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The following are some of the most frequently asked questions by families and friends of recruits onboard Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes. If your question is a general inquiry about the U.S. Navy, please click here for the official U.S. Navy Web site. If you still have a question that was not resolved here, please contact the Recruit Training Command Public Affairs Office at rtc.pao@navy.mil.
CONTACTING RECRUITS
Q.
The first letter I received from my recruit has a circled address, but the return address my recruit uses is different. Which one is correct?
A.
Shortly after your recruit arrives to boot camp, you might receive a form letter from the U.S. Navy that includes a listing of ship addresses with your recruit's ship circled. The addresses on the form letter differ from the format recruits are instructed to use. These are two different ways to address a letter to the same location! No matter which format you use, the letters will be delivered to your recruit. However, the proper format for recruit mailing addresses is:
SR NAME
SHIP XXX DIV XXX
RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND
XXXX STREET OR AVENUE
GREAT LAKES IL 60088-XXXX
Q.
What is the proper mailing address for a recruit?
A.
Q.
Will you give me my recruit’s address?
A.
We cannot give out information, including addresses, for the recruits. That is sensitive information pertaining to their military service. You will need to wait until your recruit writes to you.
Q.
Do the recruits have access to an electronic mail delivery?
A.
The Navy does not provide personal e-mail accounts to recruits. Currently, the only approved method of corresponding with recruits is U.S. mail. See the “Contact Your Recruit” page (link above) for information on contacting recruits in case of emergency.
Q.
My recruit claims he hasn’t received any mail since he started boot camp two to three weeks ago?
Why isn’t he/she receiving mail?
A.
Initially, mail may take a few weeks to reach the recruits as their ship or division may change. It will eventually catch up with them and once they receive their mail, it will be delivered on a regular basis.
Q.
What can I send my recruit in the mail?
A.
Because space is limited in the barracks, recruits may receive letters and small photographs only. Please do not send your recruit packages of civilian clothing, toiletries, food items, etc. as they will not be permitted to keep them.
Q.
I need to contact my recruit because of a family emergency. How do I do it?
A.
American Red Cross Communication Services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of an immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling or child only). The Red Cross quickly sends these communications on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer with making a decision regarding emergency leave. See the "Contact Your Recruit" page (link above) for information on contacting recruits in case of emergency.
Q.
How to Contact the Red Cross to Send an Emergency Message
A.
Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members may call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free telephone number is available through base or installation operators and from local on-base Red Cross offices. See the "Contact Your Recruit" page (link above) for more information.
Other family members who do not reside in the service members' household, members of the National Guard and Reserves, retirees and civilians may access Red Cross services through their local Red Cross chapter, which is listed in local telephone books and at http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html.
Overseas personnel stationed on military installations should call base or installation operators or the on-base Red Cross offices.
At overseas deployment sites, contact the American Red Cross deployed staff. When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is helpful to have the following information:
Service member’s:
• Full Name
• Rank/Rating
• Branch of Service
• Social Security Number
• Military Address
• Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit (for deployed service members only)
RECRUIT VISITS
Q.
My recruit is in RCU (Recruit Care Unit) or on hold to pass a fitness test (FIT). May we be authorized a visit?
A.
If a recruit is still in training, visits are not authorized.
RECRUIT STATUS
Q.
My recruit failed their fitness test (run) or swim qualification. When will he/she graduate or what is their status?
A.
While recruits are listed in this status, they are not scheduled to graduate. Once they pass, and their status changes, they will call home to let you know their new division and graduation date.
Q.
My recruit is in RCU (Recruit Care Unit). How can I find out more information?
A.
You may contact the Medical Liaison at 847-561-6521 and they may be able to better assist you.
Q.
I have not heard from my recruit in a couple of weeks. How is he/she doing?
A.
Recruits are only permitted to make three phone calls home during their time onboard Recruit Training Command. However, no news is good news as recruits are granted additional phone calls if something goes wrong (i.e. they are injured, do not pass a test, etc.).
Q.
Could you pass on a message to my recruit that we support him/her?
A.
