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Navy For Moms

This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.

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Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak

All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.

Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)

Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC

...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.

OPSEC - Navy Operations Security

Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind. In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships." OPSEC is everyone's responsibility.

DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.

DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."

Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

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**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021

Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.

Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.

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Graduation Info
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Grad & Go Info

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A place to ask questions or give answers to those who have recruits that are a G&G or who may be a G&G

Members: 144
Latest Activity: Aug 16, 2023

When I heard my son may be a Grad & Go, I had a ton of questions. The first one was: What the heck is a Grad & Go?? Now that I've experienced it, I wanted a place for N4M users to come and post questions and hopefully get some answers. Every recruits experience will be slightly different, but there are lots of "norms" that we can share with you that will answer a lot of questions. Remember, there are no stupid questions!

So, what is a G&G? It's a recruit that leaves boot camp before PIR weekend is over to travel to their A-School. They usually fly out on a Saturday, but occasionally on a Friday. This means a limited time to visit with them when you come out for their graduation. Some G&G's are just moving across the street because their A-School will be at GL (Great Lakes). If they are required to move over before PIR weekend ends, they are called a G&G. These two types of G&G's can be quite different, each with it's Pro's and Con's. If they have A-School in GL, but don't move over until after Sunday, they are not considered a G&G.

How do we plan our travel if we don't know? I can only share what others have shared with me. Most everyone made plans as if their recruit was not a G&G. That's what my family did too, and we loved our decision. We flew out Thursday, flew back late Sunday. We enjoyed our Sailor until he flew out Saturday afternoon, then we went and checked out the Chicago area on our own. If you are driving, it's a little easier to change hotel plans a few days before, but flight changes cost $$.

Can we meet them at the airport? YES! The Navy uses all three local airports (O'Hare, Midway and Milwaukee) to transport new sailors to their A-School city. You are allowed to meet your new sailor at the airport and visit with them there. You can even request a special pass from the ticket counter so you can go through security with your sailor and sit with them at the gate! "Most" airlines allow this and they do this free of charge for military families/friends, as long as you have an ID and if your sailor is there with you. You can have a lot of fun at an airport (great food too)!

What if they tell us they are on a Chartered Flight? The charter flights are cheaper for the Navy to use than commercial airlines, so they may be using them more and more. The cost of the flight is pre-determined by the exact weight of everyone and everything onboard. This includes the recruits' seabags. If the parents were to meet the recruits to hand off laptops and other items, now the weight of everything aboard has changed and that may not allowed. Because it's a chartered flight, obviously no one is allowed to go out to the plane to meet their recruits as the plane is not at a regular gate. I know it sucks for the families, but the transportation is all about cost efficiency and isn't concerned about families unable to meet the recruits. This made sound harsh, but the Navy is like other departments in the goverment and needs to keep costs down. New Sailors are not allowed leave and do not have to be granted liberty after bootcamp. Yes, it is customary to receive Liberty after bc, but just know that it's not a right, it's earned.

SEND YOUR RECRUIT THE G&G QUESTIONS POSTED IN THE DISCUSSION AREA TO THEM NOW SO YOU WILL KNOW THE INFORMATION BY PIR DAY!

Can we give them their cell phones? That depends. If you are meeting them at the airport (whether you pass security gate or stay in front lobby), then YES, you can give them cell phone, ipod and even their laptops (don't forget to pack all the chargers/cords!). As long as they can carry it onboard the plane, they can take and keep these items with them at A-School. They "check" their big 55lbs sea bags in with the airlines, so they have no carry on except their manilla envelope (their orders). If you had too much fun shopping at Gurnee Mills Mall that weekend, they are allowed to have a small backpack or gym style bag - but be sure it's a solid dark color (Black or Navy Blue), free from adornment if possible. If they are a G&G over to Great Lakes for A-School, they can have these items AFTER they are processed into that base. In other words, once they call you to pick them up after moving over, then you can give them their "toys". I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, but it has been noted by many recent N4M members that those who are a G&G to Great Lakes ONLY, and that move over to A-School on that Friday right after PIR, only those families they are allowed to keep their new sailor with them all weekend. Once they have actually completed the move on Friday (takes 5-7 hrs), you can pick them up and have them overnight for the entire weekend!!! They may have to muster (roll call/check in) over the weekend, but otherwise they have liberty. There is NO OTHER situation that I am aware of that allows a new sailor to stay away overnight after PIR. Those who are G&G's that are flying out that weekend are NOT allowed to stay overnight with their family, they must go back to RTC (boot camp) that Friday night.

The HARD FAST RULE IS: Your new Sailors can't bring anything back with them to boot camp. They are considered to be in bc while they remain on the RTC (Recruit Training Command) side, even if they have already graduated. Handing them money or a debit/credit card is okay, because they are allowed to have their wallets at boot camp, but you can't give them their cell phones or anything else if they have to report back to boot camp that night. Wait until you see them at the airport!

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Comment by junjens (DIV 291 PIR 9-2) on August 20, 2010 at 2:20pm: Sailor Mom Good info about the USO I had no idea where I would look for my son. He leaves at 2 am on 9-3 so I will be up all night probably! I am guessing this USO is at Ohare airport?

