GUNNERS MATE (GM) TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES

[Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother]

The purpose of this forum is designed to inform those parents of sailors who aspire to the rate of GM. It is intended to aide parents with what to expect once their sailor graduates boot camp (BC)..also known as PIR, and moves to the A-School side of the base. Questions will be answered by the family of sailors who are training to be GMs. If we don't have the answers, we will get them for you.

Please introduce yourself if your sailor is in the GM rate and provide background on your sailor so that we can get to know you. If you have specific questions about these ratings, and you ask them here, Will and Hoppi will be able to answer your questions. This will help all of us because the answers won't disappear pages down in the general forum.

I want to give Gary T. credit for this great idea; he just hired me as his secretary to put it together. So, jump in and we hope this will be helpful to all of you.

[sondra]

Hey Vee, my sons name is Kaleb and just finished ATT school and is waiting to start gunner school. He is so looking forward to this.

[Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother]

Hi Sondra and a huge warm WELCOME to our GM forum. Congratulations to Kaleb and you on his completion of ATT school. I'm sure he will do well in A School. I started this group about 18 months or so ago and so many things have changed since then and Michael has moved onward and upward. I am not too active on this forum as I don't have much of the new information that is pertinent to this group in GL. However, I think if you will read over the posts here as you have time, you will get some valuable info and answers. I have just added you and Kaleb to our forum parents' list. Michael is now in Honolulu on a ship in Pearl Harbor and just made Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4). So, encourage Kaleb to do well in his schooling and stay as close as he can to the top so when it comes time for them to get their next assignment, he will be in good shape to pick what he wants on his list. Enjoy the ride as a US Navy mom....Hugs, Vee

[Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother]

Hi All,
Here is an updated list as of November 26, 2010, of the GM families on this forum...the ones who are known to me. Hey, all GM folks out there, jump right in and add your story to our forum here. The information we can pass on is a valuable help to our new GM members. Thanks for all your input.....and if I have overlooked anyone, PLEASE let me know. (((HUGS))) Vee

Gary T. "Nick"
Bill Sick "Brett"
Vee "Michael"
Theresa "Nick"
Laurie "Joshua"
Beth "James"
Patty
Karen C. "Corey"
Ruth "Guns Mom"
Barb
Karolyn "Arielle"
Kori Brady "Logan"
Denise "Ben"
Susie "Gabe"
Michelle "Lyall"
Susan "Garrett"
Darcy "Devin"
Mary Doshay "David"
Joanie "Tyler"
Lynn Crevda "Shawn"
Kim "Marc"
Tasha "Zack"
Robin "Chris"
Rose "Ted"
Elaine "Garett"
Michele - "Sammi"
Kelly - "Jake"
Jamie - "Nick"
Tina - "Alex"
April - "Brian"
Adri1120 - "Ashley"
Kelly - "US Navy GM herself"
Kari - "Dennis"
Trish - "Dan"
Jenny D - "US Navy GM herself"
Kari - "Dennis"
TJ - "Josh"
Kay - "Taryn"
Betsy - "Luke"
Jill - "Jake"
( )- "Dillon"
Sondra - (need daughter's name)
Toni - (T-daughter)
Laura - (need son's name)
Sondra - Kaleb
PattiM - Alex
Lynn - Shawn

[Susie-Mom of BlackGryphon]

Vee, thanks for the time you took to put a list of names together in one place! I am Susie and my son's name is Gabe. I posted the Black Gryphon name because he started out in spec ops, and we were told that we would be asked not to use their real names. Anyway, he had to drop due to an injury, though he says he will try again when he can. Gabe PIR'd on 12/5/08. He finished ATT in early April and has been on hold for GM A-school since then. He is in the choir and is also on ship's staff as a runner (messanger). He really likes his job, his ship, and the Navy in general. He has matured and learned so much and has made some great friends. He is currently preparing for an audition (which takes place tomorrow, 6/30/09) for Navy vocalist/entertainer. If he passes that audition, he will change rates.

[Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother]

Hi Susie....gosh, I knew your son's name was Gabe; I just overlooked adding it. Good luck to him tomorrow in his audition for Navy vocalist/entertainer. Be sure to let us know. It looks like he is making good use of his HOLD time. Thanks for adding your post.

[Lynn "Crevs Mom"]

Lynn "Shawn"

[Gary T]

Hello all, my name is Gary T. My son Nicholas joined the Navy and entered Boot Camp on 13/01/09. Nick had his P.I.R. on 13/03/09 and transferred to the A-school side that day. His first ship was the Franklin where he lived while attending his I.N.D.O.C. training 5 business days, 16/03-20/03/09. While on the Franklin he completed his Phase 2 training.He was placed on hold and attended Naval classes until he was transferred to the Enterprise on 30/03/09 where he received his Phase 2. Nick started S.C.C. (Surface Common Core) training 9-12 business days 31/03/09-16/04/09. He was placed on day hold 17/04/09. During this hold he attended Alcohol and Drug Abuse Training for 4 days. 20,21,22,23/04/09. He then attended A.T.T. (Apprentice Technical Training 30-40 self paced business days on 27/04/09-26/05/09. On 26/05 he was transferred to the Cole where he now resides on hold to this date 28/06/09. He will have been on hold five weeks or 25 business days on 30/06/09 with no starting date scheduled for A-School. Others who have preceded him have had longer hold times. Graduation to A-School is a long drawn out arduous process. Our sailors are kept busy with much free time available. We can only wish they use the down time wisely. All parents should realize the NAVY at G.L. is doing its best to train our young sailors and will do so in a professional manner. On the bright side they are well fed, have solid ground under there feet,a roof over there heads and qualified people looking after there well being. Gary T.

[Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother]

Gary T....great post! Thanks for filling in length of times which I couldn't do.....We'll catch up when you get back from P.R.

[Gary T]

Today 28/07/09 Nick received word he is classing up for GM A-school. Nine full weeks or 45 work days after he completed his A.T.T. school he has finally made it to A-school. It has been a long journey but a rewarding one. I have not been able to verify this but Nick had his SECRET security clearance papers turned in last Thursday. I felt the paper work was an indication of the impending selection for school. If this is a fact then all of you with sailors waiting for A-school can then gauge when school will begin. Please tell your sailors yes there is school after hold. It may take a while but eventually they will all get there. Remember a roof over your head, ground under your feet, a pay check, three squares a day, qualified people looking after you and the knowledge they are all safe and sound at GL is a wonderful thing. Gary T.

[Gary T]

Today 29/09/09 I received word from Nicholas that he will be graduating A-School Friday the 2nd of Oct. 09 (02/10/09) Nick has spent a total of nine weeks or 45 business days in A-School. His next assignment will be C-School for V.L.S. (Vertical Launch Systems). Am not sure if the school will be Norfolk or San Diego. He will eventually be deployed on the U.S.S. Lake Erie (ship that shot the satellite down last year) based in Pearl Harbor, Hi. Gary T.

[Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother]

WoooooHoooooo! I'm so happy for Nick to be really on his way now. Maybe we will all meet in Hawaii some day. That would be neat! Thanks for letting us know the good news. Vee

[Gary T]

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for those who know your sailors ship assignments.

Yesterday Wednesday 30/09/09, I was checking information on the NAVY DAD'S site. On the right hand column in blue print you will find different topics. P.I.R. dates, U.S.Navy ships, Etc., Etc.. Click on ships and you will find a print of each type of ship. Click on the type of ship and you will find information about the type, along with names and ports. Click on the name of the ship and you will find photos, officer and crew information, phone number for ships contact, e-mail and ombudsman info. Also check in info. Check it out.