Navy Boot Camp Graduation

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. and 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:

11025 W Downey Rd,

North Chicago, IL 60064

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

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.