Sub Moms

Decided to go all-out for b'day gift since won't see son at Christmas either. Kindle. Or Nook? Or Kindle Fire? Posted this question on nuke moms group, but advice from the sub folks would be appreciated. Also, what accessories will he need? And how do I load books on it? Probably going thru Amazon.

When we toured my son's fast attack submarine he told the whole family we must  leave our cell phones in our car in the parking lot and he left his in the car too. This was with- or without a camera  on it (one of us has no camera on theirs).   If it can make wireless phone calls you must not bring it on his boat.  I was not just we were guests of the submarine, because the crew is not allowed to either.

Connie - my son was also gone for his birthday.  I knew they had very little storage space and of course no way to get mail, and sometimes very little e-mail so I bought a thinking of your/encouragement card for each of the anticipated number of weeks away and if there was any special holiday and sent the to him to take with him.  I managed to get them all in one of the little pay one price boxes from the USPS ( the one that is like 6x8x1 very little).  For his birthday I sent a card, a Little Debbie brownie with the colored sprinkles in its cellophane wrapper, wrapped in a birthday napkin.  It wasn't much (or a cupcake) but it let him know we were thinking of him.  I also included a pen with the logo of his favorite sports team.  At least I felt like he know that I remembered. 

Hi! My son's birthday is today..... he is in the middle of some ocean- under the sea...  All his siblings and grandparents (and us) sent him emails. I wish I would have thought give him something to open on today... also, he does have a (Toshiba) tablet that I believe he took with him that was downloaded with books, recordings and movies.

Happy birthday to your son BJA57, many happy returns.

My grandson just turned 21 the end of February while he was underway, then a week later got his Dolphins.

He got to do a bit of celebrating last week while they ported

I am just jumping in here, a newbie poster. Please bear with me. Still catching up on all of the rules/regs. Officer son will be underway shortly. I am looking for that navymom cushion; this is the first time out to sea thus, we will be out of direct contact since, oh gosh, 2007. Feeling my heartstrings and that sadness.

Sorry, more Kindle questions. Looks like Kindle Fire is out since all versions have cameras. So .... E reader only, Paperwhite? However, I'm seeing on specs that can be charged only thru a laptop USB ... can my son take his laptop aboard the sub? I am not a tech person .... so many Kindle versions available, would like to get the most useful but don't have time to return it if I make a mistake ... son deploys very soon.

My Kindle Fire does not have a camera.  It is a 1st generation Kindle.  The Kindle Fire HD has the camera. The Paperwhite is better for reading in the sunlight.  I can see mine okay if I up the brightness to maximum in the sun.  Not perfect but okay for reading.  

Yes your son can bring his laptop on the the sub.  If he does not have his quals/fish yet he won't have much time to use it but unless his command has a reason to not allow them he can bring it.  My son has brought his with him every time since he received his fish.

Not to change the subject cuz I'm finding all this informational! But I think I read some where that they give family members rides on the subs?? And if so how do one go about setting that up?? My son finally got stationed at his home port this month. 3 days after arriving there they switched his sub and on the 6th day he is in the water and underway. Gonna be a short run but if all goes well they will come in and leave 6 days later for a 6 months deployment. So it looks like my son will be spending his 20th birthday on a sub.

Thank you, Susank, for the welcome aboard :)

The first yr son's birthday was near departure for a patrol, we went through the "on-again-off-again" game with the departure date - so, no one knew whether his birthday would be on the boat or not.  Ultimately, I discovered the boat would be truly departing within 24 hrs.  (No, I'm not telling how I found out - and it wasn't my kid)!

For those in Kitsap Co., WA - I called The Candy Shoppe  in Port Orchard and learned they could deliver to the base.  I had all the Sour Patch Kids they had on hand (7 lbs.) delivered to the boat's office in a box with a bow and a note.  It was taken to the boat just before departure.  He was tickled to death!

He also got quite a few "check outs" on his quals, luring instructors with candy!

