CS (Culinary Specialist) Moms

Hi & welcome Elizabeth Armstrong - one of my Sailors is also a CSS. He has yet to go underway, just has guard duty while his boat has been overhauled.

Welcome Vikki & Kim - yes, he will stay at Great Lakes for indoc for a week or 2, then head to Fort Lee for Culinary. He will have Liberty for the weekend! 

Kim - as soon as you know your PIR date, make hotel reservations!

Vikki - (reposted from July)- When your son finishes boot, he will immediately have to move over to Great Lakes Naval Base following PIR. You will have to wait several hours (At least 2 or 3 o'clock) until they have "moved in" to the new base. Once he's free, they will have restricted liberty for the remainder of the weekend (Fri evening, Sat and Sun) - he will know the restrictions and when each day he is free and when to return. The CS all stay at GL for at least 2 and sometimes 4 weeks until the class is ready in VA. The first week is indoc classes (a Navy necessity) followed by a lot of cleaning and standing watch. That's just the way of it. As to PIR weekend, you can plan as it fits your schedule since he'll be in Great Lakes, IL for several more weeks.

Welcome to all the new Navy moms! Hoping the short weeks of boot pass easily for you (they won't, but we can always hope!). Feel free to read back 2 or 3 pages - I think we've hit almost all the questions in the last few pages somewhere. We've all been THERE and know how you are feeling. Hang on, the ride gets bumpy at times, but it is always thrilling.

Husky Mom~ thank you so much for making me feel welcome and for giving me some idea of what is ahead. My son won't even be leaving for boot camp until the end of May but still you all know how it is...thanks so much!! I am very sure I will be speaking with all of you daily!!

Welcome to All the new members...my sailor is a CSS and although he doesnt enjoy what he is doing, it is because he is color deficient and wanted another rate. The guys he works with mostly like what they are doing and have goals to "move up".  The White House chef is Navy, could be the reason the training they get for a CS is better than other branches.  Not bad on the resume!!!

On another note...Husky Mom---I smiled when i saw your name, 2 siberian huskies have kept us calm during the days of missing our sailor! 

Hi CS moms!  It is nice to hear about other people who have sailors in this position.  My son doesn't love his job but getting through.  He is on the USS Harry S Truman right now.  He is in his third year in the Navy!  

Hi CS Moms!!  My son signed his papers for CS Friday and is waiting for his ship assignment.

Hi, Donna (Eric's Mom) - Is your son changing rates or is he still Dep? Just wondering since you said he's getting a ship assignment. Those are not assigned til the end of schooling as far as I know.  Anyway - welcome to the Chef's moms place to chat. I just wish when mine came home he'd cook at least 1 meal! :p

Thanks for the welcome therevbev, my son is getting re-rated.  He was in the Nuke program.  I just guessed that he would be assigned a ship by what he says.  I asked him about schooling, but he said he didn't think that would happen.  I hope he does, so he knows what to expect when he does get on a ship.

My Mom-in-Law works as a head cook at a local nursing home and never cooks outside of work, so I can understand where you're coming from (oranges and apples).  Whenever we get together I always do all the cooking.

I'm looking forward to learning this part of the Navy, so any and all information will be welcomed.

Okay, had this not been a move, my terminology isn't probably right on the re-rating, what would the schooling have been??

My son was originally in the Nuke program, but because of a technicality was removed from the program and offered the CS job.  He took it, signed the commitment papers (I think that's what they were), and is waiting he says for orders.  I just thought that meant a ship.  Again, I'm not really good with all this stuff and my son isn't chatty at all, so most of this I wing (if you know what I mean).

Donna - If he does "school", it's about 5 weeks at Fort Lee in Richmond, VA. It's rather short for a school and is mostly an intro to recipes, Navy terminology in the galleys etc.. My son really enjoyed the class time - ½ class, ½ in kitchen. But that was my son's choice before Boot. Fort Lee is the ONLY school for Navy, Army, and AirForce cooks.  My son was given his ship assignment about 1 week before "graduation", had 10 days off and then had to catch his carrier in Guam since it had already started a 10 month deployment.  Hope everything works out well for your son.

