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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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RTC Graduation

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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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 Lisa (OP's Mom) on August 13, 2010 at 1:10pm: Charlie's: We were in the same boat. We didn't know until Wed. before PIR when my son would be leaving GL. We had already bought our tickets to stay through Sunday. As it was he left at 10am on Sat. after PIR and we spent the rest of our time sight seeing until we left Sunday eve. You never know, your son may not leave right away and you would be bummed if you ended up leaving way before he did. Meeting my son at the airport Sat am was great, especially being able to give him his phone so you can talk more readily was one of the best things we did. Congrats to you and your soon to be Sailor! PIR was such a great and memorable event. My favorite part was traveling through the sea of graduated sailors and my son coming up from behind and grabbing me for a hug. That was one of the best hugs from him that I've ever had.

Comment by Charlie's Desertmom on August 12, 2010 at 5:50pm: i heard in a letter from my sr that he is g&g.i already have a plane ticket to stay all weekend.how do i know if he even has liberty on friday.i am annoyed since i have to stayn until monday a.m.

Comment by Lisa (OP's Mom) on August 10, 2010 at 8:54pm: Yes Sobe, it is great to be able to communicate right away, that's for sure.
Lydia-enjoy your PIR experience. It is a real nice ceremony, one you won't forget. Wow, it's just around the corner for you. Enjoy your time with your sailor.

Comment by Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours) on August 9, 2010 at 9:48pm: OPPMom - woow that makes me fee much better. Great experience! Good info

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 9, 2010 at 4:03pm: Thanks OPPMom for posting another successful G&G experience. You are right, it's not as good as seeing them for the whole weekend, but going to the airport and seeing them off is really a treat - especially if you hand them their phone and laptop, because you have instant contact forever more - which is a true blessing after 8 weeks of boot camp! Congratulations to you and your sailor.

Comment by Lisa (OP's Mom) on August 9, 2010 at 12:47pm: My son was G&G for 8/6 PIR, leaving next day at 10am for FL. He had given me the filled out flight info. right after PIR so we knew where to meet him at the airport. Thanks N4M's. He hung out in the USO until we arrived around 7am. The USO personnel were very helpful to the recruits We walked up with my son to get his plane ticket and he had them print out gate passes for the 4 of us- remember to bring your ID. As soon as we passed thru security, we handed him his cell and laptop and a few goodies inside a plain black backpack. He gave me his folders of photos to take home.
We hung out in the terminal until he boarded the plane. We had about 3 hours, plane was delayed about 20 min. Cherished every moment. Looking back, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, would have like to have more time to sight see with my son, but that's doesn't always work out.

Comment by jgoody/new Nuke mom on August 8, 2010 at 8:02pm: Some other things to think about taking for your sailor - IF you have the room. And if you have a pretty good idea that he'll be on a commecial flgiht. I was lucky that I could drive to PIR & didn't have to worry about checking bags, etc. And he went to Goose Creek & has enough room for it. I can't testify for the other A schools, but maybe someone else can. Anyway, f you can, take some civilian clothes. No, they can't wear them for at least the first 4 weeks of A school, but I just couldn't justify the idea that my son would go out to buy new clothes when he has so many here. So I took him a couple pairs of shorts, jeans, some T shirts & a pair of shoes. And boxer shorts, he was so glad to be rid of the tighty whiteys! He didn't ask for them but was thrilled to have them. I used a collapsible duffel bag so that he didn't have to use a lot of space to store it when he got there. Actually, I wish I had taken more; I have sent 2 more boxes to him since then. But the closet is finally emptying out :-)
And, I am thrilled to say, he hasn't asked me ship any of his game systems.

Hoppi, not all of the RDCs are telling them that. My son knew that he could have his phone, etc & his contacts.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 7, 2010 at 5:36pm: I hear you Hoppi, and you know I love those guys/gals and have so much respect for them (I defend them a lot on the PIR groups!), but they are telling these recruits that they are not allowed to have them at A-School, as well as not being able to take them on a commerical flight. But I love it when you post and you are so correct about being human - we all make mistakes. I give out wrong info too at times, although I'm the first to admit it once I find out! And I count on folks like you to correct me - and you do!!! (smiling!)

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 7, 2010 at 4:46pm: Just read a post from a Mom from PIR 7/30. Her daughter was NOT a Grad & Go, but parents stayed in town until she flew out on Tuesday to A-School. Once again, the RDC's told the new sailors that their parents could not hand them cells & laptops at the airport. But as soon as they were on the bus to the airport, the man driving (Navy himself) told them that RDC's know all about boot camp, but that's where it ends when it comes to what you can have at A-School. Luckily my N4M friend still brought the electronics to the airport and YES her daughter was able to take them on the plane (commerical airline, not a chartered flight). And YES she already has her laptop set up in her barracks at A-school. Obviously the Navy would not allow you to get internet set up in your room if your not allowed to have a computer!!!! I love the RDC's, I really do - they have a tough job at bc and I respect them, I just wish they wouldn't give out wrong info!

Comment by NukeMom/MM/USSMichigan on August 7, 2010 at 12:56pm: Okay, got it. I did sent the questionaire to my SR. I'll be sure to tell him to WAIT for us. Thank you.