Packing for Boot Camp

[Peg - Mom of One]

What does s/he need to bring?

What is paid for by the Navy? What is not?

Does it make a difference if he has been accepted into the Seals Program?

[Francine/Sailor's MOM]

No need to pack, best advise is pre-paid phone card, that is it!!! Everything else is provided for them or they can purchase!

[Vickie]

Our daughter graduated at GL and our soon to be son-in law is graduating on 6/25/2010. He is part of SHIP 6, DIV. 932. If there is anything I answer for you let me know. We stayed there at the Ramada, it is just 4 miles from the base and they offer free breakfast every morning, and the mall is just 5 miles from there, and 6 flags is also about 5 miles from there. Drive yourself to the graduation there is plenty of parking for everyone, if you wait on the bus you will arrive with everyone else and have to wait longer.

The gate pass is available online within a week or two of the graduation, you will be mailed a password from your sailor to get to this site for download. Print it out and place it in the front driver side window as you enter the base. There is no photos to be take when you enter the gate or anywhere on the base, the only time you may take pictures is in doors at the graduation. There is no tickets sent to you, your name is placed on a list and you must have an ID, they will check the list once you get up to the table and mark your name off. Each sailor is only allowed 4 people to be invited, there is no way to add anyone else. I hope this helps you some.

The day of the graduation you want to get there early, the line builds up fast and everyone has to check in and then head to the next building for the graduation. Once you are there - each section one have a sailor with a sign saying what DIV this is for. Your sailor will march in once the garage doors open and they will come in one DIV at a time and they will march around and back up to the DIV they are assigned. Use the bathroom before the graduation starts. They do have a small table setup to where you can purchase drinks and a sailor hat, but it folds up and put away before everything starts.

Doors open at 7:00 am - Be there before that! We got there at 6:50 am and there was already a line formed to get in and be checked off the list. Once you get over the there graduation building, set about 5 rolls up so you can see everything. Be prepared to be there for a while, the graduation takes almost 2 hours and your sailor has to stand the whole time and wait this out just as much as you. We seen one girl pass out during the graduation and they are not allowed to help each other, they have people walking around that comes over and helps them out of the line. The are told not to lock there knees in because it cuts the blood circulation and cause you to pass out.

Get as much photos as you can inside at the graduation, once outside they are not allowed and you may have your camera took from you. My husband was videoing all of us and all into the moment and was asked to turn off the video camera while outside. There is a nice gift shop at the NEX, but it get full fast, but it is a must if you would like one of your sailors Division photos, there is bumper stickers and coffee mugs also. But the place does get over crowded so get what you need and check out. There is a place to eat at the same from what where was told, but we didn’t take the time to check it out.

Our daughter was a Grad N Go, and was attending school at Great Lakes, if you would like more info on this let me know. We was able to be with her from Friday until Sunday all she had to do was call in 2 times a day and let them have phone numbers for contact and list the place we was staying at. But we was told by our daughter that not everyone gets approved for this, it depends on who is over you at there next stop.

Also we visited a few places and eat at several different places, so anyone need info let me know.
Good Luck to everyone! Vickie

I saw a few people post about taking there sailors laptop to them after graduation. They can have them but they are not allowed to us the Miltary Wi-Fi on their personal Laptops, you will need to get a internet connector. We got ours at AT&T it is free and we pay a monthly fee of $50 a month. Or they can go to the McDonalds on post and get free service.
If he is going to A school somewhere other than GL, then most of them fly out after graduation but they allow you time to be together it isn't much and then you can go to the airport and wait with them. My daughter said after A school when they are ready to fly home for there 2 week visit, they have to pay for there airplane tickets and then they get reembursed back..Sorry about the spelling it has been a long day. Don't pack alot for him to take with him to boot camp, he will send it all back. All he needs is his licensen, ssn card, a bank debt card and a form from the bank showing his route and account number for deposit, huis recruiter know the name of the form. I hope this helps.