Wow, thanks for posting the video! I'm going to have to look for it on my Facebook page. This is my son's first deployment, so I'm super anxious and nervous for him, but excited that he's getting to see the world at the same time.
All packages go to Chicago first, then to the ship. I followed its tracking it4-5 days to arrive and depart Chicago. Once it leaves there you can't track it anymore. I just asked my son if he received it yet!
My son said he ordered some stuff from Amazon just before they deployed, and just received it Monday (Monday also happens to be the day they arrived in port.) So, a little over 2 weeks. My guess though is that it probably depends how close they are to a port/base that can forward it, i.e. it's probably easier to get to them when they're off the coast in the Mediterranean than when they are in the middle of the Atlantic.
Can anyone shed any light on International Calling Cards. My son has purchased a couple on the ship. With a girlfriend now, seems to be going right thru the minutes!! I was wondering if they would be any cheaper for me to purchase than buying on the ship. Although it may take a while to get there, I could email him the numbers? Thx.
To use calling cards on the ship he needs special ship to shore cards that are sold in the NEX and on the ship. You used to be able to buy them online, however, something changed a while back so I don't know if they are still available. You can't use a standard calling card on the ship.
Help!! Amazon shipping to the ship. Anyone successfully done that? I'm using the address my sailor son gave and no luck being able to get Amazon to recognize the address. Anyone got any idea???
KWats Mom, you need to enter the data a certain way for Amazon to recognize it. especially the following: CITY = FPO STATE = AE ZIP = 09513
From Amazon:
To make sure your package gets to its destination, follow these instructions for entering a military address.
Do not use special characters or punctuation (such as %, &, ', -, ?, !, etc.).
For Army, Navy and Marines: Enter Unit Number and Box Number in the "Address" field. For Ships: Enter Ship Name and Hull Number. For Air Force: Enter PSC Number and Box Number.
In "Address Line 2," enter optional military command or organization name (e.g., USAG J or 2/566 Postal Co.).
In the "City" field, enter APO or FPO. Please note: We cannot ship to city codes other than APO or FPO for military shipments. Entering a city other than APO or FPO will result in your order being delayed or possibly canceled. Also, do not enter the state in this field. (Incorrect: APO AE, AE.) If you are stationed in a war zone, our system also may not recognize your address.Please review your entry for accuracy.
In the "State" field, select one of the following: AE – Armed Forces Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada AA – Armed Forces Americas AP – Armed Forces Pacific
In the "ZIP Code" field, enter the 5-digit ZIP code for the military unit. It must start with a 0 or 9. Any other ZIP codes in combination with AE, AA or AP will result in delays or cancellation of your order. Your billing address ZIP code (or home address code) cannot be used in place of a military ZIP code.
In the "Country" field, use the default choice of USA.
In the "Phone" field, we suggest entering the phone number of a family member or friend who is stateside. We must receive a phone number before we are able to ship.
Mary, I just heard from ours at about noon today, Illinois time. He was getting ready to go to sleep after a 12 hour watch. He said they are all busy but he is doing really good. I hope you hear from your sailor soon.
I trust by now everyone has their RED Friday shirts. If anyone hasn't received them yet, please let me know and I 'll get the tracking info to you. If anyone needs more shirts, please let me know, it might be a possibility.
I designed and sell the shirts. The cost is $15 and that includes shipping. I don't make any profit from them, just want everyone who wants one to be able to have one. If you're interested, or want more info, email me at ignitespiritbows@yahoo.com.
I usually go to the post office and they will give you boxes (free). I usually send the large one that you can fit quite a bit. It's a flat rate for military and the large one costs about $17 to send. He still has not received the first package that was sent Jan 25th (3+ weeks now)! Hoping he gets it soon!
Thank you Island girl for the info on the boxes. I just sent our son a box and used a generic brown box and it cost me $52.00. With your nite I can afford to send boxes more frequently.
Got a short email from my son. He has received a couple of his birthday cards and one of his packages. I know he has a few more on the way, but he said her heard mail was backed up. All in all, things are going well for them and they are very busy.
I'm closing the order for the RED Friday shirts on Friday so that I can order supplies over the weekend. If anyone still wants shirts, please get ahold of me.
