4kidsforfun - I am glad you had such a wonderful time at graduation. I am so happy that they have opened things back up for the ceremony to take place there. We were warmly welcomed by the staff, which was nice.
Enjoy your time with your sailor, when you get a chance check your profile, I left you a message.
Canuka - Beautiful picture - you did have a great vantage point! Thank you for sharing. I know that every command is going to be different, but I also thought you had to have gate access, so it is nice to know that occasionally they will give passes as they did at NNPTC graduations, depending on the circumstances.
We live halfway across the country from my son's port so down the road when the time will come for his ship to have a homecoming, I don't know if we will be able to travel to see him or not. I do know that a lot of the families would go to one of the beaches and watch when they were coming back from their shorter underways.
For our newer members - Nukes are usually one of the last ones off the ship when they come back into port. Mine was generally able to call me but did not leave until after most of the rest of the crew. His ship was not on a long deployment but was still out to sea for a large portion of 2020 - 2021 on multiple shorter underways, in and out of port. No fancy fan fair or fly overs, but most of the parents really appreciated the pictures posted on our private FB page by the wives who would take their children to the beach to see the ship coming home.
Northwoodsmom - Do you have any update on your sailor and his time in DTP? Be sure to add a comment or so to our discussion above for future reference.
Canuka - I had forgotten that our sons are on the same ship. It was very awesome to watch it come in on the San Diego web cam yesterday but not quite as exciting as our son actually was not on the ship at the time (he was on the dock though). Our son (along with a few others) was actually flown off the ship about a month ago and back to San Diego to be part of an ATP (Advance Planning Team). He also had his leave time and was home a couple weeks ago. So it was a little different watching his ship come in - but it’s still his ship so it was still cool and I could imagine how exciting it was for everyone - sailors and family alike. our son did say it was a very cool experience flying off the ship. And it was oh so nice to have him home. So Canuka I know you will very much be enjoying having your son close by after the long months that they have been out to sea. I will tell you the first month was the worst for us because for some reason our sons account was messed up which meant he couldn’t access his email and his was about a month before he had it straightened out - it almost felt like he was on a sub. But after that we had emails fairly regularly.
Welcome home to the USS Vinson! So happy for you to have your sailors home after this long deployment.
Canuka - the Blue Angel flyover was amazing! I saw video posted in some other groups on FB and it gave me chills. Watching from the USS Midway would be pretty cool!
Question - For those of you who have gone through surface deployments - Any information on how long it usually takes for a letter to get to your sailor. Did you send letters as often or as much as you did when they were in bootcamp? Was it better to communicate with them via their ship email? Did your sailors receive mail packages that you might have sent?
Thank you for any thoughts, I am curious across the fleet how well communication works, at least getting encouraging messages to our sailors.
I don't think NNPTC will be affected much by the winter weather coming but for those of you that will, may you ride this one out smoothly.
Chipmunk we had one package take over two months to get there and another package get there in about three weeks so who knows we actually thought the first package was lost. Letters did seem to get there a little quicker, but once he had his account set up email actually worked pretty well to communicate. They actually had Wi-Fi on the ship and some people had luck in calling, our son only was able to call us once using that, that happened to be on Thanksgiving day so it was pretty cool. Hope that helps.
Hello Ladies, well after 4+ months at DTP my son has been told what his new rate will be. He will now be a Aviation Electronic Technician. They still haven't told him where he will be headed but did say he wouldn't have to go to AET school because he had already learnt the electronic part during A and Power School. They did mention he would be a part of a squadron ( whatever that means). I am just so happy to hear he got his first choice out of the five he had chose and he is ready to be moving on. Still waiting to hear where he will be going. He said that DTP is really full right now so I am sure they will want to start moving them quickly to make more room.
I am not that familiar with his new job but he told me he would be working on the guidance systems, and other electronic devices on jets and helicopters to keep them operational. He could be in a hanger, on a carrier or even doing work in flight.
Sometimes I think the less I know the less I worry. It all sounds nerve wracking to me. He originally put in for a sub but planes and helicopters can't land on them so I will count it as a Blessing for now.
Thank you for all your patience with me as I was going through this transition, God Bless all of you!
Northwoodsmom ...congratulations to you and your son for getting some direction from DTP.
I am a below decks Mom but I do have a bit of knowledge from volunteering on an aircraft carrier museum.
