Oldest Deploys

Our oldest leaves tomorrow on his first deployment. After a little over 2 years of training, he is well prepared to begin this journey.

He is a Navy Petty Officer 2^nd Class. His rating is STG2. This means that he is an operator and electronics technician responsible for sonar systems on his ship, a destroyer.

He has been receiving special training to be part of his ship’s VBSS team. He began the training last year with SRF-B (Security Reaction Force – Basic) training. Earlier this year he completed SRF-A (Security Reaction Force – Advanced) training. The last of the training is the actual VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) training and he completed the course just last week.

The Navy has trained him well. He has moved what belongings he can take with him back on the ship. He has new boots and ship-board uniforms. His iPod is loaded with music and videos. All of his personal business is taken care of. Now, if Mom and Dad could just feel as ready as he does!

He will be at sea for six months. He told me he would love to get cookie care packages. I have been researching recipes for cookies that ship well and how to best pack them. From what I have found, people have cookie care packaging down to quite an art!

San Diego, August 09

We had a great time this weekend, visiting the oldest in San Diego. The apartment complex he lives in is all Navy and on the base. It is really nice. The following are views from his balcony.


It's a little hard to see, but there are war ships on the horizon in the picture above.

Saturday morning we went to Little Italy and shopped for fresh veggies. Marc fixed his world famous gorganzola steak and all the fixins. Really good.

The farmer's market included musicians in a couple of locations. The folks above are dancing to salsa music - in Little Italy.

Stone Brewing Co. is a local micro brewer that has grown up to be a big player in Southern California. My favorite is a beer called "Arogant Bastard" the subtitle on the label says, "You're not worthy". It might be my favorite beer ever.

The brewery tour was very interesting. The free samples were even better. And they have a really nice restaurant with an interesting menu.

We also spent some time at the Maratime Museum http://www.sdmaritime.com/ and toured the boats their. They have a collection that includes surface craft and submarines, some of which are over 100 years old.

The highlight of the trip was our guided tour of a US Navy Destroyer. It was fascinating and exciting to see. We toured most of the ship and got to get a feel for how life might be aboard the ship at sea. Unfortunately cameras are not permitted, so no photos to show.