AECF - FCs and ETs

Chris - Ray and Megan must have been in the same class as she just graduated yesterday too.

Lissette-maybe, I forgot to mention he is ET, do they do A school together?  He may know her.

jodia-thanks for the heads-up

No, she is FC so it is less likely they would know each other.

Lisette - is she an FC? my husband graduated yesterday as well and one of his friends is named megan that's in his class - maybe it's your daughter!

yes! haha my hubby is tyler :)

aww i'm glad! we love her! our little navy family is amazing :)

Anyone else's family going to C school at Fort Gordon?

I went to C school in Ft. Gordon, but it was so long ago, everything I experienced is probably irrelevant.  I know the comm system I studied is completely new and upgraded.  Wonder if they still try to make the Navy march in the Army reviews once a quarter?  We got laughed at a lot, and our dungarees confused them.  The chow halls were very good compared to Great Lakes, hot food was actually hot!  And they had a stable where we could go horseback riding on base.

Yep, the stables are still there.

http://www.fortgordon.com/hilltop_riding_stable.php

1ProudMom My husbands PIRd in February as well. Luckily it was president's day weekend and we had Monday together as well. Each ship is different from what I have seen- I was able to sign him out at 0630 every day and sign him back in at 945 every night. I know some SN's were able to be signed out as early as 0530!!!

I stayed at NAVY gateway inns and suites. The rooms are 55/night (tax free) and have a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and panoramic views of lake Michigan. There is also a free breakfast every morning, and a gym. BEST PART is that its ON base so during liberty we didn't have to deal with all the hustle of walking from the main gate! I was able to walk him across the parking lot! He can actually see the hotel from his window! (He is on the Mustin)

OHHHH. and I am going for my 3rd visit on 4/26 and now when I go, I just sign him out Friday afternoon, and return him Sunday by 10pm.

 breuder2313 &  NJBlasian (FC in GL) - thanks so much for the info.  I think I will go ahead and book the hotel for Sunday night so I can enjoy the evening with her!

1ProudMom - i would definitely get a hotel room for sunday night if you have a drive ahead of you. i didn't and regretted it on the 4 hour trip back home (michigan).  i was able to meet him at the gate at 0500, walk back sign him out and spend all day until he had to sign back in at 2200.  i wouldn't recommend getting a room at the gateway just because sailors aren't allowed there for 'fraternizing' reasons. even if family is there they're not supposed to be. they're really not supposed to be at the lodge either but they are WAY more leniant (no idea how to spell that lol) especially on pir weekend. it's only like two miles away so it's definitely not a long ways away or anything. if you can get a temporary base driving pass then try to do that. but you'll need your registration, proof of insurance and valid drivers license. good luck and have a great time!!

I stayed at the Navy Lodge - they were wonderful, close by, and had Sarge the taxi driver coordinate getting us to and from every where. His number is 847 212 0246. No wait as he dropped us where we needed to go early and he was fine with my service dog and wheelchair and luggage. He even met my sailor and brought him to us.  Navy  Lodge simply needs your sailors name and rank when you book it.  Thanks on the Fort Gordon info - will pass on to son about riding. What about rifle range?

There is a shooting club at Ft. Gordon, but he cannot keep firearms on base.  Not sure how he'd get around that, rent a secure locker in town?

http://www.fortgordon.com/outdoor_recreation_program.php

Wow, thanks for the link Anti M

Does Anybody know how long C school for his rate is?? I Just joined and leave for bootcamp in augus and just want to get an idea of how long i will be gonw

C school will really depend on if you end up ET or FC and what weapon system you get trained on. First you will need to get through ATT and A school after boot camp and then you will get orders for a C school.

I think it was like the 5th week of boot camp when my daughter found out if she would be FC or ET. She just graduated FC A school on Friday. She left for boot camp on 6/20/2012, so it has been about 9 1/2 months from the beginning of boot camp until the end of A school (with two weeks off for Christmas break). She is now on hold for C school waiting on orders. She won't know what weapon system she will be trained on until she gets orders and then we should be able to  calculate how long C school will be.

oops I meant she left for boot camp 6/20/2011. I am finally getting used to writing 2012 and  now apparently that is all I can write/

Wishing everyone a Joyous, Blessed, and Happy Easter!

AECFitzgerald... whether ET or FC...you can figure on an average of a year at GL...give or take a little either way! That's just for ATT and A school. Then like Lissette already mentioned, they go to C school. You should be working with your recruiter at least every two weeks right now in preparation of BC, and be asking any questions you still have.

Anyone been to Bahrain?  Just a possiblility and curious on whether it was as pretty as a friend told me it used to be

GoldnG8r...all the best to your FC in the next chapter of his Navy life!

Hello all.  My son is at Dahlgren for C school as an FC specific to Aegis.  He graduates in June.  Does anyone know what the graduation is like?  Is it similar to Great Lakes Boot camp graduation where it is a pretty big deal and the parents and family attend?

Thanks in advance for any information!

Thanks so much for the quick reply.  My son is telling me it's alot like GL and families do come and he knows this because "he's seen pictures".  I can't ever tell what information from him is accurate :).  So, I still do my own recon. I'm in SC, it's a 7 hour drive and my family about 90 minutes from Dahlgren, so it may be worth my time to go up.