As you know, squadrons are part of the aircraft side, i.e. "airwing". They include more than just pilots...such as their own crews that are responsible for taking care of most aspects of their babies. I believe that each squadron consists of only one specific type of aircraft.
Northwoodsmom...continued.
On my son's recently completed deployment, there were nine squadrons from F35s, F18s, early warning and helicopters. They came from several different bases where certain types seem to be centralized.
So where he will be based certainly depends on what aircraft he is assigned to. They will deploy on the carriers but the squadrons is responsible for pretty much everything involving the aircraft, both inside the hangar deck and during flight operations. Between deployments the will go back to their home base, likely an NAS- Naval Air Station, which may or may not be near the coastal ports.
I am most familiar with Miramar. It used to be an NAS, as in Top Gun, but was moved
In land. It is now a Marine Helicopter base. Most of the jets on the recent deployment came from Lemoore up in Central California but the helos were from North Island where the carrier is stationed. There are other NAS supplying aircraft for the East Coast ship's.
Hope the helps. Good luck.
Canuka, wow, tons of information, thank you. My husband is a industrial electrician and my son worked with him for a summer so he did have a little knowledge about electrical but electronics is very different.
I have alot of respect for you Moms with Sailors below. I spent 2 years trying to psych myself up for it, such a tough deployment with limited communication. Takes a very strong woman to partake in it, I've meant quite a few on here.
Thank you so much for all the information, very appreciated!
Norhwoodsmom -- to clarify... the term "squadron" is not exclusive to aircraft...the carrier was accompanied by a Destroyer Squadron of several ships. There are probably other uses for the word in other areas of the military.
Also, several squadrons (from different NAS) make up a Carrier Air Wing (CVW).
To see who is with the now deployed carriers check out the weekly fleet tracker on news.usni.org
Northwoodsmom -- funny you mentioned the difference between electrical & electronics...I just overheard a discussion between my husband, an auto partsman by trade, and my ETN on the proper way to connect jumper cables.
My poor boy came home to a very dead battery, probably because Dad left the headlights on the last time he started the car. So we are at the auto parts store getting a replacement before he has to muster early tomorrow.
FYI: the whole ship got special liberty from Monday through today with muster tomorrow. Then they start staggered two week leave.
Chipmunk - I only sent packages. I sent them out about once a month. It seems like the first part of the deployment it took quite awhile for packages to get there (3 or 4 weeks). After that, he received them within 2 weeks. I emailed diary type letters about every 2 weeks. My son rarely emailed back. It was easier to read his email than send out. Also there were multiple times when there were communications black outs so no phone calls or WiFi available. We did have quite a few phone calls whenever he was “in” a port (I use that term loosely because both deployments were during covid). They were usually in the middle of the night with jets launching in the background.
Chipmunk -- I too sent monthly packages. Early on, he got them in 3 weeks, then it was more like 5 weeks. But he got them all. I didn't mail any letters and he didn't seem to mind, it was old news because we had usually spoken in the interim.
Mail is not a priority when it comes to deliveries. It seemed like there was alot of inconsistency. There were a couple of huge drops (several thousand packages at once). The first was because mail is sent to the nearest base to where they are going. Our ship was headed to the middle east then turned around mid-way so the mail was a mess, both systems and physically.
Make sure you get the correct mailing address directly from the ship via you sailor. I think that made some of the difference between timely and lost or very delayed packages.
Chipmunk -- adding to the communications discussion.
Since BC, I have gotten used to phone calls every 2-3 weeks; sometimes I have to nudge him for a check-in. I always let him make the calla unless I had something reasonably important to pass along. .then I sent both an email and a text.
Like Anti M says, the email can be difficult...finding one of the few capable computers that is open. Back & forth conversations are almost impossible because there is always someone waiting behind you.
As ProudofK said, our ship had WiFi which enabled the sailors to use their personal phones to text and call from the ship. The coverage was spotty and sometimes disabled for operational or technical reasons. The spouses I knew were thrilled because it allowed for frequent contacts. I believe that the WiFi was turned off for a few days on the return as a ship wide punishment for the leaked plane video. Having WiFi was month to month pending approval of the DOD spending bill. I don't know if and when it is being rolled out to other ships.
Big advice...make sure to let your sailor know that you will welcome and answer phone calls at any time of day. With 24/7 work and time zone differences, they don't always realize what time it is where you are.
More Communication info...
The standard line is "ask your sailor" for specific details.
