My SR will go into A school at Great Lakes after PIR next month. His job is MM but I'm not sure what type. He said his A school will be for 14 wks. I'm curious why he is going for longer than 8 weeks. Is that additional training or did he get a different job? Does anyone here have any ideas why? At first the recruiter said A school was 8 weeks.
momfromTx - I know our son has always been told A school for MM was 4 months. I think that is pretty standard for all A schools though. I hope that helps and if you come across anything different, please pass it on =0)
My daughters PIR was 6/1. She started A school in Great Lakes on 6/4 & graduated on 8/17. It was 11 wks from PIR to A school graduation, & 1 more wk before she came home.
angelasal - Thanks for the info. Has your daughter been given her command( I think I have the term right, please let me know if its something else....still new to all this) yet? I'm just wondering about how long after A school it take to get the orders. Is she staying in the States?
She just landed in Japan about 10 min ago!! They're given orders.. she got hers about 2 wks before A school graduation, but had to wait til after grad. for them to be approved!
WOW!! How exciting =o)Did she have some time off before she left for Japan? Did she request overseas or is that where they needed her? I'm just trying to figure out where my son might end up after A school =o) And Thank you for the info.
You're welcome! She had 10 days at home. They earn leave days while they're in A school. Some of her friends got 10, 11, & 15 days. I think it depends on where they're stationed. They're told to pick 3 places to be stationed & Japan was her 1st choice!! Good luck to you & your sailor!! Mssg me if you have anymore questions & I will try to help!!
Hi All...I'm new on his page. Ive been on N4m since 2010 when my son went to GL. He is an MM2 stationed in Japan on the USS George Washington.
When my son was given his duty dtation was when the earthquake/ tsunami hit Japan. He had to stay in A School till April 28 (although he officially finished in the end of March. He came home to AZ on Apr 29 and left for Japan the day after Mother's Day 2011.
Still kinda new to the area. Looking to make some new friends. We have two boys (8 & 2). My husband is on the USS Newport News. Is there any other SO on the same boat?
Thank you Pat! I'm really curios as to where my son might be stationed. My understanding is that during A school they 'pick' of the 3 LO actions they would like to be stationed at and depending how they do during school and the needs of the Navy determines where they go. I'm trying to understand if the locations are specific to being an MM. I've come across a number of MM mom's who have sons & daughter in Japan. I think that would be awesome!!
Hello all. I'm new here. My son is a mm in A school right now, he graduates is November. We live near Norfolk and he said he put that on his dream sheet, as his recruiter and everybody else told him that if he put it on there, he would gt it. Now he is not so sure because everybody he has come in contact with has gotten Japan. Is this normal? Of course he is fine with it because he understands needs of the Navy, it's just mom has needs of the mother. Lol
Hi everyone! I don't know why I didn't join y'all before. My sailor is stationed in Groton, CT aboard the USS Springfield. He graduated boot last January & finished his schools at the end of May. And yes, he's an A ganger. Just looking to talk & sometimes searching for info. :)
My son is an MM on the USS George Washington stationed in Japan. I think you're right, many MM's do go to Japan. I remember my son telling me that he had 3 choices as well. Japan was his first choice. He loves it there. He's seeing parts of the world I could only hope to visit. Miss him something awful though!
Popeye's Mom - I live only 20 minutes from Groton. My dad lives there.
Hi all. I'm new here. My son is an MM3 on the USS Eisenhower. He graduated from Goose Creek and then went to Ballston Spa, NY for more training, graduating this past May. His first choice was Japan but what he got was Norfolk. It's not bad since my family lives in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. I just wish I were there too so I could see him more often. At least he's out now, seeing the world like he wanted anyway.
If you are a sub mom, you may want to look into that group page for additional information.
MM's come from a number of different schools.
Great Lakes MM's will be surface only.
Groton MM's will be submarines only.
Goose Creek MM's will be the Nuclear trained ones and these will be either surface or submarines.
Thank Pat for the info. My son will be going to A school in GL so he's a surface only MM =o)
I do have a question if anyone can answer....from what I've read and seen on this site, it seems to me that MM's go to Japan, Norfolk and Guam alot. Are these the main places for MM's ? Or does it just depend on the need?
Depends on the need. Nuke and Sub MM's would be Guam as there are three subs there and a only one sub tender (may have a couple of non Nuke and non-Sub MM's).
Japan and Norfolk...maybe recent changes as sailors rotate to shore duty...or we may just happen to have a large mom group of sailors selected for these homeports.
