NAVY SUBMARINERS

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Comment by Tim McGlenn on December 11, 2011 at 10:39pm

I just text my son and he told me that Kindles are allowed while underway. And that he had purchased one for himself. Well scratch that from Santa's list.

Comment by ctyankee on December 11, 2011 at 8:37pm

@Dana, Yes, Kindles are allowed.

Comment by Dan Hall on December 6, 2011 at 12:33pm

Congratulations, Randy!  As you may know my son, Michael, is on the Alexandria as well.  He received his Dolphins in Sept. and last month he told me he made Petty Officer 3rd Class.  He is planning to come home for Dec. 17th for 8 days.  He hasn't been back to Texas since Oct, 2010. 

Comment by Randy Leeper on December 6, 2011 at 12:13pm

Hi Everyone,

    Just wanted pass along that my son has finally received his Dolphins last Friday and is no longer a NUB. It was a lot of work and he was slowed due to his boat (USS Alexandria), being in dry dock for 5 months. He and we are extremely proud of him. Good luck to all of your sailors working towards their Dolphins, it's a major accomplishment!

Comment by Mike K on November 19, 2011 at 12:50am

Cheri, this was my son's first deployment.  He got to the boat in Feb and they left in May.  He is a nuke EM.  As I mentioned earlier, we were lucky in that he communicated with us fairly regularly.  He was, and still is under great stress through all of his quals for watch stations and his dolphins.  They really really push them during their first deployment as that is the best time to get all that stuff out of the way, a captive audience so to speak, and much easier than when in port.  The hard work paid off in that he only has one check off left for his dolphins which he should get on their next underway and he will be fully cross rated on the underway after that.  He says the chiefs and officers are good at noting who is doing well and really push those sailors hard so the harder the sailor is being pushed should mean that the powers that be see something there they like.

Comment by Kenorian on November 18, 2011 at 11:39pm

Hi Cheri. I can only speak from the experience of one person.  Im sure it was overwhelming - though he didn't let on.  He came out of Groton, deployed to Pearl Harbor and was underway within days.  I don't think he had much of a chance to thing about it.  

Ironic... five years, 1st Class, three Navy Achievement Medals and Navy Diver certified and - he's coming back to SUBASE New Lodon this weekend after five years.  Your son was more or less on the same schedule Paul was.  Hoping he has stand down around the holidays and that you'll be able to see him.

 

Comment by Mike K on November 16, 2011 at 6:30pm

My son just returned from a 6 month deployment aboard the Springfield.  He communicated with us by email every week or two while out.  He also was able to call us from each port stop they made which was really nice.  For those wondering about communication, obviously the best way is email but remember, all outgoing and incoming is screened twice he says, once on the boat and once ashore before it is actually sent.  As for dates of return, most boats while out have nearly monthly newsletters from the boat's ombudsman.  If you are not getting those newletters your sailor did not put you on his contact list.  We learned much from the ombudsman while he was deployed, they even communicate the date of return(not to be spread around).

We just went to Groton for the homecoming, rainy but great to see him, also arranged by the Family Readiness Group but heard all specifics again through the ombudsman.  If you don't know your boat's ombudsman, maybe your sailor can find out and let you know.

Comment by John on October 23, 2011 at 10:29am

Drew, to answer your question regarding what the sailors can indicate about returning to port = not much. They must be very vague, and only hint at the fact they may return. " Hope to see you soon " would such a hint. My son, a Radioman, had to politely tell his Communication ossifer to not send emails to his wife telling her the specific date they will arrive in port. Go figure ....?? !! Hope this helps.

Comment by Drew's Dad on October 23, 2011 at 7:53am

A little input would be appreciated.  My son is on a sub, we had thought he would be out for 3 weeks.  He's only been on a few months and this is his longest cruise so far.  I have e-mailed him pretty much daily-I convert the sports page from the local paper to text and e-mail it to him.  He has e-mailed back to say all is ok.  3 weeks has come and gone.  My question is, "What if anything can he e-mail about when he will return?"  I'm assuming not much, but his mom and I would like to get some idea.  Thanks.

Comment by Dan Hall on October 10, 2011 at 9:04pm

USS Alexandria

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