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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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JPG – 3.4 MB
Printable PDF – 2.0 MB

Latest Activity

B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) replied to Lancertrackmom's discussion 'A school graduation' in the group NUKE moms

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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.)

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

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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 August 29, 2010 at 10:19pm: Wonderful stories ladies - thanks for posting!

@CathyJ - I'm sure it was hard not to have his undivided attention, but I really like the way you appreciated the fact that this was HIS weekend. And isn't it wonderful being able to talk to him on a regular basis now? Very sweet indeed!!!

@junjens - odds are, it's his bus that leaves at 2 am, most flights don't start until after 5am, so you'll have more time than you realize. Yes, passengers are allowed to take food/snacks with them on any commerical flight, they just can't go through security with liquids (water, coffee, soda's, etc.). But once past, they can buy a drink and take it on the plane with them. Chartered flights will be totally different though, let's keep our fingers crossed that your son isn't on one!

Everyone: Did you notice that CathyJ used the quick little questionaire that is listed in the discussion area above? Makes it very simple for your recruit to give you all their flight info and hand it to you at PIR. Most common thing they forget is which airport - which is kind of a big thing to know!

Comment by junjens (DIV 291 PIR 9-2) on August 29, 2010 at 9:19am: yes m'mom thanks for your story. I will be sure to meet my son at the airport. I live only an hour away from GL and a half hour from the airports, his flight is at 2am on Friday. Do you know what kind of things I can throw in his back pack besides his cell phone? Can they take snacks on the plane and to their "A" school?

Comment by javajo50 (MM Power School 1103) on August 29, 2010 at 9:11am: m'smom~thanks for sharing your grad n go story. So cool that you could make his favorite enchiladas. I'm sure he really appreciated that! My son graduates on 9/17 and I look forward to any time we are able to spend together. His A school is only 5 hours from where we live, so I hold onto the thought that I'll be able to visit more with him then.

Comment by Charlie's Desertmom on August 29, 2010 at 9:06am: my son also was G&G 8/27.it was a fantastic day..high energy and great relief.just be prepared to let him go again and to be soooo proud!

Comment by m'smom on August 28, 2010 at 7:54pm: My son graduated on 8/27. He was Grad & Go. This is our story. It was well worth getting up at 2 am to spend time with him at the airport.

Had a great time with our son. I agree that when those doors open and they are standing there, it is such a rush!! The ceremony is just wonderful, so formal. Made the long 8 weeks feel really important, which it is of course. We all know that but the fact thet the Navy does it every week, without it getting sloppy or old, lets you know that they appreciate the efforts of the sailors and the families.
We spent almost the afternoon in the hotel room. M went on facebook, texted some friends, went for a walk with the GF, took a nap and ate the enchiladias I had made for him (his favorite). Didn't finish all the cookies!! Took him back for 7.
We met him at the airport at 3:30 am. He was on the 7:00 flight to P'cola. Had a few hours to talk about all kinds of things. He proudly introduced us to alot of his division mates. We watched him walk onto the plane, a confident and happy new US Sailor!
He was in P'cola before we could get across Ohio!!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 28, 2010 at 3:06pm: @Hoppi - not sure if I understand your question. It's not that everyone "should" be allowed, it's just that family would like to do that. I always remind them that it's up to the individual airline company to decide if they want to allow this, and if so, how many people per sailor. Why parents and familiy want to do this is easy to answer - they want to spend as much time with their loved one as possible. I always try to show the positive side of being a G&G, but the fact is, all the other families get to spend the entire weekend with their sailor, whereas G&G families do not. It's kind of interesting that the form letter we receive, which is written by the Navy, invites us to come to PIR, but then they ship so many of them out early. So I work with the reality of the situation and try to make the best of it. I am very glad and grateful that my husband and I, as well as my son's GF were allowed beyond security. We had five incredible hours eating, talking and laughing with our son. And I thanked the airline for allowing us this privelege!

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 26, 2010 at 7:52pm: @ladybug - Yes, they will still need to wear their uniforms while at A-School (any a-school) until they get to Phase II or III Liberty, then they can wear civilian clothes while off base. They have to remain in Dress Whites (or the Navy Blues if they graduate 10/8 or later) on PIR day, the rest of the weekend they will be dressed in their "peanut butters". For more ino on Phases of Liberty, see the discussion above!

Comment by ladybug1961 on August 25, 2010 at 10:18pm: those who move over to Great Lakes A-School across the street, Do they still have to wear their navy clothes.. are their rules and liberties the same as boot camp?

Comment by SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy on August 25, 2010 at 12:04pm: Melohhdee - first, let me say that both Chicago airports are very "Navy" friendly and so far (knock on wood) I have not heard of an airline that did not offer families a courtesy pass. But it's up to that airline, it's not standard rule. The trick is to have your new sailor wait by the ticket counter for you to arrive, then you get in ticket line with him/her so that the airline sees you are accompanying a military person who has a booked flight. You must have ID to get a courtesy pass.

Overnight Liberty: Every new sailor MUST return to RTC (boot camp central) each evening over PIR weekend, with the exception of one group: Those who are moving over to the Great Lakes A-School across the street - but they must move over during PIR weekend to qualify.

Comment by Melohhdee Div948 PIR10/15/10 on August 25, 2010 at 3:48am: i wish all airlines would let you accompany them through they gate, i asked when i husband went to boot camp and they said no only for deploying soldiers. i really didnt agree because military is military but i was to weak to argue, i should argue anyways, but it just makes me so angry. do you happen to know if during PIR do you need to go back to the ships at the end of the day or can they spend the night with you?