Great Lakes A School Q&A

That is Great! You are an Amazing person Butterball, Kudos to you.

Missingyou I'm sorry, I hope and Pray you get to see him I cant imagine him not wanting to see or talk to you. You know my Son's friend is in Virginia and he keeps telling my son to come visit that it is beautiful there. I'm sure he will do Great things with himself, I wish him the best in his Journey. And thank You! Wishing you a Happy Holidays!

MIssingyou, sometimes the new sailors get so involved with getting on with their new lives, they are forgetful when it comes to the loves ones at home.  They just assume the love is there, and don't understand the need to nourish the feelings of family.

Allison, I do have my Leave vs. Liberty blog. 

Please make suggestions to update it, if needed.  I didn't cover duty days in depth.

http://navyformoms.ning.com/profiles/blogs/leave-vs-liberty

It may be too specific for your purpose, but I would touch on Live Ashore liberty for married sailors at long A/C schools, and maybe just add like a sentence as an exception to no liberty at RTC, the THU after graduation does get regular liberty and a very brief stand down. No need to go into detail since that's kind of rare, but just as a note for any moms/spouses/Sos that worry their sailor is trapped at RTC. 

Missingyou I just want to kind of echo what AntiM said, there's a lot to get caught up in, and some sailors take their support system for granted. Coming from a kid who often forgot about her awesome mom, if it helps at all, I think you should feel at least a little flattered, his trust that you'll support him and be there for him no matter what is clearly very solid, and you built that with him, given him such a strong sense of security in your relationship that he doesn't have to worry about losing you…though I do hope he comes to his senses like I did and expressed gratitude for that and takes time for your relationship as parent and child. Now that I get it, it's totally not cool that we do this to our parents haha, but just to give you some perspective to think about. 

On the flip side, some sailors also come out of bootcamp and think they have to stand alone. It's kind of drilled into your head in bootcamp that you're flying solo and you shouldn't need anyone, and while the RDCs don't mean it the way it sounds when they say all of these terrible things, they're really trying to teach responsibility and accountability and all that, I found that a lot of people that had really solid relationships with anyone, whether it's a parent or spouse or girl/boyfriend, they start to push away towards the end or after bootcamp in response to that, and some, perhaps like your son, push too hard and do a 180 trying to be a strong and independent sailor. If this is the case, he'll come around eventually and realize that he doesn't have to be isolated to be a good sailor, and I think the more solid the relationship was, the longer that takes just from watching family and friends and thinking about what I went through too even though I was med sepped early…to get through that and figure out, "it's okay to need this person in my life." I almost divorced my poor husband after bootcamp over insecurities that came out from what RDCs had said to me to teach me lessons, but we're doing great now! Hang in there, Missingyou! 

well Ladies spoke to my son about watch or duty and he said those that are leaving don't or will not have a schedule to do watch only those that stay on base will be the ones to have duty or watch.

You guys are great thanks for all the comments I do feel better I miss my son so so much but I know he has a new life now and I will always be here for him because I love them so much thank you guys

Good Morning Ladies, hope all is well.

Missingyou you are in our thoughts and Prayers, I wish you the Best Holidays ever! And may the Love between you and  Son grow stronger each and every day! Amen!

Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Have a Great day!

Hi Ladies just got a text from my Son he Graduated his ATT school. Very Proud of my Bud!

Have a Great Evening Ladies and always thanks for sharing great info and thoughts.

Phoenixmom, congrats to him for getting through ATT!  Now onto the next adventure ... after leave, of course.  Will he need to wait long to class up?  Does he know?

Anti M what is ATT school? My son told me he passed a test he was worried about, not sure what it is.

ATT is Apprentice Technical Training, an electronic prep school required before A school for some ratings, AECF is the big one.  Others will take Common Core if they are in the engineering.   

Okay thanks, he is a FC

AntiM, I am pretty stupid when it comes to all of this.  My son is an EM and he just graduated his BECC schooling and will start his next leg when they return from stand down.  Do you know what that will be?  He keeps telling me about each step as he graduates, but I thought if I was smart enough (lol) I could give the unexpected of knowing when he comes home!! lol...........seriously tho, seems like he keeps starting a new one every week!!! lol, thank you!!  Everyone here has been sooooooo helpfult with all of the information.  I have learned a great deal from everyone!!!!  It is awesome knowing that even tho it seems like I am the only mom going throught this, that I am not alone!  It's like a comfort!!! thank you again!!!!

