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**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

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RTC Graduation

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**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

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Hi Folks.  We were at our first PIR on January 8, 2016 and would like to share our experiences in hopes it will help out new Navy families.

We flew into O'hare on Thursday night.  The airport is big, but not too intimidating.  The person at the information desk pointed us in the right direction, and we found ourselves on a bus heading to the car rental area.  The folks at Alamo were very friendly and helpful, and we were on our way in no time at all.  Note: we didn't have any checked bags, so from landing to driving out of the parking lot took a total of about 30 to 45 minutes.  Our arrival was at 6:30pm on a Thursday, and the airport was not too busy.

Our drive was to Waukegan, and was an easy drive.  At about 7:00pm there was very little traffic, and the drive took around 45 minutes.  The toll was $1.90.  We stayed at the Courtyard Mariott in Waukegan, which was very nice and very clean.  Desk staff was friendly and full of tips and suggestions.  While checking in we put our name on the shuttle list for the ride to the PIR.  That was the best thing we did, more on that later.

For dinner that night we ate and Anastasia's, which is next door to the Courtyard.  Great food and great service.  Four of us ate, with a drink or two, for $55.

The next day we had a quick breakfast in the lobby, and were on the shuttle at about 6:30.  Tip..go on the early shuttles for the best seats at PIR.  When we saw the line of cars waiting to get in the gate, and then the shuttle van drove around all of those cars to bring us directly to the gate, we knew we made the right choice.  Total cost for the van ride is $3.00 per person each way...money well spent.  The van can hold six passengers, so there is room for your entire family, and if one van is full, there will be another one soon.

After getting through security (tip, have license ready), it's a little walk to the ceremony hall.  Plan accordingly if the weather is bad, and don't put your ID away, you'll need it again.  We were sitting down by 7:15.  When you walk in the hall, look for your recruits division sign so you'll be sitting in the right place, get your seats, and settle in.  Tip, go to the bathroom before you sit.  There were 12 divisions graduating that day, so people who arrived later had difficulties finding seats near their recruits division.

The PIR is great, and I won't give away any of their surprises, but relax...you will really enjoy this ceremony.  And following the PIR....LIBERTY!!!  After 8 weeks, you can finally hug your Navy Sailor.

Our son had to check into A school, so we left him there and went back to the Courtyard, via the same Black and Red van.  The driver was sitting near the gate when we came out.  Another friendly man, and not a scary driver either.

Lunch was at Sweet Tomatoes, all soup and salad.  Fresh salad fixings, and all you can eat.

We picked up our son at about 3:00 pm and got caught up on the last 8 weeks.  Afterwards we went to dinner at a Sushi place...not very good, and very over priced.  Oh well, the only downside to the weekend.

The sailors need to be back on base at night, so we dropped him off at about 7:00 pm with plans for breakfast the next day.  Also, they can now have cell phones on base, so you can bring your sailors phone if you want to.

Saturday...we drove to Wisconsin and had breakfast at Franks Place in Kenosha.  It is not very far from the base (about 30 minutes), and it is definitely worth the trip.  WOW....what a breakfast.  Try the garbage plates, and a bloody mary.  Incredible. Guy Fieri filmed a show for diners, drive ins, and dives there.

On the way back to the Courtyard we found a Jelly Belly plant.  Couldn't tell you exactly where, but I'm sure Google could help.

Later that day we had lunch at Portillo's for Chicago style hot dogs.  REAL cool place, and the food sure was good.

Dinner brought us back to Anastasia's.  They have an incredible deep dish pizza.  Our left over food went back to the base.  We had to have our son back on base by 10:00pm, and you can drive them directly to their ship.  Make sure you all have your ID's handy, and also the rental slip for the car.

Our return trip was incredibly easy.  It snowed Saturday night, so I figured I'd get an early start.  Traffic was light and the roads were clear.  We pulled up at Alamo, there were two employees who met us at the car, and by the time the four of us were out of the car they already had our bags on the shuttle bus for us.  The bus ride to the terminal was about 15 minutes, and TSA check in was about 30 minutes.  Total time from hotel to gate was about 1 hour and 20 minutes, but I'd suggest you plan to get there early in case your travelling at a more busy time.