Encouragement is wonderful and every recruit here can certainly use support from family and friends. We hope you will write your recruits on a regular basis letting them know how much you miss and love them and how proud and supportive you are of their decision to join the Navy. Unfortunately, though, we cannot pass on individual messages to recruits. At any time, there can be up to 10,000 recruits onboard Recruit Training Command, and it’s simply not feasible to contact each of them with personal messages.
GRADUATION/PASS-IN-REVIEW
Q.
How can I find out if my recruit is graduating? Will you put a list up on the Web site?
A.
Recruits are required to contact their family if their training is disrupted and they will not graduate on time. If you have not heard from your recruit, no news is good news. Unfortunately, because we can have over 1,000 graduating Sailors each week and divisions may be running Battle Stations during the week of graduation, it is not feasible to accurately list every graduating recruit online.
Q.
What are award winners/honor recruits, and how do I find out if my recruit is one of them?
A.
Award winner and honor recruit families are contacted separately by Recruit Training Command via U.S. mail to let them know their recruit has won an award. While every recruit has accomplished a wonderful milestone that should be rewarded, if families are not notified, their recruit has not won an award.
Q.
How many guests per recruit are allowed to attend Pass-In-Review?
A.
Four seats are guaranteed per recruit; however, children younger than 12 years of age do not count against the four-seat maximum and do not have to be on the access list. The graduating recruit is responsible for identifying those individuals to be placed on the access list. Please coordinate with your recruit via letters regarding who will be on the access list. No additions, deletions or changes will be made to the access list the week of graduation. PLEASE DO NOT CALL FOR ADDITIONAL SEATS. All visitors must have valid photo identification. This requirement includes children (school ID, Social Security card or copy of birth certificate).
Q.
How do we obtain graduation information?
A.
During their first week of training, the recruits will send home a letter with their address and graduation date. The letter will include the names of up to four guests that each recruit intends to invite to graduation. Please discuss this with your recruit via letters to confirm you have been added to the access list. There also will be instructions about how to download a parking pass from this website beginning 11 days prior to graduation. The password included in the letter is required to download the parking pass. Should you misplace this password, only your recruit may give it to you. Please be sure this information is shared with others on the access list as they will need this information as well.
Q.
When will I receive tickets/passes to graduation?
A.
There are no actual tickets or passes. Recruits list the names of up to four guests that will be included on the access list. Recruits cannot obtain additional “tickets” from other recruits.
Q.
I am not sure I am on the access list. Can you find out and make changes if I am not?
A.
It is the recruit’s decision whom to place on the access list. Please communicate with your recruit well before the final week of training to be sure the right names are on the list. The Public Affairs Office does not receive a copy until the day before graduation and therefore are unable to verify whether an individual is listed, nor can we make any changes to the list. No additions, deletions or changes will be made to the access list the week of graduation.
Q.
How do we obtain additional parking passes?
A.
There is limited parking on base so we encourage carpooling. Additional parking passes are not issued. If your name is included on the access list, you should be allowed onto the base. Other options would be to take a taxi or hotel shuttle to the front gate and walk in, or park at the Metra train station located one block from the base and walk to the front gate. However, if you are NOT on the access list and are not accompanied by a guest who is on the access list, security may deny you admission to the base at their discretion.
Q.
Are wheelchairs available for use and is there designated handicapped seating available?
A.
Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis when guests check in at the Visitor Center. There are additional wheelchairs available to those guests needing handicapped parking that can be obtained adjacent to the handicapped parking lot. There is limited handicapped-designated seating on the drill deck. One family member may accompany a handicapped family member in this area.
Q.
Is handicapped parking available?
A.
Yes. As you enter the base, please show your handicapped parking placard and let security know you require handicapped parking. You will be directed to a parking lot located adjacent to the drill hall. There are also wheelchairs available in this area for those guests who require them.
Q.
What items can we bring or not bring to PIR?
A.
Small purses, small diaper bags and cameras/video recorders are allowed. Strollers, car seats and backpacks are allowed, but discouraged due to space limitations. Due to security regulations, luggage is not permitted inside the drill hall. You can leave these items in your car. The taking of photographs/video is allowed at the Visitor Center and encouraged during the entire ceremony; however NO photography/video is permitted outside of these buildings. Security will confiscate your camera.
Contraband also will be confiscated and you may not be permitted entry. These items include but are not limited to: alcohol, illegal drugs, knives or weapons of any kind.
