SECF - ET & FT & STS

Wow!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Has anyone heard from the sailors that left for Groton yesterday?

Thank you and your sailor OklahomaMama. 

hello all I'm coming to this sight a little early. My son is still in GL with a PIR of 11/8 and headed to CT shortly there after. I am very new at all this and a little anxious about what to expect, please be patient with me.

Hello kirty89 and welcome!!  Your son is going to love it in Groton!  At least according to pretty much all the sailors and their moms who talk about it.  It's WAY different than BC, more relaxed, more free time (when they're not in school anyway).  You will be able to communicate more with your son and that will be great.  Just knowing I can text my son and he will answer (eventually!) takes such a load off my mind-not at all like BC.  You will be able to relax, finally!!

I have a question, does anyone know what the regs. are on cell phones in Groton? Can my son bring his from PIR or does he have to wait until he gets there and then have it sent? And civvies (clothes) can we send a few things with him or do we wait? I appreciate all the help we can get. Thanks 

kirty89, he can take his cell phone with him when he flies out.  He can't have it until he gets to the airport though. He won't have much room for civvies but he may be able to squeeze in a few pairs of his favorite undies-they hate the tidy-whities they have to wear!  I also brought a bag of home-made cookies for my son-he managed to squeeze that in somewhere!  :)

I heard that they can take a second black bag as a carry on and check their navy bag is that true?

Hello Kirty - Welcome. Our son has been in Groton since end of May and loves it there. Within their first weeks they will have allot of qualifications to meet and learning new rules. It is much more relaxed and quite different than BOOT. I agree with mrsb - being able to communicate with our Sailor has been wonderful. Your son will be busy at times in Groton. Just send him a text and he will get back to you when he can. All good! We gave our Sailor his phone at the airport after P.I.R.  We met him at the airport and stayed with him until they all flew out to Groton - the a.m. after P.I.R. Our Sailor also took an extra bag with him as a carry on. 

okay I have a question for our sub moms. I have a SR graduating next Friday (yeah) and headed your way on Saturday can he bring his laptop with him as well as his cell phone?

And thanks to all of you who help support us newbies I don't know how I would of gotten through this process without all of you and your wonderful encouragement and information and tips.

Hi kirty89!  If he has room to carry it he can take his laptop with him.  They have a bunch of stuff they have to carry, duffel, garment bags, backpack, so some people send it to him once he gets settled.  I would definitely bring it with you to the airport in case he finds some room.  :)

Congratulations ahead of time about his, and your upcoming PIR!!  It's an awesome thing to behold!!!

@mrsb thank you for your help and advice. We look forward to our son going to CT and have been blessed to find these pages that help us along the way.

my son got his rate today, ET-NAV, so who can tell me about it

My son was an ET-Nav on the Oklahoma City for five years. Now he is doing shore duty in Naples Italy for a few years. ET Navs work on the charts and he will also take his turn driving the boat as well. Lots of study and lots of technical work too. It will translate well into many civilian fields as well.

Hi rugbymom my son is also in Naples Italy on shore duty he is an ET-Comm radioman. It will be nice if they meet. 

Hi Gloria,

My son (dont know if first names are allowed) is getting ready to leave Naples soon, coming back to the states early next year and coming out of the Navy. He has lived in Naples for over 2 years now and has really enjoyed it. Living off base and speaking Italian.He is an ETNAV, and I think the working group is not very big so they may even know each other. He is from Maryland and spent 5 years on the OK City. 

Just wanted to let you know, I lost my younger son in a car wreck on Dec. 5th when a young mother was speeding and ran a stop sign.

My sailor was able to fly home 2 days later. Good thing he is on shore duty now. The Navy was awesome in getting him home and giving him time off to stay with us through Christmas.  With God's amazing Grace, we are surviving this tragedy.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Rhonda8881....Just saw your comment and wanted to say how sorry we are about the loss of your younger son. We will keep you and your family in our prayers. So glad your Navy son was able to come home and be with you.

Rhonda8881 - you are in my heart and prayers.  May your family and your faith give you the strength you need.   I pray God comforts you and holds you close.  Hugs and love to you and your family.

Dearest Rhonda8881 - we keep you in our prayers. We are so very sorry for your loss. We pray that God guides you and comforts you and your family. A big Mom hugg to you. 

Thank you all.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Rhonda, I hope that your family gave you joy adn comfort this Christmas.  Many prayers and blessings are coming your way.  :)

My son is leaving for BC next week then going to train as an SECF. Any words of advice, wisdom or knowledge about what his life will be like?

