Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Brooke - regarding homecoming, you should already be part of the ship's Family Readiness Group and on the ombudsman team's list (if not, here's how to reach them).  The FRG will be emailing you with all the information you need about getting on base, which pier, where to park, planned activities the night before and so on.  Get foam posterboard (not thin, floppy pasteboard) and decorate a big Welcome Home sign.  If you can, tell your husband to look for the bright yellow or hot pink one or whatever so he knows what to keep an eye out for.  You can also order a sign or banner from buildasign.com but the homemade ones are a lot more fun, also easier to hold.

 Everyone gathers outside the gate that leads to the pier, so when they funnel out through the gate they're pretty easy to spot.  

We arranged that I would call Verizon and reactivate his phone the day before so when the ship arrived we could call each other before he was able to disembark.  It can take some time by the way for your sailor to be released from the ship, like up to an hour or more.  My first homecoming, the ship arrived about an hour before they'd said it would, so get there on the early side!  If you're staying at the Navy Lodge (just off base, nice, convenient, good price), make your reservation as soon as you know the date and let them know you're arriving for a ship homecoming.  There are McDonald's on base so you can grab a coffee for the wait when you get there, too.  Some people bring a tiny folding camp stool to sit while waiting.  This isn't a day for 4" heels by the way!  Lots of walking and waiting and you're there for a long while so be comfortable.

One more thing about signs - if you tape a wire yard-sign holder to the back, you'll be able to hold it up high over everyone's heads like a pro! LOL If you do order from buildasign, do so way in advance or the shipping charges go up a lot.  

Happy New Year, all!! MoCityMom, I hope you've heard from your daughter and that she is doing well!

Thank you TJCsMom - my apologies for not providing an update. Yes I heard from her and she is doing well.  I really appreciate your concern and prayers.  

Hi I just joined. My son just got stationed in Norfolk Virginia.He has been in the Nave for 13 months now. So what do I do  now? 

To Hope4U, do you know whether he is assigned to a ship or to shore?  If a ship, you can reach out to the ombudsman for the ship.  

To Aliecat64 - there's not a whole lot we as parents can do except be there for them when they can talk, send them their favorite treats and pray.  You could plan a trip to visit him, but make sure you discuss his schedule.  

To Hope4u, MoCity Mom, and Aliecat64,

Welcome! I just wanted to let you know that my husband and I have a ministry to sailors. We open our home and invite them to come over on Saturday evenings-we feed them and play board games with them and give them a place to hang out. We also watch football if they are interested in sports and sometimes go mini-golfing when the weather is nice. On Sundays we invite them over after we get home from church to join us for a homecooked meal with homemade bread and dessert. We've been doing this here in Virginia Beach for the last 15 years. My husband is retired Navy; 10 years enlisted and 10 years as a Navy Chaplain. So we have a heart for the military. If you think your sons or daughter would be interested we can pm you our cell number so they can get in touch with us. Or we could initiate the contact. If you go to our page on this site you can know more about us.

Yvonne and John

I'm joining this group as my daughter is home on leave before heading to Norfolk.  I am enjoying my time with her and the see you later will be difficult.  I am wondering what she might be in for once she arrives.  Any words of wisdom or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Hi Navymom65 (Kim), welcome to the group. Naval Station Norfolk is huge! Depending on where she is going (ship or shore duty), she will either be assigned a room in the barracks or a rack on her ship. I'm attaching a map of the base, just to give you an idea of its size and her an idea of how things are laid out there. Hopefully, she has already heard from her sponsor and has made arrangements for transportation from the airport, if she's flying in. If she's driving in, that's great, because a vehicle will definitely come in handy.

Thank you TJCsMom

That does look huge and very confusing.  She has talked to her sponsor and will be flying to VA.  I will be planning a visit when she knows more about what she will be doing and if she will be deployed.   

Navymom65,

You've probably already seen the post on this page, but after your daughter gets settled we would be happy to invite her over to our home to join the other sailors who come over to eat dinner and play board games. 

Welcome to this group!

Yvonne and John

Tell your sailor that there is a very nice USO at the Norfolk airport.  If things get muddled, or if she has problems locating her sponsor, tell her to go there.  they will step in to help.  They have all of the proper telephone numbers to help military in transit.

Hi-my son arrived in Newport News on Mon. and is staying on his ship. They are still building it, he said it is amazing, and I am happy to be a new member of this group. I have a question-can I mention the name of his ship on this forum?

Nancy,

Welcome to the group. Sounds like your son is enjoying being here(as short as it has been) and that's good. 

