PIR DEBRIEFING

[Sassafras Proud Mom of a Sailor]

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.

 

 

 

 

[ameew]

Thank you so much for all the information. I don't remember if I replied to this yet as I have gotten so many messages in my email of other messages. You were right, they changed her plans back and forth many times and we both started to panic due to the lack of communication. It has all worked itself out though. I decided to take the train due to insecurity with the weather. I am now inquiring about where to stay over night. Somewhere reasonable but clean.

[TRea's Mom (ship 09 div 015)]

ameew - Just stay away from the Super 8 in the 600 block of Green Bay Road in Waukegan. The prices are reasonable, but we stayed there and it's on my list to not repeat that mistake. The cops had to be called the last night we were there for a party across the hall that got very loud and profane. Not good!

[ameew]

Thank you!!!

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

ameewhere is the link to your PIR group http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir12222010

[ameew]

Thank you also!!!

[ChelseaBelle'sMom]

My daughter's PIR was 11/19/10 the wait was long but the ceremony was very nice...after PIR I was able to spend about an hour with her before she had to move her belongings to A-school. This took about 4 hours (during this time she was informed of what she could and could not bring back to base w/her) and then I had to go back to the base to pick her up then she was able to stay with me for the weekend. The new grads are not allowed to wear civillian clothing. My daughter had to call and report every morning at 7a and every evening at 9p sharp and be back on base Sunday at 8p. Friday evening we spent time relaxing and catching up. She used this time to make some phone calls and get online. Afterwards, we went shopping for some basic essentials that she wanted. She also was craving KFC lol. We drove around til we found one. Saturday morning we had a leisurely breakfast and headed off to the Brookfield zoo (cheap/bad food...do not recommend)but the zoo itself was pretty cool! Her best friend graduated from bootcamp the week before my daughter was scheduled to go in (also attending A-school at Great Lakes) took a cab and met us there. They walked around the zoo and compared bootcamp stories....That evening we all went to Gurney Mills Mall where we had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays (good food). My daughter, boyfriend and best friend stayed to see a movie after dinner. (This was nice for me because I needed a break and I figured she didn't want to spend every second of her weekend with me :)Sunday morning we took a nice drive and then headed back over to Gurney..We had lunch at Giodano's...authentic Chicago pizza HIGHLY recommended!!! we were all happy with the food there..best all weekend. Afterwards she was able to purchase a new cell phone to take back to base. It was hard to say good bye to her again on Sunday. I had to be at the airport before she had to be back on base....I highly recommend renting a car. I used ACE rental w/discount from brochure sent w/PIR date. Make sure to bring change to have on hand for the toll roads. I highly recommend a GPS...to find your way around. Navigation was confusing..if i didnt have one i'd probably still be trying to find my way around lol..There were more things I wanted to do while I was there but I let my daughter set the tone for the weekend...I looked up things to do before I went and saved them on my favorites on my laptop and brought that for her to look at....the most important thing was that we got to spend time together...Don't forget to help your new sailor learn how to ask about Military discounts...most places offer them. Several random people in the nearby communities came up to shake my daughters hand and thank her. She felt out of place out in the civillian world after bootcamp.

[Sassafras Proud Mom of a Sailor]

"The most important thing was that we got to spend time together..." Yes, this is always 'the most important thing'. It didn't matter, really, what we were doing... just that we were together. One thing my kids (the new Sailor, his older brother and youngest sister) enjoyed was strollling out on the Waukegan Municipal Pier. It was a tad cold and blustery, so I stayed in the car... which was good in its own way as it gave them some time (without 'mom') to just hang-out and be siblings, and it gave me some private time to 'not think' and simply enjoy the view. Also, I remember one particular comment my Sailor made about (what he called) Navy Bearing.. (ie: the 'proper' way to conduct one's self when one is a Sailor). He said, "Mom, we don't walk, we march." That is, wherever we went, he had to 'square the corners' with is steps. Still, he was happy (proud) about this and now that he is in A-school, he is having a really good time. (((hugs)))

[cheryllynn-proud mom of a sailor]

For sure, just being together was what he really needed. LOL...yes, march, square the corners, walk on the right side of the walkway and cross at the crosswalks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL...so great.

[Sassafras Proud Mom of a Sailor]

Hello and happy (almost) TurkeyDay... In response to a question asked off-list about the trains, here's what I know:

The actual Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com/ station is in Chicago and the trains that run from Chicago to Great Lakes (right next to the base) and Libertyville (about 20 minutes west of Great Lakes) are part of the Metra commuter system http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home.html

We rode the Metra from Libertyville to downtown Chicago (Union Station) and it was great fun!!! Sailors get to ride free, and family members (or anyone) can get a weekend pass that costs less than buying individual one-way or round-trip tickets.

If you will be taking Amtrak to Chicago and then transferring to Metra: find out which Metra line (there are several) gets you closest to your motel -and- if you have to switch from one Metra to another along the way. This with the first time riding a train for my kids and it had been eons since I'd been on one, so (since were drove to Great Lakes) we stopped at a 'staffed' station with an agent and learned about which train went where before we went to PIR.

Note however that not all Metra stations are staffed... that is, some are more like bus stops with just a bench and an awning or a building with an agent office but it is not staffed all of the time so plan on getting your questions answered by phone before you go. We found all the folks VERY helpful.

Also, there are no public toilets at the un-staffed stations, but there are facilities once you board the train. And the staff onboard the trains are alsoVERY nice and helpful.

One serious word of advice, however, on your way home if you will be taking a Meta train to connect with an Amtrak train... allow yourself EXTRA time to make sure you are able to make your connection. For example, my eldest son planned to go home (to Arkansas) on Saturday so he could rest-up to return to work at 3am Monday morning... and the Metra train we took to Union Station was supposed to get in to Chicago about 35 minutes before the Amtrak left which, under normal circumstances, would be plenty of time to make the switch, however...

The Metra train had a delay... not common, but it does happen... and the result was that my son missed his connecting train by 2 minutes!!! And since the Amtrak train from Chicago to Arkansas only runs once each day, he had go back to Great Lakes with us and then do the whole thing over again on Sunday...!!!

Selfishly, I was kinda happy about this as we all got to be together for an extra 24 hours... and my eldest son did get back to Arkansas in time to get to work on time... but just barely. However, he said that the Amtrak ride was very nice and that he really enjoyed it.

Hope that helps to ally your trepidations . If there is anything else I can share to make your travel easier or more fun, just lemme know!!!

[ameew]

This was very helpful. Thank you. I am planning to take the Amtrak train as well. It's not the right time of year to drive and too risking to fly at that time also.

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

ameew here is the link to your PIR group http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir12222010

[Sassafras Proud Mom of a Sailor]

Very glad you found the comments helpful, ameew. You will have great fun riding the train and even more fun at PIR. Just remember to relax... let your Sailor take the lead and don't worry . Once you are standing side-by-side, nothing else will matter at all... (((hugs)))