Great Lakes A School Q&A

Ladies just got a glimpse of my son on this site shows all the families that were there for our Sailors that were adopted for Thanksgiving.

Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes - Home | Facebook

They also have pics on the graduation of the hull technicians

Phoenixmom, if nobody steps up tor Thanksgiving next year to give you a break, you pack up your immediate family and come here to Bartow, Florida with us. That will really get your message across of needing a break. 

Thank you Ima. All of us need a break now and then, keeps us charged with caring for our families. Just had another idea, maybe one day we can have a Navy Mom Tea Party, just us girls, and our sailors reunion type.

Hi Ladies,

I have been absent from the site for the Thanksgiving Weekend.  My son and his two sailor buddies arrived home Wednesday Night at 9:30 (two hours earlier than expected) and went back to base Sunday at about 11:00.  Had a great time, and hope that girls felt at home.  Only 4 1/2 weeks until Stand down!!

Good Morning Ladies, Thanks Butterball I may have to do that! Bandmom so Happy you had a Wonderful time.

I'm counting down the days, soon my Sailor will be home for the Holidays! whoo Hooo!

Me too!  Unless there is a change in his class up date I am expecting to pick mine up on the 21st!  25 days!

Good Morning Ladies, hope you all have a Great Day!

Another Day closer to See my Son and You your Son/Daughter! yyiiiiippeeee!

Phoenixmom, is there any way I can find out if my son's chit has been approved for stand down? He keeps forgetting to check on it for me. Thanks in advance.

Butterball, no, this is not something you can access.  He has to do it, he's the sailor.  In fact, his chain of command would give him hell if his mom called (I have some stories ...).  However, if he submitted his request, chances are probable it will be approved.  The staff wants the students to go home for stand down!

Thank you Anti M, I didn't want to contact anyone at A school to find out, but making plans for airport pick up needs to be approved by my Sgt. in advance. I don't want to get in in any trouble, so I thought I would ask here. Thank you again for your advice. I can always count on Navy Moms for answers.

Anti M, do you  happen know how long it takes to know? He submitted it a while back, and I know his Chief was on vacation last week though.

Two weeks is the usual.  If the chief was out, add a few days.

Awesome, thanks for the information.

Given the amount of chits, they may be processing them in large batches, so the timeline may be a bit longer than usual.  Assume it is a positive outcome.

Yes ma'am, gotcha Thank you again

Butterball my son said they sent him a Email with his chit approved. he received it a few weeks ago.

By the way Good Morning Ladies hope all is well, was gone all day yesterday had a to attend a  district meeting to attend, not really into big meetings but Mandatory. LOL

Okay, I think I'm being set up.

My son graduated from A School this morning.  He's been telling me that he was going to visit a friend in Florida before coming home to Los Angeles.  He's stationed in San Diego. 

Are they allowed to just travel all over creation when leaving A School or do they need to go either home or the base they are stationed?  I think (HOPING) it's a set up and my kids are trying to surprise me.

Good Morning Ladies, Hi mommamia93 so good to hear your son is doing Great, fingers crossed he is trying to surprise you, what an awesome surprise!

About the only place they can't go on leave is out of the country, and they can do that with written permission.  They simply have to provide a general itinerary and have a contact number.  He may be setting you up, or may actually be going to a friend's home in Florida.  

Thanks Phoenixmom, but now I am sad, it has been longer that two weeks. Hopefully this week I will hear something and Nicole.dm I will tell him to check on the board too.

Butterball don't be sad, has he tried asking about his chit? maybe it got misplaced? has he checked his email? I'm sure there is a good reason behind it. My fingers crossed that you hear something soon.

I will be talking with him later today. Maybe there will be some good news, thank you for the encouragement.

I am sure everything will work out Butterball.

From your lips to God's ears Phoenixmom. I will just wait to find out.

Phoenixmom, Anti M, nicole.dm, talked with Vic last evening, he said chit APPROVED! I am so happppppy! Thank you for helping me through the sadness, needed the encouragement. Have a wonderful day. Christmas will be extra special, since he wasn't here for Thanksgiving. I sent he a Fakesgiving in a box. He said his roommates got a big laugh out of it. 

