eBearFlorida
It could be different for you as far as airport and timing, etc, but here is what our experience was: Our son flew out of O'Hare the next morning. There will be a group leader, which my son was, that is responsible to make sure everyone gets on the flight, etc. His group flew to Boston, which is about a 2 hour drive to Groton. My son had to call the bus to come and pick them up once they got to Boston. They will get checked in and assigned to their room that same day.
As far as how often they can call when they get there, you can take your sailor their cell phone at the airport before they leave. They cannot take their phone back to RTC the night of graduation, which is why you have to take it to the airport. After that they are free to use it at will, except when they are in class.
Hi eBearFlorida, my son's PIR was Aug. 3rd of this year, and he flew out of Chicago O'Hare on Saturday morning around 9:00am, if I remember correctly. He flew into Providence, RI with 7 other sailors. Again, if my memory serves, they contacted the Sub School in Groton when they arrived, and a van was dispatched to pick them up. (Or possibly the van was already there, because the base knows when they're coming in. I'm not 100% sure which way it went, but I do know they were on the base within about 90 minutes to an hour of landing in Providence. Either way, your SR's ground transport from Providence to Groton will be provided by the Navy.) Sometimes, I was told, the sailors bound for Groton will be flown into Hartford, CT. The Providence airport is about 45 minutes from the base, Hartford is about an hour.
When my son was at BESS, he could call (or text or Skype) pretty much as often as he wanted, when he wasn't in class or on duty. They definitely have more freedom at BESS, though some of it is still fairly regimented. E.g., every afternoon they line up outside their barracks and march to chow at the galley in formation. They muster in the mornings before going to class. They have group PT. Etc.
Living arrangements while at BESS are in barracks set up sort of like college dorms. My son shared a room with one other sailor, and they shared a bathroom with the room next door. So there were 4 sailors sharing the bathroom, but two to a bedroom, if that makes sense. They also had a refrigerator and microwave in their room.
They'll spend time in class, in hands-on trainers, getting quals in various "basic sailoring" areas (watch-standing, etc.). Depending on their liberty card color (white, yellow, blue, etc.), they might be allowed to leave the base for short periods, usually restricted to a certain number of miles radius of the base, and with a set time they have to be back on base. On base, there's a really, really nice NEX and commissary, also a Subway, and a food court at the NEX with a hamburger stand and coffee stand (Green Bean Coffee...really good!). There's a theater on base that shows a couple movies each week, and a golf course. There's also a nice Liberty Center for young sailors where they have video game consoles, music rooms, etc.
Warn your SR that the base is pretty hilly, and he (or she) will be doing a lot of walking to get down to the NEX, theater, etc. He'll be in great shape. Oh, also, there's a branch of Navy Federal Credit Union right on base, so if his/her account is there, banking is pretty easy.
If you have any other questions I might answer, feel free to ask.
Thank you! That was all super informative. I am crossing my fingers that he does fly out of O'Hare obviously because that is where I have tickets to fly out of also. I am so glad to hear that he will be able to call home or us call him whenever we want other than class time. The no communication has been so hard now while he's at RTC.
Forgot to add, eBearFlorida...be sure to tell your sailor that Dominos Pizza delivers right to the barracks on base. They have delivery drivers who are sailors moonlighting for extra money. Lol! You wouldn't believe how many deliveries they make to the base each day.
Our son flew to Groton, Ct. on November 17th. He was group leader for the 22 sailors that were going there as well. His group flew out of Midway Airport on Saturday afternoon. Our flight was out of O'Hare unfortunately. It turned out to be okay--just a little less convenient. We just met his group at 3:00 am at Midway (though his group did not show up until around 6:00 am because they dropped a group of sailors off at O'Hare before heading to Midway, lol), spent the morning with him and left for the O'Hare airport early afternoon to catch our early evening flight. O'Hare is less than an hour away. I do caution you to check drive times between Midway and O'Hare if you are in the same situation as us. The drive time varied wildly depending on time of the day. Luckily this all takes place on a Saturday, which benefits the drive time expectancy. He was exhausted as he had watch after after we took him back after graduation and only had one hour of sleep before leaving for the airport. He went to the USO and slept until his flight left.
Question about liberty. My SO is graduating BESS this month and I plan to visit them in Feb. So they should be in 'A' school for about a month at that point.
