Regarding budget shutdown and pay, my sailor shared this with me this AM. If they have a NFCU (Navy Federal Credit Union) account, they should have been emailed or it maybe on their website, information on how to apply for a 0% loan that will deposit the same amount as their most recent DOD payment into their account, up to a limit. Once they receive their actual deposit from the government, then NFCU will withdraw the funds that they loaned their members.
If you have someone at boot camp, they will not be able to access their bank, most likely. But if you are joint or authorized user on their account, or have a POA that NFCU has approved, you should be able to check with the bank and see what this loan entails, if it becomes needful.
Thanks all for the answers about A school graduation. I made the reservations at a hotel that I can cancel just in case, but I was happy to hear that the ceremony would not be affected. I am looking forward to being in GC in a couple weeks!
If we accept a friend request and email that one from our inbox area, is it ok then to share cities in which one lives, phone numbers, or last names? I know we don't here as it's too public, but the emails through this site are secure, correct?
Chipmunk—Thanks for response! His PIR is 2/09 I’m not shipping until I know his feet have hit the ground there cuz I’ve learned it’s not a done deal until it’s a for sure done deal.
Your thghts were my thghts on comforter/blanket thing gonna be heckuva lot warmer at GC and he’s prolly still acclimating to cold climate and missing his 70 degree winters.
again thanks all y’all, i’m learning all kinds of things here really helpful... ok minus the underwear photo haha
Tracie - regarding blanket needs in GC...my son has been there since early November and says he had to get some extra blankets at the NEX to stay warm; seems the heating system is not optimal in his BEQ (Nautilus), plus there has been such unusually cold weather in the south lately! He can walk to the NEX (and Subway/Panda Express), so those options seem to meet his needs :)
Howdy! My son just PIR'd this past Friday and flew in to GC last night. We were unable to give him his stuff, as we flew from a different airport. He has no personal way of communicating with us, so, without readying all the FAQ.s (mainly because I can't find them) is there an address, or should I wait until he has quarters. Also, how long until he gets quarters. He had several nukes in his division, too. Any idea when he will start classes or how long his hold will be?
lazerguppie, hopefully he will call you from a pay phone there or someone’s cell phone. I would wait to hear from him what his address is before sending anything. Not all of the mail personnel work hard to unite sailors with their packages and I would hate for it to come back to you. It’s usually at least a week before they class up depending on their rating.
lazerguppie - They can be in INDOC for a few days up to even almost a month. And even after that, my son said that I could have still sent mail to him with the INDOC address, when I didn't know what his class number was at first.
MM & EMs are Firemen so they are addressed: FN
ET are Seaman so they are addressed: SN
SN First Name, Last Name INDOC (once you know their class number it will go here) 101 NNPTC Circle Goose Creek, SC 29445
They do have access to computers in the lounge, but it can be difficult. If he had a calling card he hopefully will call you soon. My son was pretty busy his first weekend there and also was just glad to get to sleep some.
I forgot to mention that my son was INDOC for almost a month, and he did not have issues with getting his mail. Others may not have had the same experience. If you do talk to him, you might let him know when you plan to mail something so he can be watching for a notification from the mailroom to pick up his package.
Also, shipping with a tracking number is helpful. Amazon that is usually sent UPS was trying to deliver on MLK day which was a mail holiday and they sent a note that the pkg was undeliverable. The next day they said it was delivered, so I knew it was because I think UPS still has to drop pkgs off at the mailroom.
I see a few have mentioned no phones and potentially the need to use the computers provided. My understanding is that they are authorized to take their phones and laptops to A school. Is this correct?
Shoppinmomma, yes they can have phones, lap tops and their gaming systems. Since their required study time can only be done in the Rickover their free time is truly free.
lazerguppie - to answer your other questions. Your son will be issued his BEQ (Bachelor Enlisted Quarters) immediately upon arrival at GC. Generally they are housed with others of the same rating, but not always. They may be with someone new like them, but most likely will be bunked with someone who has been there. My son's BEQ is 2 in a room with another room sharing a bath.
Their address is associated with their class or INDOC as I indicated earlier, not with their living quarters.
Also, in case you didn't catch it can be anywhere from the following Mon to a month or so upon arrival at GC before a sailor will "class up". It seems like the MM's generally class up faster than EM or ET, but that could just be amongst the ladies that I know. My son PIR'd with another, he flew to GC the Sat after graduation, the other was held in GL, but the one in GL classed up before my son and they both have the same rating. And his last name is after my son, but he was in an earlier div, in that TG than my son. There just is no way of knowing, exactly when someone will class up.
I would at least get a letter mailed to him quickly so you can share your concerns with him. Ask him some fill in the blank questions and make sure that he is receiving his mail and you want to send his phone to him and how is he able to communicate with you, or can he at least call you.
