Sub Moms

We got 24" of snow. Did not lose power this time.

My son is heading to Groton today. Praying for safe travels. Do they have power back on the base yet?

So Farah, any word from your son on what the work parties are like to clear snow around the upper base?  

Thank goodness the snow came this weekend instead of next. Looking forward to visiting my son <3. He has given me a LONG list of things he wants from his bedroom and I'm taking some kitchen stuff as well. I baked a can of chocolate chip cookies for him to share (the intention is for him to share), lets see how that goes! I can't wait to see him and spend some time.

My son had duty Friday and Saturday including working 24 hours straight on the submarine.  That along with digging out his car, and then having to dig out another parking space on the base to park his car.   I estimate he had been up 30 hours then 3-4 sleep before we spoke.

William, has your son's boat moved upriver to the Subase yet, or are they still at Electric Boat?

That would explain the long duty day; I enjoyed playing the golf course with my son near EB a few years back when my son was waiting to start his A school for sonar tech.

I'd imagine they do - for the streets; but they have lots of sidewalks and lots of low cost labor that need PT :).

Mark and William ... translate, please: Subase, Electric Boat, PSA work?

Connie,

Groton has two facilities related to submarines, the Submarine base, located four or five miles upriver from the mouth of the Thames, the lower base on the waterfront, where the boats are, and the upper base, where the sub school is.  Downstream, near the mouth is the General Dynamics - Electric Boat division, which builds submarines, along with the Huntington Ingalls facility in Newport News VA.  New construction boats spend a lot of time at Electric Boat (EB) before they are finally delivered to the fleet.  Can't share the answer to your last question, though - it would probably be best to delete the acronym from the two posts.

Mark, I deleted my poar but there is nothing that I said that is not already in the newspapers regarding the boat -- which makes it public knowledge.  Including a $52 million General Dynamics contract for the work.  That is where I learned about it.

http://www.dailymarkets.com/stock/2013/01/16/general-dynamics-award...

Post not poar Lol.  

You're right William - that acronym has another meaning, my bad... :)

Just for the record ... I don't ask my son anything about his work, ever.  We talk about his friends and the like or if he is eating well, and getting enough sleep.

Well stated, my man...

Hello everyone! Hope everyone is handling the snow okay! With the idea and inspiration of Peggy Dunne my husband created a fb page for people who will have or have sailors in Hawaii. If you would like to join go to Loved Ones of Hawaii Submarine Sailors on fb. Some of us just wanted a place to go after Groton to talk. Hope to see you there!

My sailor called last night to inform us that he is going home from deployment early.  He was chosen to escort a sick sailor back to Hawaii and he does not have to return to his boat!  He was excited!  He has been on the boat for 5.5 years and is transitioning to shore duty at the end of deployment.  So he gets to start looking at his new routine a little early and come home to visit too!

Anyone have sailors in Hawaii?? Started a new group page on fb for them if your interested in joining.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lohss/

Loved Ones of Hawaii Submarine Sailors

Thank you navyboy2012 and BunkerQB for sharing these links.  I've happily joined them both!  Seems like Hawaii is the place to be, and I'm soooooo excited for my son that he is now there!  = )

ON FACEBOOK.

navyboy2012, be sure to set you group on FB to private - you don't want your comments to be seen by everyone. Friends of friends can see all sorts of comments. Since you are the creator of the group, it will be your responsibility to monitor the members. Don't hesitate to remove a member if you feel they don't have a legitimate reason for being in the group. You don't need to be a friend to anyone in the group. Group members don't need to be friends with other group members. Good luck.

I personally would not join any FB group unless it's private.  BTW, most N4M groups are open but we all use "handles" whereas on FB, you are required to use your real name.

navyboy2012 - definitely make your fb page a "private" page where you or anyone you appoint has to approve the members when they want to join.  That is the only way to keep all comments from being seen on everyone's page.

I have a group for OK Navy moms and that is how our page is done.

I just checked out the page on FB that navyboy2012 posted. It is a "CLOSED" group - the comments are NOT visible but the names of the members are. The group should be reset to "SECRET" - in which case only the title of the group is visible to non-members of the group.

Hello ladies and thank you for your comment on the group fb page I set up. I had a mom from one of my groups request for a fb page for sub sailors in Hawaii, so that was the only reason I created it. Apparently some people like to use fb because people don't get on here very often. 

And as for the visibility of the names of members on the group page they are set as "Closed" and will be left that way till fb makes changes to group settings. If you set it to "secret" then you can not even find the group page. It has been tried and test so I know this is fact. People will be watching who joins so if you don't belong there then you will be deleted. I respect the fact that some people will not join.

