Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Proudmom, not until he gets to Bahrain, which will either be Aug 15th or Sept 1 we will know soon. 

Ok, now I understand, Dad of Sailor, but I guess if you were one of the Senior Chiefs who inspected my Sailor daughter's frig, you would've seen lots of frozen fruit, Greek plain yogurt, unsalted nuts, and granola.  She loves salad too, so I hoped she would have enjoyed that. I encouraged her to eat chicken too.

One of the things that I heard change at Pensacola was instead of the classes being staggered when they released the Sailors for lunch/dinner, that they all got released at the same time and that caused long, long lines.  Therefore, many Sailors skipped the Chow Hall and grabbed something else to eat on their own dime.  I was told the release times used to be staggered so everyone could get their food within a reasonable time.

Anyway, I'm thinking that the Norfolk base is ran a little differently since it is life on the job, rather than training.  Are there any tidbits about the base that you can share with me, other than its super humongous and alot of Sailors end up getting a vehicle?  Is the shuttle system efficient in getting Sailors from one area to another? Oh, is there a map of the base?

Thanks for always being so helpful!  I really appreciate this~~

CatMom,

My son is on a ship so I don't know a lot about the base as he spends more time on the ship and at sea then he has in port. There isn't a base shuttle but there is a area bus system but it is not really for transportation around the base as it is not setup for that. Since your daughter is on shore duty she's going to have more time "on base" than those stationed on a ship.

Here is a map I sent my son and he used to find things on base that he could check-out. http://www.discovermwr.com/media/maps/navstanorfolk_basemwrmap.pdf

That is great that your daughter has good stuff in her fridge as that's not the norm for most of them. My son was at Corry Station when they had the smaller temporary galley open while they were remodeling the big galley that is open now. He ate breakfast and lunch every day at the galley and ate there on his duty days. He rarely ate dinner there as he was always going out for dinner or eating stuff he bought at the commissary. He often had a hard time finding people to go to the chow hall with him as they didn't want to get up early enough or they wanted to go back to their rooms at lunch time and get on their phone or computer. If they are really not able to eat when the galley is open due to class schedules they need to address this with their Chief as that is UNSAT and needs to be rectified.

Don't know if any of your Sailors fish but my son has really enjoyed using the fishing pier on base. You don't need a fishing license. He went to walmart and bought a cheap pole and some hooks and sinkers, got some frozen bait at the Marina on base and goes over and relaxes on the fishing pier. He lives on the ship so he can't keep anything but has fun and has caught some nice fish and helped others get in some big ones.

My son's ship will cook up fish that sailors catch, wouldn't his galley do that?

CO-Twin,

My son is on a carrier with up to 5000 other people. It's not as easy to do things on a carrier as it is on the smaller ships with a crew of 275 people. If you knew someone that was in charge in the galley I'm sure you could get someone to do it but for the average person I don't think it is an option on an aircraft carrier. 

Things like this are the reason most people prefer serving on the smaller ships as everyone knows everyone and it's more like a family then a carrier where you don't know anyone and everything is more complicated.

ChambosMom, I hope some of the information is helpful and please don't hesitate to ask any questions as there is a lot of knowledge in this group. 

Yeah, I think it is easier to just catch and release then try and plan a fish dinner at someones house when you don't even know if you're going to catch anything to bring over for dinner. :)

The Sailors on the smaller ships get to see more because it is easier and cheaper for them to get into ports so they pull in more often. Carriers don't pull in as often as the small. Neat your son is getting to experience so much so early. Also glad he's enjoying his underway time and not miserable since he was thrown into it so quickly and for such a long period of time. He didn't have any time to "get used to it" did he?

Thank you for the map, Dad of Sailor! 

Wow, alot of detail is left off of it, just a kind of general vicinity type of map.  Is the Package Store their mail room?

Is there anyone with a Sailor on shore duty here that can advise where the mail room is in relation to where the Sailors barracks are and most importantly, their hours, so we are aware when our Sailors can pick up their packages by a certain time?  Thanks~~

Hi ChambosMom!

So your Sailor will be here by the end of August or September 1st?  Good to see you here~~

CatMom,

No, package store is the military code word for the liquor store, don't tell you Sailor to pick up her mail there. :)

The rec center at building C-9 have mail boxes and a post office but I don't know if shore duty Sailors get their mail there or some other mail room. Hopefully someone else will be able to assist with that one.

A more detailed but less user friendly map.

http://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/ddg84/Documents/Map%20of%20Nava...

"the package store" too funny. Is that because of the tendency to drink out of a bag? I hope not!! 

You might want to think about talking to your Nuke about putting together a “sickness” box—OR y’all could put together one for them as a care package...you could include a good book for them to read, comics, whatever they might be interested in. We all know, as mothers, how quickly a stomach bug/cold/flu can be spread. By having this box in with their “stuff”, maybe they would have a little something to help them feel better.  I’m thinking:

 

A couple of bottles of Gatorade (they come in “large” bottles or 6-packs of smaller ones

A box of saltines (for when they can’t hold down much)

A couple of containers of microwave chicken soup (Campbell’s has some—they’re quite good)

Pepto Bismol

Alka Seltzer Cold Plus (or whatever they might use for a cold)

Tylenol Flu

Tylenol

Tissues

Hand Sanitizer

 

I just thought that perhaps this could at least give them a headstart on getting

Copied this off another site.  Thought it was great!!

better. AND if they have something like this, it might make our worrying a little less.....?  PLUS, and it always seems to work this way, if you have it you don’t need it.  Know what I mean?  I put one together for my son and he's never had to use it, but he thought it was so cool that I did that! 
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A reminder that most of that over the counter Medicine can be obtained by your Sailor with a quick trip to sick-call for a prescription from the doctor and then filled at the pharmacy at no cost to them.

