Hi everyone! I am a mom from CO with our son on the ship. What a journey it has been! We miss him so much and can't wait to see him! Just found this group and anxious to learn more about the ship! God Bless all the Sailors and their loved ones!
welcome mom of boys
I was wondering how has package sending been lately for you guys?
same time frame for them to receive?
just curious as I sent something today and I haven't in a couple months....
Sorry your son is going through this, definitely harder to cope with while away on deployment. As dreamer said, the Chaplain is normally the one to handle issues like this. His Chief and chain of command can assist also, however, the Chaplain is better trained to handle these types of struggles.
While it is tough on him now, it is better he found out when she was only a fiance than wait and find out after they are married.
Sometimes I think we all forget what the Ombudsman is there for. This is a portion from the USS GHWB site - - Provide information and outreach to command family members. Interact and cooperate with organizations and military offices such as Fleet and Family Support Centers, chaplain's office, medical treatment facilities, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, American Red Cross, and legal assistance offices. These organizations are valuable resources in obtaining assistance for command family members. - Refer individuals in need of professional assistance to appropriate resources. Ombudsmen may provide support to individuals and refer them for counseling. Counseling is not provided by ombudsmen.
Chris _ Mom _ 1995 that would be my biggest fear. I'm so glad you are able to communicate with him and get him through this. Positive thoughts sent he's way.
Sorry to hear that, Chris_mom...but as said earlier...better now than later.
HELP! I need SERIOUS INFO. I'm in Ohio, and needless to say, I do not know certain events that I really need to know. If there is anyone out there willing to help, you may call/text me at (513) 407-1666. Just found out something today that changed future plans. So any help I'd appreciate.
Please keep me in the loop too. 856-404-0486!
And I also am so sorry to hear what your son is going through Chris's mom. What a terrible thing to do while he is on the ship serving his country and away from family, not even able to have a face to face conversation with her. You are a class act to be so restrained in your words. I can only imagine how much you must be hurting for him. If you text of call me with his squadron I can see if my son is able to reach out to him.
Got your message and Edna is no longer part of this group. I'm the group admin, is there something I can assist with? If you have general ship questions you can ask right here in the group and you'll get lots of help from these knowledgeable ladies.
Such a hard week, my dad just passed. We used the Ombudsman to track my sailor down. His chain of command has been wonderful in talking with him, but at the end of the day it has been family that settled him. I just believe in my heart that God allowed my son to call at just the right time where he got to connect with all his family sibling cousins and aunts and uncles, parents. After this happened he emailed and stated just how much this helped him in this time of sorrow. Counting on happier days in the future.
AnitaInOhio, I love your picture on the "New Catch and Release Program"! I had wanted this dplymnt to be more about having a sense of humor, regarding my supportive efforts. But I've come to find-- I'm just not that funny, lol. :/
Well, looks like we'll be visiting the east coast this year after all! After thinking my sailor didn't want anyone to see them at homecoming...then Sunday I get a message they wanted to know how many will be there!
Now to figure out what we have to have to get on the base for it. I figured out driver's licenses and current passports should be good enough for ID. Any additional help out there would be appreciated (first homecoming).
dreamer6298 I sent you a friend request so I could message you and find out some more information. This is our first homecoming also. We're scheduled to arrive in Norfolk the day before, but not sure how to get any other information about the meeting the night before or anything else. We would appreciate any help we could get, or you're welcome to text or call me. I'm so excited, I know it's a ways off, but I'm already counting the days.
Okay; I did my own homework and contact they FRG; they advised me that yes indeed your sailor must contact there chain of command to have attendees added to a list. Navy dont like surprises, they said.
Peters Mom-Welcome to the USS George Bush family. I get alot of info from this forum; and there is a few experts on here; as this is my sailors first deployment.
I'm so happy(jealous)for all of you that will be able to attend the ship's homecoming. Living on a set income and across the state in California seems like a world away from Norfolk. Enjoy your reunion with your Sailor I'm putting it on my bucket list.
Thanks dreamer6298 for replying! I have found out info from FRG! I am very very glad that you brought these facts up today; because I had surprise guest coming for my sailor. I had to break the surprise to him this morning! Im sure he is chuckling reading the emails.
Also if you want to be added to the night before list make sure to ask your sailor to add you to that list as well. I know in the email they had sent out that the 2 list might correlate with each other. But also even if you do have a military ID make sure your sailor adds you to the list as if you are not on that list you will not get in. Is what I am being told.