I think it's very generous for you to put in the time and effort to start a FB page on behalf of others. I respectfully suggest that you change the group to a SECRET group. My son was on an officer on a sub. The was a "SECRET" FB FRG page associated with his sub. You request admittance to the group thru the ombudsman. She (for a sub normally a wife of a senior officer) would confirm and check to be sure that the applicant's name was on the contact list the sailors submitted. In my opinion having the real names of the members of your "CLOSED" group visible to the public could be a serious issue. My son's opinion was that 99% of the FB pages connected with the Navy should be taken down because the moms/wives/dads talk and say way too much. I have been on this group for over 3 years - I think it's active when it needs to be. I am alarmed that you place more importance on being able to find the group than the safety of the sailors on submarines.

"Loose lips sink ships." as the saying goes. Be careful where you post and what you post anywhere!!!!

I'm sorry but I have to say this...the reason I like my fb groups so much better is because people aren't criticizing what I say constantly. If I post something questionable, someone might call me on it but they do it in a friendly way. When my sailor was in boot camp, I loved N4M's-it was my lifeline. But since then, I really don't enjoy it that much. Sorry if I offended anyone, but this has been bugging me & I just had to speak my peace. BTW, Happy Valentine's Day! I still love my Navy family! :)

Thanks  Popeye's Mom Alum DIV 031 1-6-12 I feel the same way.                            And  tysmom that is so true, thanks for reminding us of that. I loved that comment. 

I'm a doofus when it comes to navigating Facebook, but I can tell you that there are -- to quote former President Bush -- evildoers out there who are quite proficient at connecting the dots ... information-wise. Not paranoia .. my mom lives next to the little airport where the 9-11 terrorists learned to fly; who woulda thought that a few thousand dollars could buy such devastation ... the military screws up with leaked info plenty of times, doesn't need N4Ms or FB to inadvertently "help" .. we need to remember that most of our sailors (or at least their superiors) are NOT thrilled that we so freely disseminate info.

Boy! there seems to be a lot of opinions! N4M's is a great place to get info on things no denying that. But like my husband said to me (who was once in the navy himself) any forum monitored by the navy is ran by the navy, whether you think so or not, it is (as he did his own checking on this site). As for myself I have no problem with people knowing my name, I am a proud mother. And know how to use common sense when it come to talking about my son's job, like any job....The wonderful thing about the internet is if you want to know something about someone there is no such thing as private. There's all kinds of websites were you can go and pay for info, rite down to what someone's social security number.... I am not putting anyone's safety at risk over a group page. But whats the point in having a page that no one can find by setting it were it can't be found sounds pretty pointless to me, but hay I'm just sayin. 

I just attached a picture for those of you with babies to buy for...Carters has a whole line of "sub" wear including darling pajamas, shorts sets, hats, bibs etc. and I thought this little outfit was so cute right down to the little bear with a matching outfit. I got these at our outlet center for 40% off! I have a few babies to buy for but thought you all would appreciate this...Happy Valentine's Day to all!

I don't either but I work with several new moms and it will now be my signature gift...debating about buying something for a later date :-) might be a good idea to keep that part classified though LOL!

Newsubmom, thanks! I just went to carters.com .... it's buy one, get one right now, got 2 teddy bears for $18. No grandkids yet (sailor's not even married!!) but could not pass up these cuties with the little submarines. One for me, one for the girlfriend!

I had a GREAT Valentine's Day gift:  a phone call from my sailor.  He just got back "home" from an underway and he sounded so happy to be back.  This was his longest underway yet (his first was only two weeks), and he is so happy he'll be able to do stuff outside and enjoy the sunshine in Hawaii.  Heck, I'd be happy to enjoy the sunshine in Hawaii and I haven't been on a sub!  He thinks he may just be there when my sis and BIL are in Hawaii later this year on vacation, and I'm almost as happy for that as if it were me.  First time he will see family since October!

Wish I had some babies to buy those sub things for!

Hi heebsmom my son will be doing shore, land duty. This time around :) Thanks Patrick's Mom I bet he is going to love it.

Regarding Facebook, even if a FB group is "secret", OPSEC still applies.  While full names are OK on Facebook, other than that, the rules for what you can post about submarines are the same as here.

New to your group...son is going to Hawaii - USS Bremerton in April.  Its a long way from Florida....

just wanted to let all of you know that we have a facebook page for Hawaii Sub Loved ones.It is a great page..hope to see you there

Welcome Sunshine66! Our son is a submariner on the USS Springfield. He's 6'3" & I worry he'll be a hunchback by the time he gets out. :)  What date does your sailor PIR?

Lol! I have the same fear, he's 6'2" but he's really excited about hopefully being on a sub someday.  He will PIR March 8th.  Cant wait!!!!!  Then off to GC.  He will be an MM. So at least he will come home in the summer for a few days and then more school.  I've managed to let go of the worry that comes with BC and now am getting anxious about Nuke school!!!  I know it's a long and difficult school.  But, hey, one thing at a time!

Does your sailor like being a submariner?