Grad & Go confusion

[Vickie Bell (Cody's mom)]

When I learned that my son's division was a Grad & Go, I was very confused. I knew that
my son's A-school was in Great Lakes, and didn't understand why he was a Grad & Go..
I thought Grad & Go was for new Sailors going off to somewhere else for A-school, but found out at PIR that was not the case at all........
A Grad & Go division means that the whole division packs up all their stuff the night before PIR and immediately after PIR, they are loaded on a bus and taken across the
street to the other base. They have to vacate the "ship" that they stayed in for boot camp... probably to make space for new divisions coming in. They do not go back to RTC.........
Most or all have weekend Liberty, and do not have to be back on base until Sunday night, although they have to call in every night.
Hopefully this will clear up a lot of questions for others

[gem]

thanks vickie!wow that cleared some stuff up for me, my boyfriend vincents statying in great lakes for A school as well so i wasnt sure what was gonna happen the weekend of PIR coming up. thanks agen

[Vickie Bell (Cody's mom)]

you are welcome

[Deb Sherer]

Is that for all grad and go? My son is heading to Miss. for a school.

[Vickie Bell (Cody's mom)]

My understanding is that if the whole division is grad n go, they pack up and leave RTC immediately after PIR and move across the street. That's not to say that others from other divisions won't be
grad n go... it depends on where they are going to for A-school..

[Michelle (Ethan's Mom)]

What does Grad and Go mean to the kids that leave the state for their schools? When my son wrote, he told me that He is Grad and Go, and that his A school is in either Texas or Florida, so how much time will he get? I sure hope it is more than the 20 minutes he thought it would be. If it isn't, I will just have to wait until after his A school is done, and he gets Liberty to come home. He doesn't even know for sure how long his A school is. I think he was in such shock after being told that he is to head for Iraq right after A school that he got a little discombuberated...

[Awsome Thomas' Proud Mom]

Michelle, my son was also grad n go from GL to Pensacola, his PIR was on 5/30/08, and this is what happened with us. We spent about 20 minutes with him immediately following the PIR then he had to go back to his ship and get packed up. He and some others (about 18 I think) were put on a bus and taken to the airport (they went to Midway some go to O'hare). We met him at the airport and were allowed to get gate passes to spend time with him at the airport. They arrive at Midway between 1:30 and 2:00 every Friday according to the information I received from the desk at the Airport. We had lunch and visited for about 4 hours as their flight didn't leave until 6:00 p.m. There is a USO at Midway and we spent a little time there also. It is a little pricey for the time you get to spend together but we enjoyed every minute. My son arrived in Penacola for AC school and was on hold until July 18th, he is now in school and is scheduled to complete A school in early November. The sailors often have no information or little information until the time something actually takes place, it can be quite frustrating especially when you're trying to make plans, but I hope this was some help to you. If I can answer any other questions, please just ask.

[O]

Thanks for the info! Did your son know what time his flight left before PIR?

Jacki

[bryan]

About an hour (could been less). i think is what i got. cant really member that was 6 years ago.

[jaye lynn (Ship 12, Div. 377)]

This is old information, but so good to hear. We just heard that our son is Grad n Go, but his A school is in great lakes. I hope it works out this way!!!