Sailors attending A School in Meridian, Mississippi

things are going GREAT Allison has 11 modules to do andd she is on number 7 right now. and hoping to complete them by next tuesday to gradute next Firday. come be home next weekend or the weekend after that. seh has her oders Washingont state ship USS ABRAHAM LICOLN. I always look for reasons and she started her Navy career in Illinois and Liconoln was born in LIncoln. so very approtriate for her to be assinged to USS Abrahma lincoln ship.

my son is graduating on 4/13/10 with no orders yet, he is getting anxious! LOL

nancynavymom: Is your son a YN? Has he already finished his classes? Mine is still in classes but hopes to be finished next week. No orders for him yet either.

Sharon: Hope you have a great week off...maybe going on vacation? Either way...hope you get lots of rest and get some fun in too!. I hope that when you come back here, you have some good news about orders?????

I don't think so, LOL I'm still learning the lingo, he calls it AZ training, and he is still in class right now.

Thank you! He always tells me something that I can't connect with the letters! I know what he is going to be doing, but that takes to long to tell everytime! LOL Anybody else out there with their's in AZ??

Hello everyone, Its been great reading about everyone's experiences with A School. I'm new at this sight Candice has only been there a week now. A school seems to give them alot more freedom than I thought. It's been great being able to talk to Candice every night.. She is doing great. She classed up yesturday. Candice told me that it is possible that she will finish earlier than she was originally told. After that they told her she will be headed to Ft Worth, Tx. Yeah not too far from home. She is a SH Reserve. Her PO told her that there was only about 12 of them in the Navy, and they are still trying to figure out exactly what to do with them. LOL. I'm still learning along with her everything that her job envolves. Does anyone here know anything about this job?
God Bless you all and your Sailors

Angelika: How long did he have to wait for orders in Meridian? What did they have him do during the 'hold" period?

I was wondering have any of you stayed at the CBQ in Meridian? I was wondering about how much it cost a night and how to go about booking to stay there.

If it is the same place I am staying it is also called the navy inn and suites, I have reservations this weekend and it is $45 a night, no tax, no fees! It is right on base

my fiance (wow that sounds so good - he just proposed on Saturday!) just graduated on Mar 26 from boot camp; he is scheduled to fly to meridian tomorrow for A School. I'm not sure what to expect but hopefully he will be able to call me tomorrow either before his flight or upon his arrival.

Congratulations, sschick! That's wonderful! Does he have his cell with him yet? If so, you can stay in much closer contact now. Laptops don't work so well there, from what I hear...no service. But cell phones are great! Congrats to your "sailor" on his graduation! What position is he in school for? Mine is in the YN program hoping to be finished this week.

no he doesn't have a cell phone with him yet - but he has long distance cards to use in the meantime; i was going to send him a laptop - dang it - i was hoping we could keep in contact that way too. He was in the DEP program for a year; and at the time he signed up he was assigned (?) to be a SH so I guess it is still the same. I just left him last night around 7 at the Great Lakes base - he said that today they were supposed to get their information about A School but we were told before that it would be Meridian; he said he was leaving on Tuesday for there - I'm hoping to talk to him sometime tomorrow in transit. I think his school is supposed to be 4 wks

thank you. I'm wondering if he does fly there tomorrow - will he have a few days of processing first? and then start school next week? Do they have wkends off school? He said that he would be able to stay in the hotel with me if I go visit but I'm not sure if that's right away or after a certain point. He is only supposed to be going for 4 weeks last we heard - and I will make the drive to pick him up at the end because he said he gets 2 wks liberty after. I'm wondering how soon they find out their duty station too.

Congratulations sschick! Just wanted to let you know that my son has his laptop and he uses it everyday. He catches up on facebook and we have skyped several times. He goes to the library and sits outside to get his connection but it seems to be working out fine. Before he got his laptop he was going to the liberty center and using the computers there, of course they didn't have skype.

Good to know about the laptops, hismomdeeship: I know they have to be in their rooms by 10 pm, so I guess they can't use them late at night...which is probably a good thing! These guys are busy and need their sleep! My son gave his laptop to his brother before he left. Sure would be fun to skype with him too! Definitely something to look forward to once he "joins the fleet" and gets another laptop.

