Great Lakes A School Q&A

That being said, you’d have to compare the fees with sites like Expedia or Priceline or whatever you’d use. Those sites typically charge a small extra fee, just like travel agents. 

The ones on base tend to be more flexible if schedules change.  I worked with MWR ITT overseas, no added fees I knew about.  
If they're on base they need to be somewhat reliable or they lose their vendor status.  

Myjazzy - My son had PIR a month ago and we brought him is xbox and his computer and he has not had any trouble getting the chit needed to keep the computer out and I believe he is stowing his xbox when not in use. He is on holds before A school is starting for him so they have been a lifesaver for something to do because after the cleaning every day he still has a fair amount of down time. Sending the xbox is a pretty safe bet and from what my son says it sounds like a lot of them have one.

Thanks Allison and Anita M. I gave been looking around at other airlines but he doesn’t have the final days approved yet that I know of. I’ll keep looking though!

Any ideas for Christmas gifts, maybe something that they really might need but don’t know it yet?

Idea on care packages what to include.   My son wants food but says they have not way to use silverware or plates.  Ideas what to send.  I was thinking fruit snacks, oatmeal bars and other items that are pre packaged. He wanted top rammen but no idea how to cook it.  Can you just order off Amazon and have it shipped directly to them? 

BusyBee mom, hair clippers make a great Christmas gift for male sailors and females who choose to keep their hair short. My husband used them all the time, as did his friends panicking before inspections haha. 

Myjazzy, I usually send themed prepackaged foods. The internet is full of ideas, but you just have to be really specific like military care packages or thanksgiving care packages. Last year, I found one that my husband LOVED. I bought him everything for a “fake” thanksgiving. I got like sweet potato chips, turkey jerky, crasins, the little debbie’s pumpkin muffins, etc. Then I decorated the box with orange/brown/yellow construction paper and wrote like how thankful I was for him and everything he does for us. I even found some instant mashed potatoes you can make in the microwave at target. He said they weren’t bad. For Christmas one year I did like a small stocking with a couple gift cards, Christmas themed candies like peppermint bark, candy canes, and stuff like that…he loves the sugar cookies that come out this time of year, and I found some cheap little toys from target’s stocking stuffers, like a LEGO Santa and a reindeer that pooped chocolate lol. I also found a tiny tree and fairy lights he could put in his room…that wouldn’t work for someone deployed, but he thought it was fun and kept his spirits up. One year for Easter I bought cheap plastic eggs and put candies and coins and notes in them and used tissue paper to make it like a “hunt.” 

Anyway, yes you can directly ship through amazon, but you can also order priority mail boxes from Usps and you save a $1-2 on shipping since it’s to a military address if you have things you want to send with it from home like pictures or cards or things he already owns and wants. I like to do it that way, so I can make the boxes for my husband and his friends more personal and festive. 

As for top ramen, he should be able to microwave it in a bowl. Having a bowl/plate/a couple pieces of silverware shouldn’t be an issue, but maybe send a cheap one from target or dollar tree if you’re worried. Otherwise, they make microwaveable things similar to top ramen like bowl of noodles and stuff. 

awesome post Allison. I had to pause for a second as I pictured all these Navy guys lined up in the break room at target to heat up their mashed potatoes. LOL  Had to do a double take on that sentence. Sorry, now I get it. So you are saying that they have a microwave they can use in the barracks at GL? My son is aboard the USS North Carolina- I’m assuming they all have access to a microwave?   (When he lived in the dorms he had to take his own) Thanks. 

Thanks Allison! So many great ideas!!

Sorry! I try to use good punctuation, but then I end up just typing stream of thought haha. Anyway, my husband had a microwave in his barracks room on the USS Wisconsin and I can’t remember the ship he was transferred to after that, but they had them as well. I can’t say for sure they’re in every barracks though, so if your sailor doesn’t have a microwave, they might want to check if they have like a “kitchen area” on the first floor of their barracks. I used to bring food to my husband’s first barracks, and there was like a little area with an oven, a stove, and a microwave that I could heat stuff up, and there was a table I could set it out on buffet style. 

Now, on an actual ship, I don’t know. My husband didn’t go to ships like most sailors. I’d assume they have some kind of hot water in the galley, and for things like cup of noodles, you can just put the hot water for tea in it and cover it for 5 min. 

I wish my husband was here to answer the ship questions (he passed away this summer, not sure who on the board knows or does not).  He was an ET, they had a microwave in the workshop.  Other sailors might not be able to do that.