Therevbev thanks for the information.  I will be surprised if they don't send him to school there.  It only makes since.

Finally -  after several months out of the galleys for maintenance work, he's back in the kitchens and happier than ever. I wasn't sure he would ever really enjoy the work in the galleys, but I guess it's true.... "absence makes the heart grow fonder".

therevbev so happy for him, I'm guessing absence does work like that.  LOL   I still haven't heard anymore about my son's move to CS.  He signed his commitment form and is waiting for further instructions.  Not easy just waiting on this end.

Hello All, its good to see some mom's commenting and connecting on this page.  It's good!

Good morning,  I'm new to this group.  My step-daughter is currently at RTC with a PIR date April 1st.  I understand she will remain at Great Lakes for a week or so until she leaves for Fort Lee.  Would you please provide me with information as the the process after PIR.  Since she'll be in temp housing, will she be able to have her personal belongings with her.  Sailors shipping out to A school typically can only have their items at the airport or their stuff must be sent to them.

Additionally, I understand A school to be 8-9 weeks long however there is a comment below which indicates it's only 5 weeks.  My husband and I are planning to travel to see her once she's done and I was hoping to have a tentative time frame.

How does one have the opportunity to attend C school?

Thanks for any information you're able to provide.  I appreciate it.

TonyandBethany, I hope you are planning on attending PIR next week.  It is a wonderful and memorable experience. 

I dont remember most of the details of what happened when our son went from GL-FL-Groton. We did give him some civilian clothes when we spent time with him after PIR, shopped for some as well and brought him his charged phone to make a few phone calls.  Since they basically walk across the street after PIR for processing, you will have time with them for most of the weekend.    I would recommend that you ask your sailor's recruiter, they should be able to help out.  Also, find a group on either FB or here with the listing of your sailor PIR.  There will be information shared there as well that might be useful. 

Have fun and Welcome to this life! 

TonyandBethay - Welcome and feel free to read back thru several pages. We've hit most of the questions already.  For all the new parents to CS recruits in boot - (it's time to move this up)

When your son finishes boot, he will immediately have to move over to Great Lakes Naval Base following PIR. You will have to wait several hours (At least 2 or 3 o'clock) until they have "moved in" to the new base. Once he's free, they will have restricted liberty for the remainder of the weekend (Fri evening, Sat and Sun) - he will know the restrictions and when each day he is free and when to return. The CS all stay at GL for at least 2 and sometimes 4 weeks until the class is ready in VA. The first week is indoc classes (a Navy necessity) followed by a lot of cleaning and standing watch. That's just the way of it. As to PIR weekend, you can plan as it fits your schedule since he'll be in Great Lakes, IL for several more weeks.

School is about 5 weeks in Fort Lee, Richmond VA. It's there that they will be assigned their first duty station.

My son just got his orders, he's assigned to the Truman.  Not sure what happens now, but he report to Virginia next month.  I really thought they would send him to CS school, but they didn't.  Is there a group for the Truman, or are most people on Facebook now?

Donna, Yes there is a page for Truman.  USS Harry S. Truman.  I am on that page as well my son is a CS on the Truman now.

OMG!!  That is great.  I will join that group also.  Thank you.

Good Morning NavyMom16! Your new Sailor will have Liberty the entire weekend after moving across the street. So you will get to spend time with him Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. They will let you know their availability & when they have to return to base each night. Your son's Culinary Schooling will be in Fort Lee VA. From there he'll go to his duty station. 

We are anticipating my son's PIR 4/8.  He has said he will be in GL for 1 week, then go to VA for rest of 'A' School.  I believe his schooling in VA will be 5 weeks.(?)  Will he get any liberty after finishing 'A' School at Fort Lee, VA and prior to his first assignment?  Or report directly to his 1st assignment?