I plan on visiting when they have duty day on a Thursday so that their whole weekend is free. I assume unless something happens and he has to go back a phase, that he'll be in Phase III liberty at the time I visit.
Does this mean he will be able to stay overnight with me Fri-Sat night and return back Sunday night or does he still need to return back to his barracks each night?
I'm confused on if phase III allows overnight liberty the entire night and not just until a certain time.
Great question Deva. I don't know if I will be able to visit my son when he is there, but does anyone know if there is any opportunity for him to come home for a couple of days? I would actually prefer to go to him but wonder about both scenarios.
Deva - Depending on your SO's rate, I would say he will have overnight liberty on the weekend. Not having high enough grades in training classes can set liberty phases back, so just something to be aware of.
We visited our sailor over Thanksgiving weekend, and he spend Wed-Sat nights with us in our hotel and had to be back on base by 10:00 Sunday night.
eBearFlorida - Depending on how long your son is there he may have a leave opportunity. During school leave is typically around Holidays though, since they really can't afford to miss class. For those that have been there long enough, there is a two week stand down at Christmas and sailors are allowed to take leave for 1/2 of it, so some get the first half and some the second. They accrue leave over time, just like vacation days, so they also have to have enough leave time built up.
So far he's been getting 90's+ in classes so I'm not too worried about him academically. It just seems that someone recently punched a hole in a wall somewhere and everyone is upset about it and might ding everyone in terms of punishment unless that's already been resolved.
Glad that unless someone super crazy happens that he should ideally have overnight liberty when I visit!
Good Afternoon Moms! I have a situation. My son is in BESS at Groton. He was supposed to take leave before Christmas and was denied because he had been exposed to TB while at GL and they re-tested him and 13 other men and told them they had to wait for the test results to return. He then requested leave to start today and his request was never signed. We bought him a plane ticket for tomorrow. Does anyone have any idea how we can help get it signed? Is it too late? He just won't advocate for himself.
I am sorry to hear that your son is struggling to get approved for leave. If his test results are in and he is cleared I would urge him to talk to his command about getting his chit approved. Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything that you can do to help him, he has to take the initiative on this one.
We visited my son for Thanksgiving and he and my husband had hockey tickets to go to NYC the night before Thanksgiving and then he got assigned to a rotation of night classes starting that week. Initially he thought there was no way he would be able to get out of class and go to the hockey game. He ended up approaching the instructor and the instructor told him that if he felt like he could be prepared to take the test they were taking Wednesday night, he would proxy the test for him over his lunch hour on Wednesday and then he could miss class. He took the test, passed with flying colors, and headed out to a hockey game with his dad.
I tell that story just to show that even the Officers/chiefs/instructors are human, and your son should take the initiative to at least try.
My son arrived at BESS on late Sunday night. Been Snapchatting him since he arrived there and we arrived home in FL. I'm so excited to be able to communicate with him! What Div was your daughter in at RTC?
My son is in BESS now. The lasl I knew he was supposed to graduate from BESS this past Friday, but his girlfriend, the only person he has spoken too at any length, said he was pushed back a few weeks. He also told her he has no access to his cell phone. None of this makes any sense. Can anyone explexp what may be happening?
They may have pushed your sailor back to the next BESS class because of not passing the final test, if he was that close. I have not heard of them not able to have their phone.
I continue to not hear at all from my son. His phone goes directly to voicemail and all the apps I can use to contact him go unanswered. I am pretty concerned that we have heard nothing from him. I don't know what to think. His girlfriend seems to think its just normal protocol, nothing is wrong. Any reassuring words for a worried mom?
Our son left Boot Camp on January 19 for Connecticut. We have a lot of communication with him text and phone. Maybe you could private message me his building number and maybe it’s the same as our sons.Or maybe he would know him and could find out for you.
That doesn’t sound right! The minute my baby hit Groton I’ve been hearing from him everyday. We sleep on the fone together. He got to Groton in sept. Even when he was on legal hold I still heard from him. Your even allowed to leave base after you achieve the specific quails (or something)
Something is fishy. Sub School isn't like boot camp, they have regular hours and they all have phones and internet when not in class. Hate to say it, but I suspect the GF isn't telling you something. Your options for official channels are limited and they may or may not be permitted to tell you anything. You might try the Chaplain at the Naval Submarine School. I've never actually talked to a Chaplain, but I would think they would at least be sympathetic, and can maintain confidentiality in both directions.
