GROTON, CT. SUBSCHOOL & "A" SCHOOL MOMS

I was unaware of the photos until my son told me about them - he actually purchased them. I did like them better than boot camp ones!

Hello everyone!!!   My son just arrived in Groton CT this past Saturday (his PIR was 8/14/15)!   We had the absolute best day with him.  Sure wish it could have been longer!!!  He is very happy in Groton and like it very much.  He will be a sub, wants to do the sonar technician.   Looking forward to talking and learning from everyone here!!

Hey!!   Navymom9828!!   Thanks for the welcome!!   My son is enjoying it there too, he hasn't said anything about the manmade lake & beach but I'll make sure he knows about it!!!   Thanks again!!!   Hope you have a good day!!

Hi.  I'm a brand new navy mom.  My daughter's PIR was 8/14/15.  She is now in Groton for sub school and A school.

Hello Bri'smom940!   My son's PIR was 8/14 also!!!  Wasn't it great??   We had the best time up there!!!!  My son is also at Groton CT for sub-school & A-School.  What division was your daughter in?  My son told me he had some girls in his division going to sub-school!!  He was in division 267.

Hey Amy L

My son graduated 7/24. He also had to wait several weeks to start BESS. Started this past Monday.  He just found out Monday that he is going to be a Sonar Tech.  That was actually his 3rd choice but he is ok with it.  Interesting fact, my son is actually roommates with Navymom9828's son. lol. I have heard about his trips to the beach from my son...ha ha.  My son loves it there too. He keeps saying, MOM, you wouldn't believe all the trees here! He is enjoying it so far, but I have already shipped him 7 boxes of stuff from home and getting ready to send him his car. I really love talking to him every day.

ndsubmom

I have talked to my son every day since he graduated, so yes, you can talk to them whenever they aren't in class or doing watch, or something like that.  When they have free time, they can call, text, email, etc.

EagleScoutnNavyMom

Yes I am shipping it with Ship A Car Inc.  I did a lot of research and they are rated the #1 car shipper by consumer reviews. Called and got just about the best rate that I found and I called 20 different places.  I had a couple cheaper but the companies had a lot of bad reviews or complaints at BBB.

EagleScoutnNavyMom

www.shipacarinc.com

lol, no way.

Good morning all!!!  Does anyone know about a "security hold", my son and several others were put on this, my son said it may be because he was in the delayed entry program (DET he called it) but it kind of has him a little worried.  He has nothing on any record??   Just wanting to get some insight?  He has a friend that is in Groton also, in sub school now, but he was initially put on this also?

Amy,

A security hold is not uncommon. Submariners need to have very high security clearance to be assigned to a sub. If their references have not been checked, or there is a question about something on his record, it has to be cleared up before proceeding.

I know that they do speak to friends, co-workers etc sometimes parents.

Hope that helps!

Thanks Cath Bubblehead mom!   I thought it may be pretty common, he should be fine!!   Again thanks for all the support I get from everyone on this sight!!   I truly don't know what I would have done without it!!!

Angela- Congratulations to you and your Sailor! MT always sounds like a cool job. We too won't see fall colors until Nov. here in Nor Cal. Leaves are already falling before they change color because of the drought.

I don't respond much anymore but I do enjoy reading all of your posts. Safe travels to everyone going to PIR this Friday, enjoy your Sailors! 

Kim, The cost really depends on two things  The distance and route of shipping companies.  If shippers regularly travel the route and are just adding your vehicle to fill the load it will be cheaper than if they have to make a special trip.  Also, the person you are dealing with on the phone or internet is just a broker (even if they say they arent).  Once you agree to terms with them they post it for a trucker to accept.  No matter who you choose,  you should actually speak to the trucker before they put the vehicle on the transport truck.  Some brokers will quote you one price but tell the trucker a higher price then the person shipping the vehicle doesn't find out they owe the trucker more money until it's too late.  When I shipped my son's truck I talked to the trucker via phone before I agreed to the transport, then had him sign the form with the quoted price before he loaded it.  It actually worked out very well for us but we were shipping from Houston to South Carolina which is a very common shipping route.

Amy L, sorry this is delayed! My son was on security hold because I was born on an Air Force Base in England and they needed my naturalization paper, but they didn't ask for it until much later.  We had to guess what it was that they needed.  Frustrating for sure!

Angela, where in So Cal are you? I'm in Rancho Cucamonga!

And a big hello to Kevsmom!!!!

I would like to ask for some prayers or positive thoughts for a Navy Mom/Sub Mom friend of mine who is having some medical issues.  Thank you!

Congratulations to your son ndsubmom it is always nice when their wishes align with needs of the Navy.  

hoping someone can offer insight, my son has been at A school in Groton since january.  two times he has told us he was going to get leave to come home for a couple days and both times he says it was cancelled at the last min,  has anyone else experienced similar situation?

Hello!  My son just arrived in Groton on 9/5/15. His PIR was 9/4/15. He is our first born to leave and his brother will be following him into the Navy next summer. Im still learning all of the terms and acronyms that are associated with the Navy and having a sailor .  I am looking forward to learning more about submarines and the jobs on a submarine. My son's rating is MM but now he is a FA. That's all I know. He said he is waiting for his school to start so I am assuming that more sailors are needed before a new school/class starts?.  If anyone has any tips, inside info, or what not regarding A school and how long, etc., Im listening/reading!

