Great Lakes A School Q&A

As for gifts - my son absolutely loves getting gift cards - especially for Subway. Other good gift card ideas: best buy, amazon.com, xbox live time cards (if he plays xbox video games), movie passes...

To be honest...it is really gonna be a crap shoot...my Son PIR'd and moved over to GL A school and as of when we finally got him for liberty late Friday, he had no room nor bed yet...so all of his stuff was locked in a janitorial closet until we brought him back on Sat.....he did get a room finally and moved in, so if your staying the whole weekend, bring some things for him, but also be prepared to do alot of shopping to buy supplies he will need for his new ship

meant to say, we brought him back obviously Friday night, but didn't find out until Sat he had a room and a permanent place until Sat night

I wouldn't bother with any civilian clothes until he's ready to phase up. You CAN bring him his cell phone, laptop, and BOXERS (my son was very much looking forward to that!!)

Hi My son's PIR was 3/15 from GL. He is staying for A school. Have not heard from him since he called to say they passed BS.I called his dad and he heard from him,Any one have a similar exp.?

No sales tax on base, that's nice.

@simplyproud - I am assuming you were not able to attend PIR. If your sailor does not have a cell phone in their possession it will be difficult to communicate. We brought my sailor's cell phone and laptop (with chargers of course) to PIR so he had them available. I have communicated with him at least once a week since boot camp (thank the lord). I hope you are able to communicate with your sailor soon. Mine was ever so great full to have regular contact again with his family. I hope you will be there soon as well.

My son graduated on 03/15/13 & is staying in Great Lakes for A school - Engineman!

Ctownmom-Thanks his dad is mailing his cell phone to him. Hope to hear something soon.I appreciate your reply

ConnieA:  yep! As long as they can secure it with their other items.  Many Sailors also have a small(ish) TV on their study desk for use with an XBOX (or whatever). They can also get cable/internet, if they pay for it themselves.

Thank you so much conceredad, and Debbil for the gift ideas. I will buy gift cards for him for sure and indeed promise him a "later" gift that he may need. You all are such a help! Thanks again!

There are no A schools for aviation rates in Great Lakes. 

My son graduates PIR 5/17/13, he will be a Pact- Seaman  Apprentiance Can anyone tell me about the schhols in GT. Is A-Pact the same thing?

A-PACT is Aviation, they train in Pensacola.  S-Pact  is Seaman, they train in Great Lakes.

Seaman Apprentice is a paygrade, E-2.  Very easy to get them confused. 

Our son has still not recieved his orders, is finished with A School.  he found out that he is enlisted as Active Reserves.  Now being put on hold.  Does anyone know how this works?

Is there a list of A School ships.

Angie, yes he is FTS.  We are just trying to understand to better encourage him.  He is having a hard time getting clear answers at Great Lakes

Thank you Anti M, he will be a S-Pact and they told  him he will train in GT. Yes its a little confusing :)

Good morning Ladies, does anyone know if the live a shore process to live off base is the same as if we were to get base housing? And does he's liberty phase make a difference? He just made Phase 3

Thank you Angie, my husband is a FC and just finished ATT school, he's now in A school at night. Does his liberty phase make a difference as to whether he can live off base or not? He just made Phase 3

Hi All!  My Sailor son had PIR 4/12.  He is at GL getting ready to start ATT and A school for FC.   We were up for the graduation and were lucky enough to stay on base at the Gateway Inn.  (Dad's retired AF)  My son's ship was within spitting distance, it was very cool.  I look forward to being a part of this group-learning and supporting!  I am confused, and I didn't ask my son, but what is the difference between ATT and A school?  

My sailor had PIR on 5 Oct 2012 and completed his ATT in GL (FC) before his Christmas leave. He quickly began the FC A school soon after returning from leave and is due to finish that school in May. Someone asked how many weeks for the FC A school.  Not having the exact week count, I hope this time line may be of value to the one asking.

We were able to stay at the Gateway Inn on base during my son's transition from BC to A school.  This is what I observed, if they aren't able to get off base yet.  They have a move theater they have current movies.  They have a bowling alley that will pick the Sailor up and bring them back to their Ship.  There is a MCDonalds, Taco Bell and Subway.  They also have an enlisted "singles" hang out that they can visit once they are allowed.  They do a lot of walking-but there seems to be plenty of stuff for them to do...until they phase up and get off base privileges.

