This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
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Choose your Username. For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either). Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username. While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!
Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!
Join groups! Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself! Start making friends that can last a lifetime.
Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak
All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018.
Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)
Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC
...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.
OPSEC - Navy Operations Security
Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind. In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships." OPSEC is everyone's responsibility.
DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.
DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."
Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:
Events
**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:
RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021
Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.
Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.
Format Downloads:
- Graduation Info
- PDF – 2.7 MB
- PNG – 2.3 MB
- JPG – 3.4 MB
- Printable PDF – 2.0 MB
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PIR DEBRIEFING
INTRODUCTION: A place for parents and others who have attended PIR and graduation weekend to share comments, suggestions and ideas that will hopefully make it easier and more enjoyable for other familes who are preparing for their own PIR events.
WHAT TO DO: This is an 'interactive' forum, with each person encouraged to start new topics (by posting your comments in the 'blank' at the top of each page) -and- respond to individual posts (by clicking 'reply' on that particular post).
ALSO: Over time, I will be organizing some of the posts herein as a sort of 'guide' which will be static -- that is, there will be no new posts to that discussion... thus it will not actually be a 'discussion' but more of a factual and flowing narrative that takes the reader, moment by moment, through happy hours of PIR, covering the basics with good recommendations about what to do, what not to do, and how to do (or avoid) doing it.
To get started on this process, it would be very useful to hear from you regarding which posts and/or particular information do you think should be included? Sincerely, I look forward to hearing from you and transcribing our collective wisdom for those who will attend PIR soon.
Views: 27066
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ARMNAVY Mom on
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I would love to know if anyone has information about PIR?
Our big confusion is if SR will have leave for more than one day? He will be going to AA school in Conneccticut.
Any suggestions for taking children? Our SR has a 5 year old and 1 year old.
We graduate 7/20/2012
Thanks for any information.
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Thank you for your complete reply. I had read they only get the day but was hoping it was longer. You are very sweet to take the time to answer.
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Permalink Reply by JMTMom on
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Hello everyone! My son just left for RTC on August 29th. I'm still waiting on "the letter" in order to learn of his ship/division and grad date. But nevertheless, I like to start preparing ahead of time for travel to PIR. I am estimating that his PIR will be somewhere around late October or early November. His rate is EM (electrician's mate), so I believe he will be attending A school at Great Lakes. Does that mean he will have liberty the entire weekend after graduation? Or does that make him a Grad and Go, and we would only have Friday evening with him?
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Permalink Reply by MIdgette Ship 2 DIV 951 on
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My daughter only left on 9-4, but am trying to get a head start on my planing for PIR. Which airport is best to fly into and any hotel suggestions are appreciated. I am looking at the Navy Lodge. Has anyone stayed there before?
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Permalink Reply by Denise (USS Paul Hamilton) on
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My son's PIR is 11/9/12 and he will be attending A school in Great Lakes, Veteran's Day is Sunday and it is observed on Monday, will he have liberty on Monday also?
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Permalink Reply by lemonelephant on
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Yes, it is very possible that he will also have Liberty on the 12th since it is listed as a Federal holiday. Ask on TSC's fB page (clickable link) to be certain and then post for others in that PIR group, but you could plan to leave late on Monday just in case.
Join the group, PIR 11/09/3012 TG 52 - 12 Divisions (363–372, 823 & 952), to connect with others with loved ones training with your SR. Know that Divisions 365 and 366 are brother divisions and train together and will have Battle Stations-21 together, so look for others with loved ones in either division. There is a discussion within that group for the two divisions.
