Tip for Driving to Graduation

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

My husband just finished bootcamp and we went to his graduation 7/20/12.  It is an amazing, amazing thing.  But, I thought I would hop over to the groups who have Sailors graduating and give you a tip about driving to the RTC gate. 

You will most likely be coming from Buckley Rd and will have to make a right turn into RTC.  If this is the case, drive past.  Yes, I know, scary, but drive past the gate.  You will go through a ramp sort of like a highway ramp and come to a traffic light.  Turn right, this is Sheridan.  You will come to the main gate for Great Lakes Naval Base.  On the right, you will see a small brown sign that says "All visitors use second right".  That second right will take you to the Visitors' Center parking lot.  Just use it to turn around.  You want to be going the other direction when you approach the RTC gate.  Leave the Visitor Center parking lot and make a left.  Go to the traffic light and take another left.  This will bring you right to the RTC gate again.  Except this time, you will be making a left turn and you will get a green arrow!  No more waiting in line!  Plus, the Visitors' Center is where your Sailor will march to after signing in to A School if s/he is staying at Great Lakes,  so you'll know exactly where it is. 

If anyone has questions about graduation or what happens when your Sailor stays at Great Lakes for A School, please reply under this discussion, and your reply will go to my email.  I will answer everything I can. 

Congratulations and welcome to the Navy family!!

Jenn.

[wenplus3 EMFR]

Thanks for this information.  I love information like this.  My son's PIR is scheduled for 9/14/12.  I am readily preparing for the visit.  We are from KC so we will be driving.  He will be staying in GL for A-school.  Do you have recommendations of where to stay?  My SR has siblings and we have other friends that are coming that won't be able to come to graduation (not enough space for them :(.  I would like a place close to base that would have ammenties to enjoy while we are gone for graduation but close enough to pick them up so we can do lunch etc.  Any recommendations of places to eat or things to do?  I am sooooo thankful for this website and moms like you. 

 

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

Sorry for the late reply, I spent the weekend in Great Lakes.  I stayed on base for graduation, because I'm a spouse, I have a military ID which lets me stay at the Gateway.  Not everyone can stay there of course, but I have heard really good things about the Navy Lodge (and they have a bootcamp graduation discount rate, just have to swing by with your new Sailor sometime to verify). 

As far as others not being able to go to the graduation, I would have them at least try!  We invited my husband's grandma and his bestest friend who were not on the list.  Some of the veteran moms on here have said that even if there are 14 divisions graduating, they still get extra people in.  Just make a copy of the gate pass for their car and they will wait on the side once you get to the front of the line.  My husband's grandma didn't have to wait and I think his friend only waited a few minutes before they let him in. 

We are from near the area, about 75 miles away actually.  We didn't do any touristy things like museums and Navy Pier, although those are lots of fun.  I especially love Shedd's Aquarium.  We went to my husband's favorite barbeque place, about an hour away.  It looks like a little hole in the wall, but the food is amazing!  It's called the Texan Barbeque and it is in Algonquin, IL.  There's a bunch of road construction, so it's not super easy to get to right now.  We also went there for lunch on Sunday.  He really likes that place.  On Saturday, we went to the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha WI.  My husband had to wear his uniform of course, and there, his money was no good.  He was told "thank you for your service" about a million times.  Every time we tried to buy something, someone else either paid for it or the shopkeeper waved his money away.  It was really heartwarming to see all the people that really, truly did appreciate that he is leaving his wife and baby alone for months to serve his country.  You won't see that at the mall where they see hundreds of Sailors every weekend.  It drove him nuts that he couldn't pay for anything, but I told him that when he's sitting in the engine room of a ship 6 months into a deployment, remember all those people that said thank you. 

[NavyWifeForLife]

how do you get to stay at the gateway or make a reservation to stay there and whats it like, how close is it?

my husband is graduating 11/9/12

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

You can call 1-877-NAVYBED for reservations.  Make sure you get your dependent ID before you check in, if you haven't already.  Since you have to go to a base to get your ID, a lot of wives don't have it by PIR.  You can get to the base a little early, I think the ID office closes at 3:30pm and get your ID before you check in.  You'll need either a Power of Attorney or a form that your husband sent you from bootcamp, on the bottom it will say Form DD1172, and a photo ID like your drivers license. 

I highly recommend the suites, they're very nice accommodations and it's pretty inexpensive. 

