NUKE moms

AZ_RACCOON - The Navy utilizes more MMNs than they do EMNs or ETNs, so the likelihood of your daughter getting an MMN rate is higher, however, it also just depends on the needs of the Navy!!  All the best to your daughter!!

Canuka - Thanks for sharing!!

Canuka - Yes!  Thanks for posting that info - very helpful ;-D

Last comment about housing...special situation.

This is NASNI this a.m. Left is 72 Abe, right is 71 Teddy, in between is the open carrier dock (our 3rd is 70 Carl V-currently deployed).

 Teddy is in a construction status so no one can sleep on board, so the sailors who don't have any other housing go to the white box which is a berthing barge. The galley  & conference rooms were moved too. Sailors still do regular watches on board. This barge is fairly new but the berthing barges used to be old, old ships.

WRT housing, I don't think my submariner (STS2, currently assigned to an SSGN, not a nuke) has ever had to stay on the boat when not underway, even when he was junior E4. There just isn't room for everyone on attack subs, and tight quarters on the Ohio class. Too, the Ohio class SSBN/GN boats have two crews that alternate, so the "off" crew needs housing. He did have to stay on a barge on deployment in Guam.
Homeport bases usually have housing in the BEQ for sailors up to E4 with less than 4 years. They may or may not have availability for E4+4. When they hit E5, they are effectively required to have off-base housing. If they are not in government housing, they get (non-taxable) BAH to offset housing costs. For the frugal that can be more than rent or a mortgage payment -- money in the bank. I don't know what his apartment in Silverdale WA costs, but he gets like $2K/mo BAH. Military pay scales are publicly available.

Helping mama grocery shop!

Hi Val - it’s been 3 years, but here is my memory of it: they have a rotating schedule. Example, start with 7 Swings shifts, then 7 Nights, then days. Two days off in between but they are adjusting their sleep schedules. After days, they get 2 days off, then followed by three shorter day shifts, then 4 days off and restart the rotation with swings. 

I live in California and visited often (he had a house with plenty of room even with his roommates). I’d fly out and arrive when he had his shorter days, then spend his 4 days off together. Realistically, you could start the trip with the 2 days off following his day shift rotation and have dinner together after his shorter days (off work by 3ish). 

Hope that helps! BTW avoid Dallas for your layover if you can help it this time of year. I got stuck there for 30 hours due to storms!! 

I can post an actual old 2023 work schedule but not sure about OPSEC… 

anyone want to weigh in on that? 

DsMom2020 - I commented on your page.

Val - There was a family weekend when my son was in Prototype (pre-Covid), but he did not tell me about it ahead of schedule. He figured he would be studying and there really would not be time for us to visit. And as DsMom2020 said, they are adjusting their sleep schedule as well. 

Prototype is an entirely different study situation than what they had during A school and Power School. Some of the sailors do really well with Prototype and some struggle. It is more self-paced, for lack of a better description, but it is also hands-on. And depending on your sailor's Nuke rate and who they have as their instructors, plus the sleep schedule change, it can be difficult. My son would call me early in the morning on his way home from working the late shift, just to help him stay awake. I was thankful that there was another family member at that time who could also receive those calls, so I wasn't the only one.

I would definitely give your sailor time to adjust to Prototype and then discuss the options of coming out to stay. Our route usually gives us a layover in Atlanta, but this year, that area is being hit with storms just as much as the Dallas area. 

Good morning and Happy Thursday!

To follow up with what DsMom2020 said about prototype schedule - I had posted this a couple of weeks ago giving the hours of the 3 shifts for prototype.  Everything else that DsMom said is as I remember.

Swing - 11:30am-11:30pm

Mids 7pm-7am

Days 7am-7pm

DsMom2020 - as for posting the actual schedule, even though it's an old one I think it would be better to send it in a private message....Could you send it to me too so I can look it over?

Thanks!

val - I'm also in CA and we managed to get in a visit to B when he was in prototype in NY.  We planned it around his 4 days off and it worked out well - it was in April so the weather was nice.  We had fun sightseeing - even got to the the Baseball Hall of Fame - which made hubby super happy!  Then we made one more trip back in January 2015 when he graduated prototype.  That one was a little colder lol!

B’sNukeMom

Messaged you the schedule 

Good morning! I have a question about OPSEC.  FYI, I have taken the OPSEC training course and passed it, but I'm still super nervous about sharing too much information. 

My question is about if it's okay for me to share which boat my son is assigned to. There is an event Coming up that has been publicly advertised in lots of places including Facebook.  The Navy has posted pictures of several of the sailors assigned to the boat, and has given their names. I feel like it's okay to say that my son is a part of this celebration, but I just wanted to confirm. 

I guess an example that wouldn't give it away is something like this: "The USS Mickey Mouse is celebrating her 10th anniversary in the Navy.  We are here to celebrate with my son. "

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

MomofJoseph - yes, you can share which boat your son is assigned to.  Normally you don't want to give out any info on upcoming ship movements, but if the Navy is putting it out there, then it's ok for you to do the same.

My son is currently stationed in Ballston Spa. Your son’s class will be the first class to attend since it was closed for maintenance several years ago. The Ballston Soa area is beautiful and your son should find many things to do there during his down time. Good luck to him and the other sailors who will be completing Prototype. 

My son's boat (formerly PCU IOWA) was commissioned on Saturday in Groton.  It is now the USS IOWA!!!

It was a GREAT ceremony in spite of the cold and dreary weather!

Wow, val, that's exciting that your Sailor will be going to Ballston!  Will he be in the first class since reopening?

val - I think your son will really like it there.  B really enjoyed his time there.  We visited twice and had fun seeing the area.  We didn't make it into NY City, but B did.

MomofJoseph - that's awesome!  Glad you were able to be there for it!

The USPS is coming out with a new Forever stamp to honor the Navy's 250th year.

Here's the link to pre-order:

Navy 250th stamp

Thank you, B'sNukeMom for sharing about the Navy stamp!!!  I love that!

Oliver's Easter Egg Hunt!

I got him the shirt he's wearing....it says "Eggs-cavator" and has a bulldozer on it....it's so cute!

B'sNukeMom -

That is adorable!  Thanks for reminding me about the great Easters when they were so little!!  Great days!!!