Gotcha! Thanks so much. Would you be able to answer for me?; once he is given a command - how long would he be there? I've read that the rotation is - First Sea 54 months and First Shore 36 months. Is that correct and again does Sea vs Shore depend on the need? Meaning does one come before the other or its just what is needed?
Sorry for all the questions. Still learning about this rate.
For MM (non-sub and non-Nuke) the page referenced here has some good information. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/mm.htm
Always keep in mind these sights may not be updated as often as the Navy makes changes, but are a good place to start with learning what is going on.
Sea duty always comes first, based on the needs of the Navy...although my son did his first two years of sea duty in dry dock and the remainder at sea. He is finally rotating to shore duty this year. Aug 2006 - Mar 2008 school; Mar 2008 - Aug 2010 drydock; Aug 2010 - Nov 2012 sea.
Depending on the ship your sailor will be assigned to...some of his time during sea duty will be in port, meaning that all 54 months will not be out to sea, but should be ship related duty.
I'm confused. I keep reading where the MM's seem to go but my son is in Groton for now after his school was done. He picked the 3 "dream " places or whatever they call them but got good ole Groton, CT. lol He says he's fine with it tho. :)
Groton is one of the main places for submarine MM's as there are a minimum of 13 subs there, Popeye's Mom. If you look through the homeport list, sub MM's generally will go to the ones with sub's listed...usually CT, Virginia, Georgia, Washington state, Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and Guam and occassionally NH/ME (for drydock). Surface will go wherever there are ships.
topazs...I believe that they would start when they have enough sailors to fill a class. Since mine is a Nuke and didn't go through Great Lakes, this would be a guess on my part. Class is 9 weeks long.
Julie FL - I don't live far from Groton and I just signed up for the adopt a sailor program for the Thanksgiving holiday. Just wanted to let you know in case your son wants a home cooked meal since he'll be away from home. My son is stationed in Japan and won't be home this Holiday season, so I thought it would be nice to extend a couple of seats at our table.
I'm sorry I can't answer your question exactly, but my MM son got his orders for Japan when he was about 3 wks from finishing school.
my son will graduate from boot camp april 5, 2013. then, i believe he will do A school and POWER school for nuke in charleston, sc. anyone have any helpful info for me?
Hi proudmom63, has your son already been told that he will be chosen (volunTOLD) for Machinist Mate? My son is also a nuclear MM and was chosen to stay on at Prototype and become and instructor there for the next two years. Please feel free to friend me and ask any questions you may have.
Thank you, Pat. There's already been one time so far that he's wondering if it such an honor !!!! lol Didn't realize that the instructors have to live for two years doing the every 7 days rotation right along with the students they instruct!!!! UGH And it seems that every instructor that is of a higher seniority than you breathes down your neck all day long hoping you will make a mistake so they can call you our to the superiors on it. It truly seems like a dog eat dog world there among some of the nuke instructors with a chip on their shoulder.
I wondered about that with what my son had said on the drive home after he graduated, but then your son will be well prepared for the real world when he comes out and for his time on the subs.
My son is starting MM school this coming week in GL :) What can I expect for the next 12 weeks? He's already requested clothes from home and I know he and a couple buddies have been checking out Chicago...Does he go to class everyday? What about the weekends? I like the fact that we can skype now and that he can use his cell to call me :)
Hi to all the MM moms! I just joined the group and wanted to say Hi. I have twins and their best friend leaving for BC in August. One of the twins will be an MM on a sub after BC. Any advice or info on MM would be great!
Hello doubletrouble! My son's rate is MM/submarine. He graduated BC Jun. 21st and flew out to Groton, CT the next morning. All submariners go to school in Groton. He absolutely loves it there. He's starting BESS tomorrow. You might want to join the group "Groton A school submarine" If you would like more info feel free to PM me.
Hi, doubletrouble, my MM is a nuke on a submarine so I can't really address any of your issues other than that life on a submarine is pretty good. My son is glad he chose to be "under the weather." If you join Submarine Moms you will find some documents on their page to explain a lot of terminology and info about submarines. Submarine crews are much smaller than surface ships and it is more like a family. Good luck to your son.
Hi to all. I've just joined this group because my daughter is an MM in Prototype in NY. she will be on board a ship and is thinking of becoming an officer. Any advice?