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

Oh, and the rest of your question...  It is just like a moderately priced hotel, think Holiday Inn in a nice neighborhood.  It is on the main base, not RTC, but it's only about a 5 minute drive to the RTC gate.  If you look at the top of this discussion, there is a map, the Main Gate is labelled.  You'll have to stop in the Visitor's Center for a gate pass first, but that's where you go.  The person at the counter in the visitor's center will give you a map and directions, it's building 62, right on the beach.  You can private message me, too if you have more specific questions.  I can't post exactly where on the base the hotel is in a public forum, but if your husband is staying in Great Lakes for A School, definitely book there.  It's a 5 minute walk from the barracks.  My husband's CPO did not make them have family sign them out for PIR weekend and he was knocking at my hotel room door at 5:10am.  I know a lot of people will say not to stay there because A School students are not allowed in the Gateway Inn.  I emailed TSC directly, since TSC is the command in charge of the Great Lakes A School and got a reply that since it's a special occasion, they except that weekend from the rule of not allowing A School students into the Gateway.  I printed the email conversation and kept it with me in case anyone asked about him, but no one did. 

[Shea]

I know that they start admitting people for PIR at 6:30 am.  Do you suggest getting there at that time.  My son PIR is August 3! Thanks

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

We got there about 7. The line was long but went very fast. There were several people checking names on the list. The drill hall seemed to fill up pretty fast. I wouldn't suggest getting there much later than 7 if you want to be able to pick your seats. Also, if you have a large group that wants to sit together, early is probably better.

[darcy (Ship 2 Div. 947)]

We have been told we should take a taxi from our hotel in Gurnee, IL. ( about 12 miles away) so we don't have to try and park our car. Would you suggest this rather than trying to drive ourselves. I am really concerned about not getting there in time!

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

I did not find parking to be a problem at all.  We only had 7 divisions, but there were Sailors directing traffic.  They do this every week, so they have it down to a science.  I left my hotel (on the main base, the Gateway Inn) at 6:30 and was in the parking garage before 7.  If you're really uncomfortable driving in traffic, I guess you could take a taxi, but for the average driver it should be a breeze.  Follow the tip above and you'll get right in line.  Have your gate pass and IDs ready (even for kids, I took the birth certs, they didn't ask for them, but better safe than sorry!).  Then just follow the Sailors directing you, they'll direct you right into a parking stall.  As far as getting out, that was also a breeze for us.  There are really 2 waves of cars exiting RTC.  The Sailors that leave for A School get to leave right away with their families, that is the first wave.  That may be busy, but I think the hardest part is probably going to be pulling out of the parking stall.  The second wave is of families leaving when their Sailor has to go back to RTC to pack.  This one varies in times because Sailors have different times to be back and may leave early to get a head start.  Families may stay around at the NEX to shop or chat.  I left at 12:30 which was on the late end of the spectrum and it was pretty dead.  I hope that helps!  Let me know if there is anything else I can help with!  Congrats on your new Sailor!

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

OH yeah, and from talking to my hubby, I know that a lot of the taxis charge about $20 each way to go to Gurnee from the base, but that's what they charge the Sailors leaving for liberty, so it may be different for families going to RTC. 

[Steven'smom]

My parents would like to come to PIR but my father has had hip replacements and cannot do all the steps up bleachers.  I am sure there is seating for those with limitations but my question is would my husband and I be able to sit with them if they are in a special seating area?  I would hate to leave them on their own in such a large crowd.  My son needs a final list very soon.  I want them to be able to come since they have been so very supportive of his choice to serve his country.

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

This is what the RTC website says (RTC FAQ):

"Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis when guests check in at the Visitor Center. There is limited handicapped-designated seating on the drill deck. One family member may accompany a handicapped family member in this area."

I don't really know more than that, except that I did see Sailors assisting those in wheelchairs.  If he does not need a wheelchair, but would like to sit very close to the bottom, I would suggest getting there early to get a bottom seat.  I think there are only a couple stairs to the first row.  There is a lot of walking, though.  Please look at my other tip, "Overview of RTC from Google Earth" to see the walking required.  The Public Affairs Office may be of some help too, if what I know isn't enough.  You can reach them at 847-688-2405.

I hope that helps.  I really hope your parents get to go, it's such a moving ceremony and to see the difference in your new Sailor is amazing!  It's so great that they were supportive of his decision.  Congratulations and welcome to the Navy family!