Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Yes, warfare designations are requirements now.

Welcome green90, is your son a corpsman?

Thanks everyone~~

Yep, my Sailor daughter advised me that she does have additional qualifications to complete within 18 mos.  No problem, she will take care of it!!

Says weather at Norfolk is in between the dryness & heat of So Cal and the oppressive heat & humidity of Pensacola!

Two good groups - Corpsmen Moms & Dads and Corpsman Moms  :) 

what are work ups?  Practicing skills learned in A School?  Looks like a picture taken in the 70's, from someone falling off the pier!

Work ups are underway periods so the ship can get ready to go on deployment. They practice and get certified on things like damage control, pilot qualifications, etc. Every department has things to do to get ready for deployment and these short underway periods are where they work out all the bugs so they can leave for 6-10 months and be fully ready when they leave. It is practice for the underway, not necessarily what they learned in A school but they do get practice in that on a daily basis.

To TJCsMom...will keep your son my prayers & yourself. I have a window that I've designated my Navy window. It has helped me over the last 4yrs.

So my son has become friends with his sponsor, which I'm thankful for.  He had bene in Norfolk for almost two wks now and finally got off the ship this weekend with his sponsor to see the city of Norfolk.   My son hung out with him and few others on Saturday night and then went to the mall yesterday and did some shopping and sight seeing around Norfolk.  I'm so happy he was able to get away from the ship for a bit...I can only imagine what life is like when your living-working on a ship  ( he hasn't complained at all about it, but it has only been two weeks).   I'm only a 8hr drive away from Norfolk and will be planning a  long weekend maybe in Nov. to drive down there,  my son said I will love it there. 

GoldnG8r,

Did you include the whole 9 digit zip code of the ship? All mail is being returned from FPO and APO addresses if you don't put the entire 9 digit zip code. Did they give a reason they were returned?

TJCsMom,

Traveling mercies of safety and protection for your Sailor son!!  Praying for him~~

We had a sailor from the Iwo Jima, and three sailors from the USS Ross over for dinner Sunday. We enjoyed having them over Saturday night for our game night too.

On the menu was spaghetti, salad, and home made Italian bread. Crystal brought pineapple and raspberries. Then for dessert it was Apricot Lattice Cake and coffee and tea. Kari helped Yvonne in the kitchen.

Cody challenged me to a game of chess. Now, you have to realize, I haven't played chess in over thirteen years! But it was a good game. Cody almost let me win...NOT! He pounced on my queen the first chance he got after a move I didn't see. :(  After that it was all down hill. Yea, Cody won!

John and Yvonne

John and Yvonne,

Thanks for giving my son, the chess and Skip Bo champion, a real home to hang out in twice this past weekend.  The pics on your BlogSpot are cool.  Everyone should check them out.

Blessings to the two of you!

We will be going to Norfolk in the near future. I saw that there are several Navy Lodges. Which one is the best? We are looking for a safe area. We are still on a hunt for an apartment. The search is truly overwhelming. Thanks.

kikid, I've stayed at and recommend this one on Hampton Blvd.  It's remodeled and really nice, close to the base, and the Navy police roll through/keep an eye on it ~ http://www.navyformoms.com/group/norfolksailorsfamilyfriends/forum/...

I've stayed at the Gateway Lodge on Little Creek and found it not so nice, and the a/c went out - in July :(

kikid70 - if your son is looking for an apartment - my son has to leave his. Its five minutes from base - right by the ocean.

NavyMom2013, It was a pleasure to have your son over this week. Looking forward to seeing him again maybe this weekend and can't wait to taste that dessert!

Proudmom, we would be happy to have your join us when he ports up! And thank you for your kind words and prayers...

John and Yvonne Wagner,  thanks so much.  I will let my daughter know about you when they return.  She is on a short run now with her ship but I just love reading about the fun and good eats you all are having.  Sorry, I'm so late replying but haven't been on in a few weeks.

Does anybody know if Virginia Beach or Newport News is closer to the Norfolk base?

About 30 minutes away

CatMom, Virginia Beach is adjacent to Norfolk but it depends on where one is located, as VB covers a large area.  Newport News is across the river.  If you're talking about  commute, you have to be mindful of delays due to bridge and tunnel traffic.