Also this is NOT aimed at anyone but please please please as we get closer to homecoming please do not share the dates times or anything that is ship location related on this site or any other form of social media. As that could delay them or make it a surprise homecoming. And I know we all do not want that.
Good note to live by but if you are not sure if you can post it more than likely you shouldn't post it. :)))))
This site is so awesome. It has helped us since before boot camp started. I thank you all for being here for everyone. I hope I can help people as much as I have been helped.
Thanks Anita as I am in the same boat but I am moving so I will already be down there. But still I have family coming in for the ships arrival and I know they would be disappointed if it were to be delayed.
Can I still send a package to my son? I know it's stretching it but I've been really busy with other family stuff I hope it's not too late if I mail it out by Monday at the lasted....
Hi all. I was on the Pier when my son came home from his last deployment aboard the USS Enterprise. Way cool!
Unfortunately, we won't be there to see this homecoming. he already told us that he will only have a few hours of free time the day they arrive home then he will be on duty for the next several days.
He's married but he volunteered for the duty so that the sailors who have kids would be able to spend time with their families. How can I argue with that? It is a 1,001 mile drive door to pier for us. (we kept track!)
Our challenge, being Illinois flatlanders, is getting over those mountains. Yikes! We knew it was going to be a fun drive when we saw signs for the run-away truck ramps. We don't have those in Illinois!
I hope they have the ship's arrival on a live feed so I can watch it from home.
FYI ~ made reservations today. CHEAP! I go to Expedia.com and find hotels but I call the hotel directly and ask them for the rate. I've had a few VERY BAD experiences with these third party companies and I don't trust them. So sure, shop around on their web sites but go directly to the hotel themselves to book your reservations. :-)
To Chris_mom- regarding your son and the loss of his grandfather-- I have read that their ship also has a psychologist aboard.
Also, when my sailor was on the aforementioned longest deployment-- since one in the Vietnam era and 2 others-- and she left for that dplymnnt, btw, 2 months early due to necessary circumstances , it should b said, (as opposed to being held out PAST the originally scheduled homeecoming) she had left to the tune of her Dad throwing up from chemo-type treatments due to Hep C, which involved several life-threatening health issues over the 17 yr. period. He just wanted to "show her a good time" before she left for dplymnt. Instead, he was sick at the country concert he treated her to.
He is now cured... 6 wks. after she left this time, having been told he had a 75% chance of a cure from the latest treatments-- just the night before this ship went out to sea. So this is a much less intense family time, from that perspective.
Last dplymnt, however, I somehow scrolled down ship info. to a section with up-lifting stories. It may have been a part of the chaplain area their ship info. had made available, electronically, to the families. I copied and pasted a story, or two, for my sailor, which she appreciated.
I also wrote them 20 supportive poems, but was far too ill, towards the end of that 10 1/2 month period to transcribe them all from my note pad to an email, using the library's computers. Those poems, the Major who thanked me, wholeheartedly, via email, multiple times, were very helpful to keeping them "staying strong".
In the meantime, I was advised by the Social Worker, a prior Captain on a ship, at our nearby Vet Center to not let on to my sailor I had severe problems with a rare illness, which, all the stress of her "well publicized" dplymnt made it worse. He said, if I conveyed to her my intense issues, she could "mess up"... so I had to stay so strong, as she was reminding me of her need for fortification, in an intense manner, when I'd hinted I'd needed cut back on being as supportive, due to other "made up" issues (as I didn't want to let her know she had TWO disabled parents, amidst the strain of being in 5 hot spots).
It's tough, when dplymnts don't "catch them at a good time" sometimes.
I used to write her rhyming sweet stories of when she was a kid, or stories of the places we'd go, and things we'd do-- maybe with a ship-mate joining us even (which DID happen) after her dplymnt, when she came home. These places to go and things to do were reminscent of days gone by-- a comforting concept.
Maybe you could find a peaceful place, too, to write cozy remembrances to your sailor, as I did. No need to rhyme. Just speak from the heart. Nature is relaxing, as a topic, as well.
Or sharing poems is helpful, it is said, if you do a search on stress relievers, as I had.
I will light a blue candle, as I often do, and say a prayer for your sailor and his family. God bless, and tell him I am praying for you and yours, as I feel knowing people who don't even know him are pulling for him will lift his spirits, as it did for my sailor.
