Master at Arms

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Comment by Charles W on November 24, 2009 at 12:35pm

Thats great, Bob. I wish that i had more on Kings Bay, but I'm new to the Naval bases except the one the Marines are on.

Comment by Bob Russell on November 24, 2009 at 11:01am

Mark got his orders last week for Kings Bay - only 6 hours from home!! I understand that Jacksonville is the closest metropolitan area. Does anyone in the group have experience with this duty station?

Comment by Charles W on November 24, 2009 at 6:50am

Need it, Got it. found a week-by-week breakdown of MA school.
Break down week by weekPosted by lemonelephant on August 4, 2009 at 12:39am in San Antonio MA's
Back to San Antonio MA's Discussions
We often get a request for a week by week break down of what to expect, so I thought I’d put up a discussion and we can have it here.

Arrival: As soon as you get your sailor's address, send cell phone and laptop and maybe some comfort foods and comfort clothes-- favorite underwear are a biggy with many. Use the USPS Flat Rate boxes. Don't waste your money sending boxes overnight because your sailor may not be able to pick it up the day it comes in. Remember when addressing the box that your sailor is most likely still SR for several months unless E2 (SA) or E3 (SN) was earned at boot camp due to having had college or prior experience. Some sailors are at NTTC Lackland for nearly two weeks while waiting for a class to form. Others arrive only a day (as mine did) or two before classes start on Monday. You will hear from your sailor often once the cell phone gets there, but there are some weeks when there may be less contact due to the stress of the tests (Block 5 is a biggy for that).

Here is a link you may want to check out: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=5213 It's a few years old, but is still pretty accurate.

Week 1: Finance class, hand-to-hand/take down training, weapons training, a few tests, and OC Spray--usually on Friday (Have baby shampoo ready ahead of time. Your sailor should use more shampoo than water at first to help cut the oil of the OC Spray. Your sailor may also want to have a milk product on hand in the room as well--yogurt or whole milk to help relieve the burn.) It is very important that your sailor do well on the tests because when there is a choice of duty stations, the sailors get to pick in order of their scores up to that point in A School, from highest to lowest until the choice is gone.

Note: Make sure that your sailor puts the OC certificate in a safe place where it cannot be harmed and will know where to find it later at the first duty station and after. If the OC certificate is lost, your sailor will have to do Level 1, full face spray with the OC spray, again rather than Level 2, which is not as bad—still painful though since it is an OC sprayed cloth placed on the face.

Week 2: Your sailor will most likely Phase up to Phase II and earn the privilege of having liberty off base with a buddy at the end of this week or next (depending on PIR date and arrival at Lackland, how inspections, PT, and tests have gone). (It's required that they go with a buddy, but they need to share cab fare, which gets expensive so they often go in larger groups and sometimes get a van.)
Training this week: CPR/First Aid and weapons.

Week 3: Some sailors learn where they will be going for their first duty station (PDS). Don’t be worried if your sailor does not know at this time because some do not find out until week 4. Send a set of civilian clothes because your sailor may Phase up to Phase III where they can leave for the whole weekend if they do not have duty and be able to wear them sometime next week or soon after. Don't be surprised if you discover that your sailor cannot wear them--especially jeans--and has to buy something there due to changing shape due to all of the physical activity.
Training this week: more weapons training and honing of previous skills/training.

Week 4: More weapons training (the M16 and the shotgun), including night shooting. Tests and inspections continue.

Week 5: Block 5, a very intense week of 6 self-paced tests on the computer (also called CBT) that your sailor must pass in order to continue.

Week 6: Training to learn to clear buildings and how to handle IED’s. At least one test over information/training to this point.

Week 7: Comprehensive test over what has been learned in A School.
Pinning--usually occurs on Friday morning, but could be changed to Friday afternoon, or even Thursday afternoon, due to a holiday or an event at the base. The ceremony lasts about 30 minutes. Your sailor can choose the person to pin on the badge.

The next couple of weeks: Your sailor will most likely be able to go home for a couple of weeks before going to the first duty station. Be sure your sailor checks the records that are received prior to leaving to be sure that the correct records are received--Several had the wrong records when my sailor left in December and it was quite an interesting few days until all was corrected. Have your sailor consider doing RAP or HARP duty with a recruiter while home and getting credit for 5 days. Be sure that the recruiter signs off and sends in the paperwork.

Off to the first duty station. Your sailor may return to Lackland to leave from there or may leave from home and this could change while your sailor is home. Be prepared.

I hope others can help fill in the holes of the other weeks.

Comment by Charles W on November 24, 2009 at 6:04am

is anyone familiar with a week by week breakdown of ma school?

Comment by Charles W on November 24, 2009 at 4:54am

THANX Bob, I am sure that she will enjoy "A" school. she is so excited.

Comment by Charles W on November 24, 2009 at 4:46am

Well, I wasnt able to get to the airport to see her off. she called at 0319 and her flight was at o400. I'm releived that she was flying with 3 other young sailors, with this being her first time on a plane. when i went to bootcamp it was my first time flying also. her mother and i are a bundle of emotions, which is very out of character for me. she has a world of opportunities ahead of her. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, AYE AYE SIR

Comment by Bob Malone on November 23, 2009 at 10:37pm

Congradulations Charles, I hope your sailor likes MA "A" School as much as my grandson did. he graduated on 9/25/09 and is at his first duty station now. Keep us posted as to herprogress and first duty assignment.

Our best to you and your sailor.

Bob Malone

Comment by Charles W on November 23, 2009 at 7:04pm

Well, my daughter leaves for TX tonight or tomorrow. hope i get to go to airport with her. She is looking forward to MA school.

Comment by Kyle Cannon on November 9, 2009 at 11:25pm

hello everyone its been awhile.after jon got back to norfolk from leave he had to do some cheching on his own and finally got his security clearance.his chief said it could be any day on his orders for A school.he would like to stay on board long enough to sail to san diego with his shipmatesand finish his sea warfare pin. we'll see.hope everyone is doing welland god bless to all.

Comment by Cindy Steward-Brown on October 9, 2009 at 8:40pm

congrat
we have a brand new MA in the house...

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