Cindy, I certainly did! And yes, there were family members present for the BESS graduation. It obviously isn't as elaborate as PIR, but I thought it was a really nice ceremony.
Thank you sunflowerLynn! I feel a little lost since he arrived at Groton . We had so much information about boot camp and then almost nothing. We would be traveling from AZ, I’m going to look in to our options. ❤️
Cindy, feel free to ask me anything. I'm no expert, but my son has been in Groton for BESS, A-school, and now C-school so I may have answers to other questions that come up based on my experiences.
If you do travel to Groton for BESS graduation, there's a pretty nice Navy Lodge just 5 minutes from the base, and I believe your son can get you a room there. Rates are reasonable ($79/night last time I checked) and they don't charge any sales or room taxes, either. Flying into Providence, RI is closest (45 minutes from Groton), but you can also fly into Hartford, CT (about an hour from Groton).
Well, today is day two for my Sailor! He is now a member of the Groton Ct. Sub School. I am excited for all things new and building on the knowledge from Boot Camp. He graduated Nov. 1, 2019.
Hi Dmom...I asked my son who went through Groton last year. He said your son should have been assigned a mailbox at the base post office at Bledsoe Hall, probably has info about it in a packet he would have received the first or second day of BESS. If he can't find it, he should go down to the PO at Bledsoe Hall and talk to them about it. They can also explain how he can receive packages, which if I remember correctly he will only be able to do during the hours the post office is staffed.
Hello! New to this group. My SR just finished BC and will be heading to groton soon. He is looking forward to being in Connecticut. Definitely change of scenery compared to his lifelong south louisiana home. He will be in the secf rate. Not sure if they do sub school first or secf school. We are also looking forward to a visit up there.
Hi, Kellyrene. They do Basic Enlisted Submarine School first, then they will do the schools that comprise the SECF training for the various rates that are part of that. It has been a few years since my son went through that, so I don't know if that has changed at all.
Hello! My sailor finally made it! He has been in groton for two weeks now and is really excited about the next part of his journey. Any new moms out there, would love to here from you.
Kellyrene, congrats on your sailor making it to Groton! Barring another case of ROM, my son should be graduating RTC and heading to Groton & Sub school in early October. Would love to hear what your son thinks of the base, how he likes housing, school, any tips he would give a new arrival for settling in, etc. Thanks!
Hello Ladies, I'm a new-be, my sailor finished BC, IPR on 10/ 23 & just arrived at Groton for BESS. He is very excited to be at Groton but, not ecstatic to be switched from a MM to a TM. Does anyone know what the TM job entails. We would love to visit but, not sure if this is possible with the COVID issue. Does anyone know if this is possible?
Kellyrene, & Catherine, Are your Sailors still at Groton or have they been sent on. Mine arrived about 2 weeks ago and is doing well. He was told, he will be there for sub school & the next school too. While he seems to have settled in, are there any tips your sailors have mentioned that could help him along the way. Do you know if home baked goodies can be sent to our sailor???
Hi, Any moms in this group with sailors in Groton Sub school since mid Dec.+ - My son finished sub school about 2.5 weeks ago and has been in a holding pattern to do A school. He has had long waits, 3 wks between BC & sub school and now in another holding pattern for almost 3 weeks He still hasn't gotten classed up for A school. To make matters worse his father passed away 2 weeks ago, between this & not being able to move forward with his training, he has gotten very discouraged. If anyone has any encouraging thoughts please send them my (our) way. We are struggling a bit. Thanks. Catskill Mt. Gere
Hi, I’m a new mom to the group, my son will be graduating from BC on April 1st. He is supposed to be going to Sub school afterwards. Does anyone know about how long he will have to wait to transfer? Or is there a wait? Also does anyone know about visitation there?
Hi Navyboymom00. My son graduated BC a couple years ago, so I'm going to share info I remember from then.
As far as how long before he transfers to Groton, I think that he will probably go to Groton right after graduation (mine flew out the next morning). He may have to wait for a few weeks until they put together a complete Sub School class, but I think that wait will happen in Groton.
Once he is in Groton, he will probably be allowed visitors, subject to the whims of the command, of course. Once he gets there, he'll be able to have his phone, make calls, etc., so he'll be able to give you more info once he's arrived. I was able to attend my son's Sub School graduation, too. It obviously wasn't as spectacular as the BC graduation (Pass In Review/PIR), but it was still a really nice, more intimate ceremony.
