NUKE moms

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.

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!

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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. 

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

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!

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

JayDee - wow how time flies!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

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

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

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. 

Welcome to our newest member ~ OkieMama!  

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!

Don't forget we change the clocks this weekend!

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!)

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

Congrats! 

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

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

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. 

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

Thank you! 

Pizanche - woohoo!  Enjoy ;-D

Chipmunk - congrats on the new grandbaby!  How exciting!

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

Chipmunk- Congratulations!!!

Congrats chipmunk. 

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 

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?

BeNukeMom - thank you very much!! 

Amouse & Pizanche - Thank You!

Happy FriYAY! 
Celebrating Veteran’s Day here (no work) 

I just got back from Norfolk, visited my son :) 

Congratulations to Chipmunk for the second grandbaby !!

Happy for all the graduates and congratulations! 

Gigi - Thank you!! I am so glad you had a chance to make another visit to see your sailor!!

Good Morning everyone!! I have been busy with family things but I briefly saw the news about bad weather on the east coast again. I assume all is well at NNPTC, since no one has posted questions. 

Just a reminder for those who may be new to the group, and to hurricane weather. My understanding from what my sailor told me when at GC, if the governor orders an evacuation and a state of emergency, then they had to follow suit, even if it did not seem like GC would be affected. 

I reminded my sailor, make sure you are stocked up on water, snacks, keep your phone charged, make sure your vehicle is in working order (during one evacuation, he drove himself to the evacuation site), and in general, make sure you are being your responsible self. 

Good Morning all!! I just got back from NNPTC and Power School Graduation.  They moved it indoors and split the groups, but it was handled well! I met a lot of nice parents while being there and the airports! (Navy mom shirt) It was a fabulous time!!! I was very proud of my son for graduating Power school with Honors!! Must admit, I cried happy tears! My Sailor is on a plane now coming home.  He'll be here for a week. I get to have both my babies here for 2 days, so we will do Thanksgiving this coming weekend. I hope you all have a great week!!!! 

Pizanche - Congratulations on your son's Power School graduation!  So happy he gets to come home!

Was there a limit to the number of guests at graduation?  We have a list of family and friends who want to come for my son's Power School graduation, but didn't know if only a few are allowed?

Pizanche - WooHoo!! I am so glad that you had a wonderful time!! Enjoy your family time!!

MomofJoseph - thank you!!!  No there is no limit. They sent out the notice/invitation, but you don't need it when you go.  (but nice to have as a memento) 

Chipmunk - Thank you!!!!

Pizanche - Thank you!!!  Enjoy your time with your Sailor and having both babies together!  I hope time slows down for those two days!  

Happy Monday!

Pizanche - glad you had a nice time at PS graduation!  BZ to your son on his graduation with honors!  Enjoy having both your kids home - what a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration this will be ;-D

I went to a bridal show with my youngest's fiancee and her mom this weekend.  Fun to start the planning for them....but thankfully I don't have to do a whole lot of it lol!

B'sNukeMoM - another benefit of being a boy mom!  (But so cool you got to join your son's fiancee and her mom on that adventure!)

B'sNukeMoM - Thank you!!! And sounds like you had fun.

MomofJoseph - Thank you - but we all know that time goes by very fast when the sailor and others are home.