I believe it was 6weeks. However, my memory may be faulty on that time frame. We had Christmas in the middle of my son's schooling.

They will be available Fri, Sat and Sun? 

Navymom16 They are available all weekend they have to return each evening. As far as school goes they don't know when they will be sent to Ft Lee. My son ended up at GL for several months before they sent him. I think it is 6 weeks. Then he went to Norfolk for a long time before his first deployment. They get a two week leave after school.

June, They are available after the PIR  

Lots of newer moms so here's some standard info....

When your sailor finishes boot, he will immediately have to move over to Great Lakes Naval Base following PIR. You will have to wait several hours (At least 2 or 3 o'clock) until they have "moved in" to the new base. Once they are free, they will have restricted liberty for the remainder of the weekend (Fri evening, Sat and Sun) - he will know the restrictions and when each day he is free and when to return. The CS all stay at GL for at least 2 and sometimes 4 weeks, or more,  until the class is ready in VA. The first week is indoc classes (a Navy necessity) followed by a lot of cleaning and standing watch. That's just the way of it. As to PIR weekend, you can plan as it fits your schedule since he'll be in Great Lakes, IL for several more weeks.

School is about 5 weeks in Fort Lee, Richmond VA. It's there that they will be assigned their first duty station just before the schooling is finished. There is a nice graduation ceremony with about 1/3rd of the sailors having family present. USUALLY they will finally be permitted leave before reporting to their duty station or ship (my son went immediately to Guam after 10 days to catch a carrier that was already deployed). 

This is the "normal" schedule... at least it is the average timing. The thing to always remember is that it is the military and THAT means nothing is ever written in stone. Not dates, not leave, it's always up in the air! As my Marine parents group says..."Semper Gumby" (always flexible).

very helpful, thank's! you are appreciated:0)

My son arrived in Norfolk yesterday and is checking in today on base.  He was reassigned (re-rated, I'm unsure which) as a CS on the Truman.  Even though his ship isn't there, i'm sure they'll get him up and going right away (or I hope they will).  It's going to be nice having other's to talk to about his job.

MommaK -  If she is at Ft. Lee, class probably starts on Monday (the Army base doesn't hold many Navy until class begins. That is why CS out of boot spend 2-5 weeks at Great Lakes).  From previous posts: 

School is about 5 weeks in Fort Lee, Richmond VA. It's there that they will be assigned their first duty station just before the schooling is finished. There is a nice graduation ceremony with about 1/3rd of the sailors having family present. USUALLY they will finally be permitted leave before reporting to their duty station or ship (my son went immediately to Guam after 10 days to catch a carrier that was already deployed). 

This is the "normal" schedule... at least it is the average timing. The thing to always remember is that it is the military and THAT means nothing is ever written in stone. Not dates, not leave, it's always up in the air! As my Marine parents group says..."Semper Gumby" (always flexible).

Phasing up is all timed and dependent on specific class schedules. About ½ way thru school, my son was finally permitted to wear civies out in public, but still couldn't leave base for night.

Frances - welcome to the CS home. If you look down a few entries you will see my explanation dated March 31. This is true of ALL our sailors heading for Fort Lee. The first week at GL is naval indoctrination, after that it is a lot of cleaning and just helping around the base, standing watch in their barracks etc. The time there depends on openings in Virginia, not when or how she finished boot. So glad she was able to pass fit... encourage her to keep up the workouts and runs, it doesn't get easier and they WILL separate if you fail too many. Thank her for working so hard, she'll make a great cook!

Frances - she will find out when she get's liberty. Just like for PiR weekend, she'll have to stay in uniform, you will have to sign her out (liberty buddy) and be back in time, etc.. Some weekends she will have to stand watch. But YES - if she is given liberty, you can spend it with her. We lived 1 hour north, and got to see him on 2 different Saturdays before he left for VA.

Once our son graduates boot camp, he stays in GL for a while is what we are hearing. After PIR do we have to wait just like if his school was there? does he get the weekend liberty?