The Navy trains from the ground up, assuming no prior knowledge.  The training and learning is divided into parts, BECC can be for several ratings as it is "common" to all of them, then they split off into more specialized schools.  To make it more confusing, each segment is further divided into modules.  You have to master one before moving forward.  A test each week is not unheard of, depending on where they are in the training pipeline.

Here is the COOL card for EM, it gives a nice general overview:

https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn/enlisted/rating_info_cards/em.pdf

Edit: BECC is common to most of the engineering or "snipe" ratings.  You'll find Firemen in BECC, and Seamen in ATT, in general.  

I don't know how current this is, but here a look at the EM course.  Notice they teach safety and tools and the general job before jumping into details.  Each section has course objectives.  They are told up front what they will be learning in each section.

  http://militarynewbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/NAVEDTRA-14344...

Like eating an elephant, one bite at a time.

I found the E-Pact schedule too. This may be part of the common core.  I am outside my area of expertise here, but it looks like the fundamentals.

http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/swos/greatlakes/_documents/Student...

And another format:

http://www.dcfpnavymil.org/Training/cne/becc.htm

I hope these glimpses into the structure of Naval training is interesting!  

Good Morning Ladies Great to be back, Anti M ATT was the second training he has passed, once he gets Back to base from Holiday he will begin A school not sure when it will begin. But ATT was his Last to begin A school. Very Proud of him! I know from what he has mentioned they are in need of EM'S so I'm sure once he is done he will be deployed. Pretty nervous about all of that, Once he gets his orders I should know more, but I cant help feeling nervous, worried it's like starting all over. Thank You Anti M you have been such a blessing with the information.

Have a Great Day Ladies!

Have a Great weekend Ladies, got an early day off, going to get the other portion of my tamales done, maybe some wrapping. wishing you all a fabulous weekend.

One more week to go Butterball!

I know, I am counting the hours, trying to keep myself busy.

Good Morning All, well I am officially done! YAY! all my Tamales are done, Christmas is wrapped, My daughter is doing the baking so I'm out on that part. Hope everyone is doing well. I am so excited  and anxious Friday my Baby, My Bud (Son) will be home. although he keeps reminding me he is a grown Man (18), Yeah yeah yeah! LOL! Have a Great week Ladies!

Hello all!  So excited we are heading to Great Lakes this week for our son's A school graduation and to bring him home.  We were also lucky enough he was able to come home this last weekend.  He got his phase 3 liberty and brought three friends home.  The main goal was to propose to his girlfriend!  She was so surprised and it was such a great night!  Her parents and my husband and I were there along with their friends.  

I enjoyed hosting the sailors and fed them well.  Hopefully it was a great break before the standdown/leaves.  

Congratulations!

Congratulations Phoenixmom, I am getting very excited for Friday myself, my son will be home too. Merry Christmas everybody.

Congratulations Librarianmom what awesome News! very Happy for you and your Family. May you Have the best Holiday Ever!

Hi Butterball, thank You and I wish you and Your Family a very Merry Christmas and I send HUGS to all of you and give one to your Son for me please and let him know how proud I am of him!

I sure will Phoenixmom, and please send our love and thanks to your son also. Merry Christmas

Good Morning Ladies Happy Tuesday, spoke with my son last night he seems really tired, but I found out his Friend from High school who joined the Navy 8 months prior to him is here in Phoenix visiting his family, so I have invited them over for Christmas dinner it would be really nice to see him and his Mom. So happy they have continued to keep in touch.

I would Like to Thank every one of you for all the advice that was given, I would like to wish you all a Happy Holidays and May 2018 be a Bigger and Brighter and Blessed New Year !

Phoenixmom, you are always so encouraging and so uplifting to all of us. I would like to wish you the Merriest of all Christmases, and Blessings for the New Year. Thank you for just being you. 

Thank You Butterball for the kind words that means a lot to me. I plan on having an Amazing time with all my Family and Friends. And May the Lord be present to bless us all!

