So A school is in charleston, I get that, but what I don't get and nobody has really explained well is the transition from boot to RTC. Do you get a day or two to go home or do you go straight there? ADDITIONALLY I live in Atlanta so at what point would I be able to bring my car and my desktop (are desktops even allowed or does it have to be a laptop?) up to A school? would I be able to fly from O'hare to atlanta and then drive to Charleston or am I pretty much going straight from RTC to charleston without passing go and without collecting 200 Dollars?
While on the topic, whats the policy for having you POV? Are they allowed at A school or do I have to wait til NPS to have it? Desktops allowed or does it have to be a laptop? Or are computers even allowed at all? (My parents travel extensively and the only effective means of keeping in contact with my family is through the internet considering the astronomical rates of international calling these days.
Cell phones allowed? Or am I not deemed human enough yet to deserve such electronic devices until after A school?
The way the transition works depends on when you graduate. Even though you've graduated boot camp, you're still attached to that training command, under it's rules. You're stuck there, and go straight there to Charleston. The way it worked for me specifically was I graduated, had a weekend to relax and go out in town, then flew to Charleston.
Once you arrive in Charleston you call the quarterdeck, and they'll send a driver there to pick you up and take you to the barracks. At that point you'll check in, get your temporary badge, temporary meal pass, and room key. Once you're there, you're good to go. There's only a few rules you'll have to follow as you move along in phases.
Phase 1: Not allowed to drink. Curfew. Not allowed to drive. Have to wear a uniform off base.
Phase 2: Can drink if of age. Curfew, though you can get a special request chit to ignore it, allowed to have a POV, and can wear civilian clothes during nonworking hours.
Phase 3: No curfew, and can wear civilian clothes pretty much whenever except while in the school building.
Those are pretty much the only restrictions. Yes, at this point you can go that day you want, and buy a cell phone, a computer, whatever. Chances are your car is kind of far away, so you'll have to talk to your staff adviser to see what he wants you to do to get it. Chances are you'll just put in a travel chit, and leave during a 3 day weekend or something. For up to date rules, you'll pretty much get all that when you arrive to check into Charleston.
((My information is just a couple months old, but people are stupid and things change. Like how you can't wear civilian clothes in the school building at all now unless you're E-4. I was one of the last classes that got to wear civilian clothes near the end before they changed that rule.))
My understanding: you are allowed to have POV, but they probably won't give you time to get it on the way. If Dad brings it to you, that is fine. Otherwise wait for a long weekend (not that you need a very long one between Goose Creek and Hotlanta) and catch a ride up there (or Greyhound / flight) and return with the car.
In general, laptops are easier to keep up with. But desktops have been allowed in barracks for 20 years now, so I don't think it has changed. Just submit the request in advance.
Cell phones are frowned upon in uniform. Otherwise they are acceptable.
You can have a POV whenever you get there. You just won't be able to really drive it til Phase 2, and as long as it doesn't affect your school schedule, you can pretty much get it whenever you have the time. Just need a travel chit.
You don't need any request to have anything in your barracks. I had a desktop myself. And a TV. And a PS3, other things. Just depending on what you have, make sure you either lock it up or trust your roommates. Some of the barracks got some really nice new furniture that makes this easy.
You can have cell phones in uniform. You just can't talk and walk with them at the same time. Acceptable to stand there and talk, even if in uniform. Oh, and on that note. Don't walk in the grass in uniform.
For those people who said that galley food is free, I would like to point out that it actually isn't. Sort of. If you actually pay attention to it and do the math, the Navy pays you to eat at the galley, and then charges you even if you don't eat there or not. It got really complicated trying to figure out how that works. Basically though, it's not something you should worry about. And the food is pretty decent sometimes.
If you plan on going to prototype in Charleston however, avoid Subway at all costs. You'll get so sick of that place after a year and a half of eating there.
I was on a cruiser and Throttleman is usually EM or ETs. The sub prototypes it was the same...
EMs and ETs qualify/stand watches as TH. For the most part? TH is pretty much just EMs, and hardly any ETs are proficient.
If you aren't any good as a phone talker, and are an EM, your life is going to be just that much harder.