Hi to everyone, this is a new group to me so my husband left for bc on July 27th bc he was supose to leave in september but the job as MM opened that he wanted so they said hey you leave in two days so he is ther now and graduates PIR aug 30th and then his A school will be in great lakes for 9 weeks just wondering how is A school will go being a MM is this a good job I know nothing :)
does anyone know how long MM A school is in gl for i though someone told me his recruiter or someone told me it would only be 9 weeks, also what are his choices to go to after he graduates i see Japan is common what re the other places he is not submerine just MM
Peny_Nuke, I replied, but answered incorrectly. She reports in at BS this week (no later than 7/22) but doesn't know when she will actually start Prototype.
My son just finished the first part ( 9 weeks ) of MM school. Nowe he starts an 11 day class designed strictly for MM only. Then hopefully he finds out his orders or if he is on HOLD! Then he stays at GL till he ships out.
Proud Navy Mom my husband is in BC right now and then has A school for MM in GL but i think its only for 8 weeks maybe 9 lol i dont know but im excited but how did your son like it? does he have an idea of where he might get shipped off to ?
what a beautiful baby!! They fill out a DREAM SHEET in MM school and pick 3 choices off the list to go to. Not sure if they really get one of the choices or not. Anyway my son put down SAN DIEGO, MAYPORT (in Fla. near us ) and..wait for it GUAM! I did not believe he would go so far away. :-( :-( . After 9 week class then they have an 11 day MM course and hopefully get their orders. Possibility they can stay in GL on HOLD till ready to ship out. At least you all will be together. Best to you and baby during this time. Hope ya have family near. Keep in touch!!!
Proud Navy Mom- Aww thank you so much she a diva lol, Ya I herd about the Dream sheet GUam oh man lol but that would be a cool expericence im hopping for San Deigo the wether there is great but im gonna leave it up to him his life im just excited for the changes and the grewat opportunitys.
Hi everyone my daughter heads to BC August 7. Right now she will be a mm I am so not sure about this. She was never mechanically inclined. I thought she had lost her mind to take it. She is excited and I am reading more so I guess she will be OK. Proud of what ever she chooses to do
momfromTx
My SR will go into A school at Great Lakes after PIR next month. His job is MM but I'm not sure what type. He said his A school will be for 14 wks. I'm curious why he is going for longer than 8 weeks. Is that additional training or did he get a different job? Does anyone here have any ideas why? At first the recruiter said A school was 8 weeks.
Aug 28, 2012
Kellee
momfromTx - I know our son has always been told A school for MM was 4 months. I think that is pretty standard for all A schools though. I hope that helps and if you come across anything different, please pass it on =0)
Aug 29, 2012
angelasal (ship 09 div 166)
Aug 29, 2012
Kellee
angelasal - Thanks for the info. Has your daughter been given her command( I think I have the term right, please let me know if its something else....still new to all this) yet? I'm just wondering about how long after A school it take to get the orders. Is she staying in the States?
Aug 29, 2012
angelasal (ship 09 div 166)
Aug 29, 2012
Kellee
WOW!! How exciting =o)Did she have some time off before she left for Japan? Did she request overseas or is that where they needed her? I'm just trying to figure out where my son might end up after A school =o) And Thank you for the info.
Aug 29, 2012
angelasal (ship 09 div 166)
Aug 29, 2012
Kellee
angelasal - Thanks for putting up with all the questions =o) I'm going to inbox you a few more lol
Aug 29, 2012
BADma
Hi All...I'm new on his page. Ive been on N4m since 2010 when my son went to GL. He is an MM2 stationed in Japan on the USS George Washington.
When my son was given his duty dtation was when the earthquake/ tsunami hit Japan. He had to stay in A School till April 28 (although he officially finished in the end of March. He came home to AZ on Apr 29 and left for Japan the day after Mother's Day 2011.
Sep 17, 2012
My sailor's ladybug (356)
Still kinda new to the area. Looking to make some new friends. We have two boys (8 & 2). My husband is on the USS Newport News. Is there any other SO on the same boat?
Sep 19, 2012
Pat
the following links will explain A school for MM
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navyjobs/navyjobs2/blmm...
and
http://www.navycs.com/navy-jobs/machinists-mate.html
always remember that some sites do not update their material very often.
Sep 25, 2012
Kellee
Sep 25, 2012
shamar88
Sep 25, 2012
Popeye's Mom Alum DIV 031 1-6-12
Hi everyone! I don't know why I didn't join y'all before. My sailor is stationed in Groton, CT aboard the USS Springfield. He graduated boot last January & finished his schools at the end of May. And yes, he's an A ganger. Just looking to talk & sometimes searching for info. :)
Sep 26, 2012
Luke'sMom
Hi ladies,
My son is an MM on the USS George Washington stationed in Japan. I think you're right, many MM's do go to Japan. I remember my son telling me that he had 3 choices as well. Japan was his first choice. He loves it there. He's seeing parts of the world I could only hope to visit. Miss him something awful though!
