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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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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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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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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 SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 9, 2010 at 5:00pm: Update on Div 242, PIR 7/9 (that's today): This was the division who had to re-do 2 hrs of BS-21 (Battle Stations 21 exercise) yesterday in order to graduate today!

Comment by joe'smom ship13 div242 52 minutes ago
Just updating everyone, Div. 242 graduated with no problems. It was great! We have our son and he looks so good. We have him all day today, tomorrow and Sun. Thanks for all of the well wishes and prayers for his division.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 9, 2010 at 4:11pm: Hi gigi65: I went to the link you provided below and just copied it for everyone:

Below is a post for those who have sailors who are NOT G&G's, but are staying in Great Lakes for A-School:

GREAT idea for kids whose A school is in Great Lakes. When we were there for our sons PIR. we brought all his things with us (cell phone, laptop. some clothes and some personal things he wanted). We rented a storage unit, $22.00 for a month about two miles down the road on Green Bay Avenue. It worked out really nice for us and a couple other Sailors.

Comment by mommajo on July 9, 2010 at 12:06am: HI~
My son was grad-n-go PIR 7-1. He flew from O'Hare to Charleston on 7-2 at 1400. All Sailors with flights on 7-2 were bussed to O'Hare at 0500; we didn't arrive until about 0730. Jeff was in the USO and we were able to get security passes to go to his gate with him. We walked, talked, talked, and had lunch prior to his departure. All but he and another going to SC departed at 0830. We did bring him his cell phone, lap top, "conservative boxers", and contacts to the airport. He was very firm about no civies as his phase I doesn't allow civilian clothing for 30 days. I know other phases are different.

One thing we encountered was the get to base early and be prepared to wait in lines idea. My husband is big on being early so when we pulled up to the gate as they were just breaking out the orange cones we were told to do a u-turn and come back at 0630 (it was 0545). We found a parking place about 2 blocks away (free, mind you) and walked back at about 0615. The cars were lined up but we were the 2nd group to walk thru the gates. The inspection line was only about 15 people deep and we had our choice of seats. My husband was sure the come early was all hype. When we left we simply walked the 2 blocks back to the parked car and drove away. At that point, my husband noticed the lines and number of people.

The PIR is amazing and I picked out my son as he marched in front of us; although, I can certainly see getting confused as they look a lot alike:) Spending time with him was a little overwhelming. He seemed to be running on adrenaline the day of PIR but was tired the day at the airport.

Best wishes to all as our Sailors begin their next assignment. Thanks for all the info and help along the way; couldn't have made it without you :-)

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 8, 2010 at 5:16pm: Here's a great BS-21 video, it's a CNN report & Navy approved.
Turn on your sound.

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 8, 2010 at 12:05am: Welcome gigi65! Wow - you read back to page 12? That's awesome. So, does that mean you don't have any questions?? You can be my official replacement when I finally burn out on this site!!!

I have been busier than usual for the past 9 days and I must of missed that post about a storage shed near GL - I'd love to know more. Any clue what day that was posted, or by who? The bc moms group is so active, it could take me days to read through one days posts!!!

Comment by Vic28(Former Ship 10 Div 254) on July 7, 2010 at 3:49pm: Sobe, PIR 6/4 Corry Station/NASP
I want to thank you thank you thank you..
I hope you know how great and helpful your posts are.. I find myself scanning for yours.
Awesome information. Especially love your grad n go info.
I am not sure if my recruit is on that program but I have learned so much from you if he is I am ready!
I know he would tell me not to go to the airport or to bring phones or lap tops so I wont worry him with it like you said.. I dont want to cause him a minute of stress!

Thanks again,
I have passed on your info to a friend of mine too with a son in the same division.. but she is not into surfing the net so your posts are a true treasure.

Vic

Comment by Mississippimom on July 6, 2010 at 10:09pm: I thought so, but just wanted to be sure. Thanks Sobe!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on July 6, 2010 at 9:43pm: MississippiMom: Anything you hand them must be handed off at the airport. They can't take anything back to RTC (boot camp). They are still considered in bc until they get on the bus to go to the airport.

DustinsGirl: Long time no chat! Hope things are going well. Here's the deal on going to A-School at Great Lakes: If they have been told they are a G&G (which means they move over that Friday after PIR), then YES, they are the only ones who get to have full liberty that weekend (they don't have to come back at night). Now, here's my disclosure: This has been the practice for several months, but it can change at any time and the recruit needs to "stay in line" up until that point. Here's the down side (although it's minor); After PIR is over and you've gotten your hug and a few pictures, they have to go back to barracks to pack, then move over to GL and get processed in. This takes 5-7 hours. They will call you to pick them up - but it will be across the street (not where you were for PIR) and your gate/parking pass will not let you in on the A-School side, so he'll have to meet you at the gate. Once you have Dustin, he is yours for the entire weekend! Remember, liberty doesn't not mean "leave" and he still has to wear his uniform in public and adhere to all the rules.

Now, if he is told he is moving over to GL after Sunday, that means he is NOT a G&G, so he must come back to RTC (bc) each night that PIR weekend. He might even have watch duty for a few hours each day. This also means he cannot be given his cell phone before you fly back home on Sunday. He'll either need to buy a new one or someone has to mail it to him at his A-School address (which he may not know for a few days).

Hope this helped, let me know if you have more questions.

Comment by Dustins_Girl (Ship 10 Div 251) on July 6, 2010 at 8:39pm: Hello Sobe. Yet another question has popped up and I was curious about it. For those that have A school in Great Lakes what is the procedure as far as when they have to move their stuff and their liberty? Someone was mentioning that their liberty might get extended at night etc. after they move everything and get checked in. Any info?

Comment by Mississippimom on July 6, 2010 at 6:52pm: My son is a G&G for 7/24. He will fly to SC. On the last call he asked for specific white tshirts and some blue ones if I could find them. Is this another item that has to be handed off at the airport or mailed too?