Hello everyone its been a while since I've been on here. Welcome to all the new members to the group. Just an update my son is now doing land duty in Italy. He does miss his friends from his sub and Hawaii. But is having a good time at his new post. Doing pretty much the same job but on land now and making new friends. We miss he so but now we get to talk more often then when he was on the sub. We are so proud of him.

Hello lionmother!!!  If you haven't joined the group boot camp for moms and loved ones, you really should!  There is a whole lot of information about what happens at bc than there is on this particular site.  I can't offer much advice about SECF as my son is waiting to class up to A school.  He's in Groton right now, loves it there.  Welcome to the Navy family!

Gloria P, nice to see you!  Glad  you get to talk to him more often.  It's going to be hard to not have contact with my son once he's underway but I guess that's what we're getting used to now.

My son will be going to Groton, soon, he was in Goose Creek but changed jobs, can someone tell me a fb group to join of SECF mom's , thanks so much!

My Grandson Jacob T. is stating school Monday the 19th.

Yay...we finally got word today that our sailor will be going to Pearl Harbor! Seems like I have been waiting forever to find out! Now just what to do about his car, him coming home, him flying to Hawaii. Too many unanswered questions! I'm just going to have to wait for answers, but next Friday....Graduation Day will be here before I know it!

Navymom26....your sailor will be given that information shortly.  The navy will take care of the details.  Enjoy the trip to graduation.  Which boat will he be assigned to???

 Rhonda8881 - USS Houston  :) 

Mine was on the Olympia before he started shore duty.  Good luck to your sailor.

Hello - I am new on this group.  I found all your posts very interesting and I learn more every one I read.  My son is going to Pearl and USS Texas 775 as an ET NAV.  I think this group may be the one I should be on.  This is his first time on a sub and I know very little of what to expect - but I am learning here.  Thanks - I just want to listen for a while.

Hi navymom2013!  I hang out here sometimes too since my son will soon be on a boat.  It's nice to be able to follow each other on this journey.  :)

Hi! mrsb - I'm glad to know that you are here - I love that we have some of the same upcoming challenges with our beloved sailor boys - or should I say men. I hope you had a nice Memorial day weekend -we went to a lovely "remembrance" service today and I cried when the bagpipes started playing "Amazing Grace"  I am such a push over. The pastor read all the names of the military departed and about 3 this afternoon I realized we were supposed to fly our flags half staffed.  I had 24 flags in my front yard. and wore a mock set of dolphins on my US Navy hat.  Someone bought a veteran breakfast at the small cafe where we eat, and I cried then too.  I am a basket case today.  Really!!!! Back to work again tomorrow - YUK

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Hello, my son is in Groton just got there three weeks ago from boot camp. He said he is on hold for student loans, does anyone know how this works, he is anxious to class up, will this prevent him from classing up, his rate is ET. 

Just want to say Hello to all the new members to this group. I have been so busy with work that I haven't been on here for a while. Glad to have the new members and old. News update my son who is station out in Naples, Italy will be coming home just before July 4th can't wait to see him...if any of you lady's have a son or daughter coming home for the summer have a great time with them...the best to all

Momzy66-my son is on hold for student loans in Groton also. The Navy does not get in a hurry-be patient it will work out for them and us also

Thanks for the information tidefan. As moms we are ever so anxious for our children's success and their happiness. My husband is a Gamecocks fan, he supports SEC teams and roots for Alabama when necessary. lol!

My number-two son just got to BC as a SECF.  Does anyone have recent information on whether the SECF's ship out to Groton on Saturday, or if they get to remain a couple of days after PIR in Great Lakes?  (Our first son is a nuke, and we only got to spend Saturday-after-PIR with him at the airport three years ago.)

Good morning ladies and welcome!!  There are two other sub groups you may want to look at if you haven't already; sub moms and loved ones of groton.  

Bainite he will fly out to Groton on saturday morning unfortunately.  You will be able to hang out at the airport with him if you choose; they get there very early.  Welcome to submarine life!

Bainite - it just depends on when the next class is starting.  Sometimes they have to leave the next day, other times it may be a week before they leave.  You and he won't know until just before PIR.

Our son is home on leave til the 21st so happy to have him home. Boy he has grown up so much. Feeling very happy and excited.

Wonderful news Gloria P.  - enjoy ! Give your son an extra hugg from us NAVY Momma's!  I am happy and excited for you too! We are waiting patiently (hard to do) for our son to come home from Groton,  he is on hold. 

Congrats Gloria!!! I hope you have a wonderful visit.

Bainite  my son is SECF and PIR'd on 6/6.  He left for Groton the next day in the early afternoon.  I know that could change depending on the classes, but that was my recent experience.  He really likes it in Groton and has some good stories about sub school!