Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

For families and friends of Sailors who are stationed at Norfolk; for either Sea Duty or Shore Duty Sailors. Just make sure to keep OPSEC issues in mind and not disclose ship movements in advance.

Weather - Norfolk

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  • duhhuh58 Ship 10/Div 267

    dad of sailor, while sex is prohibited it still happens while they are on deployment.

    when my daughter was on the bush her brother went down to florida for the tiger cruise.  there is a lot of paperwork that has to be done, including a physical.  and there is an minimum age.  if your sailor is a female and the person going on the tiger cruise is a male your sailor will have to get a male sailor to sponsor the tiger and visa versa. 

    they had several buses that left out of norfolk that took the tigers from this area down to mayport to meet the ship.  i don't remember how much it cost.

    but, my son loved his time on the bush, met some new friends and it was a fantastic experience.  if you can go you really should.

  • Dad of Sailor

    duhhuh58,

    I'm know it does, I spent 26 years in the Navy so I'm well aware of what goes on out there. Though, when I was in my younger years we didn't have females on ships, that was later in my career. There is no way you can lock males and females together for months at a time and someone isn't gonna find a way or place to answer natures call. 

  • Dad of Sailor

    I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and gets to spend it with family and friends. Don't forget to remember those that gave their lives in service to this country so we can enjoy the freedom we have today.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Theresa, duhhuh, beachmom76 and others in Hampton Roads, how are you doing and what's up with the approaching tropical storm??  Reading about it, and seeing that this weekend's Harborfest events are being cancelled (like the Parade of Sail) or relocated.

    I saw that USS Gunston Hall was scheduled to be open for tours June 7 - 9 as part of Norfolk's Harborfest - http://wtkr.com/2013/06/05/uss-gunston-hall-will-open-for-tours-dur...

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    *Hampton Roads and nearby areas that is :)

  • duhhuh58 Ship 10/Div 267

    Nothing but some light rain so far. Supposed to start with the real rain sometime early Friday I think. I'm not worried ain't nothing but some rain, lol
  • duhhuh58 Ship 10/Div 267

    Thanks for asking tho!
  • Jo1

    My son has just been assigned to the USS Lincoln but I hear it's going to be in dry dock for the next few years. What are the sailors life like when the ship is in dry dock and where will they live. I joined the USS Lincoln forum but it doesn't have much activity. Thanks
  • Lauriekay1

    Well Jo1 welcome to the Ike group! We always have a lot of activity...especially these days with much forthcoming excitement! As to your question, I'm thinking not many of us has much experience with that either...I do know that the ship has to be taken apart, and while in dry dock, the sailors can go on TAD on another ship being deployed. Other than that...anyone?
  • duhhuh58 Ship 10/Div 267

    @Sandra AM Mom,

    there are day cares in and around the bases.  some are base run and some are home day cares.  have your son check with the Fleet and Family Readiness they should be able to get you a list of day cares.  My grandson was with one lady that actually kept children while the parents were deployed.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    Is it true that the food is not great on destroyers? My son was told all the meat is canned!! Yuck. Surely they feed these sailors better than that.
  • Trevor's mom

    May I have suggestions on what to do for the "night before" Homecoming party? Thanks a bunch

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    What do you mean, "night before" 

  • Trevor's mom

    There is a party that the families have the night before the ship pulls in.

  • Dad of Sailor

    singingbird, CO-Twin,

    Can't comment on the destroyer food as I was never on a destroyer, however, I can say with authority the food gets worse the longer you're out to sea and the fresh stuff gets harder to come by. The food always started out fairly good and after a while you start getting all canned fruit and the like. They do get replenished at sea but how often and what they get are the big questions.

    singingbird...his scurvy comment had me in stitches, thanks for sharing. :)

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Trevor'sMom, are you planning a party, or going to the FRG night-before party and wondering what it's about?  

    If the former, some of the things the Family Readiness Groups do are a potluck dinner; a welcome-home sign-making activity; a raffle for things like a " First Date" night at a hotel plus breakfast andor dinner.  

    If the latter, you could ask the FRG what you can donate (often it's cash so they can buy tickets, hotel nights, whatever for their raffles).

