NUKE moms

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.

B'sNukeMom - I love the meme!! 

Sunflower - I would have loved to have gotten one of those shirts for my son, but we missed the closing time for the shop since we had our PS graduation split into two and ours was the later one. 

So FYI - I believe the souvenir shop at NNPTC is only opened until noon on Saturday!! 

Sunflower and Chipmunk - thanks for info. Love the shirt. Hope not to miss the open hours of the gift shop. No excuse now that we know them!! 

Fun Facts about Nuclear Power

Click on the picture to make it bigger....

D'sMom2020 - You are welcome. Be sure to let your sailor know that you want to go to the shop and ask them to verify if they have time the hours. My son did not think I wanted to go, so had not thought to mention it to me ( I did not know there was a shop) and so when he had the 2nd graduation we only had a brief moment to get over there and missed it. 

Hoping the weather cooperates!! We have chilly but sunshine here. 

B'sNukeMom - Thanks for sharing!! My son is where he is at now because he has wanted to advocate more and more for Nuclear Power. 

Welcome to any new members that we have! Please feel free to come ask questions about the Nuke Pipeline, what classes are like, and life at NNPTC for our sailors. We have members with sailors out in the fleet as well. 

Northwoodsmom - Any update on your sailor? 

Good Morning B'sNukeMom and everyone!! I love the Snoopy memes!!

I have been so busy that I completely forgot that it was RED Friday, we actually had someone mention Friday on the BC group and so I will make sure I put my red shirt on today! 

Have a wonderful day!

DsMom2020 - I was thinking about you when I woke up this morning!! I am hopeful that all is working out for graduation. I don't recall if it is today or not, but my thoughts and prayers are with you!

Thank you Chipmunk… Going to need prayers for another couple weeks though. I mentioned I had found a 30 day extended website that sadly anticipated high chance of rain… interestingly, the other day was speaking to my son. Noticed that the website had said there was a 60% chance of rain and so I asked if it was raining or going to rain…. He said it was bright and sunny all day! So there is hope!!

So my son is driving me crazy. I have been asking him to find out which Covid test is required for my non-vaccinated family member to attend graduation. The requirement is either a vaccination record or a negative Covid test. The question is:

do we need a PCR test takes three days for the results,

a rapid test from a testing center,

or will a rapid test from a physicians office suffice (least expensive). I’ve been asking him to find out for two weeks. How do I find out??? Graduation in under two weeks!

DsMom have you tried to reach out to the ombudsman? Sorry, I am headed to bed and will be unavailable tomorrow. Do you know how to find that information. Look up either on FB or google NNPTC, one of the pages should have the ombudsman info there. 

Question - I probably need some assistance from those of you pre-Covid. Did any of you that are still following have your Nuke get to GC mid-December of their A-School? I am not sure how Holiday shut down might affect those whose sailors have just arrived at GC. In the past, were they still able to get an approved leave chit? Or did they have to stay at GC. They would not have had time to get their UIs done so they can stand watches, but they also would not have been there long enough to likely class up? 

We have some new members in BC Mom group who will have sailors arriving at GC around the middle of Dec and are wondering if their sailors will get leave. I am not sure of all of the current traveling restrictions for any of or sailors there or if anyone knows the answer to my question. Thanks!!

Chipmunk - thanks for Ombudsman tip!! Heard back quickly. Thinks doctors office Covid test probably fine as close to departure as possible but says things change quickly and best source is for the sailor to ask SLPO. 

Hi All,

My sailor is now in the fleet but on shore for now. It was a rough transition at first but all is good now and they seem happy again.

It is that time for holiday gift ideas and I thought I would share mine. He might be going to sea, or might not, anytime, after being "lent" to another crew, maybe.  He lives in the barracks and says the food is better then at GC. He has a full ridge and microwave and no roommate.  All that said he does not want anything because he does not want to have to store it or move it.

What do you get him and ship to him?

