kai cat it's not creepy at all. Nukes can be a little introverted sometimes and it can make one wonder how they meet people. In high school my sailor could not make a phone call to order a pizza or make a hair appointment, but put her on the band field or the ROTC drill deck and put her in charge and it was a totally different person who showed up. She could manage those other kids like nobody's business. Both her high school boyfriends were also in ROTC. Birds of a feather flock together.
So....I had that dating thought too. I asked my son if I could find him a church in the area (he is a pastors kid so being in church in normal). Contacted churches that listed a young adult ministry and he went to one last Sunday. Said he had a blast and that he spent the afternoon with a large group of young people having a bbq! Kat it isn't weird at all. The girl thing (and a homecooked meal) was how I got him to consider going at all.
Mammagoose, my sailor and her husband joined a church in GC also. The chaplain at BC was kind enough to give my daughter a list of churches in our denomination in the GC area. The congregation was mostly older folks that practically adopted them. I did get to attend church with them before they left and pastor said he everyone was very excited to see the "younger kids" come to church. This was the church they were going to be married in if Hurricane Matthew hadn't crashed our party.
Mammagoose and JayDee659 - we might have to swap some church information. My son doesn't have a car, just his bicycle, so getting to a church is not easy. We have talked about it, but he usually goes in an does his studying on Sundays, it is not even easy to get ahold of him on Sunday. He tends to be freer on Saturday. He mentioned that they (some of his friends I guess) were doing a Bible Study on Wed but I forgot to ask him the other day how that was going. I know one of his good classmate friends is rerating and I don't know if he was part of the group or not.
As for dating - he basically told me they were strictly advised to not pursue much. I don't think they were told not to, but I just had the impression from him that everything would stay - friends only. He is also just out of HS, so I am okay with him not dating anyone at the moment. There are 3 females in his ET class, which I guess is more than the average.
Chipmunk, they're not allowed to date in their chain of command. So if they're in the same A School class they either cannot date or one of them might get rolled back, I think there are a couple of ways to handle it. They want the kids to concentrate on their studying, not on studying each other. That doesn't mean they're isolated and don't notice each other.
My sailor attended church several miles from the base. Since she had her car she had the luxury of picking where she wanted to attend.
My son did not have a lot of luck dating in high school - there were girlfriends, but they never lasted long. He has met someone already at GC that he really seems to get along with...nothing serious yet of course, but I'm actually relieved it's another Nuke. I was telling my sister the other day, at least this way it is someone who understands what his priorities need to be and what pressure he is under - it won't be some girl complaining because he doesn't spend enough time with her lol
bigsky21 dating another Nuke definitely has it's advantages. My daughter went to BC still "with" her high school boyfriend. He was all about waiting for her and got her a ring for Christmas. Over New Years he told her he didn't want to wait home alone while she was deployed, at school, whatever. She dropped him really fast. The Nuke/Nuke thing has worked well for them. They understand each other and more importantly understand when they can't talk about work.
My son broke up with his girlfriend when he went to boot camp thinking it was impossible to maintain a long-distance relationship especially with the conditions that exist being in the navy. Long story short, he married her between A School and Proto. True love will prevail. I worry that they married so young but here they are 6 years in and holding strong through deployments, cross-country moves, and family drama.
Meanwhile, my son told me via email today that he took the Chief exam! It's his first time taking it so I don't expect him to make chief right away but you could have knocked me over with a feather. Mamas, let me just say that as nukes advancement is good. They enter the fleet as petty officers and that gives them a step up. Naturally my son only told me that because I had asked him if he was able to call home one day when I saw on FB that all the sailors were in the hangar bay making calls b/c they were in a place where their cell phones worked. He said no he couldn't call b/c he was taking the chief exam. He always acts like no big deal. I guess in fairness it isn't unless he passes.
Meanwhile also, I'm having terrible flashbacks of that Alfred Hitchcock show. I had happily pushed it back into my subconscious and now it has returned. <sigh> Navy moms just give and give. ;D
On the dating topic - my son also went in with a long term GF (6 years) and they broke up during power school. Fast forward a few years and he met his now GF who was also a nuke. They are both out now, going to college. He'll be moving to MI where she's at in May and they do plan on getting married but no date set yet. It's fun hearing them compare Navy stories! And the way I see it, I have 2 sailors I get to love now!
The December bride who, bored with dancing, skipped from the castle hall to play hide-and-seek, a white bird flickering into the dark...
