Nuke School Charleston

Erika, sometimes the school will shut down for holiday breaks, but keep in mind it might be good to not use all of your leave at once.  And sometimes there are breaks between the schools for period of time.

Erika, your son should get there sometime on Saturday.  It could even be midnight or later.  He will be processed in, given a room, then on Sunday he can pretty much do whatever (usually).  He can leave base but has a curfew.  Must be in uniform to leave base.  Most of them usually share taxis to the mall, about 10 miles away, and find the Best Buy store so they can get computers, ipads, phones, etc.

There are 3 rates:  MM, EM, ET.  MM's have a 14 week A school and ET's and EM's have a 24 week A school.  After A school they all have a 24 week power school (roughly), and a 24 week prototype school (this one can be either in Goose Creek or in Ballston Spa, NY.   Usually during A school and Power school they have a 2 week standdown over the holidays and he may be able to come home on leave for 7-14 days (just depends).   They usually can take leave right after A school and Power school (again this can vary).  His first week in GC will most likely be filled with Indoctrination stuff, basically an orientation, getting stuff figured out, info. classes, etc.  He may start A school as early as a week after he gets there, but it could take several weeks so he may have some down time and be bored, especially in the evenings and weekends.  My son has come home 4 times in two years, for 10-14 days each time, and he STILL has annual leave accrued.  It seems to work out for them.  Also, when he has holds between schools, these can range anywhere from 2 weeks to maybe 6 months or more.  Just depends on his rate and how things are moving along.  During that time they are given watch, cleaning, and various other jobs.

Is Power School schedule similar to A School schedule....best to contact son on weekend?

hello all!!

laura--yeah.  they usually have the weekends off. 

Hey everyone!  My nuke is in SC right now and just found out he will be coming home for Christmas break!  Will he be able get any type of discount or should know any discount on airline tickets for himself? Please let me know!!! Thnks so much! :o)

that is great that he already knows he gets to come home for the holidays.  a lot of the airlines offer military fares, but you have to call them directly and then see if that military discount is better than the published internet rate. sometimes it isn't.  Also, I highly recomment Southwest Airlines if they fly where you are.  they don't have change fees, and if the fare goes down he can get a credit for the difference to use on another flight within a year.  Plus if he for some reason has to cancel they will give him a credit too.

amnuno - My son is in SC now too and he didn't pay attention to when the holiday break dates are.  Do you know the dates?

Sandra, school closes down 12/21 to 1/6.  Your sailor will have to ask permission to go over 400 miles away.  Mine needed the flight details before he asked.  I dont if if that was necessary or just Drew being Drew. 

My son is in BC now and his PIR is 11/2/12.  He is going to A school in SC.  I assume he will be staying there for Christmas Break since he will have just arrived??  Is it OK to do that?  We are in Kansas City.

Navymom55555 - I have to tell you, don't assume anything with the Christmas Break.  My son arrived in GC on Nov. 10, 2010 and he DID get to come home for the two week Christmas stand down.  Then he came home AGAIN early in March after his A school graduation.  Not to say that it works like that for everyone, but it really could.

What about the 400miles from base that MomofDrew mentioned below?  We live so far away in Kansas City but I dont want him to spend it by himself!

good morning all!!

navymom--- if they are traveling over 400 miles to go home they must get a chit  (a piece of paper that saids its ok) from their slpo (i think thats right?).  i believe anything over 400 miles is considered leave not liberty.   if i am wrong on this someone please correct me.

My understanding is that it's "officially" 350 miles. Maybe in practice they extend that to 400 -- I don't know. But Knoxville is pretty much right at 350 miles, and my son has always said that if it was any further at all he would need a chit.

hello all!!

my son had a couple friends that got married over christmas break.  i believe they were in A school at the time, but they were almost thru A school.   maybe your fiance can find out more info once he is in goose creek.    good luck!! 

My son just arrived in S Carolina for A school PIR 10 12 12.  Excited to be part of the NUKE family.....N

Welcome wonders520  to our Nuke family.  If you have any questions just ask.

My boyfriend will be going to Nuke school in SC after his PIR 11/30/2012, I'm moving out there as well and I'm looking for places now!! So stressful!