Hi Navyboymom00, As you may have noticed had a bunch of questions as my son was finishing up BC too.
My oldest son and youngest son both joined the Navy. My oldest was shipped out of Great Lakes within 48 hrs. Due to COVID my youngest son had a long wait (5+- weeks) at Great Lakes before heading to sub school in Groton Ct. Please tell your son to hang in there if this happens. Once he gets to Groton it will be better. Sadly COVID is still slowing things down.
As SunflowerLynn mentioned he may have to wait he may have to wait again till they class up. While my son was waiting his group was painting the barracks. Now he has interior house painting skills to add to his resume! The best thing is we could talk on the phone nightly,. Once he earned Liberty we could visit but, with covid we could not enter the base, he had to come out.
My son just graduated from sub school in Groton Ct. Sadly as with the BC pass in review there was no in person graduation. We saw a few pictures on FB. In 2 days he has Leave, I can't wait, we have him for a whole week!!! Next he will be shipped across the the US to the west coast to start his Navy career as a MMA. After all the waiting & training he is so excited, I am so proud of him ... he ranked 3rd in his MM school!
Thank you Catskills Mountain Gere and Sunflowerlynn for your insight. I appreciate your help and sharing your experience with me. It gives me something to look forward to. Maybe I will get to visit him sooner than later. Hopefully he won’t be stuck at GL for too long.
Yari, he can always talk to the Chaplain in confidence.
I would counsel patience and endurance. A-school isn't like being out in the fleet. He is going through and adjustment. Too, times are weird and stressful for everybody right now.
"Is not for me right now" isn't exactly a productive way of thinking in the service. It can be difficult for young men to introspect, but perhaps he could think about what, specifically, he is having trouble with, and what could be done about it.
Some of being a sailor kind of sucks. A lot about being a submariner really sucks. Some submariners of my acquaintance would say "embrace the suck!"
After training he will join a crew and, typically, will stay with them for 3 years. They are tight-knit such that everyone knows everyone. It is a very special and, in many ways, elite community.
Yari, My son too was having a hard time questioning whether he was in the right place. His father passed away a few weeks after he got to Groton CT. This hit him very hard. He was able to get help through the medical building on the base, which put him in contact with a psychiatrist contracted by the gov. This helped him work out his doughts. He is now on the west coast & loving it. Hope this helped, Catskill
Dear Yari, keeping you & your son in my prayers. Wish I had some awesome advise to help you. The comments that Wears LargeHats made really nailed it. My son was deployed to Bangore Washington and it made such a big difference. While his ship is dry docked and the work days are long he is doing well, likes the job, his roommate and the ship's crew. So just keep supporting him & be patience. Sometimes our children need to do things the hard way, to accomplish what they set out to & become who they will be. As a parent it can be agonizing. Hang in there. Catskill
CarlaB
It could be different for you as far as airport and timing, etc, but here is what our experience was: Our son flew out of O'Hare the next morning. There will be a group leader, which my son was, that is responsible to make sure everyone gets on the flight, etc. His group flew to Boston, which is about a 2 hour drive to Groton. My son had to call the bus to come and pick them up once they got to Boston. They will get checked in and assigned to their room that same day.
As far as how often they can call when they get there, you can take your sailor their cell phone at the airport before they leave. They cannot take their phone back to RTC the night of graduation, which is why you have to take it to the airport. After that they are free to use it at will, except when they are in class.
Dec 8, 2018
SunflowerLynn
Hi eBearFlorida, my son's PIR was Aug. 3rd of this year, and he flew out of Chicago O'Hare on Saturday morning around 9:00am, if I remember correctly. He flew into Providence, RI with 7 other sailors. Again, if my memory serves, they contacted the Sub School in Groton when they arrived, and a van was dispatched to pick them up. (Or possibly the van was already there, because the base knows when they're coming in. I'm not 100% sure which way it went, but I do know they were on the base within about 90 minutes to an hour of landing in Providence. Either way, your SR's ground transport from Providence to Groton will be provided by the Navy.) Sometimes, I was told, the sailors bound for Groton will be flown into Hartford, CT. The Providence airport is about 45 minutes from the base, Hartford is about an hour.
