Sailors attending A School in Meridian, Mississippi

We've passed Basic, now its attending A school in Meridian, Mississippi. Let's talk and get to know one another.
Load Previous Comments
  • smurfette84

    Kim, thanks for the information, I think my son will be able to handle the heat, etc we live in TX and the hi today is 105, but I'm sure the humidity there is much worse.  Since your son was in a self paced class did he still get to choose his deployment location?  Also do you know if they can have their cars there or is this one of the bases that doesn't have enough room to bring your car?

  • rhobo61 (sh12/div 313)

    Kim and Smurfette84, I'm also from TX so my daughter WAS used to the heat until this boot camp adventure and she's used to snakes, however she doesn't like them.  From what I've heard everybody likes it in Meridian.  Thanks Kim for the info.  Did your son have to wait long for a class to fill up?

  • Kim~Made it to the fleet!

    smurfette84 and rhobo61~Hi Ladies...  Here is what I can tell you from my son's experience in Meridian...He classed up pretty fast, probably second week there, he also recieve his orders two wks before he graduated (he did not get to choose his first duty station).   For the car situation,  I'm not much help on that, my son and his friends used the cab services to get around town when they were on Liberty.   Hope this helps... good  luck to your Sailors! 

  • rhobo61 (sh12/div 313)

    Kim, Thanks for the info.  Did your son happen to mention if they have a barber shop/beauty salon on base?  My daughter says her hair is in dire need of help.  LOL.  I was just wondering if this is something we might need to do during liberty or if she'll have a chance at A school.  I know she doesn't want to wait at least 2 weeks to get her hair back to normal.  Thanks.

  • Andreaship9Div320

    Hi my son graduates on 8/23 and heads to meridian the next day. Does anyone know what airport he will leave from in Great Lakes? And what time their flight usually is?
    Thanks
  • Kimmy (Ship 13 DIV 282)

    When our son left, he flew out of O'Hare early the next morning.

  • Andreaship9Div320

    Thank you
  • fredsmom

    Andreaship- our sailor's flight was on Saturday after PIR at 10:30 am. He and his shipmates arrived at O'Hare at 12:30am and he and the other sailors hung out at the USO in terminal 2 until we met him there around 3am and went through security with him and stayed at the USO in terminal 3 until an hour before his flight. It was wonderful to have that extra time with him since after PIR we only had 8 hours before he had to be back on base! The USO was amazing! The last hour was with 14 other sailors from his division and we got to hear stories about their boot camp experiences!
  • smurfette84

    Fredsmom - thank you for this information, my AZ has PIR on 9/27/13 and I was also wondering about the same thing.  It sounds like you had a good time waiting around with everyone 

  • Andreaship9Div320

    Thank you fredsmom for your info my flight leaves at 12:15 so I was hoping he would leave before me
  • Momma TS

    Hello, sounds like my son will be reclassified to LS and will be heading to A school in Meridian. Does anyone know when the next class starts?
  • smurfette84

    MommaTS I don't know where we find that information, my son has PIR 9/27 and will be heading there.  Hopefully he won't have to wait long for a class to start.  I know I have spoken to other moms and the most their SR had to wait was about 2 weeks.

  • rhobo61 (sh12/div 313)

    Momma TS,

    My daughter will PIR Friday and she told me yesterday that a class starts on 9/3.

  • Scotia123

    My son got to Meridian 8/11. He rooms with 2 other guys who are really cool he said. He has his cell phone laptop and I have sent him a few civvy clothes and sports gear. He had the time to settle in and relax a little before class started on 8/22 so now its time to work hard!!....had a lot of watch duty at first but that's the Navy for you. Hope he gets to hear where his first Command will be soon.

  • smurfette84

    Scotia123 thank you for this information it helps a lot.  My son won't have PIR until 9/27 but I like to have a "heads up" approach in what is going on.  Did you give him his laptop & cell at the airport or did you ship them to him?  He has been asking everyone if they are the same rate and he hasn't found anyone.  Did you son have anyone with same rate while he was BC?  Just curious.

  • Scotia123

    Smurfette84 I gave him his cellphone at the airport although he had it all the time he spent with us after graduation. You have to take it back from them before they go back to BC. They can have their laptops at the airport as well but may not have room for it. If they pack everything well enough they can leave room in their backpacks and fit it in there. He did not have room!!! so I sent it in one of the USPS Priority Mail boxes and he got it within a couple of days. My son had a couple of guys the same rating and they travelled to Meridian with him. Have you booked your hotel yet at Great Lakes?....we stayed at the Marriott Courtyard it was awesome, and we used their shuttle service to the graduation. My son just wanted a shower on his own and a steak dinner!!! :) Go to Sarge's Meet and Greet as well and take his advice of sitting upstairs at the Graduation!!!...even though there is a rail in front you will get the best view of the Divisions and hopefully your recruit.....you will see where to sit by the Division Numbers on the floor and we sat just above my sons...I saw mine straight away and watched him all the way through it was awesome......this is my SA, so very proud of him!!!!....if you want any more information I will be glad to help.

