PIR: What to Wear/Bring and Tips; PIR Reference Group/Forum links; GPS for RTC

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

 

        PIR: What to Wear/Bring and Tips

         Comment by JessicaB-Sailor Mom on May 27, 2011 at 5:59am

Be there as early as you can-before 7:30 am. Wear dressy casual, nice jeans are fine. If your PIR is in the winter months , you may want to wear flannel underwear. Wear comfortable shoes-you may have to climb bleachers and will be doing a lot of walking. Remember layers are the way to go. Gloves, hat, scarf. (For winter PIR)

One thing I did was a few weeks before PIR, start a “PIR bag”, not necessarily one you’ll carry but just something to throw things into you don’t use daily or routinely that you might forget. Binoculars, camera, a baggie full of tissues, lint brush, tide pen, etc.

Bring: photo ID, camera, binoculars, tissues, lint brush and tide pen (dress blues in the winter and dress whites in the summers), chapstick; hand lotion (cold weather dries you out) towel for your recuit to sit on while ya'll are out enjoying Chicago after PIR and for you to sit on while you watch PIR, Don't forget an umbrella just in case. Watch your make-up when you hug him/her--he/she has to be very careful with their uniform , a checkbook-for the photo packages (minimum pkg is ~ 140.00) and anything else you want to buy at PIR. R

REMEMBER: In public sailors must remain in military issue clothes...even to swim or workout.

I've read to take a shuttle if possible (even if you rented a car)-it'll bypass the long line of cars at the gate and drop you off at Gate 8 on Ohio…you’ll still have a good 15-20 minute walk but it is flat and you’ll see new recruits marching with their division flags. I don’t think my feet touched the ground during the entire time. Sit at the top of the bleachers so you'll have something to lean against (besides some one’s knees) Try to sit across from where your sailor is and to the right that way you can see him/her better. There will be signs indicating where your Sailor’s division will be.

Be careful about too much kissing and hugging You also need to leave their R arm free while on liberty in case they have to salute to an officer. No hand holding is allowed. They have to behave very differently from a civilian.

Bring their laptop and phone to hotel so they can catch up with their family and friends at home.

If you rent a car (and I suggest that you do) Google addresses: RTC, the airport, hotel, Navy Pier, Gurnee Mall, restaurants. Etc. & write down the address. If you have a GPS, take it with you, if not rent one with the car. Take plenty of change for the tolls’.

Liberty is ‘time off’ from the daily routine. Graduating Sailors will be granted liberty to go off-base during the day with their families.

1. Graduating Sailors may not smoke, drive, or consume alcoholic beverages while on liberty.
2. Graduating Sailors must stay within a 50-mile radius of RTC.
3. Graduating Sailors must remain in their complete uniform while on liberty. If they are engaging in physical activity or swimming, they must be in authorized Navy issued workout gear.
4. Liberty expires at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. on Sunday (These times will vary). No overnight liberty is authorized. Due to security checks and transit time, please allow ample time for graduating Sailors to walk back to their assigned ship prior to the end of liberty. On time…is late.
5. Families may not enter the base after graduation and will need to meet graduating Sailors for liberty at the main RTC gate.
6. Graduating Sailors departing RTC for follow-up training the same day as graduation or in a duty status will be granted limited on-base liberty.
7. Graduating Sailors receive an in-depth liberty briefing prior to their graduation day.

While you wait for your Sailor following graduation, MCPON Hall and eateries at RTC are available, or you may use your graduation parking pass to visit the USO, building 27 onboard Naval Station Great Lakes (Mainside). Parking is available outside Gate 1 adjacent to Mainside’s Visitors Center located on Sheridan Road. Walk through Gate 1 and proceed to the USO located on the corner of Farragut Avenue and Rodgers Street; escorts will assist. Snacks and drinks will be available on the second floor of the USO

Ladies...the question of when they switch from white to blue dress uniforms and vice versa was brought up in another PIR group. I asked Hoppi (aka Angie) and she said:

Great Lakes switches in April and Oct. BTW...She also said: Hawaii never switches to Blue and Iceland never switches to White.

The music at PIR is VERY loud, drums, trumpets, etc. I would bring ear plugs for your little ones, it could hurt your baby (or worse, wake her up!). Bring quiet, soft toys for them to play with. They can run around until about 8:45, then they will need to stay put, but you can walk around still or stand near entrance to bathrooms. There are two very large motion picture screens so you'll still be able to see the graduation. (the hall is huge!). Oh..... and bring $5 bucks to buy you 4 yr old a dixie cup (Sailors hat, or Lid as the sailors call it). They are NOT ever allowed to try on or wear any part of a military uniform, so they sell these hats to help prevent that and kids love it (it's their size too). They sell them near the coffee stand inside the hall, but they go quickly, so find your seat, then go get a hat before they are gone!

