Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

I am curious about something.   Is it common for the kids to sometimes not be real happy the first few years in the Navy?  I think my son is doubting his decision for joining the Navy.  He has only been in for 1 1/2 years.  His father and I know that he is going to come out of the Navy with a world of knowledge that he wouldn't have gotten any other way.  BUT, I still feel like he is down sometimes when we talk to him. 

Next year he will be overseas for a couple of years.  He is in a decent job now, but this was never the area he wanted to join the Navy for.  I think that is the main problem.  Now he is just trying to make the best of it, but I know he is frustrated some days.  Makes me sad! 

All he ever talked about was joining the military and now he isn't happy.  I have had co-workers tell me they didn't really enjoy the first few years either.  So maybe that is common for some kids.  He is going to be 20 this month.  He joined soon after graduating high school. 

Hi HuffyMom23,

I've heard many of the moms say that their son is going through something similar to what your son is feeling.  Mine even has a little bit of an issue. When I think back to when I was his age though, I remember that I was a little disillusioned when I first went to work full-time. I think that feeling is complicated by the fact that they feel a little trapped by their commitment (like they're being forced to stay in their job).  Seems like most of them get a little happier once they get a little more mature, settle in and get a little seniority and experience, usually after a couple of years. I hope my son does as well.

Huffymom, I agree with Holly, it's a lot to adjust to straight out of high school.  Since it seems the source of his situation is his job, has he spoken with a career counselor about the possibility of cross-rating?

Thanks for all the input.  My son is very mature for his age.  I have felt for a long time that he is an old man in a young kids body.   But I agree with you Holly MA mom, at that age you feel differently about your job.  I just hope the day comes that he says he is really enjoying it. 

I can see why he is frustrated though.  He has been out there in Norfolk for a year and his ship has been in the shipyard most of that time.  There were a few months it was at the base, but then went back to the shipyard.  He hasn't experienced a whole lot yet off of land.  He spends most of his downtime doing things on his own.  That does make his father and I kinda sad. 

CO-Twin - how long has your son been in Norfolk?  Does he have a room on the base? I know my daughters have their moments when they get frustrated with college things too.  But they can always come home and get away.  You can't really do that in the military. That is probably the biggest adjustment for the young kids that are out on their own for the first time. He never ever tells us he is sad or homesick.  Too proud to do that.  But we can tell when we talk to him that he is down sometimes. I can also tell when he calls and is really griping that he hasn't had enough to eat that day! ha  He seems to be more fussy.  I can relate to that though! ha

Just a reminder for you moms(and those who don't know about us) my husband and I open our home on the weekends and invite sailors to come over to eat with us and the other sailors who come and we also play board games, watch good movies, do puzzles occasionally, mini golf, bowling, and every year we go up to Yorktown for a civil war re-enactment! Some of the sailors even step into the kitchen and cook. :)  If you think your sailor would be interested(and it would get him or her off the ship and give them a place to hang out) please let us know and let them know about us. I can pm any of you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

HuffyMom 23, I can sympathize with you. My son had high hopes when he joined the Navy. The recruiter made BIG promises and painted a rosy picture. None of which came through - other than he'll have a job for 4 years. It's a hard lesson to learn and this "job" is not one that you can quit. I told him that welcome to "big boy" world. Sometimes you don't always get what you want and you have to make the best out of what you get.  He also spends a lot of his time alone. He has a couple of friends, but they all have girlfriends or wives. He has 1 1/2 years left and we are all counting the days. I do hope that things turn around for him and he finds some enjoyment it. He's had experience that he wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

I have been lurking for a while and seeing posts about their sons feeling lost when they report to their ship.  This I don't feel is too uncommon especially if the ship is in drydock or in the yards.  Until they can get underway and start either working in their rate or striking for a rate it is going to be boring.  Most of their days are going to spent on work details that don't have anything to do with what they thought their job would be.  They are basically going to be grunts to work on things that the "yardbirds" don't do like painting or taking apart berthing compartments or just lifting and toting.  Until they can get underway there is nothing to do concerning their chosen rate.  They also can't work on their respective warfare pins unless underway.  My son was lucky in that he reported to the ship while it was underway so he was able to get into his job right away.  There will be times later on when they do deploy and they are over in the "sandbox" sweating to death" that they wish they were back in port and being bored.  My son has been in for going on 11 years and is an ABH2 and he is bored and ticked off that he has to travel across town to get to the ship on a daily basis.  Hang in there.

