Moms of "A" school Sailors

new to this sight...my son just got orders yesterday for the balboa navy hospital in san diego...just wondering if anyone could tell me a little about the place and what i should expect...he will be so far from home, my heart is heavy but oh so proud...he was 3rd in his class and got to pick...i am in louisiana...thanks for any info available! :)  by the way he is in san antonio right now and will graduate on oct 2!!

thank you marine navy mom...i just joined the group...so many groups...had no idea about all the different ones...

Anyone got a Sailor in Wichita Falls Texas for A school?

i know this is premature but my SR will be at A school in great lakes during Christmas will  they let them come home during Christmas if so will this accect there leave time after A school?

hello my SR will be at great lakes for A school during Christmas will they allow him to come home and if they do will that affect his home time after A school

Michael James, MOM - My son, Michael as well, is at A school right now too. It sounds like the school shuts down for a time, so they are able to come home. I have heard it's from dec 21st till jan 7th, but that hasn't been confirmed yet.  I can't wait to see him again. He graduated from boot camp 7/20. What about your sailor?

partrat thank you for the info sad to say i am just beginning my journey he leaves for basic sept 4 he may graduate 1 or 2 week of november so that will put him there for thanksgiving, christmas and new years in A school. first time in 18 yrs i havent had him with me through the holidays just keep going forward

My sons PIV is Sept 14 and A school will be Meridian MS starting the 15th. Anyone have loved ones there already?

don't know if this is where to ask but..i need help understanding air fare for the military...do they receive discounts...i am told they can get cheap air fare but don't know who to ask...my son will be visiting his dad after A sch...then he will fly to our home before going to san diego...so how do i find out?  thank you!

Hi singlelady, we found that the military discount that airlines offer wasn't really any better than the fare we found by booking flights online. We called the airline reservations to ask about this. She quoted us a military discount, but online reservations turned out to be cheaper. 

thank you proudkmom...

MARINE NAVY MOM...thanks for the advise as well...we understand about the ticket from base to permanent duty...we just thought he could get a discount when myself or his dad was trying to fly him home...after graduation he is headed to dad's in kentucky then home (my home) before he actually leaves going to CA...i guess we just assumed we could get a reduction on the ticket since he was military...i guess it's best to just ask the airline when trying to purchase the ticket?  so much to "still" learn! LOL!!

Good morning all, my sailor Manning just arrived at Pensacola yesterday, after a very long hold in GL. I am confused by the time frame he has given me, it has gone from 7 weeks, to 3 weeks, back to 7 and now 4 months..... anyone have any advise? I know the military in general is a hurry up and wait at times. I am glad he got the room mate he wanted which will make this transition easier. Thank you fro being here through this process, this has made thing soo much easier on the home front!! 

Hello all, Just joined this group getting familiar with everything. My sailor is in Pensicola. Is on hold for awhile before starting school.

My son arrived in Pensacola on Sunday morning.  He is on the Marine side of the base and is going to aircrew candidate school.  Is anyone else in the same situation?  Apparently it is essentially "bootcamp" again for him so of course the worrying begins again!!

Hi all; I am hoping someone can help me out a little with a question.  I have seen a little info here but still have questions.  My son will be going to MS, then San Diego, then oversees after A school.  As of right now, he only is getting 7 days of leave but we know that is always subject to change.  He is stressing because he thinks he is responsible for paying for his airfare to his overseas assignment if he takes his leave.  Does anyone know if this is true?  He isn't even sure at what point in all this moving his leave will be granted.  Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

marine navy mom, he is in A school, will finish in about a month...orders were just posted.  So far he hasn't been given a lot of info so if I tell him to just talk to travel they'll get him some answers?  Thank you for your help.

tdbridges, I can only tell you about our daughter when she came home on leave. . . She left Great Lakes on 9/6 and had to report to San Diego 9/20.  She did have to pay the difference to fly into San Jose instead of San Diego but it only cost her $93.  I am not sure about how much your son will have to pay to be able to come home since he is going all the way to Japan.  Have him check with the travel department and hopefully they can help him out.  I hope this helps some.  I am sorry I can't give you a definite answer.  Good luck.

hi anybody in pensacola for IT.son just arrived last saturday.

Good Morning...my SR just arrived in Pcola yesterday. He is an AM and we thought A School was about 5 weeks but he told us last night he might be there for 9 MONTHS or longer. Does anyone know why that would be?

my son was told he"d be there 8 months now they"re telling him 1yr  or longer.i don't know either.

does anyone know of any apartments near correy station that are decent?my son is getting married therefore he"s going to live off base.any ideas?

Hi...my son PiR on 9/28 and is in A school in Chicago. Am I in the right group?

My son left Great Lakes today.  His PIR was this last Friday 10/5.  He was the only one in his division to go to Missouri.  Any one else out there in Missouri?

PrdNavyMom - My son has been in Pensacola for a week now. He also gave me the same address and said if I send it to his name and then that address that it will go to the Quarterdeck and it will get to him. I am sending a box tomorrow and keeping my fingers crossed.

