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Welcome Family & Friends

Congratulations on your family member joining the United States Navy, the strongest Navy in the world. Looking ahead, your commitment, sacrifice and support of your Sailor is greatly valued. Traveling to a recruit graduation ceremony will allow you to witness hundreds of recruits begin their careers as Sailors. The Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) Department at Naval Station Great Lakes designed this travel guide to assist you with your graduation arrangements.

RTC Graduation Hotel Accommodations

For the best availability and current rates, please call the hotels directly to make your reservation and reference this web page or the promotional code listed. If you should have any additional questions after looking over this travel guide, contact MWR at 847-688-3593.

  

Hotel Amenities Chart and Map

Featured hotel highlights and area map with information on amenities and proximity to graduation ceremony.


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 Hotel Accomodations - Quick Listings

 

Baymont Inn & Suites - Gurnee
5430 Grand Avenue | Gurnee, IL 60031
For Reservations: 847-782-0890

 

Super 8 - Gurnee
5220 Grand Avenue | Gurnee, IL 60031
For Reservations: 847-249-7777

 

LaQuinta Inn & Suites - Gurnee
5688 Northridge Dr | Gurnee, IL 60031
Navy Graduation Rates: 847-662-7600

 

Courtyard by Marriott - Waukegan
3800 Northpoint Blvd | Waukegan, IL 60085
Graduation Code G42: 847-689-8000

Sonesta Simply Suites - Waukegan
1151 S. Waukegan Rd. | Waukegan, IL 60085
For Reservations: 847-578-5250


Americas Best Value Inn - Waukegan
411 S. Green Bay Rd. | Waukegan, IL 60085
For Reservations: 847-244-6100


Wingate by Wyndham - Gurnee
6090 Gurnee Mills Cir. E | Gurnee, IL 60031 
For Reservations: 847- 855-8868

Sonesta ES Suites - Waukegan
1440 S. White Oak Dr. | Waukegan, IL 60085
For Reservations: 847-689-9240


Springhill Suites by Marriott - Waukegan
4101 Fountain Sq Pl. | Waukegan, IL 60085
Navy Graduation Rates: 847-688-9800

 

 

Comfort Inn - Gurnee Near Six Flags
6080 Gurnee Mills Cir E. | Gurnee, IL 60031
Navy Graduation Rates: 847-855-8866


Illinoise Beach Hotel - Zion
100 Lakefront Drive | Zion, IL 60099
Navy Graduation Rates: 224-259-2600

Hampton Inn & Suites - Waukegan
438 Lakehurst Road | Waukegan, IL 60085
 For Reservations: 847-473-6600


Red Roof Plus - Northbrook/Deerfield
340 S. Waukegan Rd. | Deerfield, IL 60015
For Reservations: 847-205-1755

 

 

 


Travel, Transportation Resources & More

    

 

 

 

 

 

 


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ON BASE & LOCAL AMENITIES

Facilities and services available for you and your recruit at Naval Station Great Lakes

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RTC Graduation Information

The recruit graduation ceremony is a ticketed event. Tickets will be issued to those on the authorized access list. You must come to the Recruit Family Welcome Center (Navy Exchange, 2630 Green Bay Rd., Great Lakes, IL 60088) to pick up your tickets before attending graduation. The Recruit Family Welcome Center is open Thursday 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Information will be provided with your tickets on entry to the base and Graduation ceremony.

Graduation News & Live Streaming

What to expect before and after graduation. (pdf)

Follow RTC social media accounts for updates and check https://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/ for the most up-to-date information. For specific questions and inquiries, contact the RTC Public Affairs Office. Live streaming of our graduations begins at 9 a.m. CST every Friday. Videos will also be available for viewing afterwards as well on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand/ and our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RTCPublicAffairs/community.


Need Mobile Support? MyNavy has an app for that!
Here's a list of Great Apps for New Recruits!
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One way we do that is by providing apps that give you the resources you need, anytime and anywhere, on your mobile device.
 

 

Recruit Family Welcome Center

You must stop at the Recruit Family Welcome Center to pick up your tickets BEFORE attending graduation.

GPS Address: Navy Exchange (NEX) Burkey Mall 2650 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60088

Welcome Center Hours: Thursday - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday - 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 
Holidays may adjust hours, please refer to bootcamp.navy.mil website for specific updates.  

MWR Merchandise Kiosk

Once you arrive in the Drill Hall on graduation morning, you’ll find a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) booth on both ends of the Drill Hall. Commemorative coins, apparel and other souvenirs are available for purchase, along with refreshments. Take home a wonderful keepsake in memory of your graduation at the Navy’s only boot camp! Cash and credit are accepted for purchases. No personal checks. The merchandise kiosk is open Friday from 6:45 to 8:30 a.m.

 

 

 

Visit Us After Graduation


MWR Recreation Center 
RTC (After Graduation) Lounge 
Bldg. 1326, North End | 847-688-3645 
After the graduation ceremony is over, all Sailors and family members are welcome to visit the MWR Recreation Center inside the north end of Bldg. 1326. It is just two blocks walking distance from the Drill Hall and has snacks, beverages and is a comfortable place to gather. Additionally, the MWR Recreation Center has a computer lab, FREE WI-FI, and the souvenir division apparel special orders

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Recruit Division Apparel

Support your recruit while they complete their mission at boot camp.

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Recruit Care Packages

Care packages offer a perfect gift of surprises to your recruit.

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Graduation Travel Arrangements Made Easy!

The recruit graduation ceremony, also known as Pass-In-Review, is a formal military ceremony which honors your recruit’s hard work and dedication to a new way of life, and ties together the future of the Navy with our long-held Naval traditions and customs. As you make your travel arrangements to your Sailor's Pass-In-Review, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department at the Naval Station Great Lakes hopes that this travel website has made it easy! MWR encourages you to read through this website carefully and use the information provided to book accommodations and find helpful travel resources for a fulfilling travel experience. For best availability and current rates, please call the hotels directly, or go to their provided URL link, to make your reservation and reference this travel website or the promotional code listed. For RTC Graduation information, go to www.bootcamp.navy.mil. Safe Travels!

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