a link to info on the airport and where the sailors can get a ride to the base when they get there. Maybe your son can meet Claire at the same counter.

Just skyped with our son, YEAH!! It's midnight here but that's okay, it was great to see his face! : )

My sailor has been in Japan since May and FINALLY called last night! It was so great o hear his voice. He WANTS his dad and I to visit ((:

OMG, BADma please tell me you had some sort of communication before then; emails, text messages something??? That would have drove me crazy!  Are you going to try and go to Japan?

Marie, very exciting indeed. Is her boyfriend someone she met on the ship? 

My son heads out sometime before the end of this month... ugh

Lisa CCMom... yes, I had many emails.He was/is great about that. When he is in port sometimes we message on FB.

Yes, I am researching hotels/flights. First, I need to know when is the next family/friends cruise. The sad part is I can't participate in that b/c I am in a wheelchair.

Is your son home now? From what my son has emailed,he likes Japan a lot. The ship life is not bad.

Lisa CCMom:  My husband and I want to see our son, Cody sometime this summer?  I would love to know when the Family/friends cruise is scheduled.  We will want to plan our trip for attend this function.  Also, if you find any good airfares, I would like to know what you have found out.  We live in Houston, TX...maybe we could get a group fare!!!  I have "friended" you on this site.  Send me a message.

I sure do talk big about "friending" you.  I don't know how to do that!!  Could someone tell me how???

cokevmom.... To friend someone, click  on their name and it takes ya to their page and click add friend. I'll send ya an invite.

SueS... I am on the GW ombudsman email. Is the Family /Friends cruise always in August?

Lisa CC - yes there is a ceremony but I'm not sure that family attends. S said they took pics but he doesn't know what they did with them. I couldn't find any place they were posted or anything.

How would I get on the ombudsman list? My daughter is new to the GW. Just signed on last month so I'm still learning. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hi to all. It has been a while since I signed on here. I am planning a trip to Japan sometime this year and I need to know how to get on the ombudsman's email. Great to see all of your posts and know that you are all still here. Thanks ahead for any info you can share. My son checked into leave time and nothing is available for him until later in the year, hopefully during next in-port time. I need to start on him for sponsorship or I will never make it. He is one of those kids that you have to keep lighting the fire under.

To get onto the Ombudsman email you need to send the ombudsman a email. It needs to contain your sailors information. Rank, name and department if you know. They will get word to your sailor and they have to ask your sailor if it is OK to add you to the email list. And if your Sailor says OK then they will add you to the email list.

Lisa CCmom- I just sent u a message.Wasn't sure what info I am allowed to post.

I'm still a bit confused as to how to send an ombudsman email.  What is the full address.  I tried looking for a link, but could not find one.  My son has recently been assigned to the USS George Washington.  He wanted to be on an aircraft carrier and has gotten his wish.  He has enjoyed being in Japan for the past couple of months and is looking forward to life aboard the GW.  This is a new experience for me.  I'm so glad that I found this website.

The Ombudsman email address is under FAMILY SERVICES. The email address is: cvn73ombudsman@yahoo.com.

The biggest and best advice I can give to anyone on this site is to have your sailor get renters insurance for one. There is a lot of theft on the GDUB. Renters insurance thru USAA must be bought before leaving the States. Also if they do not own a vehicle but has car insurance they should purchase a NON-OWNERSHIP policy thru USAA. It only costs 5.00 a year. This will keep them from having a break in coverage when they come back to the states.

cfsnowmom- no problems with packages to Japan, i sent 2 about two weeks ago and he received them in 10 days. I did have problems with him receiving packages in California. Finally got one back in Dec. that I had sent to him in Sept. They had told him if the package showed up after he left they would forward it to his next station but they didn't. Just glad it came back as it was stuff he needed in Japan. The ones i sent to Japan were regular mail, I didn't pay extra for priority or anything, just insurance.

Lisa- S didn't get his address til he was on the ship, which took 3-4 weeks. not sure if that's normal but he kept saying that he asked and there just wasn't one while he was in the temporary housing.

I haven't been following for a while and this morning I noticed everyone's comments about missing packages...I, too, have sent my son a small box containing important documents which to my dismay has been lost.  The package was sent  Dec. 12. 2011.  I have notified USPS and also Military Postal Service.  After completing a form, I was given a "ticket number" that was submitted to Atlanta Postal Recovery Center.  I don't have much hope, though  P.S. He was also sent an letter in an envelope on approximately Jan. 1  which he hasn't received.

I just hope with all the hullabaloo on this sight that some of the "higher ups" in the command will take notice of all of this thieving going on.  I'm really not sure if my postal theft is occurring on the G-Dub or not.  My package never made it to the military postal service in the USA.  This is not to say that a lot of theft doesn't goes on on the ship!  My son has learned, after loosing many items, to lock everything up!!  So sad when you realize that we should all be in this together.  The Navy is truly more respectable than that!!!!

Just to provide an update to my post on Thursday...My son called me on Skype last night and reported that he received the "missing" package and also the missing envelope!  I totally was amazed that these were "found".  He mentioned that he saw a lot of other sailors walking around with packages and when he checked the mail, the items were there.  The Navy has eyes everywhere!

cfsnowmom: These are the steps I took to find my sailor's package: 1.  Find your Sales Receipt from the USPS.  2.  Find the "Customs Form #(two letters followed by nine numbers followed by US)  3.  "Track & Confirm" from the USPS.com sight.  This is to find out exactly where your package last was seen.  5.  Go to https://amps.mpsa.mil/mpsa/MTC.sub and submit a "MRC search request".  Hope this helps out.

The ship is known for being a career buster. A lot of kids have also gotten out because of the command.

winavymom$...I am sorry to read this. I agree with kathy. It is too bad that the higher ups don't re~direct these behaviors.Best of luck to your son.

momof2sailors..... Do ya mean they transfer off the GW to another ship?how can sailors switch out? I thought  transfers/switching could only be done by the head honchos?

My son wants off the G-Dub in a big way.  Does not like the head honchos either.  wants to transfer to San Diego.  I have not seen him in two years.  I want him to be happy!

BADma,

No not transferring or switching. They are just right out not re-enlisting because they can not stand the command. And on this ship there is so much theft that happens. And there was something that happened to one of my sons that they still have not caught the people that did it which REALLY PISSES me off.

 I don't like what I'm reading )): My son never says anything about theft or bad treatment. Of course, when he emails I its like pulling teeth to get info outta him.

If they re~enlist does it automatically mean the same ship or can they request a transfer?

Thanks katlanta! My son has only been there since this past Nov. but he seems to be enjoying things so far. Thanks for reassuring us newbies : )

 Things have gone well for my sailor. He does his job and then some...

 He did write that the GW is THE career buster . I just remind him to stay tough...work hard..and be smart about stuff.He has been there 9 months.

  I have only had one phone call in 9 months.And that was from a phne in te rec. room oon base. My son didn't buy a phone, nor will he skype. He emails fairly often. I miss that li'l stinker's face and voice )):