Taken from the Naval Training Center website. PLEASE NOTE THE WALKING DISTANCES AND BE SURE TO DRESS WARM AND WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!!!!

PARKING - Family and friends will be directed to general parking in the Parking Garage that is adjacent to the Visitors Center. It has two levels and elevators. There is handicapped parking.

SHUTTLES - Most hotels in the area also have shuttle service to the graduation. Shuttles will drop off guests either at the gate or just inside the gate and then guests will walk about 100 yards to the visitors center.

 

PIR Reference Group links

Here is a link to the PIR info group:

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pirreferenceinformation

 Here is one to the PIR forum:

http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/categories/pirpass-in-review/listF...

 

GPS for RTC

RTC GPS address

3355 Illinois Street
Great Lakes, IL 60088

Gate 8 at Ohio & Buckley is where you enter to go to PIR

[Momship]

Yes, lots of info thank you

[Dana/Texas]

Will they be able to keep their cell phones and lap tops while in A school?

Thank you for all the information!

[Trizia~2Sailors-NavyMomsArt]

@Dana/Texas. Yes. I shipped My Son's laptop, camera, and roller blades to A school in Pensacola. {My son that graduated in 2009}

[whitney]

This is so very helpful. Thank you.
Njwhitney

[juliebelle28 (NukeMom Prototype)]

My PIR experience:

Lodging:

We stayed at the Navy Lodge and it was very clean with plenty of room. The fridge was nice to have for water or left overs, although we rarely used the other features of the kitchenette. The bathroom sink/mirror area was big enough for two girls to get ready. They had the same sack breakfast every day and it was ready extra early on PIR day – Bagel, cream cheese, orange juice and a granola bar. I highly recommend it, especially for the price.

Rental Car:

We used Alamo through Costco travel. The cost was $307 for Thursday night through Monday morning. There was an additional charge for unlimited mileage, and we paid for a full tank ahead of time, in addition to getting the toll pass. I am sure it would have been cheaper to pay for tolls but we didn’t want to hassle with it.  We filled up the car at the NEX after Friday and didn’t fill up after that.

PIR:

We had 8 training groups graduating on our PIR. We did drive down to the gate the night before to verify the route. I was panicking because we didn’t leave the room until 6:30 but we drove right on to base – no wait. We used my daughter’s school ID to get her on base, since she is 17. I came with her birth certificate but I never needed it. We parked and waited maybe 5 minutes in the visitor’s center. However, people were already seated when we arrived, but sparsely.

The problem we ran into was that our division was in front of where they sat the honor recipient’s families. We were then forced to sit in div 139 because there really wasn’t a place for div 138. So while other division areas were sparsely seated, the area by 138/139 was pretty full. Furthermore, we sat as close as we could to 138, which was next to a chain that blocked off the honor graduate seating area. Then we weren’t allowed to walk under the chain (even though there wasn’t a soul in the honor graduate area until 5 minutes before PIR) so we had to climb over everyone to use the restroom and/or buy a drink, etc.  In this respect I wished we had arrived earlier. They sell some coffee and drinks, muffins, along with the Dixie cup hats for kids and I think you can order the division shirt at this kiosk in the PIR hall.

After PIR, my son had to go to his ship to get some things, his pictures and exchange his coat. (At the end of PIR, they are handed back their coats but I am afraid they don’t always get their own coat). He was in Ship 09 which is a long walk from the ceremony hall and the NEX. We decided to meet him at the crossing guard, which is in between the NEX and the chapel. Visitors are allowed all the way to the chapel. We did our quick shopping for Navy Mom, grandma, grandpa, sister shirts and sweatshirts, which are very reasonably priced. The shirts were $9.99 and the sweatshirts between $19.99 and $24.99. They also sell Victoria Secret Pink Navy apparel and some other more decorative shirts, but of course it is much more expensive.

Yes, the Picture line was terrible- I am glad my son had his paid for and in hand. I wanted to buy a frame but I will do so mail order.

