Roller coaster III: Get Me (The Parent) Through 3/C Year Class of ‘25

Well for all intents and purposes, 3C year is completed for C/O '25. What a nice ride this has been from my seat. DS still experienced ups and downs and turns but I think overall better than 4C.

DS did tell us that the 3C have to participate in some sort of capstone event this afternoon...the Shellback(?)... DS thought this was something new and would require a swim in the Severn :eek:. I think tonight is also their Luau.

I told him to send us proof of life later tonight.
 
Our DD received the email of her cruise for 1st block - headed to Japan and the USS Green Bay. Sounds like she will go from Okinawa to Brisbane, Australia. She's currently a storm chaser during 0 block - in Texas as we speak! How cool is all that!
 
Well for all intents and purposes, 3C year is completed for C/O '25. What a nice ride this has been from my seat. DS still experienced ups and downs and turns but I think overall better than 4C.

DS did tell us that the 3C have to participate in some sort of capstone event this afternoon...the Shellback(?)... DS thought this was something new and would require a swim in the Severn :eek:. I think tonight is also their Luau.

I told him to send us proof of life later tonight.
I watched when walking back to parked car by cemetery after getting lunch with ‘Plebe No More’ Mid. Seemed pretty lighthearted, looked like a company at a time with life jackets with plenty of life guard support in boat, kayak and paddle board. It was from behind Alumni Hall across Dorsey Creek to the beginning of Forrest Sherman Field on Hospital Point. Almost parallel to the foot bridge. Looked like they were having fun.
 
I watched when walking back to parked car by cemetery after getting lunch with ‘Plebe No More’ Mid. Seemed pretty lighthearted, looked like a company at a time with life jackets with plenty of life guard support in boat, kayak and paddle board. It was from behind Alumni Hall across Dorsey Creek to the beginning of Forrest Sherman Field on Hospital Point. Almost parallel to the foot bridge. Looked like they were having fun.
Yes DS said more fun than anticipated although he did say that if this is to become tradition they need to some more work on the overall program. He said swimming across the creek was cool and something that most people do not get to do.

For Block 1, DS will be cruising out of SD on a DDG. He sounded excited for the opportunity. He was hoping for OCONUS but I think the DDG was first priority.
 
In just a short time, it will be official and DS will be a 2/C! We got spend a little time with him this week. Commissioning week concert with the Glee clubs and the Gospel choir was fantastic as always. We watched the Blue Angels practice from the north side of Hopper Hall on the walkway. Next year, DS said we should try to get up to the roof of Hopper. It was weird seeing DS walk around the Yard in civvies as they were granted that privilege post Shellback. He said it was weird for him as well. Since he had duty on Wednesday, we took lunch to him. As we could not drive on Yard due to DBIDS restrictions during the day, we tried out the shuttle from NMCS. It worked out well but we chose to walk back to stadium and went up thru DTA. We were able to catch the Blue Angels show then from different angles on our hike to parking lot. We were then able to get out of the area before the crush of people leaving the Yard post show.

We went back to Yard later at night to gather DS stuff that he did not need for summer. We brought him ice cream from Always Ice Cream (cross that off the Bingo card). We loaded up his stuff and said our goodbyes.

Felt different this time saying goodbye as he heads to Block 1 cruise. In true Sempre Gumby form, his orders (location and ship) changed suddenly on Wednesday from being San Diego to OCONUS. He is now getting his first choice of ship type and location! He still does not know when he leaves and has no details as of this morning. We realized his cell access may be limited, and so we are looking at a one month international plan. Hopefully after graduation today he gets more details to give us. However we are coming to terms that this may be like PS where we had only one phone call home.

This was our second time on the yard during commissioning week and we learn something new each time. I am hoping we are well prepared for commissioning 2025.
 
Our DD received the email of her cruise for 1st block - headed to Japan and the USS Green Bay. Sounds like she will go from Okinawa to Brisbane, Australia. She's currently a storm chaser during 0 block - in Texas as we speak! How cool is all that!
I call those “pinch me” moments.
 
In just a short time, it will be official and DS will be a 2/C! We got spend a little time with him this week. Commissioning week concert with the Glee clubs and the Gospel choir was fantastic as always. We watched the Blue Angels practice from the north side of Hopper Hall on the walkway. Next year, DS said we should try to get up to the roof of Hopper. It was weird seeing DS walk around the Yard in civvies as they were granted that privilege post Shellback. He said it was weird for him as well. Since he had duty on Wednesday, we took lunch to him. As we could not drive on Yard due to DBIDS restrictions during the day, we tried out the shuttle from NMCS. It worked out well but we chose to walk back to stadium and went up thru DTA. We were able to catch the Blue Angels show then from different angles on our hike to parking lot. We were then able to get out of the area before the crush of people leaving the Yard post show.

