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Comment by J-RockyMtn on July 17, 2012 at 9:09am

So much info...aaaah!   I am sure it will all go smooth - no stress here (not).

We are coming from Colorado.

And, if you use a handicap placard, please only use it if you need it for a person in your vehicle :o).  Don't borrow it from G-ma just so you get a better parking spot.  I am sure there will be plenty of elderly and diabled folks there who will appreciate your courtesty.

 

Comment by diannep on July 17, 2012 at 8:27am

Great pertinent info, ellen!  Thanks!

Ladies, a couple of more tips. Remember that you cannot take pictures on RTC outside of PIR Hall....With phone or camera!  They will take your phone/camera and delete.  So....don't be like I was (not thinking!) and whip out that camera to take a pik of a marching division outside PIR hall---believe me, you will be tempted because they look "so fine!"! 

Also, occasionally someone will post on here that they wished they had arrived earlier....seating was hard to find because that person didn't. So try to be in the car line between 6-6:30, or on a shuttle that leaves between 6:30 and 7.  We took the 6:30 shuttle from our hotel...perfect timing, no lines to get in.  We were in PIR hall a few minutes after 7.  

Those with "little ones" may find it hard to be there too early...too much waiting time.  But if you have a group with you, maybe you could go early, have others save your seats, and you can "entertain" your young ones for a while before PIR starts.  I loved watching the little ones in their navy gear dancing around the PIR hall before all started....so carefree and excited.  So you may not even have to go outside.  It is a very casual atmosphere in there before the ceremony starts.  It is also very kid/family friendly! 

Last tip.  For those who do not have to visit the NEX to pay for or order pictures, etc., you may want to skip that on RTC.  Rather, get your sailor and visit the larger NEX at Buckley and Green Bay Road.  It is much larger and should not be quite as crowded.  Someone else posted that he (yes, occasionally we have dads on our site!) needed to visit the RTC NEX for piks, etc.  But the lines were long after PIR.  Soooo....they skipped that in the morning and returned a bit earlier to RTC that night to do it...no lines...went right in.  So that is a possibility too!

Hmmmm......so.....who did BattleStations last night?  936, most likely, but did 223/224 go too?  I was given another date for them.  But you never know.  Either 3 divisions went last night, with 2 more left....or one went last night with 4 more left.  We should know by this afternoon!  Phones very close by!

Good Morning all!

Comment by Patrat-Ship04-Div223 on July 17, 2012 at 8:08am

Good Morning All! - Ellen - Lots of great info for me to read at 4am this morning when I just couldn't sleep. Made me even more excited if that's possible! Laundry today, suitcase is out and ready to get packed. Just waiting for that all important phone call!

Comment by ellen0502 on July 17, 2012 at 4:36am

FYI:If you have someone with you that uses a handicap parking plate, elderly privilege card as my mother calls it, bring it with you (get a temp card from your local motor vehicle dept if you have an actual plate), you can use it at PIR, the visitors center and on base (yes there are handicap spots there). There are also wheelchairs available once inside if you need one and a handsome sailor will push it to the drill hall for you. :)

If you have a sailor that is staying at GL, when you drive/walk them back to their ship ask about the buildings. There are some interesting things like the building that has the clock, find out why they can't go in there :), and the strobe lights in one of the buildings not far from the ships.

Meegan, I have also sent you a friend request. Let me know what ship your son is in and I will let my son know to look for him.

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on July 17, 2012 at 2:31am

Excellent post ellen0502!
I'll add some Maps tomorrow!

Comment by ellen0502 on July 17, 2012 at 2:09am

Meegan: Thoughts on getting to the gate. We got there early 6:30 and had little to no wait time. Parking was a breeze, as there are lots of sailors and recruits there to guide you to your spot.

Easy in and out to PIR and base from the Navy Lodge, four turns to get to PIR five to get to base.  Main roads Green Bay, Buckley and Sheridan, once you learn those, easy peasy (the white picket fence also helps for your turn to the Navy Lodge). Once you get to Green Bay drive there should be signs pointing you to the Navy Lodge,

Now, as for your son staying at GL, my sons PIR was 5 divisions, it was still 3pm before he called and said he was moved and ready to leave.

They have about an hour after PIR before they have to report back to the ship at RTC to pack up and move. Once packed they report to the bus to take them to base to check in to school. My son found it funny that they march everywhere during BC and then bus them to base, a distance less than what they probably march once a day, but he said "one less way to lose new sailors". LOL

One of the best things about waiting for your SAILOR at the gate for liberty, is hearing/watching the new sailors march from their ships to the gate. You can hear them from quite a distance (it is a long way from their ship to the gate), and the anticipation as to if it is your sailors group or not is almost as good as trying to get to them after PIR.

There were two or three large groups marching to the gate (10-20 sailors) as we waited, no son...and then in the distance we heard a small group on their way, when it arrived there were 8 very loud and happy sailors to be going on liberty

I guess what I am saying is get to the visitors center at about 3pm or so, you can waste time at the visitors center and be there when the phone call comes that he can leave and watch/anticipate as others come to the gate.

Remember to keep your gate pass, you may be able to use it to drive on to base that weekend to check out and drop off your sailor, they must be with you to enter the gate. If you can't drive in you will have to walk back with him, be prepared it is a walk. We were able to meet my son at the gate then drive back to  his ship to check him out and check him back in. If you check him out you must check him back in!!!! 

If there are sailors standing outside ask them where they recommend eating, they have some of the best choices. We were told to go to Grandma V's instead of Wildberry's and found it an excellent recommendation.

Depending on traffic from Midway to Navy Lodge it will take about 1.5 hours. If you have a smart phone do not pay extra for GPS, use your phones navigation, it was right on the money everywhere we went. You can avoid the toll roads if you want to, we did and it really didn't take much longer.

No panicking or worrying, once you have found your way to PIR finding your way to base is a breeze.

Comment by sandm14 on July 17, 2012 at 1:09am

Is anyone coming from Colorado?

Comment by J-RockyMtn on July 16, 2012 at 10:06pm

Just wanted to send a huge THANK YOU to all the ladies here.  You've made this whole process easier to get through, plus all the questions & answers have been great!  I have never blogged before and only just recently got on FB.  Couldn't have made it through without all the wonderful ladies out there.  Hope to meet some of you on Thursday eve.   Looking forward to my div 223 sailor call ... maybe tomorrow???

Comment by Meegan on July 16, 2012 at 9:51pm

Ok, so I know that this has all been posted bu ti havve a few questions that I have passed by,

1. what time do I need to be at the gate for PIR?

2.Someone posted something about Parking, is it hard? I will have a rental car and am staying at the navy lodge.

3. How much time will it take my son to go get settled in at A school, he is staying in Great Lakes.

4. anyone know about how far it is from Midway to the Navy lodge?

I am starting to get nervous like I may do something wrong or be late. I want to be early. Is anyone else starting to panic? LOL

Comment by FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW on July 16, 2012 at 9:38pm

navyknit22 - You are the BEST!

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