Popeye's Mom - I live only 20 minutes from Groton. My dad lives there.
Sep 26, 2012
Kellee
Hi everyone!!!!
LukesMom - I think it would be amazing if my son went to Japan! As you said....seeing parts of the world I could only hope to see =o)
Sep 28, 2012
gabsmom
Hi all. I'm new here. My son is an MM3 on the USS Eisenhower. He graduated from Goose Creek and then went to Ballston Spa, NY for more training, graduating this past May. His first choice was Japan but what he got was Norfolk. It's not bad since my family lives in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. I just wish I were there too so I could see him more often. At least he's out now, seeing the world like he wanted anyway.
Oct 1, 2012
Pat
MM's come from a number of different schools.
Great Lakes MM's will be surface only.
Groton MM's will be submarines only.
Goose Creek MM's will be the Nuclear trained ones and these will be either surface or submarines.
Oct 1, 2012
Kellee
Thank Pat for the info. My son will be going to A school in GL so he's a surface only MM =o)
I do have a question if anyone can answer....from what I've read and seen on this site, it seems to me that MM's go to Japan, Norfolk and Guam alot. Are these the main places for MM's ? Or does it just depend on the need?
Oct 1, 2012
Pat
Japan and Norfolk...maybe recent changes as sailors rotate to shore duty...or we may just happen to have a large mom group of sailors selected for these homeports.
Oct 1, 2012
Kellee
Gotcha! Thanks so much. Would you be able to answer for me?; once he is given a command - how long would he be there? I've read that the rotation is - First Sea 54 months and First Shore 36 months. Is that correct and again does Sea vs Shore depend on the need? Meaning does one come before the other or its just what is needed?
Sorry for all the questions. Still learning about this rate.
Oct 2, 2012
Pat
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/mm.htm
Always keep in mind these sights may not be updated as often as the Navy makes changes, but are a good place to start with learning what is going on.
Sea duty always comes first, based on the needs of the Navy...although my son did his first two years of sea duty in dry dock and the remainder at sea. He is finally rotating to shore duty this year. Aug 2006 - Mar 2008 school; Mar 2008 - Aug 2010 drydock; Aug 2010 - Nov 2012 sea.
Depending on the ship your sailor will be assigned to...some of his time during sea duty will be in port, meaning that all 54 months will not be out to sea, but should be ship related duty.
Oct 2, 2012
Pat
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/our_ships.asp
types of ships
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/lists/homeport.asp
homeports...subject to change if drydock, refurb, decom, or needs of Navy change
Oct 2, 2012
Kellee
Thanks Pat!! very helpful and awesome =o)
Oct 2, 2012
Popeye's Mom Alum DIV 031 1-6-12
I'm confused. I keep reading where the MM's seem to go but my son is in Groton for now after his school was done. He picked the 3 "dream " places or whatever they call them but got good ole Groton, CT. lol He says he's fine with it tho. :)
Oct 4, 2012
Pat
Groton is one of the main places for submarine MM's as there are a minimum of 13 subs there, Popeye's Mom. If you look through the homeport list, sub MM's generally will go to the ones with sub's listed...usually CT, Virginia, Georgia, Washington state, Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and Guam and occassionally NH/ME (for drydock). Surface will go wherever there are ships.
Oct 4, 2012
topazs74
Does anyone know when the next MM A-school start in the Great Lakes?
Oct 18, 2012
Pat
Oct 22, 2012
topazs74
Got a call from my daughter she starts A school today. Thanks Pat.
Oct 22, 2012
Luke'sMom
I'm sorry I can't answer your question exactly, but my MM son got his orders for Japan when he was about 3 wks from finishing school.
Nov 16, 2012
proudmom63
my son will graduate from boot camp april 5, 2013. then, i believe he will do A school and POWER school for nuke in charleston, sc. anyone have any helpful info for me?
Mar 10, 2013
Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke
Hi proudmom63, has your son already been told that he will be chosen (volunTOLD) for Machinist Mate? My son is also a nuclear MM and was chosen to stay on at Prototype and become and instructor there for the next two years. Please feel free to friend me and ask any questions you may have.
Mar 11, 2013
proudmom63
found out yesterday, son got his MM request, div doing well.... got all their flags, too!
Mar 20, 2013
Pat
proudmom63...you will find more helpful Nuke MM info on the Nuke mom page.
Penny...congrats to you and your son. That is an honor!
