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Comment by CatMom509 on March 23, 2013 at 10:53pm

You're welcome!  I re-posted from almost a month ago (can't believe it's been almost a month since my SA daughter graduated PIR!).  The info is still pertinent, but you can pay off any unpaid tolls within 7 days of incurring them.  Not sure how high they can go if you don't pay them, but is better to avoid missing the tolls in the first place.  I believe the 41 is tollfree.

Comment by Gatorfan ship14 div132 on March 23, 2013 at 9:34pm

Thank you CatMom

Comment by CatMom509 on March 23, 2013 at 8:41pm

8.  If your Sailor didn't order his/her photos, you can go to the Photos area behind the double glass doors to the left of the NEX.  The room is to the immediate left to look a the proofs and see what is included in the 2 packages available.  They take 2 shots, smiling and not smiling.  You look at the proofs and decide to order.  It is just a United States flag against a mottled blue background and you Sailor in front.  We thought we could get a better photo somewhere else.  You will have to order the Yearbook separately.  You can order the graduation DVD in there too.  They will not allow you to keep a proof.

9.  Be aware.  The TSA allows liquids maximum 3.4 oz each for shampoos, lotions, toothpaste, hair spray, etc. and all these small bottles need to be in one quart size zipped plastic bag that you put in the bin with your shoes and the other carry on purse/backpack.  After you go through, you could put it back into your 22" carryi on.  Delta allowed larger carry ons that were about 24" to be brought to the gate, then they wil take it with a hot pink tag and put it on a rack to be in cargo, but it is not considered checked baggage and you won't be charged for it.  They then bring these back for you to collect on the gangway.

This is all I can remember to share with you, so if you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer.

I can't believe how fast the time went.  PIR was a very special rite to share with our Sailor!!

Comment by CatMom509 on March 23, 2013 at 8:38pm

Part 2

Sorry the info below is mis-numbered.  I didn't realize the smaller paragraph below was still there, but the info is good!

4a.  If you miss your appointment time, then Sarge has to scramble to have someone come get you.  His shuttle sits outside the hotel entrance, so go outside to look for Sarge's shuttle.  He is frequently early waiting for you.

5.  Holiday Inn Express in Waukegan was $114.99 for a 2 queen room (comfy beds!) It's a new hotel and looks it.  The hot breakfast had french toast, bagels, sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, warm cinnamon rolls, cereal, coffee, milk, juice and some other items I don't remember.  Use the toaster to warm the french toast.  The bread items were cold.  The breakfast buffet starts at 6:00 am on PIR Friday and 7:00 am on Saturday.  This was an excellent hotel!!  They allow a late check-out of 2:00 pm if you join their Holiday Inn Priority Club, which you can join while you are there.  Oh, there is a McDonalds right next to them.

5.  PIR -  We got to the RTC at 6:45 am, showed our ids & were checked against the list, walked through their museum area, then into the graduation drill hall.  We got the last 2 spots against the wall on the lower bleachers area, just to the right of the division sign.  The divsions actually line up to the left of the sign, so we were a little further right than we needed to be.  Even though my Sailor daughter was in the front flag line of her division, it was still hard to make her out because they are all short in the ftont.  She told us she was stick 2, but she wasn't carrying a flag at all.  Each division had 2 front flags with the divison number and division flag that they designed and that is what is on the Division shirts that you can order. My daughter bought ones for her sister and myself as gifts.  You can order more for the rest of your family later.  They keep the designs for an extended period of time.  Then there is the front line of "sticks".  There was a person holding a flag, person with no flag, 2 people with flags, person with no flag, and a person with a flag.  My daughter told me she was the #2 stick, but she didn't have one!  Bring your binoculars to see their faces!!  After PIR, my daughter stayed put and we went down to find her.  Otherwise, your Sailor  will be walking around looking for you and you will be looking for him/her!  they will want to take photos without their raincoat on, so take advantage of that.  Standing at attention, parade rest, with some of their nearby friends, do all of that, I missed some picture taking opportunity.  If they want to take photos outside, make sure they take off their raincoat.  Do not take any photos of the buildings, signs, structures at all.  If you are caught, they will erase your whole memory card.  You can take pictures inside the museum and graduation drill hall.

6.  Sailor Daughters - If your daughter would like to get her eyebrows done when they are out with you, we found a great place with my other daughter's cell phone and GPS. It's Octagon Salon & Spa, 1333 Delany Road, Gurnee, IL 60031 847-360-9880 www.octagonsalon.com  Their esthetician, Leia Mueller, did an excellent job with my daughter's eyebrows and she charged only $18, not including a tip.  It's about 15 mins north on the 41 Skokie Hwy.  They are a very classy, upscale establishment.  My Sailor was so happy to get this done after not being able to do so at Boot Camp!!