We, my husband and I, would like you to know that we invite sailors over to our home on the weekends to eat, play board games, watch movies,football(if they're interested) and hang out together. It gives them a place to go .  We get together on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. If you think your son would be interested in joining us I can pm you our cell number.

Here's hoping his time here will be a positive experience for him. 

You can go to our page on this site to find out more about us.

Yvonne and John

Thanks John and Yvonne-I'll let my son know.

Great Nancy!

Let me know if you want our cell number.

Yvonne and John

morning ladies!!! My son flying home today!!! from PC then off to NF he is APACK will be working on helicopters he had a hard time in PC hopefully he will enjoy NF and make some new friends. He is a small town Tx boy and always ready to help out he joyed the Navy to see the world  as well as did not know what he what to do after HS. My brother has been a BIG help retired Navy and this Page as well!!!

Can someone tell me how I can contact my son? He is a CS and got to Norfolk on 1/14, assigned to IKE. That is all I know.   Calls to his cell have been going straight to voicemail since 1/25 and I get no response to texts/emails. I have no mailing address for him either. My Dad was just placed in hospice. I know I can call the Red Cross, but was hoping there was a less drastic way to get in touch with him. Thanks!

dwaynesmom- The ombudsman for his ship would probably be the easiest and best way to get in touch or get a message through. There is probably a page for the Ike. It's possible that they are out on a training exercise and not in port. That would explain his phone being off. The ombudsman would still be able to get in touch with them. 

I just looked and there is a group USS Eisenhower - IKE Family. I would start there. Good Luck!

texasmom79, my son is an SPACT in Norfolk.  He is also from a small Texas town.  Feel free to message me with any questions you might have.

dwaynesmom - I found this page with information on the Ike's ombudsman: http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/cvn69/Pages/Ombudsman.aspx   Good luck reaching you son!

You may want to go through the Red Cross or his chaplain. The Navy really watched over and helped my sailor when my dad passed away. I was glad someone was with him, my sailor, to make sure he was ok and not alone. His command didn't let him be alone for many hours, maybe a day. Something to consider.

Thank you all so very much for the suggestions! I contacted the ombudsman, who contacted his command and my sailor called me!! They've been unable to use their cell phones. I'm now on the ombudsman AND the FRG email tree and I joined the IKE Family NavyforMoms group. This group is awesome and you guys ROCK!!

creolemommy,

One of the sailors who comes over to our house on the weekends is up in Newport News. I'll ask him tonight and get back to you

Is your son married?

I'm asking because my husband and I invite sailors over to our house on the weekends. We feed them and play board games on Saturday evenings and on Sunday we have a regular Sunday dinner with homemade bread and dessert. If you think he might be interested, we can pm you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

My son just got to Norfolk on Sat. He has been going to chowhall to eat. but he thought as well as I he didn't have to pay but got charged today. Did hego to wrong mess hall or does he need to talk to someone

Just found about he has no money in bank...kids in the morning I going to put money in his bank

Texasmom79,

My son was stationed at Norfolk for almost 2 1/2 years and as far as I know there was so to speak a chow hall it was more like a small restaurant that cooked breakfast and lunch and if I remember correctly my son says it was like $5.00 for breakfast and that was just one plate. He had to eat out everyday and believe me it showed in his bank account. I know all to well about having to put money in the bank account, but its a shame that they have to go out to eat instead of being provided food at no charge. On the sub my son didn't have to pay, but he was on shore duty the whole time except for a few weeks.

abuon18: he lives in barracks and he is in the HSC9 sqardon i dont know if is shore duty i do know when he ships out in Dec. he text last night told me NOT to send money he is stubborn husband and i check his bank last night $4 uggg!! going to call the bank when open see how i can put some in his Navy aco.

If his barrack is like my son's in Norfolk they have a small kitchen and my son cooks for himself. 

This is my understanding of how meals work throughout the military, someone who knows better, please correct me if I am wrong. EVERY sailor gets a monthly basic allowance for subsistence (BAS), currently $369.29 for enlisted and $253.63 for officers. This is a tax-free allowance that they get in addition to their base pay. It is intended to cover food/meals.

IF they are assigned to a barracks or onboard a ship where they are expected to eat all or substantially all of their meals in the galley/chow hall, the Navy will deduct almost all of their BAS and issue them a meal card to use in the galley/chow hall.

if your son does not have a meal card, then he should still have the additional $368 BAS from which he's expected to buy his food/meals whether he eats in the chow hall or anywhere else.