The following gives you a rough idea of what your sailor's day will look like. It can be different for the various ratings.
Nuke A School daily schedule-a sailor's perspective-from 2017
Also, in the same title discussion above there is some further information for new moms as well. If you have other questions feel free to post there and I will see it come into my home email.
shoppinmomma - Like JayDee said, they are able to have their phones, etc. The question was because someone had been unable to give their son a phone at the airport and so I was sharing other ways that their sailor could communicate with them until able to get a phone or computer to them.
Also, my son did not have a laptop and we had not purchased one for him beforehand. He was able to take liberty time on a weekend and go to the Best Buy in Charleston and purchase one. Then he could hook up to the internet in the lounge of his BEQ and communicate with us, instead of having to wait on the other available computers.
shoppinmomma - welcome to the NukeMoms group. It looks like you just recently joined and you have a daughter at BC. Sailors that fly out from GL are not allowed to have their cell phones or laptops at RTC, but you may meet them at the airport and give them their phones or laptops, favorite tennis shoes, which they may transport to GC (Goose Creek), SC.
Sometimes there are hold issues or flight issues that cause the sailors to have to fly to A school without those items, and so it is important to encourage your sailor to contact you as soon as possible with their mailing address.
shoppinmomma - your reply came in while I was typing the other one, but I am also on BC for Moms group and checked your profile. There are a few moms with daughters here on our group. According to my son, the females have the BEQ closest to the galley and yes I double checked theirs is called a BEQ as well (Bachelor Enlisted Quarters.)
Shoppinmomma, my Nuke is a female also. The journey for them is the same yet slightly different. What is her rating? If there is anything I can help you with let me know. My daughter has successfully navigated the pipeline and is now in the fleet.
Hello! It has been so long since I have been able to post because of a broken computer! I had the beeps of death! FInally got a new computer - it is bigger (from 13" to 15") so I am having a hard time typing! Went from a dell to an HP also because of the pricing this time around.
My son is supposed to PIR 0209 - but he called and doesn't think he will make it because he is 2minutes out on his run. A few more negative things which I will share on the PIR board because it was a pretty negative call.
He gave me great news though - he was chosen for ET - which is the position he wanted!! So, I am excited about that.
I want to thank all of you ladies for the very humorous photo's from Los Vegas and the Nuc cartoons!
Another great thing he said to me is that I probably know about the stuff he was talking about from the navyformoms web site - and I did! It was nice to hear him say that I "knew" something! lol (normally moms don't know anything about it you know!)
You all lift my spirits - even though I couldn't reply.
Thank you both so much for the information. I was able to gather quite a bit of information from a few moms that her recruiters put me in contact with. Our plan was to be at the airport with her and visit with her while she waited on her flight. We're not sure how realistic that is, but I know one of the other moms was able to accomplish it, so I'm hoping for the same good fortune. Could you ladies fill me in on some other items that she is allowed/not allowed to take with her to GC? My plan was to pack her a carry on with her laptop, cell phone, her shoes, and a set or 2 of civilian clothes. Will she be allowed them yet?
shoppinmomma - regarding an extra carry on or checked bag, I think your daughter will be able to at least check another bag, because if I recall, on orders they can have up to 5 free checked bags. In Aug my son had two checked bags and his backpack which had enough room to put his tennis shoes and a pair of shorts. He didn't want extra clothes but they are allowed to wear their civilian clothes in their BEQ before they phase up. I would still make the extra carry on small and something with wheels if possible. When in dress uniform, they carry their sea bag on their back and then they had a garment bag and were also issued a black backpack. In uniform they can't carry the backpack on their shoulders, so they have to carry that. It is a load and then once they get to Charleston and get a transport they have to put all of their stuff in there as well.
Chipmunk--Thank you! Is the extra bag something that she will be able to take to the airport herself from RTC, or will I need to transport that to the airport for her?
shoppinmomma - you will have to take the extra bag to the airport yourself. She is not allowed to take any electronics back to RTC the night of PIR and most likely she will have her sea bag already packed and full without room to add anything else to it.
Shoppinmomma - We got a family pass at the airport and stayed with our son all the way to the gate at boarding. We did the same thing here at home when he left to go back to GC after Christmas break. That extra time with them becomes so special! Just make sure to bring your ID and know you'll be going through security. Congrats!
Shoppinmomma, the things my daughter asked for were her own bras and underwear, her running shoes and her phone. We met her at the airport and she had left room in her seabag for her shoes and the rest went into her backpack. On our drive home from PIR she called us with her address and a list of items she wanted us to ship to her.
I'd consider taking her essentials and shipping my the rest.
