NUKE moms

A place to come for support and guidance for anyone with a loved one in the nuke program ⚓️.

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  • Chipmunk

    SDNukeMom - We are here for you all. If you don't post, we don't reply, but we are still here, so never be concerned about asking for information or support. 

    These first few weeks especially are hard on your new sailors, and A school is tough!! It is a lot different than what they were used to in school, and the amount of information that is being poured into them, they will feel on overload. My son is an ETN2 now and I recall when he was in A school that they were doing one subject at a time, then in Power School they were doing 3 subjects at once as I recall. 

    My son would always encourage me to encourage other sailors coming into the pipeline to be sure and reach out for any of the teacher assistance that they could get. 

  • Northwoodsmom

    SDNuke Mom and Q'sMomma, I should of mentioned all the help my son got from his command while he was struggling. As long as they are trying they will stick with them and try to get them over the hurdles they are going through. They want them to succeed and will do everything possible to see that happens. If it doesn't don't worry, they invested a lot in these Sailors and they will be offered a great different rate. The biggest thing is to keep them motivated to do their best wherever that takes them.

  • MomofJoseph

    SDNukeMom, have you heard how your son did today on his test?  My son always asks me to pray for his tests, and I'm on pins and needles until I hear how he did.  :-)  I hope you get good news soon!  <3

  • The Hammer

    SDNukeMom, As you can tell by now... many of us experience similar communication blackouts. For me... it comes and goes and I've just learned to be okay with it. He knows that I support him and that I'm here when he needs me. He is in the fleet now and I know that I am always his first call when he returns to port (somehow I even beat out his gf!). The men and women in this group are great and we are always here to help!

  • SDNukeMom

    MomofJoseph, Thank you so much for checking in! I finally heard from my son, and he passed his math exam! :) He got a 2.63, but he was more than happy with it because the class is finished. I didn't realize how stressed and unfocused I was until I heard from him, and now realized I've gotten nothing productive done at work today. Lol! Oh well, I'll catch up tomorrow.  

  • Chipmunk

    SDNukeMom - Glad to hear that he passed!!

    The Hammer - I laughed at your last about getting the call before his gf! I was the same, but now that he is married, I have to play 2nd fiddle. Thankfully, she calls me to keep me updated, or will remind my son when he gets home to call. In the meantime, when he is not home - My DIL calls me, just because. 

    Q's  Momma - You got it!! He doesn't realize you all need that "proof of life". So, you will need to do some training and some guidance to help him realize that even just a "good night" is better than nothing!

  • Chipmunk

    Q's Momma - You are most welcome!! I am glad that you heard from your sailor!!

  • MomofJoseph


    SDNukeMom and Q's Momma - I am crying tears of joy for you both!  I'm so happy that you heard from your sailors and my heart is so full for you!  That is such great news this morning!!!

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

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  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

    Hooray for phone calls/texts/passing exams!

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

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  • Pizanche

    Have a good weekend!

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

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  • NickSydmom

    My guy is deployed, and I know there are a lot of things available to him on the carrier. I am looking for ideas for care packages. He was excited about the peanut butter I sent last time. I do send him jerky and protein bars, just looking for ideas.

  • Northwoodsmom

    NickSydmom, my son always loves my homemade Chex mix, there is always so many ways to make it and it last a while. I always add extra nuts for added protein. You can put it in Freezer bags that are easy to pack. Just a idea, I use bugles and pretzel gold fish, you can also get the spicy bugles that add a little zip to it. I am sure he will love anything you send!

  • Chipmunk

    NickSydmom - Hello!!! It is so good to hear from you! 

    I recently posted some information in the Beyond BC group and it was confirmed that you can send things like Emergen-C or cough drops. I know my son likes the Vit C ones, or other hard candies to keep his throat moist. Other powder water flavorings or electrolytes are good. 

    Here is a link B'sNukeMom shared on our ship page, Care package mailing information & ideas

    She also mentioned other small travel game ideas other than just playing cards. 

    FYI - The USPS is now requiring the + 4 zip code for FPO addresses. It may depend on your PO, if their computers programs are maybe not upgraded. But I had issues when mailing a letter, and another mom with our ship had an issue. 

    If you go to USPS - Zip Code Lookup by address you may enter their Unit #, Box # and other information and it will pull up the correct + 4 digit for that box # that is associated with the ship. 

  • NickSydmom

    Chipmunk thank you so much, lots of good info on the link. I do also have a few tips I can share. I discovered Amazon delivers to the ship, through the post office, your free prime shipping actually covers to the ship and Amazon automatically knows if an item can’t be mailed to a FPO and also populates the add on 4 digit zip code for you. 

