Great Lakes A School Q&A

My son is graduating from A school at GL on 10/26.  He is to report to C school in San Diego on Nov 3 so we hope he gets leave for that period.  Do you know if they have housing for C school students in SD?  He showed me some info about base housing, but is that for when he reports to his ship on 2/22? 

That would be nice to know too.  My son says his name is on 3 lists to leave GL on different dates so he will find out more info tomorrow.

Angie - so he doesn't have to look into housing ahead of time, he will just be assigned to the actual ship or barracks.  Thats good because I was confused by the info he got.  Thanks!

My son graduates on Friday and mentioned in a letter that he needs to check into A School after graduation. Anyone have more information of what that means? I am driving 8 hours and want to see as much of him as possible.

janeyjane are you part of the boot camp groups on here. They have all the information about PIR (graduation) if he is staying in GL for A school then he will have to check in shortly after the ceremony but he can call you and get together later and most likely he will have liberty during the days over the weekend. there are many rules and restrictions to be aware of and those are listed in the boot camp forum. If he is not staying in GL for A school then he may have to fly out after the ceremony or anytime over the weekend.

It means that after the graduation he will have to move over to A school instead of leaving for liberty like sailors who are moving on to A school in other parts of the country.  I was at GL last Friday and parents were still waiting for their sailors after 3 p.m.  The advantage is that you will probably get to see them for a few hours on Friday, but all day on Saturday and Sunday.  Others might only get Friday because their sailor will be leaving for their A schools on Saturday.  Unfortunately, the weather forecast isn't the best for the Chicago area this weekend, the temperatures are going to drop, so pack warmer clothes.  Instead of sitting in the GL parking lot for hours, enjoy the Gurnee Mills mall that is probably about 15 minutes north of the base.

janeyjane, My son graduated 7/20 and stayed at GL. we got to spend about an hour with him right after graduation and then he had to check into school. My husband then went around 3:30 or so to pick him up. We then got to spend the rest of Friday with him till 10 and also all day Saturday and Sunday again till 10. We always made sure that he was back by about 9:30 because they don't want to be late. Enjoy PIR it was a very proud and amazing time! Pack your tissues!

HI...my son just graduated boot camp on 9/28/12 and has now checked into A school. Im looking for the group that will help me keep up with whats going on, events, etc. Am I in the right group?

For the Great Lakes A schools in general, yes. You will also want to find the group for your sailor's specific rate.

We got a call at 2am Thursday.  It was my son who was standing outside the door.  What a wonderful surprise and let me tell ya, that's the only kind of phone call I want to receive at 2am  :o)  We have him home for 10 days until he goes to SD.  

Julie! How wonderful!!! Enjoy your 10 days!!! My son arrived in SD a week ago yesterday. Waiting to class up. He really likes being there. We're hoping to see him for a good while around Christmas.

Julie, Nice! Enjoy your time with your son! I'm still counting the days till Christmas!

My daughter PIR last weekend and stays in GL for her A school. Does anyone know what the address is I could send things to?

She said she is on ship 635 USS Preble

Hi, NavyMa,   My son did A school in GL and his address was 320 Dewey Ave. Great Lakes, Illinois 60088, but it also included  a room #, so ask your daughter if that sounds correct.  I'm sure there's someone on base she can ask, too. 

Wasn't PIR great?! 

Julie and Janell - My son is in SD, also!  He's been there since A school graduation, in March 2012.  He loves it there, but he actually misses Chicago!  We are hoping to see him at Christmas, also.  :)

Just visited GL for the long weekend.  Was able to drive on base to sign out my sailor for liberty and then toured Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee  this time, since we "did' Chicago after PIR.  Now back to work and waiting for the holiday break.  Sailor back into A school routine. Welcome aboard to all the new sailors and families to A School at GL!

My son is there and the address is still 320A Dewey Ave, like SheilaD said. You do need a ship # and room # for your daughter though.

Hi wenplus3, that does help me but wow that is a long time!! so your son has never been told an exact day he will be home from A school? & has he been given orders yet of his first duty station? Did he tell you why it was delayed so long?

