Hi everyone. I just joined this group. My grandson is in Groton right now doing his schooling Has been there since the beginning of May and will probably be there a year. He is going to be a Sonar Tech
Hi. My son is in boot camp now. Then he will head to Groton. I just stopped in to say hello. I am sure I will be glued to this group as he gets closer to heading out. Can you tell me if they test them or anything during boot camp to determine if they can handle going on a sub? He has never been claustrophobic, but also never been in a situation anything like subs. What happens if he finds he is claustrophobic or something? Sorry, I guess I sound like chicken mama, but he has only been gone 3 days.
Hi my son PIR on 8/5 and is now in Groton, starting classes on 8/13. I would think that they would test them for confined spaces. Check out the discussion links for the Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS) which will have more information.
Aaron's mom...welcome. Right now my advice to you is stay with your PIR group, is going to help you so much. He will be test during BC, like a physical. Have to pass swimming text, running....After passing all this test the final one is Battleship, is like a park (my son description) and after he pass this one he will consider a sailor. Get ready for the letters once you receive the information (address) like in the next one-two weeks. I used to write my son every other day, they look for the letters. Remember always encouragement don't matter how bad you will feel. Then the calls depend on how good the division is. Normal 3 times during the all BC, but sometimes if they do good they win calls home. This is a ROLLERCOASTER, some days up some day very low, that is why it will help you're PIR group. Hope this help, good luck!!
talked to my son last night, still not getting graduation date from BESS from him. He said his class name is diablo....???what is that. Anyone else have sailor in a "diablo" class?
Thank you for the replies. This is all very interesting but a bit scary for me. He is my youngest, so I am also dealing with the empty nest. I will check this group periodically until he gets done with boot camp, then I will be here all the time. Best wishes to all of your sailors.
lynnvikings...he graduated in March. Right now he's almost done with A school. His graduation is Sept. 15. and we hope he get stationed in Groton (that is what he want). My son class was named after the USS Perch. Was a beautiful graduation and the last survivor from the Perch was present. Also if you want to know a little more about the story google USS Diablo and you will find out, interesting story. This is a little about it but if you want to learn more...
my son is at GL right now finishing up bootcamp. He is scheduled for PIR on 9/9. He will be going to A school in Grouton for ET. I would like to know from those of you who have sons and daughters already graduated, how long is typical for us to spend with our SR or sailor by that time. Is there a common time for all sailors attending A school in Grouton to leave? Will we get him most of the weekend or only Friday, any information would be appreciated.
My husband graduated boot camp on March 25th and we only had Friday with him. He headed to the airport at about 6am the following morning and we were able to spend all of the time with him before he had to board the plane. I think that was a bout 4 hours. He didn't know until I think the day before the exact times. It changed every other day so just be patient with it, as things change constantly here. Groton is a great place and from what my husband heard from friends from boot camp who went to other places, a very easy going place. He actually had a lot of free time during BESS and even now, he just started TCNO, he gets out at noon each day for the most part. If you have any questions about schooling or anything once he's here, don't hesitate to ask:)
becky, My son graduated from GL on 7/22. He flew out to groton on Saturday July 23 at 7:00 am. So i only spent friday after graduation with my son. I did not go to sleep at all on friday after graduation , stayed up all night so i could be at the airport at 2:00 am to see my son. Had to meet at airport so i could give him his cell phone and computer so he would have that in GROTON.
rose7 thank you for the info. I am thinking my sons graduation from BESS is going to be the weekend of sept 23.. i am seeing a reunion of diablo that weekend. Would only make sense that they are attending the graduation fo BESS students from the diablo class?? Am i wrong??.
