This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
FIRST TIME HERE?
FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO GET STARTED:
Choose your Username. For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either). Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username. While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!
Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!
Join groups! Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself! Start making friends that can last a lifetime.
Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak
All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.
Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)
Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC
...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.
OPSEC - Navy Operations Security
Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind. In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships." OPSEC is everyone's responsibility.
DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.
DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."
Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:
Events
**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:
In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.
**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.
RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021
Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.
Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.
Format Downloads:
- Graduation Info
- PDF – 2.7 MB
- PNG – 2.3 MB
- JPG – 3.4 MB
- Printable PDF – 2.0 MB
Navy Speak
Click here to learn common Navy terms and acronyms! (Hint: When you can speak an entire sentence using only acronyms and one verb, you're truly a Navy mom.)
N4M Merchandise
Shirts, caps, mugs and more can be found at CafePress.
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Navy.com Para Familias
Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com
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GUNNERS MATE (GM) TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES
Please introduce yourself if your sailor is in the GM rate and provide background on your sailor so that we can get to know you. If you have specific questions about these ratings, and you ask them here, Will and Hoppi will be able to answer your questions. This will help all of us because the answers won't disappear pages down in the general forum.
I want to give Gary T. credit for this great idea; he just hired me as his secretary to put it together. So, jump in and we hope this will be helpful to all of you.
Views: 7513
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gary T on
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Vee, you must still be high from your trip. Bill's son is Brett. My son is Nick. I don't know you have me worried. Gary T.
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Permalink Reply by Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother on
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No, Gary, I am not high..sometimes think that would be better than being sick. I can't shake this dang bug I picked up in Georgia. I thought it was getting better and it came back with a vengeance two nights ago. AND, I knew when I was typing that note to Bill that Nick didn't sound right...I will correct it and thank you for catching it. HAGD :D
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Bill congrats to Brett! Sure am glad to hear he is doing well. Is the school easy? I know Nick can't wait to get to San Diego. I am trying to dig up as much intel as I can to make the transition easier. Take care my friend. Gary T.
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Michele, I know you must be proud of your daughter. Nick drove home wearing his blues. Slim and trim. He had been home over Christmas for two weeks. Went back to Great Lakes for ten days now home again. He and I will drive to San Diego. Just hope his class starts on time. Gary T.
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Permalink Reply by Joanie Tyler's Mom(133 Bees) on
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Congrats Gary T on your son finally finishing at GL. Know you are proud. Ya'll be careful on your drive. Tyler is scheduled to finish GM A-school the end of January. Has orders for Gulfport, MS to be attached to a Seabee Unit. That will put him about 2 hours from home. We are so excited.
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Hi Joanie....Congratulations to Tyler on completing his A school soon. Won't that be great to have him close to home for his next schooling?
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Joanie congrats to Tyler. I hope he doesn't have to wait as long as Nick did once he finishes A-School. Nick graduated GM A-School on 10/03/09, got his hard copy orders in late November and finally left 14/Jan/10. Hope no delays for C-School. I will keep Tyler in mind and please keep us posted. Gary T.
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WooooHoooo, Gary.....How great is it to have Nick home for 2 weeks. Enjoy your time with him and have a safe drive to San Diego for his C School. I haven't heard what Michael is doing in San Diego yet....but will keep you updated as I hear anything. I think "Grandma" is low on his list of priorities right now...Take care my friend, Vee
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Permalink Reply by Kelly on
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I leave for boot camp 20100216. My rate is GM. I have a question. How long is A-School for GM. I've seen so many different answers.
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Kelly, the A-School for GM is about 10 weeks of hands on training followed by one week of F.A.T.S (firearms training simulator). My son Nicholas started basic training on 13/01/09. (correct way to show military dates) Nick spent a total of 1 year and 1 day at Great Lakes. He is to report to San Diego for C-School on 31/01/10. V.L.S. (vertical launch systems).
The time you will spend at Great Lakes is dependent on hold times for classes. Typically a Gm will transfer over the A-School side of the base. Usually they are placed on the Enterprise for there I.N.D.O.C. training (indoctrination rules and regs.) Sailors had then attended an S.C.C. school which is now part of basic training. The next school is a computer based learn at your own speed A.T.T. school (Apprentice Technical Training- basic electronics and electricity) then onto the actual A-School for your GM rating. Expect holds between schools, it will be worth it in the long run.
May I suggest you do your best in class. If you need help ask. Your ultimate goal will be to finish 1st in class or near the top. Those sailors in A-School will pick orders according to class ranking. (small arms, 3 & 5 inch guns, V.L.S.) When orders are available you will know if you get a C-School, type of ship or station and location. Study hard, do what you are told, be accessible, volunteer, and make yourself known in a positive light. There is so much I could tell you but not enough room. Count me as a friend Kelly, I will try to answer your questions or find someone who can. Also get your parents or spouse involved in the group, its a god send for those at home. Your friend Gary T. -
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Kelly, Nick spent one year and one day because of a nice word the NAVY liked to use HOLD. Many sailors graduate Basic and move to the A-School side of the base. They usually don't class up right away. This time is hold time. The down time between classes is HOLD time. The time spent after A-School graduation waiting for hard copy orders is HOLD time and once those orders are received the time waiting to ship is HOLD time. The length of HOLDS can and does vary. Many sailors moving from INDOC to ATT have moved quite a bit faster. Sometimes the wheels turn freely and sometimes they slow down. HOLDS are for all rates not just those who are GM'S. Gary T.
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