Great Lakes A School Q&A

cos3333, here is some information on HT...hope this is what you are looking for...

https://www.cool.navy.mil/enlisted/rating_info_cards/ht.pdf

Thank you, but it is telling me there is an issue with the security certificate of the site you sent.

It went through for me... clear your cookies, and be sure your date and time line up.   I have that problem now and then, usually my computer is the problem.

GL just had a severe weather alert for freezing ice/sleet yesterday with up to an inch of ice on the grounds expected.  today was to be a little better.  Dangerous even to WALK on the ice.

Wonderful!!  Thanks for the very good information!!

Thanks BeeBee. It is good to have 'eyes' up there and know how things are. Imagination is usually worse than reality. Now fog is the issue, but that isn't so bad when marching instead of driving. Wonderful that you had a weekend with your sailor!

Hi, My son is graduationg A-school Feb. 12th., and he has his hard copy orders. I was wondering who handles his travel arrangements for his 10 day leave and to his next station? I understand that he's finacially responsible for his travel home. But i just wanted to know who is responsible to make the arrangements and do they deduct his paycheck for his leave. The reason why i'm asking is because on his paycheck today was a lot less than usual and i was wondering if maybe it was to cover travel expenses. I know he can go on mypay to check this out, but unfortunatly he's having trouble logging in, he's going to have to call their hotline...any info. would be greatly appreciated...

The travel office on base handles the travel.  It is called SATO.  He goes to talk to them, they arrange his flights home too, and he pays them only for the leg of his flight home, the rest is paid for by the Navy.  They do NOT deduct for travel expenses, if anything, they PAY per diem and give them travel days in conjunction with their leave.  Leave days are paid vacation days.  

If his check was smaller than usual, it is another reason.  They may have overpaid him on something else, and adjusted for the error.  Happens often enough.

Interesting.  What tax changed?  I haven't looked closely at hubby's retired pay this month.  Half of it is VA, half is DFAS, so it gets complicated.

Thank you.  I wish we could let pay for Congress expire.  

As a retired person I enjoy what my social checks give me. It represents half of my income. The 2% increase in taxes is to yourself. Social Security must continue into the future. 

Anti, I wish there was a Like button for your comment!!!!!

StephenC, I do  believe by the time I get to the age where I can collect SS there will not be any. I know I will not be able to depend on that for the future. I also know that Congress does not pay into SS. I believe all US citizens need to pay in, in order to collect. Just my thoughts.

I live off my investments. Took only 30 years of putting aside a regular amount into my IRA, The Roth IRA is now a better deal than the regular IRA. I advised my sailor to put aside money now for the future. Even a $100 month in  a savings will add up. I like Vanguard Exchange Traded Funds. They act like mutual funds but trade like stock. So even as young as our sailors are they must think about their future. For us, the future is now.

For boot camp we had a list that shows the addresses.  Is there somewhere on this website where I can find out what address my son has now that he is in A school?

 bpickship14div074, my sailor sent his address on his cell phone. In A School they are allowed cell phones and laptops. 

How long is A-School for EM?  My son is getting different answers. 

My son goes to bc April 8th.  He is in the SPACT program and it is my understnding that he will do his schooling at GL for 3-4 weeks.  He is under the impression he comes home for leave between school and his assignment.  Trying to figure out if I should have a going away party for bc or a welcome home party between school and assignment, but not sure if he gets leave.

The thing is Easter is the week before he leaves so he will see most of the family anyway. I think he comes home between school and assignment.  Trying to see if somebody had a child go to SPACT and if they came home in between school and assignment.

 wfindley, we celebrate with our sailors every chance we get. Going to watch his Pass in Review is an experience as well. If he comes home after graduation, time for another party. You can never have enough, "Together Time."

my sailor graduated a-school last tuesday and came home the next day. i just dropped him off at the airport; he is headed to the base in Washington. can't believe how quick the week went by with him home. it was so great having him home for a week and looking forward to seeing what the next chapter brings. thank you to everyone who answered questions for me and for all the support while my bf was in a-school in GL!

Hi,how long is A school for OS.Thank you.

didnt know the have OS in VA,thought it was in GL only.

thank you  Sam 

Info on the internet is sketchy because the old info hangs around. OS moved to Great Lakes in 2008.   Usually if you check the groups and discussions on N4M, you can find recent posts... I'm seeing Great Lakes for OS.

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

http://www.navycs.com/navy-jobs/operations-specialist.html

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=27513

I heard over the weekend that all ICs and ETs are on hold for ATT school indefinitely.  Can anyone offer any insight as to why they wouldn't have a date for the next class(es) to begin?

My son is also on hold waiting to begin ATT. He has said that he should start in three weeks. I hope so for his sake. He still has Electrical strand to go through after ATT.

My son is a MM...he just finished BECC and is now in his A-school phase. While he is in A-school does he go up for his strand or is it after he finishes his A-school? And could someone please explain what strand means? Thanks!

ATT = Apprentice Technical Training.  Like an electronics prep school ofr the rates Angie mentioned.

Basic Engineering Core ... yes, they can be on hold beforehand.  It s the Navy, there can be holds for darn near anything, anytime.

Hey ladies, does anyone know where family members can stay besides the Navy Lodge if they are visiting for longer then a week? I'm planning on visiting my husband and staying for about 2 weeks or so with our daughter.  

You can see if they have an Extended Stay Hotels out there?

I know there's a Bed & Breakfast out there too, about the same as nice hotels too.

Michelle you can stay on base on the Gateways inn, is a cheaper than Navy Lodge, I lived there for 15 days and is cool that you can always see your husband because you are actually on base. 

Keep in mind at the Gateway Inn, students aren't allowed there except for PIR weekend.  I was told he couldn't enter the building at all, but I emailed TSC and they said it would be fine for PIR.  I stayed one other weekend there because I couldnt get in anywhere else and it sucked because he couldn't come into my room.  Every other time I just drove in and back home, 2 hrs each way, instead of staying overnight. 

My daughter is an FC, in ATT right now. She just got married and is looking for apartments for her and her husband. We were wondering if anyone knew which areas were good, bad or not military friendly.... Anyone have any insight?

Obnoxred I live in Forrestal city village its military housing off base. Nor too bad here main bathroom is small but other than that its nice.

what are the requirments for phase 2 liberty while in A school?  My sailor asked if we could come and sign him out so he could come home for a weekend?  We are withing the 300 mile radius.  We figured that he would be able to get permission and come home for a weekend on his own,  until he was required to sign back in at end of liberty...could someone help us understand how this process works :)  Thanks

We are in Michigan so it would be a small challenge to just "pop over " to GL and sign out / sign in.  

thank you Diamond..it does help.  He is feeling a bit discouraged so we thought a weekend home would help keep him going....perhaps a weekend in Chicago would do the trick just as well.

So to clarify on that, we can sign him in and out over the weekend and hang with him all day...correct?  I sure do appreciate all of you moms and on here and the incredible support :)