Great Lakes A School Q&A

Have a Good Evening Ladies, have a fun filled 3 day weekend! Its veterans Day tomorrow. My husband is in the Union so we go March for the Veterans!

My husband will be home tomorrow, so we are going to go have a free lunch!  We're both vets, so that's fun together.  He's usually on the road on Veteran's Day.

My son was one of the ones who got to email along the way.  Just an FYI....ck your spam!  Everything he sent went to spam and it didn't start until like the 5th Sunday.  He warned us to ck our email on the week 3 call.  He said if he got to send anything it would happen on sunday mornings.  It did, just two weeks later!!!  It is awesome!!!  Enjoy it if it happens.

Allison, I am so glad you're one of the couples who made it!  And thank you for coming back here and being one of the "old hands".  I always wonder about some of the couples where the GF posts once, then never again.  Now and then, I hear back, but not usually.  

I did know about Target, thanks to Reddit.  We're on a tight budget this year, so we aren't doing presents.  Holidays don't mean as much now, we do what we want when we want/can.  Thank the Navy for that, eh?

Oh, and I was a day off on the free lunch.  Saturday at Texas Roadhouse!  It is so much fun, seeing all the vets.  Other places are Chilis, Applebees, Sizzler, and Village Inn.  Lots of places doing free appetizers/desserts.  Free oil change at Jiffy Lube. Free coffee at Starbucks.  Free donuts at Krispy Kreme and Dunkin.  Free dinner at Golden Corral on Monday.  Military discount for vets at Home Depot and Lowes, although they offer it to active duty and retirees all year.  Hot Topic and Spencers always offer a military discount.

We have told our son that he can bring home two sailors for the Thanksgiving holiday. ( that is all the room we have in the car).  Just go the text he is bringing home 2 female sailors.  LOL  Guess I have to rethink sleeping arrangements..

Allison, yeah I try to balance reality with being informative and nice.  It is so disheartening when someone is "But WE are stronger and different from everyone else, and the rules don't matter to US! "  All the happy dreams and unicorn farts ... sigh.  It is hard to stay upbeat.  What really breaks my heart is when I can see the sailor is cheating and has found a new relationship.  I usually just mumble something supportive then move on.  

I was born and raised in the Navy, so I understood about being apart, homecomings, and reunions, and my mom being the one who ran the household.  I have no idea how she went to the commissary, she didn't drive.  But she did!  So when I married the first time, I was prepared for the Navy part, but not for the oh-oh I married a real jerk/slob part.  He wanted a housekeeper and breadwinner, not a spouse.  Second marriage, we were both cautious, apart the first two years, but now we have made it 30 years.  He is a trucker now, gone all week, home on weekends and a rare weeknight. I am still doing chores!!!

Good Morning Navy Moms!

Can you tell me if Sailors are allowed to have electronic devices at school?  Was thinking to get my son a laptop for Christmas to have at A School.  Sorry if it's a dumb question!

No dumb questions!  Yes, they can have a laptop in the barracks.  They have to have a chit for larger electronics which they want to leave out, but a laptop can go into his locker.  Some people buy the lowjack because theft is very much a thing (sadly enough).  

Try to find out what type and features he wants, some like ones which can handle gaming, others need one which is Skype enabled, others want editing or photoshop ability, and music is another consideration.  I usually advise to let them choose one, then donate toward the purchase.  Not all laptops are created equal, and more expensive does nto mean better.

My son and I Skype every Saturday or Sunday. He wants to stay focused on studies and duty. He isn't much on words, so for him a set day/time is better. If he communicates everyday, he gets bored, but I would love to chat something everyday. I just send emails when I get the urge to, and wait for answers or catch up my questions on the weekend when we Skype.

Good Morning Ladies, hope you all had a great weekend!

Spoke to my son and he had told me he signed up for the adopt- a- sailor for thanksgiving, not sure what the outcome is as of yet. Just Happy that he will be doing something for thanksgiving. we plan to Skype that day.

Good Morning Butterball thanks for sharing, My son went this weekend with some friends to Texas roadhouse said this was the first time in awhile to be out he said it's to cold to go outside. LOL he put on face book why is it so cold with a pic of 20 degrees. while here in Phx its 88 degrees shorts weather he said he sure misses that.

LOL, 20 isn't so bad, if it isn't windy.  Add in windchill, and Great Lakes is frigid.  Brrrr.  Damp cold is not fun.

Good Morning Anti M, Well when you are from Phoenix AZ and we barely get a winter that is some freezing cold weather to us. his Blood is still thin. LOL. I'm bragging how we are still wearing shorts and he can barely come up from the covers. LOL!

I went to boot camp in Orlando, back when the Navy had one there.  Had to go to Great Lakes in February; the temporary room they put me in had a broken window!  Brrrr.  Only one thin woolen blanket, I thought I was going to die.  I live in the mountain west now, and our winters do get snowy, but it is a nice dry cold, crisp, not bone chilling.

Send him some sweater sock slippers to wear in the barracks.  Those tile floors get intensely chilly.  

I will have to do that, thanks.

I had asked him if he wanted me to send him some he said he has what he needs for the winter, but I think he may change his mind after a few months of this cold. LOL

I will wait for him to get here to get him those, so he can take back with him we have a military surplus down the street from us we can go take a look in there. what does Scotch guard do for the gear? baby wipes makes sense thanks for the info Allison.

Hello Ladies, happy Monday.