As I recall, we handed our daughter her electronics and she stuffed them into her bags. The bags were so big and heavy! We got the family pass, too, and waited at the gate with her till they left, around 6AM the next day. She called just now and I asked her what she thought was important to have...she said the Navy supplies most things, but that for many people GC is their first experience with a "grown-up " economy--where you have money and can spend it how you want to. So, new Sailors should be a bit cautious at first till they learn their limits. And...Care packages from home are always SO welcome!
TahoeZephyr- thanks I think I’m going to send him his comfy cozy blanket when he gets settled. He sent a list of top priority needs and things he’d like but can survive without for awhile.
Mostly I’m just trying to keep him focused and motivated when he’s tired and grouchy abt BC by having him make a list of things I need to remember to send. And remind him BC isn’t going to last forever.
Ok forgive my lame question but which ratings, oh gosh hope that’s right word, go on subs? My son didn’t mention which he got and I’m not even sure which he wanted but he did say he might get put on a sub eventually which was not what he wanted ideally but he was like whatever about it...
he got talked into nuc by his recruiter he originally contracted in for something else so everything got confusing towards the end...
Tracie - I hate to hear that recruits are "talked into" going nuke. All 3 rates are on subs. It is my understanding that one must volunteer to go on a sub. In fact, I think they sign some sort of paper w/ the recruiter regarding whether or not they want to be on a sub. He shouldn't "just end up" on one.
3B’smom-there wasn’t any arm twisting or hyping it to him, he thought about it and such but wasn’t his first choice, he actually wanted to be a linguist but he messed up timing on his test so didn’t pass.
I think he thought he signed he didn’t want to be on a sub but might have actually signed saying he wld be ok with it. He’s not stressing about it though.
Tracie - regarding sub duty, I concur with 3B'smom...sub duty is voluntary; my son wants to see the sky so he is not interested in sub duty :) As for PIR, you will be so proud to see your sailor graduate and to see how much pride he has in his new venture! Be ready for all the acronyms, though...the whirlwind 7 hrs we had with our son was filled with "Navy speak"!
TahoeZephyr- oh my goodness Navy Speak is hard! I try to learn something new each day to write in my SR letter for solidarity although I’m sure I get a lot of it wrong which will give him a good giggle so that’s fine too
Tracie - Recruiters do hype and encourage qualified candidates to be Nukes, but that is different than sub duty. Pressure to be a Nuke but zero pressure for subs. With our sailor, he said no to subs and that was it. Nobody is forced onto a sub.
As for ratings on subs, there are a lot of ratings in addition to the Nukes. There are non-nuclear MMs, ETs, and EMs. There are Fire Control Techs (FT) and Missile Techs (MT); in addition to many ratings found on any ship.
Our recruiter hyped it up, but mainly because they had no openings for corpsman, which is what my son originally wanted. He did sign a contract for IT, but once his nuke clearance went through, he signed a new contract. He seemed excited at PIR as there were several nukes in his division with whom he made friends.
Unless something has changed, they have to volunteer for sub duty and then they go through some psychological testing to help confirm that they'll be okay.
My son-in-law is an MM on a sub (yes he volunteered for sub duty). Since he is on the shorter and skinnier side he is the one tapped to slink into the access/maintenance tunnels that the bigger guys can't fit in. He was telling us one story about the access being so tight that he had to strip down and then he kept bumping up against the hot pipes. Yowza! Not for me. I do have this picture in my head that makes me laugh though. :)
Well, just got back from Power School graduation Friday.
It was awesome but COLD. I think it was 23 degrees when the ceremony started and YES it was outside. They were waffeling on letting the sailors wear their p-coats but not everyone had their coat patched and they must look alike so they had to stand in their winter dress in that COLD.
Some things to note for power school graduation......
Get there early and try to get a center seat. They will let you get up and take photos as your sailors' section comes up to the stage, so don't worry, they know photos are important.
They line up the sailors by height, so nothing is in alphabetical order.
The sailors must be out of their barracks shortly after graduation so it's another scramble to get signed out and get orders after the ceremony.
Book hotels early....so many people were booking through Kayak and then the hotel was sold out so they had to find other choices. When you call the hotels direct they often give you a military discount if you're going to a graduation.
Don't forget to bring your invitation to the gate along with ID and remember if you're renting a car you may have to show your proof of insurance. They didn't ask us, but I heard they were asking some.
Boot Camp graduation is certainly the most exciting, A school is intimate and not much ceremony and Power School is one step below. In warmer weather it would be very special, but it was so cold we didn't linger.
There's plenty to do in Charleston as well with lots of military specials....sailors in uniform get into Patriots Point, Ft. Sumpter at no charge as well as other discounts for entry to museums and/or events even meals.
Our sailor is off to BS NY and we're hopeful the Congress will get this budget mess worked out soon so our military and their familys don't suffer.
