A School Visits

[chelseacat]

Hello Everyone! I have questions about A school. My BF is going to be going to A school in Port Hueneme, California. If you have any information on the A school there, or if you have a significant other/ fiance/husband in that A school, could you please give me some advice for when I go visit my BF. I would really appreciate your help! Also, If you have a Loved one at ANY A school, please post any advice that you might find helpful for me and all of the other girls who are planning A school Visits. Thank You!

 

I am making flight plans for the first or second week of March. My BF should be starting A school in around the second week January. His PIR will be 01/04/2013 so he will arrive at school on the 7th of January.

 

These are my official questions:

First off, are there any helpful pages on A school information?

Did anyone go see their loved one while they were on phase 1, and what was that like?

I was wondering how long does it usually take for them to get on phase 2 and phase 3?

I am trying to plan my trip up there so he will for sure be on phase 2 at least, but I am hoping for phase 3 of course.

 

What were your experiences on going to see your loved one in A school?

 Can you guys give me any advice on setbacks or positive information about going to see your loved ones in A school?

 

Please give me any advice or input you have on A School Visits. I will greatly appreciate anything you have to offer on this topic. :)

[autibug]

My husband is in A School in Virginia Beach and the first time I went to visit I was just his fiancee and he was on phase 1 and had only been out of BC for less than 2 weeks and his chief let him go with me all weekend and he didn't have to check in until Tuesday morning (Monday was a holiday). He wore civilian clothes and was allowed to go off base with me to see the town.  He stayed with me in the hotel on base and everything. It really just depends on his chief and what they will or wont let them do on each phase. Yeah there is the guidelines that says what each phase is suppose to be and how long it will last but each base sort of does there own thing we found out.

[meagan5220]

wow you got reallllly lucky with that! I have never heard of anything like that happening! but I have mostly known people that went to A school in Pcola. They wouldnt even let him stay off with me for the weekend when I went there to get married. I had to take him back at midnight and go pick him back up at like 430 am

[autibug]

Yeah I have heard that Great Lakes and Pcola are pretty stiff on the policy. I went out there thinking I would only get to see him at nights and we would have to stay on base and everything and that wasn't the case at all. We went and got married while I was there. He asked for permission for that and all they said was well we can't stop you. So no chit and no classes. That's why everything really depends on the base and the chief. I'm learning with the Navy the story can change with the base the chiefs and just peoples moods that day. i have also learned that they will send you to 15 different people trying to get the answer to one question just to have the last person send you to the first person you spoke to. Pretty unorganized in a lot of areas and it's frustrating.

[meagan5220]

yeah The only reason he was allowed to leave base with me the day we got married when we werent technically "family" yet was bc an LPO almost screwed us out of getting married and he felt bad and he told the guys at check out he saw me there and to say I signed him out pretty much lol!! Oh yea... I am telling you it changes from person to person about what can and cant happen. Like I wasnt allowed a move because of a change of homeport bc it was after the cut off date but someone moved a month after me and got a paid move plus a second paid move when the ship moved! It was so annoying!! and def very frustrating. lol the Navy is def very unorganized lol!!! I always tell my husband.. if I ran the Navy, everything would make sense, and we would be saving money not going more and more in debt lol! I am crazy about saving lol!

 

[chelseacat]

Lucky! I hope my BFs chief is nice like that. I might go see my BF on phase one. I want to because I can't wait to see him, but I also don't want to be stuck on base the whole time. I am only a girlfriend, so I am wondering if I will be able to see him on base. Does anyone know how base visits go?

[autibug]

He just had to get permission from his chief then he met me at the front gate and he got in the car and drove on base with me. As long as I had the rental agreement my drivers license and him with me i had no issues. Also have him check in to getting you a hotel room on base. It was much cheaper and he doesn't have to stay with you in order for you to stay there he just has to make the reservation in his name and I think he has to be there when you check in. On the base in Virginia they had rooms with one twin size bed for $28/night. When we found out he could stay with me we changed for a queen and that was only $50/night. I know it can vary a little per base but it is still way cheaper.

[meagan5220]

As far as phases and lengths and what exactly they are allowed to do it will vary school to school. I think what I have seen is typically they get through the first phase in 2-3 weeks (again if you can get exact info about that from someone with a sailor in that A school it will be more accurate.) During phase one my husband was not allowed off base if I remember correctly. Or if he was only in uniform. Either way I know he didn't leave the base the first two weeks. Also, depending on the base some will not allow the sailor to leave unless with family, spouse, or another sailor without a special request. I saw my husband in phase 2 I made sure to go then. Advice about going to visit A school, make sure you have a hotel planned out, a car, figuring out how to get on and off base, figure out that base's specific requirements.

 

Also, while he might be going to A school at that time.. there is a possibility that he might not start that quickly. My husband was told before he left for BC he would start A school as soon as he go there... then he had to wait a month. Just me being me.. Its a bit early make plans to fly out already... lol but thats just what I have learned with the Navy. make sure anything you buy you can refund or switch around.   

[chelseacat]

This is very good information. Thank you Meagan! I was talking with my Dad, and he advised me to not buy the tickets until 3 weeks before going.I am pricing car rentals and hotels,

Keep the comments coming ladies, any input on past experiences would be nice.

[meagan5220]

Yeah typically the best time to buy tickets is not too far in advance I think a little over 15 days and on Tuesdays at like 3 pm eastern is the best time to buy tickets!! Also, cheapest day to fly is Wed!! :) Make sure you clear your browsing history too!!! the prices will go up the more they know you are checking!!! My husband had to fly back to WA the sunday after thanksgiving and we kept looking and the price kept going up. After clearing the history the price dropped by 200$ in ten minutes!! So def do that!  

[chelseacat]

WOW crazy stuff! Thank you so much Meagan. I wrote my BF and let him know I am making plans to see him in A school, but to let me know about his A school and Chief once he gets up there before I buy the tickets. :) I am so excited! I can't wait to check out Cali. with my BF! :3 I want to go see the beach and make him dinner of course! Eeeep! I am so excited! I really hope we get to have a slummber party and what not! :3

[BrittSailorWife<3]

I have a question @meagan5220: If they don't start school right away will we be allowed to visit, or get married at that time if they approve it? or do they make you wait until they actually start school?

[meagan5220]

Brit yes they will be able to leave typically even if they havent started school as long as they have earned the phase to leave base. They still can only leave after liberty is called still and not if they have duty. But otherwise they can still leave. and they typically are fine with them getting married before. Some even prefer it so they they arent worrying about it when they are doing their classes.