Nuke School Charleston

Hey Sean's stpmom - talked to my son on Sunday - he said that 1316A & B had a BBQ together on Saturday.....he said it was a nice day and they had a good time. 

He's settling in and getting used to the routine of classes......

Can someone tell me if there is a limit on the number of guests that can attend "A" school graduation?

My son is in 1315 and graduates 4/12 and gets leave right after. I have not heard anything different.

My brother was washed back a week (he had the flu) but before that he only knew he graduated sometime in May. Nothing about leave. He was class 1309M

Jtram88 - my son is also in 1316-B.  He did tell me graduation was 4/19 but he didn't say anything about leave.  I will see if I can get any info from him. I'm gonna send you a pm.

Tommy made it to Charleston yesterday :) He starts A School next Monday! So proud of him. He's really enjoying the FREEDOM haha.

Alison,

They are responsible for finding their own housing.  They will or should already have had a meeting on that.  If he hasn't started looking he should do so as soon as possible.

Just booked our flights today for son's "A" school grad on 4/19.  Looking forward to seeing him and also looking forward to seeing some of Charleston!

Anybody have a Sailor in 1309T?

Just got a text from my son - he said he was given dates for his power school - May 9 - Oct 18th.  Anyone else heard anything about dates? (I know not to hold my breath though - it could change!)

That would be awesome! That's MUCH better than the wait that the rumors have. Hopefully they're getting their butts in gear and they won't have such a long wait between schools. 

The longer students are in grad hold, the less time they will have to spend in the fleet to complete their term of enlistment.  Grad hold is easy, the jobs they are given them are low-pressure busywork for the most part and nothing too strenuous, and the hours are short.  They have plenty of free time to do other things, like study for the E5 exam.  So be careful what you wish for.  Lol.

I think that's the problem, he doesn't want to waste so much of his contract not being in the fleet. He already has a masters degree so I think all the sit and do nothing but study is bothering him. 

I like your way of thinking William - that's putting a positive spin on it!  My sailor is still in the early stages of schooling so none of this has really affected him yet.........It's nice to have dates for his power school though - even if they might change!

"The longer students are in grad hold, the less time they will have to spend in the fleet to complete their term of enlistment."

Very true, but my husband pointed out that for those considering Star Re-enlisting it also pushes there separation date out more than it would have if they had graduated prototype in 18 to 24 months from going on active.

William, one of my son's advisers told him there was a limit on the number of years you can be on deployment before you must receive a shore assignment, and also a number of years you must have left on your enlistment to return to sea.  Any idea if that is true.

hello all!!

my son has been on grad hold since july 2012.  he is ready for prototype to start.  he thought he was on the list a couple times to start, but wasnt.  he said something about being in/on prefill.  not sure what that means.  closer to starting school, i hope!      i keep telling him that maybe him and his wife will be sent up to new york.   one of his married friends (who graduated a week after him) was sent there right after power school graduation. 

Tina, my son is also on prefill in GC. He's with MTS 635.

hello all!!

sunshine--good luck to your sailor! 

suebal---have you heard anything about your son starting prototype?  my son started today.  he said they are starting alot of them.   good luck!

tina, yes, my son started with the rest of 1206 at GC today! This is gonna be interesting! :)  He was on a grad hold team with 2 great guys - Clayton and Fleming. He was so happy that they actually got to do "machinist mate stuff" once in a while :)

For those of you who have sailors starting Prototype up in Ballston Spa, my son is an MM instructor there.  His advice, keep your head down, get plenty of rest, black out your windows so you can sleep during the day, take time for play.

Penny, My son is at Ballston Spa now - he was on track to graduate May 10 but there have been problems with some of the equipment.  Has your son said anything about delays?  What can we expect for this graduation?  Is it like Power School graduation?  Thanks for any info!!! Karen

Karen, there are two plants at BS - MARF and S8G.  My son is at the S8G plant.  It sounds like if your son is an MM, he just may know mine.  If your sailor is an ET or EM, there is just about NO likelihood that they know each other.  Regarding graduation, I loved it as much as Power School graduation but it is probably a bit more of a mix between PS and A-school.  It has the small feel of A-school, but yet a bit of the pomp and circumstance (speech, awards, etc) of the PS.  Also, it is not anywhere near where they go to work each day.  It is off base by about 10-15 minutes at the VA building (I believe that is right) and when it is over, well .... they fall out and it's done.  The chiefs stay around and are available for pictures.  I am guessing your son started BS around mid-December?  If you speak to your son, please ask him which section he is part of and which plant he is working at - that will answer some of these questions.

