Welcome to NavyDads Bill! I'm sure you'll find the site as fun and useful as I have. Explore and make some friends, add your comments to a discussion or two, read the postings in the various groups-- even start one or two. I have! If you have any questions or concerns about your sailor and what he is going through...ask! I'm sure someone here will have the answer or can point you in the right direction to find out. I'm lucky enough to have two sailors- my son Eric is on the second half of a seven-month cruise on the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and my daughter Kat recently returned from a seven-month cruise on the carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). And Bill this is a great place to brag about your sailor as well! So join in and let us know how Tyler is doing!

As a parent of a sailor currently or soon to be at Great Lakes you'll have many questions about what your son is going through. Thanks to one of our members we have two excellent videos that you can access from the Video area on the NavyDads.com main page: New Bootcamp 1 of 2 and New Bootcamp 2 of 2. These videos will answer many of your questions and concerns and will give you a better understanding of how the United States Navy transforms our children into sailors!

Be sure to spend some time in the Bootcamp group- there are many questions and answers available to help you understand what your sailor is going through. And as PIR draws closer, be sure to spend some time going through the PIR-Tips, Hints and Helps group- we’ve tried to assemble some tips and suggestions to make your sailor's PIR more enjoyable.

And Bill- thank you for your service to our great country. Best Regards- Paul

Bill, Welcome Aboard! I found navyformoms in searching for answers to my son's future. I just knew their had to be a site for dads like n4m's but I was wrong. So I started this site so us dads would also have a place to call home. I'm new at this and I hope this site will benefit fathers that come behind us. So jump right in share concerns, join groups, share info, and show off your sailor. I'm so glad to find out their are so many proud Navy dads just like myself. I hope this site benefits you and your family throughout your sons journey in the Navy. Thank Tyler for his service for me and yours as well. Thanks again for joining us.
Sincerely, EG

Bill, welcome from an ex-grunt.....saw your email about POV's. My son is a CTN he has finished his A&C schools, in fact just went back to base yesterday with his "new to him" pick-up, after a short 10 days at home. Short answer is yes they can have POV's at A school...........but until they class up and earn privliges they cant go anywhere or use them. Also, he wont be at NAS Pensacola..........he will be at Corry Station about 5 miles west of NAS Pensacola. The base is only about 1 mile or so square and his barracks are right inside the main gate. As you can guess everything is close on base. Off base WalMart is about 1/2 mile walk away, and places to eat are everywhere. My son made the mistake of buying one of those "miltary special used cars" when he got there, it's still sitting there and I drove down to bring him home on leave. He went back with pick-up bought here in Ohio that runs. Give me a yell if you want more info, and I'll try to help out. Dave

Hi Bill I still don't know his ship or div # I received his personal belongs yesterday but not info. I call the recruiting station today but his recruter was not in they told me to call tomorrow so I am calling tomorrow to see what they say. I will let you know as soon as I know thanks,

Hi Bill I got a info letter today from Stephen it looks like our recruits are in the same div. It says Div 174 USS Marvin G Shields...Thanks

Hi Bill Stephen went in as a combat medic not sure where he is going after BC I am thinking he is staying there but I am not sure. .....Keep in touch

Hi Bill, No I haven't heard from Stephen. I have been writing to Stephen but I haven't heard from him. They must be keeping them busy. Yes two weeks down 6 more to go. Hopefully we will hear from them soon. If I hear anything from Stephen I will let you know. If you hear from Tyler please let me know. Take Care

Hi Bill, I received my letter today. Others in my family received theirs on Friday. I was glad to hear from him he asked me to write which I have everyday but I guess they don't give them mail everyday. He also asked me to send him stamps which I already did in my other letters hopefully he will get them. He also told me they are doing a lot of yelling and he is doing a lot of guard duty and colors (not sure what that means). May 1st is not getting here soon enough. Keep in touch

Hi Bill, Just wanted to give you an update. Stephen called me today Yahoo! We talked for 20 min. I am so glad I was near my cell phone at work. He was very tired. He said they are still trying to get use to things. He was telling me some recruits from his div don't know how to keep their month closed and they all get in trouble for it so he wasn't very happy about that. Over all they are all doing good. Keep in touch