Sent a letter to my son Ben on 2/6/17, still waiting to hear back from him. Glad to hear that you've had contact with your kids. I'm waiting patiently, as I'm sure he's super busy, and I'm so not surprised to hear that mail is backed up.
The COD (Carrier onboard deliver) also fly's mail to the ship often, sometimes daily. They don't have to wait for replenishment at sea for mail call. The COD is limited to how much it can carry since people, parts, supplies are the priority. A lot of the packages are left until there is a replenishment.
We try to send a large flat rate box full of Kool aid drinks every month. We open boxes and only send the tubes. Luckily I have an entire VFW Post that helps me. Then my son just shares. Beef Jetky is great too!
Hello all. Just wanted to let you know my son received the care package I sent this past Wed, Feb. 22 and I mailed it from Indiana on Feb 6. I was pretty amazed he received it that fast and I was super excited (and so was he) that he got it. I got the large priority rate shipping box from the post office and stuffed it full. He likes a lot of protein, so I sent 2 jars of peanut butter, alot of protein bars and trail mix, etc.
Thanks Dad of a Sailor. My son said he was going to order something in Greece and have it sent to the ship but they needed the four extra numbers in the zip code .
FYI, make sure your Sailor's keep all tracking records from stores or ship when send packages. Mine sent me a package from the ship last deployment and I never received it, it was a very expensive rug from Turkey.
In 2013 when the USPS consolidated their military mail operations from the 2 coasts to one central facility in Chicago, they mandated that 9 digit zip codes be used. In 2014, this was amended to use a standardized addressing system and 5 digit zip codes. As far as I know this is still the standard today. http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84519
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
GHWB Docking at Souda Bay video
There are some photos on this page as well.
https://www.facebook.com/137569139613769/videos/1242214805815858/?p...
Feb 7, 2017
NavyMom93
Thanks for the link SoCal Dad!
Feb 7, 2017
Anita n Ohio
Please ask the Administrator to remove ineedak@aol.com from this site. Thank You.
Feb 8, 2017
DrKacy2b
Wow, thanks for posting the video! I'm going to have to look for it on my Facebook page. This is my son's first deployment, so I'm super anxious and nervous for him, but excited that he's getting to see the world at the same time.
Feb 8, 2017
Dad of Sailor
Anita,
Do you care to elaborate on what you're talking about?
Feb 8, 2017
Mary
Feb 8, 2017
Island Girl
Feb 8, 2017
Island Girl
Feb 8, 2017
Marianne
Feb 8, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
My son said he ordered some stuff from Amazon just before they deployed, and just received it Monday (Monday also happens to be the day they arrived in port.) So, a little over 2 weeks. My guess though is that it probably depends how close they are to a port/base that can forward it, i.e. it's probably easier to get to them when they're off the coast in the Mediterranean than when they are in the middle of the Atlantic.
Just my thoughts.
Feb 8, 2017
Mary
Feb 8, 2017
Island Girl
Can anyone shed any light on International Calling Cards. My son has purchased a couple on the ship. With a girlfriend now, seems to be going right thru the minutes!! I was wondering if they would be any cheaper for me to purchase than buying on the ship. Although it may take a while to get there, I could email him the numbers? Thx.
Feb 10, 2017
Dad of Sailor
To use calling cards on the ship he needs special ship to shore cards that are sold in the NEX and on the ship. You used to be able to buy them online, however, something changed a while back so I don't know if they are still available. You can't use a standard calling card on the ship.
Feb 10, 2017
Island Girl
Feb 11, 2017
KWats Momma
Feb 12, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
KWats Mom, you need to enter the data a certain way for Amazon to recognize it. especially the following:
CITY = FPO
STATE = AE
ZIP = 09513
From Amazon:
To make sure your package gets to its destination, follow these instructions for entering a military address.
For Ships: Enter Ship Name and Hull Number.
For Air Force: Enter PSC Number and Box Number.
Please note: We cannot ship to city codes other than APO or FPO for military shipments. Entering a city other than APO or FPO will result in your order being delayed or possibly canceled. Also, do not enter the state in this field. (Incorrect: APO AE, AE.) If you are stationed in a war zone, our system also may not recognize your address.Please review your entry for accuracy.
