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Where to live during A School.
Hi everyone! I'm a new Navy wife and my hubby is in bootcamp. He got to make his 3rd week phone call yesterday and told me he was considering reclassifying as a Corpsman and would have A School in San Antonio. I think that since the A School is 1 year, I and our 2 children would be able to move with him. I am wondering how it will work. I have heard that the first few weeks at A School are very strict and they cannot have cell phones or computers, etc. Would he be allowed to live with us? And if he flies out of Great Lakes on Saturday after his graduation (his PIR is 7/20), and reports to A School to begin classes right away, how would we have a place to stay? Should we stay in a hotel? I know I am getting a little ahead of myself, since I do not know if he chose that or not. He asked what I wanted him to do and I told him to choose the job he would enjoy doing the most, we would work out the details. Any advice on the moving part would be much appreciated also. We have a new-ish baby (almost 6 months) and knowing what to expect will make it easier to pack. Also, we have a house full of stuff. We're not taking all of the furniture, we're leaving some for our new tenants, but does the Navy pack and move for you, or just reimburse you for the truck and mileage? Thank you so much!
Views: 2635
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by KaylaRae on
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Where did you hear that it was 1 year of schooling.... It is only 14 weeks once they start. They can have cell phones and computers at A school. I was talking to my bf as soon as he got his phone in the mail. Most have had to wait a month before they start class. They have phases when they get there. Phase 1 is has to be in uniform at all times, Phase 2 is civilian clothes and Phase 3 they are allowed to stay over night if they don't have duty or class the next day (so pretty much Friday to Sunday to 10pm).
As far as moving down there and how moving with the Navy works, I don't know so I hope others can answer that for you.
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Permalink Reply by Jenn_NicksWifey on
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Wow, I wish the Navy would tell him things that are true then. Yesterday when he called, he said it would be a year, and he would not be able to have a cell phone or computer until phase 3, so we wouldn't even be able to talk on the phone for the first 6-8 weeks of A School. Then I read that they will move family for a length longer than 4 months, so I got excited. I'm so frustrated now. Thank you for the info though. I just jotted it in my nightly letter to him. It's too late, he had to make his decision today, I just hope he got correct info before he made it.
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Permalink Reply by NavyWife on
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Unfortunately, sometimes even the detailers don't know what's true and what's not. Most likely he's dealing with a Yeoman who really has no idea bout Corpsmen. Until my hubby went to bootcamp last summer, we didn't know A School was in San Antonio and not still Great Lakes. Even our recruiters didn't know an entire school had moved across the country! Lol... just goes to show you it's pretty common but sorry you were confused :( Oh, and he can have his phone as soon as he's out of bootcamp (bring it to him at the airport) and he can talk to you all through A School. Computers are fine too. Geez this guy really didn't know what he was telling him, huh??
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Actually, I think at least some of it was deliberate. He told my husband that some guys getting caught with cell phones in phase 1 or 2 of A School are getting half a month's pay docked as punishment. Is this sort of thing the norm? I mean every step has been poor information. The recruiter said he'd have a week between Boot camp and A School to come home and deal with stuff, then a week before having to be at his PDS after A School. Is that true or does he go straight to his next station?
Thank you all! I do not know what I would do without N4Ms !
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I know my bf had his cell phone through out the day before classes but once classes started they said to leave cell phones in their room, they are not allowed in the school house. Well some dumb butt got caught with their cell phone in class. Well the instructors were not happy and asked for all cell phones, only a few people admitted to having them so they searched the entire class and found over 40 cell phones in a class of 70-80. This angered them further so they searched everyone in classes and found over 400 cell phones. Well my bf's class got bumped back to phase 1 (though it wasn't just because of the cell phone incident) for 2 weeks. Anyway long story short when they say no cell phones somewhere don't bring the cell phones, they can call and text after class.
They don't have a week between boot and school, they go straight to A school and are in holding till they start classes. They do have time in between A school and their station but it depends on how much they save up and how much they want to take. Not completely sure about these details since we are not there yet.
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It's true they'll go straight to A School. Some leave Saturday. My husband was lucky enough to leave Sunday after PIR and had Saturday liberty. He will have two weeks to get to his duty station after A School though.
It sounds like KaylaRae knows more than I do about the cell phones. I believe they must have changed the policy or something. My hubby had his when he went last year (Aug-Nov) and it wasn't a problem at all... I think he had to have it off during class but he would always call me before chow or before bed.
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Yeah bf lucked out and didn't leave until Monday so we got him Sat and Sun (though my flight was Sat and I couldn't change it) though he just wanted to get out of GL haha.
He told me he was leaving his phone in the room and I figured it was so he didn't get distracted or it accidentally go off. I only found out about not having them in class when that incident happened because I was suppose to be visiting the following weekend. He is an EPO (tutor of sorts) and so chief granted him phase 3 for the weekend I came down thank goodness. Knowing the Navy it could probably change again haha.
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She's right, A School is only about 3 months long. You will not be able to move there with him. Just tough it out for a few more months and then you can be together. I know it's a bummer but it will be back to normal soon. After A School, though, when you have orders (if he doesn't choose C School), you will be able to choose whether you want the Navy to move you or yourselves. I highly recommend having the Navy do it. They hire professional movers that pack everything with care and deliver it all to your new place. It's great. If not, (if you move in the summer when the moving companies are busy, you might want to do it yourselves versus him going ahead of you while you wait to get packed) you can move yourselves and you should get reimbursed. We had the Navy move us of course so I'm not sure what that reimbursement looks like. I know we got a lot of money back just for travel expenses.
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Thank you for the insight. Do you know what lengths of deployments are typical for Corpsmen?
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Permalink Reply by Katze90210 (3/113) on
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Hi Nicks wife. You really are new! LOL Ok here is what I know about A School in SA. After PIR they fly out with in a day or two. They do not start school right away! It can be 4 to 6 weeks later. The Reservists and Sailors returning from Fleet get first dibs at going to school. Then the full time enlisted get to fill the seats. Right now I believe there is like a 4 week wait. While they are waiting to start school they get their cell phones and lap tops. They phase up after about a week and a half where they can leave base in uniform, then phase up again when they can leave base in civi's and then phase 3 where they can leave base Friday night and not have to return until Sunday afternoon. While they are waiting they will learn about life on base, PT, clean, and do odd jobs. I'm a Navy mom so not sure about family moving with them. Also A School for Medics is 14 weeks not a year. Hope this helps
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