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Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on June 7, 2011 at 8:26pm

Here are a couple of pics from last year in July that I thought you all may want to see. They used Sailors from the bases in Great Lakes to make the Human Flag. It is so beautiful, I just loved it.

Comment by diannep on June 7, 2011 at 7:09pm

For anyone who needs a suite because of a larger group or those needing a separate bedroom within your group, please book NOW as those go quickly.  Residence Inn Waukegan has 2 bdrm 2 bth full kitchen suites, queen bed in each bdrm, sleeper sofa in living room.  Free hot buffet breakfast, PIR shuttle, pool, exercise room,  These book up fast so don't wait on them.  They have studio suites as well.

Comment by Sherblond on June 7, 2011 at 5:04pm

Terry'saproudmom....we are staying at the Ramada waukegan gurnee and you can cancel/change your reservation up until i think it's 4pm on the day of arrival. it's only a few miles from the base and it is where they have the reception the night before PIR for all the sailor's families...they also give a PIR discount.
i booked online and got the discounted room rate.

Comment by Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936) on June 7, 2011 at 4:13pm

diannep thanks.  We don't travel very often so all this is daunting.  I will check with the hotels to see what their policy is.  I do think we will stay through Sunday because if I had to leave and my son was allowed Liberty I would sob all the way back to California.  Not pretty!! 

Comment by diannep on June 7, 2011 at 8:03am

....your SR will not know if he/she is Saturday Departure UNTIL a few weeks before PIR....

sorry about that typo!

Comment by diannep on June 7, 2011 at 7:59am

Terrysaproudmom:  Hotels are usually no problem cancelling or changing when you book directly.  I know Residence had a cancellation policy either up to the day of arrival or the day before. 

Although the form letter may suggest the purchase of refundable tickets, we don't advise it because of the expense of them.  Usually it is better to book either with Southwest Airlines (flies into Midway-Chicago and Milwaukee) which has no change fee and first 2 checked bags are free----or book non-refundable with the change fee.  I had to change mine when my son was there...my flights ended up being cheaper with the new dates so my change fee seemed like $89 rather than $150.  Still much cheaper than refundable tickets would have been.

As far as staying through the weekend, we recommend it because your sailor's flights can be changed too.  It happened in the PIR 5/26 group where they were told they were flying out the next day and right before PIR, flights were changed where they had the whole weekend. It is really sad to have to leave the area before your sailor does, but sometimes it can't be helped. 

Your SR will not know if he is a Saturday Departure a few weeks before PIR. 

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on June 7, 2011 at 4:31am

Just in case you were wondering!

 

From RTC website FAQ
The proper format for recruit mailing addresses is:

SR LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, MI
SHIP XXX DIV XXX
RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND
XXXX STREET OR AVENUE
GREAT LAKES IL 60088-XXXX

SR is Seaman Recruit.

I printed up a whole bunch of these on clear address labels.

 

Comment by Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936) on June 7, 2011 at 4:30am

Thank you for the information fireteamleaderwife(Ship11Div180).  Informative but still don't know what to do.  I really don't want to stay in Chicago if my sailor isn't there.  I have a lot of trouble with humidity.  I am afraid to wait until I hear from him to book flights and hotel rooms...could still be weeks before getting a letter or call.  I know I can get refundable tickets for the airlines but don't know if hotels will do the same.

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on June 7, 2011 at 4:24am

Donna,

Here are some links to Count down clocks for PIR.

Forgive me though I don't know how to add one to the group page.

Count down clocks

http://www.countdownclockcodes.com/

http://www.freeflashtoys.com/?myspace-countdown-clocks

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on June 7, 2011 at 3:07am

(Any veteran Moms…please correct me if I am wrong OR add to this!)

Terry'saproudmom

Okay. My Sailor just PIR'd on 5/26. I just looked at my form letter and it didn't say anything about Grad-n-Go specifically so i am wondering if they have changed the form letter.

There has been a lot of discussion about the term "Grad-n-Go".

Here is a link to a group on this site that explains it.
At least how it “used” to be.

Grad n Go
http://www.navyformoms.com/group/gradgoinfo

I cannot find the term on the RTC website under Family Information.

The G & G group explains that the term is obsolete.

So, what does that mean?

Means I wouldn’t bother using it.

They are now called:

Friday and Saturday Departures

Friday Departures
Means those Sailors attending “A” school at Great Lakes. They “depart” Friday, after Graduation, to move over to Naval Station Great Lakes from RTC. This can take from 3-5 hours. I do not know how much time they get directly after graduation to spend with you before they have to go move their things and get settled and briefed. I am sure it is not very long though.

When they are done they may spend the rest of PIR day with you. They will be given a time to report back to their compartment. Then they should get Saturday and Sunday to spend with you. Times and such will be given to you by your Sailor. This could change daily!

Saturday Departures
Means those Sailors attending “A” school somewhere other than Great Lakes.
They usually get to leave right after PIR and spend the rest of the day with you. This is subject to change. The time they report back to RTC on Friday …is subject to change! (Are we seeing a pattern here?) It is usually 8-9 PM.

They then get ready (or already are) TRY to get some sleep and then muster up and board the buses to go to their airports around 1-2 AM Saturday Morning.

Thus the Saturday Departure.

Their flight could be ANYTIME on Saturday…the Navy only makes ONE trip for all Sailors.

There are three airports. Midway, Milwaukee, O’Hare. You won’t know which one probably until PIR day.

Mine PIR’d on a THURSDAY (Memorial Day weekend) and was supposed to depart FRIDAY AM. (Think Friday and Saturday as the norm). He was attending “A” school AWAY from Great Lakes.

While I was flying to PIR on TUESDAY he called and left a detailed message that everything had changed and he would now not leave until Sunday around 1-2 AM!

“Subject to change.”

His report time every night was different. His Pick up time in the AM each day was different. He had watch on Friday from 4-6 PM and none on Saturday.

So, what I was told to do was book to stay the extra days if I could.

I am so glad I did because it ALL changed! I would not have got to spend time with him if I had gone home Friday and he would have been stuck on base. I just decided that IF he did leave Friday that I would take a vacation!

The Basics are:

Friday Departures
Great Lakes “A” school- need 3-5 hours after PIR to move over to Main Base and get the rest of the day and weekend with Family. (No overnights though)

Saturday Departures
Those traveling to other bases for “A” school should be a Saturday Departure-but there can be variables.

You won’t know anything definite until you speak to your SR. They will keep you informed. Mine did but it changed twice during BC and AGAIN while I was en route.

It’s just the way it is.

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