NUKE moms

Happy 26th birthday to my son etn2 Austin J currently at sea on uss Tennessee

Amelia - Happy Birthday to your son!

NPTU Spouses, check out this spouse event! The next date is this Thursday, July 27th. This is a great opportunity to connect with other spouses at NPTU, learn something new and have fun! There will be light food and beverages available and children are also welcome.

AmeliaJW3665 - Welcome to the Nuke Mom group. We are glad to have you here.

If anyone has a sailor in King's Bay, please check out her discussion above. Thanks!

Welcome to the group AmeliaJW3665!

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.

Hello - We just got back from visiting 9 states in 10 days.  We put 3300 miles on our rental car (so sorry, Alamo!) :-)  and visited several national parks:  Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt, Yellowstone, Glacier, and a few others.  I missed a lot of posts, but wanted to check-in.

Thank you for posting the Prototype Graduation information.  My son is in the next graduating class, and it was so great to see the schedule so I have an idea of what to expect.

He got his soft orders while we were on vacation, so for the moms who are in A school or Power school, he received his soft orders about 8 weeks before graduation.  Everyone told him that he should get his first choice because he chose a location not many people choose.  But he is going to a place not even on his top 5 list.  (But he is actually excited about it, and we are happy that he is happy.)

Hi all! Just checking in. My sailor is still on the Jimmy Carter and was just extended for six months. He is kind of bummed out because he was really looking forward to shore duty. He’s been promoted to E6 and has his girlfriend living with him now. He’s hoping to head back to SC for shore duty… but this Momma wouldn’t mind if he stayed put. Washington state is absolutely beautiful! Hope everyone is doing well!!! Here’s a picture my kid took while paddle boarding.

The Hammer - I am sorry that your son's time has been extended for sea duty. Since my son did not reenlist, he never had the option for shore duty. But I will say that WA is a wonderful place to be. 

MomofJoseph - We took a similar trip years ago with our children but put all the mileage on our big van. Lately, I keep suggesting to my husband that we should rent a car for our long-distance trips to our children, so the mileage goes on the rental and not on our personal vehicles anymore!

I don't know why anyone would tell your son that he would get his 1st choice. It is rare. My son did - but I think it is just a luck of the draw and what they need where at the time as far as the Nuke rate.  

MomofJoseph - Sounds like a wonderful trip! We did Badlands, Custer and Mt. Rushmore a few years ago. South Dakota is lovely. Congrats to your son on going someplace he's excited about! Thanks for the Prototype info.

Chipmunk - Love your rental car idea!

The Hammer - Sorry about the extension. I'm sure he and his GF were looking forward to spending some time together on shore. My son would love to be on the Jimmy Carter after Prototype - we'll see. Great pic from your son!

Just checking in!!  My son is doing well in Power School.  He has a classmate that is teaching him and several other students how to drive, which makes me happy.  I know he mentioned that he didn't know if he should ask for the new carrier that is going to Japan or the one that is currently there and will be coming back stateside (I believe that is what he said).  I know his choice is Japan, no matter what.  

The Hammer - We drove through the East side of Washington state and we were amazed at the landscape - not at all what I pictured Washington would look like.  Hopefully, we'll get to explore more at another time.

Chipmunk - this is our third long trip and the first one was in my van and we put almost 3000 miles on it.  But the second and third ones, we flew to a central location and then put the miles on the rental car.  (Plus our van is old and my husband worries that it will break down on the side of the road!) 

joe-mom - Yes, South Dakota is lovely.  This was my first time in those 9 states (now all 50 are checked off), but I had no idea how beautiful the Dakotas are.  We loved the scenery in all of those states.  Such a great trip!

SuzAtlantaMom - I am going to hang on to your last sentence:  "God and the Navy apparently have their own plans."  That is so true!  We prayed and prayed for our son to be put in the place that would be best for him, but we didn't get what we expected.  But I'm hopeful that it will be perfect for him!  Is your son still in Ballston Spa?

JNMnavymomOH - How do you feel about your sailor being in Japan?  Are you hopeful that he will get to go there?

Thanks all! I was just laughing with my husband thinking about how my son wanted to be on a carrier… and then on a whim, applied for the Carter. His orders were late - didn‘t receive until after Prototype graduation. We were in the car when the phone rang (his handler) and he received soft orders. He hung up, looked at me and told me… and we both just sat there… stunned. Expect the unexpected… and go with the big blue flow I guess! It’s been heck of a ride so far!

