Hey all! Well, this is my first experience with a deployment. My boyfriends homecoming is at the end of August! I'm so excited, but I'm not sure what to expect! He will be flying in by plane onto the base.
I'm sure many of you have been to one, can you give me an idea of what to expect?
What do I wear? Do I bring a welcome home gift? Do I bring a sign?

Thanks!!

I dunno if they'll let you on the base..

I wondered that too but everything is taken care of! They didn't seem to be limiting it to very many people as long as you could provide information of the sailor you're visiting!

:dunno i didn't go to dh's last homecoming :(
i'm sure the other girls can tell you what to expect! it will be great no matter what though!

well my dh is on a ship and I had to wait for the ship to pull in. It was an amazing experience. well if the weather is nice you could wear a dress. I didnt bring a sign but a lot of people did. We couldnt bring balloons cause they could get loose and get into one of the airplanes on base.

My husband has been deployed three times. He is currently in his third deployment. The first time I went to his squadron and the second time I picked him up at the airport. I cant imagine not going to get him. I just wore a cute outfit depending on the weather. I didnt bring a sign for him to where I picked him up at but I did have a welcome home sign hanging on the front of our house. The first time he came home sounds more like what will happen with your BF. He flew into the base at Cherry Point, NC (husband is a Marine). We werent allowed to go over there so we had to wait at the squadron. They bused them over there by, I think, four buses or so. So, I had to stand there and look for him cause there were sooooooo many guys getting off the buses. Then I didnt even recognize him (he was very, very tan and had lost alot of weight). He walked straight up to me and scared the crap out of me. It was so awesome though, makes me want to cry thinking about it. I will also pick my husband up from this deployment. He will be landing in Boston and then they are busing them to the base they are stationed at (Westover Reserve AFB). That will be the third week of Sept, give or take a few days. I am sure there will be no running up to him and jumping into his arms for me though, I will be almost 33 weeks pregnant...lol. It will still be awesome. We have a five year old son that I am sure will tackle him. Hope this very, very long reply will help. GOOD LUCK!!!

I, personally, never took anything beyond the kids and a camera to our homecomings because I didn't want to have my hands full of "stuff". The signs can be helpful in large crowds (DH's squadron wasn't "that" big so it was never an issue of finding one another) but, to me, just seemed like more of a hassle than anything else - besides, searching the sea of cammies for him was fun as was watching him search for us once I had spotted him, that moment of recognition is wonderful. Any "gift" you might want to give him I would either leave in your car or the hotel room because it will just be one more thing to have to keep track of and carry around - plus the last thing either of you will want to do when you first reunite is worry about opening a present.
As to what to wear - wear something that is weather appropriate and COMFORTABLE! Especially make sure your shoes are comfy as you might end up standing around for a bit while you wait and sore feet are no fun. Beyond that - it's just personal preference. You will see clothing from both ends of the spectrum and all points in-between at the homecoming. I have seen everything from pajamas (hey, it was 3:30 in the morning so I can't really blame her, lol) to very formal/dressy attire. Most tend to go for casual - either jeans/slacks or a nice, but not too dressy, skirt/dress.

Well this is my first deployment for me too. My wife had given me instructions as to what she wants on base when she gets off the ship. I am bringing a cooler and water, pop, juice and her favorite flowers of red roses and the boquet she had at our wedding cala lilies. we will be communicating when the ship pulls in, well once it is docked so she can find me because the sign I have is 6ft wide and I cannot hold something like that up. Just prepare for crappy weather in WA cause you just never know. I know here at PSNS it is suppose to be packed.

Well this is my first deployment for me too. My wife had given me instructions as to what she wants on base when she gets off the ship. I am bringing a cooler and water, pop, juice and her favorite flowers of red roses and the boquet she had at our wedding cala lilies. we will be communicating when the ship pulls in, well once it is docked so she can find me because the sign I have is 6ft wide and I cannot hold something like that up. Just prepare for crappy weather in WA cause you just never know. I know here at PSNS it is suppose to be packed.

oh I know its going to be packed thats why I am getting up at like 2 am and then driving over to get in line to get onto the base. bring on the coffee

this is my first deployment too and im staying a few days before to make sure i know where im going and stuff once im in san diego, and i will be up way early that morning too, i dont even think i will sleep really though:) i just cant wait wooooooooooooohoooooooooo its finally almsot time , next week is august woooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo:)



oh I know its going to be packed thats why I am getting up at like 2 am and then driving over to get in line to get onto the base. bring on the coffee

this is my first deployment too and im staying a few days before to make sure i know where im going and stuff once im in san diego, and i will be up way early that morning too, i dont even think i will sleep really though:) i just cant wait wooooooooooooohoooooooooo its finally almsot time , next week is august woooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo:)

I don't think I will even go to sleep the night before

This is my first deployment too and I'm planning on doing the jeans and tshirt deal. It'll be the first time my dh gets to meet our son so that's going to be awesome! I am bringing my mom along to get pictures and things because I know I won't have the hands or the mind to do that when I see him! We're not taking a sign but I am going to decorate the baby's stroller and the car windows. I know I'm not going to be able to sleep at all the night before probably. Just talking about it is getting me all excited!! :) I can't wait!

this will be my first homecoming too. im so excited!! im going to nc with db's parents, and we are getting there a day or 2 before. im wearing a casual sundress, and bringing my camera. im going to have db's mom take pictures for me, and im not going to bring a sign, i think it will just be a pain for me to carry around.

im so so so so excited for homecoming it is going to be AUGUST next week :yahoo :pinkie :woohoo it's coming up so soon!!!

This is sooooooo exciting! Let the countdown begin!
So, for all of y'all that posted about the Stennis, are you going to the Homecoming in SanDiego or WA?
My boyfriend is in an air squadron so once in SanDiego he gets flown immediately to his base in WA. I'm soo excited! Will any of you be there??