A Sailors Needs for A school

[Queenjailyle]

My son finally had a meltdown last week about how much stuff he needed to get but either didn't have time for or he simply forgot. He requested that I post some of the things that all NUKE's need in A school. He said that a great idea would be to send them the day before graduation to the indoc address as it never changes.The address is:

                                         FN, first name, last name

                                         class: INDOC

                                         101 NNPTC Circle

                                          Goose Creek, SC 29445

   This way all new sailors will have everything they need when they get their.

 

This is his list:

 

•       -bowls/silverware
•       -can opener
•       -laundry det./dryer sheets 
•       -ironing board/iron
•       -personal hyg. (body wash, cologne, deoderant, etc)
•       -twin sheets (they are provided but my son tells me they "suck")
•       -sneakers
•       -black socks
•       -white/blue t-shirts (to replace the ones from boot camp, again he says it's a quality issue)
•       -something to do (books, video games, cards, etc.)

 

He also said that he has picked up extra's of Navy issued things and highly reccomends getting extra of the following as soon as you get to GC:

 

•    -NSU cover (1 or 2)
•    -dress whites cover
•    -ribbons
•    -pt gear (at least one more set, two would be better)

 

I hope this helps! Also veteran moms please add anything that you think would help.

 

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

I brought mine his phone and laptop to give to him at the airport after PIR. A lot of sailors went to the mall and bought new stuff. 

I got to mail him civvies a few weeks after her was at Goose Creek.

[Gmom]

School Supplies: My husband doesn't see the advantage of buying some items and shipping them across the U.S. On the other hand we have a lot of leftover school supplies that could fit in the nooks and crannies of a care package. Do sailors in A School need supplies like: highlighters, index cards, mechanical pencils and lead, graphing calculators used for one class only, etc?

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

If I remember right my son said they do use some of this stuff and I think he bought it at the NEX.  But if you have it and are sending a box then I say sure, send it!

[Rime]

What a great list! Thank you for posting it! I just wish I'd seen it earlier and could have helped my guy before the shock of needed supplies of A school hit! Have since been trying to send helpful items but that first week or so was tough.

[Mimi H]

Is there any RECENT updates to this list??  My son will be heading to SC for NUKE school here shortly 2017.. this information is quite dated as was the information I had found for Boot camp and learned upon his getting to Great Lakes--due to what we read being SO outdated it was incorrect.  Can anyone shed some light?  To me it doesn't make sense to ship all of these items? I was thinking he should just get there and determine what he needs and go and purchase it at the Navy Exchange or a local store??  No? My son is such a minimalist anyway, there is no way he would even use some of the items listed in some of the posts.

[Chipmunk]

This discussion has the address for while they are in INDOC. - One additional comment - if your sailor is rated as an ET (Electronics Technician) then they are classified as SN - Seaman, so you need to address your mailings to: SN First Name, Last Name.

Also, they will have to purchase new stripes for their uniforms and take their dress uniforms to have the patches changed out to the appropriate colored stripes, as they are all issued FN stripes at RTC. In Aug 2017 it cost my son about $10.00 I believe to get his patches changed out. And now he has extra FN stripes! (that he doesn't need).

Once they "class up" their address will change from INDOC  to their class number, but my son said if you send something to INDOC, they will still receive it. That may prove helpful to know, if you sailor classes up fairly quickly and hasn't conveyed to you their class number yet.

[CaseyRN]

Thank you for providing this! My son JUST entered BC but is going Nuke. Luckily, I live close by so when he gets back I will be able to help him. This will be his Christmas as he shipped just before the season and couldn't take anything with him.

[proudwinavymom]

Hi, 
My son just finished boot camp and will be starting A school in GC soon.  Could someone direct me on things I could purchase for him.  Things for school and for his room.  Great Christmas Ideas.  

I would so appreciate it.

[Chipmunk]

 proudwinavymom - A gift card for Amazon maybe helpful. I also purchased my sons favorite tennis shoes and had them shipped by the company straight to him, instead of paying to ship from my home. If there is a favorite pair of shoes still at home give them to him at the airport.

Most of the above things that are mentioned can all be purchased at the Mini Nex or uniform shop. They will need a calculator for class and everything else is provided, except for extra lead and erasers for mechanical pencils.

My son found the sheets, etc, just fine. There may be a need for an iron if one was not left in their room. You may also find ironing mats that can be laid out on the counter versus a bulky ironing board. A laptop is a definite benefit, and a smart phone, maybe a Kindle, but my son (who is home on leave) looked at the above list and said - "really, I didn't find much that I needed extra from what they provided" - He did buy his laundry supplies, and purchased 1 extra PT uniform for a total of 3.  Black socks, white T-shirts are good. The Blue T-shirts have to be the exact color though to match their uniforms, because they do take their blouses off when doing labs and they have to match.

Tide to go pens, small flashlight for reading in bed, noise control earphones for some, lint rollers, those are all ideas of things to give.

Bicycle or bicycle equipment - my son bought his bike on site, but I sent some tire accessories to him from Amazon.

[Son#2]

hello all!

not sure if any of your sailors will be buying a car when they get to goose creek, but please tell them to be careful.  the salesmen see a young sailor and think they are easy to sell to.  tell them to take their time and make sure they get what they want.    

[Chipmunk]

Thanks Son#2 - mine will be buying a car in the near future there, so this is very good advice, I will pass it along to him.

[DSmom]

I told our son I was okay with his buying the flashiest most expensive red sports car available -- reminding him that he will be deployed for 6 months at a time minimum and will need a safe place to store it (and we ALL know vehicles need to be moved periodically). Of course, if he didn't want to have high monthly car and insurance payments on a vehicle he won't get to drive, he can use our old minivan.

He decided to save his money and take the minivan.