Great Lakes A School Q&A

70 pounds or whatever your sailor can carry back from the mailroom by themselves.

Actually, DC is 36 months sea, then 36 months shore.  If they get shore duty and only have a year left on their contract, they are often urged to extend for two more years.  Navy doesn't like to move them for just a year.

https://www.navycs.com/navy-jobs/damage-controlman.html

@Maria .... No, he's do a 3 year sea tour attached to a deployable ship, which might or might not be at sea during those three years.  Even if the ship is in port for three months, that is not shore duty.  Sea duty simply means they are assigned to a ship or unit which has the ability to deploy, not the actual time spent at sea or on deployments. So if he gets a ship in dry dock, and works regular hours like a normal job and never goes to sea, it is still sea duty.

When he gets to that last year when he is eligible for shore duty, that is when it gets tricky.  They won't want to move him for just one year.  What MIGHT happen is he'll be asked to extend his sea duty tour on the same ship OR be asked to extend his obligation for an extra year or two to get good shore orders.  Don't worry about it this early, but don't be surprised if he ends up doing five or six years.  Many sailors make that choice for financial and stability reasons. 

sorry about the typos...

That's odd.  I gave my son his phone and laptop right after he transferred over to mainside from boot camp.

That is odd.  Which school?  Would be good to know if one is doing it differently.  

My son has been at GL since his PIR in November. He's on hold for FC school. He's ordered many things from Amazon and I've sent several boxes to him. He's gotten everything, although he's mentioned that sometimes it's taken longer than he expected. I know that he had to walk to the post office on 2 different occasions to pick up stuff that I sent to him. Other than making sure he gets there before they close and lugging the boxes back to his barracks, he hasn't had any problems receiving his stuff. He's got a box of cookies & banana bread that should be delivered to him later this week. Goodies from home! :)

The barracks usually do not allow appliances, so that is not surprising about the hot pot.  I had one, but I also kept it hidden.  And how do they know what is in the packages?  Just strange.  

And yes, there is theft or loss between the time a package hits the base and the time a sailor should have it.  Sad but true.  Insurance only does so much.  I have an unfortunate feeling about her phone.  

Usually, the package is signed for by the postoffice one day. And then delivered to the barracks the next day. For instance, I sent an envelope on Monday from Texas - 2 day priority mail. It was signed for yesterday (WED) and probably will be delivered today (thur) to my sons barracks.

SC girlfriend, USPS is the best. The address you were given should be Dewey Ave. it should have a BEQ # and a Room #. It will get to the ship he is on. When I sent packages to my son it took 2-3 days and then 1 day for him to be on the list to show he had mail. He has to go pick it up. My son had to open all packages that was sent to him in front of someone. Hope this helps. {NMH} 

@ missingmyson  ... Do you mean he'd just mail the clothes back home rather than carrying them?  Sure, but he might want them at his new duty station, where he'll be allowed to wear them.  He can get flat rate boxes at the post office if he doesn't have the room to hang onto the box.  Or he can get another seabag; they can have several as checked baggage when traveling on orders.

@HuggyBear.... nice that the mail goes to the barracks now, when I was at Great Lakes, it all went to the school mailroom.  Really inconvenient.  

Leave after A school depends on his report date, so anywhere from a week to two weeks.  I'd guess he's headed to a ship, and yes, they have very little storage space.  Still, he should bring some civvies with him, something casual and something a little nicer.  Maybe a jeans or shorts, a nicer pair of pants, t-shirts, and a shirt with a collar (long sleeve or polo), and a light jacket or a coat depending on where he is going.  He won't want to have nothing but his uniforms!

She needs to go to her chain of command and talk to them. The broken glasses are no joke and must be reported.  Of course, they will ask her what she has done to resolve the issue herself, so she needs to have spoken to the bully, preferably in front of witnesses.  If she is reluctant to approach the chain, and that can be intimidating, she can talk to a chaplain.  Doesn't have to be in any religious context, they are good listeners and can help her plan a solution.

I am so sorry this crap is happening, but yes, sometimes the Navy is very much like high school.  Young sailors can be jerks.

Straight sailor talk here, the same as what a recruiter would tell you:  She is not being a snitch if the actions are directed at her.  Part of being an effective sailor is calling others on their bad behavior through the proper channels.  There is no reason to put up with this BS, she needs to go to her LPO and make a complaint, and explain she fears physical retribution.  Ask for a room change (not easy) and potential reprimands for the roommate.  She is doing the bully a favor, this person needs to learn before they get to the fleet and get their ass kicked, if not literally, then by being busted.

This ticks me off, if you can't tell.  

I am glad she spoke up.  An important step in "adulting".  Good for her!

And yes, back to liberty phase one for that bully!  Almost assuredly will happen from my experience.

UPS packages go through the mailroom, just the same as USPS packages.  Once there, it is the same process, get a notification, make time to pick it up, open it up to be checked for contraband.  

There are no direct deliveries to the barracks rooms, so no, that would be hard to do.  Outside vendors do not have access to the base.  

Does anyone know when they will get there orders?

What is ATT school? My son is supposed to be AE/CF when he starts A school but I understand I am mostly confused... 

My son is in A school for GSM

The reason I asked is because he said that some of his friends are going to Japan and he thinks that is where he will go.

Huntersmom how long ago did he finish A school. My son just started Feb 12. I am really hoping that he does get station in San Diego.

JoAnn,  my son graduated A school in October 2015.