Nuke School Charleston

hello all!

wonders520---welcome!!

cherl---welcome!  good luck with apartment hunting. 

ismith---you could try the foster creek villas, but they might be all taken.    we have stayed at the laquinta inn and the counrty hearth inn.  they were ok.   they are both in north charleston.     maybe i will see you there.  we are heading down for thanksgiving as well!!

Chelbri - check out Alta Shores, No. Charleston ( http://www.liveataltashores.com/)  I know of some navy that live there now, about 12 mins to base.  When my son was in PS, his girlfriend stayed here a few times and felt very safe and really liked it.  (at that time they use to rent furnished apartment by the week, but I dont think they do that any more) and I'm not sure of the pricing, but definitely worth a call ~ good luck!

Ismith - we always stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suite, No. Charleston,  (Marriot family)  about 120/night including breakfast and Wifi...  Great, Friendly Staff - I wouldn't stay anywhere else...  my son is no longer in school, finally hit the fleet in September, but honestly me made the a trip at least ever 4/6 weeks.  we stayed here every time.  they always remembered us!

kwolfe - my son had PIR Nov. 5, 2010.  He got to GC on Nov. 10.  I know he had friends who got married over leave during the holidays, BUT I believe they had to wait until late Jan. to move their wives down there.  Don't know if that had to do  with housing availability, or if they had to get to phase 3 first.  Questions to ask for sure.

Hello all, I just wanted to introduce myself and ask if anyone knows what the thanksgiving schedule is at the South Carolina school.  My son has his PIR on 11/16/12 and we are trying to figure out plans. 

Thanks Navomom55555, do you know if we go there, will they get any liberty to visit us? 

I saw a comment on the 350 mile limit, fortunately we are 323 miles from the base.  So hopefull he will get to visit for christmas. 

hello all!!

welcome erika!

if he his a nuke, then yes he will.   they are there for A school and Power school.  some of them then either stay in SC or are sent to Balston Spa, NY for prototype. 

The rooms are wired for cable TV and get their internet service through the cable provider. Some sailors decide to share an internet connection and install a wireless router themselves but that is an informal arrangement. The Navy does not provide any wifi connection in the dorm rooms themselves.

That is so sweet Kelly! My brother has his PIR on 11/16/12, once he's settled I'll message you.

Last night, very late, I accidently came upon this Navyformoms.com web-site and I could not be more excited!!!  My son PIR is on 11-21-12 and then I understand he will go immediately to Charleston,SC for A-School.  I really hope to learn more about what to expect, and about where he will be, from you other moms, and this wonderful site.

MarcieH. this is a wonderful site.  Ask lots of questions.  My son just PIR'd on 10/12/12 and started A school on 10/29/12.  Many wonderful people here.

Thanks tina41ongradhold!

Kellyd~ that sounds wonderful, I will be keeping in touch !

Hi Marcie...my son had his PIR on 10/5. He has been in GC since 10/6 and just started his classes on 10/29. Time is fly for him now that classes have started. Glad you found N4M.

lsmith32...what class is your son in?

Does the Nuke school have an adopt a sailor program during Christmas?  If not, I would love to adopt a few if they need a place to go.

This NFM site feels like family. We all help where we can.  This is what I can do.

BTW, I will be going to Charleston on th 8th, I will probably bring down a couple of trays of goodies to share with the Sailors. Please message me your name and your sailor's name and where to find him. I want to make sure that I see these guys and give them their sweets specifically before I hand them out to everyone.

If anyone else is close by and would like to join me, please let me know!

@ Kelly- when I was stationed Keesler AFB, the chapel arranged for families to adopt the airmen and sailors during the holidays. I'm sure you could contact the chapel that the students attend to get information. I would think most tech/A school bases are set up the same military wide.

We're just west of Atlanta, inside the 350 mile Liberty radius and could offer a nice place as well.

I just got my phone call, my son is a Navy Sailor!!!

hello all!!

tazmom--congrats!!   you are now a mother to a US Navy Sailor!!!!

Congrats TazMom, my son called too same Div, 002.. :)

Congratulations Penny! and Happy Birthday!

good morning all!!

penny--happy belated birthday!!!!   im so glad you got a call from your sailor!!  

navymom5555-----welcome!!!   congrats on having a sailor!!

Thanks everyone for the congrats and birthday wishes.  Was surrounded by friends and family and enjoyed every minute of it.