The groom, who searched each room, calling her name; then the bridal guests, flame-lit, checking the grounds...
The fifty Christmases till a carpenter jemmied an old oak chest; the skeleton with its unstrung pearls, loose emeralds, its rings of diamond, sapphire, gold...
The running feet, the shouting for others to see what he’d seen; mistletoe in the loose bones of a hand...
My son is 20, never had a GF, only went on 2 dates in HS. He was told in BC to NOT date Navy women! LOL. His recruiter also said to avoid Navy women as some only want to avoid a ship tour and "forget" birth control. Darned if you do, darned if you don't.
Wow, as a mom of a Sailor son and two civilian daughters, I am actually a little miffed that the recruiter said that to your son. I am definitely standing up for all those women who chose to become Navy sailors and I am pretty sure none of them were thinking about getting pregnant to avoid a ship tour. My son is also dating a Nuke and she is the best thing that ever happened to him :-) He is older though, just turned 28 years old. Hooyah, go Navy!!!
My daughter is a Nuke and she has no plans for getting pregnant and the thought of missing a deployment or underway is out of the question for her. It's unfortunate that some go in to the the Navy with the attitude of "how do I get out of..." but sadly some do. BUT there are lots of incredible ladies in the Navy and I like to believe they are the majority. All that I have met have been awesome!
lazerguppie - wasn't that a creepy episode. It really scared me to the core. Of course I was only 5 or 6 when I saw it. I am sure of that timeline because I remember seeing it in the first house I lived n and we moved to a new house on the day I turned 7. So way too young to be watching that.
And to everyone else who I have now given a creepy visual or flashbacks. Sorry!!! I just had to share with my Navy family.
And saying Navy family is really special for me. My son is the one who joined the Navy but has pretty much remained a loner, like many nukes who can be introverted at times.. I on the other hand seemed to be the one that gained the family. Something I always wanted to have - a really big, sharing, caring family Love ya all!!!
I agree - that was a little uncalled for for the recruiter to say that about women wanting to get pregnant to miss a deployment. I'm sure there's good & bad of both sexes but there's also many more amazing sailors of both sexes.
Of course there is another saying in the Navy that goes "if the Navy wanted you to have a spouse, they would assign you one!" (It's a joke - not trying to ruffle any feathers ;-D)
Yea as a female I’m kinda annoyed about the pregnancy comment...my sons recruiter tried a different route to discourage relationships with female recruits in BC he reminded them females do exact same thing males do and have exactly same amount of time for personal hygiene no matter what, so they are going to be just as stinky and foul as the males...
So much more non biased approach I think and kinda funny.
Tom, wise words as usual. My son has had no problem working with women. He grew up in a house of women (he was the only male once dad left) and he treats us with respect, and I expect that translates to the job. He also appreciates strong women. He married one. My advice is for the moms of the young sailors, if any of you haven't had the sex talk yet, it's high time. People will be human.
I feel like this is my navy family too, soccermom. I have tons of family but you ladies (and men) have been my support for a long time and I appreciate each of you.
B'sNuke, it's so wonderful to hear about B since he left the navy. He's found love and is building his future. It warms my heart. Thanks so much for letting us share his journey. I have never met the man but I feel like I know him a little. He is a gem, as is his mother. <3<3<3
My son enjoyed Metro North church in goose creek while he was there. He then moved to NY for prototype he did find a church there i just am not sure of the name. He too was one that had not dated in high school and college before joining the navy. He says he sees girls he would like to ask out but moving around stopped him. I told him at Christmas in 2015 ask them and let them decide if they would be interested in a Navy man. Little did mom now there was a girl he had in mind at the church he was intending in NY. They had been an item now since last April. She in NY and him in Bremerton WA. Time will time if it ends in marriage. He did go visit for 2 wks last month.
Wow, some days we chatter a lot and others it is pretty quiet. JayDee a few pages back you clarified what I think my son was trying to tell me. They aren't allowed to date in the same class or such so they aren't distracted.
B'sNuke - my son also told me the same joke "if the Navy wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one."
NancyJo - my husband reminds our children all the time, if you do what hormones tell you to do, the hormones will win all the time. In one of my first long conversations when my son arrived at GC he thanked me for several things, teaching him to always tell the truth and fess up if he was in the wrong, treating others with respect, and a healthy understanding of sex, drugs, and alcohol and also how to handle money. That came from dad as well and most lessons are learned as the results of various life experiences, but recognizing how to stand in wise counsel and Godly wisdom is usually beneficial to all.
