Machinist Mates

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  • Sam (AUX PAC - Groton, CT)

    Thank you!!!
    It's funny cause my husband buys him little sailor outfits at the NEX stores. haha
  • Terri(Machinist Mate Mom)

    Hello ALL. Im new to this group I actually just found it. My son is in Great Lakes A School and is finishing his 3rd mod today. He should be all done by mid December. Hopefully he will have his orders in a about 2 weeks. DOes that sound about right? Does anyone have a sailor that has gone over seas?
  • Sash

    hello terri! welcome to the group. my finacee is in hawaii.. let us know when your son gets his orders :)
  • Terri(Machinist Mate Mom)

    Sash-thanks I would love for him to go to Hawaii..My son said his orders may not come now until he is almost done...What does your fiance do in Hawaii?
  • Zephyr

    Hi there. New to military. My son is beginning school and wants to be MM. Any info about Goose Creek, academics, diet, or living situation that can be shared? Do sailors get time off to enjoy Charleston, or too busy with responsibilities? Want to be 100% supportive, get care package ideas, etc., but getting little direct feedback. Thanks in advance for tips!!!! God bless.
  • Terri(Machinist Mate Mom)

    Karen-thanks for that info. I just hope is isnt put on hold.
  • Terri(Machinist Mate Mom)

    Zephyr-your son is Nuke?
  • Terri(Machinist Mate Mom)

    Karen-does your son like it?? Did he have to wait any amount of time before he went to his duty station? ALso how long ago did he finish A school?
    My son is due to be done with A school somewhere near Thanksgiving.He has to then do his strand which I beleive is MM school
  • navywife (MM3)

    Any wives out there with a hubby with a rate of MM ? He is due to finish BESS school in a few weeks and trying to find out how long A school is, if we can move with him, etc. Any help would be great!!!!
  • Blakesmom

    Hi All, I am trying to figure out answers to a few questions and am having a hard time. Could anyone tell me a little more about BESS graduation, do many people go? I can tell it is not like PIR, is there another graduation ceremony after A school? My son will continue on in Groton for MM. The only thing I know is it is Dec 3, coming up quick and I need to make plans. Thanks!
  • luxibabi

    hello everyone! I was curious if anyone knew what the precedure was for moving oversea, as far as pets go. I heard they get quearentined, just wondering if anyone has expierianced it first hand! thanks.

  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Hi everyone, my son just informed me from bootcamp that he will be in A-school from 2/9/11 - 5/20/11 ...or something like that. Since it is only three months, can I assume that he will be an MM rather than an EM or IT? Anybody able to comment?
  • sfuller2010

    Im a MM rating and my A school is showing 8 weeks in GL....
  • sfuller2010

    EM is showing 12 weeks....
  • mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)

    Penny, is your son a nuke?

    the Nuke MM A school is 3 months and nuke EM, ET A school is 6 months.

  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    He called only briefly but didn't have time to ask... He simply stated his a school is from 2/9-5/20 ... About 14 weeks. I kniw he was hoping for his high asvab score and one of the petty officers in boot camp, he was really hoping for ET. Surprised he didn't get to choose and am sure he is disappointed.
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Mn Linda, right now my son is in his last half of boot camp but went in Nuke.
  • mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)

    my son told me he wanted ET, but after hearing more about the jobs, he changed his mind to MM.  He said an ET sits and watches the equipment for signs of problems and the MM is the one that fixes them.  I also heard that out of 10 nukes - 1 is ET, 3 are EM and 6 are MM.
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    I thought that all nukes become E-5 once they complete prototype school?
  • mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)

    my son told me that he would have to re-enlist for an additional 2 years to get to E-5.
  • Kris, Stevens mom

    ngore - my son also started prototype in Nov in BS, do you know what your sons class# is?
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Son just graduated boot camp; headed to Goose Creek 2/1/11.  Looking forward to being an active part of this group.
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    my3sons, thanks for the information.  And, by the way, my name on Messenger has always been my3sons as well !!! 

     

    Got a call today from my son in Washington, DC waiting for the flight into Charleston.  By now, he should be settling into his room in the dorm !  Says that he is feeling the happiness returning to his soul.

  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Yeah, he told me that he will be done in something like 14 weeks.  He had MM as his second choice, EM was his first but don't know how they decide besides the luck of the draw.  Can they ever change their rating from one to another, any idea?  Or do they just cross-qualify when they get in to the fleet for some of the other ratings?

     

    For those that have MMs either in school or in the fleet, what has been their experience?  Are they enjoying schooling, deployment, etc.  I'd love to hear.

