What did you do Friday after PIR?

[Irene.Kevin'sMom]

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Delete Discussion My son goes to PIR next Friday, June 27. We have plans to go to Six Flags with him (his idea) on Saturday, but it just hit me that we'll have nearly all day on Friday after PIR to spend with him as well. I know that he'll have to go back to Base if he has watch but I'm just curious to find out some suggestions about what we could do on Friday.

So if you've already gone to PIR tell me what you did. If you're planning to go to PIR tell me what you have planned. Thanks!

Irene

[Shelly Thompson]

We got tickets to the Cubs & White Socks game. It was lots of fun and lots of people shook my sons hand and thanked him for his serving his country. Some really nice cubs fans took a great picture of all of us together. We didn't hit six Flags though. A lot of familys did though. He didn't want to get his dress whites dirty. Ha! Ha! My son who hardly never cleaned his room didn't want to get his uniform dirty. We did had a couple of real good dinners and just lots of time walking and talking down at Navy Pier. We rode an extreme boat ride there. That was worth it. Plan for long commutes to Chicago. 2 hours each way. Lots of road construction. We stayed at the Ramada in Waukegan. (close to base). Basically our son didn't care what we did, he just wanted to be with us. Oh the train is good to ride to Chicago I hear. 20 minutes I was told. Have fun!

[KYmom]

He may just want to hang out at the motel and relax and just enjoy being with you all.
That's all my sailor wanted to do on that day, oh and to go out and eat before returning to the base that evening. Just do whatever he wants.

[biscuit lady]

I agree with KYmom - just hanging out and having a good meal - that's what our sailor wanted to do after graduation (PIR 5/2) !!! That's why we got a suite at the residence inn in waukegan - better for the "hanging out" part than just sitting around on beds.

[Sonia]

We went to eat at a nice place and then back to the room just to chill out and chat on Friday he just talked and talked about all he had done....then on Sat we went to Chicago on the Train and to the Navy Pier....that was nice...and went to the Sear's Tower...it was worth the trip...........

[Kelly]

We had to wait until 4:00 on Friday to get him back from Grad and Go on Friday after Graduation. We had 1 hour after Graduation, then he had to report for his move. I didn't know that he was Grad and go because he was staying in GL for A school. But that was ok. He got his stuff moved into his new room and then called us to pick him up. We went to dinner, talked and talked and talked. Went back to the hotel and he surfed the web checked his email for the first time in 8 weeks. He took his first shower alone in 8 weeks too. He didn't really want to do much at all, just hang out and talk to us. He said it felt weird to have all this freedom at once. He really missed his buddies and when we would see them on the street he would introduce us and talk with them for a while. It was absolutely wonderful. He got to spend the entire weekend with us, even spent the night with us on Friday and Saturday. There is no drinking allowed and they have to stay in their uniforms. They have to earn the right to wear street clothes.

Saturday we went downtown on the train (about 1 hour from Great Lakes station) Very nice to go on the train. It only costs 5.00 for the entire weekend. Keep those train tickets. We did the sears tower, and they will want to take a photo copy of his id. Our son was very uncomfortable about that so if you don't want it photocopied then just pay for the trip up. It's worth it on a clear day. We never made it to the Navy Pier since Grandma and Grandpa were with us too. We ate at a good Pizza Place, and our son freaked out when he got a spot on the uniform about the size of a pin head! Big change for him. He got 5.0 on all his inspections and I told him that at home he would not have gotten a .50. It's totally amazing the transformation they make. Of course I think a lot of it has to do with the Officers in charge. Kyle really admired his 3 officers. Keep in mind that it's the small things that they will want to do. Also keep in mind that if they have watch and need to be back at a certain time, they will need to be in that location by that time. Not just signed in but in the reporting location. Give them plenty of time to get there. 6 boys didn't make it back from Chicago on time. They were 11 minutes late and called in because the train ran late. They got their liberty pulled and had to do the next days watch. You don't want that to happen to you. I know this is long but I craved as much information as I could get the week before graduation. Hope this helps you out.

