USS George Washington Sailors

navymomfromCT:

 You will need to check with your sailor when he has to check back in for work. My guess is that the number of days he gave you includes travel time. When I book my sons flights home I always make their return flight for 3 days before they have to report back to work. Only because of the time difference. And also they want one day to rest up from the jet lag. And yes Narita is the airport. And I always use American Airlines. My sons also have frequent flyer numbers with them. Any questions feel free to PM me and I will do what I can to help you. Also one thing to remember is to always let the airline know that they are Active Duty Military. That way if they get recalled while on leave there should not be any fee for having to change dates. And you would be able to go back to the gate to meet them when they come in.

Thank you....He has 21 days of leave time so we figured that was how many days he could take.....

Oh and also, if he leaves after his work week ends, and he has two or three days off, can he use those in addition to the 21 days??.

My son just left for Japan, and he contacted us using Face Time when he arrived at Tokyo airport.  He was then waiting for the bus to take him to the ship.  It has now been a day and a half since then and we haven't heard anything.  Is this normal and would he not be able to get to wireless internet to contact us?  I would appreciate any help anyone can give me.

comfortkeeper... TRY not to worry. When the sailors arriive in Japan, they are kept quite busy. My sailor went to Japan in May 2011. I think it was a couple of weeks before I received an email from him.

Hang tough mama.You made it through Boot Camp.....this too shall pass.What is your son's rate? If you are on facebook 'like ' the USS George Washington page. You just might get to see some pictures of him once he is on the ship.

katlanta - thank you so much for the response!  That puts us at ease a little, but will be great when we hear from him again.  I know this will be a new, exciting experience!

BADma - thanks for your response and encouragement.  I'm sure I'll make it through this - just a little nerve wracking at the moment!

  That is the beauty of this website...we all are going through it together.No one understands like another mom! 

If you are on the GW facebook page, there's a post about a dinner this Friday provided to single sailors by the USO...https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151224638814422&set=a...

Good Morning Ladies! 

comfortkeeper - My son has been in Japan one month now and I waited 5 looooong days to hear from him when he left.  Fortunately his best friend (who arrived a week earlier) sent me a Facebook message telling me Josh had made it and all was fine.  I'm right there with you on this new nerve racking experience!  I don't think I'll ever get use to this communication thing...or lack of it!   I really miss not being able to pick up the phone and call him whenever I want....like everyday!  I did get a text message from him the other day that said he's going to try to call me soon so I'm patiently waiting with phone by my side at all times!!!

Stephsmom & Katlanta - Your Sailors are living such exciting lives....how awesome!  and a {{{{{HUG}}}} to you Stephsmom as you say good-bye to your daughter.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Another question about the flights.....he said to get refundable tickets.....those are soo expensive....I cannot afford refundable.....Am I okay with just regular tickets....if his time gets approved could it change??

Katlanta: 

Gottcha....thank you.....you are right....anything can happen in the Navy...

Another question for you....my ex-husband thinks our sailor shouldn't come home on leave.....too many things could go wrong.....if something happens in CT......the emotions of leaving again......but I want him to come home.....he wants to come home.....he should use his leave time to come home......am I wrong?  Do they frown upon them taking their leave time if they have only been in for 15 months....am I jeopardizing his career by him coming home and take the chance that something will happen??  Most sailors take their leave time and go home, even if it is a far??

Your thoughts...Thanks...

Its his decision and he wants to come home.....I want him to come home....My ex was in the Marines and he didn't come home for four years....he doesn't understand....I guess in the Marines back then if you went on leave it was frowned upon...the Navy is different.....he will be fine!  thanks for your help....

Listen to Katlanta and encourage him to come home, most do when they have the opportunity - the ticket is $$$. Expect some differences and a really hard time saying good-by again. Lots of family might want to see him and that's great but I would suggest giving him a lot of space and quiet time.

joshmom - Thanks for responding to my comment last night about not having heard from my son who just arrived in Japan.  It helped so much to get support and reassurance from several of you.  Later last night we got an e-mail from him and then at 6 AM this morning he called us and we did Face Time.  What a relief to see him and know all is well!

katlanta -I wanted to thank you again too for reassuring me everything was fine when I put my comment on last night about having not heard from my son since he left Tokyo airport.  And.... just as you said I would be hearing from him any moment - we got an e-mail a couple hours later and at 6 Am this morning he called us and we did Face Time!

comfortkeeper - Yeah for the phone call!  That did your heart good.  Mine has called several times...always early in the morning. As a parent getting a call in the middle of the night would make my heart stop a beat because it was never good but now I get excited.  On Christmas day Josh called at 1:00 am and my husband laughed...said he'd never seen me move so fast and get so excited at that time of the night!  I've actually moved my bedroom furniture around so that the night stand is on my side of the bed just for my phone!   My son was on the "barge" for 3 weeks and is now living on the ship.  I haven't talked to him since he moved but he's sent several text messages and everything is going good.  He seems to like it over there.  He joined the Navy so he could see the world so his dreams are coming true now.  Hope your son enjoys the ship and Japan!

My sailor also lives on the ship....he seems to be doing okay....however he got moved from his job to the galley for three months.....and they work long days.....he only has a month left......so hopefully it will go by quick.....he went snowboarding last weekend and had a blast and he is going again next weekend....I get my calls early in the morning or late at night.....sometimes the connection is good and sometimes it is bad.....not much skyping because of the sketchy internet.....he spends a lot of his down time at the liberty center playing his PS3.......

NavyMom- I have to remember that he needs quiet time....I want to schedule all of his days filled with friends and family and fun.....but most of all he probably just wants to sleep in his own bed and spend time at home.....

