Graduation Gifts

[Annag17]

Hi there,

First, my boyfriend graduates from boot camp on April 27th. The next day, he goes to "A" school in South Carolina. Can I get him a graduation gift? I'm not sure if he's allowed to take things to "A" school with him, so I'm wondering how that works. If I can, do I bring it to the graduation ceremony with me?

Second, what is the rest of the day like after graduation? Do I get to spend the day with him, or is he whisked off into other things?

[ellen0502]

You may get him a graduation gift. I don't know what it is so the when, where, how, and "if", comes into play. You probably can't take it into graduation with you, and he may not be able to take it back to the RTC after liberty. You can give it to him at the airport. He will be allowed many thing in A School, but there are restrictions sometimes. It really is depending on what you are thinking for a gift.

May I suggest you join the PIR group for your boyfiends graduation date. There will be lots of information in that group for you. Click on this link to do so. PIR April 27, 2018. I would also suggest you join the boot camp forum. Boot Camp

[Anti M]

You will get most of the day after PIR with him.  Gifts must be handed over at the airport when he flies out.  He has to carry whatever you give him to A school, so keep it simple.  You could give him a watch at PIR, but he has to go back to RTC that evening, and they can take nothing back with them.  He;s be wearing a watch, so that would be okay.  

[0s9ho13i27w90]

You definitely cannot take it with you to the ceremony! They will hold it hostage at the visitors center if they find it while you go through the checkpoints - you can pick it up on the way out after graduation but you might as well save some time and just leave it in the car or hotel for later! 

Is he going into the Nuke program? My husband and I are moving down to Charleston, SC for Nuke A school and beyond - though I'm sure there could be other A schools in SC lol

Be mindful of the amount of stuff he will be leaving with! They have several bags full of uniforms and gear to take with them on the plane. Anything you want to bring him or he would like brought (usually a few electronics, favorite hygiene products, and their own tennis shoes/socks/underwear) will need to fit into a PLAIN black backpack so you have to be picky when deciding what to take.

Most people wait until they are actually in the barracks to decide what they would like at A school. Since it is a short time spent there and they still don't have a lot of room it is best to not take a lot so when he moves on from there it wont be too much hassle. Once he decides what he would like to have down there you can ship it to him - flat rate boxes are great for this!

So graduation will end before noon on Friday, you will briefly reunite and then they usually have to go back to the barracks (maybe to talk about liberty rules? Who knows!), it seems most people wait about an hour for them to finish that. Its usually easiest to meet in the NEX store - you can also spend that time shopping and picking up gear/souvenirs/their photos - and then you are free to take your sailor off base until late that night (they will know what time they need to be back but I've heard 9pm a lot). Most flights leave out on Saturday, he will get his flight info right before graduation and you are more than welcome (encouraged actually) to meet him at the airport as well. They aren't allowed to have cell phones in the barracks so unless you meet at the airport to give it to him (to keep this time), you will have to ship it to him once you get his address in SC.

Oh and everyone must keep their graduation tickets!!! If you need to go back on base for any reason everyone in the car must still show their tickets and IDs! This is essential to drop your sailor back off on base Friday night so keep that in mind.

[Anti M]

Nuke is the only program in SC.  If that's where they're going, that's what they're doing.  Sure, there are three A schools there, but they all funnel into the nuke program.

A note on taking favorite toiletries: put them in a sturdy ziplock bag to go in the checked baggage.  They can only carry on 3 oz or less of liquids and gels, and those all need to fit into one quart bag.  Bring a quart bag for them, and a couple gallon bags.  Leaking shampoo in a seabag is a disaster!

[0s9ho13i27w90]

Also love the watch idea but ask if he bought one at the NEX store first! I was going to buy one for my husband until he told me they had two models in the store there and he "balled out" and bought the $50 one lol he actually hates it but said its hard to function without one so a ton of people bought them.

We are still going to buy him a new watch since he now feels more confident in what exactly he is looking for (my husband is pretty picky though) so I think he would be a little disappointed if I made the decision for him after he hated the first one so much lol

[Anti M]

This is my advice for electronics as well, especially phones and laptops.  I see so many moms who want to buy them a laptop for A school ... nope!  They don't use their own devices for study, and most of them going into any kind of technical rating are the type to know exactly what specs and capabilities they want.  

[RebeccaProudWife]

Gift cards always make a great gift. I brought my husband a gift but took it back with me (shoot glass and lighter) the gift he kept was a wallet with gift cards. Then sent him a care package a few days after he had an address for A school.

[Gabby7595]

hey! 

my fiancé graduates the same day. In the paper i received you can give your recruit their stuff or gifts at the airport. but be wise with the gifts because they can only have so much stuff going on the airplane. my fiancé and i just spoke on the phone. it depends when they will be flying out. you can go to the airport with them if they fly out that day. I'm sure someone will have more information on here. hoped this helped a little.