MomofJoseph 3 - I have known for several years that he wanted to go to Japan.  I want him to travel the world and see/experience different cultures and countries.  The service was going to be the best way for him to do that.  I am becoming adjusted to the idea of him going and while I don't want him to be so far away, I will (hopefully) get to visit him there. This mama needs a vacation!!

Hi All - It is good to hear from you!!

From what I have gleaned over the years here, I would say that going out on a deployment, or an opportunity to see someplace else, is far preferable to having your ship stuck in dry dock or doing short stents out on multiple underways. The days and hours can be long, no matter what. The Nukes watch bill is usually busier than most other rates, but feeling like you are actually doing something with your watch time and not just lots of routine maintenance, would have been preferred by my sailor. Also, I think he said that you can generally qualify faster when you are out to sea, because there is actually stuff to do rather than being in the shipyards. 

Great to see all the chatter today.  SuzAtlantamom, my son is also stationed at Ballston Spa. He completed Prototype several years ago and really loved the area.  It was his second choice for land duty, Washington being his first, but understood that it would be a difficult placement to get.  He’s been doing great with his position at Ballston Spa, which is more admin than being active with the reactors. Needless to say, he has been enjoying having a daily schedule that doesn’t change. He was also able to work on an online degree which he will complete in December. Hoping to make the trek out to see him soon

JNMnavymomOH my son is heading to Japan some time in the next year. Maybe they'll be working together. He's been in Norfolk for about a year and a half now and his ship has finally gone out for a couple short sea trials. Beginning to get real!

4kidsforfun - My prayer is that he meets some great people and creates bonds and friendships that will see him through life.  My son will graduate power school in Oct, so I would assume that he would enter the fleet around April/May.  I would love him to get some leave and come home before he moves across the globe.

I was amused by MomOfJoseph's comment about not getting what they expected. Our Evening Prayer service ends (optionally) with the 5th century Prayer of St. Chrysostom, the last line of which is "Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting." Every time we say that one, I think about how it is a bit of a Dangerous Prayer. What may be "best for us" might not be what we have in mind.
Our son wanted to stay on the East coast, and we would have liked that too, but he has orders back out to Washington. Oh well.

Assignments are definitely based on the needs of the Navy.

My son did not get his first choice (Japan) but he did get his second choice. I think that I was more disappointed than he was because I was already looking forward to visiting him there. As I recall, he could only select a homeport, not a specific ship. He was assigned to a ship that deployed just a couple of months after he reported.

As for seeing the world, I hope it is better now. That deployment was still under covid so their only stops were in Japan (couldn't leave the Naval Base) and Guam twice. 

He is now fully qualifed but he has decided not to re-enlist. 

I really wish I had thought to ask your experiences earlier!  LOL  

I had my heart set on his being only 6 hours from home.  But he'll be less than 12, so that beats many of the other options!  :-)  I am so grateful for this group - you continue to help me so much!!!

My son will finish prototype in the next couple of months and will be moving to San Diego, to the Teddy Roosevelt, his first choice. He wanted San Diego because his wife wants to go to college there. I'm excited because it's in the same time zone, and I've never been to San Diego. B's Nuke, maybe I'll get to meet you one of these days!

PacNWmom - Congrats to your son on getting his first choice! Never been to San Diego but have heard wonderful things.

PacNWmom, is your son graduating in Sept?  Maybe he and my son are in prototype together?

PacNWmom - Congratulations to your sailor!!! I sent you a PM. 

MomofJoseph - A 12-hour trip can still happen in one day if you really want to do so. It is definitely not as easy as a 6-hour drive and it depends on the route and the traffic. We live in the Midwest, so no matter which coast or overseas, my son/ kids are at least a very long 2-day drive, or 1 day flight depending on layovers. I do not like living so far away from my kids. Both sets, who do not live nearby, are more than 6 hours away, so I feel your pain! And worse, that is where my grandbabies are located at as well!

Chipmunk - yes, we can do a 12-hour trip, and I am so grateful it's not a long 2-day (or more) drive.  I know that has to be difficult to have your grandkids so far away!  Maybe sometime soon they can be closer!