Another question...where is your son stationed?  Is he Aegis Track IV?  Did he get any leave before he was due at his base?

My son is stationed in San Diego, but right now he is on his first deployment.  He is an FC Aegis. I don't know about Aegis Track IV.   Yes, he got about a month leave after graduation until he had to be in SanDiego.  Dahlgren is so small that when he was there he only had about 9 people in his class, so maybe that's why their graduation wasn't a big deal.

Very helpful information, thanks again togo!

Ryano-SailorMom, If you have the time to go, it will never be a "wish I would have..."moment.  Even if it is "no big deal', at least u were there, he knows it and u get to see family! For my family, 7 hr is no big deal.  I will take every moment I can get with the kids!

I think if you only live 7 hours away and he wants you there I would be there in a second.  If he has a bigger class it could be "a big deal".  For my son, it was not really anything.  They had them in a room and handed out papers.  He said there were not any families there, but like I said there were only 7 or 9 of them.  Maybe each one is different.  He got to come home a few days later and we got to see him for a few weeks so that was great. 

Hi all, I got another souvenir spoon and postcard from Chrissy. I really wanted shot glasses but I put the spoons up on the wall, anyway,   At least she isn't where the spoon came from (the sandbox). She is on her way back home. I am glad this deployment is almost over. I worry about her so much. 

And for what it is worth, when Chrissy says it isn't "a big deal" ususally means it IS A Big Deal. Lol

Vickyrun...I think it is very sweet of Chrissy to send the spoons!  Wishing her a safe journey home!

Was wondering...Christian says he will be based in Japan for 3 years. I've been told this ship is very active and goes out on missions frequently, so does this mean we won't see him for 3 years...unless we go to Japan? ugh.

Do they always get assigned to one ship for such a long time?

my daughter graduated FC A school yesterday!

where do you live?  i'm on the outer banks.

we are now entering hold hell, lol.  she's been told she will be on hold anywhere from june to october :(  she wants dahlgreen or dam neck which willl be GREAT as dahlgreen is about 5 hours and dam neck about 2 hours away!

So proud of my Honor Grad! Way to go Ray! ET

duhhuh58 Congratulations to your lovely daughter. I wish her a short hold time.

My son is in Dam Neck and really likes living there. It is a small base but right off Virginia Beach.

well, we live in NC on the outer banks.  only about 5 hours from dahlgreen and 1 1/2 - 2 from dam neck

A school graduation isn't a big deal, on the Navy side.  there were only 19 people in my daughters class.  if you are within a few hours driving i'd go, if i didn't live in NC i'd have been there.  hopefully she'll have C school in VA so i can go to that graduation.

Donna...as others have said, "A" school graduation isn't a biggy, so most folks only go if they live in the area. PIR is the big deal.

Our sailor has now graduated two "C" schools  in SD and in VA, and he has said they don't make that a biggy either...just hand them their certificate and off you go.

So at least GL takes nice pics of "A" school graduation that you can download. I would imagine the fact that parents live all over the country might be part of why their is no big celebration to attend.....or maybe that's just how they do it!

Best part is when they come home to visit...you can do all the celebrating you want!

duhhuh....Great pic...congrats to your  FC daughter!

and

chris...congrats to your ET sailor too! Great pic...

Wishing them both much success in C school. Hope they don't have to wait too long for orders.

Thanks for sharing the pics with us.

Congrats to your daughter duhhuh and to Ray. Both are nice pics.

The answer to the Japan question is; Yes, if the ship's homeport is in Japan your sailor will be living in Japan. Yuo will only see him if he gets leave to come to the states or you go to Japan. Start saving some money. I would love to go back to Japan. I lived there as a little girl (I'm an Army brat).  

his own room????!!!!  that's a HUGE benefit.  that's one of the big complaints i've heard from my "sailor kids" is the fact that they have NO privacy. 

look to see if there's a site for the ship he'll be on.  there are moms there that will get you thru this.  i know when my daughter was out last year for 7 months we kept each other going.

Karla... thanks for the info! That did help! I'll keep my fingers crossed that we will be able to see him during the next 3 years. I think I'll still try to save some pennies...I don't think the airfare back and forth from Japan is too cheap!

Navybluemom...yes, I was thinking the same thing. Wouldn't be either cost effective or enough time to try to get back home during a leave...unless it was a really nice long one. What ship is your son attached to?

Sailor is home now for 28 days.. you probably won't hear much from me during that time. Gotta get in as many hugs as possible! Hard to do when I have to share him with everyone else! lol.

Thanks again Karla and Navybluemom!

ProudgmBarb, I know what you mean by having to "share" them with others. I learned that lesson the hard way. I have not planned anything for Chrissy's leave in May. Becasue she got mad at me doing that in the past. She is not even staying with me, she is going to stay at a near-by hotel. I think that is a good idea, she emails me alot, and I just say "Ok" to whatever she wants to do.

vickyrun,

i know how you feel.  doesn't seem to matter what i say or do it's wrong.  the one still in GL is fine but the one that's getting out, couldn't stand to live with her again unless we had our own space in a big house.