Comments

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  Sandi Silvestro September 7, 2011 at 11:30am

  Thanks for the welcome!  My son has been in the Navy for 3 1/2 years.  He joined in March 2008 and is a BM3 on the USS Roosevelt (DDG80).  He is nearing (but not near enough) the end of his second deployment and of his active duty service.  He'll begin terminal leave early next year and process out in March.  Then he will be a reservist.  I'm not sure, yet, what that will entail, but I'll learn more as time goes on.  I have mixed feelings about that.  Of course I want him home but the Navy was the best decision he could have made and I'd like to see him continue.  But he'll be in the Reserves so he's not  giving up the uniform completely so I'm happy about that!  I'm coming to this group late (thought it was just for Dads) but have been involved in Navy-Parents, NavyforMoms a little bit, and, of course, facebook.  I have received tremendous support from my Navy family and hope I was helpful to them as well.  I love bragging about my son because I am beyond proud of him, I love sharing what I've learned if it can be helpful to someone else and I love learning new things from those who have gone before me.  He may have enlisted, but, in the process, I was drafted...and I couldn't be happier about that!
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  NavyDads Admin (Paul) September 6, 2011 at 9:28pm

  Welcome to NavyDads.com Sandi! I'm sure you'll find NavyDads as useful, educational and informative as I have. Please explore the site and make some new friends. Read the discussions and add your comments. Browse through the postings in the various groups or start a new one. If you have any comments, questions or concerns about your sailor and what he is going through...be sure to post them! In my experience someone here can answer your questions or concerns or can point you in the direction to find out. I'm blessed to have two sailors in the family - my son Eric (AM3) was on the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and just reported to HSL-37 in Hawaii. My daughter Kat is a Navy vet and was stationed on the carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). And Sandi this is a great place to brag as well! So join in, get active, and be sure to let us know how Michael is doing! Please remember that we talk about the Navy here and we must keep the security and safety of our sailors and the fleet in mind. On the right or starboard side of every NavyDads page is an area we call About This Site. Please take a minute and read through the Operations Security (OPSEC) link for some guidelines as to what we should not talk about in a public forum like NavyDads.com. And stop by the NavyDads offical store- Navyoutfitters.com! Show your support for NavyDads.com by wearing the latest in NavyDads attire. Best Regards- Paul
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  NavyDads Admin (Paul) September 6, 2011 at 9:27pm

  Welcome to NavyDads !
  
  Play the following video for a brief introduction to NavyDads.com. We've made some cosmetic changes to the site since this video was made, but navigation remains the same.
  
  
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  NavyDads Co-Admin, Calvin September 6, 2011 at 5:18pm

  Sandi, Welcome to NavyDads. My Grandson Joined the Navy and went to Boot Camp in February, 2008. When I joined I knew nothing about the Military and this site has really helped me understand what to expect and has relieved some of the worries I had. Please go to the Groups Page and check out all of the different Groups and join in to learn more and meet others whose guys or gals are in the same Rate as you Loved One. We like to hear about your Sailor, the good times, the concerns and the questions. I think you will find that our members are just a great big family and everyone wants to help others understand what to expect and hear how your Sailor is doing.
  
  Again Welcome and keep us updated to your Sailor’s Progress.
  
  HooYah US Navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  NavyDads Admin, Tim September 6, 2011 at 4:14pm

  Welcome aboard Sandi.
  I would like to take this time to point you in some of the right directions. For starters if you haven't had the time take a look at the right side of any page you click on. There you will find some useful information for you. The links under the about this site will help you with how this site got started, navigation, PIR, About us, community guidelines and some links to some of the groups that beginners with a lot of questions will find very useful. There is also a link called Navy Enlisted Ratings, this link will take you to a brief description of the rates (jobs) in the Navy that you can find your sailors rate and find out some information about the rate that they are in.
  First and foremost though we are all here for the same reason. We are curious about what our young sailors are getting into and for more information about the rate or job that they will be doing for the next 4-6 yrs of their lives. I know when I first got here I had lots of questions and there was not a lot of people on this site but they all were either going through the same thing or had been through it and had sailors out in the fleet. Now this site has grown to over 2000 members, Dads, Moms, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, sisters, brothers, girlfriends and boyfriends. Don't be afraid to ask questions of members in here because somewhere along the way we have all had the same questions and asked. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this site with various years of experience in the NAVY either on their own account or through their Sailors.
  Again welcome aboard and BRAVO ZULU to you and your son Michael on his enlistment and please thank him for me for making the choice to defend the freedoms that my family, this country and I have and enjoy.
  Navy dads Co-admin Tim