Great Lakes A School Q&A

If you were married before boot camp, you should receive BAH based on where you are from. Just depends on if that amount is enough to cover it. If you're not in base housing, the BAH is split between the two paychecks of the month. Keep in mind that sometimes your two checks are not the same each month. Sometimes the first check is bigger, then the next one is a little smaller, just depends. Also, if you end up moving yourself there you MUST update your address with customer service (located in the building across from the student NEX). They will not update your BAH to Great Lakes, but they must stop your separation pay. If you don't stop it, you WILL owe them, and they WILL take their money back. And your address needs to be correct to get the proper travel days and money when he gets his orders for after A school.

tay2, is he in the AECF program?  If so, you're eligible for base housing if it is available.  They say it is not, but there are often openings.  If you choose to rent instead, the housing office will look over any lease to be sure you aren't being ripped off, and that there are the proper military clauses in it.  You must have a car for him to get Live Ashore approved.  

AECF tend to be at Great Lakes for about a year.  This does not include C school which for ETs and FCs is NOT at Glakes.  

What Angie said is VERY true. The customer service department would not allow me to update our address, even with my POA. My husband went in to do it when he was finally available and they were NOT happy with him. Our BAH was less that GL, so, we were fine there. However, we had to pay back all of the separation pay. (Which I knew and accounted for from the beginning, but it still was not a fun situation.) Before I went back in to give them our lease agreement and they realized I had already made the effort to update it, I'm almost certain they were going to send him to Captains mast, and they still could have if they wanted to. Just be careful. I'm pretty sure it says on the LES's that you only have so long to update your address once you move.

Smilingmom, I do not see your question here but I saw it on my email page.  My Grandson is at GL waiting for A school, he graduated in Nov.  He is in a dorm type room with room mates and he does not have a car.  He said he does not need one.  He stays mostly on base and can get a cab if he wants to go somewhere.  He is very happy there.  

Hi Smilingmom. My daughter finished A School in Oct.  She said not only did she not need a car, but was under the impression they weren't even allowed with the excption of officers and instructors.  There are taxi's right at the entrance to the base 24/7, and the sailors usually share one to go wherever they want to go.  Also, the Metra train station is just a mile or two away from base (it's actually next to RTC) and goes right to downtown Chicago.  Transportation is safe, easy to come by, and affordable.  The dorm type rooms are in typical east coast large brick buildings.  I was impressed with the grounds at A School, it looks much like a college campus.  Congratulations and welcome to the next leg of the journey!

Hi forever proud.  I would have him double check and then double check again, before mailing him his tv and playstation.  I remember my sailor saying they weren't allowed those things in their barracks, but I know there are different rules depending on where they are.  My daughter had Hulu and Netflix on her laptop, which kept her pretty entertained.  He needs to remember also that those things will need to be sent home before he leaves A School, he won't be able to bring them with him. 

AntiM, thanks for your input. I called the Red Cross and we did get him home. the Navy Marine Relief fund said grandparents are definitely covered and they put him on a plane Friday night. He will go back after the funeral, even gave him an extra day and we are trying to get him back on Tuesday instead of Wednesday so he won't miss 2 days of class. Thanks for all the advice you give on this site, it really helps.

AaronsMom, I am so glad he can be home.  

Okay folks, I meant MARRIED students who live offbase must have a car.  Students who live in the barracks cannot have one.    

You're welcome Forever proud. Did you ever get your question answered about where they ate?  They do have a galley, which is open certain hours.  They can go anytime it's open, it's open during the night as well for sailors who are on duty.  They have some fast food restaurants on base as well!  They're pretty much on their own as to when and where they want to eat. 

Hello all any IC family Interior Communications we have a great group on here

http://navyformoms.com/group/icsailors 

Hello all, my son just graduated last weekend from BC he is in A school but was just told his school doesn't start for 2 more weeks....

