Navy Nukes

Comment

Comment by Chuck Gant on March 19, 2013 at 9:39pm

Well I did it; I loaded up my two daughters, and drove 18 hours to South Carolina.

I just made it back from Goose Creek last night. I left with tons of great information on the area thanks to all of the comments; but in the end we only had time for a few. To be honest the best of the weekend was when we all just hung out at the motel room and talked; I got to hear bootcamp stories, learned some of the lingo, learned about life on base, and lots of other useful Navy info.

Anyway, we made it to Patriots Point, the old market and surrounding shops, the movie theater, the NEX, the commissary, and the mall. I got to meet a lot of his new friends, many of them we ran into at the mall.

I recommend for anyone who is visiting for the first time to just find a nice comfortable area to sit and talk... if he/she is just out of bootcamp they will want to share their stories and a full itinerary will just interfere with the perfect visit. Do find a great spot for photos (like Patriots Point).

It was also very cool seeing how others treated him in his uniform; a small boy came up to him in a gift shop and thanked him for serving. We had a couple of conversations with some retired sailors, and got some discounted prices even when it was not the norm. All in all it was awesome just seeing him in his uniform, and the way he carried himself.

One of the coolest things was once again having all my kids in one room.

Motel: We stayed at the Days Inn in Goose Creek... not the best, but not bad for the price. ½ block from the base, 3 min from the Dive & guard gate. The service and house keeping not very good; the room was a little musty. I will probably stay someplace nicer the next time, but I still recommend it on a tight budget. (3 days for $208 total, and we checked in 4 hours early at no charge) this was with the 20% discount for booking 3 days early.

Thanks again for all of the great information, I will still check out some of the recommended places on my next visit.

Comment by Phillip Mitchell on March 19, 2013 at 7:22pm

At the airport I gave him his cell phone, watch, mp3 player, and here is the one I amn most proud of...the style of underwear he wore at home.  Initally he skoffed but 3 days later he texted me THANKS for the underwear, I didn't realize how uncomfortable I've been these last few months. The rest of the stuff like civilian clothes and such he can recieve by mail as he gears up. Enjoy PIR, Power School Grad was wonderful but PIR was more emotional for me.  Good Luck..GO NAVY 

Comment by lsdemme2001 on March 19, 2013 at 11:43am

They are not even allowed to bring cell phones into the class room with them.  They are studying classified materials and they must act accordingly.  No recording devices etc.  They do not need a laptop for their studies.  They are allowed to have one in their dorm at A school though for personal use.  They have a lot of restrictions initially, then as they progress the restrictions get easier and are lifted, depending on their progress.  Your recruit will let you know what he/she needs once they are settled.

Comment by Brian E. Moore on March 19, 2013 at 11:37am

I wouldn't bring anything to PIR for him. You can bring it to the airport though. I brought my daughter her cell phone, laptop and a few other things. The laptop is just used for personal use. All there homework, studying and class work is done in a building where pretty much nothing can be brought out or in.

Comment by John Wetzel on March 19, 2013 at 11:21am

My son is in boot camp now and will be going to GC after. Does he need a laptop for A school? What else would be good for us to take to PIR for him? We will be visiting him when he gets to GC.

Comment by Daniel Cederborg on March 15, 2013 at 7:37pm

Thanks Jeremy.  I think he's got his security clearance already but he needs a medical waiver for subs because he got ulcers (although no real symptoms from them) from the antibiotics they gave him in boot camp to fight the cold that was epidemic among the recruits.

Comment by Gary Brophy on March 15, 2013 at 1:25pm

Phillip, it is great to see them walk proud, what till you take him to the airport. Whole new prospective.

Comment by Phillip Mitchell on March 15, 2013 at 1:01pm

How do you describe a perfect trip ?  Our Power School graduation GRAND ADVENTURE was one of the best experiences of my life, and I thought Boot Camp graduation was perfect but this beat it by a mile.  The only regret was I wished I had brought a heavier jacket.  My 4 day weekend in Charleston was perfect.  After all the drama caused by one failed A school PFA they finally gave him his crow in time to graduate as an MM3.  The COLD morning ceremony was fantastic, touring the base, shopping at the NEX, eating at the chow hall, meeting his friends at The Dive.    I tried to take cabs to get around, like boot camp with Sarge, but it soon became clear we needed to rent a car, still the cab drivers we met were a wealth of information.  Thanks to the navigation on our phones Patriots Point was beyond fun.  Between the WWII destroyer, the same type that took me to Viet Nam 40 years ago, and the last diesel sub, we never made it on the Yorktown but thoroughly enjoyed the time.   I dragged him around up and down every inch of that destroyer for over 2 hours with an old story about every bulkhead, porthole, compartment, deck and gun on that boat.  Then the Fort Sumter National monument, the old slave market downtown, the shops and restaurants were exhausting to this old man but well worth the work out.  Then home for 10 days leave and it still gets BETTER.  We went to the DMV yesterday where he EASIELY passed both drivers tests and got his NV drivers license.  He is off in his room, on his bed with his Best Buy laptop because we still have until Sunday night.  Best part is that he is still my Son only, taller, stronger, more confident.  When asked if he likes the Navy he answers that he doesn’t know yet because he hasn’t experienced the fleet and doesn’t want to make a decision just based on what Navy schools are like.  I thought having a Son was rewarding enough but the experience just got better thanks to Uncle Sam and the USN.  Congratulations to all the graduates, and the parents who believe and support them in their journey to manhood.  I hope your experience is as satisfying as mine.  God Speed, and GO Navy !  Oh yea, and he gets bonus money in 2 weeks. YeeHaw

Comment by jeremy mcelroy on March 14, 2013 at 9:01pm

You need a clearance to be a nuke no matter sub or surface. You can't go through power school until you get it. Often a select few people dont get a clearance in time and are on hold between A school and power school. I have seen/heard of a handful of people that were on hold for 1-2 years. Some never got the clearance and had to go off and do something else in the Navy.

Don't worry though most people dont get theirs until most of the way done with A school.

Comment by Daniel Cederborg on March 14, 2013 at 8:25pm

Our son is still at the THU in Great Lakes but apparently just got medically cleared for Nuke.  He still has to wait on a clearance for sub duty but he's really looking forward to A School in Charleston.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 87
• 88
• 89
• 90
• 91
• …
• 229
• Next ›
• Page