Becky....congratulations!! Plan just for Friday, like the other moms said they usually fly out to Groton Saturday early in morning. You can go to the airport and they will allow you to go with him to the waiting area until he have to go inside the plane. If you want you can also give him at the airport his electronics, not before, he can't take back to the barracks.
lynnvikings....yes, you are right. Just the students from the diablo class are there. My son's class had 75 sailors. Are you going? Is nice, plus he can give you a tour of the base and the sub museum is next door.
rose7, i just booked my flight to groton....flying to hartford ct...never been to the east coast....any advice on what my husband i should do would be welcomed....like should we rent a car? where do we stay ? Help!!!!! we fly in on thursday morning. so we will have all day thursday. We fly home on sunday. Yikes! i hope he is graduating the weekend of sept 22 cause i now have a flight there!! :)
cheri, my son left gl on 7/23...if he started bess the ffollowing week...i am thinking the sept 23 would make sense for a 7 week class..The uss diablo is my son's class name.and i saw on the uss dablo website that there is a reunion planned on sept 22 and 23 in groton. They are planning on attending the BESS graduation that day and to me it would only make sense that the DIABLO class would be graduating that day. Now i just have to make sure my son is going to graduate that day. :)....i did buy the insurance on the ticket so if i don't use it, i get my money back....YIKES!!!
lynnvikings....you are in the right track. Even if you look the events in the diablo website, they have there as event #1 the BESS graduation. Is good that you bought the insurance. Hopefully your son do good in BESS. Sound mean but is just that sometimes the sailors struggle a little and they got send back. But if he is passing all the test and you hear him positive that is a good sign. Now about hotel, I love the Navy Lodge. Since my son is in the Navy, (left last Oct), I used Navy Lodge. Phone # 860-446-3119begin_of_the_skype_highlighting860-446-3119end_of_the_skype_highlighting in Groton, you can call and make the reservation, your son is a Seaman Apprentice, you need this to make the reservation. In my last trip I ask them if they allow (us) to check in if my son have duty and they said yes and your son have 24 hours to check you in. If your planning to get there Thursday morning you can't check in before 3 and is perfect because there is the 24 hours in case he have duty that day. Then in the next 24 hours he need to go to the front desk give his navy ID and sign you in. If he is available he just need to jump in the car and check you in right away. The morning of the graduation he need to meet you in the 2nd gate, (there is a office and parking space) and jump in the car and go through the gate with you. If you rent a car (best way) you just need to show the rental agreement and his ID. Don't worry if he take a little time if he know that your coming he will go and get you. Is a nice feeling, writing this and is like I'm going through again, waiting for my handsome sailor. Hope this help!!
Rose7 , thank you for the insight....any information is gladly received. I will ask him about "watch". I sure hope everything is progressing as it should....THANKS!!!!
Enlisted nucs never attend BESS, they get enough training in prototype to prepare them adequately. Once they get to a boat, they will get a submarine damage control class for a week or two, but not necessarily in Groton. Many enlisted nucs (including myself) never set foot in Groton, unless they're assigned to a boat that's homeported there.
My son is Nav/ET and spent all of his Sub school in Groton. That was 4 years ago, so it may have changed. He is going to another class in Kings Bay at this time. But he has not been to any other schooling anywhere else other than on his assigned base until now. He is not a nuc. He is on a Fast Attack.
lynnvikings - We flew into Hartford for our son's A school graduation. We did not attend BESS graduation because he told us it was not a big deal like PIR. You will want to rent a car because it is about at least an hour drive to Groton, if I remember correctly. I cannot remember the name of the hotel we stayed at; we did not know about the Navy Lodge at that time. I did not find Navy for Moms until he had already arrived at his first base! Enjoy your trip!
Mark, I have a question for you. What is the difference in an SSN Sub and an SSGN sub. My sailor said it is also a Fast Attack and carries more weapons, but is there any other difference???
He said he is hoping to go to an SSGN after his shore duty is served.
Becky - When my sailor PIR'd he did not leave for Groton until a week later. There are many things that decide when he will leave. If I were you I would plan for a weekend just in case.
my son has been in Groton for 10 years. It is much easier to fly into T.F. Greeen airport in Providence,RI. It is about 45 min down I95. You only have to make one turn - left out of the airport. The route from Hartford is confusing, takes about 1 1/2 hrs and can be busy in the Hartford traffic.