7.  Lastly, ask your Sailor what they want to do!  Leave enough time for them to rest and take a shower.  They may not want to be dragged all over Chicago sightseeing, especially if they have to be on the bus to the airport at midnight on Friday.  The ones with Sailors staying in Great Lakes for A school are probably the only ones who would have some time to go to a bunch of places.  This is long enough...  :D

Comment by CatMom509 on March 23, 2013 at 8:35pm

 

Hi Friends!!

Just got back from the March 8, 2013 PIR last night!  It went by so quick, but is now a treasured memory!  Here are some of my tips about the experience.

1.  If you're renting a car, be sure to also rent the IPASS which allows you to be on the 294/94/90 toll roads without having to pay for every toll stop.  Sarge told us if we miss paying a toll, you will receive a bill for $100 for each toll missed later.  If you realized you missed any tolls while you are there, you can call Sarge 847-212-0246 and he will tell you how to get them paid before you get a big bill. The IPASS was only $6.95 each day from Enterprise Rent-a-Car.  I reserved using an upgrade coupon #ALRUP10 which gave me a Standard vehicle for the Compact rate for $21.99. Call  866-502-1257 if the online system won't take the coupon.  It's good until 12-31-2013.  Their customer service was outstanding and their vehicle was very clean.  All their vehciles go through their car wash before being rented again.  Their shuttle pulled right up to the Ground Transportation median at Chicago O'Hare when we walked up.

2. The Speedway gas station at the southwest corner of Buckley Road (137) and Skokie Hwy 41 freeway had the best price for gasoline at $3.75/gallon.  I topped off there before returning the vehicle back to Enterprise.  The prices I saw at other stations were $3.83/$3.88 along the 294.  Enterprise told me their "discounted" price to pre-pay the gasoline in the rental car was $4.20/gallon.  Along the 90/94/55 route going to the Midway Int'l Airport, the prices were $4.38/gallon.

3.  It takes a good hour minimum to get to the Midway Int'l Airport and you will pass the big Chicago city skyline.  The route will be 41 South, 94 East, 90 East, 55 South, Exit 286 Cicero Avenue/Illinois 50, turn left.  (All the streets seemed to have a name and a number assigned to it.)  Parking is $5/hour at the Terminal lot, but since we got to spend 10 hours with our new Sailor daughter, we opted to park at the Red Lot on the right almost to the airport for $14.00/day.  They had a free shuttle and heated Shuttle stops to wait in.

4. Sarge's Meet & Greet was at the Sundance Saloon to the leftside across the road from the Springhill Suites.  It does not have a lit sign and the parking lot was set low covered by the snow drifts.  With Daylight Savings time, it will probably be light when you arrive.  Doors open at 5:00pm, the food is set up about 6:00pm  Cash bar with free water.  He gives alot of info about driving into the PIR and all his shortcuts.  You sign up for his PIR shuttles at the end of the evening about 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm. After PIR his shuttles (minivans) were parked to the right of the NEX/Ricky Heaven in that parking lot.  Make sure it says Sarge's.  Other taxi's will overcharge the Navy families.  He does have a partner named Dave/David who was driving one with Metro on it, but since I called him, he was able to tell me "you were the one who called me" when all the other taxis were trying to get my attention.  I needed to get my Sailor back to RTC by 6:30pm, so I coordinated with another Navy family who got in the shuttle when we did to meet in the lobby at 5:30 pm so our Sailors could ride in together.  I forgot about calling Sarge earlier, but Sarge himself was there in 15 minutes.  He charged $6 for each Sailor since there was only 2.  If there was more, it would've gone down to $3 each.  Don't forget to tip Sarge and his guys and don't be late to the lobby when they come to get you.  Other people have gotten in the vans without prior arrangements.

3.  The signs on their tollway/expressway system go from left to right overhead that tells you the upcoming exits and transitions.  I at first thought these signs were guiding me which lane to be in the make the transition like in California, but no, I had to change lanes quickly to get to the correct lane for transitions.

Comment by Rows girl on March 23, 2013 at 7:17pm

My bf is division 134. All male

Comment by diannep on March 23, 2013 at 7:03pm

807 should be an all-male division.

Comment by lavendergrl8 on March 23, 2013 at 6:58pm

im not sure actually- i think all male? what division is ur bf?

Comment by Rows girl on March 23, 2013 at 6:52pm

Is division 807 integrated because 2 divisions win all male and integrated.

Comment by Rows girl on March 23, 2013 at 6:51pm

My bf said that they were a hall of fame division but with all the hits they've been getting he said not sure if they would remain that. No Saturday liberty then for him??? ;(

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