Comment

Comment by winterrosebud (Ship 12 Div 053) on January 10, 2012 at 5:41pm

For me cost is not an issue and even though I may only get to see my husband for less than 24 hours I would not miss PIR!

Comment by diannep on January 10, 2012 at 3:29pm

Hmmmm....have to disagree with Arwen here.  I would say that if at all possible, I would go to PIR if you can swing it.  I know it is not always possible, but try.  We only had one day with our sailor...wouldn't trade it for the world. Didn't know about the Sat. airport visits then  :-(   Also glad I went to PIR since the A School he attended...very few came for the graduations (he told me not to come).  It was a short A School...I know that for longer ones, the graduations are better attended.  I also got the PIR DVD and thank goodness I did...since it was the only time I saw my son at PIR (never could spot him at the actual PIR).  But the excitement at PIR...well, it just compares to nothing else.  So...I say....if you can do it.....GO! 

And on the updated departure info...yes, Arwen, it has been that way now for a good while.  FTLW has a discussion above about it.  She had been in touch with the personnel there to make sure she had accurate info before making the discussion group.  About 4-5 months ago, someone asked this on RTC FB...when the sailors leave...and they said that most all leave over the weekend, so the new rule has been in place for a while.

Angel:  They will fly out of Chicago Midway or Ohare.  Your sailor will tell you at PIR.  Not sure how close the two airports are, but have heard they are not that close.  30 to 40 minute drive, I have heard.

Comment by AngelW (Ship 07 Div 060) on January 10, 2012 at 1:37pm

OK, well, to late for me - i am going!  do you have any idea of what time the flights leave or even what airport they will fly out of?  I am flying out of O'Hare and will not have a car.  Another question, how far apart are O'Hare and Midway?  Just in case...

Comment by Arwen on January 10, 2012 at 1:21pm

I just learned that things have COMPLETELY changed at Great Lakes. They ALL leave for their A-schools on Friday and Saturday, unless there is some circumstance that makes it difficult for them to get flights or some other issue. I’m not sure when exactly this changed, but it is fairly recent. This week is the first I have heard of it, and I’ve been working to confirm information. I now have it confirmed from two sources at Great Lakes.

Here is a post from the official Great Lakes folks on the official Great Lakes RTC Facebook page:
“Grad & Go is an obsolete term that we no longer use because it doesn’t mean anything. All recruits either depart RTC on the day of graduation if they are staying at Great Lakes, or the next day if they are going out of state. The only exception would be for those recruits who are on hold for some reason or if there is an issue with their orders or ticket availability.”

For those of you whose recruits will be attending schools at Great Lakes schools; make your plans to spend the weekend there. Your recruits will transfer to their schools on Friday, then get a weekend of liberty, like always.

For those of you whose recruits will be going to schools in other cities, I would suggest buying a DVD of PIR and skipping Chicago entirely. When my younger son PIR’s (he’s currently working with the recruiter to enlist) goes to bootcamp, I will not be spending nearly $1,000 per person for my family for a one-day event. Instead, make plans to visit your new sailor during the next weekend (maybe a three-day weekend) at his or her school. If you do go for the PIR ceremony, get a hotel for Thursday and Friday, and fly home late Saturday. You can spend Saturday at the airport, where you may get to spend time with your recruit.

Comment by G-Mom on January 10, 2012 at 10:31am

My son will be a pretty good distance from us for "A" school but we do plan to visit him and the area he will be.  Also, being able to call and speak on a more regular basis will be comforting.

Comment by diannep on January 10, 2012 at 9:51am

Angel:  That is one of the "perks" of being out of bootcamp.  More contact with your sailors!  Unless they are on a ship which means more sporadic contact.  But at least during A/C School, there is phone/internet contact.  Lala's daughter is stationed not far from my son, and actually not terribly far from Lala which is nice.  She is able to drive home some.  Mine is about 21 hrs from home, so he only made it down once last year (but flew).  The excitement you will feel once you are able to stay in contact with your sailor again is wonderful!

Comment by AngelW (Ship 07 Div 060) on January 10, 2012 at 9:30am

Awwww, that is going to be us in a few months.  Do you get to talk to her regularly?

Comment by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on January 10, 2012 at 9:28am

I am the same way, I get hyped up and excited pretty much any time I can talk about my Sailor lol. And, now that she has been in for nearly 2 years I still get teary eyed sometimes. Especially when I see or hear some sad about someone in the military or I am just missing her for some reason. Heck some commercial make me cry. And that show Coming Home is basically a cryfest lol. I cannot believe that she has been in that long. It seems like she just got out of bootcamp.

Comment by AngelW (Ship 07 Div 060) on January 10, 2012 at 9:27am

We will all miss you Gayle, but i read that your husband will be taking 1000 pictures!  Lala, i feel the same way, happy, worried, excited, nervous - i want it to be now!!  I find that i pray all the time, not only for my son, but for ALL of them!  Lord, please keep them strong and help them to all PIR on Feb 3rd!  Amen.

Comment by navymom88 (02/Div911) on January 10, 2012 at 9:04am

Lala it was really an unexpected treat.. it is so funny to me that those kind of things will actually make my night I was so excited I actually had more energy my coworkers were making fun of me...lol.. as my PIR gets closer I get more anxious and excited to see my son yet I still have spouts of being down and teary eyed

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