I also joined the two official FB pages for our ship...the ombudsman and the Family Readiness group. I made some contacts and got a lot of useful information along with a lot of cool ship swag.
The ombudsman is primarily a liasion to the ship's command when other lines of communication fail (see standard line above). Ours put out a monthly newsletter -- I had to submit a request that my sailor had to approve-to get on the distribution list. The FRG is mostly a support group for spouses...I joined because I am local; I participated in some activities and monthly on-line meetings which gave me heads up when talking with my son. On the other hand, my Momma concerns were very different than most of the FRG. That is why I appreciate these N4M friendships.
The FRG was especially useful with homecoming preparation so I recommend checking it out. Each of the 3 top officers (CO, XO, CMC) did live Q&As through the FRG.
Best of luck as you prepare.
It is interesting that I am now the experienced one when you have always been the go-to mom. Such is the Navy.
Chipmunk-- just noticed your musings about being there for homecoming. That is a family choice. Remember he should get leave soon after returning so it's up to you and him to decide whether to go homecoming or wait for him to come home to you.
Seeing the ship come in is always inspiring but it goes quickly. I sort of regret not being on the pier, mostly for the socialization but I opted for the view over a long, long wait.
As ProudofK said, some sailors return a week to a month ahead for various reasons. They go back on board when the ship returns to hold down the fort while the others are on special liberty and leave.
Several crew members flew back last week, the FRG and airport USO did a great job greeting them. After seeing the photos, I feel like I should have gone down to welcome the singles. Next time.
3B'sMom, ProudofK & Canuka, Thanks! This has been helpful for me, and I hope any others that are following along will reap from your knowledge as well.
Canuka - my sailor has actually been out to sea for longer than a month, due to COVID keeping them at sea, but not for months at a time. Some things I am familiar with but going through an extended time at sea is a different story. I appreciate everyone's insights and your thoughts on homecomings.
I am glad to glean from your knowledge, just as I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge with everyone else.
Northwoodsmom - I am so happy to hear that your sailor has finally received a new rating!! We appreciate you sharing here. You have been an integral part of this Navy family here, especially with your experience of going through your journey during the height of Covid shut down.
Your encouraging posts are helpful, so please stick around.
Northwoodsmom - good to hear from you and that your son got his first choice to continue his Navy journey. Must be a relief to you to have something to focus on and figure out. I know that always keeps me busy! Sounds like a fun choice too and maybe he will end up seeing some of he old Nuke buddies along the way if he ends up on a carrier.
Canuka - my son also came home to a dead battery. I suspect that is quite common for the sailors when coming back from deployment to find a dead battery if there car has not been driven for months. Especially if the battery is a bit older to begin with. I’m not sure if that is something that they warn them about or not but probably a good heads up to have.
ProudofK-- my son has decided that he will disconnect the battery next time. He didn't because the car was sitting in our driveway and Dad said he would start it once in a while. We'll that only happened about 3 times in six months so no wonder. The battery was about 4 1/2 years old but hadn't been run much consistently for most of the last three years. We drove it back to him during A School then he drove it back last year. There were 2 long underways before they left for good.
But good lesson learned.
Are there any restrictions on the weight and size of the package to send to Abraham Lincoln ship? Please let me know if anyone knows about the rule. Are we allowed to send a package bigger than USPS large white box?
DOREMI - There aren't really any restrictions except for the fact that they don't have a lot of storage room so keep that in mind. Is his ship deployed? And you can send boxes other than the USPS boxes.
DOREMI - I wasn't able to reply earlier and I would have told you to check with your sailor's ombudsman. So, I am glad that B'sNukeMom could give you better information about mailing a package.
I will say that my son's ship did an organized drop when they were out on an underway during the height of COVID. Due to the logistics of that specific drop, there were size restrictions on the boxes. Unfortunately, most of us who lived at a distance were not able to participate since it was a local drop off and we did not have enough time to mail anything. Some of the local moms did offer to make up boxes and deliver for us, if we wished.
In another group we have also talked about the length of time that packages can get to the ships and that once they are turned over to the military from the USPS, you are no longer able to track them.
I already sent a package early this afternoon.. I bought a medium size box(19L,14W,17H) at Walmart. I packed all different kinds of snacks, ramen, etc. It weighed 27 pounds and was $37 to ship. All the snacks and eats, he'll share with his friends.
