USS Crommelin (FFG-37)

It's official--Chad is going to a ship--the USS Crommeling (FFG-37). I know most of you are wondering, "What the heck?" So, here's the scoop.............


Last August when we received orders to Honolulu, they were for a command, DJC2 that is considered sea duty (in the Navy you alternate sea/shore duty), but not a ship. It is a mobile communications unit where Chad is on call to deploy anywhere in the world on 48hrs notice. We were so thankful he would be scheduled to be gone 20% of the time and come home at night to us. We were elated, in fact.


That all changed Labor Day weekend. Since May we have heard rumors that due to budget cuts, the Navy would be turning over the command to the Army, and the assumption was that the Navy personnel would either stay at the command until their rotation was up, or get sent elsewhere. We didn't spend much time dwelling on this information since nothing was official and we didn't know when this would take place.

After the command was deployed in August to the Big Island for a mission involving 15 countries, we got word that the Army was taking over Nov 1, and the guys had no say on where they were going. Not even a choice of what was available. Needless to say, we've spent alot of time in prayer, and getting our hearts right before God---praying and waiting....and waiting....


We haven't said anything because we haven't known much. Rumors were flying, Chad was "penciled" in to other places, and we didn't want to keep telling a different story to everyone each week.


With the detailer in Tennnessee, it has been difficult for them to connect, but last Thursday he got a phone call confirming what we'd thought for a couple weeks now--he would go to the Crommelin. His orders haven't been cut yet (written out), and we are not sure when that will happen. We also won't know until he receives them when his report date is to the ship. The Crommelin is currently on deployment, scheduled to come back in December. They could fly him out to the ship or opt to keep him on base until the ship gets back into port. We don't know if he'll get leave in-between commands or if we'll be able to go to Montana for Christmas.

As chaotic and mentally overwhelming as this is, we are glad to know where his next command is and we'll be staying here. We haven't told the kids yet--waiting to find out his report date. Please keep them in your prayers, as this will be very difficult for Savannah--she doesn't remember the other deployments or life with her dad on a ship, and she had a hard time when Chad was gone for 3 1/2 weeks in August.



At times in this circumstance I have felt like David when he was crying out to God and asking "Why?" and begging for mercy and grace and have shown many of the emotions in the Book of Psalms, but I know that "all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose"--not my own purpose. I have cried (just a little), gotten mad, pulled away emotionally, felt like my head was going to explode from all the chaos, but the worst was seeing Chad have his "hands tied behind his back" not being able to have any say whatsoever in his job. I felt so helpless and with God's help, have been there for Chad as a supporter, encourager, and have tried so hard to keep my emotions "in check" as not to overwhelm him.

We are living each day in the present, and not focusing on the future "what if" scenarios, and trying to cherish and make the most of each day together as a family.


.............Just another day in the life of a Navy wife........