Illinois, near Chicago.   When he gets there, there's a form letter sent to you.

No, you don't have to be in the dark, he should be sharing some of this information with you now.  Such as what job/rate he will be going into.  

But he has to go through boot camp first, this group is for the rates which do their A school training at Great Lakes.  The boot camp is there too, but it is separate.  Join the new members group first, your son might not be going to A school at Great Lakes. You are welcome here, but it is like being in the kitchen when you need to be in the hall....

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/newmomsstophere

I have heard that about 10 days out from when he leaves or arrives we will get a packet about Graduation and information. Do most families attend the ceremony? Do they give in depth info about lodging etc. I am a newbie, be patient. :)

Many do, but many others just can't get the time off or afford it.

lisaguse3 _    1st thing you get is the 'I"m here' phone call, which comes the evening he arrives at Bootcamp.  He won't have any time to talk, just to say hello, I"m here and I love you!  About a week after your son leaves, you'll get the 'box'.  This is bittersweet, because although it is from him, it contains all that he was wearing or had with him, except for the few things he can keep.  A few days or a week later, you'll get the form letter, which is mostly information about bootcamp, graduation and a short note from your recruit.  There is a code in the letter which you need to download the parking pass for PIR graduation (Pass In Review).  Then you'll have an address to send letters to - send lots!  Mail is a really big deal for them, so write every day, if you can.  He can only write back once a week, I think.   You will probably get another phone call a few weeks into bootcamp, which will be a longer (maybe 20 minutes!) call.  Keep your cell phone handy, because you can't call back if you miss it! 

Join the Boot camp Moms discussion group - lots of info there and you will be able to hook up with other Moms who have recruits in the same division as your son.  here's the link:  http://www.navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms   You should DEFINITELY plan to go to PIR, which is boot camp graduation - it's beautiful and emotional and your son will be SO happy to see you!  All those details will be in the letter home and can be found on this NavyforMoms website.  You'll be amazed at how Bootcamp changes your son, for the better!  God bless you!

(My son graduated from bootcamp on 10/21/11, almost a year ago!  He is a hull technician and stationed in San Diego on the USS Boxer.  He did A school in Great Lakes, also.  )

Hello everyone!  My son graduates from RTC on Oct 26, and then will remain at GL for A School.  His rate is EM (Electrician's Mate).  Do EM's go to C School as well? What exactly is C School?

A school teaches them the basics of their ate, C school provides a specialty.  I don't know if all EMs go to C school, I think not.  C school can happen anytime, not just after A school.  

Here's a link explaining more about NEC codes (which is what they earn in C schoo) and some of the ones an EM might be sent to:

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navynecs/a/em.-urj.htm

LOL, their rate, not their ate, sorry about the typo.

Hi Everyone - yea, my son is officially done with A School, came home for 10 days, left Monday for San Diego, and is officially assigned to a ship--the USS Carl Vinson.   All is good.  He is getting settled in and for now is bored.   He is feeling good about everything and sounds happy! 

Julie, Good for him! I'm sure it was nice to have him home for a little. My son is still in GL, is doing well, but also is looking forward to coming home for Christmas, as am I!!

It was very nice and went by FAST!   We have a trip to L.A. scheduled in June but he will likely be deployed by then and unless we win the lotto, don't see many opportunities to go visit him in San Diego.  :o(   At least he can call home still.  He said there is no cell service inside any of the buildings he has been in so far, including the barracks.  Same with plugs - those are sparse but he is making it work.

Are the rules for Liberty Weekend the same for sailors going to A school in GL? I am thinking they probably are, but my SR is asking me to send him a copy of the rules, and I want to be sure I'm sending the correct info.

The rules are a little different.  Liberty miles limit is 50 miles, not 300.  Absolutely no alcohol, even if they are of age.  No driving.  No smoking.  No getting married.  He'll be told in no uncertain terms!

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pirreferenceinformation/forum/topi...