  • tasstables

    Warning
    please read please pass on
    there are a lot of military families posting on face book
    my daughter is in Head quarters down in Pensacola FL
    the training she just took , they are going after ANY military
    person for posting any thing hateful, derogatory , or not nice about the military
    they are prosecuting them , kicking them out , caption mask, losing Rank ect
    the military recognize face book as a Official military page they are investigating
    over 2 million obscene comments now
    please pass this on to everyone
  • Dad of Sailor

    I would be willing to bet this has to do with all media reports of sexual assaults in the military and is focused on things that are derogatory and degrading to other people.  Unless the 1st Amendment doesn't apply anymore I don't know how they would prosecute someone for saying something "not nice" about the military.

    I think something was lost in translation somewhere along the line.

  • Dad of Sailor

    If the below warning is true, singingbird's son may be in trouble for complaining about the food on the destroyer. :)

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    I would hope it is not that fussy, the food thing. I do think it probably includes some comments and emails that circulate that are anti government, military, society. I get emails like these sometimes and see postings on FB, I choose to either unfriend those who post regularly like that or don't respond or pass these on.
  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    He hasn't been on it yet, supposed to board today.  He was told in A school that ALL meat is canned.  I can not imagine why that would be. Do they not have a freezer on board? 

  • Dad of Sailor

    It wasn't all canned when I was on a ship, I remember carrying huge cases or frozen meat during replenishment's. They have freezers but you have to remember they are storing food for 200 - 6000 people depending on the size of the ship. So, they don't have unlimited space.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    Dad of a Sailor. Thanks for that. I couldn't believe that the food offered our serving sailors would be that bad. However wasn't spam invented in WWII for the armed services? I thing my Dad told me that also commonly served on his destroyer was S___ on a shingle. Canned meat in cream sauce on toast. He used to make it for us as a fun treat. I actually bought a frozen box of it as a joke gift for Stephen when he enlisted.
  • tasstables

    The warning is true ..

    watch what is said on Face book . any anti government postings,

    I am just trying to warn people so they dont get kicked out. I dont want to see any thing happen to them

    ALL  RANKS need to watch what they say .

  • Dad of Sailor

    What the heck is that mess? Someone needs to get rid of that stuff.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    I agree What is that doing on N4M it appears to be advertising of some sort. is there a monitor for this group?

  • Dad of Sailor

    Thanks for the quick action Nancy, they were crashing my browser whatever they were. Looked like links to some kind of hip-hop magazines or something of the like.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    My mac was acting up also hope it was not some kind of virus??

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    Heard from other groups that the questionable post was on other pages and was a hacked post with a possible virus take appropriate virus measures for your computer don't know if the were blocked on all pages
  • Dad of Sailor

    All seems well here, I hope no lasting damage done to any of you.

  • JackieD

    I got that message from 3 other groups on here.  Hopefully everyone's computer is okay.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    That sort of hacking/spam has happened before on N4M, but this is the first time it locked up my Mac, and I've asked Admin to advise.  

    BTW there is a link at the bottom right of the page "Report an issue" to use any time you see something like this, and of course never click on any links these creeps post.  

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    I had a couple of times the spinning colorwheel of death but it has been fine since and I did a virus scan through Apple and it checked out fine, nothing.  good to know about the report thing.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    Marcy if you do a google search for free virus scan for mac there is one through itunes on the apple store.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Thanks CO Mom :)  I just sorta wish Admin at Campbell Ewald would acknowledge when this stuff happens.  

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    Hope it does not happen often.  This is my work computer and I have some sensitive stuff on it.

  • JKHarris

    Good afternoon,

    My daughter just arrived in Norfolk last Friday. She will be on the USS Harry Truman. Are there any families that live in Solano County area?

     

  • Dad of Sailor

    CO-Twin,

    Did I see in the other forum that your son reported to Norfolk and is on deployment already? My God keep him and his shipmates safe during their deployment overseas.

    Definitely something mom and dad can be proud of. 

    Have you heard from him since they got underway, much of a shock to him or is he taking it in stride?