I don't know what an SSGN is either - but I wonder if he means it has vertical launch. The older subs don't have that - just horizontal and it's a lot easier for the FT's (that's what my son is). His first sub was regular, he's on a vertical launch this time.
An SSGN is basically a boomer (SSBN) that doesn't have nuclear warheads. It functions like a Fast Attack (SSN) as far as missions and how often they come up to communications depth, but has the boomer schedule of being out for approx. 3 months at a time. Hope that helps. :)
Cheri and MamaMiri have good info. The biggest difference is the type of missile they carry. The missile tubes on SSGNs have been modified to carry an enormous number of Tomahawk cruise missiles (which can be fitted with a nuke warhead, incidentally), the same missile that SSNs carry, along with torpedos, which are also carried in smaller numbers on SSGNs and SSBNs. A cruise missile travels at speeds similar to a commercial air liner at low altitudes, along a programmed path to the target. The programmed path enables the missile to follow terrain on the way to the target, to make it tougher to pick up on radar. The Trident ballistic missile carried on SSBNs is much larger, reaches supersonic speeds, and follows a trajectory that takes it out of the atmosphere on a very high arc towards the target. The Trident missile also carries multiple warheads, that separate from the vehicle on descent to hit multiple targets with (near) pinpoint accuracy. Tomahawks have even more accuracy; having the capability of hitting within several feet of the aiming point. On the SSGNs, a couple of the missile tubes are converted to house equipment used by embarked SEALs, and a lockout chamber for the SEALs to exit and re-enter the boat while submerged. Because they are so large, being a converted Trident hull (sometimes called "T-hulls", where "hull" refers to the entire outer part of a ship or sub that keeps the water out - they are not nearly as fast or maneuverable as a true SSN. To respond to another point below, all the Virginia class, the Seawolf class, and all but a handful of the oldest LA class SSNs are equipped with vertical-launch tubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles, though they can carry only a small fraction of the numbers that an SSGN can. SSGNs and SSNs have some mission overlap, but each has capabilities that the other doesn't, and SSNs are quite a bit faster, due to their smaller size. The one exception to that is the Jimmy Carter, the third and last boat of the Seawolf class that has an additional hundred feet or so, with equipment to support that boat's unique (and highly classified) missions. Because of all the extra weight of that additional hull section, it is nowhere near as speedy as other SSNs.
I can only speculate that an SSGN might have a few more, accounting for embarked SEALs - though the rest of the crew would be the same size, since it's essentially the same boat as an SSBN.
Found out last Thursday my sailor took his test for 1st class. His 5th anniversary is not until October! He said he is pretty sure he did not pass, but I am still so proud of him. Won't know until December...
Just want to say Welcome back USS Cheyenne....and to our loving son we miss you glad your girlfriend was able to be there for homecoming can't wait to see you for the holidays :)
My sailor is an ET Nav on his sub. He loves it! It takes a lot of studying but is a great rate. My son has been working for the A Nav for over a year now. He takes care of the charts, etc. He has received 2 Navy Acheivement Medals for his work last year.
I wish your sailor much luck as he learns this rate.
My son is @ BESS and found out yesterday he got ET-COM rating. That was his first choice and he was very excited! Then he realized he forgot to turn in his Liberty Card on time and was down. Highs & lows. Looking forward to finding out more about SECFs.
Hey KarenTX - That is great for your son! :-) My son is in BESS also and found out yesterday that he will be STS, which wasn't even one of his choices, but then he said -" well, it's all good because I will like any of it and with STS I get more Marine Biology stuff which I love." Wow - I was really impressed that he could make the best of it.
Welcome to all the new members to our group. Glad to see that your sailors are happy with their choice. My son is ET4 COMM/RADIO and loves it. Can't wait for his leave should be around the new year. Nice way to start the new year with a visit from him :-) or and his beautiful girlfriend will also be visiting us can't wait.
