This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
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.
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:
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
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:
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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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.
Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com
STANDARD GRADUATION DAY SCHEDULE Please be aware that it can take 30+ minutes to park, get through base security, and walk to the drill hall by 8:45 a.m. 6:30 a.m.
- RTC Gates open to visitors. Security screening begins
. 7 a.m. - Visitors begin walking to drill hall
. 8:45 a.m. - Guests should be in seats.
9 a.m. - Recruit Graduation commences.
9:20 a.m. - Divisions Arrive at drill hall.
9:45 a.m. - Arrival Honors.
10:30 a.m. - Ceremony concludes.
10:35 a.m. - Liberty Call. Recruits meet with guests at drill hall. Recruits and guests transit back to parking area.
8-9 p.m. - Liberty expires for recruits
Please drop your recruit at the base early enough for them to walk back to their ship.
Some divisions may depart Recruit Training Command a few hours after graduation (Grad and Go). Some divisions may depart RTC the day after graduation. Please discuss liberty with your recruit during their phone calls home. Be sure to ask when they are departing boot camp for their next school.
Continue to write your recruit and stay informed. Recruit Training Command Public Affairs does not have your Recruit’s schedule. Only your Recruit and his/her supervisor know the specific liberty schedule that they have. LIBERTY INFORMATION Liberty is ‘time off’ from training.
Recruits may not smoke, drive, or consume alcoholic beverages while on liberty.
Recruits must stay within a 50-mile radius of RTC.
Recruits must remain in their complete uniform while on liberty. If they are engaging in physical activity or swimming, they must be in authorized gym clothes.
Recruits receive an in-depth liberty briefing prior to their graduation day.
TRIP PLANNING There is no guest housing or prearranged transportation provided by Recruit Training Command. RTC highly encourages you to purchase REFUNDABLE tickets in case your recruit does not graduate on time.
Lodging is available in the surrounding community.
Cities within ten miles of RTC include North Chicago, Waukegan, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Libertyville, and Gurnee.
If you fly into Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway or Milwaukee airports you must arrange your own transportation from the airport to Great Lakes. Use the services of bootcampgraduations.com to book your hotel room.
SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS Wheelchairs and handicapped seating are provided at the Visitor’s Center for anyone requiring them. If you require a sign language interpreter, or if you use a seeing eye dog, please contact the Public Affairs Office as soon as possible.
RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND BASE ACCESS Pets are not permitted on RTC. Working animals are permitted, but please call the Public Affairs Office in advance.
Identification All visitors must have valid photo identification. This requirement includes children (School ID, Social Security card, or copy of birth certificate suffices).
Search All persons, articles and vehicles are subject to and may be searched. Metal detectors and other security devices are in use onboard Recruit Training Command.
Expect a delay at the security checkpoints due to this added security requirement.
Permitted Carry-Ins
Small purse. Small diaper bag, Camera/video recorde,r Camera bag.
Discouraged Items
These items are allowed, but discouraged due to space limitations. You can leave them in your car. Luggag,e Stroller,s Car seats, Backpacks, Contraband,
Contraband will be confiscated and you may not be permitted entry. (Not all items listed)
Alcoho,l Illegal Drug,s Knives, Weapons of any kind Pepper spray
If you're planning on attending pass-in-review ceremonies, here are a few things to keep in mind: Access to Naval Station Great Lakes has been greatly modified in response to our heightened security posture. When walking on Recruit Training Command, please stay within the route marked by our road guards and please be cautious of curbs.
Smoking:
Smoking or the use of any tobacco product is not permitted anywhere aboard the Recruit Training Command base, indoors, outdoors or in vehicles. Seatbelts: Please be advised that base regulations require that all occupants of motor vehicles wear their seatbelts while aboard RTC.
Photography: Family or friends of recruits who are graduating are allowed to bring photographic equipment on board to take pictures. Note: Film is available in the vending machines at the visitor's center. If you need information concerning your visit, please feel free to ask for assistance from any of our staff members. If they cannot help you, they will find someone who can.
While on liberty, recruits are not authorized to drive or consume alcohol
. Have a safe and enjoyable visit in the Great Lakes area!
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ALLTHIS THAT IS LISTED BELOW WAS SENT TO ME BY A N4M THAT I MET LAST YEAR. GREAT INFO...
The RTC base is on one side of the street. They have a mini NEX and some fast food in the courtyard, and an arcade there. You can go as far as the parking lot/NEX, but no further than that end where the PIR ceremony is.
On Sunday you may visit the Chapel, which is across the parking lot from the NEX, but again, no further than the doorway to the chapel. Anything past the chapel is OFF LIMITS, and yeah, they do have guards there. That is the pathway to the 'ships' where the recruits are stationed. Nobody allowed past that point.
Across the street from RTC is another gated entryway to where the A school is. That one you can roam around freely (once they let you through). They just need your son's military ID and your ID to get into that side. That's the side with the movie theater, bowling alley, BIG NEX, and more fast food courts. You can drive around and look at the various buildings/schools there, and there is a beach too. The entertainment is free or VERY cheap (I think its only a dollar to go to the movies/popcorn, and bowling too). Of course, if you wanted to go off base to the movies or bowling, he may get a military discount at some places, but its mostly regular prices. My kids LOVED it at the places on the A school and RTC side though, and spent hours bowling, playing in the arcade, eating Pizza Hut/Subways/McDonalds there... and of course 'chilling' with the other sailors whose families left already.
If he is Grad and Go, and going to A school across the street, then he should be allowed to stay with you in your hotel for the weekend! That's really nice. It all depends on if his room is ready for him or not at A school. You'll find out soon enough if he will be able to stay in your hotel with you, or have to return to base at night. Mike's first order of business off base was to find a deli (at the Navy Pier) and order up a roast beef sandwich on whole wheat bread!!!! Then it was pizza... steaks...
We went to AppleBees for the steak dinner... military discount offered... and M ordered steak, baked potato and steamed veggies. He ate the veggies first!!!!!! WOW!!!! and when he ordered food, he made sure it was 'healthy', like the whole wheat bread (normally he takes a sub roll!). So, there was a big change in his eating habits. But for the better! The hotel you are staying at will give you a package when you arrive, and that will have maps and info on area attractions.
Don't be surprised if N can't decide a simple thing (like what do you want to eat?) at first... he's been used to being TOLD what he will eat and do. I'd have to pull teeth to get M to say what he wanted to do. I had to phrase it like: "I can't decide if we should go for steak or pizza, which do you like better/ are in the mood for?" cuz if I asked do you want steak or pizza I'd get 'I don't know' for an answer
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