  • JayDee659

    Today is the 7 year anniversary of my daughter's PIR.  It seems like yesterday and a lifetime all at once. She's been deployed, seen the world and is back where she started, teaching at GC.  Looking forward to what the next 7 years will hold. 

  • 3B'smom

    NickSydmom - coffee and water enhancers (Mio or powdered versions - especially those with electrolytes) were always welcome. On my son's last deployment coffee was in short supply. I sent bulk coffee for his plant, along with coffee "pods" of his favorites. HIs plant had a coffee maker that could use both. He also used the pods to barter with other sailors. I think I also sent him condiment packets one time. He said that the condiments he preferred seemed to be gone when he was able to go eat. 

    On his first deployment he asked me to send vitamin D. 

  • MomofJoseph

    JayDee659 - Wow!  Seven years - that is AMAZING!!!  We are just at 11 months in this journey.  Congratulations!

  • NickSydmom

    Thank you for all the great ideas, I hadn’t thought about vitamins, but with the little amount of sunshine they get, vitamin D is a great idea. 

  • JayDee659

    Thank you Mom of Joseph!  Enjoy your journey, you'll be looking at 7 years in the blink of an eye. 

  • Chipmunk

    JayDee659 - Be sure to tell your Nukette, "Thank you for her service from all of us!"  I think it is great that she is able to be back at GC!

  • Chipmunk

    NickSydmom - Thanks for the information on Amazon prime. I passed that along to my DIL. 

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

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  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

    JayDee - wow how time flies!

  • KayCee

    Happy Halloween Everyone!

    I loved the giant Salute to Service flag at the Seahawks game yesterday!

  • PacNWmom

    KayCee - Did you see when the official called the Seahawks the Mariners by accident? LOL

  • KayCee

    PacNWmom - Funny! I didn’t hear it probably because it was so loud. We honestly couldn’t hear much in the stadium over the fans. I did see it made news though. 

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

    Welcome to our newest member ~ OkieMama!  

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    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.

    **Your journey will be a little different since you have an officer.  But we are still here to answer questions!

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

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  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

    Don't forget we change the clocks this weekend!

  • MomofJoseph

    Hi, OkieMom!  Is your Sailor at Goose Creek now?  

    Congrats, JNMnavymomOH, for your son's graduation!  I saw your post about your son and cell phone use and wanted to share my experience.  When they are in class or studying, they are not allowed to have their phones with them.  I usually heard from my son in the early afternoon (after class and before study hall opens) and then on weekends.  It's much more like a college schedule than bootcamp was (which I LOVE!)

  • MomofJoseph

    Congratulations, Q's Momma!  We are so happy for you!!!

  • Pizanche

    Congrats! 

  • Pizanche

    My son passed his power school comp!!! Very excited. Leaving Wednesday to head down to GC. 

  • Northwoodsmom

    Pizanche congratulations to your son. Have a great time, prayers for a safe trip!

  • Chipmunk

    OkieMama!  - Welcome to the Nuke Mom page!! Let us know where you are at in this journey. 

    Q's Momma -  I am so happy for you!!! 

    Pizanche - Congratulations to your sailor!! Safe travels!!

    Our big news this last weekend was the birth of our second grandbaby, a bouncing little boy! I can't wait until I can go see him and hold him. I can't share it here, but I got a kick out of what my Nuke said he was likely doing when his nephew decided to enter this world in the very early morning hours!! 

    I messaged my Nuke the first thing, so even if he did not see it, I could say he was the first one to know about it. 

  • MomofJoseph

    Pizanche - Congratulations!!!!  Have a great, safe, wonderful trip to GC!  I can't wait to hear about it!

  • Pizanche

    Thank you! 

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

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    Pizanche - woohoo!  Enjoy ;-D

    Chipmunk - congrats on the new grandbaby!  How exciting!

  • Chipmunk

    B'sNukeMom - Thank you!! We are very blessed!

  • Amouse

    Chipmunk- Congratulations!!!

  • Pizanche

    Congrats chipmunk. 

  • Pizanche

    Can anyone tell me what EP (early promotion) actually means on the evaluation? The info I found online was very old. Thank you in advance 

  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

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  • B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)

    Pizanche - from what I can find the EP "allows one to take an advancement exam one cycle earlier than their TIR (time in rate) schedule would allow".  They have to put in a chit to request it.  So I'm guessing he/she has done something exemplary and they are given the opportunity to test early....so definitely a positive thing!

    Anyone else with a better explanation?

  • Pizanche

    BeNukeMom - thank you very much!!