  • Terri(Machinist Mate Mom)

    Penny-my son chose Jog Seng as his rate (not his 1st choice) and when he was in BC they gave him MM. He is interested in cross rating when he is able. He has been looking into it and securing sponsors for the new rate. It might be too early for that because he has to be in the current rate for 18 months ( I believe). He has only been at his duty station since mid November.  Maybe its differnt for Nuke my son is not Nuke
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Is there something besides scores on ASVAB that they choose their rating because my son got 99% on his and still didn't get his first choice of EM.  Any ideas?
  • mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)

    it is also based on Navy needs at  the time
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Thanks, Linda.  I think that is the bottom line.  There were approximately 30 sailors leaving boot camp and heading to GC - all Nukes and each of them given a variety of the three ratings... I've heard that in the end my sailor will be very happy that he was given MM.
  • mommajo

    My son is MM -- I met an instructor who made me smile, "Men's Men!  The world needs more of them."  I'm not sure about other MM's but in the nuke program they don't change but cross study in power school; they need to know how it all works.  It does depend on the Navy's need at the time.  He will be happy to be a MM and MM's become E4 in just 3 mos compared to 6 mos for ET and EM -- they earn it!
  • jmazzsmom

    great day Friday, now to fill classes and have A school start for MM at GL..

    heard 9 weeks then 11 weeks so we'll see how long school is...they'll hold them a week or so till classes fill i heard.

  • Sash

    hi everyone..Ive been in this group for a little over a yr now.. but havent been on in months, so I just wanted to say hello, because I have noticed a lot of new people from the last time i logged on :)
  • gonavy2010

    Hello ladies!  New to this group.  My son will graduate BC on 2/18/11 - Can't wait!!!  But he is also staying at the Great Lakes to do his "A" school for MM.  Just looking for any info and to make some new friends too!  Thanks
  • Gs'mom Ship 09 Div 72

    Hello everyone. My son just graduated on the 11th, I just found you all and wanted to be your friend. Together we can get through this and help our sailors become successful. Good luck to all of our sailors who are going through this journey, and good luck to the mom's that are going through it with them. :)
  • Sash

    welcome gonavy and Gs mom!
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Anybody on here whose sailors are Nuclear MMs at Goose Creek?  My son just classed up and started A-school today.  Spent from 0700 - 1600 in class and then 1800 - 2200 in mandatory study hall.  Same song, different dance tomorrow!!
  • mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)

    my son is a nuke MM and is currently in Power School.  Most of the nuke moms talk on the Nuke moms group.
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Thanks Linda, I was wondering if that is where most of them are.  I am finding that most MMs here go to A-school in Great Lakes.
  • Gs'mom Ship 09 Div 72

    Good morning, my son called last night and gave me his new address. He wants me to send his phone and computer, what is the best way to ship.? Post office? Or UPS? How long will it take to ship from Texas. Can they get anything like food? He didnt know. Thanks
  • mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)

    I mailed my son's laptop and phone through the post office - sent priority and insured.  It was expensive ($60) since it didn't fit in a flat rate box, but didn't want to risk anything happening to the laptop.
  • Bar_KWife126 (Nuke MM)

    Our family sends us things from Texas (we're from the College Station area) and it usually takes 3 days for things to reach us with USPS.  He should be able to get food as well, they have a lot more freedom in their BEQs than at RTC.
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    You can send them anything except electrical appliances ...with the exception of an iron!!  They need one of those.  But food ... absolutely!
  • Gs'mom Ship 09 Div 72

    Thank you for the information. I just sent him a box with computer and phone. Of course I had to add some boxers, chocolate, beef jerky ect... With $2000 Insurence and a two day turn around it cost 57.00 he's worth every penny. Hope he likes it. ;)
  • Yedi's proud sub mom

    Hi there! My son is a machinist mate on the USS Newport News stationed in Norfolk VA. He recently got his dolphins and is excited to start his first deployment. I am a bit nervous, but so very proud!
  • mn linda (nuke MM ELT Groton CT)

    Congratulation to Yedi's son on getting his dolphins.
  • gonavy2010

    Anyone have an experience on how long of a hold some have before they start MM school?  My son just went over Tuesday and know he will be on hold for a week, but isn't sure after that.  Thanks for any info. 
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    Each classing-up to start school is different and depends on how long it takes to get enough sailors arriving to fill the class.  My son arrived there on 2/1 and started class on the 14th.  The first week was good and he enjoyed getting to know the place and spending money getting his room in order.  The second week ... total boredom set in and he couldn't wait for classes to start.
  • gonavy2010

    Thanks for the info Penny Nuke MM Mom, I greatly appreciate it.  So far so good for our son.  He likes the extra "liberty" time in the evenings...says it makes it feel more like just going to school.  He just graduated 2/18 so any extra time is a gift!
  • Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke

    If he just got there a couple days ago, yes, it is still HEAVEN!!!  As compared to boot camp, that is.  Indoc is pretty easy and they do have liberty in the evenings.  Weekends they can get together and get a cab into Charleston to see the city, shop, etc.  But once classes start, it is 18+ hour days stuffing them as full and as fat as they can be on information.  While the material isn't difficult, the extreme amount of information can surely wear them down. 

     

    Plan on seeing their bank account doing down quickly as they purchase more uniforms as the one of each that they have just isn't enough.  Add to that a pair of tennis shoes they can actually stand to run in and more socks, real underwear, and t-shirts and ... maybe even a new TV, laptop or Xbox !!!

  • mommajo

    What are dolphins?
  • pmgcakes

    Hi - My son graduated A School (1114)  on 04/08, just returned this week after leave, Classing up for Power School on 04/28.  Anyone else?