AFTER PIR:

We chose to go to Chicago, even though we knew we did not have a lot of time. We actually parked at Millennium Park, and on a Friday, you can expect this to run you about $30 for the day (seems to be cheaper on weekends). This is located at 11 Michigan Ave, just under the Bean.

Here we got our tickets for the Double Decker bus tour (https://www.coachusa.com/chicagotrolley/booking.asp?action=ProductD...). This is a hop on, hop off tour that has 11 stops throughout the city – basically all the major attractions. I purchased tickets online to save a few dollars; you can exchange your online tickets for “real” tickets at the shop located in Millennium Park and other stops (This way you can board any of the stops and get your tickets there). Since my son wanted pizza, we went to the closest to the park which was Pizano’s (http://www.pizanoschicago.com/the-loop.php) . The shop worker said it was just as good if not better than the more famous Giordano’s which was down about 2 blocks. She also indicated that the biggest difference was that they had less tomato chunks in their sauce and my sailor does not like chunky sauce so we decided on this. We ordered cheese sticks and cheesy bread and a large pizza – which resulted in left overs. Best Cheesy bread I have ever had – and the pizza was darn good too.

After that we started our bus tour. We only got off twice, due to time constraints. The tour tells you all about history, the architecture and important places to note. We got off to get our free popcorn sample and again at the John Hancock Observatory. My son wanted to go up there, but since it was foggy at the top, we decided not to go up (which really bummed me). We then walked back to our car along Michigan Ave (The Magnificent Mile). We could have waited for another trolley/bus but we wanted to enjoy a walk, even though it was very cold!

One thing we messed up on was leaving my son’s coat in the car. The weather turned colder and he had wanted it, but it was in the car. So, if you think it might rain or turn colder, windy, etc, just take it.

We then headed back to the base. There was a lot of traffic and we gave ourselves a lot of time to drive back. We stopped at the NEX near the navy lodge and bought some cokes and water. My son wanted to take a coke back to his ship.

We dropped him off on base in the chapel parking lot around 20:00.

SATURDAY/AIRPORT DROP OFF:

My sailor’s flight was 07:00 out of ORD (O’Hare). He said they were leaving base at 00:30 so I decided to leave at the same time. My daughter and I drove down there – arrived about 10 minutes before they did. They left on Delta so it was Terminal 2. The USO is located there and the gentleman was down there advising us. Since there were so many leaving that morning, we could not hang out with my sailor at the USO. Shortly after he arrived, they staged their bags and we wandered around. We ended up at Starbucks and had some coffee and played cards that I had brought. At 05:30 we went back to the staging area (which was near the Delta counter) and he received his boarding pass. While he was checking his bags, we stood in a special line to get our gate passes. My daughter, again, did not need ID because she was under 18. They also have a special security line for military and family. This whole process took about 30 minutes.

I brought my sailor’s iPod (fully charged), cell phone, laptop and appropriate cords, along with underwear and a few civies. He transferred his electronics to his carryon and checked the backpack I brought. They are allowed to check three bags and they already have their seabag and their garment bag.

We were able to see him off at the gate. Parking here cost me $14.

REMAINING VISIT:

We stayed until Monday early. Saturday was my relaxed day – we slept then went to Gurnee mills. There is a store there that does personalized military shirts and other items. I had a shirt made with “PROUD MOM” embroidered, along with the Navy and Marine emblems and my sons’ names underneath.  Also we were able to pick up some Chicago Cubs shirts and sweatshirts for $7.50 and a jersey for $20 at Lids. They were on clearance. 

Since it was Cinco de Mayo, we decided to eat at a Mexican restaurant with another N4M family. It was called San Luis and we all do NOT recommend it (on the corner of Washington and Green Bay).

Sunday we headed to Chicago again. This time we parked off of Washington (which was $14 for the day because it was Sunday). We walked along Michigan Avenue and surrounding area so my daughter could shop. Then we took the Red Line from Grand/State up to Addison – Wrigley Field. We had already purchased Cubs tickets (online). The game was postponed about 3 hours due to rain so we left 8^th inning because we were just exhausted and cold.  Thankfully we had picked seats that were covered because we were unsure of the weather.

Monday, we returned the car at about 04:15 am and made out 06:15 flight with no issue, in the rain J

 

[Mom2131Ship11/Div156]

Thank you so much for this detailed report. I think it really helps all of us when others share their experience and we know what to expect. Again, thank you and congratulations on being a Navy Mom :)

 

[Former]

Thanks for all of the info! I'll be there for PIR on May 18, so this helps a lot! Congratulations to you and your son!