PIR Reference Information

amanda, you are very welcome.

Dear Administrators,  We just experienced PIR on 11/13/15.  It was a fantastic ceremony!!!  I never saw anything about the actual ceremony before we went, and I was hoping to share an idea with the group (and hoped you would share it with future groups).  During the ceremony, they present the state flags and the flags of the protectorates.  Everybody cheers when their own state flag is presented, but then a few states had no cheering!  As I "heard the silence", I realized that just because family members from a certain place might not have been able to attend - it did not mean there wasn't a recruit from that place.  Each recruit deserves to hear their state being cheered.  I started cheering for every place after that (I feel bad about those states that had silence now).  Please encourage families & friends to cheer each state (go crazy for their own, of course) - Go crazy for them all!!!  We're now one  Navy family, right?   Just my two cents.  Thanks again for providing this place for knowledge and support!!!

I just received the official letter from my son. Ship 03, Division 053. PIR 01/08/2016.

053 are making calls!!

Just a quick FYI. I saw that if you are renting a car, that in some cases it could cost you $400.00 for a deposit/hold fee.I was worried so I called Dollar Car Rental and with a Master card (debit) it does in fact cost quit a bit, but with a Visa (debit) it is only 15% of your total rental costs. 

racer88, thanks for sharing.

Making lunch reservations after PIR. Wondering if they get to leave right away. I was thinking noon reservations. Does that sound about right?

racer88, yes, since your recruit will be flying out and not staying in GL, you should be safe with reservations at noon. See PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend to help you know how to plan your weekend.

Thanks!

racer88, you are very welcome.

Thanks, Jon-jon's mom.

Does anyone know how long after graduation the keel will arrive?  I'm assuming it will be mailed to our sailor's home address.

the 05/06/2016 PIR page is not working!

Just out of curiosity, what gifts can we bring to our sailors to give to them before they leave for A school and what should we wait and just have shipped to them? I know they're limited on space, I'm just curious as to how limited.

thinNavyblueline, See Gift Ideas for PIR.

WJC, about 12-13 weeks after PIR. See Division T-Shirts, Graduation Photos, The Keel, and DVD of PIR.

any group formed yet for PIR 5/27/16?  That's my son's

Navy Lodge Great Lakes is now fully booked.

For the weekend of 5-27-16

Quick & total last minute question....My younger two are coming to graduation with me (6/10) and my son has his school ID but my daughter has misplaced hers...of course within the last two weeks...I have recently moved and I am searching for her birth certificate somewhere in the still packed boxes... My accountant said she has a "copy" of her certificate and she can notarize it and that can be used for ID.....does anyone know if this is correct or should I just go and get a new certificate...??

@hooyahsuzy Thank you very much!

“Deleting inactive members - The ad agency that handles N4M is in the process of updating the site.  If you have not been active since 12/1/15 you will be deleted to make room for new members.  You will be able to re-join.  If you don't want to be deleted you will need to post something to activate your account.  They have already started deleting members.”

My son is in division 915 PIR Feb 10, 2017 and they are performing in January 27 and Feb 3 PIR's. He told me to make sure I watched the live stream video's so maybe I would get to see him! 

I got my letter! My son is in Ship 06, Div 148. PIR date is May 12, 2017

I know I've read this info numerous times, but what is the physical address for RTC (for hotel location purposes). Thanks!

If you plan to use a GPS to navigate to the base, enter this address: 3355 Illinois Street, Great Lakes, IL 60088

See PIR Day and Liberty during PIR Weekend to help you know how to plan your weekend.

@Sasysweet, as soon as I found out PIR date, I booked hotel and we booked flights through Southwest.  The hotels are refundable up to the day before and flights can be changed with no penalty.  Go ahead and book!  

@Sasysweet, be sure to read fine print and make sure you can cancel rooms and change flights with no penalty.  There are always exceptions. 

Hi Everyone I am new to this sight. My son went into boot camp on June 8th! I just received his graduation info and I thought I read somewhere there was a day before meet and greet with the officers however I can't find this anywhere. Does anyone have an idea where I can find it?

1robo1, The Meet and Greet is for the families to get together and does not include the new Sailors and seldom includes anyone from the RTC. Sarge's Meet and Greet is at the Lakehurst Event Center in Waukegan the night before PIR (go to http://www.mynavytaxi.com/events.html to RSVP).

Just wanted to post about our PIR experience to help others planning:

1. Lodging - I strongly recommend Navy Lodge.  It is close to base, clean, safe, affordable - though not luxurious.  The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable.  They can answer your questions.

