After PIR-Friday and Saturday Departures (What is Grad n Go?)

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

What is Grad n Go?

Here is a link to the group:
http://www.navyformoms.com/group/gradgoinfo

 

It has new AND old info on it. Here is my current understanding of G & G.

(Any veteran Moms…please correct me if I am wrong OR add to this!) 

Okay. My Sailor just PIR'd on 5/26. I just looked at my form letter and it didn't say anything about Grad-n-Go specifically so I am wondering if they have changed the form letter.

There has been a lot of discussion about the term "Grad-n-Go".

 

I cannot find the term on the RTC website under Family Information.

The G & G group explains that the term is obsolete.

So, what does that mean?

Means, I wouldn’t bother using it.

They are now called:

Friday and Saturday Departures

 

Friday Departures
Means those Sailors attending “A” school at Great Lakes. They “depart” Friday, after Graduation, to move over to Naval Station Great Lakes from RTC. This can take from 3-5 hours. I do not know how much time they get directly after graduation to spend with you before they have to go move their things and get settled and briefed. I am sure it is not very long though.
When they are done they may spend the rest of PIR day with you. They will be given a time to report back to their compartment. Then they should get Saturday and Sunday to spend with you. Times and such will be given to you by your Sailor. This could change daily!

Saturday Departures
Means those Sailors attending “A” school somewhere other than Great Lakes.
They usually get to leave right after PIR and spend the rest of the day with you. This is subject to change. The time they report back to RTC on Friday …is subject to change! (Are we seeing a pattern here?) It is usually 8-9 PM.
They then get ready (or already are) TRY to get some sleep and then muster up and board the buses to go to their airports around 1-2 AM Saturday Morning. Thus the Saturday Departure. Their flight could be ANYTIME on Saturday…the Navy only makes ONE trip for all Sailors.
There are three airports. Midway, Milwaukee, O’Hare. You won’t know which one probably until PIR day.

NOTE: from diannep-veteran-she has never seen anyone leave from Milwaukee. I haven't yet either. Just letting you know that there are three airports.

Also, if your Sailor says they are a Grad N Go...ASK what they mean! The term may be obsolete...but it is STILL being thrown out there!

 

Here is what happened to me:

Mine PIR’d on a THURSDAY (Memorial Day weekend) and was supposed to depart FRIDAY AM. (Think Friday and Saturday as the norm). He was attending “A” school AWAY from Great Lakes.
While I was flying to PIR on TUESDAY he called and left a detailed message that everything had changed and he would now not leave until Sunday around 1-2 AM!
“Subject to change.”
His report time every night was different. His Pick up time in the AM each day was different. He had watch on Friday from 4-6 PM and none on Saturday.

 
So, what I was told to do was book to stay the extra days if I could.

I am so glad I did because it ALL changed! I would not have got to spend time with him if I had gone home Friday and he would have been stuck on base. I just decided that IF he did leave Friday that I would take a vacation!

SO...

 

The Basics are:
Friday Departures
Great Lakes “A” school- need 3-5 hours after PIR to move over to Main Base and get the rest of the day and weekend with Family. (No overnights though)

Saturday Departures
Those traveling to other bases for “A” school should be a Saturday Departure-but there can be variables.
You won’t know anything definite until you speak to your SR. They will keep you informed. Mine did, but it changed twice during BC and AGAIN while I was en route.

It’s just the way it is.

[Denise-- Seabee Mom]

Facebook comment from U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command

 

: We are no longer using the term Grad & Go because it no longers means anything. Yes, the initial form letter home still contains the term but that's only because those letters were pre-printed and we're using them up before... the new letters omitting the term are used.

Years ago, Grad & Go referred to those recruits flying on the same day as graduation. The it referred only to the recruits checking into their A School here in Great Lakes the same day as graduation. All other recruits either departed on Saturday or later in the week.

Today, all recruits depart either Friday (if staying in Great Lakes) or on Saturday (if going out of state for A School).

We are instructing the RDCs to stop using the obsolete term because, again, it doesn't mean anything.

The term has been removed from our website and we do not even use it on Facebook.

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

I replied to this on the 09/01 group.

They have been talking about this for the past few months...however moms have still been reporting that their Sailors are saying they are Grad n Go's.

I have tried to explain that in my post that the term is obsolete and is no longer used. I have plans to change my post...eventually...when RTC stops telling the recruits that they are Grad n Go's.

I also explain the NEW terminology used is...Friday and Saturday Departures.

So, I am hoping as I watch the current groups go through PIR that I will see the term dissappear...and am looking froward to then rewriting the post. I have changed the title to start with "After PIR..." first for the most recent groups.

In the meantime, rather than explain over and over as the question pops up, (and it can when it is easy for a group to add ten plus pages a day to their group), it is easier to direct them to the discussion.