Questions, questions, questions!!

[GunnersmateWife]

Hi.

New Navy wife here. I need so many questions answered and with my husband away at bootcamp, it is hard to get them answered quickly without bugging his recruiter.

But I guess I should first ask how everyone is AND then get started with what I need answered.

S, how is...anyone out there, I guess. (haha)

I just found out my husband was recl***ified from nuclear to being a gunners mate. What should I expect from his MSO? And since we aren't nuclear anymore I have no clue where we will be going. We were going to be in Goose Creek, SC after BC. But now, I have no idea where we will be. Will he know when he graduates BC or will we not know until he is about finished with A-school?

I'm going to stop there.

Hope to hear good feedback. At least something I can go by.

GunnersmateWife

[sweetmtn]

FIRST...WELCOME ABOARD! Now to your question..I am not that well informed on GM rate,but depending on how long his A school is, you will stay put where you are now until he finishes. Only those with schools longer than 6 months will the navy pay to move the family.(you are always welcome to move there to him, at your own expense if you choose to) He will get his first duty station about 2/3 the way through his A school in the form of a dream sheet to request where he wants to go. Once he gets his duty ***ignment, then you can make plans to move there. Hope this helps some...

[GunnersmateWife]

Hey. Thanks. Not sure either. His school is 25 weeks. He did say in his letter he is working on getting us up there. I read somewhere that if the school is 5 months or less we can't move. But he will be gone 6 months! So more questions come, you know? Since he's there for 6 months, we can move? And if so do we get base housing? an apartment on base? I was told that Greal Lakes DOESN'T have family housing. However I just found the form for application for family housing there.

I hate all this run around stuff. We are moving there regardless. I need to be with my husband. He needs me too. It is HARD for us to be a way from each other. It kills us emotionally. This is the longest we've ever been away from each other. We have to be with each other and we have an 8 month old too. We refuse to allow the Navy to make him miss our son's FIRST birthday. Any other birthday, but NOT this one, you know?

Anyway, getting to personal. I have tons of housing questions, but really my husband is the only one that can answer them. So I printed off the form, wrote questions donw on the back and hopefully he will send me answers so I can be ready when I go up tot see him at his graduation. I can turn in the application there.

But thank you. I appreciate the reply!

[DevilDolphin]

Welcome to the site.

First of all, for the rating of Gunners mate.

The United States Navy occupational rating of Gunner's Mate (abbreviated as GM) is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) to enlisted members who either satisfactorily complete initial Gunner's Mate "A" school training, or who "strike" for the rating as a deck seaman by showing competence in the field of ordnance.
The Gunner's Mate "A" school is held at Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois. While the school was originally very hands-on, it is now primarily conducted through self-study computer based training (CBT). The training focuses on the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Naval guns and missile launchers as well as a strong emphasis on basic explosives, guidance and tracking systems, small arms, Naval ammunition cl***ification, and safety. Upon completion of this basic training, enlisted members often continue on to a specialized "C" school, where they learn a particular weapons system.

As far as duty station is concerned, he isn't going to know where he's going to be stationed until he's almost finished with A school. That being said, a Gunners Mate will most likely be needed on a ship (Meaning either San Diego or Norfolk. You might get lucky with Florida) Tell him that if he's in the top of his cl*** in A school, he will have first choice on orders when the time to pick orders comes along so study hard!

[GunnersmateWife]

Yeah, I knew everything else and I have done some video researching about an hour ago. Made me sick to my stomach to see what he will be working with. Just scarey for a wife is all, but for me, I need to know what my husband is doing. (I don't like things sugar coated at all!!) I posted some of the videos on his Facebook so his friends and family could see a little of what is to be exspected. I know he probably thinks it's "AWESOME!" (He would say that.)

But I will for sure tell him to strive for a top cl*** spot. We always go for the best. My husband always does well if he sets a goal. So I will def tell him to aim high! Thanks!!

GunnersmateWife

[N@vychick]

As far as the housing goes. There is indeed base housing here at great lakes not to far from the base. There is abit of a waiting list for it not to long though and plenty of other housing to stay in off base. The bad new is though that there isnt 1 Gunners mate I no of here that is a live ashore. Even though he could be here for 6 months ONLY the time he will be in A school counts toward that time. The time he spends on hold doesnt count. Even if u do move up here at ur own exspense that doesn mean that ur husband will be able to stay with u. Be prepared for him 2 miss ur son's 1st birthday but it doesnt have to be the end of the world. If u know that he isnt going to be there for it have a party for him b4. I no it sucks I missed my son's 2nd birthday.

[GunnersmateWife]

hmmm...ok...sorry, just checking this by the way. not what I wanted to hear for sure. we'll just have to see how everything goes, I guess.