After BCT my son goes to Fort Gordon for 16 weeks of signal school. He is supposed to have weekends off. I'm trying to find out if he can leave base on weekends, can he have his car, his laptop, and his cell phone? I went to the Fort Gordon website, but don't know enough information about his school to know what to look for. The general website didn't provide anything helpful, his paperwork doesn't give specifics, nor did his recruiter.

If there is a more appropriate place to ask these questions please let me know.

Hi Zac's mom,
I can only tell you my son's experience there. He took his cell phone and the brand new laptop we got for him after basic. They locked up both after arrival at Fort Gordon. To use it, they have to earn a special privilege or reach a certain level. Otherwise, they are going to be calling on a payphone, in line with a lot of other soldiers, so calls will be short. After a while, and a change in status, the cell phone and laptop will be given to the soldier for use in free time.

I have heard of thefts at these facilities but my son only had clothing items taken that he was required to buy after being there a while.

Just went back and read your post again. My son did indeed have free time on weekends but couldn't leave post until he reached this Stage V or Stage V+ level. He will have to figure that out when he gets there as they talked about getting rid of the stage system.

I hope this helps.
Melanie

Thanks for replying. We just feel like out lives are in limbo right now. We aren't getting any information from anyone. We are trying to plan our lives around when we can see my son and we don't know when that is. I don't want to send his cell phone and laptop if there will be any issues. I just wasn't sure when he got treated like a human being again.

That cell phone thing just simply depends, unless a lot has changed in the past year and a half or so. My husband was allowed to use his cell phone as long as it remained in his room and he only used it during off duty hours - and that started the day he arrived.

I wouldn't bring a laptop at all unless you/he intend on taking out a renter's insurance policy on it.

I'd also be shocked if they actually ever change the phase system, but then again they did eventually get rid of drill sergeants. But talk like that lasts years before anything happens. It's TRADOC policy, so if you do a Google search for TRADOC phase system, you'll find the info in the documents that come up in the search.

quote:

Originally posted by Zacsproudmom:
Thanks for replying. We just feel like out lives are in limbo right now. We aren't getting any information from anyone. We are trying to plan our lives around when we can see my son and we don't know when that is. I don't want to send his cell phone and laptop if there will be any issues. I just wasn't sure when he got treated like a human being again.

Honestly? Not going to happen until he gets to his first duty station, and/or promoted to E-4 (not a private any more). It's still training, and he'll be treated as such. The reprogramming is still going on, this time not necessarily to become a soldier but to learn their job as a soldier. Depending on what his weekend schedule looks like, you should be able to go see him on a weekend if you can make the trip down there. My husband, son and I spent many an afternoon walking around the PX and having lunch together because that was the only interaction we could have.

You can also expect that your son will have to pull Guard Duty from time to time (they called it CQ or Charge of Quarter duty when I served). It's an all night Guard Duty at the Barracks.

It's really nearly impossible to predict what a weekend will look like in advance while he's still in school When I served at Ft. Gordon, I had 4 straight weeks of weekend duty - complete luck of the draw, because I was a good soldier and was advancing quickly in school so it had nothing to do with discipline. So, In most cases, he won't really know he has the whole weekend off until Friday after classes.

What our Moderator said about this still being training is completely accurate, and he really won't have a set schedule until he arrives at his first permanent party station.

As for his laptop and cellphone, storage or locker space is still at a minimum while in school and troops are still subject to inspections, so it's difficult to say if he'd have the ability to safely lock it up. Personally, I'd wait until he's done with school to send these expensive personal items.

I'm a little concerned about the reference to him being treated as a human being again, though. No doubt Basic Training is tough, but he's doing it! That happens through hard, grueling work, discipline and learning how to live outside of your comfort zone. It's intense and it's damn hard, and at times you think it will be impossible to make it to graduation. But when it does happen, WOW!! I will NEVER forget the day my son graduated and how proud I was of him. No one can take that away from recruits. And, once you've graduated you've then rightfully earned the respect from the Drill Instructors who shape and mold these fine men and women. Are you going to his Basic Training Graduation?? It's totally worth the trip if you can make it and something you'll never forget.

Hang in there mom.. This phase of School will go by quickly. If you can afford to hang out in Ft. Gordon over a weekend for a "chance" that you can see your son, go for it! But having walked in your shoes, it would be much easier to wait until he's graduated and report to his next duty station before you make set plans.. otherwise, you risk facing big disappointments.

Being the parent of a member of our armed forces is one of the toughest jobs out there, outside of being a military spouse. It's hard to let go of them and to try and figure out where we fit into our son or daughter's life. My son joined the Navy 9 years ago and it took a couple of years before I became "comfortable" with my new role as an Active Duty Navy Mom - and it's a title I wear proudly today!

Just my .02 !

Hi Zac's mom,
I understand about the feeling in limbo. I hated that part of it. I went to graduation from basic and they allowed us to transport him to Fort Gordon. That gave us a weekend with him as he was given 24 hours after we delivered him to spend with family. If its possible for you, maybe that would be an option. Of course, my son slept a great deal of that time. lol
Melanie

Yes, we're going to graduation, wouldn't miss it for anything. He does have 3-4 days between basic and Fort Gordon. I'm hoping we can get him for a while. Fort Gordon is sort of on the way back home. I'm sure he'll want to sleep and eat some of his momma's cooking, and of course see his girlfriend.