Comment

Comment by 1proudmama/EM/USSLincoln/CVN72 on March 22, 2013 at 1:56pm

Yay we are no longer on bottom of list for PIR dates. welcome PIR May 10 you're special cause that is mothers day weekend, but you already knew you were special didn't you. I wouldn't trade you though.

Comment by lemonelephant on March 20, 2013 at 9:50pm

You can get numbers at the hotel and some hotels have their own shuttles or you can contact Sarge at 847-212-0246.

Comment by Connie821 on March 20, 2013 at 8:20pm

To Mamacita3 - do you get shuttle phone#s at the Sarge meet n greet or do they provide them at the hotel?  Sorry for so many questions, i just like to have everything planned out and as much info as possible; hopefully fewer things can go wrong! :0)

Comment by BeachBunny on March 19, 2013 at 12:28pm

Just got in last night from a wonderful long weekend in Great Lakes. What a great experience from the Meet n Greet, PIR, two days with my sailor, exploring Chicago and meeting some of the sailors and families.

My personal comments of the weekend…

PIR: Sarge gave plenty of parking options at his MnG,  but it was pretty easy to park in the main parking garage and a short walk(100 yards) right into the visitor center. The car line was a little confusing to get into the gate because some were lined up at the main gate on Illinois. The PIR gate is the next gate at Ohio St; the drivers were sitting on the road before the gates opened. We passed both lines went to the next signal made a U-turn to head the opposite direction of the line. When our light turned to make a left turn into the Ohio St gate, we by passed a lot of the line. Once the gates opened everyone flowed into the hall pretty good. We put our blanket on our seats and got coffee and took turns saving our spot. We walked thru the Navy Museum and looked around the hall. We sat against the wall in front in the lower section right in front of our division, which was great because I’m short and stood most of the time and wasn’t in anyone’s way but the wall… The Navy showed some videos on the screens and had a couple of groups doing expedition drills to watch which helped the time to go by pretty fast. Then the big rolling doors opened up…..:)))

When bringing our sailor back to the base or picking up the next morning, you’ll use the Illinois St main gate. Which puts you right at the NEX and a big parking lot. Have your gate pass and ID’s ready. Even my 13 year had a State Id card, so she got into the PIR, back on base and airports with no problem.

I finally did master driving around Chicago. Tolls were pretty easy to master and cheap. Toll from Midway or O hare to Great Lakes was $1.90 each way. The toll going north has a toll booth for the cash side with a person to give change. Toll into O Hare heading south from Great Lakes does not; you’ll have to have the exact amount of change to throw into a bin. If you get off the highway to get a treat or gas you’ll have to pay the toll at the exit booth in the exact change. Use the Forest Oasis exit that has no toll exit because everything is on the exit ramp and you just get right back onto the highway. Plus the food shops sit right on top of the freeway, awesome view while eating a meal, snack or resting. Roads were in great shape for the most part. It snowed the last day we were there and had no problem getting around in our rental car. The transport dept seems to be on top of keeping everything plenty clear (plus it wasn’t a super storm). I had more problems driving in Reno in the snow then I did in Chicago..:)

USO at the Navy Pier was very helpful and welcoming to families. My sailor was getting blisters from the dress shoes and we stopped in for some band-aids. Plus it was cold and he worked on some things on the computer there and we watched part of a movie and had snacks….The USO at O Hare wasn’t as positive for families on Sunday morning, plus I woke the USO person up when I stopped in before the sailors got there. The USO person on Sunday didn’t know about the 26 sailors coming in to fly out that morning. He banded families from the USO. We found a spot to hang with our sailor for a nice visit in another part of the airport…so it worked out.

I’m so glad we went and really look forward to more experiences for our sailor as he continues his Navy journey…..now to A school.:))

Comment by lemonelephant on March 18, 2013 at 11:40pm

Here are the current PIR groups:

PIR: Mar 22, 2013  TG 19 - 11 Divisions (121-130 and 919) 4 guests

PIR: Mar 29, 2013  TG 20 - 6 Divisions (131 -134, 807 and 920) 4 guests

PIR: Apr 5, 2013   TG 21 - 10 Divisions (135-142, 808 and 921) 4 guests

PIR: Apr 12, 2013 TG 22 - 10 Divisions (143-150, 809 and 922) 4 guests

PIR: Apr 19, 2013 TG 23 - 7 Divisions (151-156 and   923) 4 guests

PIR: Apr 26, 2013  TG 24 - 11  Divisions (157-166 and 924) 4 guests

PIR: May 3, 2013   TG 25 - 11  Divisions (167-176 and 925) 4 guests

PIR: May 10, 2013   TG 25 - (to be updated)

Click on the date of your SR's PIR and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your SR.

Comment by lemonelephant on March 18, 2013 at 8:59pm

imomxfour, yes, he would have to be on leave and on the Access List in order to attend.

Comment by imomxfour x 3 Sailors on March 18, 2013 at 8:49pm

ok, whew!! So our son is in A School in Pensacola, and will graduate sometime in July - supposedly July 2nd, and we figure our daughter will graduate BC either July 19th or most likely July 26th (ship date is May 29th) so we are praying he will able to to attend her PIR. But he keeps saying he was told he could never return to RTC and it just didn't make much sense to us, as to why that would be. So, as long as the timing works out after his graduation - and he is on the access list, he could go, correct?

Comment by lemonelephant on March 18, 2013 at 8:48pm

imomxfour, the RTC is a closed base and only those on the Access List for PIR or who are working or training there are permitted to be on the base.

Comment by lemonelephant on March 18, 2013 at 8:44pm

imomxfour, that is incorrect--well, sort of. If he is in "A" School at GL, he would need a chit to attend and would also have to be on the Access List to attend.

Comment by imomxfour x 3 Sailors on March 18, 2013 at 8:38pm

Question: Somewhere along the way our son (a new sailor) was told he couldn't ever go back to RTC, not even to attend a sibling's PIR...is this true?

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