Grad and Go

[Rebecca K. (SHIP13DIV247)]

Our son just left for Great Lakes on monday 5-23. We haven't even recieved his box or mailing address yet. We've been looking through the forums here a little, trying to cope with him being gone, and looking for any information we can get ahead of time for when we can go see him graduate. We're hoping to spend as much time with him as possible after graduation, but are kind of worried that he could be a grad and go sailor. If he is a grad and go sailor, how much ahead fo time can we expect to find out? I'd hate to make reservations ahead of time only to find that we wont get to spend any time with our son before he has to head out for the airport.

[Peaches0512 Navy Mom]

Hi JDmom , We got the same information from the reciuter, We hope that our son gets his letters, We got our form yesterday, with the correct address, also someone on this site gave us the correct address. So we will see.

[jdmom65(ship13 div 245)]

did not receive a letter this past week. I hope he is getting my mail I made sure even the ones that were sent back to me, received new address and sent them back. John should have received plenty of mail yesterday.

[MomSeanEM2]

jd, my son sent a letter to his father with specific instructions on how to address our envelopes. He said if they can't read it they won't get it.

So we print his address and make sure all the zeros have a line throught them so they look like zeros and not O's.

I guess the navy is very picky. LOL We waited until he sent us the form letter about graduation before we sent him letters to be sure we had the correct address. It was very hard waiting for that form letter for his address. We wanted to write him the week he left.

The recruits really look forward to mail call. Our son said some guys get nothing. I feel so bad for those recruits. I can just imagine how lonely they feel when everyone else is getting mail. I told him in my last letter to tell them I am proud of them also for serving our country.

I really think our encouraging letters keep them motivated.

[SOBE,PIR 6/4/10 IT Mom, Italy]

General Advice for possible Grad & Go's: Sometimes a recruit knows within 3 weeks that he/she is a G&G, sometimes not until 2 weeks before. My son was a G&G just two weeks ago. We got lots of advice and choose this method and it worked great for us: We planned our trip like he was NOT a G&G - just in case! We flew in Thurs and flew home Sunday evening. We got to spend all day Friday with him after PIR, then we met him at the airport on Saturday morning (they use all three airports, so ask them to find out which one by PIR day!). He met us near the ticket counter, then we got in ticket line and requested special passes to go through security with him - which they will do for military families (and no, you don't need to be related or have same last name - just have your sailor with you and ID). We spent the next 4 hrs shopping and eating and relaxing at his gate - then watched the plane fly away.

A-School is VERY different than boot camp - they actually have a life and can call you every day, text you, go on internet, facebook, etc. Nice thing about being a G&G, we were able to hand him his cell phone, ipod and laptop at the airport - YES, all those things are allowed at any A-School location! You just can't hand it to them that Friday at PIR because they can't take anything back to the barracks at bc. Even though they have graduated, they are still considered in bc territory until they actually move off the RTC side of the base and leave for A-school.

Feel free to "friend" me if you have more questions. I turned off all emails from this site because there were sooo many and I'm on this site every day - but it's hard to follow up on these discussion pages - I prefer group pages, seems easier for me (okay, so I'm old!) HA

[MomSeanEM2]

Sobe,

Thank's for sharing your experience. Its been very helpful.

We also are flying into Chicago on Thursday and not leaving until Sunday.

We hope to spend some time with our son that weekend before he starts A school at Great Lakes.

Thanks again,
Gail

[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.