Maybe we could all share up-lifting ideas for all on board.
Good morning everyone,
So I got an email from my son today. He said outside communication is about to be cut off and sounds like something is going down with some new action. He's being very careful what he says and I'm not seeing anything on the news.
Has anyone else heard anything?
Dad of Sailor
Tracy,
9 months from E1 to E2, 9 months from E2 to E3 and 6 months from E3 to E4 are the time in rate requirements.
Sep 7, 2014
TLC72
Thanks for the info. I knew there was a 6 months in there somewhere.
Sep 7, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Sep 10, 2014
Anita n Ohio
343 NYFD
Sep 10, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Sep 12, 2014
momof boys
Hi everyone! I am a mom from CO with our son on the ship. What a journey it has been! We miss him so much and can't wait to see him! Just found this group and anxious to learn more about the ship! God Bless all the Sailors and their loved ones!
Sep 12, 2014
stuntsmom
I was wondering how has package sending been lately for you guys?
same time frame for them to receive?
just curious as I sent something today and I haven't in a couple months....
Sep 12, 2014
NavyWife1008
Sep 12, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
mom of boys - welcome from MI!
NavyWife1008 - Timing must be everything! Glad he rec'd his package so quickly.
Sep 12, 2014
stuntsmom
Sep 12, 2014
Dad of Sailor
chris_mom,
Sorry your son is going through this, definitely harder to cope with while away on deployment. As dreamer said, the Chaplain is normally the one to handle issues like this. His Chief and chain of command can assist also, however, the Chaplain is better trained to handle these types of struggles.
While it is tough on him now, it is better he found out when she was only a fiance than wait and find out after they are married.
Sep 13, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Christ_mom_1995- Sorry to hear about your son. I certainly agree that he should seek out the chaplain.
On another note ---- 1 week for my daughter's package to arrive!
Sep 13, 2014
Dad of Sailor
chris_mom,
Yeah, contact the ombudsman and ask for the email address for the chaplain. Here is the ombudsman email cvn77ombudsman@yahoo.com.
Sep 13, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Sometimes I think we all forget what the Ombudsman is there for. This is a portion from the USS GHWB site - - Provide information and outreach to command family members. Interact and cooperate with organizations and military offices such as Fleet and Family Support Centers, chaplain's office, medical treatment facilities, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, American Red Cross, and legal assistance offices. These organizations are valuable resources in obtaining assistance for command family members.
- Refer individuals in need of professional assistance to appropriate resources. Ombudsmen may provide support to individuals and refer them for counseling. Counseling is not provided by ombudsmen.
Sep 13, 2014
SailorMom94
Sep 13, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Sorry to hear that, Chris_mom...but as said earlier...better now than later.
HELP! I need SERIOUS INFO. I'm in Ohio, and needless to say, I do not know certain events that I really need to know. If there is anyone out there willing to help, you may call/text me at (513) 407-1666. Just found out something today that changed future plans. So any help I'd appreciate.
Sep 14, 2014
ed'smom
And I also am so sorry to hear what your son is going through Chris's mom. What a terrible thing to do while he is on the ship serving his country and away from family, not even able to have a face to face conversation with her. You are a class act to be so restrained in your words. I can only imagine how much you must be hurting for him. If you text of call me with his squadron I can see if my son is able to reach out to him.
Sep 14, 2014
Dad of Sailor
momof boys,
Got your message and Edna is no longer part of this group. I'm the group admin, is there something I can assist with? If you have general ship questions you can ask right here in the group and you'll get lots of help from these knowledgeable ladies.
Sep 14, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Anita,
Hope everything is OK. I'm be happy to text you but I don't think I have anymore "serious info" then you do. If you think I can help let me know.
Sep 14, 2014
NavyMomDPL
Such a hard week, my dad just passed. We used the Ombudsman to track my sailor down. His chain of command has been wonderful in talking with him, but at the end of the day it has been family that settled him. I just believe in my heart that God allowed my son to call at just the right time where he got to connect with all his family sibling cousins and aunts and uncles, parents. After this happened he emailed and stated just how much this helped him in this time of sorrow. Counting on happier days in the future.
Sep 15, 2014
benangy
To NavyMomDPL
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this time. May God comfort you!!!!!!!
