Great Lakes A School Q&A

@pat... he cannot get ahead academically beforehand, the way the instruction is structured, it is best to wait and take it step by step as the Navy wants it presented.  If he wants to participate in extra mandatory study sessions, he can do so when he begins classes.  Jumping ahead is discouraged as the curriculum is done in mods which build off each other.  

To advance to E-3, he must be an E-2 for nine months.  If auto-advancement is written into his contract, he must complete school as directed and serve his time in service. Not a lot to do to jump ahead once they're out of boot camp. I belive IC is an auto-advance rating, so he should make E-3 and E-4 in a timely manner.

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/nlnavypromotion.htm

He begins classes when there are enough sailors who are going to be ICs to make a class.  He could be on hold for a while.  Actually, his training will be a series of courses, totaling 22 weeks.  It will take far longer than that , with holds and holiday stand down.  

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navyjobs/navyjobs2/blic...

Liberty phases:

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

There is a great deal of hurry up and wait in A school.  This is a time to learn how to study, to stand watch, to be patient, to stay in shape.  MWR has a lot of good leisure activities for down times between courses.  

http://www.mwrgl.com/

Ok day 3 for my son in "A" School... hes seems quite busy and is liking the new transition. 

Thank you Anti M for all the great information.

Another question:

If he is on hold in A school will he be able to use vacation time to visit home?

No, they usually do not let them take leave while on hold.  It has happened, but there must be a compelling reason and zero chance of a class starting up.  Besides, earned leave is limited, and many save it up to use after graduating school while en route to their first command, or for the holiday stand down.

Stacey, yes, there are 3 phases. Phase 1 can he can only wear civilian in his room. Phase 2 he can wear them and will get day liberty. Phase 3 he can wear them and will get weekend overnight liberty. They can only go a specified amount of miles from the base. Unless he is scheduled for duty and has to do all the requirements to be able to phase up. Hope that helps. Enjoy!

Just received a call... son received his orders already... School cut from 7 mo to 3 1/2 since he tested so well.   Will be home in Nov before base assignment. 

Stacey, If you haven't already join the Great Lakes A school facebook group. It has all the rules and requirements listed. or look up here at NFM for GL A school rules to phase up.

Liberty phases!

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

ProudNavyMom - that's awesome!  What's your sons rate?

So I looked at the phase I information, but I still have one question! When I go visit my husband during A school, can I sign him out or will we need another sailor to join us??

You can sign your husband out for Liberty

I am trying to plan a trip to visit my sailor while he is in A school at Great Lakes. He has told me that there is a hotel ON base, but I cannot seem to find any information about it. I have a military ID so I would be able to access it. He says him and his other sailors aren't sure of the exact name. Does anyone know about this?

Bronco, it is Gateway Suites.  However, it is off limits to A school sailors, so he would not be able to visit you there.

Bronco not sure but check into Navy Lodge

Navy Lodge is also off limits to A school sailors.  Only graduates on PIR weekend may visit there.

From the Liberty phase policy:

 F. Liberty Boundaries and off-limits areas

           2) Students are prohibited from entering Bldg 30 (Boorda Hall), Bldg 62 (Navy Gateway Inns and Suites), the 400 complex (with the exception of BEQ 439) and on-base housing (which includes the Navy Lodge) and Forest City Housing unless you are listed as a resident. During recruit graduation weekend from Recruit Training Command, if recruits attaching to to TSC-GL have family staying in the Navy Lodge or Gateway Inns and Suites, they will be required to route a special request chit to the OIC to be able to enter and meet the family at their room. 

Thanks for the info guys! Guess I will just have to stay off base somewhere, because it would be nice to have my sailor be able to spend time in the hotel with me. Just trying to avoid a car rental, so I am trying to stay as close as possible. Another question that I am sure has been asked before somewhere but I can't seem to find it. How do overnight request chits work during phase 1? Can they even request overnight during phase 1 or does that come later? I am trying to visit the weekend after his first week of training... so I am thinking an overnight request chit won't be very likely.

No overnights in phase one.  He can't even leave the base except for Sat/Sun daytime. Also, if he has duty, he can't leave the base at all, and must have his liberty buddies with him.  He can put in a chit to have you as a liberty buddy, not sure if they will go for that during phase one or not.

So he hasn't even graduated boot camp yet?  I'd say wait to visit until he's gone through indoc over at A school and knows his duty rotation at least.  He may even be a night student.  I don't know if he has a long school or not, but that first weekend may be very limited.

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

Thank you! He has graduated boot camp. We also know his duty rotation, and his school is not very long. So I can't be his liberty buddy? His dad and myself were his liberty buddies while he was on liberty during PIR weekend. I have a military ID, so I am able to get on base without him.