Thank You! :)

Thank you Anti M!

my boyfriend has been at A-school in GL for a bit over a month - last night was his third time moving since he finished boot camp (this is the 4th room/ship he has been in since he first moved from boot camp). It is common for them to be moved rooms and ships this often?

Also, the ship he moved into last night (I think he said Essex?) stripped him and the other 7 guys that had to move of their phase 2 or 3 privileges - just because they were the unlucky ones that had to move, they were put back to phase 1. He has had to move between ships the other times that he moved, but this is the first time that moving ships has resulted in going back to phase 1. Is this normal?! (No, moving and getting put to phase 1 had nothing to do with getting into trouble or anything bad like that)

I'd really appreciate any insight into this! I'm having a hard time understanding why he is having to move rooms/ships so often and why he got put down to phase 1 this time. 

I remember my son telling me there was one ship you didn't want to be on. You were constantly doing cleanup and guard duty and they were much more strict than the ship he was on previously. But I can't recall if it was the Essex.

He was moved there after he finished A School and waiting to ship out.

I would suggest your not trying to figure out the reasons behind why the Navy does some stuff. Much of it seems beyond comprehension.

one of the 8 guys that got moved complained to a NMTI about how they got phased down and all 8 of them got their phase 2 back! amazing!!! and yes, concernedad, apparently essex is the most strict ship - after all the hassle of moving around so many times, my boyfriend said he wouldn't mind moving one last time to escape this ship - HA!

angie - that's what i'm trying to get some insight about... what's the navy's side of the story? why all the moving around for this group of EM's? o.O

Navy GF - to add to the other replies, just tell him to keep his nose clean.  Seems A school has a lot of restrictions where minor issues can cause heavy consequences.  My son left GL 4 weeks ago.  His entire floor was held under review for something that occurred in early August.  I seemed to us like a minor incident. In the end, a handful of sailors were put into restriction for 45 days as a result and the rest of the floor could resume duties and move forward.  It was a long 8 weeks waiting for the review to take place and chief said the only reason the rest got to resume normal duties was because they had kept their nose clean ... did well in school, no drinking, slacking, were on time, good inspections, etc.  Those could also be reasons for moving around. 

Hello everyone, I would like to know is there a graduation for A school or just bootcamp? If there is an graduation for A school are family members invited?

Thanks Angie

Thanks Angie

What will our Sailors do for Thanksgiving if they have only been at GL A for one week?

At one week, a sailor would be in phase one liberty.  They will have most of the weekend off, but cannot travel outside the liberty limits, and almost certainly will have one day of the four day weekend (Friday is kinda unofficial) as a duty day.  They would have a nightly curfew.  

My son (PIR 10-21-11) was at GL for Thanksgiving last year and he said it was really nice!  We are in NJ and that's way outside of any liberty limits, so there was no chance he was coming to us!  He had a great dinner and there were quite a few sailors there, so it wasn't like being all alone for the holidays.  He had watch one of the days, as well.  We missed him, but he was able to come home for Christmas stand-down, so that more than made up for Thanksgiving. 

hi i joined this group because my son is set to graduate bc on 11/21 and then as pact seaman he will be here for a few weeks. i am hoping he will be home for christmas, my first question is, is that for sure, second question, we have no idea where he will be after A school, when will he know?

They might go to A school a year later.

Are letters now addressed as SN instead of SR while at A school?

Maybe.  Depends on their paygrade.  E-1 = SR

E-2 = SA

E-3 = SN

Unless they're in a snipe rate, then it is FR, FA, FN (fireman)

Ask your sailor which is currently correct.

After A school my son went from SR to SA (seaman recruit to seaman apprentice)

The ones in the AECF usually skip E-2 and jump to E-3, it is part of the contract for the rate.  A few other rates have this contracted advancement also, which is why you need to ask the individual sailor.  A handful get advanced in boot camp too if they do very, very well.  They aren't all on the same track after basic.

Is it true that sailors in A school cannot travel more than 300 miles for Christmas stand down???  They just started A school this week so not sure what phase they will be by then.  Thanks!