JayDee659- that makes me feel better abt the psych testing, no way I could do it but my son was very nonchalant abt it until he learned about hot racks. Very different thinking about and actually understanding working conditions.
Lazerguppie- my son said there are a lot of nucs in his PIR group as well. Guess recruiters doing a good job at recruiting.
My SR contracted in almost 18 months ago, his original pick was full, he kept getting pushed back, recruiter brought up nuc and said he would probably get pushed through quicker so he finally decided he was game.... 12 months later he was sent to BC.
He learned Navy Time is its own time and patience is a necessity and ya just gotta roll with it.
CSW congratulations to your sailor. And thank you for posting all of the great info about Power School graduation. Sorry it was so good though. I'm glad our sons is in May - just hope its not raining.
ProudOfK- Thanks! We've seen college graduations, but the military does an extra special job. They do a great job of reiterating the feeling of family/brotherhood. In terms of the rain, they have canopies over the seats and over the stage and over the sitting sailors so I think they're used to dealing with that weather.
In terms of sub duty and passing comps we met two sailors who didn't pass comps. One sailor was being re-rated and she seem relieved. She was on mandatory 30 hours additional study and even though she's one smart cookie, it just wasn't fitting. She and the Navy worked out a new plan and it seems to work for both.
The other sailor got set back to take comp again with the next class.
Sub vols are special people and it's clear the Navy works hard to make sure it's a good fit. Our sailor said you're hot bunking pretty much until you're a chief. They purchase sleeping bags and move those from rack to rack. Sub vols do get higher pay and they seem to be on a pretty fast track for advancement as a payback for the difficulty. Their tours can also be shorter than ships which is another benefit.
Tracie, I got my SIL a set of sheets from Rack Sheets and he uses these. After he's done in the rack he just rolls up his sheets and it's ready for the next sailor. Having your own bedding makes it a little more personal.
CSW glad you got to go to graduation! My daughter's power school graduation was cancelled as they were all evacuating ahead of a hurricane. Hurricane season does start May 1 in the Atlantic and runs through November, so make sure you always book a room that can be cancelled! My husbands siblings lost their money as they booked an Air B&B and didn't buy the insurance. oops...
My son has been on a sub for over 5 years; he volunteered because he felt the smaller crew would help him advance. He will be teaching soon but intends to go back to another boat when his instructor tour is over. He has been giving serious consideration to making a long career out of the Navy. Some part of his decision is financial and I believe some of it is because he likes his ELT position. He is also, pretty much, the old man of his boat, and has the ability to compartmentalize his life. It's nice to know that my son is making the choices he feels are best for him. I also know that Mr. B would be very proud of him and he is honoring his Daddy's memory. I am also quite proud of him.
We were there for A school grad. It was 26* when we got back to the car after it was over. I was sooo glad to be indoors! Kudos to you and all of the other families and sailors that sat in the cold.
Wow, just because it's the South, don't expect it to be warm...and in some cases when it is colder they don't have the infrastructure to deal with it. They really don't do snow/ice well at all!
For those of you mom's who already have a Nuke submariner...thanks for paving the way. It can be a difficult life, but life is a challenge in itself. I have learned a lot about how to be supportive from you all. THANKS!
Lots of chatter this weekend I see. Hopefully everyone is getting their questions answered. If not be sure to ask again - sometimes a question can get lost in all the comments. Don't be afraid to ask again!
NonnaB - I'm sure Mr B is looking down and smiling on your sailor!
Hopefully none of you are worried about sub duty - it is definitely volunteer only. Although my son would often talk about how they were "voluntold" to do things, but they won't do that with subs. They have more volunteers than positions available.
Chipmunk
Regarding budget shutdown and pay, my sailor shared this with me this AM. If they have a NFCU (Navy Federal Credit Union) account, they should have been emailed or it maybe on their website, information on how to apply for a 0% loan that will deposit the same amount as their most recent DOD payment into their account, up to a limit. Once they receive their actual deposit from the government, then NFCU will withdraw the funds that they loaned their members.
If you have someone at boot camp, they will not be able to access their bank, most likely. But if you are joint or authorized user on their account, or have a POA that NFCU has approved, you should be able to check with the bank and see what this loan entails, if it becomes needful.
Jan 20, 2018
Nukelukesmom
Thanks all for the answers about A school graduation. I made the reservations at a hotel that I can cancel just in case, but I was happy to hear that the ceremony would not be affected. I am looking forward to being in GC in a couple weeks!
Jan 20, 2018
Rime
If we accept a friend request and email that one from our inbox area, is it ok then to share cities in which one lives, phone numbers, or last names? I know we don't here as it's too public, but the emails through this site are secure, correct?