Thanks for the suggestions on churches, and all the chatter. It is good to see lots of responses. Soccermom19 - glad to be a part of your extended family.
Now it is off to help out one of my children. Just because they grow up doesn't mean I don't still get two phone calls at once, or help with an earache, or I still need you to come see me for some reason. I love them all!!
Chipmunk they can't date in the same chain of command for the same reason many companies do not allow coworkers to date. There's favoritism, influence, distraction just to name a few.
Lazerguppie - That's funny! My son was also told in BC not to date Navy gals. He had a saying, "If she's in blue, she's not for you!"
That being said, none of his friends took it to heart, and dated fellow Navy gals. They are the only ones who understand what pressure they are really under.
My Nuke didn't date in high school because he said he couldn't afford girls, and he planned to move away. Said he didn't want to invest in a girl and leave. LOW AND BEHOLD! His Senior Prom, he asked a Freshman who had eyes for him. They have been together ever since and now she's a Senior.
I wish them all the best, as some have turned into lovely adventures.
Pooh’s mom -my son heard the same thing about Navy Gals
when my son left for BC he did have a girlfriend from high school. They stated together for about 1 1/2 years, but the distance just didn’t work for them. They are still friends. He has decided that for now having a relationship would not work for him. No women on his sub, so no romances will happen for him for sometime. These young people are mature beyond their years
So, I shipped the phone and got a tracking email that said it was at the post office for pick up. How often are they able to go to said post office and pick up mail? Do they get notices that a package is waiting for them? I know in BC, they got mail call. Is that the same as in INDOC and A school?
lazerguppie - It is my understanding that the PO (mailroom) will send your son a notice that he has a pkg to pick up. Unlike at BC they are allowed to go to the mail room and pick up their packages, that said, I am not sure of the mailroom hours so some times it can take a few days before they are able to get over to pick up a pkg.
Other than pkgs, I am not sure how may call works. They are usually in class from 8 AM - 4:30 pm approximately.
Do any of the veterans know anything thing about the Dash for Cash - In my very short call today, my son said something about it being either the PFA or PFT (I forgot) that they have to pass in order to advance to E4. It is evidently coming up shortly, at least for his class.
It’s the nickname of the qualifying physical test that they have to pass ( along with other standards) to move up to E4, which comes with a pay raise. Most of them pass it with the qualifying run, exercises, etc., just regular PT stuff, but if they have any kind of limiting physical condition there are alternatives, like stationary biking up to a required energy expenditure.
Chipmunk I saw your post last night but was just too tired to respond then. Ditto on what SailorsLMom said. I believe my son had his dash for cash about a month before his A school graduation. Passing the dash for cash along with passing A school qualified him to advance to E4.
SailorsLIMom and ProudOfK - Thanks for explaining the Dash for Cash. This is what I understood from my son but didn't know exactly how to explain it.
It sounds like only certain classes at A school take it then. In other words not everyone there is doing the Dash for Cash at once. My son is 1801-T and scheduled to graduate A school April 6 (new date from snow days) - He just sounded very busy, big test today. I think it is ICE - not sure.
If they don't pass the "dash for cash" they will still move on to power school but they won't automatically advance to E4. They'll have the opportunity to pass it again later.
Soccermom19 - I am not exactly certain what ICE is. I think it is one of the Electrical tests that the ETs take. I need to look it up, when I originally heard my son talk about it, I thought it was their comprehensives, but then he said something to his father Saturday about ICE, and I just know it is a very detailed test that they have to have everything exactly right. His father is an engineer so they talk "shop", and I talked about the "business" things we needed to deal with.
Any navy moms have a sailor graduating the MM A school Feb 16th? I can't make it but my sailor said it was no big deal and he does not get any extra time off. I still feel bad but I will try to send him something in the mail.
He also said after power school he may have to wait a few months at GC before prototype school. Has anyone had any experience with this?
Thanks so much. BTW - my sailor's girfriend enlisted as DEP in navy (hoping for CTE? assignment) so we will see how this will work our for both of them. They seem fine so far.
Workingatit, the hold before going to prototype is not unheard of. Sometimes it's due to maintenance. My Nuke was told that she could have a 6-8 month hold and ended up starting fairly soon after power school was over. If I were you I wouldn't worry about it until it happens, this will save you a lot of stress along the way.
