USS George Washington Sailors

Congratulations Katlanta! We all rejoice with you but please stay with us here.  You have so much wisdom to share like the link you gave me so my son could sign up for a bus from airport to base. He used the email method. He is back in Japan and is on the bus now or maybe back at the base by now.  

katlanta - congrats on the pending return of your sailor! God's richest blessings to you and your family. I agree with everyone who asked that you stick with us. You have been an immense blessing to us all with your knowledge and experience.  I too rec'd a quick pm on fb from my daughter. I was happy to have skyped with her a few days ago and to have had a pm conversation over the last few days.  God bless all who serve aboard the GW and their families. Godspeed and following seas! We love you!  \O/

katlanta - Congratulations! Exciting experiences he has had :-) That'll be great to have him closer. 

My son was not ready to be back out to sea on the ship for this next duty.  He was dreading it.  Praying that they have safe travels and they will enjoy their time at their first port.  God Bless our Sailors!

katlanta.... I am so happy for you!!

My sailor  will be home,hopefully in March for a wedding, then his Japan contract is up in April. He hasn't been stateside since he left in 2011! I am not fortunate enough to say that his next duty station will be closer.

My Sailor in Japan has just started his last cruise on the GDUB. He will be PCS'ing back to the states in April and will only be 2 hours away from me. I am ready for a emotional break. 

Its a good thing I got to talk to my son quite a few times in the last couple weeks. Now I will have to wait until he gets somewhere so he can text, talk, type, skype any or all that.
Its just a good thing that he likes it so well that I don't worry too much. Just a little Mom Radar now and again : )

Mary (Chris mom)  Sorry I'm a little late with this but BRAVO ZULU to your Sailor for SOQ - that's awesome!  So nice to see his hard work get recognized.  Ooooo that baby's gonna be here soon - how exciting!  Keep us posted.

Katlanta - Yeah stateside is soooooo near!  Ouch on those fingers!  Glad he only needed stitches and nothing more.

Momof2Sailors - Spring can't get here soon enough for you.  Very happy for you.

Navy Ma - Fingers crossed all goes well.  How exciting to be seeing him again soon and good luck with the wedding.  Wow there will be people from all over!

DavidsMom - Cool story!

Heard from my Sailor a few days ago and he was ready to head back out to sea.  This is his second cruise and he spent most of the first one cranking so I'm anxious to see how this one goes.  Glad he's happy about leaving.

Happy Sails to All and may they all stay safe!

Joshmom, No problem and thanks! Yes he was excited for his department to be recognized. And  baby boy may be here sooner than we had at first thought. I have a box to go to the ship and two boxes to go to the base for his wife and baby.

Hey has anyone heard that they no longer have the military flat rate boxes? Now I am told that we use a standard large flat rate box, and you get the discount if it is going to a military addy. I know around here you have to go online to do the customs forms unless you feel like driving to the main post office in this area to do a preprinted customs form. I did not realize they had taken away the APO/FPO boxes though.

Navy Ma, You will find the Whidbey Island group pretty quiet. It is a fairly small base and pretty specialized so there are not nearly so many moms there. Purchase one of those fabric "Draft Dodger"s for your sailor to put at the bottom of the door and some extra towels or something to put around the windows. My son almost froze while he was there. He said his room in the E4 barracks was so drafty and cold. (It MUST be more windy there and far colder than Chicago. Brrrr! We froze when we went to NAS Whidbey Is for his wedding.) If your son is getting married and moving into an apartment soon, then sorry, I don't have any info on them. I hope he enjoys his time there. My son was only there about 5 mos before he was sent to Japan (naturally the coldest months, hahaha).

Yay got an e-mail :-) 

NavyMa....  I feel your pain. I searched Guam Mom pages, I heard CRICKETS!!!

My prayers go out to those with family and friends at the Navy Yard in Washington. I hope that all those involved in using our personnel as target practice are  apprehended and punished to the full extent of the law. 

Mary, I just ordered the flat rate military boxes on line last month.

https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-flat.htm

thanks peetreesmama, I was pretty sure the lady at the local contracted mail center just didn't want to take time out from chatting with her friends in the back to help me. I messed up the address on one box I still had and the other box I addressed to the ship but it is supposed to go to his wife at the base. I only needed a small box for his candy to the ship but need 2 "large" boxes to go to Atsugi. I must go to the main PO anyway, so I know they will have plenty of boxes there.

Chris was at one point a few years ago scheduled to go to DC. This is one time I am soooo glad he is stationed in Japan. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have family or friends at the Navy Yard. 

Sam, We are going in December too!  Right now I am trying to figure out if it is worth buying the tourist train passes before we go.  Is your son stationed on the GW in Yokosuka? 