I have gotten a call from the USO at SEATAC that they have a young lady and her baby there that was suppose to be MAC Flight to Korea tonight. But it got cancelled. She is needing a place to stay till she can get out. Please call the USO at 206-234-1627.
VinnyBsMom - that happens every few years. My son has been in for 5 years and has had 2 changes of command. It has nothing to do with your sailor personally.
Nana Donna (nanaTo2Saliors)
Aug 11, 2011
Aaron's mom
Aug 11, 2011
alexh_sailor
Aug 11, 2011
Rose7..Norfolk
Aug 12, 2011
lynnvikings
Aug 12, 2011
lynnvikings
Aug 12, 2011
Aaron's mom
Aug 12, 2011
Rose7..Norfolk
lynnvikings...he graduated in March. Right now he's almost done with A school. His graduation is Sept. 15. and we hope he get stationed in Groton (that is what he want). My son class was named after the USS Perch. Was a beautiful graduation and the last survivor from the Perch was present. Also if you want to know a little more about the story google USS Diablo and you will find out, interesting story. This is a little about it but if you want to learn more...
USS Diablo (SS/AGSS-479), a Tench-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the diablo, a member of the batfish family, common in the West Indies and along the southern coast of the United states. Her keel was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched on 1 December 1944 sponsored by Mrs. V. D. Chapline, and commissioned on 31 March 1945 with Lieutenant Commander G. G. Matherson in command.Aug 12, 2011
Becky
Aug 14, 2011
SubWife5611
Aug 15, 2011
lynnvikings
becky, My son graduated from GL on 7/22. He flew out to groton on Saturday July 23 at 7:00 am. So i only spent friday after graduation with my son. I did not go to sleep at all on friday after graduation , stayed up all night so i could be at the airport at 2:00 am to see my son. Had to meet at airport so i could give him his cell phone and computer so he would have that in GROTON.
Aug 15, 2011
lynnvikings
Aug 15, 2011
Rose7..Norfolk
Becky....congratulations!! Plan just for Friday, like the other moms said they usually fly out to Groton Saturday early in morning. You can go to the airport and they will allow you to go with him to the waiting area until he have to go inside the plane. If you want you can also give him at the airport his electronics, not before, he can't take back to the barracks.
lynnvikings....yes, you are right. Just the students from the diablo class are there. My son's class had 75 sailors. Are you going? Is nice, plus he can give you a tour of the base and the sub museum is next door.
Aug 15, 2011
lynnvikings
rose7, i just booked my flight to groton....flying to hartford ct...never been to the east coast....any advice on what my husband i should do would be welcomed....like should we rent a car? where do we stay ? Help!!!!! we fly in on thursday morning. so we will have all day thursday. We fly home on sunday. Yikes! i hope he is graduating the weekend of sept 22 cause i now have a flight there!! :)
Aug 15, 2011
lynnvikings
cheri, my son left gl on 7/23...if he started bess the ffollowing week...i am thinking the sept 23 would make sense for a 7 week class..The uss diablo is my son's class name.and i saw on the uss dablo website that there is a reunion planned on sept 22 and 23 in groton. They are planning on attending the BESS graduation that day and to me it would only make sense that the DIABLO class would be graduating that day. Now i just have to make sure my son is going to graduate that day. :)....i did buy the insurance on the ticket so if i don't use it, i get my money back....YIKES!!!
.
Aug 15, 2011
lynnvikings
round trip 258.00 could not pass that up minneapolis to groton!!!!
Aug 15, 2011
Rose7..Norfolk
Aug 15, 2011
lynnvikings
Aug 16, 2011
Kelseykat2 (07/307)
Aug 18, 2011
Kelseykat2 (07/307)
Aug 18, 2011
Kelseykat2 (07/307)
Aug 18, 2011
Mark
Aug 18, 2011
Rhonda8881
My son is Nav/ET and spent all of his Sub school in Groton. That was 4 years ago, so it may have changed. He is going to another class in Kings Bay at this time. But he has not been to any other schooling anywhere else other than on his assigned base until now. He is not a nuc. He is on a Fast Attack.
lynnvikings - We flew into Hartford for our son's A school graduation. We did not attend BESS graduation because he told us it was not a big deal like PIR. You will want to rent a car because it is about at least an hour drive to Groton, if I remember correctly. I cannot remember the name of the hotel we stayed at; we did not know about the Navy Lodge at that time. I did not find Navy for Moms until he had already arrived at his first base! Enjoy your trip!