Sep 15, 2014
SailorMom94
Sep 15, 2014
Caring Mother
Navymomdpl-my sincere condolences to you and your family. May God grant you peace.
Sep 15, 2014
Caring Mother
Tonya M- Awesome!!! Freedom at work!
Sep 15, 2014
rikki_100113
Navymomdpl so sorry for your loss. May you and your family find comfort in your loss.
Sep 15, 2014
Anita n Ohio
NavyMom - so sorry. Your sailor now has a special angel watching over him now.
Tonya - too cool!
Sep 16, 2014
pattyb
Thinking of my son today as today is his 24th birthday! Missing him
Sep 16, 2014
Mahler
AnitaInOhio, I love your picture on the "New Catch and Release Program"! I had wanted this dplymnt to be more about having a sense of humor, regarding my supportive efforts. But I've come to find-- I'm just not that funny, lol. :/
Sep 16, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Well, looks like we'll be visiting the east coast this year after all! After thinking my sailor didn't want anyone to see them at homecoming...then Sunday I get a message they wanted to know how many will be there!
Now to figure out what we have to have to get on the base for it. I figured out driver's licenses and current passports should be good enough for ID. Any additional help out there would be appreciated (first homecoming).
Sep 17, 2014
NavySoccerMom
dreamer6298 I sent you a friend request so I could message you and find out some more information. This is our first homecoming also. We're scheduled to arrive in Norfolk the day before, but not sure how to get any other information about the meeting the night before or anything else. We would appreciate any help we could get, or you're welcome to text or call me. I'm so excited, I know it's a ways off, but I'm already counting the days.
Sep 17, 2014
KWats Momma
Dreamer; are you saying to meet the ship when it first arrives/watch your sailor get off the ship; we have to added to a list??
This is my first deployment homecoming so I would love to know the guidelines as well.
Sep 17, 2014
KWats Momma
Okay; I did my own homework and contact they FRG; they advised me that yes indeed your sailor must contact there chain of command to have attendees added to a list. Navy dont like surprises, they said.
Peters Mom-Welcome to the USS George Bush family. I get alot of info from this forum; and there is a few experts on here; as this is my sailors first deployment.
Sep 17, 2014
SailorMom94
Sep 17, 2014
Anita n Ohio
~*~ HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE ~*~
Just received my first SHIP to SHORE call from my sailor. Sounds good, good connection. LA LA LA LA.....
Sep 17, 2014
KWats Momma
Thanks dreamer6298 for replying! I have found out info from FRG! I am very very glad that you brought these facts up today; because I had surprise guest coming for my sailor. I had to break the surprise to him this morning! Im sure he is chuckling reading the emails.
Sep 17, 2014
rikki_100113
Also if you want to be added to the night before list make sure to ask your sailor to add you to that list as well. I know in the email they had sent out that the 2 list might correlate with each other. But also even if you do have a military ID make sure your sailor adds you to the list as if you are not on that list you will not get in. Is what I am being told.
Also this is NOT aimed at anyone but please please please as we get closer to homecoming please do not share the dates times or anything that is ship location related on this site or any other form of social media. As that could delay them or make it a surprise homecoming. And I know we all do not want that.
Good note to live by but if you are not sure if you can post it more than likely you shouldn't post it. :)))))
Sep 17, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Rikki - I don't think that can be stressed enough! I sure don't want to travel from Ohio to VA and find out they won't be coming in as planned.
Sep 18, 2014
NavySoccerMom
This site is so awesome. It has helped us since before boot camp started. I thank you all for being here for everyone. I hope I can help people as much as I have been helped.
Sep 18, 2014
rikki_100113
Thanks Anita as I am in the same boat but I am moving so I will already be down there. But still I have family coming in for the ships arrival and I know they would be disappointed if it were to be delayed.
Sep 18, 2014
JackieD
I'm traveling from CA and I'd be heartbroken if that happened.
Sep 18, 2014
Anita n Ohio
1 mile or 11,000 miles from Norforlk...either way we must not let loose lips sink the return time :-)
Sep 18, 2014
frandnavymom
Can I still send a package to my son? I know it's stretching it but I've been really busy with other family stuff I hope it's not too late if I mail it out by Monday at the lasted....
Sep 18, 2014
frandnavymom
Thanks dreamer6298, this will my last package as well just wanted to make sure to send it before the cutoff date.