  • Momma TS

    Hello, My son Is leaving for Meridian Naval Air Station in a week. Can anyone let me know what cell phone company has the best coverage on base? I would really appreciate your help.
    Thanks!
  • Scotia123

    My son is at A School in Meridian. On advice from another Mom  I purchased "The Bluejackets Manual"....this is exactly the same as your Recruit will have been given at GL. It is an invaluable book and I highly recommend it. All the Navyisms that we found so confusing are explained in there. Duty Assignments, Uniforms, Ranks Rates just to name a few, the book explains it all. It is helping me to understand how the Navy works and therefore makes it easier to understand my son when he is talking "Navy" :D

  • smurfette84

    Scotia123 thank you for all of this information.  I have RSVP for Sarge's Meet.  We are staying at the Navy Lodge with other parents from his division.  We are going to have  a celebration "party" after the SR go back to the base.  I thought about taking his Ipad to the airport since it is smaller and then sending his laptop.  I'm getting excited, we are down to the final weeks.

  • Andreaship9Div320

    Scotia where did you buy the manual? My son Kevin just arrived yesterday
  • Andreaship9Div320

    Is there a Facebook page/ group for meridian A school?
  • Kimmy (Ship 13 DIV 282)

    Are Cruise and Loftin's moms on this site?  I think I may be hosting them next weekend.  Gumbo on the menu.

  • Scotia123

    Andreaship9Div320 I bought the book from Amazon....and the FB page for Meridian is www.facebook.com/NTTC Meridian

     

  • Scotia123

    smurfette84.....you are welcome and Graduation will be an extremely emotional and proud day for you all....believe me!!!....I hope your SR ordered photographs....they are awesome!!

  • Andreaship9Div320

    Thank u scotia
  • Whitney

    Hello all,
    Does anyone know the actual address to the A school in Meridian, MS? I am trying to plan a trip to visit my fiance\sailor. But the 740 fletcher rd address is not coming up in map quest, google maps , or my gps. Can someone please help me out with this? Is there another address that I need?
  • _takenbyasailor

    Hey Does anyone know when my sailor will be able to get leave for us to get married?

  • _takenbyasailor

    Does everyone graduate "A" school at the same time? 

  • Pa Mom (div 368) LS sailor

    My sir will pir 9/27 and come here for a school. Just looking for moms and family going through the same
  • smurfette84

    PaMom, my SR also has PIR on 9/27 (ship 9 Div 370).  What rate is your SR?  Mine is a AZ.

  • Pa Mom (div 368) LS sailor

    I don't know last logistics is all I know on sub
  • smurfette84

    LOL, my SR isn't on a sub, didn't want to be down that long.  He will be attached to a squadron, either Helicopters or Airplanes; whichever is available after A school

  • Pa Mom (div 368) LS sailor

    My son eventually wants tone a diver
  • Scotia123

    For anyone who is interested, there is now a Facebook Page specifically for Logistic Specialist Navy Families....just type the name in the search box at the top of your FB page and it will come up. It is for chit chat, news, photos, questions and answers etc etc and general information. :)

  • Pa Mom (div 368) LS sailor

    I can't find the fob page
  • SRsailormoon

    Hi guys, I just joined this group and will be looking for the Facebook page as well, my SR is scheduled to PIR on 9/27
  • Scotia123

    Pa"Mom did you type in Logistics Specialist Navy Family?....if so and you did not get through just friend me and I will add you on to the page :D

     

    SRsailormoon as above friend me and I will add you :D

     

  • Kimmy (Ship 13 DIV 282)

    I can't find it either.

  • Scotia123

    Kimmy friend me and I will add you!!

     

  • navymom17

    does anyone know how long yeoman Aschool is??? Thank you in advance

  • msonunz24

    @navymom17 it's only suppose to be about 5 to 6 weeks. My boyfriend is almost done, but he had to wait 3 weeks before he could even start class, some of his other classmates waited a month or longer.
  • fredsmom

    My son was there exactly 2 months. They are in TPU until classes start, yoeman school is about 5 weeks, then TPU until they get there orders. One of my sons fellow bootcamp/A school shipmate was there in TPU a month after A school was over because he had to stay until he got his orders for his first duty station.
  • navymom17

    Thank you mmsono24 and fredsmom, what is TPU? And mmsono24 where did your boyfriend stay while waiting?

  • fredsmom

    Temporary hold while waiting for A school or orders. I believe the navy calls it Transient Processing Unit.
  • fredsmom

    They stay in Meridian on base while in TPU. They still work and do watch and Muster
  • fredsmom

    It was really great for my sailor because he went to Meridian after PIR with 17 of his shipmates from boot camp! He had the time of his life!
  • fredsmom

    And he said that the food was really good at the galley!
  • msonunz24

    @navymom17 - they stay at the barracks on base
  • Pa Mom (div 368) LS sailor

    Just wondering if my sailor will need a computer for A School.  He doesn't have one currently, our school district provided them during high school and if he did he would have to purchase it there or I would have to purchase it and send it.  Just not sure what he would need.  Any ideas?

  • msonunz24

    @pa mom- my sailor says not everyone has a computer there, he has his there and just uses it to go online and when he has down time, not for class. If he wants to buy one, they have computers at the nex on base. It's a little cheaper there, too.