My son is in A school in Pensacola and he stated that every weekend they can have liberty but no overnight. Can someone tell me where is a good place to stay that is close. Is there a Navy Lodge there? Or other ones close? Do we have to print anything to go get our sailor? How does this all work?

We  were able to get one of the very recently remodeled suites at Navy Lodge in GL this past weekend.  having a living room gave more comfy lounging around space than sitting on the edges of the beds. Also a "more private" bedroom as needed. :))

One double bed with a division wall in the bedroom and 2 single beds on the other side of the division. Division is part way across the room, just dividing the beds from each other in the open room. Had to reserve thru til today to be able to use the room after noon yesterday, but we all left the Lodge by 4 pm.  SEAMAN APPRENTICE FAVORITO ( E-2) when back to base ( less than 5 min by taxi) with Sarge. so glad he was able to  meet face to face with Sarge and knows he is his best buddy for his next year in A schools there.. INDOC, ATT and A schools. BTW Sarge would not charge him taxi fare!! What a guy!! Make sure all your GL sailors have Sarge's phone number.

My SR's mom and gf left out of Midway to return to Florida last nite.

Grandpa and I ( Grandma) left out of O'Hare.  Very strangly, BOTH our planes were unable to leave the airport on time due to engine not being able to start.

Mechanics came to plant to service the engine while we all waited onboard.
 Our Delta flight left an hour and half late and Delta held up our connecting flight in Detroit for 30 minutes waiting for 19 passengers on the way to Florida to get there.

DAughters flight with AIRTRAN finally had them all de-plane and load onto

another aircraft , which then had to be readied for flight.  The got to JAX at 2 am rather than midnite as scheduled and we got to Fort Lauderdale at midnight rather than after 10 pm as scheduled.

My son just left BC today and is on his way to P'cola.  He should be there late this evening.  Will he start school Monday or will he have to wait for the classes to fill out like they had to wait in BC for divisions to fill up? 

Thanks marine_navy mom for the info

My son's PIR is Nov 9,  He will be staying at GL for A School.  What are all the A Schools in GL and how long are they for?  I'm new to the military Mom life and I would like to learn as much as possible about it.  I have had very limited phone calls, so I can't really ask my son.  When I would ask in letters, he understandably didn't answer probably didn't remember all the questions I was asking.  :)  Any info would be helpful.

Thanks.

do you know in what field he will train?  The A schools there are for different lenghts of time. Mine is in electronics now and will be FC..Fire Control...somewhat like the old GM  Gunnersmate..only now with missiles instead of guns. He is expecting to be in GL nearly a year.

To Janie 134, I don't have that information yet.  I will know better on Tuesday (I hope).  

Thank you to Marine Navy Mom.  I will learn all of this if it takes his whole career.  

starting a new chapter my son graduated 11-02 amazing ceremony...he is staying in GL for OS training school does not start til approx nov 12 unsure what to expect now.

Hi All,

My daughter has been at A school since the end of August.  She is at Fort Meade, MD.  She will be in school until March 2013 then off to wherever.  She loves what she is doing.  We were able to visit her 3 weeks ago and had an incredible time.  The Navy definitely suits her.

My daughter is in GulfPort and graduates A-School on 12/14 and really want to bring her home (WI) but no idea of a return date.  The price of a ticket to get her home went from $500 to $800 since last week and am sure it will double over the next month.  Any ideas or suggestions (I know probably have to just wait until she get's her papers--just sure by then we won't be able to afford the ticket to get her home).  

Hello Everyone!!!  My name is Theresa!  I'm new.  My son just graduated bootcamp on Nov 2nd in Great Lakes, IL and now he is in Port Hueneme, CA for A-school, seabee, Construction Mechanic!  He is disappointed, found out yesterday that school does not start now until January 7th instead of Nov 13th!  Guess this happens alot?????  Anyone know why???????  He sounds depressed now.

Thank you momofbp!!!!

my son called for the ship they are headed back to japan 

was so glad to hear from him does anyone know how the vacation for christmas works

My son just graduated from bootcamp and should be now, as I write, in Pensacola.  Is this the right group of moms for me?  He is a SR (Sea/air rescue, I believe is the correct term)

Thank you!

Chris'mom

he has been in since feb he sould have some leave? but he has only been in japan for about a month

Good Morning! My son just graduated BC on Friday. It was so amazing. Looking forwarded to learning more about A school here. He is in Groton,CT for sub school. Would love to hear from anyone there!

My son graduate on Friday the 30th of Nov also and is now in Groton. Hope they can get time of at Christmas. cannec024  I got one phone call so far from my son, he has no cell phone now,  borrowed from his roommate. , I was not able to go to graduation, really miss him. thanks marine navy mom for info

thanks marine navy mom,  we know we have to pay to  bring him home but it is worth it  just want to know a date hopefully this week so we can book a ticket. 

he is in japan and said he cant come home until next year since he has been there one month

thanks Marine navy mom, I look forward to seeing him , got his pictures from GL today they are good so glad to have that. 

myson is in japan and he does not like it can he come back to the states