Comment by jgoody/new Nuke mom on August 19, 2010 at 1:50pm: I originally didn't plan to stay to go to the airport on Saturday until my son asked if I would & maybe have breakfast with him there. As a matter of fact, he brought it up on 3 different occasions in his letters, so I knew that it would mean a lot to him.
I can't tell you how happy I am that I was there with him. Unfortunately, I didn't stay until his flight left & I really regret that. But I am grateful for the time that we did have hanging out in the airport. Its heartwarming to see the respect & regard that the public has for our servicemen. I strongly recommend it to anyone who can to go to the airport to see your sailor off. And bring the whole family.

Comment by javajo50 (MM Power School 1103) on August 17, 2010 at 9:23pm: Sobe-Thanks for the g n g info. I'm happy your son was able to complete his program early and can spend some quality time with ya'll.

4myboy~ How cool that you went to the airport to spend with your son. I'm sure he appreciated the extra time ya'll spent together.

SailorMom44- I appreciate all the extra information I can get before PIR. Thanks so much.

Comment by 4myboy(ship12 div 261) on August 17, 2010 at 7:54pm: I recommend you also spend the weekend and try for the chance to see your child off. I hesitated about going to the airport. He was leaving base at 3:30 am and flight at 7:30 am. But we decided to go. I could not be happier we did. We ate breakfast with him and spent a little more time with him. It was WELL worth it.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 6:48pm: It's bragging time! My son's A-School is normally 14 weeks long, but it's designed to be self-paced, so he called today to say he has completed it (6 wks early)!! He can officially use his earned title "ITSA" (Information Technologist Seaman Apprentice). He comes home for leave in 2 weeks, then will go on to C-School in Norfolk for 5 months, then he will be stationed in Italy. I am so proud of this young man and I can't wait to hug him!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 3:18pm: Thank you SailorMom44 and Rhonda for posting your G&G experience!

I can't say it enough, it truly is wonderful to be able to talk and text your sailor after they leave on their flight - to me, it was worth not having the whole weekend with him. I hear from other Moms who have sailors who were not G&G and they feel lost after Sunday, because they aren't mailing letters and can't ship them their phones for several days.

If your budget allows it, don't plan on leaving Great Lakes area until Sunday. This way you can spend all the time you want at the airport on Saturday, you can sleep in on Sunday and not be totally worn out by the time you get home.

Comment by Rhonda Ship14 DIV274 (PIR 8-13) on August 17, 2010 at 7:48am: My son graduated 8/13. He wasn't sure if he was G&G when I got the "I'm a Sailor Call" He said he thought he was. I printed out the questionnaire above and mailed that to him just in case. We booked rooms for the whole weekend, but by reading other parents comments in his division and by him saying he thought he was g&g, we canceled our room for Saturday night when we got there. At PIR my son handed me the filled out questionnaire. He got to spend all day Friday after PIR with us. He left to go to the airport at 2am.Sat morning. His flight was leaving at 5 that afternoon. We told him we were going to sleep in for a bit. We had an 18 hr drive and of course waking up early for PIR. He was calling me at 5am to see what time we would be there....We got there at 9am. He met us at the ticket counter, there was 10 of us plus a three year old and they gave all of us a pass to get past security. We decided to take a train from the airport into Chicago for a few hours. He flew out of Midway. We got back around 3:30 and he flew out on time. I had a black backpack that I purchased at Wal-mart, it did have a small logo on the front. I packed his laptop, cell phone, camera and one pair of shorts and a shirt and his flip flops. So on our 18hr trip home he was calling and texting us. I'm glad he was grad and go!!! We got to spend two days with him and he got his phone back. Oh after PIR he was suppose to be back by 7pm but we got him back an hour early. Hope this helps. Grad & Go was a good experience for us!! No matter what bring lots of tissues!!!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 17, 2010 at 1:43am: javajo50 - the time a sailor has to be back is dependent on their RDC, but the normal times are 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. Most G&G's who leave the base at 3am to get on the bus to the airport are usually asked to be back by 7pm. Have you printed and mailed the quick questionnaire above in the discussion area? (G&G questions to ask your recruit). This will help your recruit tell you which airport, which airline, etc. You mail it to them now, then they hand it to you at PIR. Glad to know your son will be so close to you in A-School - you are going to enjoy that I'm sure! I'm in Calif and my son is in Florida, so I'm about as far as you can get!

Comment by javajo50 (MM Power School 1103) on August 16, 2010 at 10:18pm: SusanH81~My son has PIR on 9/17 and just found out yesterday from him that he's a grad n'go. Sooooo disappointed naturally but since is A-school is only 5 hours from where I live, I know I'll see him as much as I can. My question for you is...what time was the curfew for your daughter on that Friday? My son flies out at 3:00 a.m. Saturday as well and I'm trying to get an idea of just how much time I'll have with him. Thanks in advance :)

Comment by SusanH81 (Ship 10 Div 255) on August 13, 2010 at 1:16pm: Charlie's - My daughter was PIR 7/30, and although she was grad 'n go - and on a chartered flight at 3:00 am Saturday morning - she still got liberty Friday afternoon. We weren't able to meet her at the airport, but I shipped her computer, phone and other electronic goodies on Monday and she had them on Thursday. We took the train downtown on Saturday, and went shopping at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg on Sunday, and although we might have wished for more time we used the time we had and spent all the time we could with her on Friday. Not great, certainy, but she was able to get to Pensacola and get settled Saturday night and because she had a phone card she was able to call us until her cellphone arrived.