Great Lakes A School Q&A

There is no set timeframe for orders, as there are too many variables.  As a rule of thumb, the shorter the school, the faster orders are available. 

Really short training means orders even during boot camp. Very long schools with C school (aecf) could be on hold for weeks or months after graduation waiting for a billet.  GM is somewhere in the middle.  So yes, toward the end. He should try hard in school, be reasonable with his dream sheet requests. He may have a shot at what he wants if he chooses a larger homeport. Almost certainly will go to a ship.

Are you thinking of marriage?  

My Sailor is on board the USS New York. Does anyone know of a support page for families? All I can find is the official command page. Thanks in advance for any and all help. It is greatly appreciated!!!

Well, a GM behind the"sea shore flow" with several years ofvsea duty. That does not mean he will be at sea all that time, just assigned to a ship which has a deployment schedule.  Also, single sailors are more likely to be assigned overseas. I don't want to scare you, but realistically, you can anticipate a two to three year long distance relationship. That is just how it goes.

Heck, even married, I rarely saw my husband in the first two years.  

Begins, not behind. Sorry

Thank you for the info, Anti M

Is there a gym at A school where sailors can work out? 

Every Navy base has a gym, and MWR facilities and programs (morale, welfare and recreation).  Even the ships (the vessels, not the barracks) have workout rooms.

My son is at BC right now and will stay in the GL for A school. I was just wondering if the items that I bring to him at PIR need to be in a certain color duffle or luggage: or will he bring his own duffle to the hotel to put his things in?

Usually black, or he can bring his own bag.  

My son wants to know how do they purchase wifi for their barracks in A school?

Usually from a local provider (like comcast). Not unusual to split it with roommates.

Is there a graduation ceremony from A or C school that parents can attend?  My son will be finishing up A school and said he thinks there is an honor graduation for those at the top of the class...is this true and can family attend?

@ Ericuts - Thanks for the info!

Drece, when my son went to A school a couple weeks ago, I let him choose a blanket he wanted on my Amazon account, they shipped it to him in 2 days.  He chose a twin size polar fleece with a Navy logo.  

When my son graduated we bought him towels at Khols.  They were really inexpensive and my son said they dried very quickly which was a real plus when doing laundry.

Just remember, it all has to go into the locker during the day.  Not too big, those lockers are not huge.  Like a wardrobe.  Be sure they have a good lock.  And if they have to change barracks for any reason (some do), they should be able to carry it all in one trip.  

Barracks living is weird, you can trust a shipmate with your life, but never your stuff.  I even had stuff stolen out of the laundry room, with my dang name stenciled on it!  

One of my girlfriends made my son a duffel bag similar to the ones that often come with a sleeping bag.  He puts his blanket and pillow in there which makes it easy to carry when he moves barracks.

He didn't like using one towel for the entire week so PIR weekend we took him to Kohls where he bought the 4 extra white ones.  I mentioned that earlier so sorry for repeating myself. :)

Hi I'm new to this group.  My son is in A school for E T.  He failed his first test and is so upset.  He says it is real hard and he is afraid he won't make it. He went to study and asked class mates for help, but it's not just clicking with him.  He is afraid that he won't make it.  Is there any thing I can say to him to help him through, he is so discouraged

ET can be difficult.  If he is having trouble, they will place him in mandatory study.  He should ask the instructors for help, and be sure he has the study guides.  Is it the first test, or the first test he has failed?  Some sections are very tough.  I went to study for some, even though I hadn't failed. They do notice which sailors make an effort, and strive to help as much as they can.

He can also ask his classmates to give him a hand with tutoring.  Sometimes another explanation is just what makes it click.

It was his first test. Failed by 2 points.  He is going to study.  I hope he goes to his instructors. Do instructors spend time with the ones that need help with a certain area they are struggling with?  Thank you for your help!

Hi NancyJane,  My son texted me this morning that he has some extra time today and said he would like to try and help your son out.  Message me if your interested.

I took my daughter out to walmart and purchased everything she needed for A school at GL . It took a hour or two but i felt happy knowing she had everything she needed.

My first question to the group:  Son is in A School at GL & trying to mail packages to him.  UPS box seems to be stuck somewhere in a mailroom as he cannot pick it up because they are closed when he is available.  Why can't this mail be delivered to their ship?  Is regular USPS the only way to get mail delivered to the ship?  Any advise would be appreciated!  Thanks so much!

Thanks for the help.  So if you mail basically anything, your sailor has to know about when to expect it so he can go check and pick it up, it sounds like.

Pretty much.

Prayermom..We sent our first package UPS and my son says it went to the school that closes at 1530.  This makes it very difficult to pickup because they are closed by the time he gets out.  He skipped lunch to go get it.  After that we started sending everything USPS which goes directly to his ship.  Which he loves!  I usually use those flat rate boxes which get to him in about 3-4 days (CA to GL).  I hope this helps.

So frustrating!  My son just called to tell me he got his verbal orders for Japan pulled because they found stress fractures in his foot during his medical clearance.  So now he's on medical hold.  What will this mean for him now?  Will he just wait to heal and then get put in for new orders?  He's so bummed...2 weeks out from graduation and he was so excited for Japan.

Bobbie, they can't send him anywhere until he heals.  He will have to practice his hurry up and wait for now.  Sending positive thoughts his way!

Thanks, Anti M.  I think he's most concerned that he won't have the chance for the Japan orders again when he's healed. That was his first choice for orders since he joined DEP two years ago.

Any one know if there is a grocery store that will deliver packages to the kids? I know he can go to the NEX, but I wanted to send him something fresh/local from us. THANKS! Love of Country Leads!

If you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can use Amazon Pantry which delivers groceries and dry goods for a fixed shipping cost.  I have used Amazon to ship items to my son at Great Lakes and so far he has received it by the arrival date.

Drece: my son also received his orders last week and won't leave GL until Mid March.  They told him pick a job on base so he is now working at the gym checking in sailors etc.  So, your son will get some kind of job to do until then most likely.

Hello everyone!  My son graduated BC last Friday and now in GL A school.  However, he is on hold status until enough ppl are available for his class...he will be an ET.  Has anyone else experienced this?  From the sounds of it, he will be on hold status for approx. 5 months!!  Seems like a long time!!

Holds are a normal part of school, especially the longer ones.  First he goes through ATT, the hold for that should not be too bad.  Then he waits for ET A school, that may take a bit longer.  They are always given a long estimate.  He's going to be given work to do, he's paid fed and housed, so it could be worse.  Tell him to hang in there.

Thank you Anti M!!  He wasn't complaining at all, but I was curious since we really don't have any military people in our family that are still living :-)!  What does ATT stand for?

Apprentice Technical Training.  About 9 weeks, it is an electronic prep school.  Many ratings require it, so class up should be quick, although hard to tell with so many needing to finish it.

I was an ET, so was my husband, my acquired kid is one too.  My nephew is a nuke on a sub.  My Dad was Navy, three wars.  My grandfathers were Navy and Marine in WWI.  Yes, one!

He probably will go to C school first.  ETs have those over the place, could be anywhere.  A schools teaches basics, C school teaches specific systems or gear.  Something the ship needs, no doubt.  He might go to the ship first, but I wouldn't bet on it.