Christmas break

[Chrystal]

Hi! I was wondering if any body with loved ones in A-school in great lakes has heard anything about christmas break? Do they set dates, do all the schools shut down? Thanks!

[Hoppi aka Angie]

The dates will be set. There is what is called a mass exdes. What happens is the students are told when they will be allowed to take leave. The student fills out a leave chit, (don't worry, they are walked though how to fill it out). On the day that all the students can go on leave, they get up early in the am (about 1am) as every room in the ship has to be inspected prior to anyone going on leave. They want to make sure that there is no food in the ship so no bugs show up. Everyone going on leave will get called down to the lounge by deck level (the floor they live on). There will be a big line, the PO's in charge of them will give them their paper work and they will be gotten out of the ship. The students who are not going on leave will move into a different ship (so as to allow the staff to go on leave, they lock up some of the ships).

Now you may be thinking WHAT, the Navy just kicks them out of where they live..how are they getting to the airport. Don't worry, that has been thought of allso. The students are allowed to buy a ticket to get to the airport on a bus (WAY cheaper than taking the taxi).

The students go on leave and than come back after leave. Something to keep in mind, when they get back from leave, make sure they have money to take a taxi back to base.

Heads up, there will be people that go on leave and do drugs or something stupid. They will get into trouble when they get back to base, and if they have done drugs, they will be kicked out. (Not saying yours would do that, just putting it out there).

Hope this helps. As of now the dates have not been put out to the students, that should be happening soon. IF the student goes and buys a ticket prior to knowning the dates of leave, they will have to change the ticket to go with what the leave times and dates are. So hold off on getting your loved one a ticket until you know the dates.

Hope this helps.

[Cari]

Our son will be getting to his A school, Pensacola, the end of Nov. What are the chances of him getting leave?

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Depends how long his school is. What I can say is that most if not all the "A" schools shut down over the holidays, and the students are able to take holiday leave if they want to. Otherwise they will be stuck on the bases.

Odds are really good he will be able to take leave as long as 1) he is still in school and 2) he dosen't get into touble. Most schools will allow Sailors to go in the hole on leave dates (meaning we earn 2 1/2 days each month, if someone only has 5 days of leave and wants to take 7, they are normally allowed to as they just came in the Navy. It will be charged against thier leave time though).

Dates should have been release for the holiday stand down. Each command is different on what dates they can take, normally there are two leave frames. One will be over Chirstmas and normally ends a few days after Chirstmas, than everyone comes back to the command, than the other half takes leave. That is how it works in the fleet. In the "A" schools I think it is a little different though.

Your Sailor will be told as soon as he gets to his "A" school if they will be allowed to take holiday leave.

[Cari]

What if they are on hold? I know there has been long waits to start A schools in Pensacola.

[Marianne Green]

Do you know if the buses go to airports in both Chicago and Milwaukee? Also, how frequently do the buses run to the airports?

[Hoppi aka Angie]

The students will be able to buy a bus ticket to get to the airport, they just need to talk to their staff of the Ship they live in when the tickets will go on sale.

If they think a taxi will be cheaper they are mistaken, taxi costs WAY more.

[Kellie]

yes, i took a taxi from the navy lodge to the ohaire airport and it was $55, i think the train is the cheapest, but it takes about an hour longer.

[Cynthia (#410)]

Wow Hoppi!! Lots of good info for all of us - thanks!! :) Good point about the drugs etc Us parents sure don't want anything like that to happen but also know it is naive to think it won't happen. Hopefully, the sailors will be too busy and too dedicated to their choice of life path to worry about it - but still, like you said, it needed to be put out there. Most of them are still kids - even if they are over 18 yrs old. We heard about one kid who was so excited about being accepted to the Naval Academy that he went right out and got a tattoo - not a good thing. It got him kicked out of the Academy before he even got started. :( I don't have to worry about my boy but for some others it will be a temptation that they will have to overcome. We just have to keep all of them in our prayers.
Hugs from Houston,
Cindy

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Read on another forum, stand down dates for Christmas are 19Dec - 4Jan in GL "A" schools. Talk to your Sailors and see if they heard the same thing!

[Steve's Mom]

heard the same for schools in South Carolina.

[Jackie]

Talked to my son last night and he said 17Dec- 3rd of Jan.He is in ET A school Also said anyone who remains at GL will have to move onto one ship for that time.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Recommend your son double check those dates before he buys a ticket. Tell him to talk to his SDC's in his ship....

Just thought..