NUKE moms

melodyb - give it a little time and you'll get some responses.  The main thing is you must learn to be flexible - the Navy has their way to do things - you (and your future sailor) will learn to roll with it and be flexible (hence the Semper Gumby)!  Like I said below, read the pages to the right - you'll find explanations of the various nuke schools - there are 3: A school, Power school and Prototype.  Each is teaching them something different.  There are also 3 different rates: MM, EM and ET.  Scroll down a few comments and you will see an explanation on those too.

It can seem a little overwhelming, but don't let it be!

While your daughter is waiting to leave she should start preparing both mentally & physically.  I'm sure she'll have a lot on her plate what with finishing high school but just have her remain focused on her plan ~ everything will be fine!

It's a roller coaster for sure - but we'll help you through it.  We've got mom's in various places in the nuke pipeline so usually someone can help you out ;D

Patti - Maybe you'll get a knock on the door and he'll be standing there!

B'sNukeMom

I teach middle school science and I will definitely check out the link as I need all the STEM activities I can get.  I also talk about my new sailor every chance I can to the kiddos so they will have info and pride in our military and country.

Morning all - two busy days and headed to court this AM for an estate closing.  - Welcome to our new moms. I will hopefully be back on tonight or tomorrow to connect with everyone. Read the info B'sNukeMom shared and ask other questions.

B - thanks for the school links, I am pulling those up for my son to watch!! May have to do the replay.

Good morning everyone, happy Wednesday! My new sailor is now in Charleston waiting to class up - talked to him last night and he said it should be about two weeks.

PIR was AWESOME!! My older son was able to make it so we had a really nice afternoon together on Friday, then got to spend all day with my sailor on Saturday at the airport. He seems really happy - he talked and talked all day Saturday, which is unusual for him, he's so excited about starting on this next phase of his Navy career. 

Trying to get caught up on everyone's posts, hope you all have a great day!!

Hi all - Happy Wednesday!

bigsky21 - glad you had a good time at PIR and even more special that your older son was able to make it too!  Makes for some awesome memories ;D

Don't forget to watch the STEM presentation by the Smithsonian today if you can.

Welcome to our newest member ~ yaknowjoezwife.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Welcome to our newest member ~ snetside.

Be sure to read the pages to the right (10) under the member profiles, especially "Your Sailor's Schedule Upon Arrival to GC".  Also read through the discussion forum above (hit "view all").  Lots of good info there too.  And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Hi Melodyb. My daughter is also in the nuclear engineer program. I don't want her to go on a sub either. She graduated HS in June of this year and is currently halfway through her Basic Training in Great Lakes. It's normal to worry but as a mom I have to let her go. Its been tough since she left but I am adjusting:) Good Luck! I am writing her letters all the time lol.

BlancheMarie - That's great to know about more communication on the sub.  My son is currently in ELT after becoming a Qualified Nuke, and his time is nearing to enter a sub.  

Pooh'sMom, you never know where they'll end up.  My SIL was assigned to a sub in the ship yard.  While my daughter has been out and about on her carrier and completed a deployment, my SIL has yet to go out.  I'm sure his time will come.

Rebecca J - My son is on a sub.  The hardest part is when he is "away".  There's no communication.  You will receive an email address that you can send positive messages to him.  Do not send bad news.  A compact sub is no place for a distracted young sailor.  Cleanliness is apparently extremely important in that environment because stuff grows...  Be prepared for the rare unexpected phone call.  Be it Japan or the Steel Beach, those calls are pure gold.  It is the most valuable gift.

This talk of women on subs in interesting to me. When my son enlisted more than 7 years ago there were never women on subs. I haven't followed this issue but the last I heard there was 1 sub that they were integrating women onto. Can anyone update me on where the navy is now on this? Are more subs being outfitted for women sailors? My son is surface so women are a fact of life there.

Also, what I recall is that you can only volunteer for subs; you will never be assigned there if you prefer surface. And I have heard that so many volunteer for subs that some are denied. Does anyone know more about that?

I love all you new moms bringing up things that I haven't thought of in a long time. You keep out little band of moms on our toes!

