New MOM with lots of ????????

[Shelia NC]

Son is supposed to graduate the day before Thanksgiving............
he tells me he will be leaving for the airport 45 minutes after the ceremony.

1. Is the graduation the ONLY ceremony that takes place, for instance is there anything going on a day or so prior to graduation?

2. He tells me, and in the letter I received after his arrival, the NAVY letter, that the graduation date can change, and it may be last minute, does this happen often?

3. Where is the best place to stay? and how close is it to the ceremony?

4. My son knows his step dad does NOT fly, and we will be driving up, add to that I have RA, and I think he thinks the trip may be too much. He tells me if he leaves out immediately following the ceremony, then he can use leave to come home at Christmas, is this how this works?

I simply cannot imagine missing this, but with this being the busiest travel time of the year, I am just confused!!!!!

Thanks everyone, for all your help!

[Brenda Sue]

1) Yep, the PIR is the only ceremony for the Navy boot camp. I understand that other branches of the military have things like "family day" etc. But - we just have PIR.

2) Yep, the date can change - but it seldom does. That depends on your son passing all his tests and battlestations. If he went in prepared - he will probably be fine!!

3) Best place to stay?? Many options - Navy Lodge is close and cheap. Only $62 a night and no additional fees or taxes. It is about a mile or two from the base. No additional things at the lodge like pool (haha in November) or weight room (like you sailor would want to work out). It is nice, clean and close.

4) I did not go to you home page to see how far a drive. I went from Texas and would not miss it for the world - but. . . I am able to fly and rented a car once I got there!! Also, with your son leaving just 45 minutes after the ceremony - that would be a TOUGH decision to make. I am sorry you have to make that one!!!!

Congratuations on you soon to be US Navy Sailor!!!!

[Kathy]

My daughter was Grad-n-Go last Friday, 10/24/08. We spent 1 hour with her on base after graduation, then she had to go back. We then met her at the airport USO until her flight left for Monterey, CA. Wish I could have spent more time together, but sometimes the short goodbyes are better.(that's what I keep telling myself!) Anyway, now she has her cell phone, so we can be in contact even though I'm in Ohio and she's in CA. She's very excited and looking forward to her new career. That's what's most important to me.
Hope this helps a little.

[GISELA RINGSTROM]

MY SON WAS A GRAD-N-GO .0N 10-24-08. HE TOLD ME IT OK NOT TO COME, BECAUSE HE COULD ONLY SEE ME FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR BEFORE HE HAD TO GO AND CATCH HIS PLANE. HE DID CALL ME A COUPLE TIMES FROM THE AIRPORT. AND WHEN HE GOT TO ALANTA. THEN WHEN HE GOT TO SOUTH CAROLINA. BUT NOW THAT HE GOT A CELL PHONE WE CAN TALK MORE. AND WHEN HE COMES HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS I CAN SPENT MORE TIME WITH HIM, THEN IF I WENT TO GRADUATION. WHAT EVER YOU DECIDE YOUR SON WILL KNOW YOU ARE PROUD OF HIM

[Kris (S.D.)]

My son is in the same div/ship as yours and Cameron told me the same thing.He will leave for S.C. shortly after he grads.We may get 1 hr with him,so he said to not waste my money since he'll be here for Christmas.
My son is in the Nuke field, how about yours?

[Chris N. Proud Nuke Mom of Mike]

Mike was also a grad and go on 10/17, headed to Goose Creek for Nuke school. We did go to the PIR and in fact only had an hour on base with him. However, you can meet them at O'Hara, make sure if you go that you get a concourse pass. We spent some time at the USO and they really are wonderful to the military guys and gals and then we sat with him until he walked on the plane. We ended up with 6 hours and I was grateful for every minute. Everyone's circumstances are different, but as a mom I loved seeing my sailor even for the short time and PIR is amazing. You can hand them their cell phones and other small stuff at the airport which was also nice. Some parents brought their sailor Laptops so they didn't have to ship them. Whatever your decision, congratulations to your wonderful sailors. How very fortunate we are to have them.

