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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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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

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**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed. Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

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

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED. Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

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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Printable PDF – 2.0 MB

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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!

Discussion Forum

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Comment by MaribethP on September 15, 2010 at 7:39am: Mountain Ocean ~ My son will be going to sub school in Groton also! He graduates on 10/8. He told me last weekend when he called that he "thought" he was grad and go but was not totally sure when he was leaving. He made mention something about possibly at 2:00 am on saturday but he was not sure. I assured him not to worry about us that we would spend whatever time we could with him. We will be driving there so we will probably leave shortly after he does. Wish it would be more time but not a lot we can do about it!

Comment by Lauren - Sub Wife - Bangor, Wash on September 15, 2010 at 12:09am: Greetings Everyone!

I am new to this site, my husband is Ship 13 Div 327. Thank you for all the helpful information regarding G&G.

I know that the Navy is very unpredictable however I will go ahead and ask....

My husband will be attending Submariner school in Groton, CT. Does anyone know if he will most likely be G&G?

Trying to decide whether I should stay until Sunday night or leave on Saturday. Thanks!

Comment by jgoody/new Nuke mom on September 14, 2010 at 11:32pm: Sobe; so happy for you. It must have been wonderful. And oh so hard to let him go again. But isn't it amazing how much they have matured!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on September 14, 2010 at 8:38pm: Hi everyone, I've been out of touch for the last 10 days enjoying my son who was home on leave!!

@Kim - as Hoppi said, they cannot bring anything back to the RTC base that night after PIR, but you can hand them their cell phone at the airport as long as they are not on a chartered flight.

Comment by Pam on September 12, 2010 at 3:40pm: Just talked to my son today and he confirmed that those that are Grad-n-Go to Great Lakes will have all weekend liberty. Jamie is currently in Corpsman school (three more weeks!!) and he has two new roommates that were able to move over to their A School as soon as PIR was over. Since this was possible, they had the entire weekend to spend with their families. Including nights. Jamie had to wait until the following Wed. after he went through PIR to move over so he was not allowed overnight liberty.

Comment by javajo50 (MM Power School 1103) on September 12, 2010 at 8:13am: Congrats AirRescue Mom. I know you're going to have a wonderful time :)

I'm excited cuz next Friday is my sailor's PIR....woo hoo!

Comment by Kim (Dani's Mom ship 10 Div 331) on September 10, 2010 at 9:23pm: So just found out today that my daughter is Grad-N-Go, so i Can give her her cell phone on Friday?? Or do I have to wait untill I see her at the airport Saturday morning??? What about her lap top??? So many questions....

Comment by Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours) on September 6, 2010 at 2:26pm: Okay - up in the forum I posted a bit of my PIR and GnG story - Its in View All - PIR 09-02 GnG Lydia... hope it helps some

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on September 3, 2010 at 7:40pm: Hey everyone, I will be laying low for the next several days because...... our sailor is coming home on leave TODAY (can you see me doing the happy dance!!!).

I am hoping that there are enough "seasoned" moms who have now experienced this that they can help field any questions. I will try to pop in quickly at least once a day, but I am not going to see our son again for quite a long time - but I don't need to explain myself to you guys because Navy Moms & Wives are truly the only ones who understand this - bless you all!

Comment by junjens (DIV 291 PIR 9-2) on August 30, 2010 at 8:58am: Cathie J love the story! Thanks Sobe for the info too. Getting so excited to see him.