Does anyone have any good idea of places to stay while visiting?  We are planning on going up for Thanksgiving.

hello all!

wonders520---welcome!!

cherl---welcome!  good luck with apartment hunting. 

ismith---you could try the foster creek villas, but they might be all taken.    we have stayed at the laquinta inn and the counrty hearth inn.  they were ok.   they are both in north charleston.     maybe i will see you there.  we are heading down for thanksgiving as well!!

Chelbri - check out Alta Shores, No. Charleston ( http://www.liveataltashores.com/)  I know of some navy that live there now, about 12 mins to base.  When my son was in PS, his girlfriend stayed here a few times and felt very safe and really liked it.  (at that time they use to rent furnished apartment by the week, but I dont think they do that any more) and I'm not sure of the pricing, but definitely worth a call ~ good luck!

Ismith - we always stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suite, No. Charleston,  (Marriot family)  about 120/night including breakfast and Wifi...  Great, Friendly Staff - I wouldn't stay anywhere else...  my son is no longer in school, finally hit the fleet in September, but honestly me made the a trip at least ever 4/6 weeks.  we stayed here every time.  they always remembered us!

kwolfe - my son had PIR Nov. 5, 2010.  He got to GC on Nov. 10.  I know he had friends who got married over leave during the holidays, BUT I believe they had to wait until late Jan. to move their wives down there.  Don't know if that had to do  with housing availability, or if they had to get to phase 3 first.  Questions to ask for sure.

Hello all, I just wanted to introduce myself and ask if anyone knows what the thanksgiving schedule is at the South Carolina school.  My son has his PIR on 11/16/12 and we are trying to figure out plans. 

Thanks Navomom55555, do you know if we go there, will they get any liberty to visit us? 

I saw a comment on the 350 mile limit, fortunately we are 323 miles from the base.  So hopefull he will get to visit for christmas. 

hello all!!

welcome erika!

if he his a nuke, then yes he will.   they are there for A school and Power school.  some of them then either stay in SC or are sent to Balston Spa, NY for prototype. 

The rooms are wired for cable TV and get their internet service through the cable provider. Some sailors decide to share an internet connection and install a wireless router themselves but that is an informal arrangement. The Navy does not provide any wifi connection in the dorm rooms themselves.

That is so sweet Kelly! My brother has his PIR on 11/16/12, once he's settled I'll message you.

Last night, very late, I accidently came upon this Navyformoms.com web-site and I could not be more excited!!!  My son PIR is on 11-21-12 and then I understand he will go immediately to Charleston,SC for A-School.  I really hope to learn more about what to expect, and about where he will be, from you other moms, and this wonderful site.

MarcieH. this is a wonderful site.  Ask lots of questions.  My son just PIR'd on 10/12/12 and started A school on 10/29/12.  Many wonderful people here.

Thanks tina41ongradhold!

Kellyd~ that sounds wonderful, I will be keeping in touch !

Hi Marcie...my son had his PIR on 10/5. He has been in GC since 10/6 and just started his classes on 10/29. Time is fly for him now that classes have started. Glad you found N4M.

lsmith32...what class is your son in?

Does the Nuke school have an adopt a sailor program during Christmas?  If not, I would love to adopt a few if they need a place to go.

This NFM site feels like family. We all help where we can.  This is what I can do.

BTW, I will be going to Charleston on th 8th, I will probably bring down a couple of trays of goodies to share with the Sailors. Please message me your name and your sailor's name and where to find him. I want to make sure that I see these guys and give them their sweets specifically before I hand them out to everyone.

If anyone else is close by and would like to join me, please let me know!

@ Kelly- when I was stationed Keesler AFB, the chapel arranged for families to adopt the airmen and sailors during the holidays. I'm sure you could contact the chapel that the students attend to get information. I would think most tech/A school bases are set up the same military wide.

We're just west of Atlanta, inside the 350 mile Liberty radius and could offer a nice place as well.

I just got my phone call, my son is a Navy Sailor!!!

hello all!!

tazmom--congrats!!   you are now a mother to a US Navy Sailor!!!!

Congrats TazMom, my son called too same Div, 002.. :)

Congratulations Penny! and Happy Birthday!

good morning all!!

penny--happy belated birthday!!!!   im so glad you got a call from your sailor!!  

navymom5555-----welcome!!!   congrats on having a sailor!!

Thanks everyone for the congrats and birthday wishes.  Was surrounded by friends and family and enjoyed every minute of it.