sschick: Ok, I'll try to answer a few of your questions from what I know from my son being there. They "learn about the base" when they arrive. I guess you would call that processing sort of. Have lots of watches then...with a buddy to learn the base. "Classing up" varies. Some wait longer than others. Mine was in class about 10 days after he arrived in Feb. They arrive "under restriction." RED DOT, I believe. They eventually get to YELLOW DOT status. Morre freedom then. Your fiance will be able to tell you when he can see you on weekends based on this status. Some have to attend class on Sunday afternoons if they are behind a bit in the class. I don't believe there is class on Saturdays? What is his job? My son is in the YN program. He also thought he would be done in just about 3-4 weeks. Hasn't happened. For those who did finish class close to that time, many are still there awaiting their orders for their first duty station. They cannot go home until orders are issued.
Orders seem to be a bit backed up, at least for YN. But my son didn't think the other jobs were so backed up. So if your fiance is not a YN, maybe he'll get through more quickly. YN is "self-paced" which accounts for some finishing earlier than others. Don't know about the others. Hope this helps!

sschick: Just read your previous post where you said he is an SH. So although base restrictions will be the same as I said below, classing up and waiting for orders may be different for SH.

AMEN, Sharon!

In comment to Bhappy(Sharon), my son does not have a gf at this time, he thought it wiser not to as he went into this endeavor, but as far as family goes, you are so right, he is my thrid son, my other 2 are within 2 hrs of home and it is SO hard with him away and consitricted, BUT we are so happy that he has made this commintment and we try really hard to not get to upset about the things we cannot control! BUT being MOM it is really hard sometimes!!!! It is very comforting to know and hear from all of you!

Good news! I got a call at 4:30am this morning from the airport and we got to have about a 3 hour conversation while he was waiting for his plane to leave Chicago. Then a call when he arrived at his layover and once again a little while ago - he is in Meridian at the airport. Yes I know about the patience - I was calming him today - he is nervous about what to expect there because it is a change in routine from boot camp. He used up all of the phone card minutes he had talking to me today. He is hoping that he will be able to call me soon with the address so I can send him a phone and some other things he wants. I told him to not be sad that I am here waiting for him forever - and that I will be praying for him to have peace as he makes this transition. He is really looking forward to coming home after this for 2 wks and wants me to try to plan our wedding for May instead of this fall. Doesn't give me much time - but I am going to start researching. It just makes me a little nervous about the part that he may not be able to leave unless he has his orders. He was told he will be done by May 6th - but I will have to know to plan a wedding which days he will be here. Wow - sounds like I will have my work figuring this all this out. Thanks for your help ladies.

One thing I wanted to ask.. I'm going to send a care package - phone, some personal items, notebook/laptop, etc. Anything we can't send them? (food?) I just don't want to get him in trouble. thanks

I want to get him some things and send them - i'm really looking forward to it! i just hope that I get the address for him soon so that I can. I gave him a little Easter Basket over the wkend I spent with him after bc grad - glad I did it ahead of time in case I don't get his address for a while.

ok - great! I hope so. I feel so lucky because I talked to him like 3 different times today!! What a change from bc - spoils me :-)

hismomdeeship7div103- I'll be staying there this weekend as well. Maybe we will be able to meet. Thank you for the info. My daughter had already set it up, however I had no idea what price range or how to go about getting to it. Being fresh out of BC I didn't know if I needed some sort of parking pass.
sschick02 Ship09 DIV134PIR MAR26- CONGRATULATIONS-Yes it is such an amazing difference being able to talk to her everynight. I Love It! Candice has been going to Liberty Hall and getting on line with her laptop as well. My daughter is aslo a SH. Her class is also 4 weeks long. She wasn't going to start school for a couple of weeks. However, she classed up last Friday (26th) and started school Monday (29th). The first couple of days she did watch and they showed her around the base. So far she loves it at least she said that it was so much better than BTC. LOL
Also she graduated March 19 arrived there on the 20th about 3:40PM and gave me her address on the 21st. I know thats alot of info but I hope I helped answer some of your questions.

SiaW, I called the Navy Lodge and they said my son would have to meet me and escort me onto the base. We are not allowed on unless we have a military ID. His recruiter told me that once we get there and get checked in, we may be able to get a temporary pass to come and go for the weekend.

SiaW, where are you from?

The number to the Navy Lodge is 1-877-NAVY-BED. Then it will ask you the first 3 letters of the city which would be MER. The reservation has to be made in your sailors name and they will ask you their rank as well. I am driving so I will have my car with me.

Ladies, please be in prayer for the missing sailor from the crashed plane off of the USS Eisenhower. Praise the Lord for the rescue of the other 3. May the number rescued be changed to 4 soon...

I agree with you navygf123! He is calling me a little later with his address and I am sending him a package on Friday (UPS is best, right?) He found out his choices for his duty station too. I love love the increase in communications - I know it may not be this way always but i sure am loving it now!

I'm new here and my daughter won't be there until next month. But, sschick, did you say yours has a choice of duty stations?