Jan 21, 2018
JayDee659
Rime you can as you see fit. Be aware that sometimes people pretend to be something they aren't. Just always be careful.
Jan 21, 2018
Tracie
Chipmunk—Thanks for response! His PIR is 2/09 I’m not shipping until I know his feet have hit the ground there cuz I’ve learned it’s not a done deal until it’s a for sure done deal.
Your thghts were my thghts on comforter/blanket thing gonna be heckuva lot warmer at GC and he’s prolly still acclimating to cold climate and missing his 70 degree winters.
again thanks all y’all, i’m learning all kinds of things here really helpful... ok minus the underwear photo haha
have a super spectacular Sunday
Jan 21, 2018
TahoeZephyr
Tracie - regarding blanket needs in GC...my son has been there since early November and says he had to get some extra blankets at the NEX to stay warm; seems the heating system is not optimal in his BEQ (Nautilus), plus there has been such unusually cold weather in the south lately! He can walk to the NEX (and Subway/Panda Express), so those options seem to meet his needs :)
Jan 21, 2018
Lazerguppie
Howdy! My son just PIR'd this past Friday and flew in to GC last night. We were unable to give him his stuff, as we flew from a different airport. He has no personal way of communicating with us, so, without readying all the FAQ.s (mainly because I can't find them) is there an address, or should I wait until he has quarters. Also, how long until he gets quarters. He had several nukes in his division, too. Any idea when he will start classes or how long his hold will be?
Jan 21, 2018
Lazerguppie
Found the address in the pages. Is it current?
Jan 21, 2018
momterp
lazerguppie, hopefully he will call you from a pay phone there or someone’s cell phone. I would wait to hear from him what his address is before sending anything. Not all of the mail personnel work hard to unite sailors with their packages and I would hate for it to come back to you. It’s usually at least a week before they class up depending on their rating.
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
lazerguppie - You should be able to send to the Indoc address.
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
lazerguppie - They can be in INDOC for a few days up to even almost a month. And even after that, my son said that I could have still sent mail to him with the INDOC address, when I didn't know what his class number was at first.
MM & EMs are Firemen so they are addressed: FN
ET are Seaman so they are addressed: SN
SN First Name, Last Name
INDOC (once you know their class number it will go here)
101 NNPTC Circle
Goose Creek, SC 29445
They do have access to computers in the lounge, but it can be difficult. If he had a calling card he hopefully will call you soon. My son was pretty busy his first weekend there and also was just glad to get to sleep some.
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
I forgot to mention that my son was INDOC for almost a month, and he did not have issues with getting his mail. Others may not have had the same experience. If you do talk to him, you might let him know when you plan to mail something so he can be watching for a notification from the mailroom to pick up his package.
Also, shipping with a tracking number is helpful. Amazon that is usually sent UPS was trying to deliver on MLK day which was a mail holiday and they sent a note that the pkg was undeliverable. The next day they said it was delivered, so I knew it was because I think UPS still has to drop pkgs off at the mailroom.
Jan 21, 2018
shoppinmomma
I see a few have mentioned no phones and potentially the need to use the computers provided. My understanding is that they are authorized to take their phones and laptops to A school. Is this correct?
Jan 21, 2018
JayDee659
Shoppinmomma, yes they can have phones, lap tops and their gaming systems. Since their required study time can only be done in the Rickover their free time is truly free.
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
lazerguppie - to answer your other questions. Your son will be issued his BEQ (Bachelor Enlisted Quarters) immediately upon arrival at GC. Generally they are housed with others of the same rating, but not always. They may be with someone new like them, but most likely will be bunked with someone who has been there. My son's BEQ is 2 in a room with another room sharing a bath.
Their address is associated with their class or INDOC as I indicated earlier, not with their living quarters.
Also, in case you didn't catch it can be anywhere from the following Mon to a month or so upon arrival at GC before a sailor will "class up". It seems like the MM's generally class up faster than EM or ET, but that could just be amongst the ladies that I know. My son PIR'd with another, he flew to GC the Sat after graduation, the other was held in GL, but the one in GL classed up before my son and they both have the same rating. And his last name is after my son, but he was in an earlier div, in that TG than my son. There just is no way of knowing, exactly when someone will class up.
I would at least get a letter mailed to him quickly so you can share your concerns with him. Ask him some fill in the blank questions and make sure that he is receiving his mail and you want to send his phone to him and how is he able to communicate with you, or can he at least call you.
The following gives you a rough idea of what your sailor's day will look like. It can be different for the various ratings.
Nuke A School daily schedule-a sailor's perspective-from 2017
Also, in the same title discussion above there is some further information for new moms as well. If you have other questions feel free to post there and I will see it come into my home email.