Most barracks do have a common kitchen area even if they do not have individual microwaves and fridges in their rooms.  It will vary, because some of the barracks are far newer than others.  The one I was in decades ago is still in use.  I feel really bad for anyone who has to be in those!

Tip: decorate the inside of the box instead of the outside!

Anti M so sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace. 

Oh yeah. That’s a good point that I didn’t make clear. I cut and glue construction paper/wrapping paper, etc. to fit inside the box and write messages on the underside of the flaps, so the boys see them when they open the package. You can decorate the outside, but I found after my first care package I sent that they will advise you not to at the post office because it can cause confusion and shipping delays, so I wrapped it again in brown paper. This is also a good tip if you want to send something gift wrapped but don’t want to have to get another box just to mail it, just wrap it in brown paper! 

I had to edit after I told my husband because when we talked about it, I just felt you should know  

AntiM, if there’s ever anything you need, or if you ever want to talk, I hope you know my husband and I are always here for you. You and your husband have helped us both so much with your combined knowledge on our journey, more than you probably even realize. We just talked about times we actually fought over what you had told us or posted somewhere else vs. what his chief or sponsor had told us, and we would take the chance and put our faith in you, and you never steered us wrong until eventually, we didn’t fight it anymore and used your posts, old and new, almost exlusively to guide us. And it was more than just my husband’s career…just through the bits and pieces you shared over the last couple years, the stories you shared and the way you talked about him, you and your husband had a positive influence on our marriage as well. For once, I’m actually at a loss for words (haha) trying to describe the impact you guys had…but you like changed our perspectives on a lot of things both military and non-military related. You guys mean a lot to us, and we are both so sorry to hear of his passing. 

Anti M I’m so sorry for your loss especially with the holidays coming up. ❤️

Thank you Allison, I appreciate that very much.  Sometimes posting here feels like shouting into the void, you never know who is listening, and it is rare to get an acknowledgement.  I try to be kind, to be up to date.  The words here may get pushed down, but the internet is forever.  Might as well strive to be nice, to be useful.  I have to step back from r/USmilitarySO on Reddit a lot, or I'd get banned. My "nice" includes "suck it up buttercup" when they're just at boot camp.  Come on, eight weeks won't kill you.

He was a wonderful man, our marriage had hard times, but we always stuck together, stuck it out.  He was only 58.  Cancer took him in three short weeks, and he wasn't even very lucid for that last week.  Didn't even get to start chemo or anything.  So I am still in shock a bit.  My charmed life is gone.  I have a house which is paid for, but which has a big yard and a lot of "handywork" which needs done.  I have friends and support, but almost everyone who said they would be here, would do anything for me, has forgotten me.  I get likes on FB pictures, but no one to come rake the leaves or put up the Christmas lights.  It sucks.  

Holidays?  I'm getting "pity turkey".  I'm doing Reddit Secret Santa for Christmas, but I won't be at Santa Rampage in Vegas.  That was our thing, when we could.  He was often on the road for the holidays, so the guys with kids could be home. The Navy prepared us to be apart, but this is much worse than any deployment.  No Homecoming, ever. 

I can give really good advice about how to prepare for the unexpected, DFAS survivorship, the VA, and how to be sure you have access to your own money and credit cards.  Cremation insurance, that sort of thing.  No one wants to think of such things.  I glad we did.

Anti M I love the picture. Losing someone suddenly is the hardest thing ever, it being your spouse, I can only imagine. My love and prayers to you and (((hugs))). ❤️

Losing a spouse affects every aspect of life.  Some changes are huge, but it is the small things which break your heart.  

I just Love Love this Picture, Anti M You have such a Wondeful Beautiful  smile, you two look very good together. Many (((((Hugs)))) and well wishes to you My Friend. We will not be doing much this Thanksgiving usually we have a Big fallout with family, but because My hubby is going in for his Biopsys sat. he wanted to stay low. which I am ok with. cooking for everyone can be an all day thing. I'm praying for the best outcome with all of this, although the first time was stage two Cancer of the neck and throat, so here we find ourselves going back at it. I believe there is no Perfect marriage, but we strive to make it the best for each other and for our children and grandchildren. I have been with my Husband since I was 16 yrs old, he is older than I but age didnt matter and doesnt matter. He is my backbone and I am his. He just turned 57 and I 53. we have worked our Butts off to succeed in this thing called Life (which sucks at times) excuse my Language, but it is always the unexpected to happen to those that just strive for Better.. I'm with you on all that Mrs. Anti M, I am trying really hard to keep my head up and keep the faith as we will see what these testings will show. Oh and by the way I love the beard he reminds me of the group ZZ Top (am I showing my Age) LOL!

