NUKE moms

Chipmunk - yay for grandbaby snuggles - even if it was only a few!

Yes, they are the best!! And I did "babysit" a little bit as both Mom and Dad had some things that they needed to do, so it helped out that I could just watch her. The entire time Mommy was gone though, she kept asking for her. I even pulled up some old videos on my computer so she could watch pictures of herself with her mom. 

Thanks B'sNukeMom!! 

Welcome to our newest member ~ His Angel!  Her boyfriend is currently in nuke school.

Please be sure to read the ***NEW MEMBERS*** info at the top of the page.  Lots of good info there.  Also take a look at the Pages (20) to the right under the member profiles - be sure to hit "view all".  And the discussion forum above has some good info too - be sure to read Chipmunks "Nuke A School Daily Schedule".  And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

His angel - Welcome aboard. We are glad you have joined us. Please feel free to ask us any questions that you might have. My son is out in the fleet now as an ETN and is also cross training in another department as well - not sure how that all works, other than I know he is busy! 

Nuke school is hard, what stage of the Nuke Pipeline is he in? 

Well ladies, I booked my flight to Hawaii. Let's see if this trip to Pearl gets to happen. One year ago I thought I would see my sailor and now we'll try it again! United was great with the rebooking and moving the credits. Hope the flight will go as well.

Happy Tuesday to all. Don't forget to VOTE!

CSW - fingers crossed it happens this time!  We were just talking to B&C last night - they are flying here to CA at Thanksgiving and we are a little concerned about whether or not their flights will happen.  B flew to NY last week and had delays on both ends of his travel - spent 7 hours sitting in Chicago with a delay.  It's a mess right now......{{sigh}}

CSW - Staying hopeful that you will be able to make your trip. I have family who is also scheduled to travel, so prayers for all that things will work out. 

For our new members, if you have sailors who may be coming home from NNPTC, at holiday stand down (assuming they are back to their pre-Covid common practice) mine wanted to return a day earlier than required. Also, last year when my son flew home, he booked the flights through some military service that he was able to get cheaper cancellation insurance, but I know that there are some other options for military, I just am not sure of them. Because of our location, Delta has been our primary go to because they have a connecting hub in Atlanta and fly out of our town and into both Charleston and Norfolk, VA where he is stationed currently. Delta has always given priority boarding to our active military when my son has flown and they have also graciously allowed us in the past to stay with him at the gate when he was flying back to school or his duty station. 

Your sailors will have to fill out leave chits and most likely they are focused on getting any Thanksgiving ones figured out before they get the Christmas ones approved. Your sailor will be the best source of specific information for their leave time. Those out in the fleet will all have various leave scenarios based on each command. 

Chipmunk- LOL just cancelled after receiving a text from a boatmate that son was on duty and said to cancel-changes coming!  Hope to rebook after I can talk with him tomorrow. The time difference and his work schedule is making this crazy. THANK GOD for the support He's given me through this site.

CSW - I am sooo sorry!!! The back and forth and uncertainty is always difficult!! 

CSW - oh no!  Hopefully you can get it rescheduled soon.

Don't forget to wear your RED!

Remember Everyone Deployed!

Yes CSW!  I posted this in a couple other groups this morning but forgot to post it here.  ;-D

I thought I would jump on here. CSW, so sorry to hear of your travel troubles. Prayers that all that gets resolved and you can get to be with your sailor. How frustrating, but nobody ever said Navy is easy.

I just got back from Italy. Travel was pretty smooth. I left my phone on the plane when we landed so I was without it for the entire week. I was so bummed! I will have to rely on others's photos. However, when I checked into the gate to come home there was the phone! I don't know how. When I got home I had an email from Delta that said they still hadn't found it. I am figuring that prayers do get answered!

My son is officially done working for the Navy. Now he is on terminal leave. The Navy does that so when a sailor completes their enlistment they have 30 days to start a new job and hopefully will not find themselves without a paycheck. He has been hired by a nuclear power plant in Georgia, (very happy with their offer), their house in SC is sold and closes within the next week, and they have an offer accepted on a home in GA. They will have a short period in an airbnb before they get into the house but so far all looks good. So, that's that. We wanted them in Nebraska but the job offer was too slow. He took the bird in the hand and let the birds in the bush fly on past, if you get the reference.

I will stick around for a little while. I have loved N4M for 11 years so if I have anything to offer I might pipe up but I see others here with more current information than I have so I think you all are in good hands. Hang in there, Sea Sisters! Together we are Navy Strong! Have a great weekend!

Hello all-

Wow. Well, my son's been at his new command in Hawaii for all of ten days, and he's already left on his first underway. Trying to visualize being in the depths of the ocean. Trying NOT to visualize being in the depths of the ocean...

He was so excited and I am so excited for him. Suddenly though, I feel like I did when he left for boot camp two years ago. He said he would likely be out 2-3 weeks. Maybe. Guess I'll chalk this up to good practice run for those long deployments...

Catching my breath...