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
shoppinmomma - Like JayDee said, they are able to have their phones, etc. The question was because someone had been unable to give their son a phone at the airport and so I was sharing other ways that their sailor could communicate with them until able to get a phone or computer to them.
Also, my son did not have a laptop and we had not purchased one for him beforehand. He was able to take liberty time on a weekend and go to the Best Buy in Charleston and purchase one. Then he could hook up to the internet in the lounge of his BEQ and communicate with us, instead of having to wait on the other available computers.
Jan 21, 2018
shoppinmomma
Thank you for your quick reply. My sailor is my daughter. It will be interesting to see how her experience is in such a male dominated field..lol
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
shoppinmomma - welcome to the NukeMoms group. It looks like you just recently joined and you have a daughter at BC. Sailors that fly out from GL are not allowed to have their cell phones or laptops at RTC, but you may meet them at the airport and give them their phones or laptops, favorite tennis shoes, which they may transport to GC (Goose Creek), SC.
Sometimes there are hold issues or flight issues that cause the sailors to have to fly to A school without those items, and so it is important to encourage your sailor to contact you as soon as possible with their mailing address.
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
shoppinmomma - your reply came in while I was typing the other one, but I am also on BC for Moms group and checked your profile. There are a few moms with daughters here on our group. According to my son, the females have the BEQ closest to the galley and yes I double checked theirs is called a BEQ as well (Bachelor Enlisted Quarters.)
Jan 21, 2018
JayDee659
Shoppinmomma, my Nuke is a female also. The journey for them is the same yet slightly different. What is her rating? If there is anything I can help you with let me know. My daughter has successfully navigated the pipeline and is now in the fleet.
Jan 21, 2018
kai cat
Hello! It has been so long since I have been able to post because of a broken computer! I had the beeps of death! FInally got a new computer - it is bigger (from 13" to 15") so I am having a hard time typing! Went from a dell to an HP also because of the pricing this time around.
My son is supposed to PIR 0209 - but he called and doesn't think he will make it because he is 2minutes out on his run. A few more negative things which I will share on the PIR board because it was a pretty negative call.
He gave me great news though - he was chosen for ET - which is the position he wanted!! So, I am excited about that.
I want to thank all of you ladies for the very humorous photo's from Los Vegas and the Nuc cartoons!
Another great thing he said to me is that I probably know about the stuff he was talking about from the navyformoms web site - and I did! It was nice to hear him say that I "knew" something! lol (normally moms don't know anything about it you know!)
You all lift my spirits - even though I couldn't reply.
Thanks :)
Jan 21, 2018
shoppinmomma
Thank you both so much for the information. I was able to gather quite a bit of information from a few moms that her recruiters put me in contact with. Our plan was to be at the airport with her and visit with her while she waited on her flight. We're not sure how realistic that is, but I know one of the other moms was able to accomplish it, so I'm hoping for the same good fortune. Could you ladies fill me in on some other items that she is allowed/not allowed to take with her to GC? My plan was to pack her a carry on with her laptop, cell phone, her shoes, and a set or 2 of civilian clothes. Will she be allowed them yet?
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
shoppinmomma - regarding an extra carry on or checked bag, I think your daughter will be able to at least check another bag, because if I recall, on orders they can have up to 5 free checked bags. In Aug my son had two checked bags and his backpack which had enough room to put his tennis shoes and a pair of shorts. He didn't want extra clothes but they are allowed to wear their civilian clothes in their BEQ before they phase up. I would still make the extra carry on small and something with wheels if possible. When in dress uniform, they carry their sea bag on their back and then they had a garment bag and were also issued a black backpack. In uniform they can't carry the backpack on their shoulders, so they have to carry that. It is a load and then once they get to Charleston and get a transport they have to put all of their stuff in there as well.
Jan 21, 2018
shoppinmomma
Chipmunk--Thank you! Is the extra bag something that she will be able to take to the airport herself from RTC, or will I need to transport that to the airport for her?
Jan 21, 2018
Chipmunk
shoppinmomma - you will have to take the extra bag to the airport yourself. She is not allowed to take any electronics back to RTC the night of PIR and most likely she will have her sea bag already packed and full without room to add anything else to it.
Jan 21, 2018
A'sMom
Jan 21, 2018
JayDee659
Shoppinmomma, the things my daughter asked for were her own bras and underwear, her running shoes and her phone. We met her at the airport and she had left room in her seabag for her shoes and the rest went into her backpack. On our drive home from PIR she called us with her address and a list of items she wanted us to ship to her.
I'd consider taking her essentials and shipping my the rest.
Jan 21, 2018
SailorsLIMom
As I recall, we handed our daughter her electronics and she stuffed them into her bags. The bags were so big and heavy! We got the family pass, too, and waited at the gate with her till they left, around 6AM the next day. She called just now and I asked her what she thought was important to have...she said the Navy supplies most things, but that for many people GC is their first experience with a "grown-up " economy--where you have money and can spend it how you want to. So, new Sailors should be a bit cautious at first till they learn their limits. And...Care packages from home are always SO welcome!