Congratulations to you and your new sailor jesseq.  It's almost a given that there is a wait to start school after BC, and some are longer than others.  From what I understand, the big reason is waiting to fill a class.  There are other things they can do during that time, things they will need to get out of the way at some point at A School.  My daughter always refers to holds as "on standby to standby."  It's the beginning of many! 

Good morning all.  I am brand new to this group but I have a question. My SR will graduate this coming Friday if all goes as planned.  My question is, she has sent me a list of some things she wants from home (her own underwear, bras, computer, cell phone, few tee shirts, sweats etc.) If I put them in a black duffle bag will she be allowed to carry that onto base? I have been told that she has to fit everything she takes onto base in her Navy backpack and I have also been told she could have her own plain black duffle bag, which is right? I'm so confused and I don't want to get her into trouble. Thank you for your help!

Thank you Angie for the info.  She can use her Navy issued bag and take a little each time back onto base since we will be there 3 days.  I can mail her the rest if any.

Hi Lisa4495.  Holds and delays at A School are very common.  Most likely, they have to wait for other sailors to finish up at BC and fill the class.  He can work on phasing up while he is on hold, and they do have things for them to do while they are waiting.  Yes, he probably will get to know Chicago well (my daughter did) but this isn't a bad thing.  I think it helped her get used to military life.  Don't worry too much about him saying "no room in the fleet at this time", we heard that too.  They will find room.  I was worried as well when I heard this stuff, and had the same concerns.  Sometimes that military calendar just doesn't move as fast as ours!

Hi Lisa4495.  They have limited liberty while they are at school, and there is a mileage cap.  As he phases up, which he can do pretty quickly, he gets more freedom.  Have him look into this, they have no problem telling them what his limits are.  Do you live close enough to visit him?   We all know first hand about worrying and questions.  That's why we're here!  I'm happy to help any way I can, please don't hesitate to ask.

I would like to give my daughter a pair of earrings for pir can she have small post earrings  in a school? thanks

Hi gglove.  Yes, she can now wear small ball earrings.  She can have silver, which she can wear pretty regularly, or small pearls that she can wear with her dress uniforrms.  The earrings have to be post, and just the ball only, nothing else, And no gold, as those are reserved for officers. You can google Navy uniform jewelry, they tell you the millimeter maximum. Congratulations on your new sailor!

thank you for your knowledge have a great day!

so she cant wear anything with a small stone

Hi gglove.  From what I understand, no.  Just the small ball.  They're still free to wear whatever they want when they're in civilian clothes, but just the silver or pearl balls while in uniform.

My daughter just graduated this past Friday. She has been told (I don't know by whom) that she will be on hold at least 3 months before starting A School, is this information correct? That sounds totally absurd to me considering that they are shipping new recruits in every week.

My grandson is on hold for class also.  He is enjoying his days, they are organized enough to keep them busy but with enough personal time also.  Life is usually a "hurry up and wait" situation so it is just one more preparation for them! lol  Maybe they are just learning to be patient, that lesson never hurts.  He was waiting on the time he could get into the Navy and this is better than just sitting around or trying to hold down a temp job. They are sailors whatever they are doing!! 

My son is also a MM.  His PIR date was 10/11 and he just classed up 2 weeks ago.  I think he is more patient about everything than I am which is what makes him a good sailor.  Once his class started my worries have now changed to where he will be stationed and deployment.  One step at a time I guess.

My Bro's PIR was 8/30/13 and he is just about to finish MM school on Thursday.  So yes the holds could be correct.  Especially since not matter the rating they all have to do the BECC class and that is what takes the longest for waiting.  Waiting for space to open.

My sailor reports (not sure if accurate) that the BECC is 31 days of training and the MM is only 11 days.  He said there may be a short wait between.  1-2 weeks.

Anti M posted this for me regarding what is BECC?

Here is the BECC description from the TSC FB site:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/training-support-center-tsc-great-la...

I think the BECC was about 9-11 weeks then MM is only 12 days.