For those who's Son/Daughter are getting ready for deployment

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Permalink Reply by Dianne on August 31, 2009 at 1:37pm

You've made me sad that I wont be able to go on the family cruse which is later on this week.

Thanks for the great idea's ladies. I will have to get some of thse flat rate boxes.

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Permalink Reply by Jean on January 1, 2010 at 9:58pm

Remember, no matter when a package is sent postage is only paid to either San Francisco or Norfolk/New York. But custom forms have to be filled out now when this did not need to be done years ago. To either FPO's or APO'S!

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Permalink Reply by optomisticmom on August 31, 2009 at 10:46pm

That sounds great!!! Now my daughter is leaving for boot camp September 7th. Her father was in the Navy along time ago. He and I did not talk about it much through our marriage, but now I wish that we would have because she is entering this journey. She will be one tough girl when she gets home. Even thoug she is now, she is my though one , you know??

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Permalink Reply by cbdrifters on September 1, 2009 at 7:02am

My son is also an AO stationed on a carrier. Right now he is also on a rotation doing MA (Master of Arms) work. And he loves both jobs. And I sometimes feel they are out to sea alot. But when they go out to sea, I am able to send him emails. Sometimes they are gone for a week or two, a month, etc. I guess it just depends on what they are doing. Of course he isn't allowed to tell us anything. Please let me know what ship he gets stationed on. If it is my son's ship, just give me your son's name and I will give it to my son. I can tell you there are all kinds of safety precautions with doing AO work. And whatever division he gets into, they will take him in and take care of him. They are like a family that watches out and takes care of it's own. It is truly amazing how they bond together and become like a family. My son also joined the Navy in his senior year. It had been saying since he was 10 years old that he was going to join the Navy. And his father and I couldn't be more proud of him. There is a saying that the AO's have and please pass it on to your son. And the saying is: IF YOU AIN'T ORDANCE YOU AIN'T SHIT! But I am sure there is a saying for each job that is done on a carrier. But my son told us that after roll call just before everyone is dismissed, that is when they yell out their saying. The fear for your child will never leave you, you just have to trust they know what they are doing. And I pray every day for God to keep him, his shipmates and his ship safe.

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Permalink Reply by alison n. on September 15, 2009 at 12:00pm

my son is on the Harry S Truman based in Norfolk. He wants to transfer to AO from what he's doing now. He has been on one deployment and they are preparing to go out again early next year. They go out for manuvers every couple of weeks now for anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks. He hopes to be an AO by the time they leave. I hope he makes it so he will STAY in the Navy. Ithink it's the best thing he could have done and I am very very pround of him. I get emails from him almost everyday. Being that we live in Fla he is able to fly home every once in a while for the weekend. I just want him to be happy w/ what he's doing. Of course you worry about them being safe, but I have total faith in my son and the Navy. God Bless all of them

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Permalink Reply by cbdrifters on September 16, 2009 at 7:11am

Allison, my son is an AO/MA on the Harry S Truman. And he went on their last deployment and I know they were suppose to go back out in Nov, but that has been pushed back until early next year. What department does your son work in now. I will ask my son if he knows him. That is when they get back. I live in VA and I get to Norfolk to see my son at least once a month, or he comes home. We live 2 1/2 hours away from him.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy (AOMom) on September 9, 2009 at 8:37am

Cheryl, My daughter is AO, yes I agree its a scary job. She is on a base in Washington State, and her squadron has no chance of deploying anytime soon, so she is very happy with her job,they may go out for training though but it is a short trip. She sends me texts all the time to tell me what she learned or was doing that day. Safety is a big issue with the Navy, they have lots of training for their jobs. My daughter will be on a carrier at some point but be glad to know a couple of the carriers are currently in port to be recharged and it takes 1 year to recharge a nuclear carrier. The longer they stay stateside the more training/learning they do. He will only be on the deck of a carrier if he is squadron, all other AO's are ships company. Congrats on your newest sailor, keep in touch.

