Navy boot camp graduation, also known as Pass-in-Review, is a memorable time for friends, families, and new Sailors. Planning your trip to Great Lakes can be a little overwhelming, but we’ve got some information and resources to help you have the most memorable trip. Read on to get more information to help plan your trip.
Where is Navy Graduation Held
Navy boot camp graduation will take place on base at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes in Illinois. For those that are planning on flying to graduation, you will most likely fly into O’Hare International Airport (ORD) & Midway International Airport (MDW) in Chicago, IL or General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee, WI. The drive from the airport to RTC Great Lakes is about an hour to an hour and a half long depending on which airport you fly into.
Graduation Guest Tickets
Recruit Training Command requires that each guest who will attend the graduation ceremony is placed on their access list. Be sure that you have submitted your Guest Security Access Form to your recruit. The form and instructions are on Recruit Training Command’s website located here.
Great Lakes boot camp graduation requires that all guests have non-transferable ticket. Each person attending must present a valid photo I.D., COVID-19 vaccination record card, and must go in person to the Recruit Family Welcome Center at the Navy Exchange (NEX) in Berkey Mall.
Navy Exchange (NEX) Burkey Mall
2650 Green Bay Road
North Chicago, IL 60088
Ticket pick-up time are normally
Thursday [10:00 AM to 7:30 PM]
Friday [5:30 AM to 8:30 AM]
Navy Boot Camp Graduation Address
Here is the address for the Great Lakes boot camp graduation ceremony. It is held at the Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall onboard Recruit Training Command base. If you are walking, taking a shuttle or taxis, or driving, be aware that this is a military training facility and will be required to show a valid identification and your tickets to base security at all access points and that you may be subjected to security screening to enter the ceremony.
Ceremony address:
Schedule of Events::
- 6:30 am: RTC gate opens to guests.
- 7:00 am: Ceremonial drill hall doors open to guests.
- 8:45 am: All guests must be seated. Ceremonial drill hall doors close, no further entry for guests.
- 9:00 am: Pass-In-Review commences.
- 9:20 am: Divisions arrive.
- 10:30 am: Pass-In-Review concludes.
(Please plan on arriving at least 1.5 hours before the ceremony, which begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.)
Navy Boot Camp Graduation Travel
When looking at hotels to stay at for Navy boot camp, we recommend getting a hotel near the base, and not in Chicago. Graduation will begin early in the morning, being closer to the base will make your trip a lot less stressful.
Great Lakes Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Department has teamed up with SatoVacations to assist families attending graduation ceremonies.
Please refer to the Family & Friends Travel Guide
Visit www.NavyLifeGL.com (or call 847-688-3593)
Stay up-to-date with graduation information plus “things to do” in the Navy MWR App (Look for “NavyMWR Great Lakes” at either Google Play or the App Store)
Navy Boot Camp Graduation Dates 2022
Recruit Training Command provides Training Group and recruit division graduation dates on their website.
See the list of Training Group Grad Dates and Divisions
*Recruit Training Command may change Graduation dates are subject to change based on the needs of the Command. You should check with your recruit before booking. We don’t accept any responsibility for these dates changing.
Unable to attend graduation – watch your Sailor’s graduation live here. Recruit Training Command streams the graduation for FREE, please do not pay any third-parties to stream the graduation or view archived videos.
Learn more about what to expect at Navy boot camp graduation.
If you have a loved one at RTC Great Lakes, be sure to join Sandboxx: Navy RTC Great Lakes Family and Friends Facebook group.
Also be sure to follow U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command Facebook Page and RTC Great Lakes Instagram Page.
Hello, Are you able to provide information regarding family members who have been added to access list. Per information I found on Sandboxx, our recruit was supposed to send us a form in the mail but that form was not received. He keeps telling me in all his letters that he is scheduled to graduate on time and can’t wait to see us, but I never received the form. I finally found a copy on line and filled it out and sent to him via Sandboxx. However, it takes 14-17 days for us to get a reply via US Mail. Graduation is in 11 days. Is there someone I can contact to find out if he submitted the form and we are on the list? I’ve already scheduled our flights and hotel and still have no clue if we can even attend. Thanks in Advance.
Hello,
I’m wondering if you were able to find an answer to your question? My son will graduate next week and I havent received an invitation to the ceremony.
Did you get a response because I’m also having trouble with this issue and have not even received an invitation
I cant say how grateful i am to everyone at Sandboxx!!! You all helped me through the time away from my husband. The weekly updates, gift cards, and tracking of letters is awesome. Best of all was the support and quick answers i had to any questions. Some questions were not your job to furnish information but you all were the ones that i could always go to and would get me answers and resources! Thank you so much!!! I appreciate you all.
Is it true that you no longer need to be vaccinated for Covid19 to attend graduation?
ATTENTION ON DECK: Effective with the 11/10 Training Group, the vaccine mandate requirement will be lifted.
What this means: This means if you are not vaccinated, you will now be allowed into graduation. If your Recruit/Sailor’s graduation is soon, example 11/10, 11/18, 11/23, your Recruit/Sailor will be allowed to call to update you. Your Recruit/Sailor will take your information if not given previously, will fill out a Security Form and submit to Security. Have your information close by for that phone call. Graduations in December, you can download another form, fill out and send to your Recruit a copy over various letters.
The # of guests allowed per Recruit has NOT CHANGED. It is still only 3 or 4 guests depending on how many Divisions are graduating. 3 guests if 11 or more Divisions are graduating, 4 guests, if 10 or less Divisions are graduating.
Thank you this info was very helpful. Could you tell me how many divisions will be graduating at Great Lakes on Dec.9, 2022.
Thank you!
how soon did you book your flights? also how many days did you get with your sailor? is it only graduation day that you get? planning on going in January and I’m trying to plan accordingly.
