Navy A-School in Great Lakes?

[karmelkandii521]

MY FIANCE IS GRADUATING BOOT CAMP NEXT WEEK AND HE SAID HIS SCHOOL IS RITE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BASE. I WAS WONDERING, WHEN HE IS IN SCHOOL, DO THEY HAVE PHONES THERE THAT YOU CAN USE OR DO YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR OWN CELL PHONE? ALSO DOES ANYONE KNO HOW LONG SCHOOL IS FOR A GSM?? WE PLAN ON GETTING MARRIED ON HIS GRADUATION WEEKEND SO DOES ANYONE KNO HOW LONG IT TAKES TO RECIEVE A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN ILLINOIS?
I WOULD PREFER ANSWERS FROM PPL WHO ARE IN THE NAVY, HAVE SPOUSES OR FAMILY IN THE NAVY, OR HAVE BEEN IN THE NAVY. THANKS
Sorry 4 the all caps people, im just used to typing like that.
Also, can i have more info on the procedure of telling his chain of command about us getting married?

[Let it Snow...]

Ease up on the caps there. Netiquette says that is SHOUTING. Impolite, or rude...

Yeah, I was in the Navy. Pay phones will be available if he doesn't have a cell phone. Most people just buy the pre-paid calling cards. The base probably has a phone center as well, where you pay per minute, but get to sit down and relax.

GSM:

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navyjobs/navyjobs2/blgsm.htm

Don't know how accurate those days are, but it looks like A-school for a GSM is about 3 months.

And then they may be asked to go to C-school right away, or they may be sent to the fleet.

Can't help you on the marriage license things. He needs to get command approval FIRST, before applying for marriage. I would start the paperwork at least a month in advance.

Your best bet is to get command approval (special request chit), then file the paperwork for marriage and have the justice of the peace marry you...then arrange a formal wedding on your terms. You want to get married as soon as possible (justice of the peace) so you can start the paperwork on housing, and shipping household goods/car to his next duty station.

The paperwork is a pain, but his Yeoman/admin office will lead him through the process.

EDIT:

Sorry, you do nothing to start the paperwork (as long as you aren't in the military as well). It's all him. He just needs to ask for a special request chit to get married, then about 4 people sign off on it (his supervisor, division command, etc), and after it comes back to him APPROVED, then you and him can plan your wedding.

The Navy will own your lives. Everything that you need has to come through the chain of command. If you want base housing, he needs to fill out a special request chit. If you want to move your pots and pans to Guam (or wherever) you need a special request chit. It's the nature of the beast. And it's not that bad. I suppose the system has several reasons behind it. One, his chain of command knows what is going on in his life. Two, they can help make arrangements for housing and things. Three, it keeps him out of trouble.

[Dan A]

You can get phone service in the barracks rooms, but it's ridiculously expensive. He's much better off with a cell phone. I have no idea how long GSM "A" school is, but he picked a good time to go. Great Lakes can be quite hot and humid in the summer, and the winters are miserable.

[Jibby Kills]

They have pay phones. His school is probably 14 weeks.