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I just want to say Thank You to everyone for all your advice and support. Our son graduated PIR last Friday 9-28-12 and I still feel overwhelmed by the whole experience. The information I obtained on this sight added to the experience so I thought I'd add mine now that I am a "veteran" mom of bootcamp. We had 4 days there so thought we would be able do some sightseeing in Chicago. NOT! We missed the Meet and Greet since we spent most of Thur. evening picking up family from the airport but fortunately stayed at a hotel close to the airport but 30 minutes from Great Lakes.. I took everyone's advice about arriving early for PIR but by 6:50 there was a 2 mile line of cars at the front entrance. We passed the main gate and went to Visitor's Center to turn around as advised, but you can actually turn around earlier and go back to the main gate but traveling in the opposite direction. By turning left into the main gate, you have a green arrow and enter the gate with maybe 5 cars in front of you. You only need one form of identification for each person but also contract from rental agency which we almost didn't get or registration/insurance if its your personal car. After parking, you have another long line to wait in which is partially outside and pretty cold at that hour. Once inside, though, it heats up real quick especially during the ceremony, we were sweating with our jackets and sweaters on! If you are lucky enough to have a member of the family who is in the military , they need to check in at the door on the left or if the are not on the list. My son is active army but at dental school so not in uniform. As an officer, he was able to get all of us and we walked in past all the lines of people and got great seats altogether! The waiting went fast with so much anticipation and excitement. There were a few small children around us and it was tough for the parents to keep them happy and quiet and some had to leave during the ceremony as they became disruptive. The ceremony itself with all the formality and music was simply amazing. As each division was introduced there was a loud cheer but as Div 819 and 820 entered, there was a roar! My heart was bursting with pride! The divisions remained standing the entire time and only those receiving honors have their names announced. While we had great seats, our son stood directly in front of us but was in the middle so never got a good picture of him, only small part of his head. Those in the other lines were much easier to see. When they issued liberty, the place went crazy. We didn't think we'd get to see our son after the graduation as he was staying in GL and had to move to a new ship. We actually had him for almost 2 hours but not enough time to leave and come back so we talked and talked. I wish we had taken more pix inside because once outside, no pictures. Once he left, we checked into a closer hotel (Courtyard by Marriott) and waited. The hotel is across from WalMart and near Potbelly's and Starbucks so after sitting for several hours we walked around and got some munchies and drinks for the hotel. He thought he would be finished by 2 or 3. At 4 we got a call he was still waiting to move to his new dorm and around 5 he was released. It was so hard to be patient especially because our son's and his girlfriend had to leave that night so less time to spend with him. We were told processing took longer because it was such a large graduating class, 1,001 new sailors. We knew he was frustrated too so just stayed positive and told him not to worry because there really isn't anything you can do. We had dinner reservations for 5 so moved them and went to Lovelle's Restaurant in Lake Forest. It was fantastic and they treated our son like a celebrity. They also have lots of cool memorabilia from Apollo 13. He had a curfew of 10 each night and we made sure to get him back early. There are lots of cars and he wasn't exactly sure how to get back and no running. On Sat. we got him early around 8:30 and had him ALL day. At first, he just wanted to relax in his gym shorts and talk and sit on a couch and watch college football. Later in the day, we hit Target for toiletries and SAM's Club for a new iPad and goodies and also walked around Gurnee Mall. He kept talking about a nap but when offered said "no" he was afraid he'd sleep the day away! He also wanted a "good" haircut so we did that and got some pizza for a late lunch. 9:00 came too fast and he had to carry all his stuff back to the base. He forgot to bring his black backpack so we got a small gym bag.The mama in me sure wanted to help carry everything and put it all neatly away but he assured me he had it covered(plus you are not allowed back on base!) We had a 8am flight home so had to say our goodbyes. This time wasn't as hard knowing he is doing so well and being able to talk to him more frequently although I'll miss rushing to the mailbox on Thur. for his letters. For all those moving on,I wish you all .the very best. For those just beginning this journey, savor every moment, every letter, every phone call. We have much to be proud about! Hooyah!
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THank you so much for your story, it brought tears to my eyes at the end. Loved my first letter last Thursday, and got a phone call on Friday Morning he needed more info for a backround check. I felt so lucky, he told me it was not as much fun as he thought. LOL.. Anyway, thank you once again. Katie
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Permalink Reply by licorice123 on
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Hi My name is Linda
My daughter called me about 10 days again . She was so said. She said the girls curse and fuss and argue a lot. She wants to graduate so bad. She said they cut her hair off. they would not let her pin it up. she said they also measured her 1/2 inch shorter than all the measurements she took here. so now she has to lose more weight. i have not heard from her since. how can i find out how she is doing. i am worried about her mental well being.
thanks
Linda
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A lot of recruits write or talk about how bad things are in the first few weeks of BC, but once the division starts pulling together as a team, then things get much better. If you have not gotten another call from her that there is a problem then everything is fine. Remember "No news is good news!"
You may want to join, or at least check out, Boot Camp Moms, PIR Reference Information, and New Members Stop Here. Since you probably know her PIR date and/or division number, go to http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group for that. There will be lots of information and support for you in those groups.
You may also want to check out Women in the Navy, Mom’s of Navy Daughters, and Mom's of Daughters 2.
(Group names within this reply are clickable links. To join a group, click on the group name and after the group page opens, click on "+ Join..." in the upper right.)
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