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Visiting your Sailor in "A School"
Hello Everyone!
My name is Emily. I am very new to the site, and just as new to the "Navy Lifestyle." I'm hoping some of you can help me out, and get familiarized with how everything usualy works. My boyfriend of about a year and half has just finished his BC. HIs graduation was this past Friday, Oct 5th. I can't express how good it was to SEE him, let alone speak to him. We had about 7 hours to spend together that day. Obviously, that wasn't nearly enough time.
Which poses my first question: Does anyone know anything about visiting them in A School?
He got to Pensacola this past Saturday. He thinks his date to leave there is Nov.12th. Don't get me wrong, I know that it will go by fast. Especially compared to BC, he at least has his laptop and cellphone now to communicate on a regular basis. And we are a long-distance couple as it is, he is from Texas and I am from California. So we are used to not seeing each other all of the time. However, I have some time off and I want to take advantage of it. I know he will have leave before he goes off to Washington after A School, however who knows what I will have going on by that point. So I would really like to see him while I have the chance.
Any information will be helpful and greatly appreciated!
If you could recommend possible airlines, or places to stay, or means of travel since we won't have a car?
Just curious if anyone has visited their sailor at school, or is possibly thinking of doing it as well..
Hope to hear from you all soon!
Views: 8354
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anti M on
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Well, has he found out how fast he'll progress through his liberty phases? He can't even leave the base during the week in phase one, and cannot have overnights until phase two. So you don't want to go for a couple weeks as he'll not be able to spend much time with you.
This link says phase one is three weeks, but I've heard of it as two weeks if the sailor is motivated. I know there's two separate school commands at P-cola, so maybe you can get more detailed info in one of the P-cola school groups here.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navyjoin/l/bltrngrestrict.htm
http://www.navydads.com/group/aschoolfordads/forum/topics/things-fo...
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Permalink Reply by meagan5220 on
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I visited my sailor in Pcola in A school. I went about a mont after he got there. He was in phase II and got into phase III the week after I left I think (of course! lol) but He took about two weeks to get into phase II. Anti M is right it usually takes about 3 but they can get it done in two. They just have to be on top of it. Although when my husband was in phase II when he was down there they were not allowed overnights until phase three. He even tried to put in a chit to have the weekend to come stay with me since he didnt have duty but they denied it. I didnt have to take him back until midnight and I picked him up at like 430 am. but they could have changed it to since then (along with any tips I give they could be different now, its been a year and a half since I went)
As far as leaving in phase II they have to have a liberty buddy or it has to be family.. unless their barracks lets them leave with someone else, I have heard that sometimes they approve a chit so they can leave with other people but when my husband was in they told him he could only leave with a liberty buddy, the day we got married they let him leave with me. But every other day it either had to be me or a buddy. As far as airlines southwest is the cheapest but they dont fly in too close to the area if I remember correctly.
You can't stay on base I dont think (you might be able to but I think thats what someone told me.) I stayed at Suburban extended stay. As far as not having a car that will be tough. Getting on base only certain taxi company's are allowed on, at least when my husband was in. So that might be an issue too. If you are able to renting a car would be helpful to get on base.
I would honestly say if he is leaving to come home the 12th I wouldnt go there. I dont mean to sound rude its just a lot of money and it would be hard to do before then. Because he does have to be in phase II to go off base with you. I have heard they let them borrow after a school and take two weeks of leave so thats a big chunk of time. Its also an easier visit from CA to WA then CA to FL.
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I agree with Meagan, it may be wise to not make any concrete plans until he's gotten through indoc and knows the school policies and can share them with you. He should have a better idea of how long he'll be there too. Make the decision when you both know his actual timeline.
An estimated "grad date" from A school... almost always is longer as things like indoc aren't on the orders. Always factor in extra time. And yes, he should get a couple weeks of leave right after school. He may "go in the hole", have a negative leave balance, after that, but they usually don't get leave in the first year anyway. Usually doesn't mean never... just less likely. You never know with the Navy.
