Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

My son is in HSC 22 and he's been in for several years. Unfortunately for me, he deploys a lot. When he's on base he does live in the barracks. My son chose the Navy his senior year of high school when he realized college was really expensive. We live in a small rural community and there was nothing here for him. He made the choice to get out and do more. I don't know how undesignated works so I can't help you with that. Funny that Miss Yvonne commented here earlier because I was going to send you to her. Her and her husband are retired Navy and they love to adopt our children! (Yay!) She or Mr. John can probably give you the any real Navy information that you want. I can tell how my son feels about the barracks but the day-to-day-workings of his job or squadron. Welcome to the Navy Mom world!

If anyone is looking for a B&B to stay at in VB my son recommends Beach Spa Bed & Breakfast.  He and his GF stayed there over Thanksgiving - it's about 2 blocks from the beach.  He said it was really nice - and the owners were fantastic.

Hello, my daugher is completing A school and will need to report to Norfolk at some point after the holiday.  

Hi all. Hope everyone has a happy holiday! My sailor’s ship is headed to the shipyard in the New Year. Any advice for him? Also, what are living conditions? I assume he will still be on the ship, but I don’t know. Any info and advice is greatly appreciated.

Misisu, When my son reported to his ship, it was in the shipyard for repairs. No one could live on the ship. He was assigned to live on board a berthing barge docked nearby. Your sailor's experience may be different.

misisu and Navymomof2daughters,

Just wanted you two to know that my husband and I open our home on the weekends and invite the sailors over for food and board games on Saturday evenings and on Sundays for a sit down home cooked lunch. Sometimes we watch movies, play games or just get to know each other. Please let them know that if they want to hang out with us and other sailors, they are more than welcome to come over and get away from their ships. :)

Yvonne and John

P.S. You can check out our page on this site to find out more about us. :)

P.P. S. We live in Virginia Beach, VA. :)

Y and J

My son will be finishing up Sub school in Groton in March and will be heading to Norfolk. I was wondering how the barracks are set up? Are they more like dorm rooms or are they more apartment like where they have a small kitchen so they can cook some things for themselves? TIA!

Wendy520,

I know some of the barracks are set up with a kitchenette, a bathroom and two bedrooms. The kitchenette usually has a microwave and a fridge. 

I would like to let you know that my husband and I invite any sailors who want to, to come over to our home on the weekends. We feed them, play board games, watch movies, watch some sports , etc. We also go to special events in the area. You can find out more about us if you go to our page on this site. :) Maybe you can let him know about us. 

Yvonne and John

ProudNavyMom,

Happy to hear your daughter is going to school in Norfolk. Just like I told Wendy520, we'd like to invite your daughter to join us on the weekends if she is allowed off base. :) Let me know if she's interested and I can pm you our cell # or if she is okay with this , we can get in touch with her. 

Yvonne and John

Hi my son is currently in Norfolk completing his FRS training and just received his orders for the Helicopter Mine Countermeasures HM-14 Squadron. Also known as Vanguard. Is there a group on here for that squadron?

TACsMom - I did a search for Vanguard and the only thing that came up was the aircrew group.  Maybe someone there is also a member of your son's squadron:

http://navyformoms.ning.com/group/aircrew

To all you moms out there,

We know you worry about your sons and daughters here in Norfolk/Virginia Beach. I would like you to know that my husband and I provide our home for these Sailors as a place to come over on the weekends, hang out, play board games, eat home cooked meals, even cook if they want to :) and go to activities in our area(re-enactments, Williamsburg, and even trips to the Outer Banks in NC. Please let your sailors know about us. We can pm our cell number to any of you. To know a little bit more about us, go to our page on this site. 

Yvonne and John

My son is at Norfolk-just arrived and needs to get his taxes done.  He says it is too long of a walk.  He will be deploying on a ship soon.  Can he just do his taxes online?

My son's ship is out of Aviation war pin guidebooks.  Does anyone know how I can get him a copy?

Hi jayne, navybmr.com has study guides.  Here's the link:  navybmr.com warfare study guides  

Jayne, I sent you a friend request and a private message. Also if you go to our page on this site you will see more of what we do on the weekends with the sailors.

Yvonne and John

My family is headed to visit our sailor in the area next week. Does anyone have any recommendations on things to do, places to visit or eat that are not very expensive? We would appreciate the input. Thanks

Misisu: Your sailor can get a National Park Servce Interagency Annual - Military Pass for free. "This is a free pass for active duty military personnel and their dependents, with valid documentation (CAC Card or DD Form 1173). Valid for 12 months from issue date. The Military Annual Pass admits passholder and three accompanying adults unlimited  admittance." The Yorktown Battlefield and Jamestown Settlement are north of Norfolk if you are up for a short drive.

In downtown Norfolk you can tour Battleship Wisconsin at the Nauticus (https://nauticus.org/).

Touring your sailors ship is also a great time. Always nice to see where they spend their time.