Rod - what ship is your son on?  My son just got orders to the USS Truman - reports next week.  He just finished up the nuke pipeline (MM2) and has been home for his 30 day leave.  He's excited to start the next phase of his Navy career.  He just heard from his ship sponsor so he was happy to find out when/where to report & what uniform to wear LOL.  Now I'm trying to learn more about ship life, deployments, etc.  He will be living in an apartment in VA Beach - he's hoping the drive won't be too bad.

Wow, 11 years, please thank your son for his service!

HeyMa - Happy Birthday to your son!  Wow, that's unfortunate that he hasn't even received his mail from Christmas.  Is that normal?

B'sNukeMoM, my son is on the IKE.  I believe the Truman is getting ready to deploy.  They had to swap schedules with the IKE because they are behind on work on the IKE.

HeyMa - what a wonderful surprise!!!! Yep, made me tear up too!

 So happy for you and belated birthday to you too ;-) 

Those are the things that make a momma's heart happy <3

Need to watch talking about dates.  We established a series of code with my son when he was on the Stennis using birthdays.  Some think that even that is pushing in terms of OPSEC.

Hi Rod - I deleted my comment to be safe.  (I thought I was being vague enough by not listing a date just a time frame!)

B'sNuke, congratulations to your son on the next phase of his career.  Norfolk traffic is terrible so advise your son to allow extra time to arrive on base.  I joke that my son could almost walk to work more quickly that he can ride. But,. aside from traffic, there are lots of things to do in the area so it is a good place to live.

"HeyMa" - that's a great N4M name, and what an amazing son you have!!!  Don't you love it when things finally "click" and everything turns the corner for the best?  My best wishes to him for his future.  And he brought YOU a gift too??  He should know that a whole lot of Navy moms are sending him some major "Navy mom" hugs for that one!  What a great son you have!  Go NAVY!!  :)

NonnaB - you're so right!  The area is tough on traffic during rush hours but awesome in so many ways.  And spring is coming up, which means the whole area blooms (the crape myrtles are stunning and everywhere you look!) and great stuff to do!  :)

Hi all - Happy Thursday!

Yes, it's been heaven having him home but now I can't believe there's only 1 week left!  Too much to do still & not enough time - ugh.  Tonight he's off to a Kings (hockey) game and he still has friends he hasn't seen.... He's going to stop by my work today to say hi to everyone - yay!

NonnaB - my son did hear that traffic is bad.  His first day he reports at 8am and he said he's going to leave his apt at 5am just to be safe!  Doesn't want to be late - then he'll ask around & try to get an idea of how traffic fluctuates during different times.

Welcome Kimberly68 - I'm pretty new to this group too - my son arrives in VA next week and he'll be on the Truman. He's been in school for the last 2 years and is anxious to get on to the next phase of his navy career. I'm not familiar with the Little Creek base, but good luck to your son!

Two for the Navy,

Any sailor who wants to join us is welcome to come! 

Yvonne and John

Moms, John and I live about 5 minutes from Little Creek and we have sailors who come over to our house on the weekends from there as well as NOB. We have sailors from the Truman, the IKE, the Lincoln, and the Kearsarge who come over too. We have lots of fun together eating and playing group games like catch phase or Taboo and also board games. I love cooking for them and baking bread too! (They all seem to love it too! :)  ) And sometimes they want and get the chance to cook for us! So, please let your sailors know about us-male or female. We have both here on the weekends. And we or one of the sailors is always willing to provide a ride for those who don't have transportation.

Yvonne

HeyMa - My son is also on the TR.  He is a WILD hockey fan/nut though!! I wonder if they know each other?  Your son's surprise brought tears...everything is getting so real now!  Are you on the TR group?  NMH's to all!!

Hi all - Happy RED shirt Friday!

Hooray for al the new moms!  Kimberly68, JEB Little Creek is a great base with a Gateway Inn, NEX, commissary, gym, movie theater, MWR with camper and kayak rentals, an eighteen-hole golf course and driving range, and its own beach complete with sand volleyball!  Tough life they have!  :)

cawin123 - hugs to you momma - definitely praying for your daughter & her fellow shipmates - Fair Winds & Following Seas to them.

