Great Lakes A School Q&A

i know, we went almost 3 weeks without hearing from our son while in bootcamp. dont lose faith... they had alot of physical training as they had ALOT of misfits in their group & lost privilidges.  at the end, those were weeded out & they ended up as a strong unit...

just keep writing your sailor, the letters really help them during that rough time & will help keep their spirits up.  I know thats what mine said...

Hi Sherri357. Yes, they have wifi at A school.  I just called my daughter to ask her the specifics-she pays about $30 per month, and said it's well worth it.  She said it's not unlimited, but there are a lot of minutes on that plan.  She uses her laptop for hulu, and netflix in her room, which helps pass the time when there isn't much going on.  I'm sure he'll get a lot of use with his iPad. 

Sherri, They do have access to wifi, but the sailors pay for it. Some will get in a room that already has it and can share the expense with the person who has subscribed to it. If their room does not have it, it can be installed.

There is also a place on base (can't recall the name right now) that has free wi-fi.

My son will be going to A school here when he graduates from basic, he is going to be a Machinist Mate.

aVOL2- when does he graduate BC?

Pig03let - He just left yesterday for Basic, so not until around 11/1

Welcome to the Navy family, aVOL2! 

Hi all, my son started ATT school for AECF FC last Tuesday. Anyone else have a sailor in this group? He has covered the material they are teaching in 3 high school classes and in college. Shame they don't have a test they can take to establish knowledge of the subject so they don't have to repeat stuff they already know.

Well a nice thing about reviewing the subject matter by your son is that the class will be easy for him and he should be at the top of his class. As soon as they have everyone on the same page with the basics they can get into deeper studies together and your son will already be leading the class.

Isn't ATT basic anyway?

Janie134, ATT is electronics and you are right, he does have a 100% grade. I think the biggest problem is staying awake after standing watch in the middle of the nights. He tried to help someone one day because he is through with his work after an hour and that got him into trouble. Another example of hurry up and wait. lol He just likes to have his mind occupied.

The Navy teaches electronics theory with their own perspective, and want everyone on the same page.  Standardization, they do not want civilian ways of doing things to creep in.  It actually makes sense in the long run.  

Maybe as the class goes on, something new will be introduced. Right now it is all just watching slides on a computer and it is the same thing he has been taught in school before. Also to keep everyone together, there is no studying ahead of the group so if you finish in the first hour, get all your homework done, you just have 4 more hours to sit there and do nothing.

Hi Pig03let, I'm almost positive you can send treats to A School.  I'll call my daughter tomorrow, and check for sure. 

Most of the ships in GL for A School allow "treats", some do not. It will depend on what ship you sailor is in. The best thing to do is ask your sailor when s/he has moved.

pig03let my husband is there now and I think the ships are diff it just depends what ship they are on there i know right now my hubby said that they cant have anything in there room right now bc someone got in trouble there so now they have to eat it out in the galley where they hang even their treats that they get which im sure the other shipmates would not mind him sharing lol but ya i think it just depends on the shop they are in in A school just have him ask someone

Staying awake in a boring class is a talent a sailor must develop if he does not already have that ability. It is still training that a sailor will need in his Navy career

at many boring times (watches, etc). None of them are wasting their time. They are also learning to follow commands and not to question doing as they are told even if they don't see the reason why or think they know better than the Navy does.Thousands of classes before his have faced and dealt with the same issues. Give them your best support, love and strength and try not to pass along any negative feelings to you budding sailor..

Even to be in that class is an outstanding privilege that a select few qualify to do.

Students in those classes have a wonderful future head of them in the Navy if they can make good decisions and carry through. The boring times are not going to last long. Go for the ride.

I think some ships allow food in the rooms and some do not.  Some have fridges in the rooms and some do not, which is a good clue! :))  If you son says he cannot have food in the room, he is probably right.  If not, he will soon know and let you know. Those who can have food cannot have food in open containers, so if and when he can have food be sure and send sealing containers for any thing not eaten right away.

Yes, AaronsMom, my sailor had ATT before his A school for FC almost a year ago. He was bored, too. His PIR was 5Oct2012 and he is in C school in VA now after graduating top of his A school class and being presented Distinguished Military Graduate certificate at that graduation.  and YES< helping others in class is a big bad NONO.  Two students were removed from the FC rate and reclassified during A school when one looked onto another's work in class.  Both were removed. One for cheating, one for allowing it to happen. See, your sailor has learned something very important in this boring class already!

Janie, thank you for being so right about the boring times.  I can attest to the long slow hours on mid-watch, or hanging out in the shop waiting for the all clear after 72 hours during a typhoon when we had to stay at work because we were "essential".  The Navy is very much hurry up and wait, and you have to learn how to wait in a military fashion.  

I knew someone who was removed from ET school for having unauthorized notes from another sailor.  They didn't even want them, never used them, but were too polite to refuse the offer.  The Navy doesn't mess around with cheating.  

There are several Japan groups. We have five main bases in Japan: Yokosuka, Sasebo, Atsugi, Okinawa and Misawa. I know Yokosuka has a group too.

Here is the big one, with a lot of chatter and friendship:

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

Janie, thanks for your insight on the boring classes. Patience is a trait he needs to develop and this should help him. I will pass on the message that he is one of the privileged few to be attending those classes and after the struggle he went through to get out of RCU and into ATT I will remind him how happy he should be. Also knowing this information will seem like a dream when he gets into something that he might struggle with. It is great to have the input from others, helps round out my education! Thanks.

