Ship coming home. Timing for flight info

[SeasonedMom]

Hi,

Is there a standard time for a ship to return from deployment? My son is scheduled to be home soon, and I want to get him a flight, but I don't want to take a chance on him missing it if they don't return in time. Anyone else with these kinds of questions? Or have you dealt with this? I would love to be there if possible, but it is quite a drive, so it may not work out.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

[rareis13]

There is not a set time and the homecoming date and time can change.  The best thing to do is belong to the Family Readiness Group for your son's ship.  He will need to give them your name.  Not everyone gets leave when they return from a deployment. Buying air tickets could be risky.  Another resource is the ship's ombudsman. I've been through 4 deployments.  Be there for homecoming, if you can.  There is nothing like standing on the pier watching the ship return and then seeing your child come off the ship.

[Ken-55 (OS Dad)]

I'll second the FRG info. My wife went to the meeting the night before they came in. She got all the info about homecoming for the rest of the family and was able to get some ship t-shirts and sweatshirts we had ordered.

[Ken-55 (OS Dad)]

Probably not what you want to hear but I'd do everything I could to be there when the ship comes in. I was fortunate enough to get on a Tiger Cruise from Mayport to Norfolk. My wife (his step-mom), his mother, brothers and sisters all made the trip down the night before and we all spent the weekend at a local hotel. He wasn't on the first batch getting leave so he couldn't come right home with us.

We were in CT, a little closer than you, but being there was worth every minute of the drive. There's something special about seeing the ship come in!

[SeasonedMom]

Thanks everyone...We really do want to be there, believe me. It's just the timing of when he says they are coming in (which of course, I know can change) is kind of bad. I don't know the protocol of giving dates, but let's just say it couldn't be worse timing for my family.

How does my son put me in a Family Readiness Group? I'll let him know...

Thank you again!

[SoCal_Sailor_Dad]

I'd second the comment about making sure he has leave approved. Just because the ship is in port doesn't mean there isn't still work to do, so not everyone will get leave right away.

Also, I like to use Southwest whenever I can. They don't charge to change a flight, you only pay the difference in the fare.

[abuon18]

While it is important to be connected to the FRG, it is more important to be connected to the ombudsman as the ombudsman is the only official authorized source of communication between the ship and the families. The ombudsman is the person who will inform the families of the official homecoming date, of any changes in the timeline, of any shut downs in communications, etc. You can start here to find your son's: https://ombudsmanregistry.cnic.navy.mil/?m=contactombudsman

Your son will need to contact him/her directly and have you added to the approved communication list.

As the others have said, if you can be there for homecoming, do, especially if it's his first. It's definitely something you don't want to miss, and as a Sailor who has been away at sea for so many months, you don't want to come home to no one at the pier to greet you.

Typically when they arrive home, they split the ship into 2 or 3 leave periods depending on how many are on the ship so I would hold off on buying any airline tickets until you have word from your son his leave has been approved.

Good luck!

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Everything the others have said is spot on.  I'll just add to the comment about Southwest Airlines that should you make a reservation and then have to cancel, they "bank" your funds so you can apply the money to another trip, rather than forfeit the whole thing.  And add that being there for homecoming is absolutely an experience not to miss if it's at all possible, for your sake and for your sailor.  

[Gator fan]

If  he can fly Southwest, they have the Wanna Get Away fares which are not refundable, but you can change the date and time of the flight.  If you make his reservation using the military fare, sometimes it's a bit higher than the Wanna Get Away fare, but it's completely refundable.  I think you may need his DOD number to make the reservation.  My son came back from deployment last May, but he didn't get leave right away.  He had to wait two weeks.  You may not know if he is getting leave until he gets back.  Good luck.  I wasn't able to get to Norfolk to see his ship return, but you can log onto WAVY TV station out of Norfolk.  They usually have a reporter on site and film live shots of the ships returning from deployment.

[Patty's Mom]

My sailor is coming off deployment soon, too.  I'm so excited.  I understand not how hard it is to wait for the news.  Perhaps I could message you to see if our sailors are in the same CSG?  Best of luck to you.

[SeasonedMom]

Patty's Mom, please do message me. Not sure if we have to be friends first, or how that works? But it would be nice if our sailors were in the same boat so to speak ;)

[SeasonedMom]

Sorry I asked then disappeared. I am a caretaker for my dad, and a very old dog that my son is anxious to see, so sometimes life gets busy. We have hotel reservations made for the night before our son returns, and we have cleared the decks to be there when he arrives (so far, no changes to the schedule).He has added us to the groups he needs to add us to. I hope that I didn't sound entitled in my initial query; so many servicemen & women and their families sacrifice so much and often miss birthdays, holidays, even the births of their children! We certainly appreciate all that everyone does, both at home and abroad. Looking forward to seeing our boy; and thanks to all for the help! Everyone here have a safe and happy holiday season!