Happy Valentine's Day!

HeyMa - I'll have to learn my Navy Terms to know what your son does.  My son is a MM3 (Machinest Mate who works with propulsion of the engine).  He joined the TR last March so has been there almost a year.  I'll have to talk with you on the TR group since I will be leaving this group soon. Will your son stay in SD with the ship when they return?  Ours will - it will be a nice place to visit.  We will be there when they leave Norfolk - will you?

HeyMa - thanks for the clarification.  I was going to ask my son on the phone tonight!  I will hope to meet you in SD at that glorious day...however, we may try take the tiger cruise from Hawaii to SD so maybe I'll be coming off the ship with our sons!  Have you heard about this?!

Hi everyone!  Well, it snowed here in Virginia Beach/Norfolk! And we're suppose to get more today. I have to say I love the snow! We lived in Maine for 5 years and that's where I learned to love it. (Especially since the majority of the year was winter!)  lol I hope your sailors are enjoying it as well. Have a blessed day!

Yvonne

Forever proud - You description of  the tiger cruise is a little scary for a 50+ age menopausal mom - lol!! 

Forever proud - thanks for the information and inspiration!  It is a once in a lifetime experience!!  I hope all 3 of us in our family can go.

Happy Birthday to my two youngest today! My daughter is 22 and my Navy son is 20.  I am happy to have my daughter home from college for her birthday.  But we are sad to miss sharing it with our son.  Second year in a row missing his birthday.  But we all understand and are extremely proud he is serving our country.  Hopefully his Aunt and Uncle out there in Norfolk will take him out for his birthday tonight.  I hope everyone is staying safe and warm in all this crazy winter weather.  We are suppose to get snow again today and tomorrow.  But we are not experiencing the craziness of some of these other states. 

Happy Friday All!

HuffyMom23 - Happy Birthday to your kiddos!  I'm glad you can at least spend it with your daughter - and I'm sure your sailor knows you are thinking of him! 

My sailor & his roommate are heading to VA early (2am) tomorrow morning.  He made it back to NY last night - whew!

The Tiger Cruises sound amazing - I sure hope the Truman does something so my hubby can go (and maybe me too!).

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend ;-)

Hi all - Happy Monday!  My son & his roommate made it to VA on Saturday.  They got their apt rented - now just waiting for the movers to get their furniture delivered.  They both report to their ships on Thursday so are really hoping furniture comes today or tomorrow.  I guess they don't deliver on the weekends so if it doesn't get delivered they are going to have an issue!  Fingers crossed it all works out.

Hey all!  Just a heads-up to share with your sailors from Naval Operational Security (OPSEC) posted today:  "Be aware of a spear phishing campaign targeting users with a Navy Federal Credit Union account. There are multiple senders and the subject line of the malicious emails vary, but appear similar to "Account Alert", "NFCU Notification", "Notification Alert", or "Account Notification". The email contains an attachment that links to a phishing page.
OPSEC Best Practices: Verify links and sources of emails."

Thank you Marcy! I sent an email to my sailor to let her know!

have a great day!

Hi all - Happy Tuesday!

Thanks for sharing that Marcy - I've forwarded it on to my sailor too.

Happy Friday!

Hi all - Happy Tuesday!

Michelle - my son just got to Norfolk last week so unfortunately I can't offer any suggestions for a mechanic, but I am going to make note of suggestions you get!

Hi Michelle!  I'm checking with my son who is stationed there to see who he used for some recent car work. He did ask if there is something specific your sailor needs or is it just general mechanic work?

Mechanic Info:  Here is info posted by another member a while back (a 2nd member also had work done there) "

Accurate-Tune Plus 757-226-8863, JT is the gentleman to talk to. My son had several things done there and I talked to him personally.  They also have great reviews and we were referred to them."  Good Luck!

DARmom, awesome you could dig that up!  I just made a new Discussion and called it "CAR FAQs for sailors" with a compilation of moms' recommendations and other info, so we'll have one place to add good info when the subject comes up again, as it often does!  

Michelle, tell your son to take it to Maaco in Portsmouth.  They fixed my son's driver side car window when it went off the track.  Charged very little too.  Phone 757-335-6490 and they are open Saturdays till noon.

ps I think they were extra-accomodating as he was about to deploy for a few weeks  :)  Anyway they were great about taking care of it.