Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

How long does it take (on average of course) for packages to get to our sailors while they are at sea? I've sent two boxes, but haven't heard if they have been delivered yet. And if you send something from Amazon, when they tell you it has been delivered, does that mean to your kid, or to the place it will get to your kid? Confused newbie here, lol!

Thank you Tonya. My son hasn't gotten anything yet. He pretend sobbed on FB, but I know he will be excited when he finally does get the packages and cards. I mailed his birthday box, with his sisters special chocolate chip cookies. Who knows if they will get there in one piece, or melt into one big piece, lol! But he will be happy to see a slice of home coming to him.

Thanks for the "heads up" Marcy-Corpsman Mom!

Ryan's proud mom,

Just wanted you to know that my husband and I open our home and invite the sailors to come over on the weekends. We feed them, play board games, watch movies, go mini-golfing, go to special events in the area, etc. We would love to invite your son over. I can pm you our cell phone number if he is interested.

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

Yvonne and John

BBS, my son was assigned to a ship that went to the shipyard for over a year, shortly after he arrived at Norfolk. In the very beginning he lived on the ship, but then he got barracks, which were pretty nice.  There were two bedrooms and they each had to share a room.  After that, he got moved to brand new barracks and was only there for a short time when he applied for and got an apartment on base.  He still has a roommate, but he doesn't have to share a bedroom.  They have a kitchen, living room, flat screen tv, laundry.  It's really nice, and living in this apartment he doesn't have to endure random room inspections, which were awful for him as he was on the night shift at the time! 

I should also add that the barracks were as nice as the apartments--they had laundry, tv, living room, kitchen, but there is more privacy with his own room in the apartments and no room inspections.

BBS NavyMom93

Just wanted you to know that my husband and I open our home on the weekends and invite the sailors over. We feed them and play board games, watch movies or sports , go mini golfing, and special events in the area. Whether or not they have their own apartment or not they are still invited. We hope you pass this on to your sons. :) We can pm you our cell # if they would like to get in touch with us.

Yvonne and John

BBS:  My son was also assigned to a ship back in 2010 that was in dry dock for over 3 yrs.  Many there would deploy with other ships to get their experience.  Others did "workups" on ships coming out of dry dock...which are short-term sailings close to home to test whatever they just repaired.  

BBS, It may depend on your sailor's rate and the type of ship. After 2.5 years of training, as an ETN2 (E5) my son reported to his first assignment on a carrier that was in the shipyard for maintenance. He was given living quarters on board a barge. He described it as 12 sailors to a room, berths up to the ceiling, sharing a bathroom, rampant theft, smelly, and worse than boot camp. He and a buddy ended up renting an off-base apartment at their own expense until his BAH kicked in.

He worked on the ship, mostly overseeing civilian contractors (making sure the welders didn't set anything on fire,) cleaning out piss-laden bilge water and trying to earn his qualifications on the ship's reactor.

Has anyone's sailor ever looked into living in an efficiency hotel while on base? Just seems like it would be cheaper when they head out to sea not having to pay rent. Thoughts?

Cerena, I am supposing that your husband is here alone? My husband and I would like to invite him over if he has the time for dinner on the weekends. We invite sailors over to give them a place to hang out and eat and play board games, watch movies, etc. Let him know about us and we can pm you our cell number if he's interested. :)

Yvonne and John

Something for your sailor to do this weekend!  Navy Motion Picture Service is hosting a sneak preview of “Sully" on Sunday, September 4, at Oceana at 2 p.m. (Aero Theater) and at Yorktown at 6:30 p.m. (Washington Auditorium).  
"Tom Hanks stars in this thrilling portrait of heroic airline pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, re-enacting his incredible successful emergency landing of an Airbus A320 full of passengers on the Hudson River." 

Hello. Just rejoined this group.our son will be stationed here again soon . Happy to have him back on east coast! are there apts. on base he can rent if he is single? I don't remember. Last time he was in barracks but has been promoted since. traffic is usually crazy be nice if he could live on base and its safer. please let me know . thanks

Well, My son is finished with his 4 year commitment and as I type  is headed home. 

Thank you for all your support and for moms that took pictures for me of goings and homecomings. Much appreciated. 

Best of luck to all of you and your sailors.

allie1928 Have him check into PPV housing.

Yes, PPV!  I could never remember the name!  The apartments are called PPV housing.

Thanks for all the information. much appreciated!  I will pass it along to my son. Take care 

letyrod24, barracks are free. 

Is it PPV or barracks? Barracks they receive $6 and take nothing. PPV they give you $8xx and take that same amount back from you - per my sailor that just left Norfolk.

letyrod, I've never heard of this.  It does seem like my son always needed to buy internet, but that was optional. 

yes, internet is optional

Jeff's mom, this is a good group to join on Facebook where questions like yours about schools are asked and answered:  Navy Home Search.  You can request to join, or PM me your email address and I'll add you  :)  

For all you moms out there:

My husband and I invite sailors into our home on the weekends to have a place to hang out. We feed them and play board games, watch movies, go minia golfing, sometimes bowling, and watch re-enactments, etc. We'd love to invite your sailor over. If any of them would be interested please give them our info. You can go to our page  this site and find out more about us. And we can pm you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

Something to help keep your sailor safe and dry!   They can sign up with Norfolk Alerts to get notifications like the Flash Flood warning that went out early today and expires at midnight tonight.  A chief shared this link for signing up:  https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612694#/login  "Receive alerts about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for our Emergency Alert Program. This system enables us to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather and public safety information.  You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how."

My son is stationed in Norfolk on a sub. He was recently sent to dive school. Does any one know how long this is and if they have a graduation. Thanks

With the holiday approaching, please let your sailor know that in the Hampton Roads area, there will be DOUBLE DUI CHECK POINTS starting this weekend from 2030-0230.  UBER, UBER, UBER! 

So thankful for all our sailors, and for all of YOU!  Happy Thanksgiving! 

I wanted to send Christmas Cards to my son's ship by including them in his Christmas Box. He can then hand them out to his sailor buddies. Is this ok to do or is there another way?

1ProudMomofNavySon - I can't think of anything better than that; many people include cards in care packages.  Hopefully you're using these priority mail, flat rate boxes so you get the $2 mailing discount for sending to an FPO address!  

Mommamac, that sounds great!  You cooked for 35?!  Did you get a medal?  Or at least a coin?  lol  Awesome!