Welcome to
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.

FIRST TIME HERE?

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO GET STARTED:

Choose your Username. For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either). Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username. While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!

Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!

Join groups! Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself! Start making friends that can last a lifetime.

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

Add an Event

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

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

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.

Format Downloads:

Graduation Info
PDF – 2.7 MB
PNG – 2.3 MB
JPG – 3.4 MB
Printable PDF – 2.0 MB

Latest Activity

Trey replied to Darlene's discussion 'Boot camp' in the group Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

16 hours ago

MamaKatie replied to Darlene's discussion 'Boot camp' in the group Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

16 hours ago

Navy Speak

Click here to learn common Navy terms and acronyms! (Hint: When you can speak an entire sentence using only acronyms and one verb, you're truly a Navy mom.)

N4M Merchandise

Shirts, caps, mugs and more can be found at CafePress.

Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by CafePress.

Navy.com Para Familias

Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com

Badge

Loading…

Get Badge

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

View All

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Grad & Go Info to add comments!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 25, 2010 at 1:18pm: Lala just posted a discussion on Charted Flights that everyone should read. I hope and pray that the Navy doesn't use this method of transportation very often, but it's good to be prepared for what these families and sailors endured. Once I get more details, I will also add a paragraph about chartered flights to the general description above. THANKS LALA - I know that must of been difficult to write, let alone experience.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 25, 2010 at 10:53am: 4myboy: There is no limit on how many people can go to the airport because an airport is open to the public. Now, as to how many courtesy passes an airline MIGHT issue, that is up to that airline. Not all airlines offer passes, but quite a few of them do. Worst case is that you will have to visit with your sailor in the lobby area before they go through security.

TheRightThing: How sweet of you to post that! Isn't it cool to see those guys in their Dress Whites, probably makes you miss your son even more! How the heck are you? I miss our PIR group, but still post there occasionally! Hope your son is doing well, Love Sobe (Lisa)

Comment by TheRightThing on July 24, 2010 at 5:22pm: My sailor PIR'ed on 6/4/10, but we saw 3 new sailors at Stratford Square Mall, on their way to Red Robbin for lunch today. 2 were from Texas and 1 from Florida. They were suppose to fly out to their A School in Texas, but delayed due to the storms. If these were your sailors, just want to let you know that they look great, sound great, and are anxious to get to A School!

Comment by 4myboy(ship12 div 261) on July 24, 2010 at 1:25pm: Is there a limit as to how many can go to the airport?

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 24, 2010 at 11:52am: Heads up: I just got some news from G&G moms in the PIR 7/23 group. Their experience at the airport this morning was not pleasant and also NOT the norm. Their sailors had a "chartered" flight, and those are a bit different. I have asked one of the moms to send me a detailed message so I can update my info above. I know I always add the line "these are the norms, but things can change or be different" but I also hope that doesn't happen. More info to come as soon as I receive it.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 24, 2010 at 11:20am: Codysmom91: I am going to say yes to this question, mainly because suitcases are held or rolled by the recruit - and that has been confirmed to be allowed, as long as they use their left hand. They cannot carry a backpack on their shoulder, they must hold it in their left hand and must always have right hand free. Any carry-on item they utilize needs to be black or dark blue, per the Navy. The airlines don't care, as long as it fits their size rule for carry-ons.

Comment by Codysmom91 on July 24, 2010 at 9:33am: I read that they could take a plain blue or black backpack with them on the plane,
but I was wondering can they have a carry on suitcase?

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 23, 2010 at 6:10pm: Thanks Hoppi - Is the number Lydia left below a different dept? Was she just lucky and got someone who felt like being helpful? We certainly don't want to call people we shouldn't. I always try to remind everyone that no one knows it best like their own recruit - so always get your info from them. It may be last minute that they tell you, but it will be the correct info.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 23, 2010 at 2:50pm: mfavored: Once you and your sailor have met by the ticket counter and you have your pass to go through airport security area, you are free to roam the terminals/concourse area. They are not required to stay in the USO, but it is available and open to them and you too of course!

When my son flew out, there was a sailor in his group who was sort of "in charge" of keeping everyone focused and grouped together that last 60 minutes before boarding began. So we had time alone with our son before that "rounding up" began! The sailor in charge (a new sailor himself) strolled the terminals reminding sailors on his flight to be sitting at the gate by such and such time. They just don't want anyone to miss the flight. We were all sitting near the USO at Midway because it was quiet there, then got something to eat, and finally sat with the whole group of them at their gate that last hour. We heard the FUNNIEST stories of boot camp from those guys, my husband and I will never forget that day!!! Now... if your son is flying out of O'Hare, the USO is before you go through security, so you guys can hang out there, but you will all need to go thru security at least 1 1/2 hrs prior to boarding time. There's better food behind security than in front of it - that goes for both airports!

Comment by mfavored on July 23, 2010 at 1:55pm: Hello ladies I Thank God for this group I already know that my son is a Grand and Go he told me a couple of weeks ago when he called. OK I know that I will have other questions because I am still in the process of reading all the info. What I am asking right now is on the USO Is that where we sit with them as we are waiting for their flight to leave