DOREMI - I am glad you were able to get your box shipped.
FYI for future reference, here is the link to the USPS large flat rate box - Priority Mail Flat Rate® APO/FPO Box - MILIFRB | USPS.com - if you scroll down there is information about mailing to the military. It might have been a little smaller but with the flat rate shipping weight it may have been cheaper.
Did you still have to fill out a customs form? That was the daunting part for me when I did send a box to my sailor before. I needed to refresh my memory on all of this for upcoming sea time. - If you are not close to a PO you may order these boxes and they deliver them for free to you, I believe. Otherwise, I pick up just a couple at a time when I go into the PO.
DOREMI - I think the most daunting thing for me with the customs form was having to assign a weight amount to everything. Our postmaster weighed the box for me and gave me a total and then I had to itemize and assign a weight to everything for it to add up. I don't know if others do it that way, but that was what caused me angst.
I am glad that you were able to get the box mailed to your sailor.
DOREMI & Chipmunk --- the form was intimidating the first time, filled it manually the went to the po to make sure.
From then on I used USPS Click & Send. I paid on line, the app printed a form that was both label and for Customs. Yes, still had to itemize and weigh everything...I already had a household postal scale. When done it is bar coded so you can just give it to your local carrier or p.o. Our closest is a carrier annex that doesn't handle $$$$ but took the package.
Also, I used USPS priority mail boxes. Seemed to be cheaper for heavy stuff as long as you don't exceed the max weight.
I used individually wrapped hard candy as filler to help with contents movement. My son wanted low sugar Red Bull so I wrapped each can separately in a sealed plastic bag then in bubble wrap. These fit nicely in and around the other items.
My son said he and shipmates were able to get what they needed directly through Amazon. He was on a carrier so might not work on smaller ships.
Canuka - Thank you!! I am not sure I would be as bold as you to ship canned drinks like that but using the hard candy as filler is a great idea!! I know my son asks for hard candy a lot, because it gets dry down where they are at.
It's also a good idea to line the inside of the box with a trash bag. Put everything in and then seal up the bag before you close the box. That way if another box around yours has something break open (liquid) it won't ruin what's in your box!
Recommend to limit your time watching news reports as they will hype things and will cause most to fret and worry more than normal.
Do not listen to others' speculation. Speculations turn into rumors. Rumors feed fear. This just makes people worry more.
Do not call your sailor and let them know how scared you are over the issues going on in the world. They need to be focused on their school, their ship command, or wherever they are currently at. Your fears could be a distraction they do not need.
The U.S. Navy will not rush anyone through training. An untrained sailor would be more of a danger and hindrance to the fleet.
The U.S. Navy will not recall all sailors and put all ships to sea. We have had forces in place for a few weeks, but they are just there as a show of force. The U.S. Navy will not put all their eggs in one basket so to speak.
DO NOT POST what you think is OPSEC. All the admin are aware of what is and is not OPSEC and we have post control for a reason. We will control the narrative on this topic.
Finally, say your prayers as in reality, this will be all you can do as the family of any service member. Remember they took an oath and now are adults having to do adult things.
STAY ANCHORED DURING THIS STORM AND SUPPORT YOUR SAILORS
thank you for posting the piece from the Navy Dads group. Great information and so helpful at this time. As always praying for our leaders and our troops.
CanukaVet
Feb 15, 2022
Chipmunk
4kidsforfun - I am glad you had such a wonderful time at graduation. I am so happy that they have opened things back up for the ceremony to take place there. We were warmly welcomed by the staff, which was nice.
Enjoy your time with your sailor, when you get a chance check your profile, I left you a message.
Canuka - Beautiful picture - you did have a great vantage point! Thank you for sharing. I know that every command is going to be different, but I also thought you had to have gate access, so it is nice to know that occasionally they will give passes as they did at NNPTC graduations, depending on the circumstances.
We live halfway across the country from my son's port so down the road when the time will come for his ship to have a homecoming, I don't know if we will be able to travel to see him or not. I do know that a lot of the families would go to one of the beaches and watch when they were coming back from their shorter underways.
For our newer members - Nukes are usually one of the last ones off the ship when they come back into port. Mine was generally able to call me but did not leave until after most of the rest of the crew. His ship was not on a long deployment but was still out to sea for a large portion of 2020 - 2021 on multiple shorter underways, in and out of port. No fancy fan fair or fly overs, but most of the parents really appreciated the pictures posted on our private FB page by the wives who would take their children to the beach to see the ship coming home.