Good afternoon ladies… I have a question I bought a nuke mom key chain and nuke mom sticker from someone on here in 2021 and I just trained my truck in and want another nuke mom with the flag for my new car… does anyone know who sales them 

Hello!! Spoke with my Nuke today.  Another student is teaching him and a few others how to drive (YAH!!) a manual shift.  We were talking about his dream list, because I figured he might have his soft orders by the end of the year.  He asked for Japan and then San Diego (does not want Norfolk) and the new Ford class of carriers.  I know it is the needs of the Navy, but I am kind of torn between them.  I want him to go to Japan as that is his dream, but I want SD so I can be there for deployment and return home activities. He also told me that NY is planning to reopen for Prototype students sometime in 2024.  More than halfway thru PS, it is really starting to get real.  He is doing so well, he usually lets me know what his test scores are.  He is maintaining a nice GPA.  Otherwise, he studies and plays video games.   On a side note, I will be going down for the Thanksgiving holiday.  I will be cooking and feeding sailors all weekend.  If you wanted to keep that in your mind :)

Have a great week!!

MomofJoseph - Thank you!  

AP's*nuke*mom* - You might be able to do a search on this site or have you tried a Google Search. I am sorry but I do not know of anyone who sells those items. 

JNMnavymomOH - If I am reading your son's preferences correctly, He does not want to be stationed in Norfolk, but he wants to be assigned to the new Ford class of carriers. FYI, the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN - 78) and the other Ford class carriers are stationed in Norfolk, VA. There have been rumors  otherwise, but I do not believe they are going to move the Ford class carriers

JNMnavymomOH - Just curious... does your son already know when he'll start Prototype? Mine graduates PS the same day as yours, but he hasn't heard anything concrete about Prototype yet - or, at least, he's not sharing! How nice of you to treat all those sailors to a good meal.

MomofJoseph - I think he heard the possibility of a ford class being moved to Japan.  Something about that ship coming back to the states, maybe. I know he said that the new one (just launched) has AC in the engine area. He heard from an instructor that the traffic is horrible at Norfolk.  Something like several hours long to get into the base. 

joe-mom - I believe that they will get 10 days leave or something like that, but no official starting of Prototype yet.  I don't think it is too far from PS though. 

MomofJoseph - Your post caught my attention with “air condo” in the engine room. That would be wonderful indeed! When my son is out “fishing”, it is typical that he comes back 20-30lbs lighter. It’s the combo of the work/heat and the fact that you can’t Door Dash to the sub!

JNMnavymomOH, definitely agree with the traffic in Norfolk. Our first day there we spent 3 hours in a traffic jam because two of the tunnels were down because of accidents. The next morning we heard warning to stay away from one of the tunnels again because it was backed up again. Very frustrating.

Hi all - Happy Tuesday.  Sorry I've been MIA - had a lot going on.  We went to Washington last week for my dad's celebration of life - had it on 8/5 which would have been his 85th birthday. It went well and we had a great time.  Got to see B but C and the baby weren't able to make it.  Came home on Monday (8/7) and then my mom had a stroke on 8/9 so I've been dealing with that.  She lives alone (she and my dad divorced when i was like 3 years old).  She was in the hospital and she's doing better but the dr said for 7 days she needs someone with her 24/7 so we brought her to our house. She's getting better - it could have been way worse than what is was but it's still an adjustment figuring everything out.  So I'm trying to get/keep caught up at work and trying to get/keep caught up with my moms appointments so I've neglected N4M.

PacNWmom - I am always up for meeting Navy moms in San Diego.  You let me know when you are visiting and we will make it happen!

Nice to hear that things might be opening back up in Ballston Spa.  B did prototype there and really loved the area.  We were lucky to visit 2 times and enjoyed it too.

B'sNukeMom - I am so sorry to hear about all that has been going on for you. I had forgotten about your father's service. 

My son is on an Ohio-class nuclear submarine and I was able to do a Tiger Cruise! I was on the boat with him and all the crew (plus 45 other moms, dads, and wives) for a couple of days underway! If you ever get the chance to do this - DO IT! I highly recommend. What an awesome experience.

B’sNukeMom - my thoughts are with you!! Hope all goes well

B'sNukeMom - Sorry to hear about your mom. Prayers for a full recovery. Glad your dad's service went well.

TallyMom - That sounds amazing! Do all sub classes offer tiger cruises?