Changes to a sailor's schedule on arrival fo GC under Covid?

[Anon2020]

Hello,

New to this and apologies if this is not an appropriate post. I read the extremely helpful pdf listing the schedule details from arrival though prototype, but I notice that it is dated 2009 and I am sure some policies have been modified in 2020 due to Covid.

My understanding from reading the 2009 pdf is this:

During weeks 1 - 4 of A school, you can't leave the base during the week, but you can leave on weekends (within a 75 mile radius). However, even on weekends, Liberty is only between 5:00am and 12:15am (you can't stay off base overnight).

For weeks 4 - 8, you can leave overnight on the weekends WITH SPECIAL PERMISSION ONLY, and only within a 400 mile radius.

After week 8, you don't need special permission.

When you finish A school, you get ten days off, but looks like A school is six months.

If someone could correct any errors I've made and post current information, I would be extremely grateful.

Thank you.

[Northwoodsmom]

Hello and welcome, my son is just starting power school and there have been alot of changes because of that. There is a obudsman page on face book that will clarify what is permitted now with Covid. My son did not get his 10 day leave after A School . We went down to see him and he could not get overnight leave but did get off base to visit with us. I will look for the obudsmans page and get you the link when I find it. Again welcome and let us know if you need anything.

[Northwoodsmom]

anon, it is http://www.nausea.mil/Home/NNPTC/ombudsman

I hope that helps

[Anon2020]

I'll try it. Thanks!

[Canuka]

Anon2020

I would advise that you get a feel for the general schedule here but not get hung up on the details which will vary sailor by sailor.

In general, before Covid:

The first few weeks at GC are INDOC where they "phase-up" to earn privileges.  When he fully phased-up (in about 3 weeks), my son described it as "having as much as I am going to get in the Navy". Essentially they can now drive, drink alcohol where it is allowed (if they are age 21) and wear civilian clothes outside of their room. The wait for A-school varies until they have enough for full classes at each rating. 

A-school is about six months for ET & EM; three months for MM. Power school & prototype are each about six months for all.

They are supposed to get leave after A-school & PS but my son got neither. He finished A-school in late January so that leave was considered as rolled in with the December holiday leave time. He finished PS under Covid restrictions so only got two weeks of "restricted liberty" in GC before starting PT. The gap between A-school & PS is called T-track (they stand watch & other duties as needed) which can be a few weeks to a couple of months depending on timing and demand--PS "classes-up" about every two months.

My sailor is now in PT; he thinks they could have up to a month of leave at the end but that is subject to orders, relocation & the needs of the Navy.

Covid impacts (especially restrictions to base & liberty) hit us at the end of T-track so I cannot speak to the additional quarantine or other issues as they affect arrival at GC, INDOC or A-school. Like the outside world, they are constantly changing so your sailor is your best source of information.

Lastly, PT is on the same base but under a different command than the earlier schools so the rules  are different, especially since the sailors live off-base.

Good luck in your journey. It goes faster than you realize.

[Chipmunk]

Anon2020 - first of all welcome to the Nuke Moms group, we are glad you are here. 

It looks like Canuka gave you a good run down of the basics of the schools. FYI, just in case you aren't familiar with them PT = Prototype not Physical Training. PS = Power School. 

My discussion which should still be in the queue  - A school daily schedule, should still be fairly accurate as to what things look like on a daily basis and it does give information on what various things mean, especially how study hours are figured out. I kept adding to the discussion as my sailor did more things in A school and a couple of comments in PS.

My son had some similar leave or no leave scenarios as Canuka's and Northwoodsmom and he was prior to COVID so it really is as individual for the sailor as it is "normal" for the "group". Your best information, as has been mentioned, will come from your sailor themselves and you just have to go with the flow, as hard as that may be.  Like my son said, " I did sign on the dotted line Mom." He is a blank check to be written on as the needs of the Navy dictate to him. 

[Anon2020]

Thanks everyone - this is helpful. I'm looking for concrete answers about when I can see him (I'll be temporarily located not too far from Charleston), but these replies have made me more realistic. Nothing is guaranteed. I think I'll stop obsessing about it when I can speak with him. We received a packet of letters from boot camp and I've been writing, but we haven't managed any back and forth communication yet. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer. Thanks again, all!

[Chipmunk]

Anon2020 - It really is just best to wait until they are at GC and you know what their schedule might be. In general they do have liberty from about 1630 on Friday until 0600 on Monday, however, they generally go in to study on Sundays. And they do have some evening curfew, I just don't recall but I think it is in the discussion that I wrote.  That would be great if you are able to go visit him. 

My son only wrote us on Sunday in BC and said he had about 10 min to write. My letters would come on Thursday, 1 per week, except the Sunday he went to medical for a cough and did not have time to write me.