Great Lakes A School Q&A

Ok need some help here, my son (in A school at GL) wants to come home for christmas so is there place where he can get military rate? 

The airlines which offer "military rates" only offer a limited number of seats per flight, if at all.  Not always cheaper. There is a travel agency on base which can get good rates for them.   If you are booking the flight, allow plenty of time for checking out of the base and getting to the airport, plus get them back a full day early.  

The 300 miles is for liberty only, leave allows for extended travel within the US.

I hope no one is booking Christmas cruises, they can't travel out of country without special permission, and Mexico is still off limits.  

My daughter says she has a friend that will also be going to GL for A school and will not have any family at PIR weekend. Will we be allowed to sign her out on Saturday and Sunday and have her with us?

Great, thank you!

The Navy only pays from Great Lakes to the new command.  The sailors are responsible for the leg home.  They can have the Navy travel office (SATO) arrange the flights and pay them directly. 

Or is this in conjunction with the holiday stand down?  Then the sailor pays for the flight, then puts in a travel claim and gets reimbursed for the difference.  Sailor still pays for the going home mileage.

Is the command a school, such as a C school?  Or is it his new duty station?  Because the two answers are very different.

 If it is a C school, the Navy will fly him there, he can put in for leave and you can pick him up for the stand down.  All the schools go on stand down.  Pretty much, there may be exceptions.

If it is a ship or new duty station, he probably will not automatically be granted leave like the student sailors get.  He will need to check in and find out what the holiday liberty routine is.  Might get some time off, but leave would be unlikely.

My son is in San Diego (his 1st command) and they do not have a Christmas stand down, like he had in A school at GL.  He is on duty Christmas day and so he cannot leave base until the 26th or the 27th - we're waiting for him to confirm that.  It's too bad he can't be home on Christmas morning, but he does get to come home, which many others don't.  We'll celebrate when he gets here! 

When he came home during the stand down last year, he paid for his ticket.  He had leave from the 23rd to January 2nd or 3rd.  When he finished A school, he flew home to see us (NJ) and then straight to San Diego, in March.  The Navy reimbursed him for the GL - SD leg of the trip, only. 

My son just graduated on Fri (11/16) and is in THU until they get his paperwork squared away for his A School at Great Lakes. Is there anything for him to do on base since he won't have his car to explore the area? I know some bases have movie theaters, bowling alleys, etc.

@Mike'sMom-there's an area back in the corner by the McDonalds that is the enlisted entertainment area. My daughter's been there watching movies - there's the NEX if he wants to goof off there and of course there's the McDonalds. He can run on the track--he just needs to ask around.

Mike's Mom - There is a movie theater on base, plus the train station is a short walk from base when he has liberty.  The MWR also does stuff like bowling alley trips with the Sailors.  He can stop in at the NEX for info.  There's a lots for Sailors to do. 

http://www.mwrgl.com/Default.htm

MWR offers lots of activities.  The link above is to the one in Great Lakes.

There is so much to do on base in GL, a city all its own, lol!!  my son has been there since PIR for his training, he will be leaving for San Diego once he gets back from having the holidays with us.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Mike'sMom, my daughter has been in been in GL A school for two months now. I think she and her friends go to Chicago nearly every weekend. 

NicksWifey is right  - the Metra Train is close by and is only like $6.  Don't be timid about catching the train.  There will be lots of others to show him the ropes.

Of course, they have been to the (Sears) tower and sky deck and the Navy Pier.  Also the Popcorn Store, the Leggo Museum, the Humane Society (I guess they missed their pets back home), the Bean, a Cajun restaurant, etc. 

Or they can get a cab at the visiter's center by the main gate and go to Gurnee.  I don't remember how much it costs, but it's not bad if several go and split the fare.  The Gurnee Mills Mall is huge.  And I think there are cabs waiting there to pick them up (at least on the weekend we were there for PR). 

Before it got cold they played dodge ball and softball on the base.  They go to the gym to work out.  My daughter said all that's on the TV in the barrack's lounge is football, so she missed the World Series.  We're baseball fans.

