After recruits have successfully completed eight weeks of Navy boot camp they will graduate as Sailors and join the world’s finest Navy. But the journey...
After recruits have successfully completed eight weeks of Navy boot camp they will graduate as Sailors and join the world’s finest Navy. But the journey has just begun, and Sailors will still have additional training to go through after Navy boot camp. Upon graduation Sailors will head to A School where they will continue training before they are sent to the fleet. Here’s an overview of everything that happens after Navy boot camp.
After Navy boot camp graduation, Sailors will not be given leave and are required to travel to their next training location, A School.
There are many locations for Navy A School, and not all Sailors will go to the same school. Sailors who will attend A School at Great Lakes will need to check-in to their new unit immediately after graduation. Sailors attending A School elsewhere will be given a day to travel to their next unit.
Recruits will know where they are being sent, so it is best to discuss post-graduation plans with them. If you need this information, you can send them a Letter through the
Accession training, commonly known as A School, is where Sailors go to receive technical training in their selected MOS field.
In 2017 the Navy decided to restructure A School training, shortening the length of the school so that Sailors can get to the fleet faster. A School will focus more on what sailors need to know to be successful during their first tour. Additional training will then take place over the course of the rest of their career in the Navy.
With the changes being implemented at A School’s it is expected for the time spent at A School to be cut down by 30%. A majority of the c
A Sailor’s MOS will determine where they will go for A School. The table below lists various A School locations.
| Base/School | State |
| Great Lakes | Illinois |
| Keesler Air Force Base | Mississippi |
| Virginia | |
| Fort George | Maryland |
| Fort Jackson | South Carolina |
| Fort Lee | Virginia |
| Fort Leonard Wood | Missouri |
| Naval Weapons Station Charleston | South Carolina |
| New London Naval Submarine Base | Connecticut |
| Naval | Mississippi |
| Naval Amphibious Base | Virginia |
| Naval Air Station Meridian | Mississippi |
| Defense Language Institute | Virginia |
| Naval | Rhode Island |
| Center for Information Dominance | Florida |
| Naval Air Station Pensacola | Florida |
| Naval Construction Training Center | California |
| Fort Sam Houston | Texas |
| Lackland Air Force Base | Texas |
| Naval Mine and Ani-Submarine Warfare TC | California |
| Shepard Air Force Base | Texas |
The length of A School will vary depending on the rating of the Sailor. The length of A School can be up to two years, but with plans to roll out a new training schedule Sailors can expect to spend less time at A School, getting them to the fleet faster than previous years.
A School is a continuation of a Sailor’s training beyond boot camp, and although Sailors will have a lot more freedoms than they did during boot camp they will still have limited privileges. Sailors will not be allowed to take leave during A
Often times leave and liberty are regarded to
Leave – A Sailor’s authorized absence from a place of duty. Just as civilians earn vacation hours through work, Sailors will earn time off each month, that they can then use to request time off from work.
Liberty – A Sailor’s authorized absence granted for short periods to provide respite from the working environment. Liberty is often granted during the weekend and during holidays.
During the first 3 weeks of A School, Sailors will start off with on-base liberty and a strict curfew. Towards the end of the 3 weeks and into the 4th week, Sailors will begin to earn off-base liberty but still be given a curfew. Sailor’s Commanding Officer will be
Unlike Navy boot camp graduation, Navy A School graduation is much shorter, and not near as formal. When Sailors have completed their A School training they will graduate and receive a certification of completion.
It is not common for families to attend their Sailor’s A School graduation, especially if they do not live in or near the area of the School.
A School graduation ceremonies will vary based on school. Some schools may choose to have a ceremony with guests invited, and others may choose to have no ceremony. Your Sailor will have the most accurate information on their A School graduation as the time comes near.
After Navy A School Sailors are traditionally given ten days of leave. After their ten days of leave, they will check into their new unit at their first duty station. Sailor’s with overseas duty stations may receive more than ten days of leave before having to report to their next unit.
Depending on the Sailor’s rate their leave time may vary, again your Sailor will know more information about their time after A School as they get closer to graduation.
Sailor’s traditionally went from A School to C School, but with the Navy’s new training changes this will no longer be the case come 2025. Sailor’s will continue to receive training throughout the remainder of their career and will be sent to many different schools.
Do you know someone headed to Navy boot camp? Read our post on Navy Boot Camp Graduation so you know what to expect.
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