How will the Gov Shutdown affect SEPS

[Scarednavywife]

My husband has been on ship 5 since last Sat. He has not spoken to legal yet as of today. and he told me that someone that was scheduled to leave today got postponed today because the people who do transportation are civilians. What does this mean? Will they be held longer? He is so down and I don't even know what to tell him. I have a preemie baby that needs special care and if he is not able to continue I really need him home. Does anyone have any advice or know if he will still be on the 10-20 biz day schedule. Thanks in advance.

[zacsmom]

Gagesmom: Hi, see JC'smom's comment in Son Sent to Ship 5 today. She said that the NEX where they call home from is shut down, and Legal is staffed with civilians and is closed. She also said that they're not being processed out at this time. I'm so sorry:(

[JC's Mom]

Gagesmom...there is very little information coming from Ship 5.  My son sent me a message yesterday (paid for computer time) that they were told the NEX is closed and that is where they go to make phone calls.  They also told him legal is closed while the govt is shut down and that civilians-who have been furloiughed-make the travel arrangements and that there can be no approvals for travel home at this time.  They also said that depending on how long the shut down lasts, it could take several weeks to get everything up and running again.  Kids who were scheduled to come home this week are not able to travel and since there is no one in legal, you can't even go pick them up.

There is a group on fb called SHIP 5 SEPS  It is full of moms/wives of kids currently on ship 5 and some who's kids are home.  We all post any updates we get and when phone calls come in. If you haven't joined yet, and would like to, here's the link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/535221726514465/

Currently there are 447 kids in SEPS.

[JC's Mom]

Most likely they will be behind -depending on how long the gov't is shut down.  My son has been on ship 5 since 9/14 and still had no estimated date to leave before the shut down happened.  He is now being told it could take weeks longer once it is up and running again.  There is a great facebook support group with other wives/moms who have loved ones on Ship 5-we all share any information we get.  You are welcome to join for more information-as we all get it and share.  The link is

https://www.facebook.com/groups/535221726514465/

[zacsmom]

 Gagesmom: I'm so glad you heard from your son, and that he's ok. I just got the call that mine was separated to ship 5 this afternoon. I thought this might happen after the phone call to his father last Saturday. He also realizes that this will not be a quick process, especially now. At least someone is telling them the truth. I am not on Facebook, so I'll stay on this site in this group. Please feel free to PM and talk. No one else understands. He already feels like he's let everyone down. I don't know what to say to help him. I have a very early meeting, and am just drained, so I'm going to try and get some sleep. I will check the site in the morning.  I hope you can sleep too. :)

[JC's Mom]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to give a quick update-many of them from Ship 5 were able to make calls today.  Travel is back up and some were sent home today.  Apparently it's getting very crowded there again-my son also said that they may be a bunch of them leaving in the next couple of days!  I really hope so!!

[zacsmom]

I got a call from mine too! He said that the compartment that he's in is supposed to hold 80 and is at 160, with bunks in the middle/ center. I'm so glad they are trying to get things moving again! How long has your been there?

[JC's Mom]

Sounds like yours is in Alpha, mine is in Bravo, with over 200 boys-he has been there since 9/14.

[zacsmom]

Oh, I didn't think /know to ask him. Good Lord! How can there be so many???

[JC's Mom]

When my son left for BC, I never knew that there was even a possibility to be sent home.  We were shocked.  Then to find out that -as of Monday-there were about 337 males and 109 females waiting to be sent home.  It's just crazy that there are so many!! 

As far as sending things, they can have books and magazines, but no other care packages-no food or candy or electronics.  They will have to open the packages larger than a regular envelope in front of an RDC to ensure there is not any prohibited materials in there.  My son told me that someone sent another boy in there an ipod inside of a book, and it was taken away.  They do get mail every day during the week.

[Rolltidemom]

My son went to ship 5 on September 3 and just got home yesterday (Wednesday).  He left on Tuesday, but only because the travel arrangements had been made by Monday, the 30th.  While it was very difficult for him to be on Ship 5 for several weeks, one benefit is the bond made with other shipmates who are going through similar experiences.  I don't say this to try to lighten the mood or to say that you need to feel better than you feel.  You are going to feel whatever you feel. And it is really, really tough to be at home and not hear much, if anything, and wonder how your loved one is doing.  What I can say is I found one Chief of the Deck to be very helpful (847-688-7444, ext 4).  Your husband will need to sign waivers that allow the navy personnel to speak directly to you in just about every office he enters (separate ones for legal, medical, and general).  Without them, they are bound by HIPAA laws.  Even then, the best question I know to ask them is to ask them to help you understand the protocol for separation.  With the shutdown and the resulting furloughed legal and travel folks, even with knowing the protocol, they won't be able to give you any sort of timeline.  If your husband is coming home on a medical discharge one thing he can do that may help speed the process (eventually) is to request to go to medical and request to take a copy of his records himself back to Ship 5.  If it is a medical discharge, legal cannot do anything until they have the medical records.  If the discharge is for another reason, the protocol will probably be slightly different.  You might consider asking anyway as it may help you to be in touch with the Navy personnel when you aren't hearing anything from your husband (because they aren't telling him anything, either.)  For instance, my son said that none of them in the departure room knew that there was a government shutdown until someone came in and told them that none of them were leaving on Tuesday. I don't think the sailor lied intentionally.  I think he thought he knew something he actually didn't know about what was going to happen and just spoke too soon. 

This group page lists the number for public affairs as a way of getting in touch with your loved one.  My experience may be out of the ordinary (I hope so), but I never once got a human to answer the phone when I called that number and the voicemail box was always full.

 

I don't know if any of this helps anybody out there, but know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers.  This experience is our own personal boot camp and some days are just plain hard.  Hang in there.  It will end.

[zacsmom]

Rolltidemom: I'm so glad your son is home, and your "boot camp" is over. Thank you so much for the information, and yes, it does help. Everything helps. The information, insight and compassion, and the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you again!

[Rolltidemom]

Thank you zacsmom.