Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

I have one that will be on a sub but not for 2 + more years.  Good to know I am knitting him a Yak Yarn beanie in Navy colors.  May be he will need a blanket also 

Hello!  I was wondering if there were any limitations to visits from family members after a Sailor arrives at Norfolk for land duty?  My Sailor daughter will be on base sometime in mid to late August and my second daughter wants to visit her in early to mid September.  Will that be possible?  Will either of them be able to rent a vehicle?  They are 22 and almost 21 in age.  Any suggestions on where my 2nd daughter can stay?

Catmom - it is wise to wait for any visits because of the watch and duty schedules.  The Navy Lodge Norfolk ($75/night) is easy ride to base, we've stayed also at the Hampton Inn (Closer) - avg about $100/night close to some shops and fast food places,  they do have a great full breakfast and indoor pool. I do know if drivers are under 25 it is more expensive to rent a car - shop around and if you can try AAA for their Hertz discount at airport.  It cost my sailor $189 with AAA Discount and Military Discount :(  and he is 22 years old. But it was an emergency situation and had no choice.  good luck.

As far as blankets, I made my son a Navy no-sew fleece and he loves it.  He did use it on his deployment.  Be sure to check out Joanne's Fabrics for the 50% Coupon that can be used and ordered on line.  I used 2yards of the Navy motif and solid backing.  Your sailor will love it, just knowing it is made with TLC and something from home. 

Catmom... not much conversation with daughter, a few FB messages. She volunteered to read books to children, and I saw pictures of the restaurants and an aquarium  :) 

Catmom,

If she doesn't already have an account with USAA tell her to open one. USAA has agreements with the major car rental places and they don't charge USAA members higher rates for those under 25. They pay the same rate as everyone else. You can read about it at https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/rental_cars_main

I was coming on to say the same thing :)   Log into USAA, -> Our Products -> Shopping & Discounts -> Travel Discounts -> Rental Car Discounts/Learn more -> Rent now (under the company name).

Also - if they were my daughters I'd feel safest having them stay at Navy Lodge Norfolk.  Navy police keep an eye on it too.  I've stayed there twice and very happy with it.  Nice rooms, free continental breakfast. Info and photos

WOW!!  Thanks everyone for all the advice for my daughters!  I'll send over the links to USAA and Navy Lodge to both of them~~  :)

God bless all the Sailors that deploy today on the Truman and other ships in her strike group. Prayers for a safe and successful deployment for her and her crew.

I'm coming alongside Dad of Sailor in asking for protection, safety, and successful completion of Truman's mission from our God~~

Florida mom,

You can go onto www.joann.com and print the coupon you need.  There is one right now for 15% off your whole purchase in the middle of the page where you see the Free Shipping and Get Coupons.  But you will find the 40% off per item coupon when you search for the Joann closest to you in Find a Store and it will have that coupon attached when the store pops up.  I usually print a few, then bring a couple of my daughters if I plan to purchase more than 1 item.  One coupon per person works fine that way~~  Michael's and Hobby Lobby also has their coupons to print online.  Hobby Lobby will only accept their own coupon, not Michael's or Joann, but both Michaels' and Joann will accept all 3 coupons.

Thinking of you and your sailor, Calirose!

Calirose, time to start gathering stuff for care packages!  Please come join this group, great people there and good ideas and advice and fun inspirations:  N4M Care Package Ideas 

You can order a "military pack" of six flat-rate boxes, customs forms, tape and address labels from USPS - call 800-610-8734 and tell them you want the military pack. Or order a pack of 10 or 25 here:  Priority Mail Flat Rate APO/FPO Boxes.  Either way, they'll be delivered to you free and shipping is discounted $2 when sent to FPO addresses, so $14.85 for up to 70 lbs.  Planning you next box to mail is a good way to feel connected to your sailor :)  

Please don't worry, they will be safe and he'll have great stories to share with you soon!  Also - be sure to get on the Ombudsman and Family Readiness Group lists.