NancyJo - wow!  So much has happened.  First I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip to Italy.  And how crazy is that about your phone!  I'm happy to hear that things are moving smoothly for J.  I know how much you would have loved for them to be in NE but it sounds like everything is working out the way it should.  Don't leave - Once a Navy mom, Always a Navy mom! 

But if you do leave, please don't delete your profile because if you do everything you've ever posted will be gone!

I'm still not ruling out another trip to NE.  Someday.....and we'll get together again.  I've enjoyed our many years together and the many times we've met up in person....until we meet again......And please thank J for his service!

ShipOfDoodles - Hang in there mama!  He's got this!

Ship of Doodles, stay strong. Yes its like a horrible boot camp reboot but you're better equipped this time. Seeing them go does not get easier. He's with a well trained crew, in fact the world's best! You know how to reach me if you want to chat. 

Nancy Jo congrats to your son! Best wishes to him in his new career. 

Thank you, JayDee659! I may just do that. I feel oddly at peace, as he is so happy with his first two years. He's even put in for dive school--which I think cannot happen until he is fully qualified. I never imagined, three years ago, the adventures he would choose. The bracelet you made for me, when not on my wrist, hangs at the corner of my monitor where I work every day. 

So appreciate the support B'sNukeMoM, and the support of all of you. And NancyJo, congratulations to your son! How time does fly.

Here for all of you too. New Nuke moms? Yes, we've got this!

Blessings to you all.

Boy!! I did not have a chance to catch up on the posts throughout the day and Whamo!! 

CSW - I did see yours, and yes, I had my RED on, just me at home with a young lady helping me but I wore it proudly. 

NancyJo - There might be some newer members that know more about what is going on at NNPTC, but I still feel like you are one of my mentor sea sisters!! I am very happy that your son has found a job, but I know how hard it is to not be near those grandkids - who are growing up. And now that you are back you will have to tell us all about your trip to Italy, I visited with my Latin club years ago. I am so glad that your phone was returned!

ShipOfDoodles - I am glad that you and JayDee659 have connected. You will have to connect with CSW as well since I think her sailor is in the same area. Carriers are not like subs, so I am not even going to say I understand how you feel. But I know it is strange, every time my son would go out to sea, I knew I could not talk to him, but at the same time, I knew the general area of where they might be and it was comforting to be able to read the posts on our ombudsman FB page. 

Speaking of knowing local information - as in NNPTC - I had a question posed to me asking about graduation for A school and Power school. I know I have asked before but so few are posting that I am still trying to keep up with whether or not family is allowed at the graduations (all three) and are there any limit restrictions, do they have to wear masks? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!!

Hi all. My son told me that two days ago they changed the rules. People are still allowed at graduations. It’s limited to two guest per sailor. Suddenly, either a vaccination card or a negative Covid test is required starting with A school graduation that was scheduled for the following day. Attendees must be vetted. Some sort of security clearance. We had to turn in our real ID or passport. Will be attending power school graduation in December. We received invitations in the mail this week from NNPTC. Masks are required by everyone guests and sailors. 

CSW - I hope you get to see your sailor in Hawaii

Nancy Jo - congrats on your sons job. 

ShipOfDoodles - I know it’s coming… trying not to think about it too. One of the reasons my son signed up for subs is because he said the food is better. Oh my heart! 

Reminder: For those of you living where you need to change your clocks for daylight savings time - It is early tomorrow morning Nov 7, 2021!!

Ladies, wishing you a happy Monday. Took a break from all email and phone calls and just enjoyed the fall! It was a beautiful weekend! Hope you all have a great week and the troubles we had last week are left behind. Take some time this week to "Be Still and Know that HE is GOD".

DsMom2020 - Thanks for sharing that information! 

CSW - You might have taken a social break on purpose, mine happened with leaving my computer behind and then life just got even crazier today - B'sNukeMom your meme says it all. 

Not sure how much I will be posting but I will be trying to keep up and when things settle and the home fires are not popping and trying to become fireworks, I will share. 

Ladies, Happy Tuesday. 

There is no doubt that winter is coming, but fall is doing a marvelous job of finishing up with a blast of beautiful colors here.

Enjoy your day and make sure you find some joy in it!

CSW - Glad you are getting some colorful arrays!! We have some yellow but very little reds in our area! Mostly still green or brown! I do miss the sumac and maples turning red and others plants from my native state. 

Everyone - I was just sharing something with another mom and it reminded me - Nuke life is hard!! And it is hard in the fleet depending on various commands and expectations. Life is so uncertain and I am learning to let go of a lot of my expectations that I had not only for my other children but especially for my Navy child. Sometimes things just can't work out the way we have "traditionally" thought they should and letting our kids know we still love and support them through all of their trails, Navy expectations and limitations and anything else in between is at least what has been helpful to my son and working on those Semper Gumby muscles - sometimes I fell like I am Stretch though as well!

Chipmunk - thank you for sharing that about Nuke life being hard.  I'm just beginning on this journey, and I told a friend, "I didn't sign up for this!  My son signed up, but I've been sucked into OPSEC and "no news is good news" and Semper Gumby.  I'm a planner.  Planners don't like Semper Gumby!"

