Sailors attending A School in Meridian, Mississippi

We've passed Basic, now its attending A school in Meridian, Mississippi. Let's talk and get to know one another.
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  • TDSNAVY04

    Thank you so much!! My Heart
  • pamesue

    Is this group active? My son arrived yesterday at Meridian.

  • rockenrobin

    Pamesue  Hi my daughter left Meridian 14 months ago, but I'm still here to help. What do you need to know ? Rockenrobin anytime

  • pamesue

    Ok thanks, my sailor arrived there yesterday and was hoping I had a way of getting advice if needed. Thanks I will be sure to ask when I need help.  I appreciate you :-)

  • Pamela S

    My Daughter made it to Meridian. How long is LS A school? I'm trying to get a date figured out for her Grad so I can ask for the time off. Also are there any hotels with special rates for Navy families?

  • pamesue

    My son says school is 9 weeks, that there is no graduation like PIR. I'm not sure about places to stay.  My son will graduate on 3/4.  Hope this helps.

  • rockenrobin

    Hi all see if there is a navy lodge on base , I think there is and its a great place to stay . You would be right there and he or she coluld stay in your room. You must get clearance to stay on base, some online forms and your photo ID. Hope you have a good time

  • rockenrobin

    Yes Nicks Mom  they are aloud cell phones , laptops I-pads, street clothes, Headphones hope that's helps

  • soygifts

    They are also allowed to have their car there if they are close enough for you to take to them.  They will be able to wear street clothes once they phase up.  When they reach phase 3 they will be allowed to go off post and will be allowed to have over night passes for Friday and Saturday nights.  They are not allowed to stay with you at Navy Lodging unless it is the night of graduation after they have finished all their out processing.  There is a graduation ceremony but not near as big as from basic training.  At the graduation they will be taking pictures and if family is there they have you go up and they take a picture of your sailor with the family and they will post them all on their website.  They are allowed to have anything they would like there really.  It is no where near as strict as it was in Great Lakes.

  • encourager

    Hello there, it seems there are two N4M groups for Meridian.  Here's the other group's link for info:

    http://navyformoms.com/group/meridianmississippiaschoolfamilyfriends

  • ilace18

    My son is their now, Hope to visit him soon

  • Nick's Mom

    My son is in Meridian too. He got liberty Sunday so I picked him up for a couple of hours.
  • ilace18

    Yeah my son had liberty Saturday and Sunday I wish I could have been their but I plan on seeing him soon

  • KellsR3714

    Hello ,
    My boyfriend is in A school in Meridian also.
    I Plan on going to visit him but I live in NYC.
    How can I get there .. Can anyone give me some information please ?
  • MarNavyMom

    Hi KellsR3714,

    I believe the only airline is American Airline into Meridian US Airway is also owned by American Airlines any way as far as I know that is the only airline. I heard there was a train but I do not know very much about it. The other big airport is Jackson but it is about an hour and a half away so that may be an expensive cab ride. You could rent a car though. I am going to drive from Texas it will be about 8 hours for us. 

  • encourager

    My Navy moms, let's light up the site with good wishes for Christmas. I start!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.. Thanks for all your support throughout my Sailor's Naval career.
  • Momma TS

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
    Thank you for your support!
  • beautzer

    My SR just arrived yesterday at school in Meridian wondering when I will be able to visit? So nice him being able to have his phone now!!
  • Marilyn

    Hi My SR will be coming to Meridian,MS torwards the  end of March. When will I be able to visit my SR? 

  • MarNavyMom

    Mine is stationed here but when he was in A school in Pensacola we visited him about a month or two later. At first they are more strict then they get more privileges but your sailor will know. You can stay on base at the Navy Gateway and you will be really close to where the sailors stay.

     

  • beautzer

    I am trying to figure out where to order graduation pictures and cd - does anyone know the link? Thank yoiu

  • 18gf

    hi my boyfriend just got to ms today he graduated yesterday and wanted us to come to ms in case he had any free time. do they have any at all the first week they arrive?
  • Navymomof2

    18gf, probably not. He'll have to phase up before he gets any liberty.
  • JayJ

    Hello my sailor arrives tomorrow in MS, and we thought he would be at the same airport as me and his family but he isn't. Therefore how can I get his cell phone and cilivian clothes to him?
  • Barbie Doll

    Hi our son arrived at meridian Mississippi tonight for his first duty. I would like to no if anyone knows how it is down there and if they have a navy lodge there and when will we get to visit him? I'm nervous excited but also happy for my sailor his job is MA.
  • garden gal

    My son was there Oct - Dec of last year for YN A school, so his experience would have been a little different ( A school rules are much stricter).  But about the base - it is very rural.  My son said think of a small, sleepy southern town in the woods.  If he is into nightlife it won't be much fun, but my son really liked it.  The main drawback is that the town is some distance away, so a car would be very helpful.  Also the town of Meridian is not very large.  Sailors sometimes take weekend trips to New Orleans for recreation, but that was not allowed during A school.  There is not a Navy Lodge on base, but there is a Navy Gateway Inn.  My DIL stayed there twice & said it was nice & also reasonable.  I think the rooms were about $70 and the suites with a kitchenette were a little more.  Good news is no add'l motel tax since it is military.  If you fly you would probably find it much cheaper to fly into Jackson (about 90 min away) & rent a car.  There is only 1 flight a day to Meridian via Dallas & it is quite expensive. You should get to visit him almost right away since he is not in school.  Beware the summers are hot there. Hope you have a great time.