Sep 18, 2014
Laura
Hi all. I was on the Pier when my son came home from his last deployment aboard the USS Enterprise. Way cool!
Unfortunately, we won't be there to see this homecoming. he already told us that he will only have a few hours of free time the day they arrive home then he will be on duty for the next several days.
He's married but he volunteered for the duty so that the sailors who have kids would be able to spend time with their families. How can I argue with that? It is a 1,001 mile drive door to pier for us. (we kept track!)
Our challenge, being Illinois flatlanders, is getting over those mountains. Yikes! We knew it was going to be a fun drive when we saw signs for the run-away truck ramps. We don't have those in Illinois!
I hope they have the ship's arrival on a live feed so I can watch it from home.
Sep 19, 2014
Anita n Ohio
WOO HOO Putting up Halloween display tonight. Go ALL OUT for this holiday (and Christmas too but tonight it starts!)
Sep 19, 2014
Anita n Ohio
FYI ~ made reservations today. CHEAP! I go to Expedia.com and find hotels but I call the hotel directly and ask them for the rate. I've had a few VERY BAD experiences with these third party companies and I don't trust them. So sure, shop around on their web sites but go directly to the hotel themselves to book your reservations. :-)
Sep 19, 2014
KWats Momma
guys...i was doing a little "reading up" this morning..I did the read the words "could be extended" from an article just wrote yesterday...
The longest deployment was the USS Bantran at 10.5 months
Sep 19, 2014
NavyMomDPL
Me too having everything set but will do what is needed. I too will be on that pier.
Sep 20, 2014
Mahler
Also, when my sailor was on the aforementioned longest deployment-- since one in the Vietnam era and 2 others-- and she left for that dplymnnt, btw, 2 months early due to necessary circumstances , it should b said, (as opposed to being held out PAST the originally scheduled homeecoming) she had left to the tune of her Dad throwing up from chemo-type treatments due to Hep C, which involved several life-threatening health issues over the 17 yr. period. He just wanted to "show her a good time" before she left for dplymnt. Instead, he was sick at the country concert he treated her to.
He is now cured... 6 wks. after she left this time, having been told he had a 75% chance of a cure from the latest treatments-- just the night before this ship went out to sea. So this is a much less intense family time, from that perspective.
Last dplymnt, however, I somehow scrolled down ship info. to a section with up-lifting stories. It may have been a part of the chaplain area their ship info. had made available, electronically, to the families. I copied and pasted a story, or two, for my sailor, which she appreciated.
I also wrote them 20 supportive poems, but was far too ill, towards the end of that 10 1/2 month period to transcribe them all from my note pad to an email, using the library's computers. Those poems, the Major who thanked me, wholeheartedly, via email, multiple times, were very helpful to keeping them "staying strong".
In the meantime, I was advised by the Social Worker, a prior Captain on a ship, at our nearby Vet Center to not let on to my sailor I had severe problems with a rare illness, which, all the stress of her "well publicized" dplymnt made it worse. He said, if I conveyed to her my intense issues, she could "mess up"... so I had to stay so strong, as she was reminding me of her need for fortification, in an intense manner, when I'd hinted I'd needed cut back on being as supportive, due to other "made up" issues (as I didn't want to let her know she had TWO disabled parents, amidst the strain of being in 5 hot spots).
It's tough, when dplymnts don't "catch them at a good time" sometimes.
I used to write her rhyming sweet stories of when she was a kid, or stories of the places we'd go, and things we'd do-- maybe with a ship-mate joining us even (which DID happen) after her dplymnt, when she came home. These places to go and things to do were reminscent of days gone by-- a comforting concept.
Maybe you could find a peaceful place, too, to write cozy remembrances to your sailor, as I did. No need to rhyme. Just speak from the heart. Nature is relaxing, as a topic, as well.
Or sharing poems is helpful, it is said, if you do a search on stress relievers, as I had.
I will light a blue candle, as I often do, and say a prayer for your sailor and his family. God bless, and tell him I am praying for you and yours, as I feel knowing people who don't even know him are pulling for him will lift his spirits, as it did for my sailor.
Maybe we could all share up-lifting ideas for all on board.
Sep 20, 2014
ed'smom
So I got an email from my son today. He said outside communication is about to be cut off and sounds like something is going down with some new action. He's being very careful what he says and I'm not seeing anything on the news.
Has anyone else heard anything?
Sep 20, 2014