Sailors can't just take a "sick day" and have to go to the doctor anyway if they are too sick to go to work or class so they might as well go anyway and get the stuff they need for free. Also, it helps to have medications documented in their medical records for other reasons (drug tests, so they don't prescribe conflicting items, etc.).

If they have to go to work or class sick they might appreciate not having to go to the NEX when they feel crappy. I did not think of the drug stuff, does cold medication like NiQuil test positive?  The klenex, chicken soup, crackers, gaterade etc. should be fine. 

HI My son is on the USS Gravely. Anyone have a sailor on the ship?

CO-Twin,

No, it isn't supposed to test positive but there are many people out there that claim they came up "positive" and had not used illegal drugs. Who's right and who's wrong I don't know but in my 26 years I thought about EVERY non-food item I put into my mouth and didn't like to take chances when I didn't have to.

I always felt better when I was taking medications that were in my medical record. Maybe I was over cautious but I always worried about the drug tests and I've never done an illegal drug in my life.

Welcome ChambosMom,  I also have a son on the Bataan, my son went in the same time that SandraAM son did.  They pretty much just got there and had to leave for deployment for 10 1/2 months.

You will have some Over the counter Meds that will show up in a drug test.

I have to do random test for my job and i have had some come back positive And i have never used drugs.  So for my work I have to list all meds even the over the counter so if any thing comes back i'm covered  because it is hard to explain why you have a positive test. And i wouldn't want any of our sailors to get in trouble when they can get what they need on the ship plus there is a record of what they are or have been taking  

Sending all except the over the counter meds would be still good.

Chicken soup, Kleenex, hand sanatizer, gatorade or 7 up.

would these be OK, Vitamins C,D and Zinc, Zicam, airborne,  Vicks vapor rub.?

The Navy also makes Sailors list all the meds the are taking when they take the drug test. The problem with the Navy test though is it is zero tolerance and as soon as it comes back positive you're guilty until proven innocent and it is hard for you to use over the counter medications that you're taking for a non doctor diagnosed illness as justification for a positive drug test as they tell you that you can't come up positive from over the counter medications.

I always worried about drug tests during my career because once you get a positive you're looked at as a drug abuser and you are out of the Navy. There is no room for error in the system so I didn't like to take any chances.

CO-Twin,

It's probably all OK as the Navy says they won't cause a positive. I always took vitamins and never thought twice about those.

My son does the same thing, he buys that stuff at the NEX and I tell him to go down to the ships medical and get it for free. He ignores me and does it his way. Just wanted to give you all some options if you were unaware they could get that kind of stuff at medical.

Can they get vitamins at medical? wow. 

The point in send ing then a box is that they don't have to go somewhere to get it when they don't feel well. They would not pay if I send it either.  and it would be on hand when needed.  Not the meds just the other stuff, no chicken soup at medical LOL

CO-Twin,

No, they can't get vitamins at medical unless there is a medical need (pre natal, vitamin deficiency, etc.). I was talking about the OTC medications like Tylenol, Motrin, cold medicines, allergy medications, etc.

Dad of Sailor,

Thanks for the new map.  Gonna need a magnifying glass--yikes!!

Yea, thanks Denise (Dee)!!

Any moms from the (DDG95) James E. Williams mom's out here?  My son just reported this morning.

Hi Everyone!

I don't post much but I do follow what is going on.  Thanks to all who have the navy knowledge and is sharing so much.  It great information and I appreciate it all.

At one point some sailors were looking for a place to stay.  I have information of a room that will be available soon. It's 5 minutes away from base.  If you would like more information about this please private message me.  

Have a wonderful Thursday! 

I haven't been on here for a while, so I thought I'd check in today and see how all you moms are doing. :)  Some of you may know that my husband and I open our home to the sailors on the weekends and feed them and play board games and just hang out together. My husband spent 20 years in the Navy: 10 enlisted and 10 as a Navy chaplain.  So you can see we have a heart for our military men and women who serve our country.  We like to give them a place they can go away from the ship and be in a home atmosphere.  I noticed your comment, kim SHIP 03/DIV 233 that your son just arrived this morning and wanted to let you know that we would be happy to have him join us--we even give rides to those who don't have transportation. :)  And if there any other moms out there who have sons or daughters stationed here, please let them know about us. They can get in touch with us or we them-whichever you or they prefer.  So, if you are interested, please let us know.  Yvonne and John Wagner

John and Yvonne Wagner

I sent you a friend message!

To Josh'smom,

As you probably have just read, my husband and I have been opening our home to the sailors and other military men and women for the last 13 years and we would like to invite your son to join us on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons if he would like to when he gets here. I can give you our information so he can call us...and if he needs transportation we would be happy to give him a ride here and back to the base. Let me know what you and he thinks.

Sincerely,

Yvonne Wagner

John and Yvonne Wagner,  What a blessing you are.  Thank you and your husband for opening your home.  Thank your husband for his service and may God bless your family!

As has been said, his ship should be sending a duty driver or his sponsor should be picking him up at the airport. If he has to take a cab he will need to tell the cab driver what ship (and possibly pier) to take him to. His sponsor should be helping him with all this and if he's getting emails from someone that is more than likely his sponsor. The cab driver isn't going to know where to take him unless he tells the cab driver where to take him.

Safe travels for your Sailor.