Hope Mike has lots of fun being a sailor.

this is a great base, my son just graduated and is only here for three weeks but has a list of things he really wants to do, i know he would not mind staying here longer to get through that list. sports is his passion and i know he had to cross off some of those events because he would not be back in time. but so glad he understands and respects the rules. i love my sailor!

$15 for a cab to Gurnee Mall (one way).  My son went last weekend wtih 2 others and split the fare.

Does anyone know when they are allowed to have their car? (POV) My son is starting A-school soon and will be an EM for Internal Communications.

Ok, Good to know.  I guess we'll be putting his car in storage for a while...

A school is the same for active and reserves.  Bear in mind that no matter how long the school "seat time" is, they will be there longer.  MR is 8 weeks, but count on more. He has to wait to class up if there aren't enough sailors ready to fill the class.  No telling how long that may take.  There may be additional training we don't know about. I'd guess a minimum of three months.  He will know more when he checks into his school.  

And no, they will not give him time off for the birth.  

 http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/mr.htm

There's often more to A school than just the school, and estimating hold times is never accurate.  

Ah, you have the "hurry up and wait" part of the Navy under your belt!

Just found out my son may be medically discharged, he is so disappointed since he just graduated on Nov. 9th and had already been promoted to E-2.  It is from a previous injury so I honestly think it is just the cold weather that has aggrevated it.  I pray he does not get discharged and they will actually look at all options first. He even asked if he could change ranks and they basically said that is not an option.  Now we just wait until he gets an answer from legal and medical.  I am afraid since he has just started and they are in such a high demand of applicants that they will just let him go.  I have been so stressed also about this. 

Question for the wives who have moved to GL while their husbands were in A School or any one else :)

Did the Navy pay for your move?

I just talked to my husband who is still in BC. In class they told him I may move there but at my own expense. He was told it didn't matter what the length of school.
I thought I have talked to wives who have moved (with in the last 6 months) and the Navy paid for the move.

Could they have changed the policy?

my sailor graduated 11/21, pact seaman, he says he would be in school for three weeks. we thought the three weeks started right away, but he just told me the first week was processing so he may not be home for christmas. i know there are others on this same schedule so would like clarification on this if anyone has it.

Does anyone here know anything about THU? I've been to the "Ship 5" group, but it's only for those who are being separated. My son is in "Navy Limbo" awaiting official orders (his orders were cancelled at the last minute - long story...)

Once he gets his orders, he's supposed to attend IC A-School at Great Lakes.

Here's the question: regarding stand down - from what I understand, that only applies to sailors currently in a-school. They are allowed to "go in the hole" for extra leave during that time. Apparently the Chief at Ship 5 won't allow sailors to go in the hole when requesting leave over the holidays?

I thought that any enlisted sailor could borrow against future leave, during their first year.

It seems that those who are waiting for orders or waivers in THU are being punished, or not given the same privileges that any other sailor would have. These men and women have done nothing wrong - why are they limited like this?

Any information would be appreciated - or at least some place to get answers.

Thanks!

It isn't uncommon to be on hold after A school.   As for the chief saying no to borrowing leave, that has always been up to the individual chain of command.   I take it he's still attached to RTC?  They usually never handle leave, and they are a completely separate command from the TSC which is granting the borrowed leave requests. (up to ten days, I think)  The way orders come in, quick and unexpected, RTC may not handle leave requests in the same fashion as TSC.  Has he asked if it is official policy, or just that chief's refusal to approve the chit?  If official, there's nothing to be done.  If it is just the chief, he can ask the chit go further up the chain of command (although they'll likely back the chief).  

It seems unfair, but it is what it is.  Different policies of different commands.  The fleet sailors don't get a true stand down like the training commands do either, and you will find some folks think that is unfair.  

On the bright side, your sailor will have leave saved for after A school and not need to go straight to his first command without a trip home.