It looks like on the calendar they are set to graduate December 2nd!
what calendar ? i’m so confused right now
Can you help me to enter this navy.its my😐 dream ,I just finished secondary school in nigeria.Even if it on line schooling and training please help me.🙏😭 I will do my best I promise
My brother is set to graduate on the 10/29, Ship 6 DIV 945 but I haven’t heard anything in the last week or so. How do I know more about the graduation. And am seeing about tickets. Where, when and how are we’re going to get them?
If my sons graduation is on a Wednesday how will I pick up the tickets if I’m flying in on Tuesday from so far away??? DIV 414 graduates Nov 23. Can we get them emailed or pick up Tuesday??
I would like to know that as well. My son graduates on the 23 of next month and I can’t even get into the page to fill out the required paperwork. Is this due to so many ppl on it or is it broken ? Also how do we get our tickets.
My daughter graduates the same day ☺. You can pick up tickets at the Recruit Family Welcome Center. Ticket pickup will be on the day before and the morning of graduation. The hours are:
Tuesday – 22nd {10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.}
Wednesday – 23rd {5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.}
I hope this helps.
I realize this is very last minute and not planned, but my daughter graduates tomorrow September 9th, 2022. We did not discuss prior to her leaving for boot camp of me possibly attending graduation. I would love to surprise her by attending. Is there any way for this to happen in a days notice?
I have a question do they do the ceremony the day after they complete their 8 or 10 week boot camp?
Div 404 is not posted in November 10, 2022 graduation. When do they graduate?
We do not agree with the vaccine and won’t be getting it. I understand that deciding not to be vaccinated is my choice, and I have to deal with some ramifications from it, but how is this still a requirement to attend soo far removed from the pandemic? Can’t we just wear a mask and have our temp taken?
Unfortunately all sailors, soldiers, marines need to be protected, and healthy from any viruses. That’s the last thing they need is for those who are not vaccinated to spread it among our military members who are serving to protect us. Then if they catch covid, it brings down a whole division. Thr importance of having a military is to be ready at all times. Covid Unfortunately could be a national security threat if we are attacked and we have all of our soldiers down and out with covid. How are they to report for duty then? It’s why the first week they are at medical, to they receive many vaccines and boosters. They must be ready to serve, the moment they join. Your disregard for getting it, is putting your soldier, Marine or sailor at risk. Hopefully that makes sense.
That is the corporate PR line Christina, however, that is not at all accurate. These toxic mRNA shots have been proven to not work and have caused more harm than good. We have thousands of scientific studies to back up our claims, the “scientific” community does not. The most recent booster that was recently approved by the FDA was only tested on eight mice, completely skipped the clinical trials on humans. Is that something that we want to be injecting into our soldiers, airmen, sailors, etc? How is that not a national security emergency? It’s funny, the Chinese military and Russian military are not doing this to their military and they have complete military readiness. I think that people need to do a lot more research into this topic and stop trusting CNN for their medical information. Good for you Chase for being wise enough not to be injected with toxins.
You can believe what you wish. I chose to do my due diligence and not get vaccinated. I will which my daughter graduate online and enjoy time with her afterward.
I’m glad I’m not alone on this.
Roger that
Have you been able to contact anyone regarding this? My next option is writing a letter to the president who declared this pandemic is over as of September 19, 2022.
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Hello, I have an Android and due to the last update I haven’t been able to get more info. So if you could, please let me know what time family should arrive and if any liberties will be allowed for my recruit.
What are the graduation dates for May and June? I would like to attend one while being here in the Chicago area working. I have not been to the Recruit Training Command since I was a young man when I joined in May 27, 1989. I would thoroughly enjoy watching the ceremony from the stands, if this is possible. I still remember my company commanders 1st class Petty Officer Callaway, and 1st class Petty Officer Crossland.
Can you help me to enter this navy.its my😐 dream ,I just finished secondary school in nigeria.Even if it on line schooling and training please help me.🙏😭 I will do my best I promise
April 29, 2022.. its my babies Graduation… We the Montalvo are very proud and happy to see our little one accomplished alot within a couple of weeks… she leaving soon to Texas to complete her Training… We Love you Dez.
how can i get my picture from 1989graduation bootcamp from great lakes
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My grandson is finishing on Sept 24,2021 ( the last I knew). I thought his graduation would be that day. Is it in October instead? I understand only 2 people can attend and both must show proof of Covid vaccination. Is all of this info correct?
When is graduation for Ship 14 Div 429?
It looks like on the calendar they are set to graduate December 2nd!
How can I stream the graduation on september 10 2021
my niece graduated on Aug 22 how can i watch it or where do i go to watch ceremony
Do we know if there will be any in-person graduations the end of August 2021?
Hi Anita –
My grandson is supposed to graduate at that time, and before he left the recruiter told him no, there will be no in-person graduation ceremony, but we’ll be able to watch graduation on-line.
Best wishes to you and your family!
Kelly
What is the link to watch the graduation ceremony today for the navy boothcamp
My son is in division 065 he should be graduating on January 21st or 22nd. No one has told me anything. I found the navy page on my own. Can I order videos of the ceremony since Covid has robbed me of watching my son graduate in person. Someone please give me all the correct details about graduation and if I can buy things like pictures and videos. Thank you.
Kellie Hand
My son now serving the Navy for 3 years … yes, you can purchase the dvd. I can’t remember exactly but you can call 847-578-6205, here you order your sons portrait and you should be able to order the video as well.
If we get air fare ticket , and not able to see him graduate, Will we be able to visit with him?
Hotels near the base for graduation. 8/27 or 10/4…, thank you!
nb10iree@gmail.com
please email the link to the graduation ceremony Oct. 8
Thank you,
Nan and Mike Bulish