  • Barbie Doll

    Thank you so much Garden Gal for the information this was very helpful.
  • Momma TS

    Is this group still active?
  • NCNavymom

    My son was in Meridiano for A School last December
  • NCNavymom

    Typo....Merdian
  • BigMosMom

    My son will attend Basic Training in early November with PIR that last Friday in December.  Then A School for SH immediately following.  I understand that they will have some liberty after completion of A School.  I've heard anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks that they will come home before heading to their first duty station.  Anyone know for sure how much time they get?  Thank you!

  • garden gal

    Frequently they do get to take 1 to 2 weeks of leave between A school & reporting to their first duty station. But it is not guaranteed. As with everything it is "needs of the Navy". In other words, if he is needed ASAP at his new command he will be required to go straight there. For example - if he is assigned to a ship that is leaving on deployment. But almost all of my son's class were able to go home first. There is even a program where they can work during the day at their recruiter's office for 5 days of their leave & it won't count as leave. It's a great program.

  • NavyMum

    BigMosMom - it's really dependent on where they will be stationed. My son received 3 weeks after A school (Logistics) in Meridian but his first duty station is in Japan. They get less leave if they will be stationed state-side and as garden gal said, there is a possibility of no leave at all if needs of the Navy require him to be at his next duty station ASAP. 

    You really can't plan ahead and count on a specific time since even once they graduate A school - some leave right away and some (like my son) spend time on hold before receiving leave.

    btw - liberty = time off locally (weekends/afterhours) and leave = vacation time

  • TexasBird(Robin)

    My son was one the handful that EVENTUALLY came home for 15 days from A school, but it was about 30 days after "garden gals" sailor came home. (Our sailors got to know each other).Trying to get a Security clearance approved during holiday stand down was a huge factor. Enjoy 'em while you got 'em
  • Navymom414

    right on-enjoy your time if you do get some.  My son will be coming home next Wednesday for 10 days then we are driving to Norfolk VA together where he will be stationed.

  • Christina

    Well my son will be in Mississippi sometime soon ! i haven't Since march 21 and well looks like all ill get is text and phone calls ..
  • acb2

    My son will go to A school in Meridian.  Are they able to have their own car down there?

  • Jaxlm17

    Hello all new here my son PIR was last friday. Now he is in here For A School
  • Jaxlm17

    Hello all quick question wanted to send a Letter Is it diff then BC?
    I have his Addresse already not sure about the Name part.

    Thanks
  • EmpressB

    Good day all!!! My husband is attending A school in Meridian, MS at the moment! His PIR was June 30, 2017! I hope everyone is in great spirits and health!!! XOXOXOOXOXOOXOX

  • Christina

    My son is sitting in GL ..... Wish they would hurry up

  • acb2

    Could anyone tell me which airport your recruit flew out of after PIR to go to meridian? LS school. O'Hare or Midway? Thank you
  • garden gal

    My son flew out of O'Hare to Jackson, MS then they took a bus to Meridian. That was late Oct 2015. I think there is a direct flight to Meridian now - that one is out of O'Hare also. We were so lucky - he got to O'hare & we met up with him at about 3 am on Saturday & his flight didn't leave until 7:30 pm Sat night - so we spent a long but enjoyable day with him at the airport. But he was so tired and they are technically not supposed to sleep in public in uniform. We searched out some secluded seats kind of behind some pillars so he could nap a little. :)

  • cmm1974tx

    My son flew out of O'Hare into Jackson, MS then a bus ride to Meridian and that was last May 2016. We also got to spend all day with him at O'Hare as he had a 7:30pm flight. I know things can change based on flight schedules etc! We were very grateful for the extra 15 hours waiting in the airport :-)
  • acb2

    Thank you ladies, I wonder if my recruit will have the same experience as yours.  So thankful for this group and all of you!!

  • acb2

    Can anyone tell me what it is like in Meridian?  Any recommendations to stay, eat... if and when I can visit him?  He's in boot camp now PIR scheduled 9/8.  I know they have phase 1 liberty-no car, no regular clothes...

  • Christina

    My son is supposed to be in Mississippi still in GL 10 weeks and counting !

  • Beccadj68

    I'm wondering about how much personal space sailors will have in  A School.  I know space was pretty limited in boot camp, will they have more room for personal items at A School?

  • HeatherS

    The way my son has explained and shown us on video-chat, they are in dorm style rooms shared by 3 people. He has a bed, desk, and closet. Not sure what other personal items for display they are allowed other than pictures though. We have just sent what he asks for.
  • Beccadj68

    HeatherS: Thanks for the info.  I wondered if they were going to have enough room for some civilian clothes when the time comes.  Sounds like it should be fine.