Gateway allows the PIR sailors to visit the rooms, but it is off limits once they are A school students.   He should double check the policy, be sure he doesn't get in trouble. 

@Matts mom... ATT is like an electronics prep school.  Many of the technical rates all take it together.  A school is specialized to their rating.  C school is even more specialized to a system or piece of gear.  

We were able to stay at Gateway as my AF son flew up for PIR. Great accomodations and courteous staff. Complimentary breakfast (including waffles and hard boiled eggs, juices, toast and pastries; also cereal, etc. and Starbucks) in a large lobby area with a large TV. Your Sailor cannot check you in, however.

can anyone tell me what happens if my son fails tests at att school  he has to meet with the chief tomorrow could he lose his rating and if so what happens to him then my stomach is in knots and i am now worried about what will happen to him now does anyone know  anything about this

thanks for info ctownmom i hope he does ok:)

During ATT and A school, if a sailor fails a test, they go on mandatory study and try again.  If they fail again, they may be given the chance to repeat that section if they show they're motivated and have been trying.  It depends a lot on how well they've been doing in other ways, inspections,  and so on.  Meeting the academic board is tough on purpose.  Being competent in a rating is not like just getting good grades, these skills are ultimately designed to be of use during combat situations. A sailor knows their job or people can die.  Even the undesignated sailors have important jobs at sea such as firefighting and damage control.  

Overall, Navy instruction is step by step.  You learn one concept, then the next, then build on that.  It is actually a very efficient method, no guessing what the instructor wants.  But there is a lot of memorization, especially in the technical rates, and that just isn't a good fit for some people, even if they're very sharp and smart.  

thanks antim  i feel a little more positive now:)

I have a question if my sailor gets sent out to the fleet as undesig, what would he being doing? Will he ever get the chance to change he rating and get designate or what? any help please

This is a good overview of what ot means to be undesignated:

http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/going-undesignated

As an usdesignated seaman, he doesn't yet have a rating.  He can strike for one, possibly go to an A school, or for some ratings, just take the exam after one year OJT.

Why does it seem that everyone wants to always balk at rules regarding the Gateway.  TSC has made their policy on this being off limits to all students at GL quite clear.  I had my butt chewed by another person who wanted to tell me I had gotten bad info.  It is just such a total inconvenience and hardship placed upon Students and families to stay there IF your not in transit and so not even worth the few bucks in savings to risk complicating anything.  It sometimes appears that Gateway is just the center of debates and issues.  TSC makes the rules that govern ALL students at GL and should be respected as such and not constantly challenged on rules period!!!  Personally, I would never have a desire to stay right on base, all the fun stuff to do your leaving base anyways and 99.9% of the students cannot wait to leave base period to get a change of scenery !!

:)  I think sometimes people are caught up in thinking it is so special to stay on base at Gateway, they don't look at the big picture and all the many hassles it truly creates for everyone !!  If you do not have a Military ID or have your Sailor meet you at the gate, you cannot even get into Gateway.  Just one BIG headache to me, but that is my opinion.  I am not trying to score brownie points at all, just saying there is nothing special about staying there versus getting your student Sailor the freedom and joy of being OFF base finally

Congrats on your service Angie, and yes I hear what your saying.  There have been many things I have learned as a civilian and the most important one to me is there are rules in place, like them or not, but your loved ones choice of joining the Navy they fully knew they would no longer be making rules and arguing as to why either.  It is so much wasted energy and time fighting rules instead of just learning to accept this is your life  now and constantly challenging every little thing and every rule and trying to find a loop hole within them, only creates havoc for everyone period.  Just accept them and start adjusting people because this is now your life

LOL Angie, classic case of all for not in the end making a big thing over something stupid.  I love it when I hear "well my friend just did it with her husband"  once again, monkey see monkey do and in the end the only one to risk punishment is the Sailor

Yay...I must be on a roll today...kudo's from Angie and Connie...:)  I am just trying to tell people my opinion and make it easier on themselves

:) @ Sphinx   :)  spot on I am sure