Update - I'm done with boot camp and I added some more questions to the end of the thread, so you don't have to read through all this stuff. So skip to the end of the thread. Thanks for answering all my questions.

I looked through the other dicussions and couldn't find what I wanted to know, tell me if I missed it.

I'm going to boot camp in July and then straight to A - School. My A-School is in October. I'm sorry but I don't really know anything about A-School so i have some questions.

- Is there homework? How much studying do you usually need to do? How much free time do you have when you're not in class / don't need to be studying?
- Someone told me there might be some PT involved, is that true?
- What are the living quarters like?

I think there was some more questions but I can't think of them right now, I'll add some more if think of them. Thanks a lot to anyone that can answer my questions!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 14231708,

OS A School setup:

Homework, often, not everyday, you will need to study for some tests, some homework will be team effort. You will typically go to school 7am-3pm and be off the rest of the day from school. Meals are provided at designated times. You will stand duty , meaning you will be tasked with a job to complete , how often depends on how many people are in school at that time, when i went i had duty once every 6 days. There is no PT, gym is available on campus if you want to work out. besides when you're done with boot camp, even if they did throw some PT at you, you should be ready and willing.

you will march to and from class, and be in uniform during class hours and duty hours. Living quarters are college dorm setup. 2 bunk bed sets (4 beds total) and storage closets for individual use. Typically will not have more than 3 people per room.
Unless they changed it , cable tv and local telephone service can be purchased for your room. Cell phones are almost pointless, cingular gets good reception on most of the base, sprint and verizon depending on how good your phone is , are limited reception on base, usually have to go to the top of a hill to use that cell service.
No alcohol allowed on base , not in your room, not in your car, period. Room inspections weekly by the campus staff, and additionally, weekly, at random by your class advisors.

If you have no car there is a 'liberty' van that will go into town to designated times on a schedule.
Uniform inspection weekly.

Basically keep your room clean, uniform clean, keep your roommates in check with what you need, (not all roommates are in same class or even same rate, et, it, etc) keep out of trouble and be sure you finish all homework and assignments before doing anything else. You will be fine. You are expected to maintain military discipline at all times, on base or off base.

Wow thanks for the reply it was really helpful!


I thought of some more questions. I was wondering how many girls there are compared to guys? I'm a girl so yeah...

I heard that the better you do during school the more likely it is that you'll go where you want. Is that true?

I want to go to NC. Can anyone tell me how likely it is that I could go there? Or is there no way to tell?

Thanks alot!

well girls there arent a whole lot, typically when i went girls had to stay top floor of one particular building, males are not allowed on this floor. if your looking for a ratio - kinda hard to say, maybe like 5 to 1 or something. the only females that didnt stay on that floor were some FS's and they stayed in another building.

The better you do overall , school , room inspections (of all types), uniform inspections, etc. There are ways to get extra points , such as being a class leader or volunteering in the community so many points. Also keep in mind people that are prior service get extra points automatically.

As far as going to NC, depends on numerous things - billets available , cutters with female berthing, etc, essentially your right, no way to tell. But keep in mind, dont make the mistake that some of my classmates did. When you get the list of available units, rate them in order of where you really want to go. As a female you are forced to put cutters with berthing at the top of your list. the rest , had better go exactly in order with what your wanting to go to. Dont assume you will get even your top 10 picks. you may get the very bottom pick, so make sure thats the one you would no way in the world want to go to.

If NC is close to home, good luck, not often the CG gives you a first unit close to home. You may want to talk to your Recruiter and look into doing hometown recruiting for a few weeks after a-school or boot camp if your concerned about going home. Im not a recruiter so i cant tell you how that program works, but i know alot of people who did it and it helped them transition a bit better.

Either way assuming you dont max out your vacation days after bootcamp you should be able to take up to 30 days vacation plus travel time etc to your first unit if you want to visit home that way.

Oh and if you still dont get what you want, there is always the possibility you could swap with someone before orders become final , so make friends, you'll need them in the end. They may have something more desirable than what you get.

14231708:

I'm one of the civilian instructors at OS A School, so I'll try to answer some of the questions not already addressed.

PT? Yes. Rather recent, but class now have physical fitness after school two times a week. Not the forced run, or jumping jacks, push up type PT - organized sports, etc is more usual.

Homework: Yes but it depends on what section of the course you're in, and how much of your work you get done during the day. Not much homework the first 4-6 weeks, but once you get into Basic Communications (Course Six) your work load will pick up in two ways.

First, you'll have some reading assignments. Typically, the night before a new subject presentation, you'll read about the subject that will be presented the next day. During the three week section, you'll have some practical exerciese as homework, perhaps 3 times.

Most homework is Rework (correctly Radio Logs previously submitted) or finishing up work that wasn't accomplished during the performance lab during class hours. Both the rework and the finish up homework is completely in your control. If you type fairly well, and stay on top of the work; and limit the number of mistakes you make... then you'll not have as much homework.

The following course (Distress Communications), Course Seven also runs three weeks. This is usually the most homework period. Working simulated distress cases in performance lab - gets real busy and often the paperwork (Radio Log, Case Situation Report) can't be completed during the day so must be completed at night either on your own computer or in the INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTER (IRC). You'll also have some pre-reading like in Course Six.

I teach both Six and Seven. These are considered the harder portions of the school by many students; but, most consider it fun and best once they've accomplished it!