My husband suggested that some commands might permit laptops, kindles, and such equipment where the camera had been physically and permanently removed, even if it did not originally come that way.

Has anyone heard of this ?

Gaile Ann, is there a group on Navy for Moms for the Henry M. Jackson?

My son has orders to the HMJ.

susank-That sounds awesome! We would probably be in the same "boat" cause we live in Ohio & our sailor's in Groton but that would be so cool to "take a ride."

NF Mom - permanently disabling the camera is an option in some areas of the Nuclear Navy support establishment, but the SUBPAC instruction (which applies on board all subs in the Pacific Fleet) specifically does not allow disabling the camera either.  If the device ever had a camera, it is prohibited.  I do not know if the SUBLANT instruction is any more flexible.

Hi Sub Moms!  My son is still in BootCamp, PIR 4/12/13.  I'm anxious for that to be over, him to go on to Connecticut school and get started in his sub training.  I'll start reading all the info here.  Sure I have LOTS to learn!

Terri, prayers for your son and I wish him a full recovery.

My Sailor just graduated Sub school and is headed to Norfolk to serve on the USS Helena.  To say the least, I am a nervous wreck full of emotion and not really sure what to expect.  Looking forward to learning lots from each of you!

Hello everyone. I have been a member for a while now, but never have commented. I have 2 sons in the Navy, but only one that is on a sub. I have not seen him since Christmas of 2011, and tear up at the thought of his arrival home for a visit. He happens to be on the Providence. BigBlue, I noticed you had posted about an article you read about them returning after 7 months. Can you tell me where you saw the article? I am shaking just thinking about receiving a call from my son. Thank you.

@BigBlue - thank you so much for the information. Just knowing he is back on land lifts my spirits, as I was in a terrible car crash yesterday due to the weather here, and a little down. Now I am just wishing my phone would ring! 

@Seahorse - thank you for the links. I have to agree with BigBlue though. Seeing all the pictures of everyone hugging their men makes me a little sad. I am in Wisconsin, so jumping in the car to see him is not an option. Besides, I currently do not have a vehicle as of yesterday's crash, so I am stuck waiting.

Thank you  Brooklynmomantoinette!  I am super excited for him and his future.  He is a CS.  He is on transfer leave and goes to Norfolk on Friday.  He has been in touch with his Chief and sounds like there is a deployment coming up pretty quick. With that upcoming deployment I am not sure what to expect at all and of course I don't want to overwhelm him with questions so what I can learn from y'all maybe with a mix of what he wants and can share is what is what I am hoping for. Thank you so much for the words of encouragement!  I look forward to being part of this group!  (Please be prepared for lots of questions lol

I see from the earlier link about the Providence that 24 men re-upped during the deployment. Would that be tax-free, as they were in several areas of the Middle East? My son is still on the fence about what to do ... today he graduated from nuclear welding school and attaches today to his boat. Another training milestone in the nuclear pipeline...

Good Question Connie, "Would that be tax-free, as they were in several areas of the Middle East?"

BigBlue, I am just a little banged up. Very fortunate by the looks of my totaled vehicle though. It all happened so fast. Hearing from my son would definately make me feel so much better right now. I miss him so much, I'm sure just like all the other parents who's men and ladies are away from home serving their country. 

BigBlue - While he's on patrol, when folks ask where my son is, I reply, "Underwater in the Pacific Ocean."  Usually folks just laugh and we move on.

If they ask more specifically, I say, "Even HE doesn't know where he is - there aren't any windows and only Skipper & the Nav look at the map!"

I've also had fun telling folks, "He says that if the intake water is warm, they're near the equator; if it's cold, they're not !"

Hello everyone, I am a new Sub mom. We just attended my son's graduation from school in Groton CT 3 weeks ago.  He arrived it Pearl Harbor yesterday and will be stationed on the USS Hawaii. I'm sure I will have questions, and look forward to getting to know you.