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Chantay _Sams Mom
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- Gallatin, TN
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Chantay _Sams Mom's Discussions
Is there anyone on here with loved ones on Diego Garcia?
3 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Melissa (Tucson) 4 hours ago.
Anyone Division 203??
Replied May 2
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Thanks for the reply. How did he like it and what kind of things did he do to pass the time while there? Sam likes it but he is bored. A mom worries when a boy had too much idle time. But, so far he is doing good.
My son is Diego Garcia. He arrived August 27th of this year. I was just looking for others with loved ones there. I don't see much on here. Just feeling the need to connect with someone who may be going through what I'm going through with a loved ...
Profile Information
- About me:
- I am a happily married mother of 3, 2 boys and a girl. My oldest son has been married for 6 years. My daughter just got married (10/4/08) and my baby (he hates when I say that) is 19 and goes to boot camp in April.and he can't wait. Right now, I'm holding it together pretty good but the closer it gets.... well, we'll see. But, his Dad and I are so very proud of him and of his commitment and love for his country
- I am here to support or represent my:
- Son/Daughter
- Stage of (Sailor’s) Navy Career?
- Thinking about joining
- When I heard “Navy,” I:
- Was proud and encouraged it
- From my experience with the Navy, the most important thing I learned was:
- that he is not just my boy anymore; he belongs to the Navy.
- Through this Navy experience, I now believe:
- It was positive and maturing. Our relationship has grown stronger.
Photos of Sam, his friends and family
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Comment Wall (45 comments)
- At 12:44pm on October 16, 2009,
Linda said…
- Check your personal N4M messages. I sent what I think is the phone number I used. I might work -- and if it doesn't then you're no worse off than you were.
How's he enjoying DG? Jenn always had something to do and her pictures were beautiful. I'm planning to visit her in Sigonella in November. She's been told she'll be going to Afghanistan in January -- I keep hoping something will change.
- At 4:02pm on September 21, 2009,
Linda said…
- Initially they gave Jenn a phone number (that was free to us) which routed through a Naval base in California. It was a Morale line. Even though it was not an option listed on the recording, they told Jenn to tell me to press 8 and it would take me to another dial tone. Then I just dialed the number she had given me for her room. This system must have been upgraded at some point because one day when I tried to call her, it no longer worked the way it did initially. Then I bought a calling card for a while.
Later someone in the kennels gave her another number and I did have to dial some numbers (country/city codes????) and then the number she gave us for her room phone. Once I figured it out, it too was free. She gave us 4-digit extensions for her boyfriend's room and the kennel. I'd get a text message to call her on #### and I knew to change the last for number and it would go where she was.
I've looked everywhere around here to see if I saved even had a scrap of paper with any of the old numbers on it and I can't find anything or I'd be happy to give it to you. I can't even look back at old phone bills because it wasn't long distance.
If it's the country access codes, I had to look them up on the internet. Next time I talk to her, I'll ask if she has anything still written down somewhere.
- At 10:36pm on September 5, 2009,
Linda said…
- It usually took about 10 days although we had one that took nearly a month. I was surprised at how quickly they got to her. Have you gotten a phone number yet? Don't know how, but the number Jenn gave us allowed us to call her free -- sure do miss it now! Calling her in Sicily is costing me about $200 a month.
Most of the time we insured what we sent, just in case ...
- At 10:07am on August 13, 2009,
Anti M said… - Look through my pictures on my page and you'll see one taken on DG.
- At 10:07am on August 13, 2009,
Anti M said…
- I was stationed on DG ... although it was different when I was there (I was one of the first 250 women), I can fill you in on some of the day to day stuff. Communications are far better now, we didn't have personal phones or the internet then.
- At 7:42am on July 30, 2009,
Linda said…
- Fishing stuff -- they provided. The fishing trips were 'organized' and were usually small groups going out with some locals -- very professional -- the same as going deep-sea fishing from our coasts.
Regarding snorkeling equipment, Jenn had it but never mentioned ever using it. Again, this was NOT air-tank-type stuff -- it was just the for fun type things you can buy at CostCo or Sam's. Now might be a good time to be looking for it since it's the end of the swimming season in the US.
If he plays sports at all, send everything he has. Sports is a past-time over there since there's not much else to do. Soccer is a favorite (Brits play a lot - don't know how often the US guys play), but they have softball teams, island bike rides, tennis, swimming pools, etc. Everyone who has seen Jenn's pictures say it looks like a vacation.
He'll be getting more info on what to do as he gets closer to his graduation and gets his real orders. Those 2 weeks between graduation and ship out date will require some business to be handled. Good communication with is sponsor is important and ship as much as you can before he leaves (let the Navy handle) so you won't have to ship later. We learned the hard way. This would include his civilian clothing!
DG site -- I just did a search, something like US Navy base Diego Garcia and read all that I could find. There are official Navy sites for their bases. The site I used actually showed what their rooms would look like and told a little about what was available to them.