Good advice, JayDee. All things happen in Navy time. My son was in grad hold for some months waiting for proto. That was a while back now but it wouldn't surprise me if that is still the case. When my son went to BS there were 2 plants and now there is only 1.
Many of you probably got the email message from AZNuKeGma. I was explaining to her that when you send a message to the group as a whole it will go to the email address that you used when you signed up for N4M. It doesn't go into your "inbox" on here. I don't know why, it's weird! And when the message is sent the sender doesn't see your personal email address either. I asked her to share her comments on this page so we can all comment back to her.
She was sharing that her grandson will be going to Ballston Spa for prototype and he is very happy about it ;-D (My son was in BS for proto and he really liked it there too - a change of scenery from GC!
B'sNuke thanks for reaching out to AZNukeGma- I saw her comment on main chat and in my email.
So, I got a few minutes in with my son today - Just FYI for those at GC - Sometimes around 4:15 - 4:45 pm if your sailor goes back to their BEQ to change and shower after PT or the 5K (since they are doing that in the afternoon currently) you might be able to get them to answer their phone if you just happen to call them. Usually, I text first but I was driving today at that time so couldn't and he had just texted me.
Passed his last E-funds test and no it wasn't ICE (he told me but I couldn't write) that is their last section, I think. He did say they are doing the official PFA tomorrow and to pray he didn't get stopped on the push-ups. They have more eyes watching them here than at BC and they have to have their form just right. He did well on his test, not the best, but that is okay!!
workingatit - my son had a 4 month hold between power school and proto and then it was 9 months to get through proto. There were lots of shutdowns. He was lucky in that he qualified 3 weeks before graduation so he didn't have to do much in those last few weeks.
Chipmunk and soccermom19 - wanted to answer your question about ICE. As you said Chipmunk it is the last class (about 4 weeks long if I remember right) in A school for ETs. I don't remember exactly what the letters stand for but I believe the E is for Equipment. At any rate it is a very difficult class - it was definitely the most challenging part of A school for my son.
There are places on the internet that list the 6 most academically challenging jobs in the military (not just the navy) - the top 3 in this list are the 3 nuke jobs (ET, EM and MM). It list the ET as the most challenging and what my son heard (I don't know if this is fact but it is what he heard) is that the ICE class is the reason that ET is considered the most challenging. In other words - it is very challenging - but my sailor made it through and I've no doubt yours will as well.
Thanks ProudOfK ! I thought ICE was toward the end of A school for ETs, which is why I was confused the other day when listening to only one side of the conversation my husband was having with our son.
I will say, I don't think I could honestly study one subject all day long, go do PT or a 5K, grab dinner and head back for 5 hours of study. He was only on 10-0 but he knew he had to study that much for this last test in E-funds. Not only that but to immediately jump in the same day and start a new subject while waiting for your other test to be graded, not a day in between or anything.
Ladies, this is why you don't always hear from your sailors!
JayDee659
kai cat it's not creepy at all. Nukes can be a little introverted sometimes and it can make one wonder how they meet people. In high school my sailor could not make a phone call to order a pizza or make a hair appointment, but put her on the band field or the ROTC drill deck and put her in charge and it was a totally different person who showed up. She could manage those other kids like nobody's business. Both her high school boyfriends were also in ROTC. Birds of a feather flock together.
Jan 23, 2018
Mammagoose
So....I had that dating thought too. I asked my son if I could find him a church in the area (he is a pastors kid so being in church in normal). Contacted churches that listed a young adult ministry and he went to one last Sunday. Said he had a blast and that he spent the afternoon with a large group of young people having a bbq! Kat it isn't weird at all. The girl thing (and a homecooked meal) was how I got him to consider going at all.
Jan 23, 2018
JayDee659
Mammagoose, my sailor and her husband joined a church in GC also. The chaplain at BC was kind enough to give my daughter a list of churches in our denomination in the GC area. The congregation was mostly older folks that practically adopted them. I did get to attend church with them before they left and pastor said he everyone was very excited to see the "younger kids" come to church. This was the church they were going to be married in if Hurricane Matthew hadn't crashed our party.
Jan 23, 2018
Chipmunk
Mammagoose and JayDee659 - we might have to swap some church information. My son doesn't have a car, just his bicycle, so getting to a church is not easy. We have talked about it, but he usually goes in an does his studying on Sundays, it is not even easy to get ahold of him on Sunday. He tends to be freer on Saturday. He mentioned that they (some of his friends I guess) were doing a Bible Study on Wed but I forgot to ask him the other day how that was going. I know one of his good classmate friends is rerating and I don't know if he was part of the group or not.
