Explanation of Phases

[Casey (Wife of Ryan, Nuke MM)]

First of all, Jake Gallagher's posts on the main page of this group are verrrry helpful - check them out! However I thought maybe a discussion just on phases could help. If your Sailor has had a different experience or you know more specifics about one of the rules, please feel free to add!

**Note: My Nuke is an MM who PIR'd on 4/24/09, got to Goose Creek the same day, started his A school classes about 2 weeks later, and phased up to Phase II this weekend (05/31/09).

For each phase, there are rules. Phase I has the least privileges. PLEASE TAKE THE RULES SERIOUSLY - breaking them can lead to very serious consequences ("45s", Captain's Mast, getting kicked out, etc... especially for an offense like drinking when out of phase and ESPECIALLY for providing alchohol to someone who is underage)

"phase up" / "phasing up" : to move up to the next phase (i.e., "Today I phased up from Phase I to Phase II.")

Phase I: Arrival to Goose Creek - 4 weeks.
- Curfew of 12:15am every night.
- Can't leave the barracks until 5am.
- No drinking, regardless of age.
- No driving allowed, on or off base. They can RIDE in cars, just not DRIVE. I have been told that they cannot even ride bikes, and I have visited the base 4 times now and have not seen any Phase I-ers on bikes (you can tell Phase I-ers because they're in uniform on the weekends)
- Must wear uniform at all time, on or off base, even on weekends. Exception for the beach.
- Not allowed to travel beyond a 75-mile radius. (Note: this radius is a straight-line radius. For example, my home is 1.75 hours from their base, but since a straight line from the base to my house is less than 75 miles, it is allowed.)
- No overnight liberty requests allowed (except for, perhaps, extenuating circumstances)
- Girlfriends/fiancees/wives: EASY on the handholding/kissing/PDA if in public. Don't take it personally if your sailor is wary about your arm being around his waist.

Phase II: 4 weeks - 8 weeks
- Same curfew on weekdays/weekends
- Can request overnight liberty on weekends (must fill out an overnight liberty request "chit")
- Of-age Sailors may drink
- Sailors may (after appropriate paperwork has been approved) bring their cars on base and drive on and off base
- Civilian clothes are allowed after classes on weekdays and on weekends
- Not allowed to drive past a 350-mile radius (if the destination is just outside the radius however, the Sailor may get an Okay from his/her Chief to drive past 350 miles). If the destination is further, the Sailor must fly (and I believe must provide the flight itinerary to his/her Chief)

Phase III: 8 weeks - ?

- Overnight liberty automatically granted on weekends
- Otherwise, same privileges as listed above
- I'm not sure about travelling rules - can anyone else be specific on a Phase III-er's travelling privileges or if there are any restrictions?

I hope this helps!

[Ginny (Robert's Mom)]

Thank you, Casey, for this information about phases. My son arrived in GC last Wednesday and it helps me understand what to expect. So far he has enjoyed some free time to relax and hang out with friends while he is waiting for his classes to begin and he especially likes having a cell phone again. And he says he is already getting adjusted to the heat and humidity after the cool weather in Great Lakes.

[Casey (Wife of Ryan, Nuke MM)]

That's good news. I'm glad this discussion has helped! This weekend was very warm (highs in the upper 80s, low 90s) so I definitely can imagine how different it is from Great Lakes, haha. I hope your son likes Charleston - it's a great city with lots to do. I'm from the area so if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help if I can.

[Kelly]

My son is now at Prototype but if I recall when he got to Phase III they pretty much could do what they wanted unless there was mandatory study time. Traveling was allowed but had to be approved and an itinerary had to be given to their Chief. One thing that I do remember was that when he got to Phase II he was given permission to come home and get his car. We lived over 600 miles from GC but he was given strick orders on his return to the base with his car. Could not drive between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00am., was suppose to stop every 2 hours for no less than 15 minutes and he was not suppose to drive more than 350 miles per day. The straight drive would have been 9-10 hours depending on traffic so it was a 2 day trip for him. He was happy to have his car down there with him but he said once he got it down there he didn't really take it out that much because everything was so close. He did go to the mall or out for dinner with his buddy's on weekends but other than that his car stayed parked. When he left Goose Creek to move to New York for Prototype we hauled his car on a trailer because he didn't feel like driving it home. But the information above is pretty accurate as far as I can remember. Good info...................