This list has helped me learn a lot too.  It is very comforting and helpful to be in touch with others who have been in the same place and understand what we all are going through. It was the MOST helpful getting thru boot camp when we couldn't talk with our sailors. Have those who knew what was happening and giving strength, knowledge and encouragement to those of us at home was a huge Blessing!

There ism't much of a ceremony.  Just the class getting certificates.   There's a little saluting and some handshakes for the honor students, but not much more.  You can attend, but your sailor has to pick you up at the gate and escort you to the school.  No passes like PIR.  

susan  i sent you a message im an IC mom

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/icsailors   join this group for IC moms it will certainly help. Its so great to find another IC mom

jillq4, when you go to the Japan Mom's site there is a link in the upper right hand corner that says 'Join Group"  If you click on that you should be able to be approved and join their group. :)

Moms..warn your sailors! We were just with our daughter this weekend after her graduation and took her to the mall to get a few things, mainly an otterbox for her iphone. We stopped at one of the CELLAIRIS kiosk. My husband paid for the otterbox she wanted while we looked around in a nearby store. When we saw the receipt and realized he paid $96.00 for a case that is $49.99 (he wasn't familiar with how much they usually cost) we went back and told them we wanted to return it and buy one elsewhere because we knew they overcharged us. Of course they refused and pointed out that the receipt said "NO REFUNDS" NOTE...NO WHERE was it posted that there were no refunds... I pulled up the Otterbox website and showed them that the company doesn't even sell them for over $50. Here's what really got us... I told the clerk he should be ashamed of himself doing that to us and especially someone in uniform serving our country...his reply "WELL I DON'T...I DON'T FEEL BAD AT ALL". At that point we left the case on the counter and called to stop payment. Eventually we spoke to Mall Management who told them they were in violation of not posting any return info and received a full refund. We noted that there were at least 7 CELLAIRIS kiosks in that mall and a ton of Sailors out enjoying their liberty weekend spending their hard earned money. Please pass along to your sailors that this company doesn't deserve their money! My daughter wants us to spread the word! Thanks for listening! =) I feel better already sharing this with other moms!

CDBONUSMOM:   thanks for letting us know... we already got our son his case, but i sent him your post to pass on to his shipmates & anyone else... hate people like that, they live a very very sad life...  so glad you got your refund !!!!

Oh MY GOSH, those (I have a hard time calling them people) things that take advantage of Our Military family, shame on them. Someday what they did will come back around and bite them in the butt. Thank you for sharing this information, I sent it onto my son so he can share with all his buddies.

Today is 9/11/2013, my thoughts and prayers are with everybody who has suffered loss, and ALL our Military who are serving to protect us!

Maybe you should post your story in the New Members group, where the folks going for PIR will be visiting their new sailors!

The Navy holds "Heads Up" classes for the recruits warning them of the vendors waiting to prey on the new sailors.  There are so many of them just waiting for the

kids with 'new money' and there is nothing that can be done to stop them, except to pre-warn the new sailors. Even worse than the phone CASE vendors are the PHONE vendors, whose sales usually cannot be undone. My sailor was warned in a serious class before he was ever given a chance to go out into the shopping malls.  New sailors are easy marks when they are required to be in uniform.

The liberty limit for Great Lakes is 300 miles.  That's for normal weekends and the three day holidays.

The A schools all do a Christmas stand down.  The sailors are encouraged to take leave and go home.  Two weeks, although realistically, more like ten days.  The dates will be announced later in the year.  Never second guess the dates and buy plane tickets early.  We've seen more than one tale of woe because a mom jumped the gun.  Also, whatever the first day is, never book flights which leave before noon.  The base is processing out a LOT of sailors, thousands, and it takes time to get them all checked out and on their way.  They send off so many, that they actually shut down some of the barracks to save money.  

If you sailor has not earned enough leave days, he will be allowed to borrow some forward.  Some will want Thanksgiving off too, but that becomes tricky with how many days they have on the books, and how many they also want for Christmas.  They need some for after A school too.  There's a lot of factors.

They earn leave at 2.5 per month, for a total of 30 each year.  During A school is the only time they will be guaranteed a Christmas off and the ability to go home.  Take advantage of that.  

Hello everyone :) My SR will be graduating Sept. 20th and will be staying in GL for A school. I read some post about how to be careful on Liberty weekend. We will getting him a phone what do you suggest? I'm coming in from Florida. Also what can they have of personal items with them? Thank you so much for all the help!

@Tinat, the 300 miles only applies to liberty (normal time off).  While on leave, they may travel outside that limit.  Sorry for the confusion.   

I know this will be asked by someone, yes, they are paid while on leave.  

Tammy, they can have personal items after they leave RTC.  That means Friday evening if they are going to A school in Great Lakes; for those who are flying out to A school, at the airport the next day.  

Yes, there are predatory cell phone companies at the kiosks at the mall.  There should be phones at the NEX, or find the local store for a major carrier and go there (Verizon, ATT, Sprint).  Big box stores should be reliable too... walmart, target.  Do some research now, find out what your sailor wants, and locate a store online using google search.  Don't rush the purchase!  Ask your sailor now if they have any idea what they want so you can do advance research.  

Careful, don't buy one for them outright beforehand... let them set up the contract.  Most carriers offer a military discount on service (Verizon does for us as vets). 

Thank you so much Anti M :)

Hello Group my son will be doing his schooling in Great Lakes. So what does that mean for after graduation OCT 18th  will he be able to stay with me at the hotel for the weekend??? Since he does not fly out.