Thank you Marcy & CO-Twin~~

My daughter is looking to buy a car (after only 5 days at Norfolk!) and we are directing her to go to CarMax.  We also told her to get pre-qualified by NavyFED or USAA--is that correct?

CatMom-CarMax uses car-fax, they will show her the report car for any car she is looking at....they check the car out and 10 day return no questions asked and have a 30 day bring it back and they'll fix anything policy plus offer extended warranties on used cars...Yes, she really needs to be careful buying a used car from a "private party", as singingbird said, she could end up with a flood car... USAA is insurance...NavyFed would be her finance...:)

Hi Everyone.  I have a question and maybe someone has experience with this.  My son rented a furnished room.  He's been there about 4 months and loves it.  Now he has deployment orders and has to break the lease.  He sent his landlord a copy of his orders and he seems fine with it until now.  He doesn't want to return his security deposit - which he told him (verbally) he would if he got deployed.  Wants the last months rent plus an extra months rent. Is anyone familiar with the rental laws in Virginia?  I told him to go to the Jag office and talk to them. He is just going crazy trying to get everything in order for his deployment.  Help if you can.  Thanks!!

Have him check his lease for a "military clause"...that clause will spell out the agreement with the landlord....

CatMom,

Yes, both USAA and NFCU offer good car financing. USAA offers auto insurance as well so regardless where she gets financing she can insurance with USAA but she should shop around because USAA is great but they are not always the cheapest for auto insurance. Apply for financing at both and see who has the best rates for her.

Thanks Beachbunny - I wish I had a copy of the lease.  He said that there was something in the lease about this.  He kept mentioning liquidated damages.  That the landlord is charging for liquidated damages.  I just thought that being a military town that there would be an ordinance or something that would help the enlisted people get out of their lease due to deployment. 

proudmom - I asked him about paying the difference from the security deposit.  The landlord said "No way"  It was against VA laws to use security deposit as a month rent payment.  I'm not at all familiar with VA law,  Usually landlords understand and let them out but this one I think is trying to take advantage of him - being so young. 

Not 100% sure about the Navy but AirForce leases have to be approved by the housing office of the base..I have a rental home that I rent only to AF and each lease is approved and has to have a military clause for deployment or change of duty stations...doesn't sound right.....liquid damage of monetary loss of the broken lease or damage to the property?....If damage did your sailor take pictures of his rental at the start of the lease (landlord should of) and ask him again to double check for the military clause.....that's too bad...not good business for the landlord who needs to re-rent soon....

beachbunny It was liquidated damages under the miltatry clause as I understand it.  It is for leaving before the end of the lease.  He was there only 4 months so he said that he has to pay an extra months rent for liquidated damages.  The place itself is in the same condtion as he got it in.  It is fully furnished and all he has is his clothes and such.  As far as I know the Navy didn't approve the lease.  But then again I'm not sure because I didn't ask him the question. 

Or at least intimidate young renters that may not know their tenant rights..many just say ok and pay...sadly it does happens...yes, encourage  your sailor to double check his lease and follow-up with the base housing office......hope it works out for him!

CatMom509 - my son went to the Navy Federal Credit Union to get pre approved for a car loan.  They did recommend a couple dealers to look for a car and they also warned him about the ones to stay away from. 

Thank you everyone for the information!!  I appreciate it all!!

CatMom509 Your son may want to check with Langley Federal Credit Union in Norfolk to compare interest rates. My son checked with Navy Federal and Langley Federal and Langley gave him a MUCH MUCH lower interest rate. They are all very helpful there and work very well with Military.

rayner

have your son take his lease to legal on base and see if they can help him out.

beachbunny,

navy does not require that

CatMom, the great thing about NavyFed and USAA (USAA does finance automobiles, BTW)...they will divide the payments in 2 installments to be taken from their paychecks each month. My son financed with NavyFed and got his ins with USAA while still in Pensacola. He will be changing his duty station to Va, with USAA, so he can get better rates. Florida has much higher ins premium rates than Virginia. He's looking forward to the break in the premium....means a little more money on his paycheck. :)

Thanks everyone!  My Sailor daughter has already been pre-approved by Navy Federal, who she already has an account with.  I will let her know to check with Geico as well a USAA.

duhhuh---good to know...so we can  guide our sailors more for many, it's their first place away from home .:))

 rayner Can you please PM me the name of the complex and how my son can get in touch with yours? I am sure he will want to take a look at it.  Thanks.