When my son was at BESS, he could call (or text or Skype) pretty much as often as he wanted, when he wasn't in class or on duty. They definitely have more freedom at BESS, though some of it is still fairly regimented. E.g., every afternoon they line up outside their barracks and march to chow at the galley in formation. They muster in the mornings before going to class. They have group PT. Etc.
Living arrangements while at BESS are in barracks set up sort of like college dorms. My son shared a room with one other sailor, and they shared a bathroom with the room next door. So there were 4 sailors sharing the bathroom, but two to a bedroom, if that makes sense. They also had a refrigerator and microwave in their room.
They'll spend time in class, in hands-on trainers, getting quals in various "basic sailoring" areas (watch-standing, etc.). Depending on their liberty card color (white, yellow, blue, etc.), they might be allowed to leave the base for short periods, usually restricted to a certain number of miles radius of the base, and with a set time they have to be back on base. On base, there's a really, really nice NEX and commissary, also a Subway, and a food court at the NEX with a hamburger stand and coffee stand (Green Bean Coffee...really good!). There's a theater on base that shows a couple movies each week, and a golf course. There's also a nice Liberty Center for young sailors where they have video game consoles, music rooms, etc.
Warn your SR that the base is pretty hilly, and he (or she) will be doing a lot of walking to get down to the NEX, theater, etc. He'll be in great shape. Oh, also, there's a branch of Navy Federal Credit Union right on base, so if his/her account is there, banking is pretty easy.
If you have any other questions I might answer, feel free to ask.
Dec 8, 2018
eBearFlorida
Thank you! That was all super informative. I am crossing my fingers that he does fly out of O'Hare obviously because that is where I have tickets to fly out of also. I am so glad to hear that he will be able to call home or us call him whenever we want other than class time. The no communication has been so hard now while he's at RTC.
Dec 8, 2018
SunflowerLynn
Forgot to add, eBearFlorida...be sure to tell your sailor that Dominos Pizza delivers right to the barracks on base. They have delivery drivers who are sailors moonlighting for extra money. Lol! You wouldn't believe how many deliveries they make to the base each day.
Dec 8, 2018
Viola
eBearFlorida,
Our son flew to Groton, Ct. on November 17th. He was group leader for the 22 sailors that were going there as well. His group flew out of Midway Airport on Saturday afternoon. Our flight was out of O'Hare unfortunately. It turned out to be okay--just a little less convenient. We just met his group at 3:00 am at Midway (though his group did not show up until around 6:00 am because they dropped a group of sailors off at O'Hare before heading to Midway, lol), spent the morning with him and left for the O'Hare airport early afternoon to catch our early evening flight. O'Hare is less than an hour away. I do caution you to check drive times between Midway and O'Hare if you are in the same situation as us. The drive time varied wildly depending on time of the day. Luckily this all takes place on a Saturday, which benefits the drive time expectancy. He was exhausted as he had watch after after we took him back after graduation and only had one hour of sleep before leaving for the airport. He went to the USO and slept until his flight left.
Dec 10, 2018
Deva
Question about liberty. My SO is graduating BESS this month and I plan to visit them in Feb. So they should be in 'A' school for about a month at that point.
I plan on visiting when they have duty day on a Thursday so that their whole weekend is free. I assume unless something happens and he has to go back a phase, that he'll be in Phase III liberty at the time I visit.
Does this mean he will be able to stay overnight with me Fri-Sat night and return back Sunday night or does he still need to return back to his barracks each night?
I'm confused on if phase III allows overnight liberty the entire night and not just until a certain time.
Dec 11, 2018
eBearFlorida
Great question Deva. I don't know if I will be able to visit my son when he is there, but does anyone know if there is any opportunity for him to come home for a couple of days? I would actually prefer to go to him but wonder about both scenarios.
Dec 11, 2018
CarlaB
Deva - Depending on your SO's rate, I would say he will have overnight liberty on the weekend. Not having high enough grades in training classes can set liberty phases back, so just something to be aware of.
We visited our sailor over Thanksgiving weekend, and he spend Wed-Sat nights with us in our hotel and had to be back on base by 10:00 Sunday night.
eBearFlorida - Depending on how long your son is there he may have a leave opportunity. During school leave is typically around Holidays though, since they really can't afford to miss class. For those that have been there long enough, there is a two week stand down at Christmas and sailors are allowed to take leave for 1/2 of it, so some get the first half and some the second. They accrue leave over time, just like vacation days, so they also have to have enough leave time built up.