I'm so sorry that you are going through a difficult time, Chipmunk, and I'm sorry that OPSEC and PERSEC don't allow you to share details.  I prayed for you this morning, and will continue to pray.  Hugs!

MomofJoseph - thank you!! And thank you for your prayers!! No Navy life is not easy for us planners, it isn't easy for other family members who are planners and sometimes it is really not easy for our sailors either! 

For anyone wanting graduation news…. Son said it was announced today that during inclement weather, graduation will be moved indoors, and family will not be allowed to attend. Extended weather forecast for Dec 3 shows 80% chance of rain… :(   Will be keeping my eye on that. 

DsMom2020 - That is good to know!!  I am sure they will still have leave time or a liberty weekend, but that is also something to verify with your sailors. So, it seems like they have been allowing graduations, as long as they were able to either be outside, or enough room for social distancing and if this is PS graduation, then that is a larger class and when my son had his and we were inside, they split between two different graduation times. 

Yes they have been allowing graduations. And yes this is a a “larger” graduation. And yes they get Leave. A few weeks ago, they implemented showing vaccination cards or negative Covid test to attend. Now they said no one can attend if I indoor ceremony. I had heard this once before, back when they first started allowing families to attend graduations. Not sure what happened in the meantime.

Our son was planning to come home after graduation anyway. We were going to go watch and spend the weekend together and then fly home together. But no desire to travel to Charleston to watch the graduation on a computer monitor and then trudge around Charleston in the cold rain for two days before coming home. Watching that extended weather report! Praying we get to attend graduation as we are so proud of our son and his accomplishment. 

A recap - when son joined navy - he quit college after 2.5 years Pre Med where I watched his grades slip to failing because he hated it and refused to try. I was so worried he would do the same thing in the NUK program and get kicked out and/or be miserable. He has done very well academically and has maintained a leadership position throughout most of boot camp (I know it didn’t count) and all of A school and power school, but most importantly, he loves it, and is happy and is making so many good friends. As a mom, I could not be more relieved. He has had challenges - had a recent break up and intense sadness that affected his performance, and shin splints that he has learned to manage. He works hard. But he loves the Navy and this has been the best decision he ever made! I really wanted to watch PS Grad and will be praying for no rain!!!

Chipmunk - I know you remember my story as we have “talked” many times…. I was just bringing anyone else who might be interested up to date…

DsMom2020 - thanks for the update.  I had seen talk of that on one of the FB groups.  I sure hope the weather holds so graduation can be held outside!

I've got my RED on today ;-D

DsMom2020 - Thank you for sharing about the graduations as well as your son's journey. I am glad that things are going well for him and that he is enjoying school. I will be interested in hearing how he likes Prototype, as it is a different set up and a process that sort of starts to prepare them for how standing watches and things go out in the fleet. 

It was interesting to me after my son was done with the Nuke pipeline to look back and see the process of things he went through not only with his classes but also watch standings and Prototype that prepared him for the crazy schedule he has being on a carrier. I don't know how much different it is with a sub, but one thing, if they live off the ship or boat, then they have to travel back and forth as well and add that driving time in. For my son's, his department stands duty day (24 hr watch time - they do get to sleep but have to be onboard), 2x as often as the rest of the crew. 

My prayers for you to be able to attend an outdoor PS graduation!!  I assume the bowling alley is still open across the way. After A school, before we left my sailor, youngest son and I went and did a couple of games of bowling. It was fun for the two of them to just be "kids" and brothers together. That is an indoor option. 

I assume they are still doing T-Track between A school and Power School. For our new members that is a transition time for those at NNPTC. It is one of the reasons that everyone who is either INDOC or in A school needs to get their UIs (Under Instruction) done. This is where they learn how to stand watches in various locations at NNPTC. Between the time they complete A school and while they are waiting for their next PS to "class up" (start) our sailors are expected to stand the watches necessary to keep NNPTC operational. 

The length of time they are in T-track will depend on when they complete A school and start PS. Some will be in T-track for several weeks, others will only be there for a short while. My son was in for several weeks and it was the one time that I was "helicopter" mom and I think the one and only time that he overslept and was late for standing watch. They are switching from their normal school day & study hour schedule to a daily rotation of 3 shifts and having to stand watches on any one of those shifts. For me, I saw it as part of his training to help him discipline his sleep and likely work schedule on the ship. After his alarm failed to go off and wake him, he learned to set about 3 alarms, and I was even waking up in the middle of the night to call and wake him up. After the 2nd time when I called 2-3 minutes before his alarms went off he finally said, "Mom, I got this! Thanks!!"

CSW - Thank you for your notes of encouragement here. My husband and I were able to take a little respite over the holiday and enjoyed getting out in the woods!! We have to drive a little bit from our home but it was nice. We both needed it, we are small town country folk at heart and it was good to be still and enjoy God's creation. 

Since it sounds like in person graduations may be happening, I thought that I'd share a picture of a nuke shirt you can get at the small ship store that's between the parking lot and where graduations are held.