Feb 15, 2022
Chipmunk
Northwoodsmom - Do you have any update on your sailor and his time in DTP? Be sure to add a comment or so to our discussion above for future reference.
Feb 15, 2022
ProudOfK
Canuka - I had forgotten that our sons are on the same ship. It was very awesome to watch it come in on the San Diego web cam yesterday but not quite as exciting as our son actually was not on the ship at the time (he was on the dock though). Our son (along with a few others) was actually flown off the ship about a month ago and back to San Diego to be part of an ATP (Advance Planning Team). He also had his leave time and was home a couple weeks ago. So it was a little different watching his ship come in - but it’s still his ship so it was still cool and I could imagine how exciting it was for everyone - sailors and family alike.
our son did say it was a very cool experience flying off the ship. And it was oh so nice to have him home. So Canuka I know you will very much be enjoying having your son close by after the long months that they have been out to sea. I will tell you the first month was the worst for us because for some reason our sons account was messed up which meant he couldn’t access his email and his was about a month before he had it straightened out - it almost felt like he was on a sub. But after that we had emails fairly regularly.
Feb 15, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Feb 15, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Welcome home to the USS Vinson! So happy for you to have your sailors home after this long deployment.
Canuka - the Blue Angel flyover was amazing! I saw video posted in some other groups on FB and it gave me chills. Watching from the USS Midway would be pretty cool!
Feb 15, 2022
Chipmunk
Good Morning Everyone!
Welcome to any new members that we have!!
Question - For those of you who have gone through surface deployments - Any information on how long it usually takes for a letter to get to your sailor. Did you send letters as often or as much as you did when they were in bootcamp? Was it better to communicate with them via their ship email? Did your sailors receive mail packages that you might have sent?
Thank you for any thoughts, I am curious across the fleet how well communication works, at least getting encouraging messages to our sailors.
I don't think NNPTC will be affected much by the winter weather coming but for those of you that will, may you ride this one out smoothly.
Feb 16, 2022
ProudOfK
Chipmunk we had one package take over two months to get there and another package get there in about three weeks so who knows we actually thought the first package was lost. Letters did seem to get there a little quicker, but once he had his account set up email actually worked pretty well to communicate. They actually had Wi-Fi on the ship and some people had luck in calling, our son only was able to call us once using that, that happened to be on Thanksgiving day so it was pretty cool. Hope that helps.
Feb 16, 2022
Northwoodsmom
Hello Ladies, well after 4+ months at DTP my son has been told what his new rate will be. He will now be a Aviation Electronic Technician. They still haven't told him where he will be headed but did say he wouldn't have to go to AET school because he had already learnt the electronic part during A and Power School. They did mention he would be a part of a squadron ( whatever that means). I am just so happy to hear he got his first choice out of the five he had chose and he is ready to be moving on. Still waiting to hear where he will be going. He said that DTP is really full right now so I am sure they will want to start moving them quickly to make more room.
I am not that familiar with his new job but he told me he would be working on the guidance systems, and other electronic devices on jets and helicopters to keep them operational. He could be in a hanger, on a carrier or even doing work in flight.
Sometimes I think the less I know the less I worry. It all sounds nerve wracking to me. He originally put in for a sub but planes and helicopters can't land on them so I will count it as a Blessing for now.
Thank you for all your patience with me as I was going through this transition, God Bless all of you!
Feb 16, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Northwoodsmom - well I don't know anything about that rate but here's the link to the group:
Aviation Electronics Tech - AE
Hopefully you can glean some info from there.
And I'm glad that he got his first choice - I'm sure he'll do great things there! His patience has paid off.....good luck to him in this new endeavor.
And of course, please stick around as you are a wealth of info for others ;-D
Feb 16, 2022
CanukaVet
I am a below decks Mom but I do have a bit of knowledge from volunteering on an aircraft carrier museum.
As you know, squadrons are part of the aircraft side, i.e. "airwing". They include more than just pilots...such as their own crews that are responsible for taking care of most aspects of their babies. I believe that each squadron consists of only one specific type of aircraft.
Feb 16, 2022
CanukaVet
On my son's recently completed deployment, there were nine squadrons from F35s, F18s, early warning and helicopters. They came from several different bases where certain types seem to be centralized.