Dec 12, 2018
Deva
Thanks Carla!
So far he's been getting 90's+ in classes so I'm not too worried about him academically. It just seems that someone recently punched a hole in a wall somewhere and everyone is upset about it and might ding everyone in terms of punishment unless that's already been resolved.
Glad that unless someone super crazy happens that he should ideally have overnight liberty when I visit!
Dec 12, 2018
Viola
Good Afternoon Moms! I have a situation. My son is in BESS at Groton. He was supposed to take leave before Christmas and was denied because he had been exposed to TB while at GL and they re-tested him and 13 other men and told them they had to wait for the test results to return. He then requested leave to start today and his request was never signed. We bought him a plane ticket for tomorrow. Does anyone have any idea how we can help get it signed? Is it too late? He just won't advocate for himself.
Dec 28, 2018
Deva
For tomorrow Viola? No way.
For holiday leave he would’ve had to have been approved months ago. Hope you got refundable tickets
Dec 28, 2018
CarlaB
Viola
I am sorry to hear that your son is struggling to get approved for leave. If his test results are in and he is cleared I would urge him to talk to his command about getting his chit approved. Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything that you can do to help him, he has to take the initiative on this one.
We visited my son for Thanksgiving and he and my husband had hockey tickets to go to NYC the night before Thanksgiving and then he got assigned to a rotation of night classes starting that week. Initially he thought there was no way he would be able to get out of class and go to the hockey game. He ended up approaching the instructor and the instructor told him that if he felt like he could be prepared to take the test they were taking Wednesday night, he would proxy the test for him over his lunch hour on Wednesday and then he could miss class. He took the test, passed with flying colors, and headed out to a hockey game with his dad.
I tell that story just to show that even the Officers/chiefs/instructors are human, and your son should take the initiative to at least try.
Dec 28, 2018
Melissa
Hello. My daughter just graduated BC and is now in school in Groton. So proud of her.
Jan 8, 2019
eBearFlorida
My son arrived at BESS on late Sunday night. Been Snapchatting him since he arrived there and we arrived home in FL. I'm so excited to be able to communicate with him! What Div was your daughter in at RTC?
Jan 8, 2019
Melissa
Division o66 and I agree it's a relief to be able to communicate with them, I still worry just not as much.
Jan 8, 2019
eBearFlorida
My son is in BESS now. The lasl I knew he was supposed to graduate from BESS this past Friday, but his girlfriend, the only person he has spoken too at any length, said he was pushed back a few weeks. He also told her he has no access to his cell phone. None of this makes any sense. Can anyone explexp what may be happening?
Mar 3, 2019
RhondaA
Mar 4, 2019
eBearFlorida
I continue to not hear at all from my son. His phone goes directly to voicemail and all the apps I can use to contact him go unanswered. I am pretty concerned that we have heard nothing from him. I don't know what to think. His girlfriend seems to think its just normal protocol, nothing is wrong. Any reassuring words for a worried mom?
Mar 10, 2019
Cindy
@eBearFlordia
how long has your son been at Groton?
Mar 10, 2019
eBearFlorida
January 4th he left boot camp.
Mar 10, 2019
eBearFlorida
He was supposed to be going to GA on March 1st
Mar 10, 2019
Cindy
Our son left Boot Camp on January 19 for Connecticut. We have a lot of communication with him text and phone. Maybe you could private message me his building number and maybe it’s the same as our sons.Or maybe he would know him and could find out for you.
Mar 10, 2019
Cindy
I sent a friend request to you on your private page
Mar 10, 2019
sailorsgirl
Mar 10, 2019
WearsLargeHats
Something is fishy. Sub School isn't like boot camp, they have regular hours and they all have phones and internet when not in class. Hate to say it, but I suspect the GF isn't telling you something. Your options for official channels are limited and they may or may not be permitted to tell you anything. You might try the Chaplain at the Naval Submarine School. I've never actually talked to a Chaplain, but I would think they would at least be sympathetic, and can maintain confidentiality in both directions.
Mar 10, 2019
Cindy
Do families attend the graduation from BESS? You
Mar 16, 2019
SunflowerLynn
Cindy, I certainly did! And yes, there were family members present for the BESS graduation. It obviously isn't as elaborate as PIR, but I thought it was a really nice ceremony.