AE – Armed Forces Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada
AA – Armed Forces Americas
AP – Armed Forces Pacific
Feb 12, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=98868
Feb 14, 2017
Mary
Feb 15, 2017
Mother of 4
I heard from mine last night. He things were good!
Feb 15, 2017
diane
Feb 15, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
We received an email from our son today also. He said there's nothing to report, all is well, just working a lot of long hours (as usual.)
Feb 15, 2017
Mary
Feb 15, 2017
Marianne
Feb 15, 2017
lbimom
Nice to see that it was a good day for several of us! Heard from mine also and he said the same-- busy but fine! And safe thank God!
Feb 16, 2017
navytxmom
Feb 18, 2017
TLC72
navytxmom, I don't know how big your talking, but I sent one last deployment that was a couple feet square.
Feb 18, 2017
TLC72
I trust by now everyone has their RED Friday shirts. If anyone hasn't received them yet, please let me know and I 'll get the tracking info to you. If anyone needs more shirts, please let me know, it might be a possibility.
Feb 18, 2017
Mary
Feb 18, 2017
Marianne
Feb 18, 2017
TLC72
Feb 18, 2017
Island Girl
Feb 19, 2017
Marianne
Feb 19, 2017
Mommamac MM(CVN77)
Feb 19, 2017
Mommamac MM(CVN77)
Feb 19, 2017
TLC72
I'm closing the order for the RED Friday shirts on Friday so that I can order supplies over the weekend. If anyone still wants shirts, please get ahold of me.
Feb 21, 2017
DrKacy2b
Sent a letter to my son Ben on 2/6/17, still waiting to hear back from him. Glad to hear that you've had contact with your kids. I'm waiting patiently, as I'm sure he's super busy, and I'm so not surprised to hear that mail is backed up.
Feb 21, 2017
MarianneKT's Mom
Mail is delivered when they have Replenishment At Sea
Feb 21, 2017
Dad of Sailor
The COD (Carrier onboard deliver) also fly's mail to the ship often, sometimes daily. They don't have to wait for replenishment at sea for mail call. The COD is limited to how much it can carry since people, parts, supplies are the priority. A lot of the packages are left until there is a replenishment.
Feb 21, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/fight-against-isis-nbc-ni...
Feb 24, 2017
Mary
Feb 25, 2017
NavyMomDPL
I heard from my son today , we got to FaceTime . It was wonderful and helped to calm my worry seeing a smile on his face.
Feb 25, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/02/25/aircraft-carrier-uss-geo...
Feb 25, 2017
Brown5397
Feb 26, 2017
Cathy Jo
Hello all. Just wanted to let you know my son received the care package I sent this past Wed, Feb. 22 and I mailed it from Indiana on Feb 6. I was pretty amazed he received it that fast and I was super excited (and so was he) that he got it. I got the large priority rate shipping box from the post office and stuffed it full. He likes a lot of protein, so I sent 2 jars of peanut butter, alot of protein bars and trail mix, etc.
Feb 26, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
Docking in Greece video.
https://www.facebook.com/137569139613769/videos/1261462040557801/?p...
Feb 27, 2017
Robin / militarymom67
Does anyone know anything about a 9 digit zip code for mailing to the ship ????
Feb 27, 2017
Dad of Sailor
This is directly from the ships official webpage...
Mailing Address:
(Rate or Rank/Name)
USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77)
UNIT 100331 BOX #
(Box number is specific to each Sailor on board)
FPO, AE 09513
FPO, AE 09513
Feb 27, 2017
Robin / militarymom67
Thanks Dad of a Sailor. My son said he was going to order something in Greece and have it sent to the ship but they needed the four extra numbers in the zip code .
Feb 27, 2017
SailorMom94
Feb 27, 2017
SoCal_Sailor_Dad
In 2013 when the USPS consolidated their military mail operations from the 2 coasts to one central facility in Chicago, they mandated that 9 digit zip codes be used. In 2014, this was amended to use a standardized addressing system and 5 digit zip codes. As far as I know this is still the standard today.
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84519
Feb 27, 2017