Aug 21, 2011
Rhonda8881
Mark, I have a question for you. What is the difference in an SSN Sub and an SSGN sub. My sailor said it is also a Fast Attack and carries more weapons, but is there any other difference???
He said he is hoping to go to an SSGN after his shore duty is served.
Aug 21, 2011
Rhonda8881
Aug 21, 2011
Deanne
my son has been in Groton for 10 years. It is much easier to fly into T.F. Greeen airport in Providence,RI. It is about 45 min down I95. You only have to make one turn - left out of the airport. The route from Hartford is confusing, takes about 1 1/2 hrs and can be busy in the Hartford traffic.
I don't know what an SSGN is either - but I wonder if he means it has vertical launch. The older subs don't have that - just horizontal and it's a lot easier for the FT's (that's what my son is). His first sub was regular, he's on a vertical launch this time.
Aug 21, 2011
MamaMiri (FT)
Aug 21, 2011
Mark
Aug 21, 2011
Rhonda8881
Aug 24, 2011
Mark
Aug 24, 2011
Rhonda8881
Thanks a bunch Mark! I appreciate your knowledge and willingness to help us moms!!!
Aug 24, 2011
Rhonda8881
Sep 4, 2011
Rhonda8881
Happy Fall!!!
Have a great weekend!
Sep 23, 2011
Gloria P.
Just want to say Welcome back USS Cheyenne....and to our loving son we miss you glad your girlfriend was able to be there for homecoming can't wait to see you for the holidays :)
Oct 3, 2011
KathyMmom
Oct 3, 2011
Rhonda8881
Gloria, what a gorgeous photo! I know you are happy having him back on dry ground.
Oct 4, 2011
Gloria P.
Oct 17, 2011
Rhonda8881
Oct 19, 2011
suems2
Oct 26, 2011
Rhonda8881
My sailor is an ET Nav on his sub. He loves it! It takes a lot of studying but is a great rate. My son has been working for the A Nav for over a year now. He takes care of the charts, etc. He has received 2 Navy Acheivement Medals for his work last year.
I wish your sailor much luck as he learns this rate.
Congrats!
Oct 27, 2011
Rhonda8881
Oct 31, 2011
Karen
Nov 1, 2011
KathyMmom
Nov 1, 2011
Karen
Nov 1, 2011
KathyMmom
Nov 1, 2011
Gloria P.
Welcome to all the new members to our group. Glad to see that your sailors are happy with their choice. My son is ET4 COMM/RADIO and loves it. Can't wait for his leave should be around the new year. Nice way to start the new year with a visit from him :-) or and his beautiful girlfriend will also be visiting us can't wait.
Nov 19, 2011
Rhonda8881
Reply by momof2sailors 46 minutes ago
I have gotten a call from the USO at SEATAC that they have a young lady and her baby there that was suppose to be MAC Flight to Korea tonight. But it got cancelled. She is needing a place to stay till she can get out. Please call the USO at 206-234-1627.
*Reposting from Sailor Rescue group
Nov 22, 2011
Mark
It sounds like the boat has had a "change of command". That just means the skipper (Commanding Officer, or CO) has been relieved by another.
Nov 24, 2011
Rhonda8881
Thought you might all enjoy the following video.
ARMY NAVY GAME DEC 10TH 1:30 CENTRAL
Dec 5, 2011
Rhonda8881
VinnyBsMom - that happens every few years. My son has been in for 5 years and has had 2 changes of command. It has nothing to do with your sailor personally.
Dec 14, 2011