My PIR Comments/Thoughts from 3/20/09

[Amy_From_Home]

My thoughts on PIR:
- We flew into Midway. Very easy. Traffic was kinda crazy - but it's gonna be crazy from anywhere.

-If you plan to do anything at all that weekend – rent a car. We rented from Alamo through their website and it was only $84 for a nice sized car from Thurs – Monday. Everything is kinda spread out and we’re exploring kinda people. We only used ½ a tank of gas and it was only $19 to fill it back up.

-The area we stayed was awesome, in my opinion, and would stay there again in a heartbeat. We stayed in Gurnee/Waugkegen area (off 43). There was a Walmart, Starbucks, Denny’s McDonalds and lots more within walking distance. It’s about 15 minutes from the RTC center, which is why I suggest a car – if you’re recruit has to go back and be picked up each day – it will get mighty expensive with taxis.

-Be sure to ask your hotel if they have a PIR discount. Our room was $129 (Courtyard Marriott) but got it for $69. They were WONDERFUL there, but I would probably stay at the Holiday Inn Express (looks brand new) or the Sleep in Suites (also looks new) – they were both in the same area.

-We took a taxi ($3 each way) to PIR. The traffic was HORRIBLE and since we had 15 Divisions graduating (I believe it was 1,097 recruits (Sue?)) so there was A LOT of people trying to get in. The line to get checked in looked long, but went surprisingly fast. You do need your id.

-The hall is like a cross between a basketball court and an airplane hanger. There are only seats on three of the sides and there’s a balcony. The seats are bleachers. Believe me when I say – there was NOT an inch of spared room AT ALL.

-There are signs on the floor that show the approximate area that the Division will be. I lucked out in that my son carried his Ships flag and he was front and center to me the entire time (I sat second bleacher row).

-There really isn’t a lot to do before hand – it’s interesting to people watch, but again, I suggest that you get there early.

-Again, since he was so close to me, it was easy to find him, but I would suggest that you ask your recruit if they could tell you a spot for you to go to to meet afterwards, you don’t have a lot of time before they start shooing you out (15 minutes).

-After PIR, our recruit had 2 hours before he had to report back to move to his new quarters. He’s Special Ops and will be in GL for an additional 8 weeks before going to Panama City for Dive School. PLEASE HEAR ME when I tell you that EACH RECRUIT’s PLAN OF ACTION IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. Do NOT get your hopes up or make plans based on so-n-so’s kid. The recruits aren’t even sure themselves. Anyways, we were lucky to get back to “Ricky Heaven” fairly quickly and sat down and had Subway with him until he had to check in. We knew it would be a couple hours before he would know what was going on, so we went back to the hotel. It took about 4 hours, but then we got a call and he had liberty until Sunday night at 9!!!! Again, I can only speak for my son, but I believe that only Special Ops got all weekend liberty. I saw several new recruits out over the weekend that were in the 100’s Divisions and none of them had it, but they also ALL commented that the 800 Divisions didn’t get a lot of the liberties that they had during BC because of their training etc.

I know there is alot I'm forgetting...but I'm still on PIR hangover ... LOL

If you have any questions...ask.

[Paige (Will's mom)]

Thanks for the info!!

[Susan S Mike's Mom]

Thanks, for the info I loved the pictures, too. Whew, that's over for now on to the next. I am glad you had a good time with your son

[Amy_From_Home]

Pigglet - I think your hangover and this one are too different animals (pun intended).

The line was long - but really moved quite quickly and the guys checking us in were very friendly!

[Kathy (Sara's mom)]

Wow Amy thanks for this. Lots of valuable information so that I can be all bossy and 'know-it-all when we get on the road to PIR...LOL. No one else that is going with me will have thought to even look at a map...

So wonderful that you got your sailor all weekend! I know that isnt in the cards as she is set to leave on Sunday...*sniff*...Easter....but I just cannot wait to hug her (I may have to knock both b/f and dad out of the way ...or just be the one who knows where to meet her! There have to be SOME advantages to being the one who plans ahead!)

[Amy_From_Home]

I am VERY anti-GPS (who wants a bossy woman telling them what to do, besides men, of course) but my husband had it on his phone and we used it to get around and it was VERY helpful (except for we got stuck on lower Wacker when we were suppose to be on upper Wacker...but we were all giggling from the stupid street name that we didn't even know the difference).

[Kathy (Sara's mom)]

Wacker street...lol...lower Wacker...even better!, but upper Wacker? HA!! I think I will need to find that just to give Sara a hoot, and drive the males crazy!!

[Robin]

Amy, When you took a taxi, did it drop you off at the main gate or did it have to sit in line with everyone else to drop you off and where did it let you off at.

[Amy_From_Home]

It dropped us off at the main gate, but everyone has to sit in the traffic line (there's not a lane just for Taxis/Shuttles - hey Ms. Piggie - could you get to work on that?) ;) . No biggie....the walk wasn't that big of a deal...but there is a moderate amount of walking involved...but no more than you would at a mall.

[Elena Paulino]

Hi Amy, thanks for the great info. Question: how did you get back from the base to your hotel? We're debating whether taking our rental car or just taking a shuttle from the hotel. How far was the public parking (if people drove in) from the Hall?

[Amy_From_Home]

You can park outside the gate (there's a Amory Bank across the street and there looked like overflow parking between that and the rr tracks) but if you take a shuttle or taxi there - there will be TONS lined back up at the main gate to take you back. It's about $3 per person per trip.

[justme_2009]

Thank you for your report .
I learned months ago , Never
MAKE big plans , because the
military , unpredictable .
You've to go with the "flow".
Every recuit is different .
My son is graduating next Friday 4/3
and I'll be at the gate 6:00 am

[Robin Cook]

My step-son is graduating on 4/24, so please let me know how your experience was!!! Where are you staying and are you renting a car?? And what the weather is like!! Have a GREAT time, look forward to hearing how it went! Robin