Machinist Mates

CLAMOM, That's a relief. Her high score on asvab puts her on a stable path, whereas undesignated is practically a foot out the door. One of my son's Navy friends was told that his rate didn't qualify him to re-enlist. Fortunately he tested into something else and he has been able to sign up for 4 more years.

WOW.....I will keep you posted on our adventure!!!

Both of my Navy sons say undes is as good as the kiss of death and you better like chipping paint!!!  Those with low asvab scores and no skills at all end up undes.  Please warn her against this...unless she likes greasing chains as well...to the point that you can't get your nails clean.  That comes from a person with eight years in so far.  Not advised.

Thanks Penny!!!!

How long is MM A-school in CT? My boyfrined is getting ready to start soon. I'm trying to figure out when he should be home. I'm trying to plan a wedding for when he comes home. 

My son went through nuke school so he didn't have the usual A school. Every school seems to be a different length. You could always ask his recruiter. The Navy can make it hard to make wedding plans so good luck to you!

Lorraine, my daughter is in MM A-school in Chicago and hers last 11 weeks.

That sounds like what I've heard from others as far as the length of A School.

Good Morning:  Son is in sub school in CT for about 7 weeks, then A School for 18 weeks. 

djmama, Good luck to your son in CT. My son has been there about a year with the USS Miami. They are moving up the coast to be in dry dock so he will be leaving CT soon. We enjoyed a visit to the area in December. I hope you get to visit while your son is there.

My son just arrived about a week ago in CT as a MM.  Thanks for the info on the length of sub school and then A school.  Does anyone know if C school is part of their training?  If so, where would that be?

jablythe, Sorry... haven't been on this page in awhile.  My son is also in CT for MM school.  He arrived in early October from bootcamp. He did BESS (Basic Enlisted Sub School) first, then BMS (Basic Mechanical Skills), and finally his A School for MM.  He'll be graduating on March 2nd.  He'll have 2 weeks at home.  And then he'll be returning to Groton.  He's been assigned to USS New Mexico.

Haven't posted here in a very one time but I have a question.. How long is MM-WEP School? Trying to make our summer vacation plans and one being going to our Sailors A School graduation in Groton,CT..

If anyone is on here i have a couple of question.

My son PIR is 04-06-12, then will be attending MM school.  How long is the school?  I see there are different classes of MM's but all i know is that he is going in as MM.  Can some one please help me.

Michael'sMom...my daughter just graduated from MM school in Great lakes and it lasted 11 weeks.

Hi Michael's mom.  My son is currently is MM school in Groton, CT (sub school).  He started there January 30th this year and will be there through the summer. He is currently attending BESS (Basic Enlisted Sub School), then a 2nd school (not sure what it is called) before he even gets to MM school.

jablythe, My son just finished the MM School in Groton. He started in October, BESS, Christmas / New Year break, BMS (Basic Mechanic Skills), then A School (graduated in early March).  He's home now for 2 weeks leave.  Then he returns to Groton for his Submarine station.

Thank you all for the information.  Micahel will be grraducating 04-06-12 from BC. i know he is excited.

Do all MM's go to school after A school in Groton?

KatrinaB my daughter went to A school in Great Lakes.

Yeah, sorry I phrased that wrong. Im wondering if they go to Groton after A school?

Ohhhh......Not sure....has your sailor been assigned to a ship?

He's still in BC. PIR is 5/11/2012.

I think he has to wait for his orders....he will get them while he is in A school. Where is he going for A school?

Katerina - there are many different types of MM jobs, it all depends on what rate he has chosen. do you know which one it is? I have attached a link to a website that I have gotten a lot of information from :   http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/mmwep.htm 

This link is for MM- Wep, also at Groton they have MM-Aux.  the MM Rate in the Nuclear Field schooling is done in Goose Creek S. Carolina, my son graduated from there in October and is currently in his 3rd and final phase of School upstate NY, and will be heading to the fleet in September, hoping he will get his first choice of base, which is groton.  good luck 

pmqcakes... thank you for that link.. My son is a MM-Wep and is in Groton right now in his second week of A School..

There are so many jobs in the Navy and from what I'm hearing, if your sailor is on a surface ship stationed in Japan, they may be gone 2-3 years and unable to come home. With submarine duty, the sailors/nukes are out for part of a year (or with fast attack, three months at a time), and if they have leave, they can get home because their ports are in the U.S.  Of course, you can never plan on a certain time of year for them to be home no matter where they serve because Navy schedules are based on Navy needs and can change. I'm also thankful that very few sailors are stationed in ground combat areas like Afghanistan. Help your sailors (and yourself) see the upside of the Navy. If your sailor doesn't like their current assignment, there might be an opportunity for a different assignment since the Navy has so many different types of jobs. My son is a nuke mm on a submarine. I'm especially thankful for the changes in character the Navy has brought to his life. Have a great day, Ladies, and keep looking up. This part of their lives will quickly pass.

Hi everyone: I'm sure this might have been answered before but I'm new here. My son is at GL in bootcamp right now, sched to PIR on 5/25/12. His recruiter told him he was going to Groton, CT for all his schooling - A school, sub school, etc. On the last day - on the way to MEPS - the recruiter mentioned to my son that he "might stay in Great Lakes for A-School" So, what is the story? Do all MM's go to Groton for A-school? Sub school? I don't think he has chosen which path to pursue yet - Weapons or Aux. He did mention he was doing "engineer" school. He is not in nukes as far as I know. Sooo - what does this mean? We live in Massachusetts and would LOVE for him to be near us in Groton if at all possible. We're supportive of wherever he is though and I think it would be great for him to see other areas of the country as well. Thanks for any information you all can give me. I'm glad to have found the MM's site!