Good early morning Moms’s I have a question? My son paid for pictures of his graduation.  I didn’t get to go to see him but his dad did. ( He’s my Ex). We were suppose to split the pictures. So now he’s telling me I have to pay for copies of them because there are two big ones ( I don’t know how big) and I guess he wants both. (Am I making sense) I said no just pick one or make a copy for yourself.  I just needed to vent why must the simple things we him be so hard. I just want a picture of my son in his uniform. Am I wrong or should I just pay for it. I’m trying to be the better person. 

KiddGreen1978 I wish for you a very Merry Christmas with all of the Blessings God gives us all. Thank you for such a sweet post to your Navy Seasters, it brought a smile to my face, I just had to tell you how it warmed my heart to wake up to it. Have a Blessed Day.

Good morning Navy Moms, I would like to echo KiddGreen1978's post, before it gets too crazy here. You are all so wonderfully patient with the crazy questions, a lot of them are repeats, but you just answer them like they are the first time seeing them. I truly appreciate all of the suggestions and answers I have gotten, some even before I thought of a question to ask. My Christmas wish is that all of you have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. I am proud to call you my Seasters, lots of love and NMH's 

Kiddgreen thanks for the response. I’m glad I have you guys or I would know nothing. My sons dad left me when he was 2 and from then it was a battle. He means well and he loves our son. But I was the one there changing diapers, wiping noses and making sure he went to school. I made sure he had what he needed. Then one day he wanted to be with his dad at first I said no but everyone was saying let him go he’ll come back. Well he didn’t he went to the Navy. And I’m so glad he did I’m so proud of him. Hopefully he will see all I’ve  done for him and not forget about me while on this journey. I miss so much I just want him to do well and be happy. I was the fighting of who’s the best parent to stop. Anyway just venting. Thanks guys for being here.

@MIssingyou ... the photo package usually has two large 8x10s, one smiling pose, one serious pose.  I would say just pay for a whole set yourself, as it sounds like his dad is just being awful about it.  Having dealt with my husband's difficult ex when it came to his son, it just isn't worth the hassle.  I am sorry you have to deal with this!

I looked up the Great Lakes USO ... wow, we didn't have that on base when I was there!  This is the reason I encourage support of the USO, they provide a welcoming place for relaxation and recharging.  The No Dough Dinners are terrific, dinner the night before payday!

http://usoofillinois.org/great-lakes/

http://usoofillinois.org/military-discounts-in-chicago/

Good Morning Ladies, Wow just opening up and reading everyone's comment brought tears to my eyes.

KidGreen1978 what a beautiful message.

MissingYou I'm so sorry to hear all of this, My Mother was also a single parent and one of my Brothers decided to do the same to her, the only thing I can say is to pray over him and for him. I would like to wish you a Happy Holidays and may the Lord bless you in many ways this New Year! I would like to leave a scripture my Mother Prayed over. May it help You!

Isaiah 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.                             

I tend to pray over my son Psalm 139 we can be encouraged knowing that  God is One who:

Searches us and knows us from the inside out (verse 1)

• Knows our every action and thought (verses 2-3)
• Knows what we will say before we say it (verse 4) 
• Follow us everywhere we go (verses 8-12)
• Formed us and watched over us while we were in the womb (verses 13-15)
• Wrote out our life story in His book before we even lived  it (verse 16)
• Thinks innumerable thoughts of us (verses 17-18)
• Knows our anxieties (verse 23)
• Convicts us of our offense and leads us in the right direction (verse 24)
• God Bless you MissingYou sending prayers and Hugs and Lots of Love your way!

I Want to Wish everyone on this site a Very Merry Christmas, everyone on this site are Just Amazing! I am so Glad that I have others to share information and well just about everything with. I have no sisters but glad to have found Seasters!

May the Lord Bless you all with much Blessings for the New Year!

Much Love to you all!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Congratulations to all of the moms that have boots in the house already, my turn is almost here. So very excited, can't wait to get to clean up after his messes again. LoL, looking forward to cleaning up one more mess maker? I must be delirious from missing him, but this is my Christmas wish, getting to baby my Hero again. MERRY CHRISTMAS MOMS, AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR FOR ALL.

We arrived in Great Lakes yesterday for the Damage Control A School graduation. We took our sailor and his friend out for dinner last night to celebrate. Today we bring him home for his leave and then we say good bye to Great Lakes. He will be off to Hawaii next!  

This has been a great group...good luck everyone and enjoy your holiday!