Looking a head a little

[Happynurse]

Good evening! Will after boot camp graduation will the sailors check their large duffle bags at the airport and then be able to take a backpack as a carry-on. Or does she have to take everything as carry-on? She is trying to figure out what she would like us to bring to graduation. She will be going to Goose Creek, SC. Thanks in advance.

[Trey]

Hi.. My sailor has done both, checked his seabag and carried his packpack because of electronics and such.. Those seabags are not carry on size lol.. other moms with more experience like yours I'm sure will chime in.. mine stayed in GL after boot and then headed to San Diego for C school..

[Happynurse]

Thanks that was vey helpful!

[Trey]

oh.. my sailor finally realized/remembered that when he checks in, there is a place to put his military id and get to do tsa precheck instead of regular tsa stuff

[Chipmunk]

Happynurse - I forgot that your daughter was headed to GC after PIR. Be sure to read this discussion of mine if you haven't already. What PIR weekend may be like for those flying out of GL - Navy For ... - I tell of our experience having a Nuke fly out of GL, and some of the other scenarios, as well as there have been several replies over the year. 

So, your sailor should be traveling with their Seabag, a Black Garmet bag, a Black Backpack, all supplied by the Navy. They will also be carrying their paper orders in hand. When my son flew out, they were still required to wear their dress uniform, which should be their dress whites, until sometime in October, maybe. (Different areas change out of the dress whites at different times of year, depending on the climate.). If your daughter is wearing her dress whites to travel, then she will be having to wear her seabag on her back and carry both her garment bag and the backpack in her hands, as well as her manila envelope and her cover (her hat). When my son traveled the USO man told us that they were not allowed to wear their backpacks as they were not regulation with their dress uniforms. 

Therefore, my son's back and hands were all full. His brother actually carried his backpack, into which we put a small black drawstring bag that had his phone, charger, Kindle, I think his favorite running shoes from home (his stuff was all mailed back to us and we had to deliver it to him at the airport at 0130 in the morning!!). His seabag was already stuffed, and his backpack almost. 

Now, military personnel are allowed to have up to 5 checked bags @ 100 lbs. each when traveling on orders. So, your daughter will check her seabag and garment bag and still be allowed 3 more bags. So, technically, she could have you bring her a "black" (all accessories need to be black) rolling suitcase with civilian clothes for her. However, the issue may be that when she arrives at GC, there may not be a lot of room for her extra luggage when she is being transported to and from the airport to NNPTC. - Her backpack counts as her carry-on bag. 

Also, her room is small and shared with a roommate. My suggestion, bring a couple of changes of clothes for sleeping in, underwear, and sports bras. Then plan to ship the rest to her. I never had issues with packages that I sent to my son at NNPTC, but some did, so I suggest shipping Priority Mail so you have insurance and keep a list of what you shipped. When she gets to NNPTC, she can go to the mini Nex and buy things like toiletries & other hygiene products, as well as laundry supplies. 

Also, this discussion of mine from the Nuke Moms group page should give you some information about when your daughter can start wearing civilian clothes and classing up.  Nuke A school daily schedule - sailor's perspective - Navy For Moms...  She will only be able to wear civilian clothes in her BEQ - room / until she is able to wear civilian clothing outside, and so you have time to mail clothes to her. 

[Happynurse]

This is great information  Thank you so much!

Stephanie

[Chipmunk]

Trey - Thank you!! And you reminded me of something else. For those who fly out of GL to their A schools, most of them will be traveling with more than one person to their destination and if they leave out of Ohare, at least 6 years ago, they had someone that oversaw all of the new sailors and directed the sailors as well as their families to the check in areas. - Also, there will be one sailor put in charge of making sure that everyone else flying with them has their orders and are keeping track of their carry-on, as well as all boarding the plane at the same time. 

I realized going through that process in the very early wee hours of the morning, that the reason they took everyone so early, even if they had a later flight, is because no one else was around in the airport and the ticketing agents could issue everything that the sailors needed, as well as helped us family members get our gate passes, so we could be with our sailors. (THIS is a privilege and can be revoked at any time by the airlines.) 

[Trey]

my sailor who did his home traveling at holidays and between schools didn't have to wear any uniform.. he did wear his Navy hat though, the one they get after battlestations..

[Chipmunk]

Trey, when my son traveled home for the holidays, he did not have wear his uniform either.  And when they leave GL after their A school, they may not have to wear their uniforms. I know there have been some changes up there as to whether or not they were to wear their uniform out in public. Which is one of the reasons that I don't know if those that are flying out, generally the next day, from PIR are still required to wear their uniforms or not.  I have a feeling that they are still expected to, because of the vast number of sailors that are being transported and it makes them easier for the ticketing people and USO to identify, especially with family trying to go to the airport with them. 

That said, I know that COVID changed a lot of things, especially when they were transporting our new sailors by private or military means to their A schools, and no one was going to the airport. 

[belovedbyHim]

"Private" travel they nearly NEVER travel in Uniform.... In fact they are told NOT to do so!!! This is because they could become "targets" in the event of hostiles on the plane.  Not a likely scenario but it's all part of PERSEC.  If they want that "Uniformed Service Member" Homecoming video or photo op, they can change in the bathroom when they land at their destination.
Official Travel-- site specific!! From Bootcamp-- Always in Uniform, On Military Flights, Often in Uniform but not always, Civilian flights-- Always in Civies.... (This info is Per my Seabee with 10 years in.  He thinks I'm nuts for caring or asking but there you go....)

[Chipmunk]

Q's Momma - Were the sailors flying out from the airports to their A schools wearing a dress uniform? Thanks!

[Chipmunk]

Q's Momma - Thank you!!

So, just to clarify there is a difference when your sailors are flying out in large groups right after PIR. Most likely, they are back to wearing the seasonal dress uniform and thus, they will not be allowed to wear their black backpack on their back while in uniform, only their seabag. 

Others that might be traveling from GL after their A school to C school, or to their duty station, traveling on holiday / leave, or traveling from another A school to duty station will likely be wearing civilian clothing. When your sailor is reporting to their duty station, they need to find out from their sponsor what they are expected to be wearing to report to command, and if they will be able to change into their uniform after traveling, and before reporting. Many of these details will actually be addressed to your sailors both at BC & A school, I am just sharing what I recall from our experiences. 

It is honestly, not too hard to spot military traveling, even on holiday leave, without being in uniform. In some places, the less conspicuous they are, the better. And I think that is why there have been some changes at GL with regards to whether they wear their uniforms in public or not. 

[Diahn]

Hi Happynurse - my son’s PIR was in May and he flew out to Pensacola the next day. Before he left for boot camp, he picked the things he would want in Pensacola and boxed them up for us to send when he arrived there rather than having to deal with them in the airport. His seabag and backpack were FULL and really couldn’t have gotten anything else in there. The first couple of weeks at Pensacola, he was required to wear his uniform outside of his barracks, so it wasn’t a problem. He had the clothes he had traveled to boot camp in to wear in his room, so he was comfortable with that. We ended up driving his boxes to him the week he leveled up to being able to wear civilian clothes because it happened to be the weekend of Memorial Day and - well - beach! :) 

I’m not sure how much space they have in GC, but my son’s room is small and he doesn’t have a lot of space for extras - basically he has a few civilian outfits and his uniforms plus his gaming set up. I would say they have a lot to manage getting to the airport and through the travel and then getting to their new post and the less they have to juggle, the less stressful that will be.