Navy recruit graduation is held weekly at Great Lakes, IL. If your travel plans include attending a graduation follow these helpful tips.

There is a graduation every Friday at Great Lakes, IL of anywhere from 500 to 1700 Navy recruits. Based upon how many recruits are in the graduation class the rules for family members wishing to enter the base for graduation will vary somewhat.

The first package sent home by recruits to their families contains all personal items, such as clothing and shoes, which was in their possession when arriving at Great Lakes. The second package, which will arrive shortly thereafter, will be instructions for graduation. Great Lakes is an efficient operation - as the recruits are preparing to settle in for their 8 weeks at boot camp they are also getting ready to ship out.

When the graduation package is received take special note of the green paper car pass. This pass will allow one vehicle on base for the graduation ceremony. At this time the recruits are also asked to select four family or friend graduation attendees.

Does this mean that only one car and four persons are able to enter Great Lakes for graduation? Maybe and maybe not. Depending on the number of recruits in the graduating class, there is some wiggle room. Recruits will know fairly soon in the boot camp process approximately how many recruits will be in their graduation class. The fewer recruits in the graduating class, the more likely it is that additional family members will be allowed on base for graduation.

Should a son or daughter be graduating from Great Lakes, follow these helpful tips to augment the information given in the official graduation package.

Directions to Great Lakes from O’Hare International Airport:

Run a map for exact directions. Some helpful pointers - The first direction will be to get on I-190E. Reaching this exit is normally a left hand turn out of most rental car stations at O’Hare with the exit to I-190E accessible from the right hand traffic lane. Verify the left hand turn information at the rental car desk when picking up the car.

The merge onto I-294 can be easy to miss as this section of I-190 is under construction. Keep in the right hand lane of I-190 and alert so as to not miss the exit. I-294 becomes I-94W. The important thing to remember about I-94 that west and north are the same as are east and south.

Have one dollar ready for the toll. The tollbooth to Great Lakes is attended. The tollbooth for the return trip to the airport is not, so have coinage ready. The return toll is 85 cents.

Identification:

In addition to the parking pass, everyone entering Great Lakes needs ID. Children not old enough to have a driver’s license or have not acquired a passport can use a birth certificate.

Parking:

Family and friends will be directed to general parking at the Chapel lot, which is about 3 city blocks from the site of the graduation. Another parking lot, about 1 city block away is available for those with handicap stickers or hangers.

Shuttles to Great Lakes:

Most hotels in the area also have shuttle service to the graduation. The shuttle terminates at the visitor center located at the front gate. It is approximately a ½ mile walk to the site of the graduation from the visitor’s center.

Amenities:

Seating in the graduation hall is bleacher style. Arrive early to secure one of the coveting spots at the top of the bleacher that is backed by a wall to sit against. The bleachers are not so high that family members will not have a clear view of their graduating recruit.

There is a designated seating area for those in wheelchairs. Bathroom facilities are plentiful and clean.

Finale:

The graduation ceremony lasts about 1-½ hours after which recruits are able to visit with their family in the graduation hall for about 30 minutes. Depending on the recruit, liberty is then called and many recruits have liberty until 9:45pm the following Sunday evening. This does vary based upon each recruit’s chosen area of training.

References:

US Naval Command Graduation Instruction Package

Marriott Resident's Inn, Gurnee, IL rack card

Interviews with members of the 2008 graduating class

State of Illinois Tollway Authority

Mapquest.com