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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  • Malen (navy mom of two sailors)

    @ Juliw I agree with you.  Joh and Yvonne were so wonderful couple.  They were adopting my son too.  Im very lucky to met them here.

  • John and Yvonne

    Thank you juliw, Malen and Navymom2!  We love inviting your sons (and daughters) into our home. First time they're a guest; second time they're part of the family! :)

    Yvonne and John

  • John and Yvonne

    Navymom2, please let your son know about us. We would love to invite him over to the house on the weekends. If you like I can pm our cell number to you..

    Yvonne

  • Navymom2

    Yes that would be great Ms. Yvonne.  Thank you.

  • John and Yvonne

    Navymom2,

    I will private message you our cell #. I sent you a friend request, and when you respond I will be able to do that. :)

    Have a blessed day!

    Yvonne

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Remind your sailors!  TIme is running out to purchase tickets to the Hampton Roads Navy Birthday Ball to be held Saturday, 4 October. Ticket sales end 29 Sepember.  It's an awesome event not to be missed.  To purchase tickets and for more information:  www. hamptonroadsnavyball.com  

  • Leach73

    Marcy - is this an event for all Sailors?

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Leach73 - Yes!  Active, Reserves, veterans, and civilians go.  It's a fun evening with ceremonies, dinner, cake cutting, and dancing to a band, and your sailor will really feel honored and special.  The Waterside Marriott is a beautiful venue and she will LOVE it.  She doesn't need a date, just a friend or friends to go with. I hope you'll encourage her to go, I she'll be glad not to have missed it!  

  • Leach73

    Hi Marcy!

    Thanks for the reply. I love the picture of you and your son! Beautiful mom and son moment! I forwarded the info to my daughter and I encouraged her to go. She didn't know about it so I told her to start making plans with some of her buddies so that they can get put some make-up on and do their hair so that they can enjoy an evening of fun. Hopefully she goes! gosh, I wish I could go! lol!

  • oneproudmamma

    Hello, my daughter was stationed in Norfolk, and I am just now finding this group. How is everyone doing?
  • Leach73

    Welcome to the group jgarza. Did your daughter just arrive to Norfolk? My daughter is in Norfolk too aboard the USS Porter.

  • AJ's-Mom

    My son is headed to Norfolk today.  He reports to his ship Sunday morning.  This is his first duty assignment.  He's excited to be heading to the fleet.  He assigned to the USS Harry S. Truman. 

     

  • Coach Shelia

    Good morning everyone! Hope you,Sailors and families are well! Has anyone used PEOPLExpress airlines? I checked out their website www.flypex.com. They have flights from Newport News/Williamsburg Va airport to us in Florida. Very nice prices too roundtrip...well compared to other airlines! LOL Thanks in advance for your responses! Have a good weekend!
  • oneproudmamma

    Thank you Leach73! She has been there for a while now. She's still getting used to the area, but has been enjoying it. I'll be going to visit soon, is there anything that's a must see? We went to the ship museum when she had to report to her ship.
  • TJCsMom

    Hey Shelia! My son and his friend flew the very first PEx flight into New Orleans about 3 weeks ago, when they came home for a short visit. They got the flights for $39 each way!! (That was a special promotional rate for the first NOLA flight). They had no issues with the airline or the flight. Keep in mind, this is an "a la carte" airlines. You will have to pay for each bag, including carry ons. The most awesome thing....they got to NOLA in less than 2 hrs and it took me all day to get to Norfolk in July when I went for a visit, with layovers and all!!! Amazing!!!
  • John and Yvonne

    jgarza and AJ's -Mom,

    my husband and I invite the sailors over to our house on the weekends to play board games, go mini golfing, bowling and of course we feed them home cooked meals. We would love to invite your daughter and your son over too. We evan have a sailor from the Truman coming. If you think they would be interested I can pm you our cell phone # so they can get in touch with us. If you go to our page at this sight it will tell you more about us.

    Yvonne  

  • oneproudmamma

    I'm sure she would like to go over. She has made a few friends on the ship she is on and is always looking for things to do when they have plans and she doesn't. She does have her own place, but loves a home cooked meal when she doesn't want to cook. Message me your info and I will pass it along the next time she calls. :)
  • Coach Shelia

    Thanks TJCsMom!
  • CC0727

    Hi - new to this group and I have a question. I have seen a lot in the threads regarding the long waiting list for barracks or base housing. Does this apply to Sailors who are coming to Norfolk on a Shore Duty assignment or only to those with a Sea Duty? Do Shore Duty assignments have to be a certain rank to receive the BAH? Thanks :)

  • HawaiiKat

    Hi @CC0727. My son is on shore duty in Norfolk and got housing right away.

  • juliw

    Welcome CC0727! HawaiiKat is right. Sailors on shore duty get housing right away. My son is an AD in Norfolk. How about your sailor? 

  • abuon18

    I think it is different for shore duty because they don't have a ship to live on. They should be assigned a barracks room right away. Whether they are sea or shore, they either have to be married or if they are single, an E-5 or above to receive BAH.
  • CC0727

    Thanks for the info! My Sailor had heard through the grapevine previously that you had to be E4 to get BAH there. Are the barracks the only housing options for single sailors? Anyone know how the barracks living is there? PS...Glad to be part of your group :)

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    My son got deployed, on a moving ship, within 4 hours of landing at the Norfolk airport. He did get assigned his barrack room while still at sea, on his way back to Norfolk.