Allison I heard last evening his chit is approved. Can't wait, making a million plans. Thank you for your encouragement, right along with Phoenixmom, Anti M, and nicole.dm, I sure needed it. I knew it would work itself out, but too anxious to wait patiently this time around I guess. Need to get my approval with my Sgt. for the time off so I don't miss anytime while he is home for Christmas.

Missingyou,  My sailor calls his brother and sister before me.  He also will call his grandma's and I won't have gotten a call.  I send him a text every once and a while asking him to call when he has a chance.  I think it is because he knows that the separation is hardest on me, and wants me to get used to not being able to talk to him all the time.  He is preparing me for when he is out of contact.  Stay strong.

Hang in there Bandmom and Missingyou. I know how hard the separation can be. We are all here for each other, just know that we are sending prayers for your prayers to be answered and that you hear from them soon. Have a Blessed day.

Good Morning Ladies Happy Friday.

Butterball so Happy you heard the good News! Yiipppeee! My son wanted to see if he could help if he was able too anyways. But I am glad things worked out.

Bandmom and missingyou hang tight, I know that they are also taking advantage of the Night study that they have and then doing watch it tends to keep them pretty busy. Good things will come your way. Sending prayers your way.

Thank your son a million times for me Phoenixmom. I am tickled it all worked out. Should know the plane information this weekend. 

I am so Happy it did too! I was really worried and when he texted me he said mom if she doesn't mind I can try to help he knows how important the holidays mean to families. But I will let him know. Thank You!

Well Ladies leaving for the Day, going to get started on my Tamales. wishing you all a great weekend.

Butterball really excited for you, counting down the days my Sailor, my Son, My best Buddy will be home for the Holidays!

Good Day Ladies!

Love tamales! Yummy! Eat one for me. Thank you again, I am very excited that I get to see my Vic for Christmas, he has always been my Rock and Best Friend.

Sorry for coming back so late but HE DID SURPRISE ME!!

My daughter came to our house and told me someone hit the back of her Nissan Murano and when I went to check the damage the boy fell out of the trunk.  LOL!!

I'm so happy to have him home while I can.

Another question, he reports to San Diego this month and then will be sent out to meet his ship.  He hasn't been given an exact date of when he will be sent out to meet his ship.  Is there a way to find that out?  I'm trying to figure out if we're having a early Christmas or not this year.

YAY for surprises!

I would plan on the early Christmas, as there is little to no way to know when transport to a deployed ship will happen.  He'll be in one of the temporary holding units, then BAM!  He'll go out.  You can always have two Christmases, why not?

LOL Anti M!!  I'm a one and done kind of girl on Christmas.  Two would kill me, between food and gifts. 

I believe you're right.  Better start planning now.  I guess if he is still here on Christmas we can just enjoy a day of tamale's and binge watching television. 

Tamales and TV sounds perfect!  

How wonderful Allison, what a Merry Christmas present. I am so happy for you, I'm in tears. Keep us posted on your new journey, don't forget us. Prayers for the reunion to come quickly, safe and easy travel. 

Good Morning Ladies I survived the Tamale making made 16 doz.

Mommamia I'm so excited for you, what a surprise that must of been.

Allison best wishes to you and the Journey you will be taking with your Loved one!

Butterball I am right there with you, getting the finishing touches done this weekend for his new Bedroom hope he is as excited as I am, it will be a surprise! cant wait to see my Bud!

Missingyou...I don't think it's too much.  My son reaches out everyday.  Sometime it's a call, but often just a text.  If I don't hear from him I will send a did you have a good day message.  Sometimes his short reply is all I get, but I know he is alive.  

Every kid is different, I think he is more social.  I think my middle one wouldn't reach out that often.  You maybe need to sit down with him next time you see/talk to him and let him know that you really need a short text every few days.  Maybe he just doesn't know you would appreciate it.  

Hugs...

We can post pictures now! I'm pretty excited thinking about all the things I wanted to share. I don't have really  anything to upload right now that wouldn't reveal who my husband is. 

I feel like I should throw out there to be careful with this feature. Images can be searched on google, so if it's on other social media of yours, someone could pull up your pages and get to know a lot about you and your loved one depending on how much you share. What used to be loose lips sink ships is now loose tweets sink fleets on OPSEC trainings…there's a very cheesy but funny mini game on NKO for this that I'm sure most of your sailors got to play. Anyway, I'm super excited for this feature but everyone should be mindful on how pieces of the puzzle that is information you share on different platforms could be put together.