So where he will be based certainly depends on what aircraft he is assigned to. They will deploy on the carriers but the squadrons is responsible for pretty much everything involving the aircraft, both inside the hangar deck and during flight operations. Between deployments the will go back to their home base, likely an NAS- Naval Air Station, which may or may not be near the coastal ports.
I am most familiar with Miramar. It used to be an NAS, as in Top Gun, but was moved
Feb 16, 2022
CanukaVet
Hope the helps. Good luck.
Feb 16, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Canuka - great info! Thanks for sharing ;-D
Feb 16, 2022
Northwoodsmom
Canuka, wow, tons of information, thank you. My husband is a industrial electrician and my son worked with him for a summer so he did have a little knowledge about electrical but electronics is very different.
I have alot of respect for you Moms with Sailors below. I spent 2 years trying to psych myself up for it, such a tough deployment with limited communication. Takes a very strong woman to partake in it, I've meant quite a few on here.
Thank you so much for all the information, very appreciated!
Feb 16, 2022
CanukaVet
Norhwoodsmom -- to clarify... the term "squadron" is not exclusive to aircraft...the carrier was accompanied by a Destroyer Squadron of several ships. There are probably other uses for the word in other areas of the military.
Also, several squadrons (from different NAS) make up a Carrier Air Wing (CVW).
To see who is with the now deployed carriers check out the weekly fleet tracker on news.usni.org
OK, enough lesson for today.
Feb 16, 2022
Pizanche
Northwoodsmom. Congrats to your son!!! Exciting new adventure for him and for you!!!
Feb 16, 2022
CanukaVet
Northwoodsmom -- funny you mentioned the difference between electrical & electronics...I just overheard a discussion between my husband, an auto partsman by trade, and my ETN on the proper way to connect jumper cables.
My poor boy came home to a very dead battery, probably because Dad left the headlights on the last time he started the car. So we are at the auto parts store getting a replacement before he has to muster early tomorrow.
FYI: the whole ship got special liberty from Monday through today with muster tomorrow. Then they start staggered two week leave.
Feb 16, 2022
3B'smom
Chipmunk - I only sent packages. I sent them out about once a month. It seems like the first part of the deployment it took quite awhile for packages to get there (3 or 4 weeks). After that, he received them within 2 weeks. I emailed diary type letters about every 2 weeks. My son rarely emailed back. It was easier to read his email than send out. Also there were multiple times when there were communications black outs so no phone calls or WiFi available. We did have quite a few phone calls whenever he was “in” a port (I use that term loosely because both deployments were during covid). They were usually in the middle of the night with jets launching in the background.
Feb 16, 2022
CanukaVet
Chipmunk -- I too sent monthly packages. Early on, he got them in 3 weeks, then it was more like 5 weeks. But he got them all. I didn't mail any letters and he didn't seem to mind, it was old news because we had usually spoken in the interim.
Mail is not a priority when it comes to deliveries. It seemed like there was alot of inconsistency. There were a couple of huge drops (several thousand packages at once). The first was because mail is sent to the nearest base to where they are going. Our ship was headed to the middle east then turned around mid-way so the mail was a mess, both systems and physically.
Make sure you get the correct mailing address directly from the ship via you sailor. I think that made some of the difference between timely and lost or very delayed packages.
Feb 16, 2022
CanukaVet
Since BC, I have gotten used to phone calls every 2-3 weeks; sometimes I have to nudge him for a check-in. I always let him make the calla unless I had something reasonably important to pass along. .then I sent both an email and a text.
Like Anti M says, the email can be difficult...finding one of the few capable computers that is open. Back & forth conversations are almost impossible because there is always someone waiting behind you.
As ProudofK said, our ship had WiFi which enabled the sailors to use their personal phones to text and call from the ship. The coverage was spotty and sometimes disabled for operational or technical reasons. The spouses I knew were thrilled because it allowed for frequent contacts. I believe that the WiFi was turned off for a few days on the return as a ship wide punishment for the leaked plane video. Having WiFi was month to month pending approval of the DOD spending bill. I don't know if and when it is being rolled out to other ships.
Big advice...make sure to let your sailor know that you will welcome and answer phone calls at any time of day. With 24/7 work and time zone differences, they don't always realize what time it is where you are.
Feb 17, 2022
CanukaVet
The standard line is "ask your sailor" for specific details.
