PIR Reference Information

Onedavsoon, You have my help and support. My son graduated June 3rd. I know how you feel, it's a really emotional time. But you will get through it. It helped me to just write lots of letters to my son, it made me feel close to him. I only received 2 phone calls from him during his bootcamp. So it was hard. But try and remember this, she is doing an amazing thing for our country and for her. My son said that bootcamp was the hardest thing he has ever done, but he is so happy he did it.

Onedaysoon- your name now has a new meaning. it means: onedaysoon I'll see my sailor :D HUGS! to you.

You know what happened: you raised a child who is willing to serve for all of us here. You have a daughter who feels strong enough to leave the nest. Hey isn't it a moms job to raise her children to go on and find a life of their own and not what Mommy wants them to do.  Congrats on your job as Mommy being a successful job. HUGS!!!!!!!

1 Chronicles 29:11-13(KJV)
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

Good evening everyone.. We always have to count our blessings: here's mine for this WONDERFUL day:

1. Daddy Roel my father-in-law was granted a tourist visa today!

2. Last night after working at the hospital(7pm-3am shift) I drove to Naval Air Station-Lemoore (for 4 hours), I arrived safely there and back. Was very nervous especially on the way there since it's a really dark and winding road (Pacheco Pass and I-5). I prayed and sing praises the whole way, glad to have K-LOVE radio.

3. I was able to get my military ID..finally..

4. I went to NFCU to "fix" the account and now I have access to it! I prayed so hard that I'd be able to talk to someone who would help me. Brenda (bank clerk) was really helpful and very patient to answer all my question and needs. She made everything so effortless!

5. Meeting all of you helpful ladies here in N4M who help me navigate to this new lifestyle. (Amanda, thanks for the form!)

6. My GPS broke down and I was glad that my co-worker Dolores printed out directions just in case.. I got there and back safe.

7. All the helpful people in the NAS. Who was patient to me who is so bad with directions. I met an officer who handed me a detailed map of the area and even highlighted the DSP, NFCU, starbucks, gas station and how to get to I-5.

8. The icing in the cake, seeing my husband in the picture! (Angel whose husband is in the same ship12/div 224 won the Tuesday trivia on the facebook page of RTC.

9. For all of you here, thank you so much for the support and prayers.

Remember, with Jesus Christ everything is possible! God's mercy and blessings to to all of us, and our families!

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!!

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).

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.

Let me say figure 10 weeks. with figuring the 8 and 9  and 10th friday as your PIR date. Keeping those dates open will help you to not have to change plans. Don't book any airfare unless you can for free redate them. From the Ohio moms group we 2 Ohio kids that hold the record for longest time in BC due to illness and ruling out allergies for our group. Both are in the in and serving now. YEAH!

As for teh one turning 12 does it say UNDER 12 or age 12 and up need listed. It might be 13 birthday would cause the need to list.

As to how the navy actually works when you figure it out please let me know. LOL My son PIR June '10 and I'm still trying to get it figured out.  Oh as for leaving when they leave al tht is up in the air until like the last two weeks of BC. as for Corpsman training going over to Texas I'm not sure mine is not a corpsman.   

There is no cheap, fast and easy way to get to O'Hare (ORD) from Great Lakes/North Chicago. You can do it on public transportation by taking a METRA train then transferring to a CTA bus that will take you to the CTA train.  That will cost only about $8 but it will take you over 2.5 hours.

A faster but more expensive way ($35.00) to get there is by a shared shuttle van.This is a flat rate fare and the taxi has to be ordered:

http://www.americantaxi.com/rates.asp

Midway Airport (MDW) is an hour further south of O'Hare, so the cost and logistics are even greater.

Milwaukee Airport (MKE) is another option - Southwest flies into MKE and because the airport is on the south side of the city, you avoid the Chicago traffic.  I am sure you could find a shuttle service/limo to MKE (google Milwaukee Airport for more info.)

since my last request turned out so well i have another question, lol.

Maybe someone else can answer this question by Duhhuh58...  

I'm not sure what "packet",  ID card or stickers for the car you are referring to.

HoldFast86 - yep - here it is:

www.mwrgl.com or 1-866-352-7425

 Ladies, My sailor PIR'd 9/1.  I want to highly recommend Spring Hill Suites for your PIR stay.They take Marriott points, the rooms are spacious, the lobby is nice, there is a bar, pool is inside with outside seating, easy drive to base, Walmart right next door, clean and NAVY oriented.  Ask for VeeVee Brown, she works fulltime at the desk during the week.  847-688-9800. Enjoy the joy of seeing your loved one!