Blogs

Thanks for all the information listed on this site, my family has watched many of the videos and the information concerning his boot camp upcoming.

My son Josh leaves this weekend, while I was at a point in my life where I went to Air Force Training in Lackland AFB, I was alone and did not have the pressure of leaving anyone.  My parents were divorced at that time.  My son though, has my wife and myself, his Church Family and friends from his high school graduation feeling the effect of him departing for this time.  I am proud of him and proud of his decision, and I feel good about his Naval Career. 

Any other parents have recruits in this division? Have you received any letters yet?

Thank you to all who have welcomed me to this great site! Thanks!

And to those who sent thanks and good wishes to my daughter, currently a SR at Great Lakes and a future Hospital Corpsman, and my son, currently a Marine deployed in Afghanistan, I really appreciate it!

Thank you very much!

Len

Is anyone out there a member of the Navy League of the United States?

This looks like a worthwhile organization to join, but I'd like to get some first-hand knowledge and feedback from a member.

Thanks!

I have one sailor on truxtun and  another sailor on Abraham Lincoln.

I'm new to all the info. If anyone.... can send me any info.... I will appreciate.....

txs maria

WOODBURY, Tenn. - A military mom said she would do anything to answer her son's phone call from overseas, no matter what the cost.

Some seven months ago, Lance Corporal Mark Rhyne left the little town of Woodbury, for the remote deserts of Afghanistan.

"I told my son the day he deployed as he was about to get on that bus, 'I will stand in your steed while you are gone, I will stand,'" his mother Teresa Danford said.

On Monday, while working inside the Crane Interiors factory, Teresa Danford said she kept her word.

Mark called from Afghanistan, using a Satellite phone. It was a rare opportunity he only gets maybe once a month.

"You don't want to miss a word because truthfully that might be the last time you hear from them," Danford said.

Danford knew about Crane's no cell phone policy but answered anyway.

For complete story please use the link below.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/14053076/military-mom-pays-high-price-for-speaking-with-son

This is also a online  petition you can sign.

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/cellphonebanban/

Click the above link and it will take you there

Hello,

My Dad's name is William Robert Visnaw and he served in Corpus Christi, TX from 1958 thru 1962.  He flew on the S2F Tracker and I also believe he was on the USS Antietam for a short stretch during those years.  I am very proud of who the Navy helped mold him into (but of course I do need to give as much credit if not more to his mother) :)  Although there is a side of him that if he was anything like he is today that he was back then, then you will know of him being quite the character.

I am hoping to locate anyone who may have served with my Dad, photos, who is commanding officer was and whatever else someone can provide me with.  I am in the works of do a pecil drawing of a couple different views of the S2F Tracker and would like to include a plaque matted to the picture that would include details of the Tracker, my Dad's rankings, his commanding Officers name and whatever else I can compile as a nice gift hopefully on Father's Day.  Anyone who may have any info, photos, details of the patches that were worn during that time farme (I believe they were called the Ranger VT-28's and formerly the ATU-611's) where to find these patches and any other detail that may be of any sugnificance would be greatly appreciated!!!  You can e-mail me at youcanfindme@wowway.com.  Thank you in advance for your assistance!!!  If you know my Dad and would like to make contact with him, I will be more than happy to but after I make the presentation.  I will be more than happy to communicate with you in the meantime...again this is a surprise I would like to present him with.  THANKS!!!  WRV Jr

Hello Navy Dads,

My name is Justin and I have been in the Navy for 9 years. My brother recently swore in and while answering his Pay questions, I realized how new sailors and their families can have little knowledge of all the different pays and benefits. I have created a website which is meant to help out my fellow Sailors (I don't advertise or accept pay of any kind) which is designed as a one stop shop for all current Navy pay information, and links to Navy related programs, benefits, laws, and discounts. Another part of the site is to promote financial literacy by linking to beneficial videos, articles, and other military finance or military finance websites. Please check it out and leave any suggestions for me. Thank you for your support for my brother and brothers in arms! Visit DeckPlateDollars.com here!

I always put crazy titles on blogs as they make you laugh and get you all curious as to what it's about.

Firstly, let me say thank you for the warm welcome to the site from the Admin and co-admin people, it's really appreciated.  Leeanne hasn't even left for Boot Camp yet and already I have questions!!  Is it true they don't eat or sleep for the first 40 hours?  If so, I welcome it for her, toughen her up and make her realise what she is capable of.