Oh and those tickets for Cubs and White Socks must have been awsome! They talked about it on the news while we were there. Plus the train was packed with people going to and from the game. Chicago was truly a baseball town that weekend. I wish I would have thought about that. Good tip.

[gem]

thanks for the very helpful info! im glad u made it long :) my sailor's pir is coming in a few weeks n he's staying in great lakes so i was wondering how theire weekend would go since we were all coming from NY. thanks a lot!

[AJ--<-@Grace(DIV57-SHIP11)]

What is grad and go.im going to see my wife on the 9th of jan. what well she be able to do. can she stay at the hotel or does she have to go back every day.

[Beth B. Smith]

We drove north along the shore and then to Lake Geneva just to hang out. On Saturday we went into the city on the train. Collin did not want to get his uniform dirty either.....who is this guy?

[Storymom]

Let him take a nap and a shower by himself!! That is always a real treat after bootcamp. Seriously, we bought our son a massage at one of the nearby malls, in one of the salons. He loved it for his aching muscles and feet! He also wanted to eat in restaurants, call and email all his friends and family. He wanted to hear MUSIC, so we brought his ipod and his cell phone. He loved the little luxuries. gum and candy were also big on his list. Be well and bless our sailors!

[Angie Anderson]

Hi I know you wrote this in July but my son is graduating next week on the 9th Jan. Can you give me info on the train that you took into the city when you were there at Great Lakes. Sound like a good idea.
Thanks:)

[annmarie collins]

by the time the graduaion was over and xave was done doing what he needed to do ( pick up his pcitures and get his liberty papers in line) it was about 11:30. We had reservations at wild fire for lunch.... highly recommended!!!! super delicious... they also have an option (with 6 or more people) to order family style and they keep the good food coming. We had our son and his friend( who's family didn't make the trip) . they were in heaven after so many weeks of fat free dressing and no seasoning on their food.

After lunch we just went back to our hotel. we stayed at the holmwood suites thinking we would have more room to just chill out. It worked out so great. If you think about it, bring tide bleach pens... they are very particular about the uniforms... ( xave's sister's could NOT get over it) the sailors asked for bibs at the restaurant to protect those handsome whites.

Also, if you have time, bring some extra white boxers. They can't take things with them from the base, but they do really really enjoy a nice long (xave was in our shower for almost an hour) shower. with real soap.

also bring all the electronics they own.... we even brought our Wii for the hotel.. he LOVED that.

six flags just stressed xave out. He wasn't interested in getting his white messed up. the navy pier ws great! they got free boat rides and lots of girls asking to have their picture taken with them. lots and lots of people shaking their hands, thanking them, trying to buy them a beer ( can't drink on liberty)
our son and his friends and sister got into a huge weekend long concert for free. we took our younger kids to the aquarium they just wanted to hang out.

also, going to the movies.... they wanted to get caught up on all the new movies of the summer.

I wouldn't plan too much. They also might want to shop. buy some CD's which will be mailed this week to a school. some magazines, books. etc. mostly just be free

definately leave plenty of time to get them back to the base. THey CANNOT be late and they can't run in their whites... so leave ALOT of time. We would aim to get them back 1 hour before they were do. that seemed to work out.

also, xave lost his liberty pass on friday. a small sheet they they need to have when they check back in. for the record, it was okay.... he didn't loose liberty or get punished. thankfully.

[NavyMom(Robin)]

Nick didn't want to go to sixflags either....The dress whites are not to be soiled! It's hard to plan alot in Chicago because you have to factor in several hours for commuting each way.....Navy Pier for sure.....beautiful! Nick wanted to text on the phone and play his little sisters DS....also listen to music on the Ipod.....also was glad to have some cologne....said he hadn't got to smell good in months! Never thought about that.....