Thank you very much for your responses - my son is still very happy he enlisted, and knows this is just a temporary situation. Being a mom, the worst part is the "not knowing" how to plan for the holidays.

He's pretty good at taking things as they come, which is a great quality for someone in the military.  Me, however, I like to plan things. It drives me crazy not to know what to expect. (I know - get used to it!)

It's also been an experience getting used to the idea that he is no longer under "my command". He is a grown man, on his own.

As for going up the chain of command - I would think that would be a really bad idea... you might get your short term request approved, but you'd be labeled as "that guy"

Merry Christmas to everyone here - I hope all your sailors get home safely and enjoy a little spoiling from their families.  :)

Thanks brandie. My question is... can he have his phone and computer while he is in training at A school.

Taylorsmom...yes, but he won't be able to use them for a few weeks.

Taylorsmom-actually my daughter has been using her electronics since she got them with no restrictions (except in class). It maybe be at the descretion of her Petty Officers.

What is A School about? 

A school is where they learn the basics of the rating (job) they signed up for.  

Thanks SEA's mom and Concerneddad!

Navywife040-Send me a friend request and we can talk. I live in the area and might be able to help.

Anti M...I have a question for you. My son is in A school at GL. He and his fiance were planning to get married by a justice of the peace when he is on leave  at Christmas time. He will have finished A school by then. They want to have a big wedding down the road but she wants to be able to go with him to C school. He is hoping for certain C school orders and now says if he gets married that could change the order in which they choose people for C school, something to do with housing availability. Should they go ahead with the plans they had (this is the only time they know of in the near future where they will be with both sets of parents and have this opportunity)? At this time we do not know when his orders for C school will be issued.

Thanks,  Lori

Honestly, just have them get married.   C school selection based on housing availability?  Um, not something I've heard of.  If housing isn't available, she stays behind or draws BAH and lives in town.  If he's a geobachlor instead of a single sailor, he still draws BAH.  Someone is misinformed, or trying to get him to put off getting married because they don't want to do the paperwork.  What rate, which C school where?

Anit M, he is finishing A school this week. He is an AECF rated FC. He would like to learn the system they teach in San Diego. H seems to be also worried that if he gets it and then gets married they will change his paperwork. Could that happen?

what is a geobachelor?

Geographical bachelor.  Married, but living apart from their spouse.

If the sailors have orders, the Navy won't change them just because they get married.  For example: a single sailor with orders to Japan marries while on leave.  The Navy will not change the orders to accompanied so the new spouse can go overseas also.  

Therefore, why would the Navy change his orders to exclude him from San Diego for being married?  They would not.  Same reasoning.  

Sure there is a housing wait list for SD, but she can pull BAH and he can live offbase.  C school is a different world than A school.  If he has orders for his C school already, getting married doesn't mean the Navy will move her there, simply that he can bring her there out of pocket and live offbase with her.

Base housing in SD isn't on base.  It isn't even near the base.

He's a week away from graduation?  Yikes.  Good thing they have to wait so long for orders, or she has no chance of being on them.  

thank you Anti M, if the move is to San Diego it would not be hard for her to move by herself, we are not far from there, if he goes to VA it would be a hardship. I think what we are most concerned with is if their getting married while he is on leave will hurt his chances for the C school he wants. Thank you for the answers you provided.

Riverlady - I know your question was more about orders, but I thought I'd add that the housing waitlists aren't always very long.  We just moved to San Diego and we got right into housing.  If they have questions about it, I may be able to help, feel free to friend me or have your future daughter-in-law friend me.  The wait seems to be longer for more bedrooms or with pets, there are almost always (enlisted) homes available if it's just two of them.  There is a "hotsheet" that is put out every Monday by Lincoln MIlitary Housing listing all the openings.  Here is a link:  Naval Complex San Diego  If you scroll a little down, you'll see a section "Currently Available" and there is a link that says "immediately available communities".  That opens a PDF of this week's hotsheet. 

Best of luck and congrats to the couple!

thank you NicksWifey, I will pass the info along