Hey suebal - just a reminder, there won't be any machinist mate stuff for about 7 weeks (off crew).  They get to go through the routine of studying, taking tests, and getting sign offs first.  Then they go on-crew where they actually get to work on what they have been studying their brains out for the past year and a half for!!  :)

Penny, My son is an MM - I don't know which plant he's assigned.  We weren't able to attend A school graduation but I loved Power school grad.  He started "work" right after Thanksgiving.  Seems like so long ago!!!  We're in Michigan and I can't wait for graduation and to find out where he will be stationed.  How long has your son been in and an instructor?  We talk once a week, so next week I'll ask about the plant.  Thanks so much for the info!!!!!

My son is still in bootcamp and will be going to A school for a Nuke I was wondering is some of you moms that have a son going to school there for awhile can answer some of my question. Thanksgiving and Christmas break do they get a break and are they able to fly home over thanksgivng and christmas. Was wanting to get my son a graduation gift from bootcamp and I was thinking a watch heard it has to be a black band. Does it need to be military time or digital. Any other thought on things they will need would be helpful.

Hi Jacob'smom - we got our son a Casio G-Shock black watch from Kohl's for his PIR (and Christmas) gift.  It is black with a black band and it does have military time.  It's a nice watch and son loves it....it has alarms and other things on it too!  I too had heard that it needed to be black....

My son's PIR was on 12/21 and he did have 10 days off before reporting to Goose Creek.  I've seen other posts that they do have some type of "Holiday Standown" at Christmas and most likely your sailor will get some time off.  Might not be 2 whole weeks, but it should be at least one of the weeks around Christmas.  I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be able to answer your question!

Check the discussion forum above both here and on the "Nuke Mom's" site. There's tons of valuable info on both!

suebal-

Did you mean Class 1204 started prototype?  I see 1204 in your signature, and my son was in 1206 and just started grad hold.

ktrsb...my son WAS in 1204 during Power School, but he has said that the "class" (even though they don't seem to use the term "class") in Prototype that has just started is 1206--even though 13__ would make more sense...but that would be too logical! LOL

Hope everyone has a Happy Easter!

Jacob'smom my son bought himself this watch and he wears it on the submarine daily. It is a Timex with Indiglo (the whole watch face lights up at night), it has military time and the black band.  It is just a basic quartz watch but is sturdy and accurate, for $30.--  It is called a Timex Weekender watch model T2N647.

Our son is on his way today to Nuke School in Charleston after a stay in the THU at Great Lakes to clear a medical hold.  He doesn't know exactly when A school starts, but he's glad to get going.  Any general advice as to how to spend any days he has to get oriented prior to the commencment of A School?  Does anyone know what the housing situation is while they're waiting for A School to start?

Once they get to A-school, they are put up in the barracks where they will, typically, stay through that portion of the pipeline.  How to keep busy - don't you worry, they will fill his day with orientation.  Other than that, he can go to the NEX and Best Buy and spend ALL of the money he got while in Boot Camp but couldn't spend.  He can go to Subway and eat "real" food or even walk down to McDonalds.  He can go bowling on base and, if old enough, he can now go to the bar on base and get a beer.

Thanks Penny for the info.

hello all!!

welcome navynuc dad!   good luck to your son!!   they will be kept busy during the week and usually have weekends off till classes start.    if you like, you can send him packages.  my son liked me to send him food items that he couldnt buy there.

Is there any parents going to A school graduation on April 26th?

USS  Henry M. Jackson  ( SSBN 730 )

  now has a group on  Navy for Moms

Click Here to visit the HMJ ( SSBN 730 ) Group on NFM

Thanks for the information about what our kids will be doing once they get to A school after bootcamp. I am understanding that they have to wear there uniform for 4 weeks is this true. Just wanting to know if I send some clothes with after bootcamp when we meet at the airport.

Jacob's mom, it is true they have to wear uniforms for 4 wks. I had sent a few things to my son so that he would have them. He also picked up a few things when he was allowed to go off base.

Yeah, they have to wear their uniforms for about a month. My brother picked up a few things at the NEX and the mall for when he could wear clothes :) I took him some comfy PJs to the airport so he could lounge in his room a bit.

What about his tennis shoes should I send those or wait till he can wear street clothes?

hello all!!

hail--if he is going there for nuke training, he will be kept pretty busy once school starts.    they do get the weekends free unless they have to do study time on sundays.