Your Candidate’s Graduation Date: ________________________
**The possibility exists your Candidate may experience a disruption in training due to an academic or physical test
failure, injury/illness. Should this occur, your Candidate will have the opportunity to call 1 person to advise.**
NO MAIL: Due to the incredibly short time your candidate is on base, your candidate will not be able to contact you
regularly and will NOT be able to receive mail or packages.
1 PHONE CALL: Candidates at NSI are NOT allowed incoming phone calls. During NSI, Candidates will normally be
allowed to make 1 brief phone call made when they arrive to let you know they are safe and sound. If you miss this phone
call, your Candidate should leave a message saying as much.
EMERGENCY CONTACT: In case of an immediate family member emergency, please contact the American Red
Cross at 877-272-7337. The Red Cross relays urgent emergency messages containing accurate and verified details and
instructions to Recruit Training Command staff, who will relay the message to your Sailor. In the message body, state
your service member is a Midshipman Candidate.
NO VISITORS: Visitors are NOT ALLOWED at all during NSI. This is a restricted base with access limited only to
those who work on the installation. Active duty, retired, and military veterans are NOT allowed to drive onboard boot
camp. NO ONE presenting military ID, regardless of service status or rank, will be permitted access.
ATTENDING THE NSI GRADUATION CEREMONY
ONLY FULLY IMMUNIZED GUESTS WILL BE ALLOWED ON BOARD FOR
GRADUATION (full vaccine plus 14 days past the final vaccination for age 12 and up)
NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED FOR ANY REASON
STEP 1: Fill out the enclosed security access form and send it with your Candidate to be turned in at arrival.
THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES OR ADDITIONS AFTER YOUR CANDIDATE DEPARTS HOME.
GUEST SECURITY ACCESS FORM: If you will attend the graduation ceremony, please fill out the enclosed security
access form for a TOTAL maximum of 4 guests per graduate and send with your candidate, according to the instructions
on the form. The number of guests allowed is based on safety considerations and the fire code for the drill hall, where the
indoor ceremony takes place. Children 2 years and younger do NOT count toward the maximum number of guests and do
not need to be listed. ALL GUESTS 3 AND OLDER MUST BE LISTED ON THE ACCESS LIST, INCLUDING
MILITARY GUESTS (ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, RETIRED, VETERAN).
**NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE AUTHORIZED for additional guests.**
STEP 2: Plan your travel. It is STRONGLY recommended you consider purchasing exchangeable/refundable
airline tickets/hotel accommodations in case your candidate does not graduate as expected. The U.S. Navy does
NOT provide lodging and does NOT provide any transportation (including shuttles).
STEP 3: Pick up your graduation ceremony tickets at the off-base Recruit Family Welcome Center.
Each guest must present a photo ID and CDC vaccination card showing a full immunization plus at least 14 days
on the day of graduation (every guest age 12 and older must be at least 14 days past full and final vaccination).
CEREMONY TICKETS: All approved persons (including minors) attending the graduation ceremony MUST personally
pick-up his or her ticket at the OFF-BASE Recruit Family Welcome Center the day before or the morning of your Sailor’s
graduation. Tickets are free of charge, but you must have vaccination card and 1 of the following forms of valid photo ID:
For adults: driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or passport
For minors: student ID, driver’s permit, Social Security card, or birth certificate
Once you receive your ceremony ticket, do NOT lose it: it is the only ticket you will receive. Ceremony tickets cannot be
transferred to another guest and are the only means to drive on base for the ceremony. NOTE: Everyone in your vehicle
must possess a ceremony ticket or your vehicle will not be allowed on board the boot camp.
OFF- BASE GRADUATION CEREMONY TICKET PICKUP ADDRESS/GPS: Recruit Family Welcome Center at
Navy Exchange (NEX) Burkey Mall, 2650 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60088 (generic terms such as NEX,
Recruit Training Command or Naval Station Great Lakes may take you to the wrong location).
GRADUATION CEREMONY TICKET PICKUP HOURS:
1:00 pm - 7:30 pm the day before graduation OR
6:30 am - 8:00 am the morning of graduation
STEP 4: Attending the graduation ceremony
**Uniform for NSI graduation is Summer White for E7 and above, Service Dress for E6 and below, or service equivalent**
ARRIVING: Gates open to the public on graduation day at 6:30 am. Once on base, it will take some time to pass through
security at the gate and to conduct 100% bag checks before entering the ceremony, so please plan accordingly and allow
time for these security checks. Doors into the ceremony will be locked promptly at 8:45 am when the graduation
ceremony starts and no guests may enter the ceremony after that. The ceremony concludes at approximately 10:00 am.
WALKING ON BASE: Pedestrians may walk onto the base using the Gate 8 turnstile across from the Metra train station.
You may have to wait in line outside at the gate to check-in and once on base, it is approximately ½ mile from the gate to
the entrance of RTC’s Visitor Center (USS YORKTOWN). Please consider these factors during inclement weather.
DRIVING ON BASE: Every person in the vehicle must present a ceremony ticket and photo ID in order to drive onto
the basic training base. Driver must present a driver’s license and may also be asked to present vehicle registration and
proof of insurance or rental car agreement. Shuttles, UBER, other share rides and taxis are NOT allowed on base AT
ALL and must drop off passengers at the parking lot next to the Gate 8 pedestrian turnstile. Once on base, vehicles are
directed to the parking structure next to RTC’s Visitor Center (USS YORKTOWN). Please obey these rules:
No cell phone usage while driving on base!
Seat belts are required for everyone in the vehicle at all times
Motorcycle drivers/riders MUST have proper protective clothing/equipment such helmet, long pants, long-
sleeved shirt, and over the ankle hard-soled boots.
New Sailors are prohibited from operating motor vehicles, including motorcycles, and are NOT allowed to be a
passenger on a motorcycle.
MULTIPLE SEARCHES POSSIBLE: All graduation attendees are required to enter through Recruit Training
Command’s Visitor Center, for security screening, prior to entering the ceremonial drill hall. Every person, bag, and
vehicle on the base is subject to search. Metal detectors and other security devices are in use onboard RTC.
ITEMS PERMITTED INTO GRADUATION CEREMONY: Small bag/personal item (purse, satchel, etc…),
small diaper bag, small camera bag, and personal wheelchair or walker. Strollers and car seats are allowed, but
cannot be in the bleachers and so must be left in a side room upon entering the ceremony due to space limitations.
ITEMS NOT PERMITTED INTO GRADUATION CEREMONY:
o NO large bags, backpacks, luggage, posters, signs/banners, gift bags of any size, flowers or leis.
o NO alcohol, illegal drugs, knives or weapons. These items will be confiscated by security and any person
found with these items will NOT be permitted to enter the base or the ceremony.
o NO WEAPONS! Weapons’ possession on federal installations is highly regulated and those in
violation are subject to arrest and prosecution.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAFETY ACT: If you are law enforcement and REQUIRED to carry a weapon
as a condition of your service; please contact Great Lakes Police Department, Deputy Chief Knapp at (847) 688-5555 or
james.b.knapp@navy.mil well in advance of your visit to meet requirements for doing so on a military installation.
STEP 5: Depart. Candidates are expected to depart RTC immediately after release by Chain Of Command.
Families or Candidates are not authorized to drive around the base or utilize any other facility at RTC.
Families MAY return to the Welcome Center to purchase Navy apparel and souvenirs.
