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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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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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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!

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Comment by TxLadyJane(ET Nuke Mom) on March 8, 2011 at 1:44pm: Please we need to put this information out any time we can, and we need to stop using the "incorrect" terms when addressing issues on the RTC Facebook page or here within out tight little group, it only adds to the confusion, just like the RTC Facebook page says.

Comment by TxLadyJane(ET Nuke Mom) on March 8, 2011 at 1:39pm: This was offically posted today from the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC) Facebook Page.

U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command Grad & Go refers to those recruits who are staying in Great Lakes and that is firm. We are in the process of correcting the RDCs who seem to believe that Grad & Go also refers to those recruits flying out of state on Saturday.

Even our trans...portation department no longer uses the term "Grad & Go." The confusion lies in the fact that a couple years recruits also flew out of state on Friday afternoons following the graduation ceremony. RTC stopped doing that a couple of years ago.

So, regardless if your recruit states he/she was told they are Grad & Go and are leaving Saturday, that is the incorrect term for them. They are a Saturday departure.

Other websites using the term Grad & Go for Saturday departures only add to the confusion.

So, once again, here is the official RTC definition as to what is a Grad & Go recruit: Recruits checking into A School at Great Lakes on the same day as graduation.

Comment by Alysia-Redsmom (VQ-4/ATO) on February 5, 2011 at 5:29pm: Good luck & your're welcome NavyMomAllison!

Comment by NavyMomAllison (PIR 3/18) on February 4, 2011 at 1:38pm: Thank you redsmom! Preparing ourselves that he probably is G&G --- will enjoy every minute that we have with him. He said to make sure we purchase REFUNDABLE tickets just in case, so that is what we plan to do. Will print the form and send it to him....love the information this website provides.....and you seasoned moms!!

Comment by Alysia-Redsmom (VQ-4/ATO) on February 3, 2011 at 9:41am: If he indicates he is grad n go now he probably will be...but could change up to the day before graduation. Keep communicating through letters and phone calls when they come. You may want to send him the G&G form from above he can fill it out and give it to you once liberty begins after gradaution.

Comment by NavyMomAllison (PIR 3/18) on February 2, 2011 at 10:02pm: My SRs PIR is 3/18....rumor has it that his division is Grad n Go. His letter stated that they think they are going to be. At what point will there be confirmation? Does anyone know?

Comment by Alysia-Redsmom (VQ-4/ATO) on January 27, 2011 at 2:17pm: from my experience at my son's graduation any sailors in Nuke or Aviation will leave on Saturday for A school. Thye will get liberty on Friday after the ceremony has concluded.

Comment by TxLadyJane(ET Nuke Mom) on January 27, 2011 at 2:04pm: From what I understand my son is Grad n Go but he has not told us directly, but other Nuke's folks have said their SR is.

Comment by Kac46047 on January 25, 2011 at 6:18pm: thanks redsmom, thats the news i wanted to hear lol. Ill bring the slip to graduation since its definitly to late to mail.

Comment by Alysia-Redsmom (VQ-4/ATO) on January 25, 2011 at 6:14pm: anyone can go & meet your sailor at the airport. you will need to get the info from your sailor as to which airport they will be flying out of and then the airlines/flight & time. we were able to meet up with our son at Midway and then go through security and walk him to his gate. USO volunteer made sure ALL family memebers received a gate pass to get thru security. mail your SR the grad n go form in the above discussion to fill out and give to you after graduation.