I haven't checked in on this site for a few days and feel like I missed so many things!!! I have been texting all your suggestions to my son to see if he needs or wants any of these things. He says he pretty much has everything he needs.

I did send a Halloween care package that was a big hit...Vampire donuts (thank you Pinterest), Halloween cookies and pretzels, ghost lollipops (thanks again Pinterest) and my daughter and I made goodie bags for him and his buddies. The were filled with candy, plastic spider rings (doesn't every sailor need one of those?!?) and handwarmers!!! The cookies and candies were all enjoyed but they LOVED the handwarmers the best!!!

I'm working on putting together a Thanksgiving care package, I'm definitely putting more handwarmers in and including some footwarmers as well!!! I'm trying to find some shelf- stable eggnog but am not having any luck. Have any of you ever seen it in a store??? I tried contacting the only company I can find that makes it and haven't heard back from them.

Have a good week!!!

Hello Ima I'm waiting for my son to get his goodie box also hasn't gotten it yet though, hand warmers and feet warmers are excellent! I'm writing all this down myself LOL! Son just texted me and said his ATT class looks hard, he sent me pics of the book and it sure does look complicated.

Great info I just texted him with that info thanks Allison!

I know eggnog comes in a can, Borden brand, I think.  LOL, I'd just buy a Starbucks card ... eggnog is for making ice cream or French toast.

I liked the lightweight silk longjohns.  Silk is amazingly warn.  They do make earmuffs you can wear in uniform, pretty sure the uniform shop there stocks them.  

Pringles chip cans are perfect for mailing cookies.

Powdered Eggnog. It has 4 stars, but people seem to be really divided on the taste.
https://www.amazon.com/Aspen-Mulling-Original-5-Ounces-Cartons/dp/B...

I am truly sorry for those of you that can't see their sailors over the Thanksgiving break.  In the true spirit of the Navy, we have opened our home to two sailors.  One from Florida (whom I am sure will be cold). and one from New York.  Wish we could take more, but that  is all the room we have in the car.  They are also in the Color Guard with my sailor, so they have the same time off that he does, which makes it really nice.

Good Luck and Prayers to all the ET's taking their do or die test today.  I know my sailor is very nervous.

Good Morning Ladies, Bandmom that is very sweet of you to open your house I would of done the same thing if I was near, My son started his ATT school yesterday and man oh man does it look hard, he already knows he will be needing extra help. Fingers crossed he can do this I believe this last class is what will get him into A school for his trade. I have faith in him.

Good luck for all taking a test, and Ladies may you have a great day.

Having been an ET,  I know some sections are very difficult.  They can always go to the extra study sessions even if not required to do so; I know I did for a few of the harder subjects.  They do get second chances, but of course, everyone wants to do their very best the first time!  Best wishes for them all!

Hello everyone!

So this is my son's 1st week of A school. So is there a FB page in addition to this group here, it got very overwhelming with the FB on bootcamp and these forums? Does everyone follow both?

Very clever idea Allison!

https://www.facebook.com/mygreatlakes

https://www.facebook.com › ... › North Chicago, Illinois › Government Organization

I rarely follow much on FB, as many of the groups are closed, or very broad in scope.  I think I am more useful here.  I do not follow any of the groups I am in, no emails or notifications, I just check in when I feel like it.  FB can be overwhelming with the notifications, I have other interests there.  

There are more specific A school groups here, which are not so busy.  Some people prefer that, others like as many as possible.  Find which groups feel comfortable and useful to you.  Which A school?  

My son is graduating this Friday and starting A school on Monday.  Can I bring him some of the items recommended on this site when we see him this weekend, like the babywipes etc?  TY!

Yes, he can have them after he has checked into his school and barracks room on Friday.  He can't have them to take with him right after PIR, but later that evening when he goes back to his new room.  

Great Thank you.  Is there anything else you recommend we bring for him?  

dtown2005, I don't know what part of the country you live in, but Great Lakes will get cold.  If you are from a Southern state, hand warmers, toe warmers, a good stocking hat, neck scarf, warm jacket etc.  They don't call Chicago the windy city for nothing.

Amen to that! couldn't have said it any Better Bandmom!

We are from the North East but that wind off the water is COLD!  I will get the warmers and other items mentioned!  Thank you all for the great information!

HAHA! Thank you!

Allison,

I love the idea of sending something for cereal...I was thinking of getting those individual serving size cereal boxes!!! I will definitely include them in my Thanksgiving care package. I also thought about including apple cider packets, and mini apple or pumpkin pies (if I can find some that will last and travel well)...I think I need to give up on the eggnog idea even though it is one of our Thanksgiving traditions!!!

Hi, dtown, you can bring those things with you, but, if you're flying, it might take up valuable luggage space. We were surprised to learn right before his graduation that we would be able to take our sailor with us for liberty on Saturday and Sunday as well as after the ceremony on Friday because he was staying at Great Lakes for A school. We took him shopping at Target for a few things (undies, he really wanted new undies). That'd be the perfect place to pick up some baby wipes and scotch guard. I got him a tide pen, too.

Carey that is exactly what we did, after PIR we went to eat then sat. We went to Gurnee Mall and he bought new tennis shoes and books the book store there gives them 15 to 20 per cent off, then we went to target and he picked up toiletries blanket ect. And by the way he didn't have to put the stuff in his back pack he took the bags from target and from the mall and it was ok. they just looked in the bag and gave the ok, he even took pizza back in a plastic container.