A-MJ's Mom, You're getting a taste of "Navy Normal." Normal means change, change, change based on the needs of the service. You may not know for sure where he will go for "A" school until PIR. Sub School should be in Groton. My son is submarine and there is a "Sub Moms" group you will want to join. They have some helpful documents on their group under "Pages" to the right of the comments. I'm glad my son chose sub duty. They're out a few months at a time then back in port for awhile. Currently he's serving two years in dry dock while the boat gets some upgrades. But he's about 19 hours from home so we don't see him often. The Navy has been great for our son. The training can be tough but it's worth it. I hope things work out for your son's placement.

Thanks Lorraine - great info! Still waiting for our first letter from him and hoping for a call - we are at the 3 week point today so we have our fingers crossed to hear his voice in the next week or so. Holding on to the "no news is good news" idea.

A-MJ's Mom - My Sailor went to Boot Camp as a MM on a sub. His PIR was December 02, 2011 and has been in Groton, CT since the 3rd. He is in his A School right now he is going to be a MM-Wep. I think but not 100% on this, they go to Groton if they are going to be on a Sub. My son's recruiter said the same thing that he may stay in GL but I think that MM School is for the ones that are surface not Subs. I maybe wrong about that.. 

Hi everyone. My fiance is graduating boot on 5-11. He wants me to look into houses and such but I have no idea where he will be going after A school. I'm seeing Lot of Groton ct and goose creek sc. He doesn't want to be on a sub so should I look more into sc? This man is driving me crazy! :)

Katrina, it depends if your fiance is going Nuke or not.  Nuke MMs go to Goose Creek, SC but not the regular MMs.

If he's not a nuke do you know where he will likely go?

Yup, Groton, CT 

Hi All, well, I thought the SR was possibly staying in GL for A school but he just sent a letter saying how he was a "Grad and go" so I guess he's on his way to Groton like originally planned. I'm sort of happy since he's so close to home (MA) but also a little disappointed since we booked our return flights out of Chicago on Sun. See, we thought we MIGHT get an extra day with PIR on 5/25/12 - Memorial Day w/e and all - oh well, guess i better get used to the Navy way of not listening to mom's requests, LOL. Any other Groton moms out there? Any other groups on here I should join?

A-MJ's Mom, My son is stationed in Groton.  His PIR was 10/11.  He's finished his schooling & on his first "swim" expected to be about a month.

All Nuke MM's are not stationed at a port mainland US.  There are East Coast boats (submarines) and West Coast boats (submarine).  East are generally stationed at:  Kings Bay, Norfolk, Groton, or Portsmouth/Kittery.  West Coast are San Diego and Washington state or Hawaii.  There are three subs that are fwd deployed in the South Pacific.  The other assignment for Nuke MM's is on a carrier.

Nuke MM's are in school in Goose Creek, SC and Ballston Spa, NY.

Sub MM's are in school in Groton CT

If you are not in either of these groups, A school is just across the road from Boot Camp.

After A school at Great Lakes (8 weeks), unless picked up for special additional training, an MM will go to the fleet.

After "A" School, MMs may be assigned to ships and naval repair activities afloat and at shore stations in the United States or overseas.  If your sailor stays in the Navy for 20-years he/she will spend about 70 percent of their time assigned to fleet units and 30 percent to shore stations.  There is a set rotation of fleet/shore duty determined by the needs of the Navy.  I believe that the first sea tour is 60 months.  Some of that time will be in port, some will be out to sea, depending of the ship assigned to and the needs of the Navy.

Good Morning all,  Been a while since i have been on .  My Sailor Graduates MM school next week in Great Lakes.  As of now he has NO Orders!!  He said hopefully next week they would get them but as of now 7 in his class do no have orders.  I am hoping and praying he will get his orders.  Hope everyone has a good day.

Luke's Mom. yes he received his verbal orders on Monday!  Waiting on hard copies to come in.  He Graduated Thursday from MM school.  Now its a wait game.  He is supposed to go to USS Stennis CVN 74. but i know from being a Navy vet that it could change when he gets his hard copy.  Thank you for asking and best wished to you and your Sailor!!

Hello!!!

I'm pretty new here on N4M....our son went to MEPS and entered DEP in Feb. Graduated High School in May and ships out Aug 21st. He's an MM and "A" school is in GL as well. Beyond that....I have no clue LOL.

Any info and words of wisdom are greatly appreciated =o)

@ Luke's Mom,  My son finally got his orders!!  They are sending him to C school for Cargo Elevator their in Great Lakes.  He will class up on July 23 and hopefully will get to come home about middle of Aug.  He said as of right now he will still go to the USS Stennis!  He is excited!  Wished he could have already been out in the fleet though.  Hopefully your son is in port and you got your phone call.

@ Kellee, my son Graduated BC April 6th and classed up Around the 16th of April  Graduated from MM School on June 14th.  Had to wait on orders but finally got them last week. As you can see they sent him to C school after.  We didnt know anything about C school when he signed up.  Good Luck to you and Your Sailor!!!

MichealC'sMom- "C" school???? Omgeez....my head is spinning. LOL

Nick is excited and can't wait to go!! He leaves in 21 days! YIKES....we're throwing his going away party next weekend. It's happening FAST!