Good!

PIR weekend is always different.  He can put in a chit for you to be his buddy, some of the schools are pretty strict.

Friday evening ... yep.  

I haven't heard of a phase one overnight being approved yet, but hey, he can try.  If it works, post it here!  This is the only way to learn stuff about the individual school commands.  

Yes, he'd have it off.  

Anne, the shorter schools phase up much faster.  He may have had special permission to go see his grandfather and not be back for curfews.   

No, although it might look like it.  There is a food allowance which goes into their pay, then is deducted back out. In some cases, they keep the BAS and the chow hall charges a fee per meal based off the allowance.   This is for accounting purposes, so the Navy can keep track of how much it costs to feed everyone.   If a sailor is married and lives off base, they receive BAS, which is the same food allowance.

If they choose to eat anywhere but the galley/chow hall, then yes, they do pay for that.

I sent a friend request, accept that and we can send messages.

Interesting.  The official TSC policy still says the Lodge is off limits.

Sorry to be arguing, but having been there, done that, I know how easy it is to get busted over what seems to be minor stuff.  A verbal okay means nothing if what's in writing states otherwise.  I'm just very uneasy for him.  I hope it all works out, and you two have a terrific time!

Housing and the Lodge may physically be off base, but they count as "on" base.  Although the policy says a chit is needed for PIR, it is not.  I think no one at TSC is minding the FB page as well as they should be.

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

  F. Liberty Boundaries and off-limits areas

           1) Regardless of liberty status, liberty is restricted to an area within a 300-mile radius of Naval Station Great Lakes. Sailors desiring to travel beyond 300 miles from NAVSTA Great Lakes or six hours travel time, must have an approved leave chit.

           2) Students are prohibited from entering Bldg 30 (Boorda Hall), Bldg 62 (Navy Gateway Inns and Suites), the 400 complex (with the exception of BEQ 439) and on-base housing (which includes the Navy Lodge) and Forest City Housing unless you are listed as a resident. During recruit graduation weekend from Recruit Training Command, if recruits attaching to to TSC-GL have family staying in the Navy Lodge or Gateway Inns and Suites, they will be required to route a special request chit to the OIC to be able to enter and meet the family at their room. 

AntiM, My son is in C school in SD and he said the same 300 mile rule applies to him as well.  I noticed in the guidelines it says 300 miles or 6 hrs travel time.  This may be a stretch but we are a 1.5 hr flight away.  We live in Northern CA which would be a little over a 6hr drive but only a 1.5 hr flight.  I feel like I am really trying to "stretch" this rule. :)

AntiM...I forgot to mention...I want to get your thoughts. :)

The rule of thumb is "no flights" unless you have leave papers in hand. It is not stretching the rule, it is pretty much breaking it.  

However, C schools tend to be more relaxed.  If a trip is not mentioned, noting shows up on social media, and he makes it back to class in time, then *cough* it didn't happen.  We made it from my C school in GA to Disneyworld and back one crazy long weekend.  But hey, no, that could't happen.

I discovered tat discretion hides a lot of sins.  Know the rules, but you can pretty much party naked on the quarterdeck if you're quiet enough. I was a Bad Example as a junior sailor, but I was always on time, squared away, and did what was required of me cheerfully and thoroughly. Navy is stricter now, but the same principle applies.

Thanks AntiM.  I definitely don't want to break any rules.

LOL, wasn't me replying.  Some schools ask for a chit for a non-sailor buddy, but either way it is really easy.

how can we find out where our SR will be for A school?

What rating (job)?  Each school is only in one location.

I see you joined the AECF group.  Both ET and FC A schools are in Great Lakes.

AECF puts them in Great Lakes for a year or so.  After boot camp, there will be holds for ATT, a hold for A school, and maybe a hold waiting for C school orders.  That last often applies to FC more, very much a hurry up and wait rating during the training phase.

C schools for FCs are in VA and CA primarily.  Long schools on weapons systems, up to six months.    

C schools for ETs are many and varied, because ETs work on so many types of gear and systems,  communications, radar, test equipment, weather gear, and much more.  Many of them are in CA and VA, but they can be anywhere.  I was an ET, my main C school was in GA and was six months long.  But I also went to one for four weeks in Japan while I was stationed there.

If you're looking for a date, even a month in general, if simply is not possible to predict one.  FC: 18 months to two years.  ET: year to two years.  That's why they sign six year contracts, to get the two years of training out of the way.

I glanced at your MyPage, and see you asked about cars for AECF.  No, the single sailors in barracks cannot have a car on base.  The married sailors with permission to live ashore need on, and can get permission.