Comments

• 

  NavyDads Admin (Paul) October 30, 2011 at 8:40pm

  Welcome to NavyDads.com Vincent! When my daughter enlisted in 2005 and left for RTC, I had virtually no knowledge of Navy life or how the Navy did things. By the time her PIR rolled around, I was starting to get the hang of things and understand some of the language and abbreviations, but still felt like a fish out of water when dealing with most topics concerning the US Navy. When my son enlisted and left for Great Lakes in 2007, I got serious about trying to learn as much as possible about the Navy. Now, several years into my journey, I’m blessed to say I have two sailors in the family - my son Eric (AM3) was on the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and just reported to Helicopter Squadron Light-37 (HSL-37) in Hawaii after re-enlisting earlier this year. My daughter Kat is now a Navy veteran and was stationed on the carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) as a Mass Communications Specialist and is currently using her GI benefits to go to school. If NavyDads.com were around in those days, it would have made my journey as a Navy parent much easier!
  
  I'm sure you'll find NavyDads.com as useful, educational and informative as I have over the past few years. I hope you take the time to 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 she 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. And Vincent this is a great place to brag as well! So join in, get active, and be sure to let us know how Victoria 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.
  
  As a parent of a sailor currently or soon to be at Great Lakes you'll have many questions about what your daughter is going through. In the Navy Bootcamp group is a discussion called A MUST READ for all New Navy Parents. Read through this post as it will do a lot to give you some understanding about what your sailor is learning and why. And be sure to check out the videos available in the Bootcamp Group as well.
  
  As PIR draws closer, be sure to spend some time going through the PIR-Tips, Hints and Helps group- we’ve tried to assemble some tips and suggestions to make your sailor's PIR more enjoyable.
  
  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.
  
  
  Best Regards- Paul
• 

  NavyDads Co-Admin, Calvin October 30, 2011 at 3:33pm

  Vincent, glad you found us here on NavyDads. Hope you find some good info on what Victoria will be doing while in trianing and beyond. If you have any problems finding the info you want please let me know and I will help or find someone that can help you get answers.
  
  Again Welcome to NavyDays.
  
  HooYah Victoria!!!!
• 

  NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary October 30, 2011 at 12:56pm

  Vincent sir, I'm fairly new to this site as well. If there's anything I can help you with or answer please let me know. Have a great Sunday...
• 

  NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary October 30, 2011 at 12:21pm

  Greetings Vincent! My son recently joined the Navy and I really had no idea or a clue on what he’s about to partake in besides what I’ve seen on tv and some stories told by friends and relatives. I am honored and very proud of his decision to serve our country.

   

  I’ve perused recruiter literature from DEP and beyond but I felt that I needed more information to keep me from worrying too much. I also wanted to hear from real folks on what their experiences were like and what they've gone through. That's when I found this website while searching for answers.

   

  I hope you too will find NavyDads.Com useful with lots of real shared information. Our family extends our warmest thanks to you and your daughter Victoria for your service.

   

  Welcome aboard...

   
• 

  NavyDads Admin, Tim October 30, 2011 at 9:30am

  Welcome aboard Vincent.
  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 4000 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 daughter Victoria on her enlistment and please thank her 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
• 

  Gil October 30, 2011 at 9:16am

  Vincent welcome! You have found the best site for you as a father to learn about what you daughter is doing in the Navy. We are a big family, we like to share our passion for our children, we brag a lot of what the do and mostly we learn about the Navy way. So again, welcome aboard!! Gil
• 

  NavyDads Co-Admin, Calvin October 30, 2011 at 9:09am

   Vincent

  , be sure to check out our Groups. We a several Groups for PIR and Boot Camp, several Group for the different Rates like Navy Nukes, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Master at Arms. Also check to see if you State or area has a Group set-up to find others in your area. We also have several Groups of general interest like Care Packages,

  A School for Dads, NASCAR for NavyDads and the book of acronyms and ranks. There is also a Spanish language Group.

   

  If you have problem or question about the Groups, Discussions or navigating our site please let me know and I will help or find someone that can help you.

   

  Again Welcome to NavyDads.
• 

  NavyDads Co-Admin, Calvin October 30, 2011 at 9:09am

  Vincent, 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 about what your Guy or Gal will be learning and doing. We are a big family here and you can find answers to most any question or concern you may have regarding what is in store for you recruit. You will find others that are new to the Navy along with those that have Loved Ones that has been in for some time. We like to hear about your recruit the good times, the concerns and the questions. I think you will find that our member are just a great big family and everyone wants to help others understand what to expect and hear how your recruit is doing.
  
  Please feel free to ask questions.
  
  I would also like to Thank You for your Service.
  
  Again Welcome and keep us updated as to you recruit’s progress.
  
  HooYah US Navy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!