As for dating - he basically told me they were strictly advised to not pursue much. I don't think they were told not to, but I just had the impression from him that everything would stay - friends only. He is also just out of HS, so I am okay with him not dating anyone at the moment. There are 3 females in his ET class, which I guess is more than the average.
Jan 23, 2018
JayDee659
Chipmunk, they're not allowed to date in their chain of command. So if they're in the same A School class they either cannot date or one of them might get rolled back, I think there are a couple of ways to handle it. They want the kids to concentrate on their studying, not on studying each other. That doesn't mean they're isolated and don't notice each other.
My sailor attended church several miles from the base. Since she had her car she had the luxury of picking where she wanted to attend.
Jan 23, 2018
bigsky21
My son did not have a lot of luck dating in high school - there were girlfriends, but they never lasted long. He has met someone already at GC that he really seems to get along with...nothing serious yet of course, but I'm actually relieved it's another Nuke. I was telling my sister the other day, at least this way it is someone who understands what his priorities need to be and what pressure he is under - it won't be some girl complaining because he doesn't spend enough time with her lol
Jan 23, 2018
JayDee659
bigsky21 dating another Nuke definitely has it's advantages. My daughter went to BC still "with" her high school boyfriend. He was all about waiting for her and got her a ring for Christmas. Over New Years he told her he didn't want to wait home alone while she was deployed, at school, whatever. She dropped him really fast. The Nuke/Nuke thing has worked well for them. They understand each other and more importantly understand when they can't talk about work.
Jan 23, 2018
NancyJo (NNPTC)
My son broke up with his girlfriend when he went to boot camp thinking it was impossible to maintain a long-distance relationship especially with the conditions that exist being in the navy. Long story short, he married her between A School and Proto. True love will prevail. I worry that they married so young but here they are 6 years in and holding strong through deployments, cross-country moves, and family drama.
Meanwhile, my son told me via email today that he took the Chief exam! It's his first time taking it so I don't expect him to make chief right away but you could have knocked me over with a feather. Mamas, let me just say that as nukes advancement is good. They enter the fleet as petty officers and that gives them a step up. Naturally my son only told me that because I had asked him if he was able to call home one day when I saw on FB that all the sailors were in the hangar bay making calls b/c they were in a place where their cell phones worked. He said no he couldn't call b/c he was taking the chief exam. He always acts like no big deal. I guess in fairness it isn't unless he passes.
Meanwhile also, I'm having terrible flashbacks of that Alfred Hitchcock show. I had happily pushed it back into my subconscious and now it has returned. <sigh> Navy moms just give and give. ;D
Jan 23, 2018
Lazerguppie
Soccermom! I remember that episode!!!
Jan 23, 2018
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Hi all - Happy Tuesday!
On the dating topic - my son also went in with a long term GF (6 years) and they broke up during power school. Fast forward a few years and he met his now GF who was also a nuke. They are both out now, going to college. He'll be moving to MI where she's at in May and they do plan on getting married but no date set yet. It's fun hearing them compare Navy stories! And the way I see it, I have 2 sailors I get to love now!
Jan 23, 2018
JayDee659
Never saw that movie but here's what I think of:
The Mistletoe Bride - Carol Ann Duffy
The December bride who, bored with dancing, skipped from the castle hall to play hide-and-seek, a white bird flickering into the dark...
The groom, who searched each room, calling her name; then the bridal guests, flame-lit, checking the grounds...
The fifty Christmases till a carpenter jemmied an old oak chest; the skeleton with its unstrung pearls, loose emeralds, its rings of diamond, sapphire, gold...
The running feet, the shouting for others to see what he’d seen; mistletoe in the loose bones of a hand...
like love, patiently green.
Jan 23, 2018
Lazerguppie
My son is 20, never had a GF, only went on 2 dates in HS. He was told in BC to NOT date Navy women! LOL. His recruiter also said to avoid Navy women as some only want to avoid a ship tour and "forget" birth control. Darned if you do, darned if you don't.
Jan 23, 2018
Besties4dogs (NukeMM)
Wow, as a mom of a Sailor son and two civilian daughters, I am actually a little miffed that the recruiter said that to your son. I am definitely standing up for all those women who chose to become Navy sailors and I am pretty sure none of them were thinking about getting pregnant to avoid a ship tour. My son is also dating a Nuke and she is the best thing that ever happened to him :-) He is older though, just turned 28 years old. Hooyah, go Navy!!!