[Casey (Wife of Ryan, Nuke MM)]

Kelly - that sounds about right. I'm so glad the Navy is so concerned with their safety (for example, telling him not to drive between midnight and 5am, and taking rests along the way). My dad was in the Marines for 20 years and it was the same for him - they were always having safety briefs, especially before major holidays, and it was always stressed to them to be safe, don't drink and drive, take breaks along the way, etc. I've always liked the way the military stresses safety and health.

Thanks for adding your information - Ryan is a Phase II so I'm not completely sure yet on the specifics for Phase III.

[Linda K. - Steve's mom]

My son told me when he was in Phase 1 that they had to muster outside the barracks and march to class together. I don't think they have to do that after phase 1. Phasing up can be delayed, is not automatic. My son had an unsatisfactory room inspection which delayed his phasing up from 1 to 2 by one week. The fridge & microwave (which he didn't use) were not clean enough (his room mate & suite mates are all phase 3, so not as concerned about helping to keep things cleaned).

[Casey (Wife of Ryan, Nuke MM)]

Yes, Ryan said the same about having to muster outside the barracks. Now that he's in Phase II he said they don't have to do that anymore (which he was glad of). And yeah he knows a couple guys who didn't pass some things so they didn't phase up with everyone else on time - they got pushed back.

[Maureen]

just posting to push this to the top for new people.

[Wendy (Bo's mom)]

Oh, thank you! My son Bo is graduating on November 25, and headed to Goose Creek on December 2nd. So much for me to learn! This really helps, thank you.

-Wendy

[Chris]

HEED CAUTION SPOUSES:

"Girlfriends/fiancees/wives: EASY on the handholding/kissing/PDA if in public. Don't take it personally if your sailor is wary about your arm being around his waist."

This is a navy wide regulation. Absolutely no PDA in uniform. A respectful quick kiss is appropriate when meeting after long periods apart. THE ONLY WAY a male in uniform can escort a female is with his left arm. The only way a female in uniform can be escorted is by a male using his right arm.

Holding them at the waist, over the shoulders etc, is not professional, is against the regulations, and while it may have been appropriate before your significant other joined the military, will certainly draw the wrath of NCO types across all branches if they see it. And you'd be surprised how many of those civilians you pass on a daily basis are actually active duty AND outrank you.

[Chris]

And a correction on your travel distances.

ALL NNPTC students must drop a chit to travel outside the 75 mile radius. Any travel beyond 350 miles, requires you to fly. Exceptions are made for students returning home to retrieve spouses or POV's.

In prototype, any travel within 200 miles does not require a chit. Orlando is close, but drop the chit just to cover your own tail.


And a correction on your phase two wear of civilian clothing.

While on phase II, "students may wear civilian clothing on the weekends, while off base and traveling directly to and from base." loitering on base in civies while on phase 2 is a phase violation, and will get you EMI

Phase 3: Civilian clothes are authorized after normal working hours on weekdays and on weekends both on and off base.


All A-school students will be in uniform of the day at all times while in rickover center.

Power School students who have not been phase-stripped are authorized the wear of civilian clothing in rickover center after normal working hours, as long as you meet all dress code requirements.

No sailor, while attached to NNPTC will at any time wear vulgar or distasteful clothing on base. 2" mini skirts? No Alcohol advertising t-shirt? No Tobacco? No Sexist ads on clothing? No

Open toed shoes will not be worn at any time in Rickover center or the galley.

[Casey (Wife of Ryan, Nuke MM)]

Wow, you sound like you really know what you're talking about! This sounds like it was taken straight from a notebook or something!

However I have to say, my husband and I went on a trip to DC over a weekend (further than 350 miles) and we did not have to fly. His chiefs knew all about it, gave him the okay, gave him the chit, etc. My point is, if you need to go outside the radius and would rather drive for whatever reason, bring it up to your Chief. The Chief (and their boss) will have ultimate say on if you can go or not. Ryan was getting extremely good grades, etc., and they let him go. Just saying, it might vary on a case-to-case basis :)

[Casey (Wife of Ryan, Nuke MM)]

Also, check out the "Your Sailor's Schedule Upon Arrival..." discussion I recently posted... that's info straight from the horse's mouth (i.e., the Navy).