Sherry, he's at Atsugi. Per my son, he will meet us at the airport and help us get there on the train. This from the kid with no sense of direction! Hoping to clarify when they get back to base.

Sam, They do learn fast. Chris was never good with direction either but he learned how to navigate several foreign cities and countries. (I think he might have gotten lost a couple of times and didn't admit it, but nothing major). He wants to see him mommy...he will find you. :-)

Sam - I was in Japan in August during the GW family cruise day.  I'm swamped at work right now but will try to post during the weekend of my experience while in Japan.

Hi guys...its been awhile....hope everybody is good....I got a quick e-mail from my son....his rating is AS......and he just got switched for a year to NSF.....(navy security force).....any idea what that means......and will he still stay in Japan or go somewhere else???? 

He also told me about the Typhoon...I guess there was some rough seas there for a while....but they are on to calmer seas.....thank goodness....

momfromCT, I am not sure but it sounds like maybe the GW does like other ships and take one of the "low folks on the totem pole" from each department and trains them as pretty much an MA (Master at Arms) or Navy military police when they are at sea. I knew a guy who went through almost 5 months of training in Intelligence and about 2 weeks after getting on his boat they rotated their security for the year. Guess who was chosen from his department? Mostly because he was the newbie. I always tell my son, if they tell you it's your turn, don't whine...it's extra training and job skills under your belt. I hope that's how your sailor can think of it this upcoming year. Good luck to him.

HI my son got to Japan in June and has been living on the GW ever since. He's a FC. I'm so excited for all  of  the places he gets to see. I  Received a few emails from my son tonight. It was really nice to hear from him. I had to let him know that his Great-Grandpa had passed. He sounded like he was doing good. I am getting ready to assemble him a care package. I've never actually sent to him while he's been out to sea. His major request is hot sauce LOL...we shall see. Please feel free to add me if you'd like to chat. Cheers! Mary 

Sam, my son appreciates his family so much more now and mom's home cooking. He does not turn his mommydar off for very long when he is home. He can find me whether I'm at the store, the school, or on the road if he gets a craving for chili. It makes you feel good to know that you are missed so.

MrsBis06, My son wanted bottles of hot sauce too. I've heard the food is often bland, and if it is not right after a RAS, not very fresh either...the sailors spice it up with hot sauce. My grocery store started selling tiny bottles of Texas Pete for awhile. Guess who bought about $20 worth of those hot sauces???? Now I ask my son if he needs anything and he gives me his list and always throws in, "No more hot sauce!" lol I guess he still has several bottles. :-)

Have a wonderful Saturday moms!

@ cbc mom i'm looking forward to your posting about your experience from your visit during family week! My son will be arriving to Japan in Oct and I am already looking into a visit sometime during his tour. Is the family week always the same time of the year? If so, when?

Feeling a little anxious about my son leaving...it seems like no one hears from their sailors a whole lot. I understand it's a job but ugh, this seems like it's going to be worse then basic when we heard from him 1x a week! Though i'm already stressed i'm so excited for this new experience and adventure for my son!

Looking forward to getting to know some of the other moms here....have a great day US Navy Moms!!

Rec'd a short email from my Navy Bean! She said, "Are you still alive?" I had tried to respond to an earlier email but it kept coming back. I was happy to wake up and read anything she writes.  Anyway, just wanted to share my joy with you all. Have a blessed rest of the week end and week!

Chris' Mom:  Thanks for the info.....he has been on the GW for over a year...I cannot imagine that he is still the lowest one on the totem pole in his rating....but it will be a good experience...he said he was not too disappointed.....I just hope he likes it....a year is a long time......he said something about taking some advance courses and if that is the case maybe he can come back to the states and then it will be easier to go visit him.....

momfromCT, Bravo for your sailor wanting to take some classes. The security job might be what he needs to afford him the time and mental clarity for classes.

AmOm, I need to find a bakery like that. They are always at sea on my son's birthday so I have to tell him Happy Birthday way in advance or way after his birthday. That would really surprise him to get a cake! What an awesome thing.

That is so cool! I will have to look at the sizes they have. Now if I can remember that until next summer, hahahaha. Thanks for the info AmOm.

punkinsom..... send your message in a PM on the GW page.

pumkinsom...Badma is right, you send them a private message and attach pic. If you go to the GW fb page click on photo and go to albums then click on GW Crew Birthdays at the top of that photo album are instructions

pumkinsmom here are the instructions...To send your Sailor a Facebook Birthday Card, shoot us a private message with their birthdate, name, rate/rank, department/division, one or two of your favorite photos, and your personal message.  If you get the information sent to us in with at least a week's lead time, we should be able to get the card online in time.

punkinsmom, I LOVE the profile pic! I know you were so happy to see your "punkin"!

TexasSailorMom, thanks for the additional link for more goodies! I will hop over and check it out too!