The July class was 50 T/O and 30 C/R, split into groups of 10 with 2 TSS's.
We got a schedule covering all of training except the three months in the yard since the crew office schedules that. We will be officially released March 2, 2014. It's going ok so far. Since I have previous knowledge of the basics it's actually been very slow and kind of boring for me. But it's only been two weeks so far. Once we get into the stuff i've never done it'll pick up.
Do the assigned reading, and if you have the time read some more. Don't do too much to confuse yourself, but keep up. Study signals everyday. I personally find it obnoxious when something (other than signals) has to be repeated a million times because one or two people didn't read or pay attention. Just focus. It's not like high school, you have to put effort into this.
Getting sick from steel dust is from build up over time, not something immediate.