After Seven, you'll start your navigation subjects. Yes some homework, but not as intense as Seven.

The other form of homework some students get are essays assigned on various topics, usually computer security or inattention to detail - when they leave their assigned computer systems unsecure. Again, if you practice good computer security, you can avoid that type of homework.

I think that covers most of the questions you asked. If you have more, you can either e-mail me or post here and I'll try to answer them as I can. Good luck at Boot and I'll look forward to seeing you in October/November time frame.

Best Wishes
P.S. female to male ratio in OS A School varies... Out of a class of 19, usually four or five females but I've seen more and sometimes less.

Thanks OSGokuSSJ and Salba for the info! I now have alot better idea of what A School is going to be like.

I have another question. Is there a place to secure items such as my laptop when I'm in class / go off base? OSGokuSSJ mentioned individual storage closets, can you lock up your stuff? I'm assuming I probably won't have to worry about people messing with my stuff but I was wondering so yeah.

Thanks!

Yes, you can lock up your closet. It must be locked at all times when you have a room inspection, also just because its military it doesnt mean theres no thieves.....
as for being stationed near home, you have a decent chance of making it. Just make sure to be one of the top students on yur class, volunteer in charities to earn points, you dont have any sea time or previous units so it'll be harder to get NC as for another classmate who has had sea time, prior unit, volunteers, they are more likely to get NC. so in the end its all about what billets are open, for example me, out of boot i got stationed 1.5hrs from my home, then out of school i went 20mins frm home!

good luck and i hope i helped a little

Storage:

Small items, in rooms in your individual lockers. Larger stuff - through MAA. You'll enjoy having your laptop out here, makes the after work hours easier. We also have internet and cyber cafe outlets through MWR you can use.

Again
Best Wishes

Hi and thanks for the invaluable information you have posted. I too am a female and will be attending A school in October. I report to BT at the end of July. I am hoping to work inbetween boot camp and A school instead of taking leave. I was curious to know what sort of work/learning I would be doing in Petaluma and/or Cape May unitl I wait for school to start?

Also is there anything we can do to prepare for OS A school in terms of reading and reviewing course descriptions and expectations?

Thanks

mcsbik:

One suggestion for pre-course work I have, is typing. It's not a requirement like it used to be however those who type well do better in a variety of the courses. Those who hunt and peck, tend to struggle a little.

As to reading, any good nautical terms book. Being able to know the difference btwn bow and stern, port and starboard, etc., will help you out. As well as being able to recognize terms for various types of vessels like Sloop, Ketch, Stern Trawler, Longliner, etc. Likewise, browse the various Coast Guard boards and learn a little bit about our various assests - Motor Life Boats, Dolphin and Jayhawk helicopters, C-130's etc.

You can also browse CG Directives - for the communications side of the house, I'd recommend M2000.3C Telecommunications Manual and the CG Addendum to the SAR Manual - they are two of the most used reference publications for our courses.

Good luck and we'll see you when you get here.

Best Wishes

Salba

Thanks for the input on preparation. I drive inboards and outboards on lakes during the summer therefore some of the terminology is familiar. But I know those little things are nothing compared to the cutters and patrol boats of the CG. I have scraped up some books from the local library and will look into the CG Directives as you advised.

Thanks a million. Also can I bring my bike to Petaluma? I don't own a car but I have my bike for transport and training.

Molly

Unless rules have changed, last I was at Petaluma you can bring your bike. Just be careful riding around outside of the base. There are some nutty drivers.

Molly,

Yes you can bring your bike, just be sure to bring your helmet too, plenty of great rides on and off base.

We are however located 7 miles from town, so I wouldn't expect to use it so much for transportation, unless of course you're one of those super-bikers.

OS1J

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OS2J,

I am headed that way in Sep. I hope to bring my POV (truck)...Should I already have a base sticker on the truck? I also would like to bring my bike....ahhh motorcycle. I have taked the MSF corse and I always wear leathers and a lid. Am I allowed to bring the moto as well?

I can't wait to get there and get this going!

Dan,
I would only worry about bringing one POV, and with October being the begining of the wet season you'd only have one good month of bike weather.

The truck would be your best option.

As far as stickers are concerned when you pull up to the front gate you'll need to show the gate guard your:

Drivers license
Insurance
Registration
Military ID

He will then issue you a 30 day temp pass that you will need to update throughout your time onboard.

We'll see you in Sep.

OS1J

OS1;
I hope you are there in two years. If I take over the school, we are gonna have to have a serious talk about what constitutes 'good bike weather'! Unlike the couple of fair weather riders out there who started the CG Riders club, I believe Tracen Pet has 'good riding weather' all year! You ride?
MC

LOL... I am not a Fair weather rider either....I just hate the road grime in the wet YUK! I am still on the fence about bringing the priler or not..I am sure if I don't I will regret it at least one weekend. But what I am i there for right. The decal thing is I live next to NAS Corpus Christi so I could get the POV decaled before I even leave. Bike too I will need to eventualy .....What do you ride Mighty?

just a little old 2007 Ultra Classic ElectraGlide Patriot Edition. It ain't much, but it gets me to work and back. I did have to leave it in the garage about 5 days last winter.

VERY NICE...I am assuming there is great riding out there. That is why I am condidering taking the bike, that and gas prices. I just don't want it to be a big hassle I realize I am there to learn and be top of my class and I may not have much time to burn gas. Nice ride though Mighty!

Here is mine the one in front.