All persons, articles and vehicles are subject to security searches. Metal detectors and other security devises are in use onboard Recruit Training Command. Expect a delay at the security checkpoints due to this added security requirement.
Q.
How much liberty does my recruit get over the weekend?
A.
Recruits will have their liberty information so please check with them for detailed information. Generally, graduating Sailors will be granted daytime, off-base liberty. Recruits will need to report back to their barracks each night at a designated time. Please drop your recruit off at Recruit Training Command with enough time for them to make it back to their ship.
Q.
What exactly does “Grad & Go” mean?
A.
Your recruit will tell you if they are Grad & Go and will have their travel information to their next command. If your recruit is Grad & Go but simply moving over to Naval Station Great Lakes, please allow up to five hours for the recruit to check in to their next command before meeting you for liberty. It is best if you have a pre-arranged meeting place, and the recruit has all necessary phone numbers to contact you.
If your recruit does not mention being Grad & Go and it is not circled in their grad pack, they are NOT Grad & Go.
Q.
Can I bring my recruit’s cell phone to him/her?
A.
Recruits are not permitted to have electronic devises of any kind — including cell phones — while they are stationed at RTC. Please do not bring/buy them for your recruits use.
Q.
Can you assist me with hotel reservations?
A.
You may contact MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) at 800-905-9330 or visit www.mwrtravelplus.com for information on area hotels and attractions.
Q.
What is the closest airport?
Chicago O’Hare International is 30 miles from RTC; Chicago Midway is 46 miles; and Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International is 49 miles.
Q.
Can I get a video of my son's graduation from boot camp?
A.
The Navy Exchange Photographic Services at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes offers each graduating recruit the opportunity to purchase division and individual photographs, a division Cruise Book, which highlights the Recruits' Boot Camp experiences from Night of Arrival to Graduation Day and a videotape of the Recruit Pass-In-Review Ceremony.
Photographs and cruise books may be purchased only by the recruit prior to their graduation from boot camp; however, if your recruit did not order a videotape of PIR, the Navy Exchange Photographic Services Office will accept orders.
Please verify with your recruit that a videotape has not been ordered by them prior to placing your request.
To order a videotape of your Recruit's PIR, please provide the following information:
Recruit's Name
Division Number
Date of Pass-In-Review Ceremony
Return Address (Sorry, No P.O. Box or Overseas Addresses Please)
Daytime Phone Number
For prices and additional information, please contact the Navy Exchange Photographic Services Office at 847-578-6205 or via e-mail at jerrold_klinkosh@nexweb.org.
Q.
I was in boot camp in the early 60’s. Is it possible to receive a copy of The Keel from my time onboard Recruit Training Command?
A.
The longer the time after the publication of a yearbook, the less likely you are to be able to obtain a copy. Recruit Training Command contracts with a publisher for a certain number of copies based on the size of the recruit division and pre-sale of the yearbook. The only way to obtain a copy of a yearbook is to find someone who was in your recruit division and buy it from him/her. Please do not e-mail asking for copies of The Keel or the name of the publisher. If it has been longer than a year since your graduation, you will not be able to buy a copy of The Keel from the publisher.
TOURS
Q.
Q. How can I get a tour of RTC?
A.
A. Due to the high operational tempo of RTC we cannot support personal tours at this time.
Q.
Q. What Information will not be released if I call the Public Affairs Office?
A.
HIPAA STATUTE (Medical Records)
Protected Health Information – The Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects all “individually identifiable health information” held or transmitted by a covered entity or its business associates, in any form or media, whether electronic, paper or oral. Accordingly, Recruit Training Command (RTC) is unable to disclose any medical information about a recruit to an outside party without the recruit's written permission.
The RTC Public Affairs office is not permitted to release information on individual recruits which is protected under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. section 552a. This includes all personal information related to a recruit's training record, medical treatment, official service record, or administrative separation processing. Family members and other interested parties may have access to such information only if a recruit has signed a written waiver of his or her rights under the Privacy Act. The waiver must list the specific individuals to whom release of personal information is authorized. Any recruit may request permission from a Recruit Division Commander (RDC) to visit the Legal Department and complete a Privacy Act waiver form.
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