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.

[Gary T]

Carly, may I first welcome you to the group. I see you have many questions in need of an answer. First may I suggest you read all of the posts in this group (GM Training at Great Lakes.) You will find many of your questions will be answered. If I were to attempt to answer your many questions now I would be rehashing what has already been posted. Once you read the information posted here I will then attempt to fine tune those answers.

The GM rating is a great rate for a sailor to be in. Currently promotions are better then many other rates in the NAVY. When your BF has his P.I.R. chances are he will move immediately to the A-School base which is next to basic. If he does move immediately chances are good he will have a free week-end and be required to report in by phone each morning and evening. This may change by January. The NAVY is very fluid. Hold times in A-School may vary. Please read everything in this GM group. Then ask away. Gary T.

[CarlyRae (ship12div034)]

Hi Gary!

Thanks for the info! I've read it all and you were right, a lot questions were answered.

One question I still have is how do you if you will have C school or not? In some of the posts on here some went, some didnt?

I just got a letter from him yesterday and he said his A school will be 23 weeks, instead the 27 originally thought. He also that he will have to be back to base every night liberty weekend by 8pm (dang!). I'm just happy bootcamp will be over and I can see him!

Thanks for all the info guys!

[Gary T]

Carly, keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully he may be mistaken. You will know for sure on P.I.R. day. He may be told he will be moving over. The NAVY is fluid. My son moved the day of P.I.R. and had the whole week-end. Now in ref: to the length of school you may find that 23 weeks is not engraved in stone. The total time will depend on how fast he moves over, when he starts and finishes I.N.D.O.C., Same for A.T.T. school and then how fast he starts the actual A-School, graduates, receives orders, and a shipping date. My son spent over one year at Great Lakes. Many more sailors were being trained in 2009 which resulted in longer waits (hold times).

Now C-Schools. Not all GM's attend a C-School after graduation. Some go directly to there first assignment and receive hands on training. They may attend a C-School later. My son was lucky enough to go to two C-Schools. Tell your sailor to apply himself while in A-School. If things are the same, the higher you graduate in class the better chance you have of getting your pick of assignments. My son chose V.L.S. (Vertical Launch Systems) His C-School was in San Diego with an assignment to Hawaii. When he arrived at his ship he was chosen for a 2nd C-School and returned to San Diego. Just tell him to do his best. Good luck.     Gary T.

[PAM (GM MOM)]

Hi everyone, my name is Pam my son Chaz graduated boot on Dec 3 and has just been moved over to his A school for GM.  He will be home on leave from Dec 17 to Jan 2.  We went to his PIR and are so excited to have him home for Christmas.  How long is the A school?  I have heard several different things.  Is there a graduation ceremony for A school?  We live only a few hours south of Great Lakes so we can easily attend any ceremony and visit our son while he is in school.

[Gary T]

Pam, where do you live? I am from Peru, Illinois. My son graduated A-School on 02 Oct 2009. I am not sure of the length of A-School. I have heard that has changed. I would assume anywhere from 10 to 12 weeks. I imagine your son has already completed INDOC and is awaiting A.T.T. School. The total length of time spent at Great Lakes depends on how fast the new sailor moves through INDOC, ATT and then A-School. Usually there are hold times in between schools which can account for much of the delay in graduation times. You will get a better idea once he actually starts GM A-School. I think my son spent around ten weeks with one more week for weapons training on the FATS (Fire Arm Training System). 

 

They do have a brief graduation ceremony upon completion of A-School. Parents may attend. It is low key and nothing like P.I.R.. I did not attend my sons graduation. He chose not to have us attend as we would have been the only family there. I don't think he wanted to be embarrassed. I did however pick him up on his long weekends and bring him home. If you do choose to do that you can obtain a vehicle pass to drive onto the base. You will need a valid drivers license, registration and proof of insurance. You son will have to be with you when you apply as he will be your sponsor. He must also be with you when you drive on the base. (Really helps when he is bringing clothing and such home or to the base.) If you do apply for a pass to drive onto the base see if you can have it for more then just the weekend. I don't know if it was a mistake but I received a pass for over two months in length. Any further questions ask. Post me as a friend.      Gary T. 

[PAM (GM MOM)]

Gary T I live in Morton it is just outside of Peoria, central Il.

[Gary T]

Well Pam, I live right around the corner not too far away. When Chaz gets those long weekend you will be able to pick him up and bring him home. Sunday traffic is not bad. Friday is the worst. Since most of the construction is finished on the interstate travel times are much better.  If Chaz has an even class for A.T.T. you may have to get there earlier to acquire a pass. The visitor center closes around 5 or 6 PM.. Gate security should be able to give you a temp pass but this does not always happen. They march to a different drummer. (Civilians). I had to walk to my sons ship on cold and rainy nights just to sign him out. If you have any questions ask. Or mail me and I will give you my phone #. Best of luck and a Merry Christmas.  Gary T.

[Gary T]

Any GM questions please ask. Someone is always checking this Discussion.          Gary T.

[Lynn-ship4div223]

Hi, My daughter is going into basic soon. We are both very confused whether or not she has ATT school first or A school first. She is going to be a GM. If you can help me with this question please let me know. Thank you so much.

[Vee, Michael's Proud Grandmother]

Hi Lynn; your question came through to my Yahoo mail and I think I  can help you out.  After BC comes ATT school; then A school.  My grandson is a GM; been in since November 2008; and has just reenlisted for another 4. In this forum, you will find a lot of answers to your questions along the way.  We had many active parents on here about the time my Michael joined the Navy and went through bootcamp, ATT and A school in Great Lakes.  Gary T is one you can always count on to give you the straight answers.  He and I have quite a few posts if you have time to check back through this forum.  Don't be afraid to shout out the questions; we are all here as one big family to help all the "newbies."  I can't believe I was one of them almost 4 years ago.  Gosh where does the time go.  Make me a personal friend, too, in case you need to contact me that way.  Kudos to your daughter in her choice of service and hang in there tough through all the hills and valleys of her Navy career.  Big Navy Grandma HUGS to you and your daughter.  Vee

[dbarton(ship04div223)]

Hi my name is Debbie and my SR has 16 days til PIR!!! and then on to A school for GM - she did write and say she will have 2 weeks leave after A school, however, I thought she would have C school right after A school, does that mean she will complete C school then leave?

[Anti M]

Depends on when her C school begins.  Could be between, could be after.  And ten days is more usual than a full two weeks unless she's going overseas.