Jan 23, 2018
JayDee659
My daughter is a Nuke and she has no plans for getting pregnant and the thought of missing a deployment or underway is out of the question for her. It's unfortunate that some go in to the the Navy with the attitude of "how do I get out of..." but sadly some do. BUT there are lots of incredible ladies in the Navy and I like to believe they are the majority. All that I have met have been awesome!
Jan 23, 2018
soccermom19
lazerguppie - wasn't that a creepy episode. It really scared me to the core. Of course I was only 5 or 6 when I saw it. I am sure of that timeline because I remember seeing it in the first house I lived n and we moved to a new house on the day I turned 7. So way too young to be watching that.
And to everyone else who I have now given a creepy visual or flashbacks. Sorry!!! I just had to share with my Navy family.
And saying Navy family is really special for me. My son is the one who joined the Navy but has pretty much remained a loner, like many nukes who can be introverted at times.. I on the other hand seemed to be the one that gained the family. Something I always wanted to have - a really big, sharing, caring family Love ya all!!!
Jan 23, 2018
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
I agree - that was a little uncalled for for the recruiter to say that about women wanting to get pregnant to miss a deployment. I'm sure there's good & bad of both sexes but there's also many more amazing sailors of both sexes.
Of course there is another saying in the Navy that goes "if the Navy wanted you to have a spouse, they would assign you one!" (It's a joke - not trying to ruffle any feathers ;-D)
Jan 23, 2018
Tracie
Yea as a female I’m kinda annoyed about the pregnancy comment...my sons recruiter tried a different route to discourage relationships with female recruits in BC he reminded them females do exact same thing males do and have exactly same amount of time for personal hygiene no matter what, so they are going to be just as stinky and foul as the males...
So much more non biased approach I think and kinda funny.
Jan 23, 2018
NancyJo (NNPTC)
Tom, wise words as usual. My son has had no problem working with women. He grew up in a house of women (he was the only male once dad left) and he treats us with respect, and I expect that translates to the job. He also appreciates strong women. He married one. My advice is for the moms of the young sailors, if any of you haven't had the sex talk yet, it's high time. People will be human.
I feel like this is my navy family too, soccermom. I have tons of family but you ladies (and men) have been my support for a long time and I appreciate each of you.
Jan 23, 2018
NancyJo (NNPTC)
B'sNuke, it's so wonderful to hear about B since he left the navy. He's found love and is building his future. It warms my heart. Thanks so much for letting us share his journey. I have never met the man but I feel like I know him a little. He is a gem, as is his mother. <3<3<3
Jan 23, 2018
topdog1p
My son enjoyed Metro North church in goose creek while he was there. He then moved to NY for prototype he did find a church there i just am not sure of the name. He too was one that had not dated in high school and college before joining the navy. He says he sees girls he would like to ask out but moving around stopped him. I told him at Christmas in 2015 ask them and let them decide if they would be interested in a Navy man. Little did mom now there was a girl he had in mind at the church he was intending in NY. They had been an item now since last April. She in NY and him in Bremerton WA. Time will time if it ends in marriage. He did go visit for 2 wks last month.
Jan 23, 2018
Chipmunk
Wow, some days we chatter a lot and others it is pretty quiet. JayDee a few pages back you clarified what I think my son was trying to tell me. They aren't allowed to date in the same class or such so they aren't distracted.
B'sNuke - my son also told me the same joke "if the Navy wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one."
NancyJo - my husband reminds our children all the time, if you do what hormones tell you to do, the hormones will win all the time. In one of my first long conversations when my son arrived at GC he thanked me for several things, teaching him to always tell the truth and fess up if he was in the wrong, treating others with respect, and a healthy understanding of sex, drugs, and alcohol and also how to handle money. That came from dad as well and most lessons are learned as the results of various life experiences, but recognizing how to stand in wise counsel and Godly wisdom is usually beneficial to all.
Thanks for the suggestions on churches, and all the chatter. It is good to see lots of responses. Soccermom19 - glad to be a part of your extended family.
Now it is off to help out one of my children. Just because they grow up doesn't mean I don't still get two phone calls at once, or help with an earache, or I still need you to come see me for some reason. I love them all!!