My son just started A school, but he eventually wants subs. He was told there would be more testing, including psychological tests, to determine fitness for sub duty. Makes sense to me. He hasn't said anything about women on subs - I don't think he's even considered that possibility yet.

Rebecca J, there have been some people ask me, aren't you scared that your son wants to be on submarines? My reply is always, I can't think of a safer place!!

 melody - I left some information in a comment on your page.

Two days away from N4M and I have a lot of conversations to catch up on and new people to add to my list. And other duties call!! - So excited for all of you ladies going to meet n greet tonight and PIR tomorrow.  I have NNLori, Nukole5horses, and Nicksmom - Did I miss anyone?

Have a great day!

Oh and my son has gotten through his first two ET tests of A School!! - Evidently they had a mandatory (punishment type)  study hall on Mon evening because too many of them in the class were not formatting their problems correctly in the way the instructor wanted them to do for showing their work.

I just told my son, "see, this is why I harped on you all the time to show your work." And you have to do it "the Navy way". Hope they learned their lesson, this doesn't count toward any of their other study time or homework time they have to do.

Hi all - Happy Thursday!

I agree with NancyJo - it's good to see all the newbies chatting....some things seem like they were so long ago (and yet, NOT so long ago lol!) that it's hard to remember how things actually were.  Things change over time and it's good to hear from a new perspective.  The women on subs issue is a perfect example of change....and yes, you do have to volunteer for subs but it is no guarantee you will get it.  My son was one of those that wanted nothing to do with subs lol!  

Chipmunk - glad your son is settling in.  Hopefully his class will figure out what they need to be doing sooner rather than later lol.  But that's normal for that to happen in the beginning.

Welcome to our newest member ~ Hot mess mom.

Tell us a little about yourself and feel free to ask any questions you may have!

For any sub mom's, there's an Instagram account called "subspotr" that shows pix of sub's going into or coming out of port.  It's given me heads up several times that a call might be coming soon from my son.  Plus, like today, it gives me a glimpse into what life on a sub might really be like.  They posted a film about a different class sub than my son's but it was still interesting.  I just wanted to share.

I live in Fernandina Beach, FL, which is near King's Bay - every once in a while we see the subs going in or out. When we take our boat up the river near Cumberland Island (very interesting pace if you're ever in the area!) we can see part of the base from the water, including the degaussing station. It's enormous, looks like the framework of an unfinished building. 

Another new member ~ Navygranfor2.  Welcome to the group!

That would be cool to see the subs going in & out!

I wonder how he gets those pictures for the instagram page?

B'sNukeMom - I've thought about that.  I imagine that whoever owns that instagram account has contacts that live or work by the port and can send pictures.

I got all excited a couple weeks ago, we were out on the boat and there were a couple of Coast Guard vessels in the harbor shooting flares - I was wondering if they were escorting a sub that day, but then we heard over the radio that they were doing training exercises :(

I was wondering about the instagram pics too....seems odd that they could post comings and goings as they are happening.....

 NancyJoMy son is on the uss Michigan which is a sub that has women on it not sure if any others are getting ready to go coed.He is on his first deployment since graduation from SOBC (sub officer base course). It will be interesting to talk to him how it went. When i talked to him before going out he said he did not mind the women being there his thought is just do your job and respect them. They are not there to date is what he said.

I could well be behind the times, but when my daughter was enlisting they told her that subs were only open to female officers, not enlisted at that time.  

JayDee - I thought I remember hearing the same thing - that it was going to be female officers first on subs and then eventually enlisted....

Found an article from 2015 that said following the successful integration of female officers on subs they were going to start integrating female enlisted: 

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=85274

Great article, B'sNuke! Back a couple years ago when I talked to my son about women submariners he said to him the issue was that to accommodate women they would have to retool the interior of the subs for berthing and bathrooms. To find that space meant to take something out whether that's weaponry or whatever. I'm thinking the navy figured that out. 

