Great Lakes A School Q&A

Yes.  It would be considered "gear adrift" if not, and he will NOT have a locker anything as large as he had in A school. Seriously, a blanket is not a good idea until he reports in.  Just wait.  And wait on the rack pack too, some ships do not allow them.

I get that you want to do something to endure his comfort, but you don't know his berthing rules just yet.  

There may be a Facebook group, but I worry about the security of those.  You can get signed up with the ombudsman, find her contact info on the ship's official web page (google it, usually).  There should be a Family Readiness Group too, although those are geared more toward spouses.  

LOL, I am in the Japan moms group, even though I haven't got a sailor there now.  We aren't allowed to leave, apparently!

I just want to thank you  I was not happy that my son wanted to join the Navy but I went to the boot camp graduation and those boys were so proud to be sailors and I was treated so nice and they respected me   The Navy is a great place for my son to become a man  and Thank you

There are several in Hawaii,I am not familiar with them.  When my dad was stationed  there, we were at one of the old Naval air bases.  But any ombudsman you contact can help you figure it out.

Hey, I will be offline for a week or two, going deep desert camping.  I hope to chat with you when I get back!

Anyone on here who's Sailor is an OS? Mine is graduating A School Friday!! Im just wondering whats next? He has a medical clearance apt on the 8th and supposedly gets his Orders on the 10th and can fly home that day? Is this possible?

Vanessa- I have an OS  his orders showed up the week he graduated from A school and then when his orders came he went to C school so he was in VA for about 6 weeks; they had to wait for the class to fill up; and then he got his official orders and used his travel time to hit home for a couple of days. We were lucky he was at A school during shutdown at Christmas so he came home to visit then. He had a lot of me asking him what was going and what is the timeframes and him saying we have to wait... I am still figuring out lingo and our conversations have a lot of wait what does that mean. He started his journey in October last year. I think it just depends on where they need the sailors and when they want them. :)

My sailor is at A School and will be graduating on 10/26. We may be bringing our granddaughter with us. Is a social security card okay to get her onto the base? Or will we need her birth certificate?

Usually a birth certificate is more preferred, but they tend not to be hard on the younger kids.  If all you have is an SSN, use that.  Does your state issue child IDs?  Some do as part of safety programs, and that would work.

My SR got to stay at GL for A School....We had a great time hanging around motel, wished we could have afford the 3 star motels.....but ..all in all went ok.....Took our laptops...so the group got to watch from motel...Grandparents in Texas got to see PIR at their home.....now we are wanting to fly up before snow sets in.....Thanks Navyformoms for having this sight...its been a great help, hope to stay inform on through where ever my Sailor goes,

@ jim.... A school is where they learn the basics of their rating, their main job in the Navy.

Hi All, Has anybody experienced packages taking a while to get to their sailor after you got delivery confirmation?  My package was delivered last Thursday and he still has not received it...  Any comments?

@MissingMyKing, my daughter said that mail delivery is VERY slow.  Once the sailor is notified that they have a mail delivery they have to find the time to get to retrieve it as well.  It seems when she has had the time the office is closed.  I just received delivery confirmation for a package yesterday.  We will see how long it is before she has it in her hands...

Thanks MyAnchorIsAweigh...does it sometimes take a while for them to get notified they have mail too?  I'm hoping it's sitting in the mailroom and they just haven't got to it yet.

Just joined, my son will start A School in GL on 10/19 as a GM Gunners Mate :) proud momma

Kimmyp, Welcome, my son will be finished at the end of November. Is he still in boot camp?

My son is in GL A School for HT. His PIR for BC was 9/18 Anyone know when the next class for HT starts?

Do you mean their NWU working camis?  They are not supposed to wear those while not at work, commuting, or for quick stops on the way to/from base.  

Casual photos should be alright, but it would be unusual for them to wear those in a formal portrait.  No regulation against it that I know of.  

My son will be starting  GL A school for GM  on 10/19/15.

I have not visited this group in Long Time.Noticed at post that I could address. 

JIM BAR  A school is training for their Rate or Job. Some stay at GL other fly out to other bases.  The advantage of staying at GL you will get more time together. They need to check in actually across the street .You  should be able to find a group for their rate here. or thru the Navy sites

Success to ALL. my son has been in for over 2yrs and came back this summer from a 10 month Deployment

NAVY PROUD !!