Katlanta....gotcha...thanks......Do you know how far Narita International Airport is from the base?

so if his flight is at 10:45...he should leave the base at 5:45..(get to the airport at 8:45)....do you think the shuttle leaves that early??  Or should I make his flight later in the afternoon.....??

My sailor normally gets a hotel at the airport for the night before the flight.

Thanks guys..that schedule is very helpful....Its a long flight without having to wait forever at the airport too....

Hello I am new to this site.My son Chris is serving on this ship.

Welcome Angelwings - Glad you have joined us. This forum is a great source of information and support for families of men and women serving on the GW and living in Japan. Hats off to your son, Chris!

Hello Micksmom - Welcome aboard! We all know what you are going through getting ready to say good-by to your son. Once you work out a communication plan with him, you will enjoy his new adventures. Stay tuned.

Welcome Angelwings and micksmom! I can honestly say that i hear more from my Sailor now that he's in Japan than i ever did the year he was in college. They also have plenty of free apps to use over there once he gets a phone. My Sailor uses magicjack for phone calls and heywire for texting.

Thanks.My son and I either Skype or talk on FB. Being in the Navy and Japan has been a goal he set from himself as a child.So when he Joined the Navy last year I was surprised he got to go to exactly where he wanted to be.

My son posted a pic of it snowing and said he was told he don't snow there. Chris had a iPhone when he got there.He had to get a android galaxy 3 S since his iPhone couldn't transfer to Japanese.He told me the other he is going to try out for the bases rugby team. 

My son's request for leave was just denied....ugh.....glad I didn't book the flights....

I didn't know that the Navy would deny leave to anyone. NavymomfromCT do you know why leave was denied?  It's of concern to me because my daughter is supposed to be coming home in March. She hasn't said whether her leave is approved yet. Just wondering. . .

He was told  that too many people were off in March.....

He is going to try for April.....he is working 12 days on/2 days off (4 a.m. to 7 p.m.) so he doesn't have much time to do much of anything......he is doing his time in the galley....I guess they have to do 3-4 months there when they come on the ship....???

I think they make them work in the Galley when they first get there, just so they will appreciate the people who do work  in the galley all the time. My son went to Japan as a CS. But ended up being in Security all most the whole time he was in Japan. Now he is stateside going to "A" school to change rate and will be headed to CA.

It's been just over a year since I've seen my son now.  I know that many of you have went without your children for much longer, so I'm asking for some advice.  I have been difficult with my son for not having any answers about his leave.  Part of me almost resents the time that I'm losing.  When it was time for basic and A-school, our family had a date to look forward to.  Now it has been over a year and we still don't know when he'll come home.  After hearing about the vacations denied in March, I've been upset.  I wish he never went to Japan.  

I am so sorry that so many families won't be having their Sailor home in March. Thankfully our daughter is coming home (it's been over a year) this March. I will be praying for those who are having to wait. For us, I just ask for prayer. Our girl will be having a procedure to remove cancerous cells while she is in Japan.  Our deepest thanks to all who have been praying. And, thank you to those who helped with answering questions etc.  Her procedure date is Feb. 7th.  Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."  Be strong Navy Moms!

CocoBeanMom - Prayers for your daughter through her treatment and long trip back home.

Kimberly 214 - So sorry you are feeling down.  Your son has signed on to serve and his life is not his own right now. The long separations are not easy. You said you are feeling upset, so perhaps some action can heal that feeling - preparing a Valentine Box with funny stuff and old pictures, sending an upbeat message to your son, learning about something new, treating yourself to something special.... Hope you feel better today.  Our sons and daughters leave us to make their own lives and sometimes that stings a bit.

I wish he wasn't there either....if he was closer I could go see him.....I guess I just assumed he would get his time off in March and got my hopes up and his hopes were up....it sucks......

he said he was going to try.....

Amen to that katlanta!  Anytime I'm missing my son I just send him something: a letter, pictures, and remind him that I can Skype when available.  I'm so proud, I wouldn't dare ask to know when he gets leave:  I'll just wait for the surprise of "Mom, I'm at the airport-come get me!  :D

I don't understand then why he was denied......he just called....he is having an extremely bad day.....after the incident yesterday they are not allowed to go anywhere at all.....somebody poured chocolate milk in his phone so it is ruined.......somebody spilled mustard on his request form so he has to write it all up again and get signatures again.....and somebody stole his IPOD touch out of his bed......ugh......I hate this.....sorry....him being bummed is bumming me....

katlanta, I'm wondering the same thing.  My son said on Facebook that the whole ship has been "recalled" because one person did something wrong.....

Check out CNN on line it mentions what happened.

dawny64,

I am not seeing anything about a single sailor doing something wrong. I am only finding out about the ship that got stuck in a reef.

Here is the link to the CNN article:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/21/world/asia/japan-us-sailor-arrested/i...

Everybody had to come back to the ship except people on leave.....he said they cannot go anywhere.....he works out at the gym at night after work and he can't even do that.  What do you tell him?  He doesn't understand why someone who he doesn't even know messes up and he (and everyone) has to pay for it....with all the issues they have had he has not been able to do much in Japan.....I just wish he was happier.....

Again thanks to all who continue to pray for my sailor as the date for her procedure approaches everything in me as a mom cries out to be there for her. However, that's not possible at this time. When she tells me of what she's gone through since she has been in Japan, my heart breaks for her. What we can do is uphold our sailor's indeed all our military and their families , in prayer. navymomfromCT, hang in there for your son. "Now may the LORD of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. . ." 2 Thessalonians 3:16 God be with you all!

CoCoBeansMom and navymomfromCT, just want you to know I lifted your sailors and yourselves up in prayer.  Thinking of each of you.  

Praying for all our sailors, they not lose heart when a few can effect the good proud service of all.

Thank you for the prayers for my sailor.....

Katlanta:  The gym is on base....they cannot leave the ship.....