Graduation question??

[chelseycooper(PIR 9-7)Ship-12]

My husband graduates on Fri. sept. 7th, when should I be there and when should I fly back home? Since he is going to school in Great Lakes, he will have the whiole weekend. But I dont know how long he can stay out. Also any advice on when and where to book a CLOSE  place to stay?

[NavyDoll Ebony]

hey girl ! So my fiance graduated in feb, it was on a fri, and he stayed in Great Lakes for A school. So this is what i did...

-Flew out on thurs. Best to fly out in afternoon so you can get to hotel and get rested/situated for graduation in the morning. His graduation was EARLY MORNING. Around 7 or 8. But u HAVE to leave hotel about 5 or 6 to get into gates, parking,etc. Make sure u ask your husband what time of day it will be so u are already prepared because they may have changed since then.

-My fiance got liberty all weekend so he was able to come out between 7am-10pm. Since i wanted as much time with him as possible, i stayed until Sunday afternoon. So hopefully he gets liberty all wknd as well. But there are NO OVERNIGHTS which sucks ! But hey, i cant complain. I still got alot of time with him, especially because im the only one that stayed all wknd so it was just me and him.

-Book a room at the navy lodge. Google it then call them to book a room in advance. You will love like the stay there. Its no 5 star hotel, but its a nice warm homey place. And you'll be surrounded by ppl in your same boat so you can get lots of questions answered maybe about graduation status, etc. And it is very cheap. about 65 a night. Very close to base. Just a few blocks. You still need to drive there but its not like miles across town. Very easy to locate.

Hope this helps .Good luck with you and your sailor !

[chelseycooper(PIR 9-7)Ship-12]

Thank you so much! So if you stayed until sunday what time did you fly back? Should I make my flight after 10:00 so I can spend as much time with him? Okay thats where i wanted to stay at! :)

Also, did you move with your husband during his training? My husband will be in school in GL for two years and im supposed to move with him but im not sure what to do now because he has to start school two days later! Im freaking out.

[Angie]

Two years...ummm no school in Great Lakes is that long.  What school is he going to?  The ONLY schools that allow for spouses to move up and the Sailor to live off base is ET or FC.  So if he is one of those, than he can put in a request to live off base...plus he has to phase up.  Takes about 2-4 weeks before everything is approved.

 

As far as moving your stuff....you and your husband will have to scheudle with HHG (which can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks for them to schedule to move your stuff). YOU will be the one at the house to be there when the movers move your stuff...you will be the one who will be at your new house when the movers come...you will be the one to do everything. 

 

Also the Navy doesn't just give you a house to live in...if you want to live in Base housing...there is a wait list, if you decide to live off base, you need to go find a place to live.

 

Hope you are planning on moving to base during the PIR weekend...it will NOT happen.

[Anti M]

Also, the C schools for EACF (ET/FC) are usually not in GLakes.  If one of those will be his rate, when you find out which one, join the group on here for that.  They will know the most about where the C schools are, and you can find other spouses who have gone through the process.    The AECF currently stay in Great Lakes for over a year, with several month sof "waiting for orders" after they graduate.  But Angie is correct, it isn't two years.

[chelseycooper(PIR 9-7)Ship-12]

Okay so I guess it'll be about a year. Im not really sure on anything because I havent talked to him. But how am I supposed to know what school he is going to? I tried looking it all up but all I know is that its advanced electronics and he'll be in GL. And no Im not planning on moving the weekend of PIR. Im just trying to figure everything out. Thanks

[chelseycooper(PIR 9-7)Ship-12]

Will I not be albe to live with him at all during A school?

[NavyDoll Ebony]

I flew back around 5 or 6 I believe. But if u have a job or school on nxt day u could just fly bck earlier if tht easiest so u can get settled bck home & rested,etc.

And no I dont live with him. When he was graduating and stuff I was just his gf. It wasnt until his 1st deployment when he proposed to me(a few months ago) so we are still engaged.

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

I am currently at great lakes for my husband's graduation. He just had to go back for muster. His CO has given them liberty until 10 Fri and Sat and 8 Sunday. When you get the DD1172 form, which will sponsor you to get a spouse id card, go get your id. Make reservations at the gateway inn, which is on base. You must have the military id though. Its a 5 minute walk from the barracks and the rooms are really nice. Standard hotel style room is $40, a with separate bedroom and kitchenette is $55. If you can swing it, go with the suite. if you have questions, feel free to ask. Might not get back to you until late sun night or mon morning. I'm driving home at 8 when he has to go back. Its only a two hour drive.

Also graduation starts at 9, doors close at 845. If you stay on base, you avoid all the traffic as you're making a left turn and everyone is in line to make a right one. You would have to rent a car though because there are no shuttles. There is a scheduleposted on the rtc website. Google Navy rtc and click on the family section. Also check out the spouse section, lots of good info to start. Join the pir 9/7 group on n4ms and go to the meet n greet that Sarge puts on, he's super helpful.

[chelseycooper(PIR 9-7)Ship-12]

From the hotel, will I be able to walk to the graduation?

[Anti M]

They don't tell them if they will be an ET or an FC (advanced electronics program) until further long in boot camp.  That's why you can't find anything.  He will let you know when he knows.  

I was an ET.

[michelledubicki]

my boyfriends friend had school in great lakes as well and he came home after basic for 2 weeks. his mom also said she thinks which sailor has schooling in great lakes gets to come home, unless they go out of state then they go there right away but im not 100% sure or not

[Anti M]

The ONLY time they come home on leave immediately after boot camp is during the Christmas stand down, never at any other time.   Just because their A school is in Great Lakes does not mean they get to take leave.  Ask his mom if it was at Christmas.