Not sure if this has been addressed recently, but my question is about cellphone coverage. My son wants to get off the family plan and get his own line, mostly because he is a data hog and I shut him off if we get too close to our limit. We visited the various carriers and one guy said to wait to get to where yo are going because you might not have coverage. Can anyone tell me if GL has decent coverage for Sprint? That is the carrier he would like to use if so. Also, is there wifi there? He will be at A school there for a while after boot camp. 

My son is at GL and has Sprint. No signal issues when he calls home.

There is free wifi, but not in the barracks.  A lot of guys purchase cable per barracks room, (comcast I think) and split the cost.  The reception in different barracks varies a lot.  I too suggest he doesn't lock into anything until he finds out what the other students in the barracks have success with, and go with that.  Don't sign up for contracts, because if he goes overseas (or is deployed a lot) in the future, that service may be useless.  

My son had Sprint at GL and had no issue with coverage. Also got Comcast for internet in the room (signed up at a kiosk in the mall). He had tried another provider (cheaper) but it was horrible! Comcast was the best choice on his particular ship.

Does anyone know how long they stay at A school for OS?

OS is 12 weeks long, but they will be there a bit longer than that if they need to wait to class up.

https://www.navycs.com/navy-jobs/operations-specialist.html

How about the time frame for A school for QM at Great lakes?

Nine weeks, plus hold time.

https://www.navycs.com/navy-jobs/quartermaster.html

http://www.navydads.com/forum/topics/qm-quartermaster

What they learn:

http://navybmr.com/study%20material/14338A.pdf

Thank you Anti M! Good information to know!

Hoping someone has a bit of insight...my oldest son is in GL on hold for ATT. His PIR was 9/18....he will be in GL for A school after as well. He has no idea how much longer he will be on hold for ATT and once he completes ATT, is it possible/probable that he will be on another long hold for A school? Just trying to get an idea- for he and myself probably more so than him.

his rate is IC .... to add to the comment below.

Another hold is probable.  How long?  No way to know, depends on how many IC candidates complete, or have completed, ATT already.  End of the fiscal year can slow down the pipeline, although right before the holidays, they really try to push them through every phase of training.  

On the bright side, if he is still at Great Lakes over Christmas, he gets to take leave during the stand down.  Christmas leave can be a real luxury in the fleet for the new guy.

Alex texted me last night to let me know that he would be "classifying up" in 2 weeks. I am guessing that that means that ATT classes will be starting then...

Does anyone know the hours of the post office on base?

Thanks DsMom!  Hoping he can run during lunch break to pick up a package I sent him. 

My Daughter has PIR next week.  and will be at A school in GL.  The job she signed up for is Sonar Tech.  How long will her A school be? and will she get to come home after A school before C school in San Diego?

Leave after A school will depend on when her orders say she needs to report to C school.  She may have to take leave after that school instead.

I am on my phone, so I can't find the cool card for STG easily.  Sorry!  Whatever you find on Google, add in a couple weeks for hold and indoc.

Hello all. My son is there in GL for ATT now ( just in his 2nd week and then goes to A school for IC rating)....he was having his wisdom teeth removed this morning...has anyone had this at GL while in A school? Any idea what to expect as to when I may hear from him? When he will be back in his barracks, how long SIQ? Will there be anyone to check on him there? Sorry- just a bit concerned I guess and clueless about what to expect because he was also.  He hated missing ATT- afraid it will set him back some. I know I have heard how this is handled in boot camp- so I realize we're in a totally different place now.  Thanks!

My question #2....son is in ATT now...his brother, my SR, graduates from boot camp on 11/6- very soon :)  Can my son attend his graduation (or watch livestream in the chapel ) ?  What does he need to do and what are the odds of us being able to spend time as a family that day during and/or after PIR?  His brother will be flying out that night, so very limited time and they haven't seen each other in months. Hoping it will work out, but not sure what to expect there either. He said his class ends at 11am on Fridays....if he can't miss ATT class to attend PIR- could he get some early Liberty to meet up with us after 11 am?  Thanks again.

SIQ lasts 2 or 3 days, or as needed.  The barracks staff should look in, but not much. His roommates may be helpful.  

Usually they don't allow TSC students on RTC, but he can put in a chit requesting to attend, and special liberty to spend time with you.  Might get a yes, but only if he asks in writing.

Thanks, Anti M.  Thank you very much. It's very refreshing to get answers!