Mar 16, 2019
Cindy
Thank you sunflowerLynn! I feel a little lost since he arrived at Groton . We had so much information about boot camp and then almost nothing. We would be traveling from AZ, I’m going to look in to our options. ❤️
Mar 17, 2019
SunflowerLynn
Cindy, feel free to ask me anything. I'm no expert, but my son has been in Groton for BESS, A-school, and now C-school so I may have answers to other questions that come up based on my experiences.
If you do travel to Groton for BESS graduation, there's a pretty nice Navy Lodge just 5 minutes from the base, and I believe your son can get you a room there. Rates are reasonable ($79/night last time I checked) and they don't charge any sales or room taxes, either. Flying into Providence, RI is closest (45 minutes from Groton), but you can also fly into Hartford, CT (about an hour from Groton).
Mar 18, 2019
tazangel227
Hey y’all...my son just left for BC on Tuesday and after PIR he’ll be going to Groton. Thought I’d stop in to say hi...
Apr 12, 2019
SunflowerLynn
Hello, tazangel! Good to “meet” you! All best wishes to your son as he makes the journey through GL, and then on to Groton.
Apr 12, 2019
Sailormom01
My son will graduate boot camp on Nov. 1, then off to BESS!!!
Sep 24, 2019
Sailormom01
Well, today is day two for my Sailor! He is now a member of the Groton Ct. Sub School. I am excited for all things new and building on the knowledge from Boot Camp. He graduated Nov. 1, 2019.
Nov 5, 2019
jillybean
My Sailor has arrived in CT. I hope he likes the cold!
Jan 21, 2020
SunflowerLynn
Hi Dmom...I asked my son who went through Groton last year. He said your son should have been assigned a mailbox at the base post office at Bledsoe Hall, probably has info about it in a packet he would have received the first or second day of BESS. If he can't find it, he should go down to the PO at Bledsoe Hall and talk to them about it. They can also explain how he can receive packages, which if I remember correctly he will only be able to do during the hours the post office is staffed.
Aug 3, 2020
Kellyrene
Hello! New to this group. My SR just finished BC and will be heading to groton soon. He is looking forward to being in Connecticut. Definitely change of scenery compared to his lifelong south louisiana home. He will be in the secf rate. Not sure if they do sub school first or secf school. We are also looking forward to a visit up there.
Aug 29, 2020
WearsLargeHats
Hi, Kellyrene. They do Basic Enlisted Submarine School first, then they will do the schools that comprise the SECF training for the various rates that are part of that. It has been a few years since my son went through that, so I don't know if that has changed at all.
Aug 30, 2020
Kellyrene
Hello! My sailor finally made it! He has been in groton for two weeks now and is really excited about the next part of his journey. Any new moms out there, would love to here from you.
Sep 13, 2020
Catherine
Kellyrene, congrats on your sailor making it to Groton! Barring another case of ROM, my son should be graduating RTC and heading to Groton & Sub school in early October. Would love to hear what your son thinks of the base, how he likes housing, school, any tips he would give a new arrival for settling in, etc. Thanks!
Sep 20, 2020
Catskill Mountain Gere
Hello Ladies, I'm a new-be, my sailor finished BC, IPR on 10/ 23 & just arrived at Groton for BESS. He is very excited to be at Groton but, not ecstatic to be switched from a MM to a TM. Does anyone know what the TM job entails. We would love to visit but, not sure if this is possible with the COVID issue. Does anyone know if this is possible?
Nov 9, 2020
Catskill Mountain Gere
Kellyrene, & Catherine, Are your Sailors still at Groton or have they been sent on. Mine arrived about 2 weeks ago and is doing well. He was told, he will be there for sub school & the next school too. While he seems to have settled in, are there any tips your sailors have mentioned that could help him along the way. Do you know if home baked goodies can be sent to our sailor???
Nov 28, 2020
Catskill Mountain Gere
Hi, Any moms in this group with sailors in Groton Sub school since mid Dec.+ - My son finished sub school about 2.5 weeks ago and has been in a holding pattern to do A school. He has had long waits, 3 wks between BC & sub school and now in another holding pattern for almost 3 weeks He still hasn't gotten classed up for A school. To make matters worse his father passed away 2 weeks ago, between this & not being able to move forward with his training, he has gotten very discouraged. If anyone has any encouraging thoughts please send them my (our) way. We are struggling a bit. Thanks. Catskill Mt. Gere
Jan 4, 2021
Navyboymom00
Hi, I’m a new mom to the group, my son will be graduating from BC on April 1st. He is supposed to be going to Sub school afterwards. Does anyone know about how long he will have to wait to transfer? Or is there a wait? Also does anyone know about visitation there?