Gift cards to the local grocery or his fav coffee shop. But my "big" idea was to try to make things that are semi shelf stable and he could take if at sea and enjoy if not. I dehydrated and vacuumed sealed apples, pineapple, mango, pears, bananas, lemon, and tangerines. The last two are mostly to add to water for flavor. The pineapple is like candy and the banana is not far.  I also made fruit leathers. 

I found bags for the vacuum sealer with zip locks for once opened and other smaller ones with easy open tabs.  I opened a few and found that the full vacuum sealing makes the fruit stick together.  Yet it means they take far less space and are more shelf stable.

DsMom2020 - Glad you got some information!!

New Adventures - that sounds like a great idea!! One thing my son wanted was some wrapped hard candy to be able to suck on, like peppermints or such to help keep his mouth moistened. He also wanted small bottles of hand sanitizer but I wasn't allowed to ship that. 

Happy Monday!

New Adventures - that's a great idea!

Hi all - Happy Tuesday!

B&C fly in tonight for a week - I'm so excited.  They already had their connector flight cancelled and re-scheduled by the airline yesterday.  So instead of getting in at 9pm they now arrive at 11pm.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed nothing changes again today!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

B'sNuke, I'm so excited for you! Prayers they get home ok. When we were planning the Italy trip flight adjustments happened pretty regularly. The airlines are still getting used to the new normal. Don't worry though. One way or another they'll get home. 

B'sNuke - Staying hopeful that all will go well with the kid's flight!! My daughter and boyfriend went to Florida earlier this month and their flight out was fine but the one home was changed. They got home a little later than planned but also did not have to be at the airport quite as soon, so their drivers were able to sleep in!!

MomofJoseph when my sailor came out of bootcamp the day of graduation they went to get their travel arrangements because they left for the airport like at 2:00am the morning after graduation.  I gave him a notecard to write down the flight number and time so we could meet at the airport and we could return his cell phone and bring him any other personal items he wanted that would fit in his duffel.  We sent some additional items after he was settled in GC.  At that time the USO arranged  family passes to go to the gate with the sailors to wait with him but I don't know if they allow that now.

Thank you, CSW!

MomofJoseph - my understanding is that they are still not transporting the new sailors to A school via commercial flights, so it could just be that they will give more specific information after PIR. I also sent you a PM. 

Well they aren't arriving today now :(  Airlines rebooked the connector flight and then the rebooked flight was cancelled.   The airlines was going to have them arriving in Chicago tonight and not leaving until Thursday morning - and arriving in CA at 3pm!  They were going to sit over a whole day in Chicago! Luckily they found out before they boarded the first flight and chose not to take the flight.  So they are going home and starting over tomorrow morning. Ugh......we had so much to do tomorrow to get ready for Thanksgiving and as of right now I don't even know when tomorrow they are arriving!  Fingers crossed everything works out tomorrow.  Ugh this is frustrating!

B'sNukeMom, I know that is so frustrating. Will pray that they get home SOON! 

B'sNukeMom, wondering if the strong wind warnings had anything to do with the flight cancellation. I am just east of Michigan and the winds were just horrible. Prayers they make it there tomorrow!

B'sNukeMoM - Ohhh My - Yes, so so frustrating!!! 

I've talked to B a couple of times - he said they told them there was "a problem with the flight crew" in Chicago - whatever that means lol!

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!

Well, they should be arriving at 9pm tonight.  Fingers crossed everything works out.  I went ahead and ran to the market last night and got everything they needed - boy were the shelves bare!  I guess it's a good thing I didn't wait to go when they arrived.

I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving.  

B’sNuke- Praying for their safe arrival tonight. We’re driving to GC tomorrow, we should be on the road at 4am! Happy Thanksgiving everyone and I’m so thankful for y’all. 

Gigi, may the Lord wrap you in his arms adding extra protection as you travel. Just in case you see a Wisconsin boy give him a hug, it might be my son. Have a Blessed trip full of Love!