There are female enlisted in some of the Ohio-class missile boats. My ex-nuke's SECF class was one of the first to include women. Some were experienced sailors (an FT1 with 2 warfare pins going into submarines is pretty badass). The next flight of Virginia-class attack subs will have modifications to accommodate mixed crews, and the Columbia-class is being designed that way. What I find interesting, in part because it has happened before in other fields and other parts of the Navy, is the sensible ergonomic changes. They are lowering some valves and making some easier to turn, making seats a bit more adjustable, moving the emergency breathing apparatus connections from the ceiling to mid-level, adding footholds to make it easier to get into top racks. That will make life easier for short guys too. The variation between individuals is much greater than between genders.

Well got to have a call with our sailor during the week yesterday because it was his birthday and he knew we wanted to make sure he had a good day. Cookies arrived in crumbs and he wanted milk, but they did arrive! Power School is halfway over and the tests are getting harder. On yesterday's test he said 11 sailors did not pass.  Just sharing so all can be ready to support.  They should receive their projected posting for Prototype soon. He said if he gets posted to NY it's not worth it to come to power school graduation because he'll need to ship out the next day.

I've heard power school graduation is close to PIR from bootcamp so don't want to miss it if possible.  Any thoughts from Mom's who've been to power school graduation?

CSW - Cookie crubs go great on a bowl of ice cream!  :)

crubs = crumbs...  Jeeez

CSW that was a good call! I didn't attend A School or Proto grads, but PowerSchool was awesome and while not PIR was really wonderful and worth the trip. My son did Proto in NY also and at the time he did there was no proto grad. 

Today is my sailor's birthday too. He's on an underway so they celebrated before he left. Wish I could wish him Happy Birthday but he knows that he is on his mama's mind.

I actually saw small boxes of chocolate milk that doesn't have to be refrigerated, but couldn't find plain milk. Might just try the chocolate "milk" next time for kicks.

Doesn't matter how old they get they are still our babies and I was laughing while I was looking at his last picture because his Sailor Suit at 22 looks awfully like his sailor suit at 2!

Who knew! LOL

NancyJo - Happy Birthday to your son!!!!  and CSW Happy Belated Birthday to yours too!

WLH - thanks for the sub info - very interesting!

The only thing about our kids having birthdays is that it makes me feel older, too.  THANKS all for the support and hugs to the Navy family for all they do.

On a very serious note,

Disgusted with the media for the nonsense they are posting about the President's calls to the Gold Star Families. Shame on them for politicizing a sad and sacred time for families who's sons, daughters, husbands and wives have given their life for the freedom and safety of others!

JayDee659,
That's very interesting about your SIL being assigned a sub in the ship yard.  

Samsmom...thanks I saw the chocolate, but not the regular.  I will look in the juice aisle. I used round tins and even cushioned the ends with parchment paper, but the type of cookie I sent is pretty fragile so it just didn't make the trip. (one cup cookies).  I  will try a cakier kind in the next box and I will definitely send the milk. He'll get a huge kick out of that!

THANKS!

It's funny how it works out - my sons girlfriend (a nuke - ELT) was on the Lincoln and the entire time she was on it they were in shipyard for maintenance/refueling.  She spent 6 years in the Navy and never went to sea - no deployment, no underway, nothing!

I'm not sure who all is going to A school graduation tomorrow.  I know Sgtsixpack is....want to wish you all safe travels and have a wonderful time.  BZ to your Sailor's!

So, how is this for multi-tasking - reading comments here, chatting with KTP (Kim) in the main room who is helping me understand my husband's Chiefs game that we are watching!

Great chatter, and lots of newbies that I need to add to my list. But I am finally caught up.  Happy Birthday sailors, congrats on all the sailors at PIR, A school graduation and any other accomplishments that they have achieved.

I asked my sailor the other night and he said they had 3 females in his class (not sure if the entire class or just ET portion) but said that the normal ratio is 1 to 30, and they were 1 to 10. (If he was thinking right it was getting late.)  Mine's not interested in going subs despite the fact he has been encouraged to sign up for it, so it is nice to know they may have more volunteers than they need. But if he knew he was going to be in dry dock, he probably would enjoy it.

I really enjoyed all the info on the posts yesterday. This really is an awesome group. I don't post often but I usually catch up reading post multiple times a day. 

Sitting here I. Goose Creek ready to head to A school grad in a few minutes. 

J's/S'smom, well said.  Thank you for the link.  I am interested in watching that speech after work.