general question about what to expect at graduation

[Kelly **gunnerJ's mom**]

We will be flying from montana to GL for graduation. Do the sailors usually graduate on a friday? which means we want to fly in on thursday. He will be in great lakes for A school as well, we hope he will have some time to see him that weekend before we go home. We plan to bring along some of his belongings, cell phone, computer, clothes, for him for his time at school. Can we give these to him that weekend?

[Brenda Sue]

Yes, plan to fly in on Thursday. You have to be there early on Friday morning!!
You won't get to see him until Friday - but you might want to check into the "Meet-and Greet" on Thursday night for all the moms from this website.
You probably can bring him his things - I am not real sure about it. It will probably depend if he "grads-n-goes" right across the street for A school - or if he has to wait. He cannot bring those things back to the boot camp base - only the one across the street for A school.

Things do and have changed since my son's PIR almost one year ago - Feb. 15, 2008!!

[Kelly **gunnerJ's mom**]

thanks so much for the info. I am scouring this site(great site by the way) for any and all answers i can get about what jake is going to be up to while he's gone at basic. Things have changed alot since his dad enlisted 25 years ago.
thanks again.
kelly

[Nathalie in CA.]

Hi there ;-) Congratulations on your sons upcoming graduation!! My daughter will go to GL March 3 and I have no idea what to plan!!! I'm so anxious for her!! I'm so nervous that I'm going to miss something that I should have planned for!! What is A school? Enjoy your trip and seeing your son!

[Becky]

A school is "Avionics School." Any sailor who is qualified in Aviation Electronics, AE's, go thru it. My son's been to a few different "A Schools" to learn updates on the Fighter Jets that he works on and any new ones that have new applications. He's been in the Navy since 1996 & has been advanced to E-7 & has a new school to go to in So. CA when he gets off his ship in April. He's pretty excited about this being his LAST sea cruise in his career. ;-) After he graduates from this school, he'll be traveling all over to different NAS's, Naval Air Stations, to instruct other AE's, as to how to work with them. So needless to say we're all pretty excited.
I hope this helped you a little bit to understand what A school is. The funny thing is that when Lee graduated from his 1st A school in Pensacola, in '97, it was on a Tuesday, April 15th, & we flew out, hubby & I & our daughter, to be there for him. Then he got some leave time & was home 4 days later. The Navy always has a few tricks up their sleeves. ;-) Keep smiling, it's all good!
You must be so very proud of your sailor. Never be afraid to show that pride, it's all ok to shed some tears of pride, joy & love. Believe it or not most sailors are very tight with their Mom's & need their pride & approval in their choices. Many large congrats to you as your sailor's brave Mom & on your sailor's upcoming graduation. You'll love it, I promise! Becky

[lemonelephant]

Actually, A School is the first skills training school that sailors go through to get training for their rate. (Some sailors have ATT or Advanced Technical Training before they actually start A School to get the background information they need for the A School.) Some sailors are ready for their career after A school and go on to their frist duty station from there. Others require more specialized training after A School and go to C School before going to their first duty station.

[Mary (Chris' mom)]

I'm sorry but I have to correct Becky on one comment. "A" school is the schooling that all designated sailors must attend whether aviation or other specialty. Seabees (construction) must take "A" school, as do all areas od aviation, Master at Arms, Chefs, Corpsmen, Intelligence, QuarterMasters, etc. If they specialize in anything at all they get that training in "A" school. A few specialties require further training in the classroom later either before entering the fleet or somewhere down the road, this is usually called, "C" school. "A" school is what turns a sailor into a damage contol specialist, or a nuke, or a pilot, or a fuel handler. "A" schools are located all over depending on the specialty. I know I've read about Medical Corpsmen and Quarter Masters having "A" school at GL along with a couple of the Electronics groups.

[Toni (Andyman's Mom)]

Hello Kelly-
My son Andy graduated on 10/31/2008, he is a FC and is now attending A school in Great Lakes. I don't want to get your hopes up...but...When Our son graduated he was able to spend the entire weekend with us at the hotel. He did have to check in by phone. We took his cell, computer and some clothes to him. Bring a back pack for him to carry it all back to base. He will have to check in to his new ship after graduation. Then, they release them. There is a new Commanding Officer at Great Lakes- so I'm hoping that things are still the same. I know that you will have a wonderful experience, when they open that door and those sailors start marching in.... it is FANTASTIC and emtional and prideful and WOW!!
I will never forget it!! Have fun, thank your son for serving our great country! It is much easier to stay in contact after boot.
Best Wishes:)
Toni- Andyman's Mom



























Toni- Andyman's mom

[Sarah(Chris' Wife)]

they do get to spend the weekend with you but i talked to my husband on the phone and he said they told him he can only be out from 8am- 8:55pm even if i have our own place....is this true??because the recruiter said if family is there they allow them to stay the entire weekend which includes the nights....

[lemonelephant]

We had to have our sailor back to the RTC each night and it was the same for most of the sailors, but some got to stay with their families for the weekend. I think it depends on where they are going next. My son flew out the Sunday afternoon after PIR for his A School. From what I can tell, some sailors who are staying at GL for A School or are in holding at the RTC until going on to A School get to spend the nights away from the RTC or GL base.

[Sarah(Chris' Wife)]

really?? because my husband's A school is across the street and they are telling him he still has to stay on base. Maybe its just individual cases?

[lemonelephant]

I figure it's up to the individual RDC, but I went looking in old posts to see if there was anything and I found this comment: "some divisons have overnight liberty if they win the captains cup or other things. its at the RDCs discretion though." There are some other comments about it in that discussion as well. http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/liberty-weekend