Thanks Marcy and Magpie, had a moment yesterday where I  broke down (okay, I had a few moments) but the worst was when he called me before leaving and I made the comment that it must be really busy there with everyone getting ready and he agreed and then told me there were lots of families around also, that made me sad that I couldn't be there too. I am in Washington state so just couldn't swing it this time to go but I plan to be there when the ship pulls back in.  I will join the other groups you mentioned Marcy.....and I will get order those boxes.  

My daughter deployed on the USS Gettysburg Monday from Mayport and will be part of the Truman Strike Group.  My husband and I were able to go visit her and watched the ship depart.  We have her car with us for the duration.

my son and only child is on the TRUMAN.I am having a hard time adjusting,:-(

My only child is also on the Truman - we are hear for you and each other xoxo

Since you'll be shopping for care packages, another fun group to get involved with here is Molly's Adopt a Sailor Project, with really great and friendly moms.  Every month they adopt a deployed ship or unit, there's a theme and 'wish list' and everyone sends at once.  And they have a "Special Hugs" monthly project to Afghanistan too.  Often a bunch of moms will organize packing parties for the monthly "adoptee" and you can get the postage paid (always a great thing!).  Check it out - they'll welcome you and answer all your questions :)  http://www.navyformoms.com/group/mollysadoptasailorproject 

My son is also on the Truman. I'm trying to be strong for him i don't wait him to worry about home when his fellows sailors need his mind there.  we all have to pray for one another and be there for each other.

It is really hard, and my heart is with you having your loved one on the Truman.  My son just recently returned and I know how I felt with him gone, and I know how I feel with him in the USA.

While I know of no special restrictions for mail on subs I will say I've never served on subs. I would think it will take a bit longer to get to them then some surface ships. Hopefully a mom with a Sailor on a sub can add something. 

My other son who is in GC, S Carolina will be on a sub but that is a long way off yet. He has at least 2 years of nuke school first. 

tackyjacky  I love your name, LOL  Don't they get supplied when they are out? Wouldn't they be able to get mail then?

Jmae12, Family Readiness Groups are amazing during deployments with all kinds of support, activities and projects; if you're not a member yet, ask the Truman Ombudsmen Team how to join.  

Jmae, to find all the FRG info, go here http://www.truman.navy.mil and click the tab "FRG" at the top.  

The book is "Flotsam & Jetsam" by Hank McKinney, Rear Adm, US Navy RET

Great!  Gina and the Ombudsmen Team are awesome and have your back, so ask her/them (and us!) anything anytime :)  

ps the Truman FRG doesn't have a FB page I found out - interesting how every ship is different, isn't it?

I just watched a documentary on Netflix on the Virginia class subs. It was interesting with a good peek at the insides of these.  Good history also.  

Got a call from my son who is deployed on the USS Bainbridge.  He LOVES being at sea.  He is busy most of the time.  He got my package I mailed on 7-10. He got it 7-25. Not bad.  I sent him "My Part of the Task" by Col Stanley McCristal. He really enjoyed it and one day one of Commanding Officers on board came up to him with his book in his hands. He asked my son where he got it and told him that he had served with the Col. in Iraq. They then had a conversation of the officers experiences working with Col. McCristal.  Pretty neat.   

That is neat CO-Twin, glad he is enjoying himself and cool he got to chat with the CO about the book.

The Twins group is very active and now has 10 families!! The latest to join has her twins in BC in the same ship and division. 

Any advice on shipping a mandolin to my son's ship? He wants to order one from Italy. Can they ship it to him or do they have to ship to me and I ship it to him?

Jmae12 - you can also read "Rig Ship for Ultra Quiet" by Andrew Karam.  He was enlisted ELT on USS Plunger so the book is written from the enlisted man's perspective.

CO, some places ship to FPOs, some don't.  It might be safest to have it shipped to you first, so you can at least know it made it that far, then you can track it - well, as much as you can track something to an FPO - and insure it too.

CO-Twin,

I don't think I would have an instrument shipped from overseas to the ship as it will go back to the states, through the FPO system and then back to the ship. That is a lot of traveling for something of value with no tracking. If it isn't an expensive instrument and he want's to chance it then that's ok but I wouldn't do it for anything of value.