Great Lakes A School Q&A

Do they get the opportunity during the holiday, Thanksgiving and/or Christmas to come home during A school?

Over Christmas there is a holiday stand down.  They can take leave, the schools sit them down as a group and walk them through putting in the request chit.  The dates are released close to the holiday.  Never try to guess and book a flight too early, more than one mom has gotten burned jumping the gun (although you can usually guess from a calendar).   Never book a flight departing before noon, the shuttles are crowded and thousands are checking out at the same time.

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, Friday is not.  Taking leave is less common for that four day weekend.  Many do not have enough leave on the books for T-day, and Christmas, and going home after A school.  They earn 2.5 days each month, for 30 days each year.  They can't combine leave and liberty, so no juggling weekends with leave days.  They must "budget" their leave for the time off they desire most.

Coming to Great Lakes to visit my son. the Navy Lodge is booked does anyone know of a hotel near the base that is nice to stay in? (safe area and clean)

Ic begins with ATT (advance technical training, like a prep school) which is 9 weeks, and then IC A school which is 13 weeks.  Expect some delays and hold time while they wait to class up.  Plus there is a week or so of "indoc" as they learn base policies.  C schools vary so much I can't give you any estimate.  

The IC success rate is pretty good.  If he has trouble, he;ll go on mandatory study.  The Navy wants them to succeed.  And if he does not, well, he's still in the Navy, just doing something else.

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

http://www.mysdcc.sdccd.edu/Locations/CSCS_Great_Lakes_IL_IC_School...

I heard someplace that my son (in A School) could request to work at the recruiters office while home on leave, then he wouldn't be using his vacation time, has anyone ever heard of that?

This may have already been asked … I know that they can take their cell phones, laptop, iPad, etc to GL A School, but my question is when do we give him the items?  Right after PIR when he registers for A School?  Or does he take them Sunday when he is dropped off?  Hope this makes sense.  Thanks!

Hello everyone does anyone know how soon we will find out when our sailor will graduate boot camp? How are we to know when to try to book the hotel and air fare? I am un clear about all of this and I am not sure who to ask. Thanks

Also do they have graduation from A- school?

How soon do you find out when they will get to come home for Christmas for a few days?

mom son leaves for MEPS on aug 18th and then following day he heads to IL for bootcamp. I am on a cruise the week of sept 28th and I am worried he will graduate while I am gone. How soon will I know what date he graduates When I am on the cruise it will be his 7th week in camp. So I am trying to figure out around when he will be graduating So I can make sure that I will be able to get off at my job

For Christmas, all the schools have "holiday stand down".  This is two weeks where the students, even those in phase one of liberty, can take leave and fly home (on their own dime).  If they have not earned enough leave, they can borrow forward (up to ten days total).  While on leave, they do not need liberty buddies.  This is the ONLY time in the Navy they are guaranteed to have Christmas leave.

Does anyone know when "holiday stand down" begins.  My son thinks he can come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  He is currently in A school/phase 1.  I would love for this to be true but I just can't see how he will be able to do both.  I know he really wants to come home for both holidays.

Thanksgiving has no stand down, only Thursdays is the federal holiday, and Friday is usually "relaxed" liberty (and likely no school).  

The stand down is for two weeks.  Usually begins right before Christmas and ends right after New Years day.  Usually on a Friday or Monday, I;d have to look at a calendar to guess.  It is easy to get the dates wrong, so NEVER book flights until the official dates are released.

IF a sailor has enough leave on the books, it is possible to take leave over both holidays.  Thanksgiving weekend is never assured, only Thanksgiving Day (unless that have duty).  He can put in a leave request, they may well approve it.  Many sailors simply do not have enough time on the books, and want to save a week for after A school.   Those in very long schools can usually manage it.  You have an ET, he likely will have enough leave for all three.  He just needs to sit down and figure out how much he has on the books, how much each leave period would take, and potentially, if he wants leave after C school (big unknown for ETs, C school vary so much).

