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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

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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.

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Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:

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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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Graduation Info
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Grad & Go Info

Information

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!

Discussion Forum

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Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 2, 2010 at 7:32pm: Holidays - good question. On the weekend of Labor Day, PIR is on Thurs 9/2, however that coming week, PIR is on a Friday 9/10 (sort of backwards in my book!). I have tried contacting a mom who had PIR on a recent holiday (4th of July), but she hasn't responded. Sometimes when their recruit is out of bc, they stop using this site.

So, does anyone here know if G&G's leave on Fri or Sat when their PIR is on a Thursday? I would also like to know if those who are not G&G's get that extra day to be with family (so, Thurs after ceremony, all day Fri, Sat & Sun)??

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 2, 2010 at 3:27pm: Hi CathyJ - I know you!!! So... let's just pray that there are not many recruits going to Texas so he will be on a normal commerical flight, that way you can see him at the airport and hand him his cell phone!
Please go to the discussion area above and look for the "G&G questions to send your recruit" and mail it off today. Ask him to complete it the night before PIR and hand it to you after graduation ceremony - that way you'll know exactly where to go (instead of going crazy!).

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 2, 2010 at 12:06pm: A big thanks to Pat for her great answers! It was actually nice to be "computer-free" for 3 whole days. I had a great time on the coast, took an 80 mile jet boat ride up the Rogue River and then went to the Oregon Caves National Monument - that was truly an awesome experience! It paid off that I'm vertically challenged, because my husband, who is 6', has a sore neck today from ducking in the caverns the whole time!

Thanks also to the recent PIR attendees who posted their G&G experiences, we need those stories to help everyone else prepare!

Lydia - a wrist watch is a great gift and one they are allowed to have! About the only other items a sailor can take back to RTC that evening are phone cards, debit/credit cards & cash! Personally, I did not give our son a gift - our gift was our presence at PIR, which cost a small fortune! But now that I think about it, we did reimburse him for the portraits & DVD of PIR (that was $174), so I guess that could be considered our gift!!!

Comment by Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours) on August 1, 2010 at 7:53pm: Pat - thank you so much! :o)

Comment by mfavored on August 1, 2010 at 5:13pm: Sobe I forgot to tell you Thank You So Much for the info on meeting at the airport and the USO You along with all of the other veteran moms have been such a great help to all of us that are still going through This site and the helpful women like you all are SUCH A BLESSING Thanks again

Comment by Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours) on August 1, 2010 at 5:04pm: Sobe or anyone - what are the rules about watches - dont know what I want to get him for grad but was wondering

Comment by mfavored on August 1, 2010 at 4:41pm: Hello Ladies Got a question if my Sailor (just wanna let you know that I am grinning from ear to ear as I say this LOL) doesnt leave that Friday is he allowed Liberty that evening I am not really clear on this because my son is still not sure about his orders yet but I did tell him to have his info on hand with him so he could pass it to us at PIR I am praying that they wont do a chartered flight and that he gets an airline that will give Military Family Passes He is headed to Mississippi (12/261 PIR 8/6)

Comment by SusanH81 (Ship 10 Div 255) on August 1, 2010 at 12:52am: Our daughter was PIR 7/30/2010 and was G&G to Pensacola. We were told that because there were so many heading to A school there, the entire group was on a chartered flight. Disappointing, absolutely, but we got to spend the day with her, and because we had a heads up that it was likely happening (thanks to this group and the PIR7/30/10 group), we weren't blindsided. She got to Pensacola and settled in just fine, and called us to let us know she is there. Just wanted to let people know that although it isn't ideal, it isn't just awful. We will overnight all of her electronics to her on Monday, she'll receive them Tuesday and we'll be able to be in touch regularly. So thanks to everyone for the very timely information - in our case it's incredibly helpful and very much appreciated!

Comment by BunkerQB on August 1, 2010 at 12:04am: My husband starts to list all the wonderful dishes I used to cook before N4M. He is very sorry that he found this site for me. We had an empty nest for a short time w just the two of us. Now that N4M is the third wheel, he says it's like having another child, except this one gives back emotionally!