Mar 20, 2013
Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke
Thank you, Pat. There's already been one time so far that he's wondering if it such an honor !!!! lol Didn't realize that the instructors have to live for two years doing the every 7 days rotation right along with the students they instruct!!!! UGH And it seems that every instructor that is of a higher seniority than you breathes down your neck all day long hoping you will make a mistake so they can call you our to the superiors on it. It truly seems like a dog eat dog world there among some of the nuke instructors with a chip on their shoulder.
Mar 21, 2013
Pat
I wondered about that with what my son had said on the drive home after he graduated, but then your son will be well prepared for the real world when he comes out and for his time on the subs.
Wishing him well in the next couple of years.
Mar 21, 2013
BonnieB GA Div 214
My son is starting MM school this coming week in GL :) What can I expect for the next 12 weeks? He's already requested clothes from home and I know he and a couple buddies have been checking out Chicago...Does he go to class everyday? What about the weekends? I like the fact that we can skype now and that he can use his cell to call me :)
Jun 19, 2013
doubletrouble
Hi to all the MM moms! I just joined the group and wanted to say Hi. I have twins and their best friend leaving for BC in August. One of the twins will be an MM on a sub after BC. Any advice or info on MM would be great!
Jun 30, 2013
SoProud
Hello doubletrouble! My son's rate is MM/submarine. He graduated BC Jun. 21st and flew out to Groton, CT the next morning. All submariners go to school in Groton. He absolutely loves it there. He's starting BESS tomorrow. You might want to join the group "Groton A school submarine" If you would like more info feel free to PM me.
Jun 30, 2013
Lorraine
Hi, doubletrouble, my MM is a nuke on a submarine so I can't really address any of your issues other than that life on a submarine is pretty good. My son is glad he chose to be "under the weather." If you join Submarine Moms you will find some documents on their page to explain a lot of terminology and info about submarines. Submarine crews are much smaller than surface ships and it is more like a family. Good luck to your son.
Jun 30, 2013
dbilyou
Hi to all. I've just joined this group because my daughter is an MM in Prototype in NY. she will be on board a ship and is thinking of becoming an officer. Any advice?
Jul 11, 2013
Navy Wife (Div 321)
Hi to everyone, this is a new group to me so my husband left for bc on July 27th bc he was supose to leave in september but the job as MM opened that he wanted so they said hey you leave in two days so he is ther now and graduates PIR aug 30th and then his A school will be in great lakes for 9 weeks just wondering how is A school will go being a MM is this a good job I know nothing :)
Jul 11, 2013
Navy Wife (Div 321)
does anyone know how long MM A school is in gl for i though someone told me his recruiter or someone told me it would only be 9 weeks, also what are his choices to go to after he graduates i see Japan is common what re the other places he is not submerine just MM
Jul 11, 2013
Penny_Nuke_MM2_NimitzNuke
Jul 11, 2013
dbilyou
Peny_Nuke, I replied, but answered incorrectly. She reports in at BS this week (no later than 7/22) but doesn't know when she will actually start Prototype.
Jul 15, 2013
Proud Navy Mom
My son just finished the first part ( 9 weeks ) of MM school. Nowe he starts an 11 day class designed strictly for MM only. Then hopefully he finds out his orders or if he is on HOLD! Then he stays at GL till he ships out.
Jul 16, 2013
Navy Wife (Div 321)
Proud Navy Mom my husband is in BC right now and then has A school for MM in GL but i think its only for 8 weeks maybe 9 lol i dont know but im excited but how did your son like it? does he have an idea of where he might get shipped off to ?
Jul 18, 2013
Proud Navy Mom
what a beautiful baby!! They fill out a DREAM SHEET in MM school and pick 3 choices off the list to go to. Not sure if they really get one of the choices or not. Anyway my son put down SAN DIEGO, MAYPORT (in Fla. near us ) and..wait for it GUAM! I did not believe he would go so far away. :-( :-( . After 9 week class then they have an 11 day MM course and hopefully get their orders. Possibility they can stay in GL on HOLD till ready to ship out. At least you all will be together. Best to you and baby during this time. Hope ya have family near. Keep in touch!!!
Jul 18, 2013
Navy Wife (Div 321)
Proud Navy Mom- Aww thank you so much she a diva lol, Ya I herd about the Dream sheet GUam oh man lol but that would be a cool expericence im hopping for San Deigo the wether there is great but im gonna leave it up to him his life im just excited for the changes and the grewat opportunitys.
Jul 18, 2013
girlnboots
Jul 21, 2013