Important Info on PIR

[ProudNavyWife Ship 7 Div110]

Where to Stay: There are a lot of hotels in the Great Lakes area to choose from. The closest is Navy Lodge, which is within walking distance of RTC Great Lakes gates. Many of their rooms include full kitchens and allow pets. Ramada Inn, four

miles away, hosts a PIR Meet & Greet for families the night before PIR. You do not have to be a guest at the Ramada to attend. The Ramada also includes a pool.

Tickets: There are no actual physical tickets. Your sailor will provide a list of 4 names to the Navy, which will be put on a master graduation guest list. When you arrive at Great Lakes they will ask your name and your recruit's name and check the list. If you are on the list you will be admitted.

Your recruit will only get four, any extras have to wait outside until they know if there will be "overflow" space. There is usually a decent chance to get a couple of extra people in at small and medium size (10 or fewer) but don't try to get in an extra 10. At larger graduations the hall is usually full and "extras" are turned away. If your recruit knows other recruits who don't have anyone coming, or who don't have all four of their slots filled, they may add your recruit's extra guests to the list.

 

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.

What to Bring With You: 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 recruit 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.

Leave at the hotel: bring old clothes for your recruit to wear while at hotel (in case there is enough time for that so they can be comfortable.) REMEMBER though, In public sailors must remain in military issue clothes...even to swim. Bring their laptop and phone to hotel so they can catch up with their family and friends at home.

Parking :
There are two ways to get into PIR: drive on base with the parking pass, which you can download and print out 11 days before PIR, or you can take a shuttle (taxi) from your hotel which will let you off at the gate.

http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/upcoming_grads.asp

If you drive you will need to be ready for a lot of waiting: at the gate to get on base, at the parking area to check-in, and again at MCPON Hall. Be prepared to be in line at the gate at 6 a.m. to get to your seats on time. Make sure you keep the form letter that you received near the beginning of boot camp. It has the password you will need to get the parking pass. Be sure to type it in all capital letters.

If you take a shuttle (taxi) from your hotel to RTC Great Lakes you will be let off at the gate. It is a shorter walk from the gate to MCPON Hall than from the parking area and there are fewer (and often shorter) lines for waiting.

Be prepared for the weather (cold, wet, hot, etc), you may be waiting outside for a while. Once inside, 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. Also, 900 divisions are performance divisions (choir, band, flag), and 800 divisions are Pre-BUDs (boot camp for future SEALS and other spec ops). They have a slightly different schedule than regular (001-799) divisions, they have additional training and responsibilities.

Be careful about too much kissing and hugging. NO PDA in public! You also need to leave their Right 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.

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.

Hint for Those with Little Ones: 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!

 

If you can't be there yourself you can send them a graduation gift package.

The package includes:
* commemorative coin
* commemorative t-shirt
* movie pass (Ross Theater)
* coupon book to local mall
* an AT&T pre-paid phone card
* homemade cookies
* candy bar
* personalized message to let your recruit know you are thinking of them
* packaged in a gift box with the RTC Command Seal and your personalized message

The order deadline is noon on the Thursday the week of graduation. The cost is $19.99.

1-888-317-6971 Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm, central time.