Jan 23, 2018
JayDee659
Chipmunk they can't date in the same chain of command for the same reason many companies do not allow coworkers to date. There's favoritism, influence, distraction just to name a few.
Jan 23, 2018
Pooh'sMom
Lazerguppie - That's funny! My son was also told in BC not to date Navy gals. He had a saying, "If she's in blue, she's not for you!"
That being said, none of his friends took it to heart, and dated fellow Navy gals. They are the only ones who understand what pressure they are really under.
My Nuke didn't date in high school because he said he couldn't afford girls, and he planned to move away. Said he didn't want to invest in a girl and leave. LOW AND BEHOLD! His Senior Prom, he asked a Freshman who had eyes for him. They have been together ever since and now she's a Senior.
I wish them all the best, as some have turned into lovely adventures.
Jan 23, 2018
momc
Pooh’s mom -my son heard the same thing about Navy Gals
when my son left for BC he did have a girlfriend from high school. They stated together for about 1 1/2 years, but the distance just didn’t work for them. They are still friends. He has decided that for now having a relationship would not work for him. No women on his sub, so no romances will happen for him for sometime. These young people are mature beyond their years
Jan 23, 2018
Pooh'sMom
momc - I agree! I'm so impressed with these mature women and men.
Jan 23, 2018
Lazerguppie
So, I shipped the phone and got a tracking email that said it was at the post office for pick up. How often are they able to go to said post office and pick up mail? Do they get notices that a package is waiting for them? I know in BC, they got mail call. Is that the same as in INDOC and A school?
Jan 23, 2018
Chipmunk
lazerguppie - It is my understanding that the PO (mailroom) will send your son a notice that he has a pkg to pick up. Unlike at BC they are allowed to go to the mail room and pick up their packages, that said, I am not sure of the mailroom hours so some times it can take a few days before they are able to get over to pick up a pkg.
Other than pkgs, I am not sure how may call works. They are usually in class from 8 AM - 4:30 pm approximately.
Jan 24, 2018
Chipmunk
Do any of the veterans know anything thing about the Dash for Cash - In my very short call today, my son said something about it being either the PFA or PFT (I forgot) that they have to pass in order to advance to E4. It is evidently coming up shortly, at least for his class.
Jan 24, 2018
soccermom19
What is a Dash for Cash?
Jan 24, 2018
NNLori
Never heard of a Dash for Cash. I have no idea. I'll be anxious to see if someone else can explain what it is. :)
Jan 24, 2018
SailorsLIMom
It’s the nickname of the qualifying physical test that they have to pass ( along with other standards) to move up to E4, which comes with a pay raise. Most of them pass it with the qualifying run, exercises, etc., just regular PT stuff, but if they have any kind of limiting physical condition there are alternatives, like stationary biking up to a required energy expenditure.
Jan 24, 2018
ProudOfK
Chipmunk I saw your post last night but was just too tired to respond then. Ditto on what SailorsLMom said. I believe my son had his dash for cash about a month before his A school graduation. Passing the dash for cash along with passing A school qualified him to advance to E4.
Jan 24, 2018
Chipmunk
SailorsLIMom and ProudOfK - Thanks for explaining the Dash for Cash. This is what I understood from my son but didn't know exactly how to explain it.
It sounds like only certain classes at A school take it then. In other words not everyone there is doing the Dash for Cash at once. My son is 1801-T and scheduled to graduate A school April 6 (new date from snow days) - He just sounded very busy, big test today. I think it is ICE - not sure.
Jan 24, 2018
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Hi all - Happy Wednesday!
Guess what day it is? It's Fiona the Hippo's first birthday!
Jan 24, 2018
JayDee659
Yea! Happy Birthday Fiona!!! Such a cutie, hard to believe it's been a year already.
Jan 24, 2018
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
If they don't pass the "dash for cash" they will still move on to power school but they won't automatically advance to E4. They'll have the opportunity to pass it again later.
Jan 24, 2018
soccermom19
Chipmunk - What is ICE?
Jan 24, 2018
Chipmunk
Soccermom19 - I am not exactly certain what ICE is. I think it is one of the Electrical tests that the ETs take. I need to look it up, when I originally heard my son talk about it, I thought it was their comprehensives, but then he said something to his father Saturday about ICE, and I just know it is a very detailed test that they have to have everything exactly right. His father is an engineer so they talk "shop", and I talked about the "business" things we needed to deal with.