Thank you for the advice Navymom9828! I must say, Boot camp was quite an experience for us and I know for our son!  I have received MORE texts and calls in the past three days than I ever did while he lived at home-- and you'd think he would communicate frequently while home!  It's nice to know that the base our son is at seems to be nice and has amenties that he will eventually be able to use. I just hate the NOT KNOWING part. Our son doesn't give much detail, however, he seems to tell his Dad lots. That's good as long as someone in the family is getting details. I keep telling our son to MAKE FRIENDS when possible and try to put himself "out there". He is such an introvert that I worry ( too much I am sure). I am trying my best NOT to ask too many questions and give him room to breathe and grow. Im just THRILLED that we can talk to him. Boot Camp just about pushed me over the edge!! Good Luck to your son as he progresses in his career with the Navy.

Oh, yes, we just have the two sons.. 16 months apart in age!!!!

My son also arrived on 9/5 and is at Groton sub school/ A school. He said they just started yesterday and have to fill out paperwork and get other things done to get their yellow card. He likes it there and is already talking about the holidays. (as long as he doesn't have watch). I love getting the texts and phone calls (I am so happy we met him at the airport to give him those)  He got a mailbox yesterday as well.

My son left Groton about a year ago. My advice to the sailors would be to focus on quals, and classwork. There will be those who will drink and do drugs - they will be kicked out! There are perks to graduating with top grades. Keep your eye on the goal! 

There is almost 2 weeks off around Christmas regardless of whether they have accumulated leave or not - but plan your return trip with the New England weather in mind!

bonnieg-- WELCOME!  If I may ask, what division was your son in?  Ours was 290.

Good Luck to your sailor and to you! There is SO MUCH TO LEARN!

Ours was in 297. He didn't leave 9/5 until noon. I heard there was 2 different flights for Groton. Maybe they will class up together. 

Sorry that was 298 . 297/298 trained together. 

My son graduated ITS July 4th(ish).  The school sequence was BESS, A school, C school and F school (also called SubLAN).   The whole thing was approx 1 year at Groton.

bonnieg-- our son left with the first group of sailors-- 7:25 am. So we were at O'Hare from 1:25 am til 7 ish. We saw him board the plane but I had to leave. I couldn't watch the plane take off. It was so hard holding back the tears. Im so proud of our son but just so sad he had to leave so soon after graduation. I believe there were 13 of them that left on that flight.

fayegirrl4--our son left on the noon plane I think he said twenty on that one (not positive on the number) He is now doing quals and paperwork to get his yellow card.  It is very hard, but it is great that the communication is back. He calls at least once a day. I have one going in next year as well, he is already in DEP.

bonnieg--sounds like we are on the same path with our second son as well. DEP now and then hs graduation in May. Ship out July 19th, 2016... as long as he graduates! I am pretty sure he will unless he just totally gives up which I can't see him doing. He's a pretty motivated young man.

Yes she has a facebook page.

www.facebook.com/KsHomemadeSweetsNTreats

She is amazing and works in all budgets.   My sailor loved her Bownie Peanut Butter Bombs.  But she does all kinds of custom work.   I had a standing order for every month on the 17th (his da of birth) and she never failed to deliver.

We miss her so much now that we are in Bangor!

Hello everyone! I am new here. My sailor just arrived at BESS yesterday. So guess what? I have some questions.

1) Is there an actual graduation ceremony that family attends?
2) How soon do they find out the graduation date?
3) Do the sailors stay in these barracks for the duration of Sub school and their A and technical schooling?
4) If their training is a year long, do they keep their same roommate the whole way through?
5) Where is the best place for family to stay for visits one they get their yellow card?

Is anyone familiar with the schooling process and time for the MM rate at Groton?

stevesgirl68,

1. There is a graduation ceremony for BESS and one for A School.  It is a small less formal ceremony but I really enjoyed both.  My sons instructors, the Master Chief, Chaplain and others came through the room during the time before the graduation and talked to the families that were there.  They asked us questions, asked if we had any questions and just chatted and joked with us.  Then during the ceremony the Master Chief would stop everything so that parents could take pictures of their Sailors.  It is not necesary to attend but if you can I would highly recommend it.

2. I can't be sure but I think he found out his graduation date in first week of actual class. Not during indoc.

3 & 4. Mine did not stay in the same barracks.  He moved once or twice and his room mates changed several times because they graduated before him.  It can be a little frustrating because they are not always in school at the same time as their room mate.

5. The last time we were there we stayed at The Navy Lodge.  The price is right and the rooms are very nice.  The time before there were more of us so I rented a house from Homeaway.com.  I found a wonderful cottage for $140 a night and it was a beautiful place right on the water.

My son is an MM.  He arrived in Groton in February and left for his new base in August.

Hope this helps

Thanks ndsubmom for the link! I will definitely check it out!

Hi.  I haven't written anything on here yet.  My daughter arrived at Groton on 8/16.  She is one of the first 4 women stationed there right now among about 1000 men.  I am very proud of her for deciding to join the Navy and to be on a submarine.

Any other 'girl' sub moms on here?