Comment

Comment by Jodi-alumni Ship 4 on April 21, 2014 at 9:59pm

Melissa, right now he's stuck in traffic on the bridge. For a "country" boy he's got a lot to get used to. I mentioned to him about the not mixing but it turns out none of his Sierra friends are out there anyway. I'll be sure to tell him about the seals. I think he'd get a kick out of seeing them. Thanks for the tip.

Comment by Melissa on April 21, 2014 at 7:27pm

I think part of the not mixing Jodi comes from the fact that the Romeo hangers and the Sierra hangers are at different ends of the air field. 

They graduated 7 last Friday, but it was a combined 2 classes of 4 each (the one who didn't graduate is graduation complete, but has 4 SOD's - flight failures -  so they held him back from graduation for more flights before sending him to the fleet).

Coronado is gorgeous - be sure to tell your son to take a trip to La Jolla to see the seals.  You can hike right down to the rocks where they are and listen to them and watch them play.  The cliffs at Sunset are gorgeous also and people dive off them, but the water was freezing last weekend, so we didn't. 

Comment by Jodi-alumni Ship 4 on April 21, 2014 at 9:08am

Melissa, I'm glad you got to visit with your son and see his graduation from FRS. It is exciting to see isn't it? Plus you had the added benefit of seeing ships in the background. How cool! My son's graduation was only for 3 but since it was the last Bravo group to graduate from Jacksonville it was well attended.

What you heard about locations agrees with what my son told me. He said Romeos are stationed in Jacksonville and San Diego (he did not mention Norfolk). I didn't know that Sierras and Romeos don't mix. It will be interesting to see if that is holds true for my son since he had friends in both. He was supposed to meet his squadron the other night at a cookout but he didn't call so I don't know how it turned out. I have a feeling the 3 hour time difference is going to take some getting used to. He is reporting in today. I can't wait to hear what he thinks of it all.

Comment by Melissa on April 20, 2014 at 1:15am

I just returned from a great visit with my son in San Diego - he graduated FRS on Friday.  He is a Sierra and will be stationed in San Diego for the next three years with HSC-8.  I also got to visit with MamaD's son, and several of the other swimmers and instructors.  All in all, they are a great bunch.  My son was allowed to give me a tour of the flight line (Jodi - I saw the hanger where your son will be working with the HSC49, though my son informs me that the Sierra's and Romeo's do not mix) including a bird's eye view from the roof deck of the flight school.  Great view!

Graduation was held outdoors, the width of a street across from Coronado Bay - during graduation 2 Navy ships and a 4-masted sail boat moved through the bay.  Those HUGE, gray ships are absolutely silent moving through the water.  Impressive, but kind of spooky. 

Kind of quick response to the question about A School locations - someone correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that Romeo swimmers go to San Diego or Jax for A school and then are generally stationed with the fleet in Jax, SD, or Norfolk, while Sierra swimmers go to San Diego for A school and then are stationed with the fleet in Guam, Japan, or San Diego.  As to graduating groups staying together, the answer is both yes and no, depending on the whims of the Navy (though I am sure they will tell you that they have a system!) people are moved to SERE then FRS as they have openings.  For instance, my son and MamaD's attended A School together in Pensacola, but my son was sent to SERE, then FRS 2 months ahead of hers, though they both attended SERE and FRS in San Diego.  Billets are not requested until the FRS student has completed all requirements and a graduation date is set - then billets are given based on where the Navy needs bodies.  Of the 7 boys who graduated FRS with my son on Friday, all 7 are staying in San Diego, while the group that graduated two weeks ago had a swimmer go to Japan while the rest remained in SD.  Your guy won't know his billet until he has a graduation date - and I can tell you from experience, that date can change multiple times based on flights, equipment, pilot availability, weather, etc.  All I can really tell you is to hang in there.  Patience really is a virtue when it comes to dealing with the military. 

MamaD - I can answer that for Jodi since she and I have had this conversation - yes, her son (he's a Romeo) did FRS in Jax and will be stationed at SD with HSC49. 

Comment by Mama~D Ship 4 Div 822 on April 19, 2014 at 11:48pm

Jodi~ Did your son complete his FRS in Jacksonville and now getting stationed in San Diego?

Comment by proudmama on April 19, 2014 at 9:03am

Jodi- I laughed out loud when I read your comment about your son going camping along the way with his buddies following SERE. That reminds me of when my son was in the thick of RSS, he would spend his weekends at the beach swimming, skim boarding etc. These guys just love to do this ...it is part of them. I'm with you...I would have loved to drive through the beautiful parks right up to that Hilton. Sit on a balcony, overlooking natures beauty!! I'm just into comfort theses days....

Thanks Oneproudmomca and Jodi for the info! It was helpful! Navywife's hubby and my son are in the same class so we are trying to keep each other in the loop!

Jodi- one last thought! Loved the poster! I wish I could find a sweat shirt with that same logo on it!

Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!

Comment by NavyWife13 on April 19, 2014 at 1:55am

Okay well that's good to know. I'm pretty sure we'll end up in Jacksonville or San Diego for a while, just trying to get as much info as I can on everything. Thanks for the input!

Comment by oneproudmomca on April 18, 2014 at 6:47pm

NavyWife....My son finished A school in Feb. and went the next day to San Diego for SERE and FRS and he is a Romeo.  He starts FRS next month in May and he is going to be there until April 2015.

Comment by NavyWife13 on April 18, 2014 at 1:30pm

Yes, he is Romeo. Are Romeos more likely to go to Jacksonville? That would be good to know so I could go ahead and look for housing. From what I've heard I can move after A school and if he were there, wherever that may be, for 9 months I would definitely think they would move a spouse. I wish they could tell people with spouses/families where they are sending them earlier but I know they aren't worried about it, it is the Navy.

Comment by Jodi-alumni Ship 4 on April 18, 2014 at 11:12am

Thought you all would enjoy this!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 52
• 53
• 54
• 55
• 56
• …
• 567
• Next ›
• Page