Gee, I wonder where Sharon and hubby will be spending their NEXT vacation????
Hmmmm....maybe in JAPAN? Congrats, Sharon! Enjoy his visit home!

Thanks Emma.

Sharon,Wow! Japan! How long will he be there? Is he thrilled or was he hoping for stateside?

Sharon, are you in CA? I'm in so CA.

he just told me that there about 5 places to choose from for his dream sheet; WA, FL, VA, Hawaii and Japan. I'm not sure yet which order he is putting them in. He is originally from VA so maybe that will be his #1 choice - he said he wants to make the decision with me to better our chances of getting what we really hope for but like you say - it just depends on where he is needed.

okmom: I don't think so. I know many post not to spend money to send fast if the arrival date will fall on a weekend. I know the post office is closed on weekends ... just not sure about the other buildings that "house" the packages depending on how big they are. They usually have to make their mail pickups on their lunch break if they are classed up.

He finished his class in Meridian! YAH! Now, onto graduation next week...and orders soon!

HOORAY Diannep! Is he hoping for any place in particular?

Maussie64: Not sure! He was hoping for Florida (where he is from) but was told that pretty much no one is stationed in their home state. So he will let the "cards fall where they may." Praying for the next step. He said he is loving the Navy so far. He and Sharon's son were in the same group in Meridian. And of course, her son is going to JAPAN. Quite an opportunity.

Congrats, Tina! Great job, Stan! Now...on to Norfolk after visiting home!

Hi all,

Got the call from our son the he's officially a sailor. What a great moment for all that have gotten through. He will be heading to Meridian after PIR 4-9-2010, but classes don't start until 4-19 and he has to workout with the Marines. Didn't have time to ask him alot of questions, but after I hung up I had many. So if anyone has answers for me I'd appreciate it. Is it routine for the Navy to do PFT in A school with the Marines? Is the A school in Meridian shared with Marines as well?
Thank you tjs mom

Congratulations Denbarb! Way to go TJ!
What is his rate?

DenBarb: My son is in Meridian, graduates from there on Wed. He has mentioned the Marines being there and said a group of the sailors train with them. Beyond that, not sure...but there is a connection between the Navy and the Marines! Good luck to TJ! You will love being able to stay in closer contact with him while he is there. There are still restrictions, and they are kept pretty busy, but they have free time and time to call, especially if they have a cell phone. Many have laptops too...service is spotty there, but I understand they can get it outside and near the Liberty Center.

Maussie he is an E-3

Diannep thank you for the information, we are looking forward to having communication back. Have a great weekend everyone!!

denbarb, Their rate is actually their job. E3 is his rank. :))
Did he make E3 in BC?

Maussie thank you for enlightening me I had no clue:) His rate is AZ Aviation maintenance administration. He went in as an E3 he has his AS degree, needs only 2 more semesters for his BA. I'm so grateful for this site, without all the support from N4Ms I'd totally be in the dark. While my son was in BC, his mom received a Navy education too...on lingo:))

No problem. I've learned a lot of abbreviations on this site. Where would we be without it?

hismomdee- Thank you. Tonight when my daughter calls I'll let her know she has to meet us at the gate when we arrive. We live in Anna,Texas if your famillar with north Texas it's about 30 miles north of Plano, TX.

Navygf123-My daughter went to the CBQ (Navy Lodge)and filled out a chit for us to come and visit her. At that time she made the reservations.
The Navy Logde is on the base.
okmom2000-I am driving so I will have my car with me.
I'm sorry I'm just now getting back to you I haven't had time to get on the site.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend.
God Bless
Sia
PS: We made it to Meridian and the Navy Lodge is a great place to stay.

Hi All! My bf just graduated from BC on Friday and headed straight to Meredian for LS A-school. Can anyone please explain to me the phases there? Thank u :)

Hi, Kae. Welcome! Congrats to your new sailor! My son graduates this week at Meridian. From what he has said, they arrive under "red dot" restriction, I believe. They earn their way up to "yellow dot" restriction. Your bf will be made aware of this in Meridian during this first week of processing. He can call you from the Liberty Center (phone card) if he doesn't have his cell with him (you can mail it). He should be able to tell you more about the restrictions! They can also LOSE their "yellow dot" privilege if they "mess up," Mine lost his for being late to class one day. So tell your bf to behave! :-)

Good Morning to All, I didn't get to see my son at Easter but he was able to Call and Text! Hi, Kae, yes they are pretty strict, don't want any goofing around there, my son is supposed to graduate on 4/13/10 from AZ, but still no signs of orders!!!! Happy Monday to all!!