Sailors attending A School in Meridian, Mississippi

Keneisha....what rate is your son? Mine got there the week before

Ke'neisha:  Each base has its own rules, but he will have to "phase up" before staying off the base overnight.  That takes a good while.  He will know about this once he goes through "Indoc" after arriving on the base.  Since he will be able to stay in touch with you with phone/laptop once at A School, he can keep you posted!  I do believe that you can visit him ON THE BASE relatively quickly, but off base takes longer.

Hello to everyone, my SR doesn't get to Meridian until beginning of Oct but I decided to go ahead and join your group.  I hope to learn from everyone what to expect.  He leave for BC 7/31; he will be an AZ.

Hi, My son's PIR is July 26th then off to Mississipi for A school. We are from Michigan. I'm new to all of this so any information I can get would be helpful

Yes, they can have cell phones and laptops during A-School.  And, after they get their 'green dot' they can leave base on their days off.  After boot camp, A-School seems like a walk in the park! 

Does anyone know how the new Sailors are paired up in Mississippi?  Do they room with one or more and with someone going over with them or with someone who is already in Mississippi?

Good morning all!  My son will be attending Meridian in 2014, but I wanted to get a jump on finding out some info.  Help!

does anyone know where I can get any information regarding Meridian Mississippi and about the school to send my son.  Hear they like to read up on the area and see what to expect. 

Hi, my daughter's PIR is Sept. 6 and then she will be heading to Mississippi for A school. We are new to all this so any information will be greatly appreciated.

Good morning!  My daughter's PIR is 8/23 then she is headed for LS A School.  She has asked for information but i'm not sure where to go.  Can someone help me?  She's wondering what to expect.  Thanks.

Did anyone have a sailor who just got there?  My son PIR'd on Friday.

My Son just graduated out of A school in Meridian.   He is home on leave now before he reports to his first duty station.  He enjoyed being in Meridian, he was also in a self paced class so he was able to come home much sooner then we expected.   He said the weather is scorching hot down there..lots of snakes to look out for and big bugs,  we are from up North, so that was all new to him.   He was there with a few Sailors from his division out of boot camp,  so that group hung out together most of the time, but he did make new friends also.  They went to the movies, out to eat and made a lot of mall trips.  They all pitched in for cabs when they were on leave.  Good luck to all the new Sailors on their way to Meridian...Hooyah!

Kim, thanks for the information, I think my son will be able to handle the heat, etc we live in TX and the hi today is 105, but I'm sure the humidity there is much worse.  Since your son was in a self paced class did he still get to choose his deployment location?  Also do you know if they can have their cars there or is this one of the bases that doesn't have enough room to bring your car?

Kim and Smurfette84, I'm also from TX so my daughter WAS used to the heat until this boot camp adventure and she's used to snakes, however she doesn't like them.  From what I've heard everybody likes it in Meridian.  Thanks Kim for the info.  Did your son have to wait long for a class to fill up?

smurfette84 and rhobo61~Hi Ladies...  Here is what I can tell you from my son's experience in Meridian...He classed up pretty fast, probably second week there, he also recieve his orders two wks before he graduated (he did not get to choose his first duty station).   For the car situation,  I'm not much help on that, my son and his friends used the cab services to get around town when they were on Liberty.   Hope this helps... good  luck to your Sailors! 

Kim, Thanks for the info.  Did your son happen to mention if they have a barber shop/beauty salon on base?  My daughter says her hair is in dire need of help.  LOL.  I was just wondering if this is something we might need to do during liberty or if she'll have a chance at A school.  I know she doesn't want to wait at least 2 weeks to get her hair back to normal.  Thanks.

When our son left, he flew out of O'Hare early the next morning.

Fredsmom - thank you for this information, my AZ has PIR on 9/27/13 and I was also wondering about the same thing.  It sounds like you had a good time waiting around with everyone 

MommaTS I don't know where we find that information, my son has PIR 9/27 and will be heading there.  Hopefully he won't have to wait long for a class to start.  I know I have spoken to other moms and the most their SR had to wait was about 2 weeks.

Momma TS,

My daughter will PIR Friday and she told me yesterday that a class starts on 9/3.

My son got to Meridian 8/11. He rooms with 2 other guys who are really cool he said. He has his cell phone laptop and I have sent him a few civvy clothes and sports gear. He had the time to settle in and relax a little before class started on 8/22 so now its time to work hard!!....had a lot of watch duty at first but that's the Navy for you. Hope he gets to hear where his first Command will be soon.

Scotia123 thank you for this information it helps a lot.  My son won't have PIR until 9/27 but I like to have a "heads up" approach in what is going on.  Did you give him his laptop & cell at the airport or did you ship them to him?  He has been asking everyone if they are the same rate and he hasn't found anyone.  Did you son have anyone with same rate while he was BC?  Just curious.

Smurfette84 I gave him his cellphone at the airport although he had it all the time he spent with us after graduation. You have to take it back from them before they go back to BC. They can have their laptops at the airport as well but may not have room for it. If they pack everything well enough they can leave room in their backpacks and fit it in there. He did not have room!!! so I sent it in one of the USPS Priority Mail boxes and he got it within a couple of days. My son had a couple of guys the same rating and they travelled to Meridian with him. Have you booked your hotel yet at Great Lakes?....we stayed at the Marriott Courtyard it was awesome, and we used their shuttle service to the graduation. My son just wanted a shower on his own and a steak dinner!!! :) Go to Sarge's Meet and Greet as well and take his advice of sitting upstairs at the Graduation!!!...even though there is a rail in front you will get the best view of the Divisions and hopefully your recruit.....you will see where to sit by the Division Numbers on the floor and we sat just above my sons...I saw mine straight away and watched him all the way through it was awesome......this is my SA, so very proud of him!!!!....if you want any more information I will be glad to help.

My son is at A School in Meridian. On advice from another Mom  I purchased "The Bluejackets Manual"....this is exactly the same as your Recruit will have been given at GL. It is an invaluable book and I highly recommend it. All the Navyisms that we found so confusing are explained in there. Duty Assignments, Uniforms, Ranks Rates just to name a few, the book explains it all. It is helping me to understand how the Navy works and therefore makes it easier to understand my son when he is talking "Navy" :D

Scotia123 thank you for all of this information.  I have RSVP for Sarge's Meet.  We are staying at the Navy Lodge with other parents from his division.  We are going to have  a celebration "party" after the SR go back to the base.  I thought about taking his Ipad to the airport since it is smaller and then sending his laptop.  I'm getting excited, we are down to the final weeks.

Are Cruise and Loftin's moms on this site?  I think I may be hosting them next weekend.  Gumbo on the menu.

Andreaship9Div320 I bought the book from Amazon....and the FB page for Meridian is www.facebook.com/NTTC Meridian

smurfette84.....you are welcome and Graduation will be an extremely emotional and proud day for you all....believe me!!!....I hope your SR ordered photographs....they are awesome!!

Hey Does anyone know when my sailor will be able to get leave for us to get married?

Does everyone graduate "A" school at the same time? 

PaMom, my SR also has PIR on 9/27 (ship 9 Div 370).  What rate is your SR?  Mine is a AZ.

LOL, my SR isn't on a sub, didn't want to be down that long.  He will be attached to a squadron, either Helicopters or Airplanes; whichever is available after A school