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Permalink Reply by S14sunflower on September 1, 2009 at 1:22am

I too went on a "Tiger Cruise" on our son's Destroyer. It was a newly commissioned ship and had many certifications to do. We got to go thru all these qualifications with the crew. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
As far as packages, see if you have a Blue Star Moms group in your city. They are mothers of children in the Military. I am a member of my local chapter. We send out "Care packages" 5 times a year and do a lot of fundraising and asking for donations. Last Christmas we set over 1000 boxes. We try to do a food box and a toiletries box. (they don't always mix)
I am attaching a link to the national website. We lso have a group who go to the airport and greet any soldiers, sailers etc who are flying in. We stand in 2 rows, all holding either American flag or a military flag. When the soldier arrives, we greet them with a basket full of goodies--including gift cards for meals that are donated by local restaurants, coupons etc. As the soldier walks with his family between the rows of flags we cheer, clap and thank him/her for their service. We usually end up with quite an audience and a lot of times they join us.
I'd be surprised if there is a dry eye within sight.
It's a great organization and we do all we can to support our brave men and women who are sacrificing so much.

http://www.bluestarmothers.org/mc/page.do

If you click on locate a chapter, it will bring up all the states and you can see if there is one near you. If you don't have one, you could start a chapter. If you need help one of the natioal officers should be able to assist you.

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Permalink Reply by Laura A on September 1, 2009 at 5:20pm

Thank you all for the helpful information. My son is doing short cruises now and will go on a 'real' cruise sometime after the new year. We had thought about visiting him around Thanksgiving but now I'm wondering if we should wait to see him off. I'll definitely be there to welcome him back.

The time that you are allowed to see the ship before they leave isn't the Tiger Cruise is it? How do I find out information for the Tiger Cruise?

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Permalink Reply by cbdrifters on September 2, 2009 at 6:17am

Laura, if you are close enough to his ship I would see him off. When my son went on his first deployment my husband, myself, his wife and her mom and dad was there the night before the ship left. We went out and had a wonderful dinner. We all took him to the ship the next morning. But my husband and I were the only ones that stayed to see the ship sail away. There were alot of family there to see the ship off. And what a sight to be hold when that carrier was leaving the dock. Every inch around the flight deck was sailors standing at attention. I will tell you if he has duty that morning you might not get to see him. My son had duty that day, but I called his cell phone and left him a message letting him that we were still there. When he played his messages his chief heard it and told him to go out on the flight deck and to call us. And when I got that phone call which I wasn't expecting, I started to cry and couldn't talk to him at first. But then I got my voice back. I keep him on that phone till the last second. And the homecoming is awesome. I believe the Tiger Cruise is different than the Family and Friends Cruise. Hopefully someone on here can tell you. But they will let you son know when both cruises are. I know when my son was coming back from deployment, we could have meet the ship in Flordia and sailed back to his home port. And I believe that is what they call the Tiger Cruise. On the Family and Friends Cruise is where you spend the awhle day with you son on his ship. And you get to see where he works and other parts of the ship. We had the best time on that cruise. My son's first deployment was for 8 months, so we spent as much time with him as we could. Hope this has helped.

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Permalink Reply by judy on September 9, 2009 at 11:30pm

A tiger cruise is at the end of the deployment the ship will pull into a port to off load personnel and equipment and the "tigers" get on and ride to the homeport...The number is limited so when your told about it tell your sailor early on that you want to do it and how many Not everyone will get to go..Usually males first but they are now letting female family members go too. My grandsons got to go with their dad and had a great time..they did fire fighting and shot a machine gun all kinds of things..This is usually a 3 day trip.. Also in regards to the ordinance my son is a chief gunner mate and his guys load and secure the ordinance on board and see to the off loading I can promise you most chiefs make sure tht all safety pre cautions are taken and training is refreshed often..Oh by the way I have been doing the Navy thing since 1984 with 2 sons one which has retired.

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Permalink Reply by Mary c 3 on September 2, 2009 at 2:50pm

Thanks for the info
my son will leave via airplane to his ship in japan
in a few weeks

He will be gone for 2 years he says..............
and will be on a battle cruiser

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