NOTE: Thank you Navyformoms for all of your information.  After reading the posts by others, we were very prepared for the PIR, making our trip much more relaxing and stress free.

And...welcome to the Navy family!

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My son graduates 3/10. So very excited !!!! I'm getting mixed info about weather or not we can give our son his phone after Pir or do we have to wait until her gets to the airport .

Brave14mom, he is able to use his cell phone while on Liberty, but must give it back to you when he returns to the RTC at the end of Liberty. You will be able to give it to him at the airport. See PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) to help you know how to plan your weekend.

Check your My Page.

I appreciate hearing of your experience,as we are not seasoned travelers. I am a bit nervous about driving from o'Hare to our hotel. Just shy of Waukegan.

WOW!!  This is really helpful.  My son leaves for bootcamp Aug. 8, so I have been trying to figure out how all this stuff works and what the future holds.  Thanks for this!!

Thank you kindly for sharing your experience and also your recommendations! My SR will be graduating

soon and it's so helpful to know what to anticipate. I am so anxious to see her and plan to check out

one of your recommended spots as well.

Greetings all. Our Sailor graduated yesterday. We rented a car from O`hare and drove to the Navy Lodge the Wednesday evening prior to pass and review. Traffic wasn't bad at 7:00 pm. We drove the toll road and the toll going north was $1.80. The cash lane had people in the booths so coins were not needed, dollars were fine. We do recommend the meet and greet by Sarge. The evening prior. We got in the traffic line at 6:00 Friday morning. There were 50 cars ahead of us. The gate opened at 6:30 and we were parked in the covered parking by 6:50. The walk from the covered parking is mostly covered. It was raining lightly and we never felt a drop after we parked. After the ceremony it took us maybe 5 minutes to get off base once we got in our car. After we had entered the base we noticed gate 6 was opened to help with traffic. Gate 8 appears to be used primarily for pass and review and is the gate closest to the train tracks. Gate 6 is the gate Sailors departing Great Lakes use when returning Friday evening. Our Sailor doesn't ship till tomorrow so I am typing this while she is sleeping beside me. We rode the Metra Train from gate 8 to downtown Chicago today. We walked two blocks and rode a water taxi to the Navy Pier and had Chic a go style pizza on the pier. I am retired enforcement from California and can say I at no time the entire 4 days here have felt unsafe. We had concerns prior but can pass along to all of you. North of Chicago is beautiful and clean. Wal-Mart's, not so clean, but plenty safe enough. Don't know if I would risk the train on Friday. Takes about 1 hour each way. Traffic to get Sailors back on base does begin to back up. Friday evening we got to gate 6 90 minutes early. There were 20 cars in front of us and the line stalled out and stopped moving for about 5 minutes. Sailors began getting out of vehicles and walking throughout the gate. 100`s of Sailors were walking through the gate and no staff or law enforcement had any heartburn with it. YMMV it's just what we observed. We knew we were over an hour early so stayed in line and got in the base 3 minutes after the line started moving again. Do have the paper pass in the vehicle and LEAVE it in the glove box when not on base. Also, no Drivers license or I'D no entry. Well, Sailor just woke up so.......bye

I haven't been to Great Lakes since my husband retired from the Navy 10 years ago. I know there has been some re-doing of RTC. Is the Metra station still within walking distance? We figured this would be the easiest way to get to PIR.

Our son left last Thursday. Miss him bunches as he is the "baby"!!!!

CathyDB, yes, the Metra station is still right across the street.

I left info for you on your My Page.

Thank u for this. It has made the planning 4 my sons 7/28 PIR so much easier! :-D

your details are a blessing! Thank you for sharing..will  make my journey in 20 days so much easier!!!

Nervous recruit mom from So Cal

Thank you for your sharing it is really useful to me
Can other people not on list watch the ceremony in the chapel? Can they even get on base?

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