My son is at the Norfolk base and they were on lockdown too. It just seems that too many young people these days do not have adequate conflict management skills - how to resolve differences peacefully, de-escalate situations, walk-away... that combined with increasing percentages of mental health issues among young people, and I do not see this getting better any time soon - unless screening and training changes. This is the third incident in about six months. If our sailors cannot decompress when they are not on deployment but instead have to be on guard for the next person who is gonna snap they will all likely end up with PTSD or other mental issues. Also, I was sharing with some other folks this week that my son has worked 114 hours in eight days - Oh, and no OT because apparently the military personnel do not get the same benefit of our labor laws (minimum wage / overtime) that every other American and non-American working in this country. Don't recall the recruiter mentioning that, and I certainly don't see where he waved his rights as a U.S. citizen in his contract! While he loves his job, he is fatigued and exhausted and was irritable and frustrated until he finally had a day off to rest. I understand those kinds of hours on deployment or in a combat zone, but not when they are not on deployment. And then we all wonder why these young people snap and hurt themselves or others. I'm just a concerned mom and concerned American....

CO-Twin,

Were these long hours for cranking?  They are similar to what my son endured for 3 long months washing dishes.  If one guy showed up late & drunk, they all lost their few days off.  The worst part is that new sailors that came in after him are now more advanced because he missed 3 months of training.  Yea, overtime pay would wake them up to this situation.

Co-TwinSailorsMom - I agree that people anywhere in society can snap. I don't know what the answer is but when you have so many young in close quarters so effort needs to be made. I know colleges teach conflict resolution skills in the dorms. Not sure if they do anything like that for military. I have also heard stories that when kids do speak up and say they are struggling in one way or another some are ridiculed - basically bullied - by chain of command. 

Yeah, it would be nice if our elected official worked even 1/2 the hours of our military. It's messed up.

Hello all! Just joining in! My son is stationed in Norfolk..YN right outta A school!

Hi HawaiiKat!  Welcome..  So he has just recently arrived?

Hi HuffyMom23..yes, he arrived last week Wed..

What does he think so far?  Is he on a ship on the base or a ship in the shipyard?  My son has been in the shipyard with his ship every since he arrived out there the middle of January.  He does have a room on the base but was mainly staying on the barge until recently.  We took a TV out to him in May, so he likes going to his base room now. ha 

My son is on shore duty so he's living on base..but waiting to see if he can transfer to another barrack closer to work. Right now, someone has to pick him up and take him to work..he doesn't have a car yet so he's a little inconvenienced. Other than that..I THINK he's doing ok! LOL!

CO-TwinSalorsMom, your Sailor beat my Sailor. Mine is on deployment and he wrote me a couple weeks ago and said he was on his 38th hour of his work shift without sleep. Your Sailors 56 hours makes 38 look easy.

I worked some long hours in the Navy but never 38 or 56.

Hope you're doing well, have not talked to you in awhile.

I've heard that the base is huge!! I'm hoping to make a visit out to my son before the end of the year. My niece is also in the Navy on Sea Duty but in San Diego and they had a "family day" where the families can do a tour of the base and their sailor's duties. Is that just for those on Sea duty or shore duty sailors get that too? Any one know if Norfolk even has those activities?

That would be great if he gets his license. Will allow him to get off the base and explore when he does have some time off. I wont mention your son's working hours because mine thinks his hours will get back to normal when he returns from deployment. Don't want to bum him out for the last half of his deployment. Hope yours gets some down time soon.

Mine is on the Bush.

Lol, hope this one doesn't pull out on deployment four hours after arriving at the airport in Norfolk. :)

That would be neat, hope it works out for both of you.

I keep running into problems trying to ship my sons motorcycle to him.  This is really getting frustrating for me and him.  Who would have thought trying to use a shipping company that supposedly ships 5000 motorcycles a year would be such a joke.  They couldn't even find me a driver after telling me it shouldn't be a problem at all. GRRRRRRR!

