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Comment by jacketfan24 (corpsman mom) on July 6, 2011 at 8:09pm

Just a quick question...do they usually leave from BC to go to school on Saturday?  Mine was supposed to be staying at GL, but have heard that corpsman school got moved to San Antonio (or will be moving) so he will fly out if that is the case.  PIR is usually always on Friday, correct?  And also, how long is BC?  I have a younger child that will be 12 about the same time he graduates...one weekend he will still be 11 and won't need to be on the list and the next he will be 12 and will need to be.  I know it depends on illness, passing tests, etc., but best case scenario, is it after 8 weeks?  He leaves in a couple of months for BC, and I'm just trying to find out exactly how it works.  Thanks!

Comment by bobbie (ht mom) on July 6, 2011 at 11:14am

thx smcfar92 your words truly touched my heart .....thx for all advice and good luck y=to you and your sailor

Comment by smcfar92 on July 6, 2011 at 11:09am

Another thing: I have read alot of posts on this site. Not just this thread. Moms are putting way too much personal info on here. I know firsthand that this whole site is monitored! By your sailors COs. Some SRs have been "teased" while in bootcamp on things that were said on the site. So, if your sailor tells you something in letters, please don't write it here.

Comment by smcfar92 on July 6, 2011 at 11:02am

They usually fly out of OHare or Midway. My son flew out of OHare. We picked him up in the morning and brought him to our hotel. Mind you, after the hard weeks of bootcamp they are tired. I think my son was on a happy high and just passed out cold in the car on the way back to the airport. Poor guy. I think he felt bad wanting to sleep in the hotel and didn't because he wanted to spend time with us. We left for the airport thinking we could find a restaurant onthe way on the freeway but didn't really see any and plus he just hard at sleep we didn't want to wake him. We thought we could eat at the airport. Well, there is only one small food court a couple terminals away that have to take the train - 10 min. I think. So, my last meal with him was not what I wanted for him and I was upset. I still feel guilty.
The USO guys are great! However, with all the sailors there, there is no room for families to stay. There are alot of sailors that don't have families there and the room is for the military but you can go in though. You will see a ton of them sleeping on the floor or watching tv. That's a good place for them to leave their stuff while you take them out.
Personally, I wanted to go to the gate with him (you can go through the military/VIP line through security with him/her; however my father (being a retired officer) whispered to me that it might be easier for my son that we don't. That broke my heart knowing he was probably right. My father asked him privately what he wanted and yes. That is what we did. My picture of him after a lot of tears from me and his grandma was him walking away alone as a man going to conquer what the world has to offer him. I think that was the second hardest thing for me to see next to him getting on the bus in April to BC after my father swore him in. He went through the gate to meet up with his fellow and now brothers and sisters that he will spend time with in A school. So, maybe ask your sailor what they want. It might make the goodbyes easier for them. Just a thought.
I wish you all luck and just know they are under the wings of the Navy and will make us all proud. You as parents have given them the beginnings of what it makes them a great being and sailor. The Navy just polishes them to shine more.

Comment by Invisible12 on July 6, 2011 at 10:13am

I know that after PIR they can fly out of O'Hare, Midway or Milwaukee, but (and maybe this is a stupid question) but does it seem that the SR's fly out of one airport more than another?  My son hasn't even left yet for BC but I'm already planning ahead....LOL...I certainly don't want to drive 400 miles from one airport to another if I can avoid it.  I must be crazy worrying about something like that so far in advance but I like to be prepared!!!!

Comment by Paula (was Capricorna) on July 4, 2011 at 5:21pm

Car rentals are less expensive out of Milwaukee than from O'Hare and Midway.  Midway is not a nice area (southwest Chicago).  If you fly into Milwaukee, you by-pass all the Chicago traffic, BUT  if your sailor is flying out of Midway, it makes for a long drive from Midway to Milwaukee.  I put on almost 400 miles on the rental car from Thursday to Sunday (had a sister in a western suburb so it was a triangulated drive).

If you fly Southwest (which goes into Milwaukee AND Midway) you can change flights (for up to a year) without penalty and there is no checked baggage fee.

The airport in Milwaukee is on the south side of the city.  If you take 41 South once you get into Illinois, you avoid the tolls (not expensive - less than $3) but you also avoid traffic and construction.  We took the toll road on our return and there was some slow downs because of road construction.

Comment by bobbie (ht mom) on July 4, 2011 at 5:05pm

wow what a long wait your son had..................looks like they would hav let him hang with yall and be at airport b4 flight leaves oh well right lol so happy everything went well for you thanks for the advice and any more suggestions pls let us know

Comment by Paula (was Capricorna) on July 4, 2011 at 4:36pm

I just got back from PIR.  It was great!  If your Sailor is flying out, GO TO THE AIRPORT.  You don't need your Sailor to get a Gate Pass!!!  Just go to the check in counter of the airline on which your Sailor is flying.  You tell them you are meeting up with your Sailor, give them the Sailor's name, your identification and they print out a little "chit" which gets you through Security.  Then you can go find him/her.  It is easier if you tell him/her to call you with info on where to meet up - they can use pay phones or a buddy's cell phone.  Once they are at the airport, they are no longer under the thumb of their RDC's and the Recruit Training Center.

Bring them their cell phone and charger at this time and any favorite foods.  Keep in mind that they MUST be able to carry their seabag, garment bag and whatever else you give them, so this is probably not the time to bring them a lap top, back pack with civvies, pillow, etc. because the seabag and garment bag are big and heavy, and is about all they can handle.  Yes, those will be checked baggage, but they have to be able carry those bags after the flight to their next living quarters and might not be able to carry much more than the sea bag and garment bag.  These bags are HUGE and HEAVY.

This is important:  Your sailor will not be able to tell you exactly when he/she flies out until the day of PIR.  Read that previous sentence again. If they do tell you, it is subject to change, so be forewarned.  Just deal with it.  Figure out how long YOU are willing to stay and then be willing to say good bye and let your Sailor get on with his/her life. 

I met my son at the airport at 6 am (he had arrived there at 1:30 am) and he wasn't departing until 8:30 pm that day.  That's more than14 hours to wait for his flight.  I think he was relieved when I left him after 2 hours - I mean, how much can you talk with a person (unless it is a spouse or a significant other)???

The important thing to understand is that you do not need your Sailor to get a Gate Pass - just his/her name and your ID.  I do not know how many people are allowed but I saw up to 4 family members (could be more).

 

Comment by TickledTink on June 27, 2011 at 9:39pm

I bgot my rental car from Hertz at Midway where I am flying in booked through Hotwire.com for $20 a day! 

Got my gate pass printed out today, makes it feel close!  Hopefully the next 10 days don't drag by!!

Comment by bobbie (ht mom) on June 27, 2011 at 8:35pm

thx wanda g i was looking into renting a car or car service from ohare to hotel and then the shuttle to pir

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