You can tour Cape Henry Lighthouse and walking along the beach in Virginia Beach Boardwalk for free.

Here are a few links I saved prior to previous trips to Norfolk in case they are helpful.

Norfolk Naval Tour and Information Center:  45min Guided Tour

http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/ns_norfolk/abo...

Cape Henry Lighthouses: https://www.nps.gov/came/cape-henry-lighthouses.htm

Military Aviation Museum: http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

Sandbridge Beach: http://www.sandbridgebeachva.com

Chesapeake Bay Distillery: Tours on Saturday. Located at the intersection of 17^th Street and Baltic Avenue, our new facility features a Vabc store and the Blue Ridge Tasting Room.  Per Virginia ABC requirements, the tasting event allows for four one half ounce samples of alcohol.  These are available for our patrons at $7.  Tours are available 12p-4p on Saturdays at no charge for our patrons: https://www.chesapeakebaydistillery.com

Reaver Beach Brewing: Tap Room, no tours: http://www.reaverbeach.com/

Enjoy your trip!

We have been to Florida, Texas, Mississippi and now Virginia with my son, Naval Aviator.  Toured the base and WOW was it big. Found a good dog watcher a few blocks from the base ! Probably going on his first deployment in August.

Hi ismenia - i just messaged you, friend request.

Hi everyone. My son left today on deployment anyone else?

My Sailor left yesterday as well. What ship is yours on?

He is on the USS Bulkeley-. What about your sailor?

Good Morning and Happy Monday!

For anyone whose sailor may have recently deployed alongside the Truman please feel free to join the Truman page :

http://navyformoms.ning.com/group/ussharrystruman

Good morning, new to the group. Oldest Sailor and his family will be arriving in Norfolk, via Hawaii, very soon.  He does not have a boat yet and is looking for a house in Virginia Beach. Just wanted to say hi and looking forward to having them back on the east coast!

Johanna.

What size house are they looking for and do they want to rent or buy? The house across the street from us is going on the market soon.

Yvonne and John

And by the way, welcome to the group!

:)

Yvonne and John

Good morning Yvonne and John. Thank you for the welcome! I think they are looking at 3 and 4 bedrooms. They have been in Hawaii for 2 1/2 years, and all of the family is located in New England, so they want a big house for when we all come to visit!! They will be there early next week and still dont know if they are renting or staying in a long term hotel. They say their realtor is looking for rentals, but, so far, no luck. They have 2 subdivisions in mind. I will take a look when I get home and let you know where they are! Thank you for the info...)))

Welcome Johanna!  A good group on Facebook to join is the closed one called “Navy Home Search,”’ where great networking goes on between Navy folks searching and offering homes for lease and for sale.

Hi Marcy, thank you for the heads up,,, I’m on it!!!

Good morning Johanna. Your son and his family have been spoiled! I know we were...we spent two tours of 3 years each in Hawaii and loved it!

And we also lived in Maine for 5 years. :) We love New England also!

I hope they find a nice place...should they decide to buy, the house across the street goes on the market in July. :)

Yvonne and John

Hello Yvonne and John! I shared your info with “the kids” and I will keep you posted, and yes, they have been spoiled...))))

Johanna - I sent you a PM.

Hey B’sNukeMoM...I am going to sound like a real prize as I have NO idea how to find your PM...yours is the first one I have ever gotten...))) Is it on this page or “My Page”? 

Haha!!! Just needed more coffee!!! I found it, thank you...)))

Does anyone know who to call to get where a sailor is specifically based at Norfolk?

Hi navvvy22 - I think you would need to ask your sailor that directly.  I don't believe there's anyone who would/could give you that info otherwise. 

Hi!  My sailor is in C school in Dam Neck for a while. I am going to visit soon and I am looking for recommendations on where to stay. Navy accommodations are not available. 

barefootie,

Nice to hear that your sailor is at Dam Neck! My husband and i invite sailors over to our home on the weekends and would love to invite him over as well. If you go to our page on this site you can learn more about us. As far as a place to stay, I can check for you a motel close by the base. 

Yvonne and John

Hurray...the kids bought a house!!  They must miss us and want us to visit, because they now have 5 bedrooms...:))) They will be in the Greenbrier arera of Chesapeak. Hoping for a move in time around beginning of June and we will visit for about two weeks to help with our Grandson and get them settled! They love the area and spend a lot of time at the Portland Children’s Museum.

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!

Johanna - that's great news on the house ~ I'll bet you're looking forward to the visit :-D  We visited VA 3 times while B was there and had a fantastic time every visit.  There's a nice aquarium there too.

Thank you so much. I did find a hotel. It’s very expensive there especially on holiday weekend. I’ll check your page out. He’s there going to C school and leaving for Japan in September 

Can anyone with a sailor on the Lincoln that has information on family day private message me please?  I have some questions.

Keisha B,  Are they looking to buy or rent? Virginia Beach, parts of Norfolk and Chesapeake are good. They just have to check out those areas to find a good neighborhood. 

Yvonne and John