Thanks so much Anti M!  I really appreciate the info.  The Navy has great for my son but I have to say that I have benefited as well.  I love being a part of the Navy family. :)

Kinda curious my son told me his classes are 32 working  days and then 5 days for strand so his "graduation" from A School would be at the end of all that? He won't tell me the date cause he thinks he is going to surprise me when he gets home but I was hoping to surprise him at his graduation. And is graduation on a certain day of the week or just when he's done? 

Hi Crystal,

It all depends on his rating, my son spent 90 days (excluding holidays and weekends) on A School before heading to Norfolk, Va.... Take care!!

Crystal, do you know what rating he will be?  What job he signed a contract for?  There are a couple answers which involve differing amounts of time at Great Lakes.  Do you know if he is going to more schooling in San Diego, or if that will be his duty station?  Sorry, there isn't enough info to give an estimate.  

Crystal, if you can't get any info from his father then perhaps you could contact his recruiter who might be able to get u some info or at least his rate=job which would help us to be able to help you...

Hey everyone I have a quick question! My fiancé just finished up is A school in Great Lakes and will be there for a while longer. Their Navy ball is coming up and I would really like to go. Unfortunately, his duty day falls on the same day as the ball. Does anyone know if he will still be able to go? I was thinking maybe they make accommodations for the sailors that have duty that day so that all of them have a chance to go. I really don't know how that works but I would appreciate the input, thanks guys!

Nicole_66, he can ask his section leader if he can trade duty days for that day with somebody who will not be going.

He can put in a special request chit to trade duty... in writing is always the best way to go, a verbal Yes doesn't cut it if the guy he trades with messes up.  Should not be a problem to get it signed.

Thank you both!

Hi my son is an IC Interior Communications he has been in the NAVY for a little over 1 year. If you have a Sailaor thats an IC heres a great group to join  http://navyformoms.com/group/icsailors   

Love  to connect to other IC families

All the best to those in A school The Journey continues

Not really.  Mostly it is low key, they do some saluting, read the honor names, and hand out certificates.  Your sailor would have to let them know there is family attending, then go get you at the gate.  Each school does their own thing, there is no base-wide ceremony.  Small classes mean a small ceremony.  A longer school such as AECF does it a bit fancier, but not much.  Ask your sailor if they have one, and if they want you to attend.  A lot of times, they graduate, then go pack their things and fly out soon after.  

Is 0400 = 4:00Am and is 2200 = 4PM

How did you find out about the holiday stand down and do they get discounted flights somehow to come home?

Pollux would you or anyone know where the ATF/IC  SR's usually get stationed at after completion of A School? I talked to my father & he thought Japan, but of course he's retired Army...

Pollux, I'd heard the dates, but not that they are official.

I;d say don;t book a flight before noon.  They're checking out thousands of students.

If they are graduating on the 19th, they should go straight home for the stand down.  That's what has been done the last few years.  

Thanks.  Got the link for the graduations?  The RTC one only goes into November.  There are several folks saying their graduation is the 19th, so I'd love a link to help them out if they are just guessing.

(I thought none the 26th and the 2nd).

Got it!

My SR advised me that he will be going to A school in Great Lakes after his PIR 11/26.

@jaron'smom-when i spoke to him on saturday he did nit tell me. I will ask on the next call

Does A School starts every Monday? My SR PIR on 11/14 and I wonder if he will start his school on the following Monday

my son is at great lakes waiting to get into A school, how long do you have to wait to get into A school at great lakes after boot camp graduation, does anyone know?

The stand down begins the 19th, so they will check into their A school command (but not begin school), then put in their leave papers with everyone else.

My son is waiting to start A School in GM... I think he is getting a little bored of cleaning :) 

my son went in to be a gunnersmate, as of last sunday my son stil had not started school yet

i was wondering the same thing, my son graduated oct 12 from  boot camp and last i taked to him he said was waiting to be put in a school and that was last sunday..