Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

I don't know how many of you have sons or daughters that are on aircraft carriers, but I thought I would share some information with you about a book I just came across.

I am a children's librarian in a school in Kentucky and am working on the end of the year inventory.  I came across a book today that I forgot I had ordered for the library and I thought some of you might want to get it.

The book is called "Nugget on the Flight Deck" by Patricia Newman.  It gives lots of great information about what life is like on an aircraft carrier and explains a lot of the Navy lingo and terms they use.  I learned a lot by reading the book and I know if you have someone on an aircraft carrier, you would love this book.  Especially if you know of any children that have parents on an aircraft carrier.  This would be a great book to share with them.

Happy reading,

Jboysmom

Thanks for the the book info.  I will go look for it now.

Linda

This is my experience last fall, when the Iwo Jima returned from a four month humanitarian mission, so may not be typical.  And I want to observe OPSEC so will generalize a bit :)

The FRG (family readiness group) was in contact with us in the days leading up to its return, with information about car passes, pier # etc. The ship was due at 10:30 am, so I got to the base and parked just before 9:30 and got out of the car to hear someone say "Here they come!" so my point is, be early!!!  There were several small tents set up for VIP seating, and music played over loudspeakers. Everyone was crowded outside the gate to the pier, waving pompoms and wonderful homemade welcome-home signs to the sailors onboard.  New moms of babies born during deployment were escorted through the gate to the gangplank to be the first to welcome their sailors home (21 in this case!).  Then everyone, signs aloft, waited for their sailors to make their appearance coming through the gate.  Some sailors called their loved ones on their cellphones and went on deck to wave to us below, which makes good photos by the way! :)  Most sailors are lugging seabags with them.  Goodbyes to shipmates are said and everyone dispersed fairly quickly.  Some wives and girlfriends are dressed to kill, pretty funny to observe tottering in 3"+ heels, too LOL 

YamiBrooke,

what is your husband going to be doing in norfolk?  ship?

my blue star hangs in his old bedroom window. our navy flag hangs off an awning and our american flag hangs off the house. We try to do our part

For those talking about promotions to E4.  Passing the exam does not guarantee promotion and it does not matter just about your time in.  Lots of things are considered.  They receive points and passing the exam is one of them.  They also receive points if they have been recommended for "EP" (early promotion).  Then as someone else mentioned there must be openings in their classification.  In other words my son is a MA.  Last year they didn't have many openings to promote. It seems that some have retired or left the Navy because he said this year quite a few MA's that passed the exam got promoted.  He said some jobs are easier and have higher percentages of promotions.  It is all very complicated but tell your Sailor to keep trying!!!

Grasshopper, you're right on all counts.  With the economy as it is, the retention rate is high and openings for advancement fewer.  Some rates are so overmanned that they're downsizing them.  

Sailors prep for the advancement test by getting the bibliography for the upcoming test and studying, and can log into the Navy Advancement Center website NAC website. NAC has a Facebook page as well. Nancy's navybmr.com is a great site.  If you Google "flashcards Navy advancement" you see options for those.  

They need to score well on their evals too, they will know what it takes there.  You can also go back to your recruiting office and ask them for any tips and tricks they may know of for you to pass on to your sailor.  Our recruiters have been very helpful to their sailors :)

  Downtown Norfolk has a big fireworks show on the 4th on the Elizabeth River.  I saw it last year from the Spirit of Independence out of Portsmouth and it was fantastic.  I don't think there was one on base and that may be why.  This link has info, scroll down to July Norfolk events calendar 

Spirit of Independence You can take the $1.50 ferry from Norfolk's Waterside across the Elizabeth to Portsmouth, the ferry puts you right where the S of I picks you up.  

Hi my son will be joining a ship soon and someone told him about using a sleeping bag aboard ship.  A regular sleeping bag is not allowed, needs to  be cotton?

Does anyone know the rules or perhaps where to get one ?  Thanks

Becky, I too came across mybluestarflag.com on the freebie group after I'd already ordered mine. I ordered a free one also though and plan to give it to my parents! You can't personalize the free one, but that's ok; my parents will love it!

Marcy, I'd only heard from a Navy wife that it's not recommended for the spouses to hang one as it can serve as a signal to thieves and she has hers hanging on the inside of their home. It shouldn't be a pb for other family members, though; most parents and other relatives don't live near their sailor's base or even if they do live in the same port city it wouldn't take too much scouting by a thief to figure out it's not the alone navy spouse living there.

Well Iam counting down my days my son is on his way home it seem  so long  I cant wait to start cooking for my son

whats a good hotel for homecoming