He really needed it last week.  This week is out of the question for him because of duty and that.  He has to be able to go to my brothers to receive it.  Next week will be good but now I have to start all over looking for someone.  That company has jacked me around for a week since I turned in my paperwork. Would love to give them a terrible review.  Promised me I would have something scheduled by last Sunday. 

Any suggestions on where to purchase a used car near base? I heard that the dealerships aren't always that great...

Ask CatMom her daughter got a good one.

Hmm..tried to search for her CO-TwinSailorsMom...Cant seem to find "CatMom:..

I will send her a heads up note. we are personal friends

Thanks! I really appreciate that!!!

hello to all you wonderful ladies!

Today is a bittersweet day for me...June 11 is my daughter's 20th bday and this is the first time ever we are not together with her for her bday. I wish I could magically be in Norfolk today to at least hug her. Little did 20years ago that my baby girl would be a Sailor, in Norfolk, and preparing for a trip to go underway! Wow!!! So I'd like to just ask of you, my Navy sisters, to just send a bday wish sometime in your thoughts today to Leach73's sailor so that she enjoy her day and be blessed today and always.

Thanks! :)

Also, any of you ever have your Sailor go underway that have a car on base?? Did they leave their car in the parking lot on base? put in storage? or what?

Is anyone from Texas going to the Weekend for Family in Norfolk?  My husband and I will be there, and I would love to meet you!

Well guys, gotta go for now.  Hope to meet anyone who will be at the Weekend for Family of Navy folks coming up.

Cat mom having computer trouble Want me to ask her where her daughter went?

OK HawaiiKat  She thinks it is the Charles Barkley dealership in Virginia Beach. It is a Toyota dealership and they have used cars there too. Or she just texted it could be Barkley or Barker. She thought she did a discussion on this group about car buying.

Yes she did look on page two of view all discussions above.

AUGUST 2013 POSITIVE CAR BUYING EXPERIENCE!!

When is this family weekend?

Thanks CO-TwinSalorMom..I'll search for it now :)

When my son went to Navy Federal Credit Union to be pre-approved for a car loan, they referred him to a couple car dealers and told him to be careful of the others.  He bought his car at one of those dealers that were recommended by NFCU.

Thanks all for the advice! Although buying from a private seller might be a bit cheaper, I'm just leery about him doing it all by himself. LOL..sheesh, talk about me having a hard time letting him go. HAHAHA!! 

But still $15 a month is not bad.

My nuke sailor sold his old car, bought a new one and got his own insurance all before his 20th birthday. They do grow up and I was proud of him for taking over and doing such adult things on his own.

thanks ladies!

abuon18 - is the long term storage lot that you mentioned on  the base?

TonyaM - the storage facility you mentioned, is this the same thing that abuon18 is talking about?

thanks!

Leach73 - it is sad the first time we can't celebrate their birthday with them.  In February my son turned 19 on the same day one of his sisters turned 21.  She was sad because it was their first time apart on a birthday.  He was in Norfolk, and she was in Chicago on a work trip.  So we didn't get to see either one on their special day.  Hope your daughter has a great birthday!

HawaiiKat,

Hello!  Finally "fixed" my computer myself by uninstalling something I thought would help it--wonder if I have some latent "IT" tendencies??  (My Sailor daughter is an IT3 going through her 2nd year the in Navy!)

Anyways, I hope you've had a chance to read my "August 2013 Positive Car Buying Experience" on page 2 of the Discussion Forum!  Yep, your son should get "pre-approved" by NavyFed or ABNB so he doesn't overspend what he can afford in a vehicle~~  The best thing is that we were able to be with our daughter via Skype on the test drive and paperwork.  I took notes on what they were trying to sell our daughter and the costs and we were able to ask if they would let us advise our daughter and they walked away and let us talk to her.  They were very accomodating with allowing her to check on auto insurance rates right there and they got her the better interest rate from ABNB, which beat NavyFed.

You and your son might want to look at their website to see what they have available on their lot.  It's the Charles Barker dealership in Virginia Beach~~  I hope he can find a good one too!

One more for the "what to do on base" file  :)  Summer Marina Mixers every Thursday from 4 - 6 pm at the MWR Sailing Center and Marina.