[Pat L. in IL]

Sheila, This probably won't help much but they usually don't get their final orders until the Weds. before PIR. Your son's PIR is 2 days earlier than normal so I wonder when he will get his final travel orders. Is he going to Goose Creek? My point is, his travel plans can change. If he is grad and go, you can meet him at the airport and get a special security pass to go to the gate and spend time with him there. Pat

[military mom]

My son graduated the day before Thanksgiving 2 years ago. My how time flys! It is a very difficult time to try to plan a trip. We flew from LAX Tues, Landed in Chicago late that night, rented a car, stayed over night in a La Quinta Inns, Got up very early the next morning to chk out and get to the Navy base to go thru the security inspection. Watched the PIR. Helped my son get his stuff out of his room and then we all headed to the Airport together. We landed very late back in Lax Wed night/Thursday morning. My son is a Nuke and was headed to Goose Creek, SC. They told him as long as he was checked in there by Sunday night midnight he could either come home with us or stay in Chicago. He flew home with us and then flew to Goose Creek Sunday. We joke about our trip to Chicago, we were there less than 24 hours! I would not have missed the PIR for the world! Nathan was still able to come home for Christmas for 2 weeks, they closed down the Nuke school.

[Shelia NC]

Thanks to all of you so very much for the responses! This is definitely a huge learning time for me. My husband and I talked last night, I booked a room at the Navy Lodge, and plan to make the drive and enjoy whatever time we have with Seth. I got so excited last night when I found this group, I was reading everything you all had written, and kept thinking "their children are with MINE'! I was reading about Kris Kings son being sick, having to wear a mask, Seth told me about this when he called me, not this past Saturday, but Saturdday a week ago.

[KYmom]

I think the only thing anbody missed was..... You can go to the airport and sit with him there till his flight leaves. Depending upon his flight time out - you may end up with several hours at the airport.. which beats nothing....

Most all of the schools close for christmas.... If you are over a certain milage from the school they have to use their liberty time to come home.. for some this will effect how many days they have left to use between A school and first duty station. Everybodys days accrued will be different depending upon how long in A school and such..

[Kris (S.D.)]

I'm the Kris King your talking about! So your son must know mine! Thats great!I wonder if Cameron's any better.He hasn't called since the 11th! The letter i got from him after that call is when he told me he was sick.If you hear from Seth could you ask him if Cameron is better?? Please?I have been WORRIED about him since he told me.Thats how i felt Sheila when i heard your son was in the same EVERYTHING with mine.Thats just great!

[Jeanny Garrett]

I went to my sons graduation in GL. He graduated in August of 08, so I realize the travel time was not as bad, but we did drive. It was a 17 hour trip and we did have to stop in Troy, IL and sleep before we actually arrived at our hotel in GL. I don't believe my sons graduation date changed, but there was a chance it would have been moved back to the next available one because he was having trouble passing a physical fitness test (it was the 1-mile run in a certain amount of time). Still he pulled it out at the last try and we left for GL. It was a wonderful experience that I am glad I was there to see. As for that day, Zach had to go straight to his A school after graduation so we had to wait a long time before we got to talk to him really, but after he was situated he was able to stay the night with us and we went sightseeing the next day. Zach was what they call a grad and go, but he was not leaving GL after Graduation his A school was in GL right down the road from where he had been.

We stayed at a Best Western that was in the packet they sent for graduation. It was nice and very close to the base we needed to be at.

Zach did get leave at Christmas time, but I honestly can't remember how many days it was.

I hope this helps a little.

Have a great day! ~Jeanny

[Bonnie/Davey's in the Navy...for life]

Hello ladies, my son is training recruits @ GL. He also had a grad -n- go status in the beginning, but we were lucky just before graduation his orders were changed and we had overnight with him. We flew from NH and it was worth every moment. I send prayers and congrats to all of you on having wonderful children that are keeping our country safe.