Digeo Garcia has some local inhabitants and a few local businesses (bars, a couple restaurants, etc.) but it is not a place where tourist can go -- it is sometimes referred to as a "Stationary Aircraft Carrier" because it is so small -- it's basically runways and warehouses for the military only. It is a British island with some history. I just read everything I could find on the internet. There are other people who have personal DG sites where I saw lots of pictures. Be sure to read up on Coconut Crabs -- pretty scary. They also have wild donkeys on the island.
Are you sure he'll ship from Jacksonville? Jenn always left out of Norfolk, VA -- but we live in VA. I don't know if she chose that or if that is the official place to leave from. It's pretty exciting to see them get on those HUGE transport planes -- I never realized how really HUGE they were until I saw them.
Not sure what the drinking age is but I'm GUESSING the Navy may follow the 21-rule. Just a guess!
The basic hygiene is available to them over there. If he has favorites, you might want to ship them occasionally. We sometimes shipped Jenn's favorite junk foods, etc. They can order anything from anywhere that will ship to an FPO address.
- At 8:41pm on July 29, 2009,
Linda said…
- She's a K9 handler so she had to meet planes and ships to search for explosives, etc. I'm not sure what the other MA's do. The Navy shipped some of her gear before she left -- they packed it in a box for her and it was delivered to her over there. The bike was one of the things that they shipped -- along with her civilian clothes. The more he ships through the Navy, the easier it will be on him and you. Plus, when he leaves DG, they will ship his belongings to his next duty station. (Jenn just packed some stuff and came home for 30- days before reporting to her next location.) Her stuff was in Sicily when she arrived there. (She just got her car in Sicily today-- the Navy shipped that to her as well.)
There are FEW conveniences. We picked up inexpensive snorkeling things at CostCo and just shipped them. The Post Office has Flat Rate boxes for the military -- $11-13 -- not too bad. Anything of value we always added insurance.
When is he going? He should be contacted by a sponsor who is already over there and the Diego Garcia website provided a lot of info to me.
It's HOT over there year round so he should definitely take his causal clothes and whatever he wears (sandals, flip flops, bathing suit, beach towels). If he's a gamer, he might want to take his video game console, etc. He should have a TV in his room
There are some places that ship to FPO addresses, but not too many. Often Jenn would order something, have it shipped to us for us to re-address and ship to her.
There is absolutely no tourism or commercial flights. Not sure what the possibility of leaving the island for R&R, but Jenn was there for the entire year and never left the island.
- At 7:45am on July 29, 2009,
Linda said…
- Jenn just left in April 09. She's in Sicily now. Shopping on the island is very limited -- not like on a full base. For guys it might be easier. We had to ship her hair color, conditioner, shampoo, body lotion, etc. Maybe guys don't have that to worry about. Internet in her room was a little a little expensive. Phone calls were free -- they have us a special number and except for about a month of calling card calls, we never paid for any of them -- don't know how -- didn't ask any questions. Take/ship LOTS of sports equipment. Bicycle is a must. Snorkeling equipment too. Computer and camera are a must as well. We shipped lots of things throughout the year she was there. She loved it there but she was friends with a lot of the Brits. I don't know if the American guys and the British guys interact much - but I'm guessing it was different for the girls and guys. Send me an email any time if you have any specific questions and I'll do my best to answer.
The rooms are furnished with twin beds. Jenn pushed hers together, I sent her a 'bridge' (ordered from Bed Bath & Beyond) to make them seem like a King and sent king sheets & spread (zebra print) so there's obviously some room for 'decorating'. We also sent pool toys. There are a few restaurants and bars. She went deep-sea fishing fairly often as well. Whatever they caught was prepared by some of the island people for dinner. She loved that too. Her pictures look like something you'd see on a cruise -- gorgeous!
- At 7:43pm on June 25, 2009,
Rana; Cody's Mom said… - Yep! Glad they can be friends. I hope they continue that. Cody just called, like he usually does, and I had to ask him about orders! I'd been hearing all day that our guys were getting theirs, but he didn't offer it up! Silly boy!
Anyway, he requested San Diego, which is great because we are in Northern CA. But, I agree with you, I want him to see as much as he can now because he may not ever get the opportunity again! But I trust he's right where he's supposed to be, with God's watchful eye on him.
Sam does OC spray tomorrow! That was just the biggest boost for Cody! He loved calling everyone at home and groaning about how much it hurt! Plus I think it really had a unifying effect on the group! Sam will love it!
- At 2:53pm on June 25, 2009,
Rana; Cody's Mom said…
- Sounds like Sam and Cody have a lot in common. I've also been worried that Cody would not make any friends. He tends to be a little of a loner! He's 19, he'll be 20 in November. I just heard from Karen (Billy's mom) that he's going to Baharain! Yikes! I didn't think they'd be getting to choose so soon. I don't know what I hope for Cody, but not Baharain!
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