What to expect between A School Graduation and Deployment on USS Bush?

[Michelle]

My sailor got his orders last week, but that's about all he knows. He'll be stationed in Norfolk, VA but going on deployment for several months aboard the USS Bush. He was told he should be able to come home for two weeks before heading to Norfolk but that's all the details I know. I'm curious to know...

1. How soon after graduation will he leave a school?

2. I understand he can change his flight to come home and I assume he'll have to pay for his own flight to get to Norfolk when leave is over. Is that true? Do we just call the airline to arrange the change then make our own arrangements for him to get to Norfolk at the end of leave?

3. How long will he be in Norfolk before he heads out to be on the USS Bush?

4. Do we cancel his cell phone and give him calling cards to use when he's portside? I imagine he won't be portside much but I'm not sure what to expect.

Thanks Ladies! This site was a Godsend at the end of last year when my son went off to boot camp. Nobody else seems to understand what Navy families go through. Thank you for being so strong and helpful!

Michelle (ThackersMom)

[NavyMomDPL]

Welcome Thackers mom

What I have learned is there is no set answer to how things go. Your son should leave within the week of graduation for A school. What is is rate (his job) going to be. 

Yes he has to pay for own flights, the navy will pay for station to station.

Can't begin to answer how long before he goes to Bush but what I have seen is it usually happens Fast. 

He should contact his phone carrier and explain he will be deploying , They will put him on hold while out. There are phones on ship your son will be allowed to call home from. Some have easy access to phones others have to wait in line. When in port they can go to base and get on FB and internet and some SKYPE home. I have heard that when thy get to their next port only E4's and above can stay over night .

The sailors can email you while on ship and yes this has been hard. Mine is coming up on his 1 year in June and while most days are good we all have hard days that we just miss our sailors. For me lots of prayer gets me through all this.

[Michelle]

Thank you for this information. I believe my son is

[Michelle]

Thank you for all of the helpful information. I will check out the GHWB N4Ms site. Thank you for that. I work with AT&T a good bit for my job. I'm going to check with my sales rep to see about getting those ship to shore cards.

I'm a very emotional person and I've been torn up through this whole process. Things have definitely gotten better since he's been at A school because I'm able to talk to him every day. Deployment feels so different. I'm excited for him to see the world. Just so sad that I may have to go weeks without hearing from him. Not sure how I'll handle that! But, like you said "one breath at a time".

Thank you for everything! I will include you and your sailor in my prayers!

[KWats Momma]

I purchased a "unlocked quad band" cell phone and sent it to my sailor. When he gets into port he goes to the nex and purchases a sim card for the phone that works in the area they are in. They are like 10.00. He says the phone works well. As he goes to different ports he continues to buy SIM cards, until he has all four bands purchased I did some research via google to figure this out. Best buy had the best information and I was able to purchase the phone for 25.00 on Amazon.

[Michelle]

Thanks for the information. I'm going to look into the "unlocked quad band" cell phones as well as the ship to shore cards to see what is our best option. Thank you so much for the information!

[Dad of Sailor]

KrisWatkins,

What cell phone service does he use when he's in port? I understand you say the SIM cards are $10 but what about the carrier charges, who does he pay those fees to? I understood cell phones were too expensive to use overseas, would be interested to hear if you found a cheaper option.

Thanks!

[Michelle]

I read somewhere on here that deployment is a rollercoaster! My son just called and said his orders have changed! He's still going to Norfolk but now he'll be on the USS Eisenhower. I'm looking for the Eisenhower group now. But, who knows if his orders will change again! The good news is that he is not being deployed right away!

[Island Girl]

Hi Michele, 

I was reading your texts, and have all the same thoughts and worries as you did just 4 months later.  My son was just home for 2 weeks and left for Norfolk, VA yesterday only to fly out at midnight on his way to Bahrain and then Bush Aircraft Carrier.  From what I hear, the Bush is (estimated) to come home to VA in late Nov/Dec, so my thoughts are it won't be too long.  But I have a lot of unanswered questions, mainly the phone, and what to do?  I was given conflicting information from Verizon.  My son has an Iphone.  I was hoping maybe you could shed some light seeing maybe your son has done the same?  Tracy

[Dad of Sailor]

Peter's Mom,

Welcome to the group but please do not post anticipated or "estimated" schedules of when and where the ship is supposed to be. That is not allowed on Navy for Mom's or by the ship.

Thanks and we're happy to have you here.