Jan 24, 2018
workingatit
Any navy moms have a sailor graduating the MM A school Feb 16th? I can't make it but my sailor said it was no big deal and he does not get any extra time off. I still feel bad but I will try to send him something in the mail.
He also said after power school he may have to wait a few months at GC before prototype school. Has anyone had any experience with this?
Thanks so much. BTW - my sailor's girfriend enlisted as DEP in navy (hoping for CTE? assignment) so we will see how this will work our for both of them. They seem fine so far.
Jan 24, 2018
JayDee659
Workingatit, the hold before going to prototype is not unheard of. Sometimes it's due to maintenance. My Nuke was told that she could have a 6-8 month hold and ended up starting fairly soon after power school was over. If I were you I wouldn't worry about it until it happens, this will save you a lot of stress along the way.
Jan 24, 2018
NancyJo (NNPTC)
Good advice, JayDee. All things happen in Navy time. My son was in grad hold for some months waiting for proto. That was a while back now but it wouldn't surprise me if that is still the case. When my son went to BS there were 2 plants and now there is only 1.
Jan 24, 2018
3B'smom
workingatit - I have heard the same thing. My son said that he could have a wait time of 8 months.
Jan 24, 2018
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Many of you probably got the email message from AZNuKeGma. I was explaining to her that when you send a message to the group as a whole it will go to the email address that you used when you signed up for N4M. It doesn't go into your "inbox" on here. I don't know why, it's weird! And when the message is sent the sender doesn't see your personal email address either. I asked her to share her comments on this page so we can all comment back to her.
She was sharing that her grandson will be going to Ballston Spa for prototype and he is very happy about it ;-D (My son was in BS for proto and he really liked it there too - a change of scenery from GC!
Jan 24, 2018
Chipmunk
B'sNuke thanks for reaching out to AZNukeGma- I saw her comment on main chat and in my email.
So, I got a few minutes in with my son today - Just FYI for those at GC - Sometimes around 4:15 - 4:45 pm if your sailor goes back to their BEQ to change and shower after PT or the 5K (since they are doing that in the afternoon currently) you might be able to get them to answer their phone if you just happen to call them. Usually, I text first but I was driving today at that time so couldn't and he had just texted me.
Passed his last E-funds test and no it wasn't ICE (he told me but I couldn't write) that is their last section, I think. He did say they are doing the official PFA tomorrow and to pray he didn't get stopped on the push-ups. They have more eyes watching them here than at BC and they have to have their form just right. He did well on his test, not the best, but that is okay!!
Jan 24, 2018
workingatit
Thanks for the responses! Navy moms are awesome!
Jan 24, 2018
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
workingatit - my son had a 4 month hold between power school and proto and then it was 9 months to get through proto. There were lots of shutdowns. He was lucky in that he qualified 3 weeks before graduation so he didn't have to do much in those last few weeks.
Jan 24, 2018
soccermom19
Navy moms are awesome indeed!!!!
Jan 24, 2018
kai cat
I want to thank everyone for answering my questions about dating/marrying in the navy! Also - thanks for not thinking I am some sort of creeper! (LOL)
All of your comments have greatly relieved my mind about my son finding someone if it is meant to be.
Jan 24, 2018
ProudOfK
Chipmunk and soccermom19 - wanted to answer your question about ICE. As you said Chipmunk it is the last class (about 4 weeks long if I remember right) in A school for ETs. I don't remember exactly what the letters stand for but I believe the E is for Equipment. At any rate it is a very difficult class - it was definitely the most challenging part of A school for my son.
There are places on the internet that list the 6 most academically challenging jobs in the military (not just the navy) - the top 3 in this list are the 3 nuke jobs (ET, EM and MM). It list the ET as the most challenging and what my son heard (I don't know if this is fact but it is what he heard) is that the ICE class is the reason that ET is considered the most challenging. In other words - it is very challenging - but my sailor made it through and I've no doubt yours will as well.
Jan 25, 2018
Chipmunk
Thanks ProudOfK ! I thought ICE was toward the end of A school for ETs, which is why I was confused the other day when listening to only one side of the conversation my husband was having with our son.
I will say, I don't think I could honestly study one subject all day long, go do PT or a 5K, grab dinner and head back for 5 hours of study. He was only on 10-0 but he knew he had to study that much for this last test in E-funds. Not only that but to immediately jump in the same day and start a new subject while waiting for your other test to be graded, not a day in between or anything.
Ladies, this is why you don't always hear from your sailors!
Jan 25, 2018