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Comment by missin'mybrowneyedboy on March 29, 2012 at 2:29am

Argh! Of course, SECF!!! Earlier this evening I was telling my daughter we were going to her brother's  "Submarine Electronics Computer Field" A school graduation so I had the letters in the correct order then but now I'm not certain if that's what the letters mean!

Comment by KathyMmom on March 28, 2012 at 11:42pm

Missing definitely gave some great info. I did go to BESS grad f or my son and loved it. It's smaller than PIR because there will be less than 100 sailors. They take time to let you get pics and in fact I took quite a few of other sailors and mailed them out to moms that couldn't be there. Very nice and then I got to spend the whole weekend with my son. I know his STS grad will be even smaller but hoping to go to that one in July as well.

We stayed at the Hamden Inn in Mystic which was fine and I'm trying to remember one of the places we had dinner in Mystic - captain something maybe, but great tilapia there. :-)

Comment by Mark on March 28, 2012 at 5:41pm

You pretty much nailed it - nice job.  It's actually SECF, though... :)

Comment by missin'mybrowneyedboy on March 28, 2012 at 4:19pm

Kaitlin. Oops. After that very looong entry, I noticed I didn't specify SEFC "A" school as the final class. My son is  STS but I believe all the rates take the same pre classes but w the SEFC "A" school specific to them. I will appreciate a correction if this is inccurate: )

Comment by missin'mybrowneyedboy on March 28, 2012 at 3:59pm

Hi Kaitlin! All through my son's boot camp and during this time he has been on the opposite coast, I have thought about all the very different and very very difficult challenges wives have needed to face. Thank you to you (and your husband!) for making this commitment. Well, Re SEFC: One of the best things to happen is more COMMUNICATION!!! Hopefully, he will get his phone before flying out from Chicago, or even better, a laptop w Skype, which will improve things almost instantly: )  So, on arrival in Groton he will start working on some mandatory reqiurements known as "qualifications" aka "quals."  His first class will be BESS(Basic Enlisted Submarine School) which may start right away or may be delayed if he needs to "class up", simply meaning they won't start until there are enough there for a full class. During BESS he will also "phase up." Phasing up is related to "liberty cards"(white, yellow, blue)  each having some restrictions but also more freedoms. Unfortunately, if someone in his class behaves immaturely, everyone is effected and all will lose privileges. Beware of getting "bleached!" BESS is a set 8 weeks. More hands on, such as more intense fire and water control and the infamous "escape trainer", etc, There is a very special graduation at the end BESS. All the "moms" highly reccommend attending if you possibly can. As of now, the next schools are ATT (Apprentice Technical Training) and TCNO (Tactical Computer Network Operator). These classes are self paced and are intense in a different way. My son labeled TCNO  "The Beast" It seems everyone is on their own in these classes as no one is particularly interested in "study groups."  Sigh.  Wait times between these classes is also possible. No graduation ceremony related to finishing these.  And, finally, is SEFC. My son had a great instructor, which of course, was a real advantage for him. Hoping the same for your husband. So, between boot and BESS and ATT and TCNO and A school, it takes about a year. My son graduates on April 5th which is one week and one day shy from when he left MEPS. Hopefully, you two will be together ASAP. I have seen posts from "subby'swife" in the Groton group which I'm sure will be a great help to you. She is living there now so she is definitely the one to get to know. Be sure to look at the "pages" on the Groton and Sub moms site, too. Well, hope this wasn't TMI! Truly wishing the best for you and yours and your Navy future together: )

Comment by missin'mybrowneyedboy on March 24, 2012 at 8:41pm

Hi palmbeachnavymom, I had planned on attending BESS graduation but due to some bizarre circumstances(my car was stolen, the thief got in a wreck, etc,etc)it didn't seem like it would work out, however I thought I could still "surprise" him and just "show" up. Well, as it turned out, there was a change of command on the original graduation date so the actual graduation was the day before I had planned the "surprise!" (He had not told me about the change because he didn't think I was coming, but fortunately I found out just in time about the command/graduation change. Unfortunately. I was not able to accommodate the new date, so, in the end, I did miss BESS graduation, which I regret.) So, if your son is a great communicator(or at least better than mine) and you're confident you won't be the one surprised(!) I think BESS would be great. However, I am going to my son's A school graduation on April 5th(CHANGED from April 6th!!!) One other thing to consider:I believe I would have been able to spend more time w my son post BESS graduation than I am now. He is flying out April 6th for his new station! Remind anyone of GL?!?

Comment by Kaitlin on March 21, 2012 at 7:34pm

Hi everyone! My husband leaves for boot camp on 6/6 and will be in the SECF program why I am here. He is looking forward to it and we are excited for him.

Comment by MamaMiri (FT) on March 21, 2012 at 10:33am

The BESS graduation is great! The A School graduation is a little bit smaller since it's only the SECF classes and not the MMs and the other guys that go to BESS as well, but it's a much bigger deal and a much bigger accomplishment. I went to both since I moved here to be with my husband a week before he graduated from BESS. Personally I would say if you can only attend one then go to the A School graduation. 

Comment by lynnvikings on March 21, 2012 at 10:27am

I loved the BESS graduation. i have not heard much at all about attending A school graduation in groton...has anyone attended A school graduation in Groton ? BESS is a great one to attend.!!!  i loved it.

 

Comment by palmbeachnavymom on March 21, 2012 at 10:12am

Well, my son's graduation from BESS is this Monday, March 26th.  We were going to go but he said he would rather us wait and come to his graduation from A-school in 6 months.  He said it is bigger and more exciting.  I feel bad we won't be there but he assured us that it was no big deal.  Am I being bushwacked by my sailor?  Should I just show up on Sunday night and say "surprise" or should I save my money and go when he graduates from A-school?  We are from FL and the airfare is expensive.  Help!

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