Thats awesome Penny! My brother arrives in GC tomorrow. We had a great but exhausting day today at his PIR. I know he's going to be so happy to leave on that plane :)

good morning all!!

welcome to gabby and thelostairman!!!

congrats on having sailors!!!

gabby---you will get more comunication, until he starts classes.   then he will be busy during the week and some free time on the weekends.   SC is a beautiful place to visit.  i have been there four times since my son has been there.  you cant stay with him if you visit,  you will have to get a hotel.    the best time to visit is during holidays.  they dont get any time off otherwise.  good luckl to your sailor.

Hi Gabby64.  I sent you a friend request. 

When he first gets to GC he will be in Indoctrination.  He may have to wait from 1-3 weeks or so to get started in A school.  It just depends on how the classes are filling up with those coming in from Bootcamp.  during Indoc. he may be given odd jobs to do around base, and will attend classes or orientation to get ready for A school.  He will have weekends off, usually, until A school starts.  School runs Monday thru Friday, but most have mandatory study hours, a certain amount they have to complete each week by Sunday, so most of them take Saturday off to get laundry done and relax a bit, then are in the classroom studying on Sunday.

The GC base is a lot like a college campus, with a building of classrooms, dorm buildings, a medical building, and a few other buildings.  There is a Subway right there where many of them go to get food when they just can't stand the food from the galley any more, or at off times and on weekends.  There is also a McDonald's on base, about a mile down the road.  A long walk when they don't have a car at first. but doable. They can go off base right away, but have a curfew and must be in uniform.  Most of them head to Northwoods Mall and Best Buy to stock up on electronics.  They have cable available in their rooms, for internet, and can get set up with it pretty easily.  Most share the cost with their roommate and suite mates.  Phone reception is really bad in their rooms, so they have to step outside in order to talk, which is inconvenient and can be cold in the winter and very hot in the summer.  Skype works great though once they get on internet.  Send me a message if you have more questions.

Hi everyone.  Can anyone answer a ??.  If my son has PIR on 12-28 will he leave for GC on 12-29? or will he have some time before he has to leave for GC?  I am trying to get my travel arrangements done but have questions.  Also, when will he have his first liberty to come home?ds  Thanks Ingrid

Does anyone know if I called the PAO if they would know about my previous question?

Ingrid, since he'll be getting to GC at the end of the holiday stand down, he won't get LEAVE until after A school graduation.  The length of his A school depends on what rate he is.  the MM's have a 14 week A school while the EM's and ET's have a 24 week A school.  Sometimes they get to take leave right after A school and sometimes they take it several weeks later.  LIBERTY is not the same as LEAVE.  Liberty means they can leave base, but they have to stay within a certain number of miles of base, like 100 miles.  If you go to visit, during his hold time between schools, he can get special liberty, which means he can have several days off and not have to use Leave time, but has to stay within a certain number of miles of base.  I have done that twice with my son so we could go out exploring.  As far as when he will leave for GC after PIR, well, they will be on stand down in GC at that time.  I don't know if that could delay when those coming in from bootcamp will actually come, or not.  I'm sure they are used to it though, so should have someone on base to get them checked into their rooms.  then they will most likely have down time that whole week, or at least part of it.  BUT, that being said there is no guarantee until he gets there and finds out.

Hi Ingrid, my son graduated on 12/22 a couple years ago and actually flew home with us on leave. He didn't have to report to Goose Creek until Jan 2nd. I provided him with our flight information via snail mail and he was able to get on the same plane out of Chicago.

My son has PIR on 12/21/12 and we got a letter on Thursday that said he would be getting 10 days leave starting right after PIR.  He said he would be calling with specifics so I can make flight arrangements.  We are flying to Great Lakes on 12/19 and returning home to California on 12/23.  I've read where others say to be safe we should have him return a couple days early just in case there are any flight delays due to weather.  I'm hoping we can get him on the same flight home with us out of Chicago.....

B'snukemom, so wonderful to hear you will have sailor home for the Holidays.Our sailor will be home now for about a month following prototype graduation.

JUST GOT ANOTHER PHONE CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 NUKE moms....They may get to come home but won't find out for sure until they get to A school. Jacob said if he does he can leave on the 30th and be back at A school on the 5th. Ship 3 DIV 040. I am so excited I can't even tell you

That's great news Ingrid!  :)

Good Morning Nuke moms,

I will be traveling to Charleston tomorrow to deliver homemade goodies to the Sailors.  Please send me an email with you Sailor's contact info if you would like to make sure your Sailor gets a goodie bag.

As I said before, we are all family and I love close enough that I can do this.  My son is in Groton so I can't drop in to deliver anything.

Please allow me to thank your Sailor for their commitment in person with this small token.

You can email me in NFM.

Have a great day!

Kelly

Have a great day!