2.  Meet and Greet - Go. Just GO!  Sarge will give you some info that will HELP you.  Follow his directions and you will be fine.  He is very helpful.  I messaged him at 5 a.m. on Friday and he graciously answered my questions.  Do as he says.  You won't be sorry!

3.  Meals - we ate several meals in our room as we had a room with a kitchenette.  We ate Friday night at Jimmy's Charhouse in Libertyville - they gave our sailor his meal free. (I would call and make a reservation.  They are on Trip-Advisor).

If you want pizza in a unique setting with other menu items, try the SIlo in Lake Bluff.  If you have a large party, I would try to get a reservation. They are also on Trip-Advisor.

3.  Shopping/things to do:

There is a nice Walmart in Waukegan and a nice Targe in Lake Bluff (both are less than 15 minutes away from base).

Gurnee Mills is a very nice mall.

We couldn't go to Chicago as we had planned due to weather constraints.  I had downloaded the VENTRA app to use to buy tickets and did a "trial run".  It is very easy to use.  The METRA station at Great Lakes is literally just outside the gate to RTC.

If you want to see Lake Michigan in a less crowded setting, consider the Waukegan Harbor Light.  It is very pretty with a little ice cream shop, a nice walk on the pier (no side rails but it is wide enough that is not a problem) and a public beach right up the road.

BE SURE that you get the handout as you check in to attend PIR - it gives specific instructions on returning your sailor on Friday night.

GET THERE EARLY!!!!!  We were seated by 7:15 and there were already many people there.  We sat towards the top of the lower deck of bleachers to be able to get out easily and had good viewing.

TAKE stadium seats.  I got some with backs at our local Academy Sporting Goods.  I do not regret that decision.

We drove onto the base.  Some people prefer the shuttle.  We like the flexibility of our own transportation.

BE SURE to have your sailor make arrangements to have their portraits mailed to you.  The line outside the NEX to pick up pictures after graduation is ridiculous!!!

I know this is long.  Just wanted to pass along from our experience.

THE CEREMONY IS AMAZING!!!!!! All your planning, praying, researching what to do will be WORTH it when the ceremony begins.

Now.... for me.....it's on to questions about "A" School  :-)

HOOYAH!  And, God Bless America!!!!

My EZ-Pass for paying tolls here in the Mid-Atlantic will work in Illinois as we take the rental car from O'Hare to Great Lakes. Hope this info helps somebody.

We'll be staying in Libertyville and have a rental car - a straight shot on Buckley to the RTC. We're early risers and I'd MUCH prefer to do my waiting at the hall rather than on the street in traffic creeping toward the gate worried about parking. What time does that mean leaving the hotel??

The Gates to the PIR open at 6:30

We were just given some info from the RTC regarding some new baggage rules, and some old now reinforced rules  for PIR. Please read them. There will be no exceptions.

Starting 8/18 new baggage rules are going into effect: No big bags, period. No luggage, no gift bags or anything of the sort. You cannot leave stuff at the visitors desk as they no longer will be responsible for your items.

MULTIPLE SEARCHES POSSIBLE: Every person, bag, and vehicle on the base is subject to search. Metal detectors and other security devices are in use on board Recruit Training Command. Expect some delay at the security checkpoints. 

NO WEAPONS! Weapons possession on federal installations is highly regulated and those in violation are subject to arrest and prosecution.

This is just a thought for those preparing to attend PIR soon.  When we attended the graduation of our sailor, I prepared a goodie bag - with a generic card containing a little cash, some candy, gum, shout wipes and a lint roller for my sailor to give to a friend who did not have family present graduation weekend.  Not all families are able to be present to support their sailors at PIR.  We wanted to do "just a little bit" to encourage a sailor who did not have family present.  Just a thought to consider :-)

Shout wipes and a lint roller, where did you get that idea? I would definitely do that for someone. There was a girl leaving the same time as my son and her family (father and brother left right after swearing in) felt bad for her as other families hung around to spend more time with their SR's. So, I would love to do something nice for someone without family. Jeez, it's making sad thinking about someone not having family there to support them.

question regarding what can be brought on base for graduation. I read no cell phones on base, does that include graduation. Just asking because I use mine for the camera. Do I need to bring a separate camera?

thank you hooyahsuzy!

Karen if you are staying at the Navy Lodge its only two miles from Ceremonial Hall. go north on Meredian dr turn right on Buckley take the sheridan exit turn left on sheridan and turn right on D st and you are there. if you do plan of driving get in line really early the line begins around 5 or 5:30 and the line gets long.