Jan 21, 2018
Tracie
TahoeZephyr- thanks I think I’m going to send him his comfy cozy blanket when he gets settled. He sent a list of top priority needs and things he’d like but can survive without for awhile.
Mostly I’m just trying to keep him focused and motivated when he’s tired and grouchy abt BC by having him make a list of things I need to remember to send. And remind him BC isn’t going to last forever.
Jan 21, 2018
Tracie
Ok forgive my lame question but which ratings, oh gosh hope that’s right word, go on subs? My son didn’t mention which he got and I’m not even sure which he wanted but he did say he might get put on a sub eventually which was not what he wanted ideally but he was like whatever about it...
he got talked into nuc by his recruiter he originally contracted in for something else so everything got confusing towards the end...
Jan 21, 2018
Lazerguppie
Thank you, Chipmunk! I appreciate any info.
Jan 21, 2018
Lazerguppie
My sailor is an ET, BTW. He did call me at the airport from a borrowed phone. Said he would call or email with an addy asap.
Jan 21, 2018
3B'smom
Tracie - I hate to hear that recruits are "talked into" going nuke. All 3 rates are on subs. It is my understanding that one must volunteer to go on a sub. In fact, I think they sign some sort of paper w/ the recruiter regarding whether or not they want to be on a sub. He shouldn't "just end up" on one.
Jan 21, 2018
Lazerguppie
My son volunteered for sub duty.
Jan 21, 2018
Tracie
3B’smom-there wasn’t any arm twisting or hyping it to him, he thought about it and such but wasn’t his first choice, he actually wanted to be a linguist but he messed up timing on his test so didn’t pass.
I think he thought he signed he didn’t want to be on a sub but might have actually signed saying he wld be ok with it. He’s not stressing about it though.
Jan 21, 2018
TahoeZephyr
Tracie - regarding sub duty, I concur with 3B'smom...sub duty is voluntary; my son wants to see the sky so he is not interested in sub duty :) As for PIR, you will be so proud to see your sailor graduate and to see how much pride he has in his new venture! Be ready for all the acronyms, though...the whirlwind 7 hrs we had with our son was filled with "Navy speak"!
Jan 21, 2018
Tracie
TahoeZephyr- oh my goodness Navy Speak is hard! I try to learn something new each day to write in my SR letter for solidarity although I’m sure I get a lot of it wrong which will give him a good giggle so that’s fine too
Jan 21, 2018
Gmom
Tracie - Recruiters do hype and encourage qualified candidates to be Nukes, but that is different than sub duty. Pressure to be a Nuke but zero pressure for subs. With our sailor, he said no to subs and that was it. Nobody is forced onto a sub.
As for ratings on subs, there are a lot of ratings in addition to the Nukes. There are non-nuclear MMs, ETs, and EMs. There are Fire Control Techs (FT) and Missile Techs (MT); in addition to many ratings found on any ship.
Jan 21, 2018
Lazerguppie
Our recruiter hyped it up, but mainly because they had no openings for corpsman, which is what my son originally wanted. He did sign a contract for IT, but once his nuke clearance went through, he signed a new contract. He seemed excited at PIR as there were several nukes in his division with whom he made friends.
Jan 22, 2018
JayDee659
Unless something has changed, they have to volunteer for sub duty and then they go through some psychological testing to help confirm that they'll be okay.
My son-in-law is an MM on a sub (yes he volunteered for sub duty). Since he is on the shorter and skinnier side he is the one tapped to slink into the access/maintenance tunnels that the bigger guys can't fit in. He was telling us one story about the access being so tight that he had to strip down and then he kept bumping up against the hot pipes. Yowza! Not for me. I do have this picture in my head that makes me laugh though. :)
Jan 22, 2018
CSW
Well, just got back from Power School graduation Friday.
It was awesome but COLD. I think it was 23 degrees when the ceremony started and YES it was outside. They were waffeling on letting the sailors wear their p-coats but not everyone had their coat patched and they must look alike so they had to stand in their winter dress in that COLD.
Some things to note for power school graduation......
Get there early and try to get a center seat. They will let you get up and take photos as your sailors' section comes up to the stage, so don't worry, they know photos are important.
They line up the sailors by height, so nothing is in alphabetical order.
The sailors must be out of their barracks shortly after graduation so it's another scramble to get signed out and get orders after the ceremony.
Book hotels early....so many people were booking through Kayak and then the hotel was sold out so they had to find other choices. When you call the hotels direct they often give you a military discount if you're going to a graduation.