We went back to Yard later at night to gather DS stuff that he did not need for summer. We brought him ice cream from Always Ice Cream (cross that off the Bingo card). We loaded up his stuff and said our goodbyes.

Felt different this time saying goodbye as he heads to Block 1 cruise. In true Sempre Gumby form, his orders (location and ship) changed suddenly on Wednesday from being San Diego to OCONUS. He is now getting his first choice of ship type and location! He still does not know when he leaves and has no details as of this morning. We realized his cell access may be limited, and so we are looking at a one month international plan. Hopefully after graduation today he gets more details to give us. However we are coming to terms that this may be like PS where we had only one phone call home.

This was our second time on the yard during commissioning week and we learn something new each time. I am hoping we are well prepared for commissioning 2025.
If he doesn’t snag an international phone plan, WhatsApp worked well for us when DS was in Bahrain! And free!!
 
Kid sent a couple vids from the ceremony. If you blink, you miss them ripping off their old boards to put the new ones!!
 
As I'm not familiar with 3/C training evolutions, DS mentioned that they are taking a bus to Virginia for the first block and to North Carolina for the second block. For the third block, he is taking leave for a much needed r&r in Hawaii.
 
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Commission week has been perfect. Weather absolutely amazing. We had plans A, B and C for parking and timing of all events-went excellent. Absolutely amazing, DS and his roommate recieved recognition for thier Honors Program. Graduation at NMCS was great. SECDEF and SECNAV speeches were very well done. Lots of parties for newly pinned O1's. All are very responsible and lots of keys left on the table and Ubers being used. Even bacon available at the rental house. Word is the Anchor Man GPA = 2.01. BZ 23'.
 
Commission week has been perfect. Weather absolutely amazing. We had plans A, B and C for parking and timing of all events-went excellent. Absolutely amazing, DS and his roommate recieved recognition for thier Honors Program. Graduation at NMCS was great. SECDEF and SECNAV speeches were very well done. Lots of parties for newly pinned O1's. All are very responsible and lots of keys left on the table and Ubers being used. Even bacon available at the rental house. Word is the Anchor Man GPA = 2.01. BZ 23'.
Congrats to Ensign @Don't Give Up the Ship!!
 
I think being Anchor was a goal that he achieved with deliberate focus...
Brings to mind a favorite query of mine (of which, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry): “What do they call the person who graduates last in their medical school class?“ Answer: “Doctor.”

Brings to mind also what our guide told us when our family toured the Normandy battlefields (he was British, FWIW). To paraphrase: It surprised many on D-Day as to who rose to the occasion and who didn’t. There were previously gung-ho colonels who shrank and there were meek corporals who stood tall. Many heroes that day were the last ones their units would’ve chosen beforehand to potentially fill that role.
 
If he doesn’t snag an international phone plan, WhatsApp worked well for us when DS was in Bahrain! And free!!
We ended getting him a month to month unlimited data International plan that of course we will only need for one month. And we set up a GroupMe chat with DW, MidSib and him so that he only had to send one message out.

DS also learned that it is acceptable to follow up with command. As his orders were changed, he was left of the briefing so he did not have details. He waited til the Saturday after commissioning ceremonies to start asking questions although he was originally going to wait until Sunday until I convinced him to start on Saturday. Fianlly at 2200 on Saturday he learned that he was leaving the Yard at 0230 on Sunday! Good thing he was already packed due to room moves.

Luckily he was traveling with several other MIDN's so they were able to get him up to speed. One of their flights was delayed so they got an extra overnight in a major APAC city. Once they got their ship, they learned the crew had 2 days of liberty, so they went to the nearest city and played tourist for 2 days.

It has now been 5 days since last we heard from him and he was not clear on when he will be back in contact. He said 7-12 days of cruising to next port but we are getting comfortable with Sempre Gumby. However it is a little sad we have not heard from him. But we have that muscle from PS that we are re-exercising.
 
Luckily he was traveling with several other MIDN's so they were able to get him up to speed. One of their flights was delayed so they got an extra overnight in a major APAC city.
It is totally like PS all over again. Ours had a brief on Monday, had to be ready early Tuesday, flew all day and went underway in a sub next day. 🦗🦗🦗

What is an "APAC" city?
 
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