Welcome aboard Paul,

I would like to take this time to point you in some of the right directions. For starters if you haven't had the time take a look at the right side of any page you click on. There you will find some useful information for you. The links under the about this site will help you with how this site got started, navigation, P.I.R., About us, community guidelines and some links to some of the groups that beginners with a lot of questions will find very useful. There is also a link called Navy Enlisted Ratings, this link will take you to a brief description of the rates (jobs) in the Navy that you can find your sailors rate and find out some information about the rate that they are in.

First and foremost though we are all here for the same reason. We are curious about what our young sailors are getting into and for more information about the rate or job that they will be doing for the next 4-6 yrs. of their lives. I know when I first got here I had lots of questions and there was not a lot of people on this site but they all were either going through the same thing or had been through it and had sailors out in the fleet. Now this site has grown to over 8000 members, Dads, Moms, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, sisters, brothers, girlfriends and boyfriends. Don't be afraid to ask questions of members in here because somewhere along the way we have all had the same questions and asked. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this site with various years of experience in the NAVY either on their own account or through their Sailors.

Again welcome aboard and BRAVO ZULU to you and your son Sean on his enlistment and please thank him for me for making the choice to defend the freedoms that my family, this country and I have and enjoy.

Navy dads Admin Tim

if your sailor's ship has a cruise (not all ships do Tiger Cruises) your son will have the info- he will have to add your name to the list and if you make the first cut you'll have to complete a series of medical form that will have to be approved by the medical officer.  There is also a small fee to cover food costs he will have to pay

Hi Paul, John Prindle here. Sorry it took awhile to respond, I do not get on this page enough. Check with your sailor regarding a Tiger Cruise. When sailors are nearing the end of a deployment that is when a Tiger Cruise would be offered. An announcement is made on the ship, then your sailor can contact you with some of the info. There are some rules and regulations for possible tigers, health questions etc. I have been lucky enough do have done two, one on the Dewey (destroyer) and my last one on a carrier (John C. Stennis) same cruise, different ship one with 300 plus sailors, one with over 5000 plus sailors. The ships will pull into a port, some sailors will leave the ship to fly back to their base, Tigers board the ship and finish the sail to the home port with their sailors. Good Luck, if you get the chance do not pass it up. PS wives and other children can be Tigers also!