Blogs

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  I just want to mention a great site that your Sailors can help them keep in contact with their Shipmates.  Have them registrar with  "Together We Serve.....Navy"    This site has over 500,000 current and former Sailors so as time fades they can look up Shipmates. They are stories of Sailors locating shipmates and friends lost for forty years.

son left november 6 when would his PIR be, wife is on the moms site they are saying recruiter told them december 31 because of holidays doesnt sound right to me

My daughter will be graduating on December 12, 2014. I have made arrangements at the Red Roof Inn. I was wondering if anyone wanted to have a meet and greet Thursday12/11 before the graduation? I hear that the Ramada Inn has a meet and greet from 6PM to 8PM.

My daughter has asked that I adopt her and her fellow SR for Thanksgiving. Anyone have any ideas about a place to have a good dinner? They can travel no more than50 miles from the base. I have found Prairie Grass about 14 miles from the base Anyone been there?

I am a Marine veteran (66-73). My daughter entered the Navy at age 27. So far she is doing very well. Here name is Jessica Grant. As you can imagine I am beaming with pride and cannot wait to see her on Thanksgiving and at PIR. Her test scores were exceptional and she chose LS because she could not get nuc due to age. LS will be a good career for her.

My daughter AO2 Jessica Tejeda has complied with her tour of duty and is back home.

As a father and a veteran, I am so happy she is now a veteran.

She may miss being in the Navy, but life goes on.

Very proud of her serving our country for the last 6 years.

But, I will remain a Navy Dad even though I am a veteran of the U.S. Army because your group have been there for me and everyone else.

I finish with carry on, continue to march! 

My lil sailor on the flight deck of the USS America, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 after the Navy's newest war ship transited around South America. What a proud moment on Saturday, Oct. 11 to see her standing on the deck as the ship was commmissioned in beautiful San Francisco...Bravo Zulu all those who sail with her.

Thank you for welcoming me to NavyDads I found this web site while searching for information
relevant to my  son in the Navy. Like all of you, I could not be any prouder of him and all the
brave men and women that serve in our military. Certainly, freedom  is not free!
My son enlisted after 2 years of college because of his patriotism and  sense of duty.
I wanted him to finish college, but he promised me  that  he will, while in the NAVY. 
He became an AT and worked on F-18s aboard the Roosevelt during OEF as well as the Bush,
on its maiden voyage. Once he returned, he was on land duty in NAS JAX, sort of closer to home
and  did in fact finish college. He loves the Navy and was awarded several NAMMs
and Blue Jacket of the Year. I don't mean to brag, but it's hard  not to; 
especially when I compare him to so many of the directionless youth of today. 
After finishing college, he decided to submit his package for OCS to  become a Naval Officer.
He was selected and is in the current class and we did receive
some letters from him. He's looking forward to  seeing us when he graduates,
providing the US Marine DIs let him live! Thankfully, he trained physically, academically
and was mentored on how to succeed. So far so good as he went from indoctrination candidate
to Officer Candidate with 7 weeks left to go. Thanks again. I feel as parents of sailors,
we are all part of an  extended family. Even my son's friends from his station(s) call me dad.
The best of luck to all of you and your sailors. I look forward to  corresponding soon.  
Warm regards,
Irv Gelbart

My son is seriously interested in joining the Navy but his main concern is life aboard a ship.  He believes that once he is stationed aboard a ship, he would be at sea for months on end.  Can anyone tell us what the duration aboard ship would be while at sea?  I informed him that he probably wouldn't be at sea for more than 30 days before pulling in to port for supplies/fuel.  Would this be accurate?

Thank you in advance.

Can anyone tell me what is A School.  I thought it was the schooling that your son or daughter went to after PIR. Is there a B school? 

Just got what I believe is the form letter from my Son who shipped out on 09/16. My wife and I have an agreement not to open anything from our Son unless we are together so I have to wait for her. It just strikes me odd that his Division on the return address is 001. I have seen a lot of divisions but they are usually 3 different numbers.

Hello Dads, my son arrived at GL on Sep 17th I did receive the quick call and was happy to know that he arrived safe.  is there any one else who has a son or daughter just starting BC, received his cell phone but no address as of yet.

Hi I am excited for this day to watch my son. I am new to the site and was wondering if anyone else has a child graduating this day. He is on Ship4 division 338.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to the admins who have created and maintain this website. I feel very fortunate to have found NAVYDADS.COM The warm welcome is truly appreciated. There are many useful resources here that I will take advantage of to learn more about the Navy and what my son is experiencing. My son is CS on the USS Mahan. I was surprised to see that the food being served looked nothing like the SOS described by my Grandfather during his service. 

So, I have a question. Is it possible to send care packages to your sailor on deployment? The holidays are soon approaching. If anyone has any information you can share please let me know.

Thanks to all who serve and support! 

Best regards,

Dave Pienta

I haven't posted since my son shipped to Great Lakes. I have learned a a lot inline an the last three weeks. The support of the people in the groups on line and here on Navy dads has been amazing. If have a question just ask.Somebody knows the answer. The new friends that have been made and continue to be made daily is overwhelming. The story you hear about the navy being one big family is really true. My son is set to graduate on October 3 and I am looking forward to putting real faces to the people i have liked status update and shared info about kids on the same ships. The  best part of my experience in this journey I believe is getting to meet the people who are going through the same thing and all of us learning together and sharing with each other just as our kids are learning and sharing together. I am proud to have a son that chose to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and join the U.S.Navy. They both were proud of their service and he is named for both of them. As he approaches the mid point of boot camp and the challenges intensify the strength he will need to complete these tasks he can draw from their spirit  as they watch over and guide him. 

Hooyah

My son left for BC on August 12th.  We received his box within the first few days however, as of today, we have yet to receive the Formal Letter indicating his address, list of attendees for graduation and password to get on the base. My wife is making herself sick worrying why we haven't received the letter when others that left the same day have. She is worried it got lost in the mail.  Any suggestions??? 

When PIR is done and they call Liberty Call Liberty Call the sailors get liberty.  Many people met their sailor at NEX on the RTC. They have to stay in their uniform during Liberty and have to be back by 7:00 or 8:00 PM.  You return them to the OHIO road gate on Berkley.  They will have that gate open and will let you drive in to drop them off and say bye. 

When you park for PIR you use Illinois entry which is on the East side of the RTC. 

If your sailor is leaving for school for somewhere other than Great Lakes they will catch their buss at 0100.  That's 1:00 AM and they drop off EVERY sailor that is flying out at O'hare

airport that day.  Some will be there a few hours and some all day until they leave.  Yes, all day at the airport.  Some sailors didn't fly out until 2230 that night.  My son left at 1030 that morning.  If you want to hang out with your sailor and they will be there later in the day I would sleep a little because you won't be able to talk to them much while they are checking their bags in the morning.  You can get into the terminals with them by getting a family pass "FROM THE AIRLINE" with your sailor present and you can spend time with them before they leave.  Frustrating but it-is-what-it-is.  Hurry up and wait.  It was worth it to me to see him and visit with him. 

I hope this helps?