I also joined the two official FB pages for our ship...the ombudsman and the Family Readiness group. I made some contacts and got a lot of useful information along with a lot of cool ship swag.
The ombudsman is primarily a liasion to the ship's command when other lines of communication fail (see standard line above). Ours put out a monthly newsletter -- I had to submit a request that my sailor had to approve-to get on the distribution list. The FRG is mostly a support group for spouses...I joined because I am local; I participated in some activities and monthly on-line meetings which gave me heads up when talking with my son. On the other hand, my Momma concerns were very different than most of the FRG. That is why I appreciate these N4M friendships.
The FRG was especially useful with homecoming preparation so I recommend checking it out. Each of the 3 top officers (CO, XO, CMC) did live Q&As through the FRG.
Best of luck as you prepare.
It is interesting that I am now the experienced one when you have always been the go-to mom. Such is the Navy.
Feb 17, 2022
CanukaVet
Chipmunk-- just noticed your musings about being there for homecoming. That is a family choice. Remember he should get leave soon after returning so it's up to you and him to decide whether to go homecoming or wait for him to come home to you.
Seeing the ship come in is always inspiring but it goes quickly. I sort of regret not being on the pier, mostly for the socialization but I opted for the view over a long, long wait.
As ProudofK said, some sailors return a week to a month ahead for various reasons. They go back on board when the ship returns to hold down the fort while the others are on special liberty and leave.
Several crew members flew back last week, the FRG and airport USO did a great job greeting them. After seeing the photos, I feel like I should have gone down to welcome the singles. Next time.
Feb 17, 2022
Chipmunk
3B'sMom, ProudofK & Canuka, Thanks! This has been helpful for me, and I hope any others that are following along will reap from your knowledge as well.
Canuka - my sailor has actually been out to sea for longer than a month, due to COVID keeping them at sea, but not for months at a time. Some things I am familiar with but going through an extended time at sea is a different story. I appreciate everyone's insights and your thoughts on homecomings.
I am glad to glean from your knowledge, just as I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge with everyone else.
Feb 17, 2022
Chipmunk
Northwoodsmom - I am so happy to hear that your sailor has finally received a new rating!! We appreciate you sharing here. You have been an integral part of this Navy family here, especially with your experience of going through your journey during the height of Covid shut down.
Your encouraging posts are helpful, so please stick around.
Feb 17, 2022
4kidsforfun
Northwoodsmom - good to hear from you and that your son got his first choice to continue his Navy journey. Must be a relief to you to have something to focus on and figure out. I know that always keeps me busy! Sounds like a fun choice too and maybe he will end up seeing some of he old Nuke buddies along the way if he ends up on a carrier.
Feb 17, 2022
ProudOfK
Canuka - my son also came home to a dead battery. I suspect that is quite common for the sailors when coming back from deployment to find a dead battery if there car has not been driven for months. Especially if the battery is a bit older to begin with. I’m not sure if that is something that they warn them about or not but probably a good heads up to have.
Feb 17, 2022
CanukaVet
But good lesson learned.
Feb 17, 2022
Chipmunk
Talking about the dead car batteries, is another thing to be thinking about and sharing with our sailors. Thanks!!
Feb 17, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Feb 17, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Feb 18, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Feb 21, 2022
Chipmunk
Snoopy and Woodstock are off to the races!!
Feb 21, 2022
DOREMI
Are there any restrictions on the weight and size of the package to send to Abraham Lincoln ship? Please let me know if anyone knows about the rule. Are we allowed to send a package bigger than USPS large white box?
Feb 21, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Feb 22, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
DOREMI - There aren't really any restrictions except for the fact that they don't have a lot of storage room so keep that in mind. Is his ship deployed? And you can send boxes other than the USPS boxes.
Feb 22, 2022
DOREMI
Thank you. B'snukeMoM.
Yes, the ship deployed on Jan.3, 2022.
Feb 22, 2022
Chipmunk
DOREMI - I wasn't able to reply earlier and I would have told you to check with your sailor's ombudsman. So, I am glad that B'sNukeMom could give you better information about mailing a package.
I will say that my son's ship did an organized drop when they were out on an underway during the height of COVID. Due to the logistics of that specific drop, there were size restrictions on the boxes. Unfortunately, most of us who lived at a distance were not able to participate since it was a local drop off and we did not have enough time to mail anything. Some of the local moms did offer to make up boxes and deliver for us, if we wished.