Thanks for all the ideas.  

AntiM, so very sorry for your loss.  Unfortunately when tragedy strikes the true color comes out of folks.  They are either a leaf, a branch or a root.  Not many people know how to express themselves in your situation sadly.  We don't know how to love on folks during loss - words to say - I think silence often is better.  Ring the doorbell and show up...nothing more needs to be said.

Please continue to post and let us know how your'e doing.  The photo is just so beautiful and it looks like you touched many lives together...God Bless.

Good Afternoon and Happy Sunday! Has anyone heard that their Sailor's training was going to be delayed due to the holidays? 

Remind me sommerset, is your sailor between bootcamp and A school right now? Just can’t remember when your PIR was. 

Hi Smoothsailing. He’s at A school technically I guess. He graduated on 11/9. 

So he probably requested leave over Christmas. Did he mention coming home? Has he started classes for A school? My understanding is that they will have at least  two weeks away from class work over the Christmas holiday season.

One of the admins will answer you better soon. Phoenix usually jumps on line on Sunday evenings. 

How’s that for a help- no help answer? :)

LOL!! I appreciate the help as always! He did request leave but he said that they were delaying his start of A school because the instructors were going to be gone over the holidays so he won't actually start until after Jan 6th. 

Somerset08, my sailor graduated 10/19 and is on hold until after the holidays but is in ATT right now. She also has leave for the holidays. Sounds like we have the same information.  I’ve had a hard time getting answers from her. 

Thanks Stbl! I too have had a hard time getting answers from my son...

Somerset08, I’m glad I’m not alone!

Ok can this be a conversation: my son gives me one word text message answers or leaves me on read, or leaves me on delivered, and get this didn’t walk to the post office to get the snacks I mailed him. I asked him to go out for thanksgiving dinner with the family in Chicago and he said, thanks no thanks.

LOL. I’m actually super proud of how independent he is being and take all the above as a good sign- maybe he’s nesting. 

Smoothsaililng-We must be living the same life because ALL of my boys are that exact same way! My older 2 are married and I have to sometimes call my daughter in laws to get detailed information...

Training really isn't delayed, it goes on vacation. :)

The base goes on stand down from December 21st through January 7th. There are no new classes starting, and instruction takes a break. With no new Sailors arriving for A School from the RTC after December 14th until January 4th, it also becomes a wait for class up, which is a normal wait anyway.  

During stand down not only does the staff, and instructors request and take leave, but many of the students are also eligible for leave at some point during that time frame.

Think of it like Christmas break when your kids were in school. :)

Sailormom18 it depends on what job they are doing as far as length of A school. Our Sailor had his days in A school where we didn't always get the communication we were looking for. He was on hold for two weeks after graduating and had duty days. Expected to keep the ship up in tip top shape. Plus don't know how old yours is but ours was loving being away from home. And was really enjoying being independent. Before bootcamp he had never been away from home so huge change for him. Now he is stationed and video calls us every couple of days or at least on the weekends. Best wishes to you. 

My daughter didn’t FaceTime us for Thanksgiving either!  I have to keep up with her on Snapchat or I’d never know what was going on or that she was even excited to come home for Christmas!

It 2nd hard for me to learn the roles of A school until my Son had time to explain it all. Know they are very busy. They have ATT and BECC classes duty and night school for those that need it. You must pass theses two first before A school begins. And must have a passing grade. And for those that may not know not all pass. When that happens they redo or if  not they need to change rate., according to my Son.

It was, and not all the time did my Son have time to chat. They have their days.

Sailormom18 that is so awesome, ours was 19 and had graduated the year before he joined. Congrats to you. I know your a proud mama, my sailor tells me I'm more patriotic then he is... :) just cant help myself. I'm so proud. 

Sailormom18, I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't imagine what you must be feeling. They do keep them extremely busy during boot camp, and in between school until stationed to their base. One thing I have learned with the Navy and I hear it's like this in most of the military is "Rush and Wait" I will be praying for you guys, your health, and your son. Hugs from another navy mama ♡ 

Sailormom18, I will most certainly do that. Feel free to reach out anytime you just need an ear or need someone to pray ♡

For more info on your sailor’s career, you can search for NavyCOOL and enter their rate. Of course, these are estimates, and holds/delays/holidays/etc. can impact them, and some opportunities are not listed, but it will give you a better understanding of their job description and career opportunities. 

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

Here is the rating info card for MM. If you go on the site, there is more detailed info for the different opportunities available after a school.