Anyway, about Leeanne, she's nineteen and has been bumming around home for a year when I gave her the choice of either college or join one of the forces.  Having lived near Miramar during the eighties, she decided to join the navy with a dream to be an aviator.  How or why she decided to become a mechanic I'll never know.  She is very good mechanically though and it probably showed in aptitude tests etc.  For the last two years she has helped her two step-brothers pull their cars apart for goodness knows what reason.  I just hated all the parts lying around the house being 'stripped down' - get with it Mom - and cleaned.  I do hope for her sake she can maybe change careers should she decide later on to pursue her dream.  Is that possible with the navy or once you're in a position you stay in that position until you leave?

Leeanne has just emailed me and has returned from her physical and has a bucket load of information on physical fitness.  Surprise, surprise, she has actually got off her backside and started seriously traning ready for enlistment.  I wish her all the best as I think she might just need it.

Its with heavy heart I post the passing of this sailor she was found in the gulf of oman. Her  name has been withheld pending notification of next of kin.

http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-hunts-for-sailor-feared-overboard.html?ESRC=eb.nl

Shipmate rest your oars!!

From U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

GULF OF OMAN (NNS) -- U.S. and British units are searching for a Sailor from USS Halsey (DDG 97) who went missing while the ship was conducting operations in the Gulf of Oman Jan. 18.

The Sailor did not report to watch and after a search of the ship, man overboard was called away.

Helicopters from Halsey, USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7), and the Royal Navy's HMS Cumberland (F85) are currently conducting search and rescue operations to find the missing Sailor. F/A-18 Hornets from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and a P-3 maritime patrol aircraft have also been involved in the search.

The Sailor's name is being withheld while the search is ongoing.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet, visit

My prayers go out to the family and crew, May they locate this Sailor ASAP! Having lost a brother when his bass boat over turned in the cold waters in a lake in Michigan state, the hardest part was the wait while they searched. I pray that they find him soon and alive.

The response to this was great. I never expected to have a welcome like this.
My son Wyatt is still in the very early stages of entering the Navy. He will go to his physical test and final enlistment next month. He hopes to be headed to bootcamp right after his high school graduation. Im am very proud of him. He was looking at going to the Coast Guard for the last couple of years. One of his football team mates enlisted in the Navy last year and came home a month ago and told Wyatt what he had seen and done. That was it for him, the Navy was his choice. He is very intrested in the SWCC or a Master at Arms. I think he is wanting to follow in the Law Enforcement area after the Navy. We will see.

Thanks again for the warm welcome.

Chuck  

Fellow dads, thanks for the welcome aboard.

My father served 20 years USN and now my daughter is following in his footsteps. There were some tense moments out here in California waiting for the weather to clear in the midwest but she's on the chilly ground in Great Lakes and just got off the bus.

Any insight into what to expect in the next eight or nine weeks will be appreciated. We live in the San Francisco Bay Area so she has quite a rude awakening adjusting to cold temperatures. Again, many thanks for the generous welcome.

Everyday of the week at DFW Airport a flight bring in Soldiers on for 2 weeks of R&R. Each flight is greeted by not only passengers waiting for flights but local Businesses, Groups, Classes from local Schools and anyone who would like to spend time greeting the guys and gals home. Parking in the Airport is free and there are Flags available to everyone. Many bring Banners and as they walk through the sea of people you will see cell phones offers to them to make their "I'm Home Call".

Todays Welcome included The SMU and Army Football players, cheerleaders and mascots welcomed soldiers arriving for R&R at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport today. The teams will face off in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30. BIG thanks to all who came out to greet the troops this morning!

For those of you interested in how Wes has done since his discharge. . . it has been a long and rough road for him.  He fell into a deep depression and still fights off bouts of it.  Since his discharge he tried to pick up the pieces but ran into wall after wall, there just wasn't anything in the job front for anyone.  He moved to Iowa where his grandparents lived and landed acouple jobs that only let him go just before the probationary period drew near (they didn't want to pay benefits).  He recently moved back to NC and had a plan, I helped him to realise his plan by doing the paper shuffling.  All said and done Wes should be starting college Jan. 6, 2011.  My hopes are high for him now :) I believe college will get him reconnected with people his age and he can restart his life again as a civilian.

Thank you to those of you that have sent messages now and then in support :).  They helped me stay strong for Wes!  May you all be having a Merry Christmas and may God Bless YOU!!