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Welcome JKHarris! This is a very active N4M group to join (you have to join it to see the activity) - link:  San Francisco/Bay Area - Northern California and it includes Solano.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    Dad of a Sailor  Yes he had his deployment cut in half and the ship left port 4 hour after he landed at the norfolk airport.  Someone sent me a video on the ship leaving that was nice to watch because I could not be there.  Leaving in the morning for his twins PIR.  He will be in S. Carolina at Nuke A school.  Steve did call and he said he loves being at sea and he love his ship.  I am excited for him.

  • Dad of Sailor

    Four hours after he landed? Yikes, that had to have been a shock to his system. Nothing like getting thrown into the fire right away. That is good his initial impression was positive.

    Enjoy your other son's PIR and travel safe.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    DadofaSailor. Fast deployment maybe good, not much time to get nervous. He can handle it he has that fiery red hair. He has never been afraid if anything. He ice climbs and rock climbs, was a mine tour guide through high school. I wonder if he will be trying to climb that mast.
  • Helen, T-man's mom

    Theresa, congrats on the next chapter. Thank your son for his service to our country.
  • Lauriekay1

    Fair winds and following seas, Theresa! Best wishes to your son!
  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    I did't get to know you being new to this group, but best of futures to you and your son. Thank you both. Hope you made a few life long friends on N4M's. I have this first year. Like your son made life long friends in his service. You could always come back as a veteran to support us newbies.
  • Proudkmom

    Navy moms (and dads) are the best! What a support team we have. Best wished to you and your son. 

  • Joyce-Scott'sProud Mom

    Hi everyone, I have been following this group but not participated much since our son was with the USS Enterprise. and was active with many of the mom's on that forum site. As some of you know it has dwindled down with most getting new orders though there are some of us who are die-hards and will remain in touch. Scott our son just received new orders and moved over to the halo squadron and from my understanding he will be there for 3 years. (Korean Squadron).  He is excited and is looking forward to getting started with his training which officially starts the beginning of July.  He is also moving in the middle of the July into his own place with his girlfriend and her 2 1/2 twin boys. He has been either living on the ship or on the barge since he got to Norfolk in July 2011. I would love to connect with any of the mom's or dad's who have a son or daughter connected with this squadron since this is going to be all new to us. Our son is looking to make a career out of the Navy and insight is always appreciated too.  Hi to the mom's who are now on this site from the USS Enterprise.  Enjoy your week-end everyone! I am located on the west coast of FL so we have already had summer for the past few months!  Joyce

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Theresa, your contributions to this group have always been interesting and valuable; thank you.  Best wishes to your son in his next ventures.  I hope you'll accept this nomination to Navy Mom Emeritus and continue to take part here, please!!

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    BTW - Moms, something important to share with your sailors, courtesy of Navy Medical Center Portsmouth today -  

    NEW TEXTING LAW IN VIRGINIA:
    Beginning July 1, texting and driving in Virginia will be a primary offense, meaning police can pull drivers over for this offense. Current Virginia law allows police to pull a driver over for another offense -- like speeding -- and then they can ticket for texting. On Monday, the new law changes that. Not only is texting while driving dangerous, it's expensive: the old $20 fine will now be $125 for the first violation and $250 for the second.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    From Naval Station Norfolk on FB today -  FLEET WEATHER CENTER NORFOLK IS ISSUING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR NAVAL STATION NORFOLK AND CHAMBERS FIELD, FROM 1400 06/28/2013 UNTIL 2200 06/28/2013 LOCAL TIME. LEE SIDE TROUGHING, DAYTIME HEATING, AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD REACH SEVERE. WINDS: VARIABLE 45 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. CELLS: W MOVING ESE. ADDITIONAL INFO: EXPECT HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS, FREQUENT LIGHTNING, HAIL UP TO 1 INCHES AND POSSIBLE WATERSPOUTS. THIS WATCH WILL EITHER BE EXTENDED OR ALLOWED TO EXPIRE BY 2200 06/28/2013. A WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO OCCUR IN THE WATCH AREA. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL MEDIA AND WEATHER ALERT RADIOS FOR FURTHER UPDATES OR UPGRADES TO A WARNING.