Mar 16, 2021
SunflowerLynn
Hi Navyboymom00. My son graduated BC a couple years ago, so I'm going to share info I remember from then.
As far as how long before he transfers to Groton, I think that he will probably go to Groton right after graduation (mine flew out the next morning). He may have to wait for a few weeks until they put together a complete Sub School class, but I think that wait will happen in Groton.
Once he is in Groton, he will probably be allowed visitors, subject to the whims of the command, of course. Once he gets there, he'll be able to have his phone, make calls, etc., so he'll be able to give you more info once he's arrived. I was able to attend my son's Sub School graduation, too. It obviously wasn't as spectacular as the BC graduation (Pass In Review/PIR), but it was still a really nice, more intimate ceremony.
Hope this helps!
Mar 16, 2021
Catskill Mountain Gere
Hi Navyboymom00, As you may have noticed had a bunch of questions as my son was finishing up BC too.
My oldest son and youngest son both joined the Navy. My oldest was shipped out of Great Lakes within 48 hrs. Due to COVID my youngest son had a long wait (5+- weeks) at Great Lakes before heading to sub school in Groton Ct. Please tell your son to hang in there if this happens. Once he gets to Groton it will be better. Sadly COVID is still slowing things down.
As SunflowerLynn mentioned he may have to wait he may have to wait again till they class up. While my son was waiting his group was painting the barracks. Now he has interior house painting skills to add to his resume! The best thing is we could talk on the phone nightly,. Once he earned Liberty we could visit but, with covid we could not enter the base, he had to come out.
My son just graduated from sub school in Groton Ct. Sadly as with the BC pass in review there was no in person graduation. We saw a few pictures on FB. In 2 days he has Leave, I can't wait, we have him for a whole week!!! Next he will be shipped across the the US to the west coast to start his Navy career as a MMA. After all the waiting & training he is so excited, I am so proud of him ... he ranked 3rd in his MM school!
Mar 18, 2021
Navyboymom00
Thank you Catskills Mountain Gere and Sunflowerlynn for your insight. I appreciate your help and sharing your experience with me. It gives me something to look forward to. Maybe I will get to visit him sooner than later. Hopefully he won’t be stuck at GL for too long.
Mar 19, 2021
Catskill Mountain Gere
You're welcome Navyboymom00, Just hang in there & he'll be in Ct. before you know it & it will be warmer weather too!
Mar 19, 2021
WearsLargeHats
Yari, he can always talk to the Chaplain in confidence.
I would counsel patience and endurance. A-school isn't like being out in the fleet. He is going through and adjustment. Too, times are weird and stressful for everybody right now.
"Is not for me right now" isn't exactly a productive way of thinking in the service. It can be difficult for young men to introspect, but perhaps he could think about what, specifically, he is having trouble with, and what could be done about it.
Some of being a sailor kind of sucks. A lot about being a submariner really sucks. Some submariners of my acquaintance would say "embrace the suck!"
After training he will join a crew and, typically, will stay with them for 3 years. They are tight-knit such that everyone knows everyone. It is a very special and, in many ways, elite community.
May 24, 2021
Catskill Mountain Gere
Yari, My son too was having a hard time questioning whether he was in the right place. His father passed away a few weeks after he got to Groton CT. This hit him very hard. He was able to get help through the medical building on the base, which put him in contact with a psychiatrist contracted by the gov. This helped him work out his doughts. He is now on the west coast & loving it. Hope this helped, Catskill
May 24, 2021
Catskill Mountain Gere
Dear Yari, keeping you & your son in my prayers. Wish I had some awesome advise to help you. The comments that Wears LargeHats made really nailed it. My son was deployed to Bangore Washington and it made such a big difference. While his ship is dry docked and the work days are long he is doing well, likes the job, his roommate and the ship's crew. So just keep supporting him & be patience. Sometimes our children need to do things the hard way, to accomplish what they set out to & become who they will be. As a parent it can be agonizing. Hang in there. Catskill
Jun 9, 2021