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    My son likes his barrack apt. He has a real kitchen. 

  • juliw

    The barracks are much better than when I was on active duty! LOL My son's barracks are set up in suites. Two sailors to a bedroom and bathroom. Two beds/baths per suite. The common area includes a small but full size kitchen, dining area, and living area. It's an open floor plan. They also have their own washer and dryer. I don't know if all the barracks buildings are like that though. I don't know how many buildings that house sailors there are either. This info might fall under the OPSEC category so I won't try to find out. (Not as important as ship info but still could be a security breach.) Anyway, they are fairly decent. Hope this helps!

  • CC0727

    Thanks! They actually sound nicer than my Sailor's last ones, so I am sure that even if he doesn't get BAH, from the sounds of what you describe, this will still be a good change. @juliw do you mean they share a bedroom?

  • juliw

    My son does but he's an E-2. The guy in the other bedroom does not because his roommate is actually on a ship so he has a room to himself for the most part.

  • juliw

    I stress that he's an E-2 because when I was active duty anyone above an E-4 that lived in the barracks had their own room. I don't know if it makes a difference nowadays or not.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    The barracks suites I've seen are two separate bedrooms, each with a separate entrance and one sailor per bedroom, that are connected by a common kitchen and bath.

  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    New market just opened for your sailors to know about if, like mine, they like great produce; Fresh Market is under five miles from base in Norfolk's Ghent area.  Bakery looks pretty amazing too  :)  http://wavy.com/2014/09/23/fresh-market-opens-wednesday-in-ghent/

  • Ken-55 (OS Dad)

    My son got housing at Camp Allen, a couple of miles from base when he came back from deployment. I think he was am E-3 then. It had a common living room/dining room and kitchen. He had his own bedroom with walk - in closet and full bath off the living room and there was one other sailor with the same setup on the other side. He stayed there until he made E-5, now he gets BAH and rented an apartment.
  • Coach Shelia

    Marcy~Corpsman Mom thanks for your responses! You have awesome details and help me visualize what/where my son might get to live! Last year September he was deployed to the USS Harry S Truman, so has been living on the ship. He's staying focused,patient and positive! I look forward to when he does get off the ship and can have a place! I want to see him soon! Take care everyone! HOOYAH!
  • Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom

    Coach Shelia, it's great to hear your son's awesome attitude!  Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads is such a great area.  Navy Ball reminder:  tomorrow's the deadline to buy tickets!  

  • AJ's-Mom

    Yvonne, Thank you for the invitation you have extended to my son!  I will pass the information along.  I would love it if he would reach out to you, and will send you a message if he's receptive to the idea.  Thanks for all you and your husband do for the sailors! 

     

  • Leach73

    Is anyone planning on going to the Family Fleet Day on Oct. 18th?

  • Trevor's mom

    I'll be there for the weekend....My son's ship will be on the tour.

  • judyb

    How do I find out more information on "Family Fleet Day" on oct 18th?

  • newnavywife2014

  • John and Yvonne

    You're welcome AJ's-Mom!  We hope he will send us a message and come over. :) And we are happy to provide a ride to him or any others who don't have transportation. 

    Blessings to you!

    Yvonne

  • oneproudmamma

    Leach73 I will be going to the family fleet day. It just so happened I was going to be there that weekend, so it worked out perfectly. :)
  • Leach73

    Awesome!!! I have made my travel plans already! I am so anxious to see my baby girl! She is on the USS Porter so her ship is not one of the ones on the tour list. Oh well! I'm still excited to see the other ones.

     

  • oneproudmamma

    That's great!! I can't wait to see my daughter either. She's on the USS Laboon. I'm not sure if her ship is on the tour or not. But, it's going to be great getting to go experience it all with her.
  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    Heard from my sailor who is assigned to the USS Bainbridge. He has been in school/training for quite a while and had tests yesterday and today and ACED them both!! HooYa. He will be coming home in two weeks for 10 days!!!

    He had me coach him on how to make my scratch marinara sauce to celebrate with his friends tonight.

  • Leach73

    CO-Twin - That is great news! Congrats to your Sailor for getting A's on his exams!! Awesome-sauce!!! heehee!!

    how exciting for you that he will be home for 10 days!!

    how is everything going for you with your new place?

  • CO-TwinSalorsMom

    I am driving over to see my new house tomorrow. EXCITED.

    I will be moving after my sailor goes back to Norfolk. 

    I start school on November 10th. 

  • MrsSwo

    Hi, 

    I am the new Treasurer for the Jason Dunham FRG. We are finally up and running. We have two great fundraisers happening right now (Dunham bracelets and a Chirstmas ornament). We also have a new Facebook page. Please send your contact info to frgjasondunham@gmail.com to be added to our list.  

    Thank you

    Rebecca

  • dohnermom

    Anyone out there have a sailor on the uss mitscher? 

  • dohnermom

    Anyone out there have a sailor on the uss mitscher? 

  • courtneya

    dohnermom- my husband is on the Mitscher