In another group we have also talked about the length of time that packages can get to the ships and that once they are turned over to the military from the USPS, you are no longer able to track them.
Feb 22, 2022
DOREMI
Thank you Chipmunk!
I already sent a package early this afternoon.. I bought a medium size box(19L,14W,17H) at Walmart. I packed all different kinds of snacks, ramen, etc. It weighed 27 pounds and was $37 to ship. All the snacks and eats, he'll share with his friends.
Feb 22, 2022
Chipmunk
DOREMI - I am glad you were able to get your box shipped.
FYI for future reference, here is the link to the USPS large flat rate box - Priority Mail Flat Rate® APO/FPO Box - MILIFRB | USPS.com - if you scroll down there is information about mailing to the military. It might have been a little smaller but with the flat rate shipping weight it may have been cheaper.
Did you still have to fill out a customs form? That was the daunting part for me when I did send a box to my sailor before. I needed to refresh my memory on all of this for upcoming sea time. - If you are not close to a PO you may order these boxes and they deliver them for free to you, I believe. Otherwise, I pick up just a couple at a time when I go into the PO.
Feb 22, 2022
DOREMI
Yes. I filled out the customer form and itemized contents.
Feb 22, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Feb 23, 2022
Chipmunk
DOREMI - I think the most daunting thing for me with the customs form was having to assign a weight amount to everything. Our postmaster weighed the box for me and gave me a total and then I had to itemize and assign a weight to everything for it to add up. I don't know if others do it that way, but that was what caused me angst.
I am glad that you were able to get the box mailed to your sailor.
Feb 23, 2022
CanukaVet
From then on I used USPS Click & Send. I paid on line, the app printed a form that was both label and for Customs. Yes, still had to itemize and weigh everything...I already had a household postal scale. When done it is bar coded so you can just give it to your local carrier or p.o. Our closest is a carrier annex that doesn't handle $$$$ but took the package.
Also, I used USPS priority mail boxes. Seemed to be cheaper for heavy stuff as long as you don't exceed the max weight.
I used individually wrapped hard candy as filler to help with contents movement. My son wanted low sugar Red Bull so I wrapped each can separately in a sealed plastic bag then in bubble wrap. These fit nicely in and around the other items.
My son said he and shipmates were able to get what they needed directly through Amazon. He was on a carrier so might not work on smaller ships.
Feb 23, 2022
Chipmunk
Canuka - Thank you!! I am not sure I would be as bold as you to ship canned drinks like that but using the hard candy as filler is a great idea!! I know my son asks for hard candy a lot, because it gets dry down where they are at.
Feb 24, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
Feb 24, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
It's also a good idea to line the inside of the box with a trash bag. Put everything in and then seal up the bag before you close the box. That way if another box around yours has something break open (liquid) it won't ruin what's in your box!
Feb 24, 2022
B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)
From Navy Dads (as shared by another mom on here)
⚓️STAY ANCHORED IN THE TRUTH⚓️
NERVES WILL BE RATTLED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS!
Recommend to limit your time watching news reports as they will hype things and will cause most to fret and worry more than normal.
Do not listen to others' speculation. Speculations turn into rumors. Rumors feed fear. This just makes people worry more.
Do not call your sailor and let them know how scared you are over the issues going on in the world. They need to be focused on their school, their ship command, or wherever they are currently at. Your fears could be a distraction they do not need.
The U.S. Navy will not rush anyone through training. An untrained sailor would be more of a danger and hindrance to the fleet.
The U.S. Navy will not recall all sailors and put all ships to sea. We have had forces in place for a few weeks, but they are just there as a show of force. The U.S. Navy will not put all their eggs in one basket so to speak.
DO NOT POST what you think is OPSEC. All the admin are aware of what is and is not OPSEC and we have post control for a reason. We will control the narrative on this topic.
Finally, say your prayers as in reality, this will be all you can do as the family of any service member. Remember they took an oath and now are adults having to do adult things.
STAY ANCHORED DURING THIS STORM AND SUPPORT YOUR SAILORS
Feb 24, 2022
Chipmunk
B'sNukeMom - that is a good idea about the trash bag to protect your own box from another's possible mishaps.
I appreciate the post as well. Thank you!!
Feb 24, 2022
momc
B’sNukemom
thank you for posting the piece from the Navy Dads group. Great information and so helpful at this time. As always praying for our leaders and our troops.
Feb 24, 2022