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Permalink Reply by ProudNavyGf81 (Ship 11 Div 319) on
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Thank you both! Everything you have shared is very helpful, and put it all into reality for me. It is a lot of money, and it would be easier to just visit him in WA. I will not make any concrete plans until we have a better idea of things on his end. Thank you so much!!
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You are welcome. I hope you get to see him soon! Does he know what command he is going to, since you already know where he is going? I paid about $500 for my trip from OK to FL for a week and someone else paid for the gas... well my Aunt did because it was my cousins spring break vacation lol and we drove together. I think it will be easier to visit over there. I have even heard that there are some trains that go up the coast from parts of CA to WA too.
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Permalink Reply by abuon18 on
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Also keep in mind, he could be there for longer than you think. He says his date to leave is Nov 12 but has he started school yet? He's most likely still on hold and could be for up to a month before he even starts his classes. So you may have more time than you think to visit him. Southwest is always a good airline to fly in general, whether A school or not, because they allow up to two checked bags for free and don't charge change fees if you need to change the plane tickets-- just the difference in cost of the new tickets.
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Thats true as well. I assumed since she already knew where he would be it would be set (I shouldnt have but I did assume lol!). I assumed mostly because my husband had a friend that knew his orders for getting to A school and his date he was leaving was set before he left bootcamp. He went to Pcola and got a few weeks of training and then went to his command but he was undes. But my husband was just told he would be done with school in 5 weeks (which his school was actually 8 lol) then he had to wait to class up about 3 weeks. Definitely forgot about that. Only thing with southwest though is they do not fly in close to Pcola but otherwise I always use southwest typically!
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He started class yesterday (I think) he's already got some homework to do so I'm assuming that means he's started class. You both convinced me yesterday to hold off on making any finite plans just in case his date changes. My sister dated a military member before and she said his dates for things changed all of the time so she has advised me to hold off as well. So I'm going to just see how things go.
For after a school, he is stationed at Whidbey Island, WA. He is going in as an undes. as well. He was assigned to the Black Ravens Electronic Warfare squadron. And I guess depending on the job he chooses he will be sent back to pcola for schooling again, I think? It's so hard to not know exactly what's going on!
As for now I'm going to focus on saving money! haha I will definitely look into the train, maybe its cheaper? I never thought about it but that seems like a good idea. If not I tend to use Southwest as well, not sure if they fly to WA though? I will figure it out, no rush right?
And I live in Murrieta, most people don't know where that is. It's about an hour north of San Diego. Towards Riverside.
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Yeah my friend's husband was undes and he had his grad date from school in pcola and everything before he got there. He just recently struck for a rate but since they are doing underways and deployments he isnt doing more school right now. Idk if he will later but for now he isnt. I dont know much about that squadron but my husband sometimes wishes he was in a squadron instead of a carrier lol he said its soo much smaller and the guys are closer like family.
The only reason I know about the train is a funny story. A guy on my husbands ship (was in Everett) got in trouble and got put on restriction, he somehow got off the ship and swam or somehow got off base lol (legend is he swam but who knows) but he then got on a train and headed down to Fresno. Got in lotssss of trouble lol. But yes southwest does fly in and out of at least seattle airport. Idk what other airports are up there farther north by Whidbey. We were in Everett for about 6 months.
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Oh, I actually know where Murrietta is! I just moved out here in January, my husband is here for school.... Hopefully will be finished in April so we can get something permanent!
I know nothing about undes rates so sorry I can't be much help!
Meagan, one of our options is Everett. What did you think of it? -
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Do either of you know what the odds are of them geting deployed if he is in a squadron? He thinks for some reason he won't end up on a carrier, is that true? And that if he does get deployed it will just be to a land base somewhere? I'm not sure how this all works yet, and neither is he really but he promised he would try and figure out as much as he could.
How long have your husbands been in?
How is it working out for you living together while he's in school? Did you make the move right away or did you wait? I'm trying to figure out when its going to be a good time to start thinking about moving to WA but if he gets deployed I don't want to make any of these plans and have him not be there. Any idea of when he'll know anything for sure?
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