He can check his LES (Leave & Earnings Statement) to see if Discounted Meals are being deducted. If they are deducting for meals, and he doesn't have a meal card, he should bring this up with his Section leader or HR, otherwise, he may just need to work out a more disciplined financial budget.

TexasMom, I just noticed you said your son only arrived there on Saturday. If he's coming from a training command, or someplace where he had a meal plan, and is now expected to pay from his BAS, it may take awhile for payroll to catch up, but he should be covered from the day he gets there. 

Hi, NavyMomofOne. My AG has been there since a year ago October. What rate is your son? How does he like it so far?

Hey! My son arrived in Norfolk on 2/11 and is staying on his ship (USS Gerald Ford). He's in IT and has one friend from IT School with him. He's very independent so I don't get too many questions (or answers, for that matter!) from him. But I did like the CAR FAQs and gave him that info. since he does have his SUV with him. His brother is in the Navy on the West Coast but calls or texts when he can. He's been in for 2-1/2 years. Most of my friends thought I would go thru changes due to the "empty nest" but I kind of like it! My husband enjoys it when they're home on leave and when they go back to base. 

For all you new moms,

My husband and I have been here for the last almost 16 years opening our home on the weekends for sailors(soldiers and marines too) to come over. We feed them and play board games, sometimes mini golf, weather permitting. We've gone to re-enactments, the circus, Williamsburg on Veterans day and Busch gardens. We like to give them a place to hang out if they want to come. If you think your sons or daughters would be interested, let them know about us and we can pm you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

P.S. My husband spent 20 years in the Navy: 10 years enlisted and 10 years as a Navy Chaplain.

Good evening.

Nice that your sailor has a friend with him. They seem to have a hard time adjusting to a new station, not that many of us are open to change. I would be nervous I know.

I don't get many questions or answers either. My sailor is quite the introvert, even with us.

I am nervous about the empty nest. I have a 23 year old that lives maybe 15 minutes away from us and works with my husband and a 14 year old still at home besides our sailor.

With one in the Navy you must have known a little of what to expect. I had no idea when I put my "baby" on the plane to go to BC what I would be in for. I am hoping he makes a career out of it though.

Is Norfolk your sailor's first duty station? Is he adjusting? How does he like Norfolk? Must be crazy to have one on each coast. What state do you live in?

My son just arrived in Norfolk last night for his first official Navy Duty after BC. He will be stationed on the USS Wasp. Are there any other Mother's with sailors on the USS Wasp?

I know as parents we raised him to not be dependent on us and to Fly the Nest. I am so proud of his choices but as a Mom with her oldest child gone, I miss him terribly and wish he was back home with me. I can understand why Mothers have a midlife crisis during this time in there life. So many changes happening to fast. It seems the older they get the faster time seems to slip by. I still have my 16 yr old daughter at home and she's so helpful keeping me preoccupied. I'm glad she has decided to stay at home and go to college 10 minutes away.  Now to get through her Senior Year. Many I wish they were babies again. 

Welcome aboard. We are 2 days drive from our sailor in Norfolk. It has been kind of hard. I do have an older son that lives 15 minutes away and works with my husband and a 14 year old at home. The house sure would be quiet without all of them.

Welcome 1ProudMomofNavySon!

We hope your son enjoys his time in the Navy! 

Just thought I'd let you know that my husband and I have been inviting sailors into our home on the weekend for the last 16 years. We feed them and play board games with them, go mini golfing, and other activities around the area. 

We'd be happy to invite him over if you think he would be interested.  You can go to our page on this site to find out more about us.

Yvonne and John

Wow! Things sure do happen quickly. My son arrived at his ship on Friday, he thought he would get his 10 days leave once he arrived at his new station. BIG Navy Suprise, The ship pulled out of port Saturday morning and heading out to sea. He's going to 2 ports up the coast then to the middle east in June for a 6 month deployment. He wont be back till December. It happened so fast, I'm still in shock. 

I want to send him an Easter Care Package, How long do you think it will take to arrive? I want to make sure I send it in plenty of time so it's not late. Also I'm sure chocolate will melt so does anyone have any suggestions about what you have sent your Sailors? I know there's not room for a basket or plastic eggs. I've discovered Pinterest has some ideas too.

Wow, whirlwind Co-TwinSalorsMom. Nothing like jumping in the deep end for your sailor.

Way neat that you got pictures. I would look like a deer in the headlights too. He will adjust. Whirlwind. No chance to second guess or get nervous.