Don't forget to bring your invitation to the gate along with ID and remember if you're renting a car you may have to show your proof of insurance. They didn't ask us, but I heard they were asking some.
Boot Camp graduation is certainly the most exciting, A school is intimate and not much ceremony and Power School is one step below. In warmer weather it would be very special, but it was so cold we didn't linger.
There's plenty to do in Charleston as well with lots of military specials....sailors in uniform get into Patriots Point, Ft. Sumpter at no charge as well as other discounts for entry to museums and/or events even meals.
Our sailor is off to BS NY and we're hopeful the Congress will get this budget mess worked out soon so our military and their familys don't suffer.
Jan 22, 2018
Tracie
JayDee659- that makes me feel better abt the psych testing, no way I could do it but my son was very nonchalant abt it until he learned about hot racks. Very different thinking about and actually understanding working conditions.
Lazerguppie- my son said there are a lot of nucs in his PIR group as well. Guess recruiters doing a good job at recruiting.
My SR contracted in almost 18 months ago, his original pick was full, he kept getting pushed back, recruiter brought up nuc and said he would probably get pushed through quicker so he finally decided he was game.... 12 months later he was sent to BC.
He learned Navy Time is its own time and patience is a necessity and ya just gotta roll with it.
Jan 22, 2018
ProudOfK
CSW congratulations to your sailor. And thank you for posting all of the great info about Power School graduation. Sorry it was so good though. I'm glad our sons is in May - just hope its not raining.
Jan 22, 2018
ProudOfK
That was supposed to say sorry it was so cold though
Jan 22, 2018
CSW
ProudOfK- Thanks! We've seen college graduations, but the military does an extra special job. They do a great job of reiterating the feeling of family/brotherhood. In terms of the rain, they have canopies over the seats and over the stage and over the sitting sailors so I think they're used to dealing with that weather.
In terms of sub duty and passing comps we met two sailors who didn't pass comps. One sailor was being re-rated and she seem relieved. She was on mandatory 30 hours additional study and even though she's one smart cookie, it just wasn't fitting. She and the Navy worked out a new plan and it seems to work for both.
The other sailor got set back to take comp again with the next class.
Sub vols are special people and it's clear the Navy works hard to make sure it's a good fit. Our sailor said you're hot bunking pretty much until you're a chief. They purchase sleeping bags and move those from rack to rack. Sub vols do get higher pay and they seem to be on a pretty fast track for advancement as a payback for the difficulty. Their tours can also be shorter than ships which is another benefit.
Jan 22, 2018
JayDee659
Tracie, I got my SIL a set of sheets from Rack Sheets and he uses these. After he's done in the rack he just rolls up his sheets and it's ready for the next sailor. Having your own bedding makes it a little more personal.
CSW glad you got to go to graduation! My daughter's power school graduation was cancelled as they were all evacuating ahead of a hurricane. Hurricane season does start May 1 in the Atlantic and runs through November, so make sure you always book a room that can be cancelled! My husbands siblings lost their money as they booked an Air B&B and didn't buy the insurance. oops...
Jan 22, 2018
NonnaB
My son has been on a sub for over 5 years; he volunteered because he felt the smaller crew would help him advance. He will be teaching soon but intends to go back to another boat when his instructor tour is over. He has been giving serious consideration to making a long career out of the Navy. Some part of his decision is financial and I believe some of it is because he likes his ELT position. He is also, pretty much, the old man of his boat, and has the ability to compartmentalize his life. It's nice to know that my son is making the choices he feels are best for him. I also know that Mr. B would be very proud of him and he is honoring his Daddy's memory. I am also quite proud of him.
Jan 22, 2018
3B'smom
CSW -
We were there for A school grad. It was 26* when we got back to the car after it was over. I was sooo glad to be indoors! Kudos to you and all of the other families and sailors that sat in the cold.
Jan 22, 2018
CSW
3B'sMom.....
Wow, just because it's the South, don't expect it to be warm...and in some cases when it is colder they don't have the infrastructure to deal with it. They really don't do snow/ice well at all!
For those of you mom's who already have a Nuke submariner...thanks for paving the way. It can be a difficult life, but life is a challenge in itself. I have learned a lot about how to be supportive from you all. THANKS!
Jan 22, 2018
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Hi all - Happy Monday!
Lots of chatter this weekend I see. Hopefully everyone is getting their questions answered. If not be sure to ask again - sometimes a question can get lost in all the comments. Don't be afraid to ask again!
NonnaB - I'm sure Mr B is looking down and smiling on your sailor!
Hopefully none of you are worried about sub duty - it is definitely volunteer only. Although my son would often talk about how they were "voluntold" to do things, but they won't do that with subs. They have more volunteers than positions available.
Jan 22, 2018