PIR 4/8/2011 Alum Group!

....meant to say check out airfare with Southwest TO Milwaukee....sorry~

We stayed at the Navy Lodge. The beds were very comfortable and we got the room with a kitchen. It is the same price as the other rooms. 2 Queen beds small kitchen w/frig/stove/sink/ coffee maker etc. The table is in the main room and is a little small but very doable for the price especially.

I have 2 rooms at the Navy Lodge, one for my and one for my ex and then I also got a suite at the residence inn in CASE both my daughter and son will be there.  In that case I think we can stay under one roof with the "kids" as buffers...however if my daughter can't fly that weekend and our sailor isn't allowed to leave base, the Navy Lodge it is!!  I should have an answer soon to free up one of the reservations!

 

mamaseal:  Can you post your PIR group's division numbers at the top of this page (either in the title or right underneath).  Here they are:

Div 121-128, 807-808, 920-921 

wow, 2 800 (special ops) divisions and 2 900 divisions....don't see that too often!

12 divisions!  A decent size PIR group!

Wow this is a good size group. You make make lots of new friends in a group this size and yet, still small enough to get some extra guests into PIR :-)

We booked room at Ramada in Waukegan - 83.00 for two queen beds - ask for Navy Graduation discount.  Only about 4 miles from RTC.  Wanted a suite, just too expensive since we are flying and need to rent a car as well.

This group has grown from 37 to 71 in a week.  Welcome aboard new sailor Moms!  Most of our recruits arrived at GL on 2/8 I believe and will attend their PIR on 4/8.  There are usually some "veteran" mom's on the chat room in the lower right corner of your screen if you're looking for some immediate answers.  For other new members, if your "IN" box on your email account is filling every time someone on this site posts, just hit "stop following" button about midway down the page of the groups you're following.  Looking forward to seeing many of you in 44 days.  I wonder if we should all wear pins with our N4M names :-)

 

Welcome new mommies! So glad to have you! Look in the discussion area - view all and join the group that represents your division.

Just think - we have made it through 2 whole weeks - and so have our kids! Isn't that great? I think it is but then, I am a cheerleader (not that I was in real life......). My goal is to stay upbeat and make this a place that is encouraging nag uplifting. Join me :) - happiness loves company.

I have a couple of mottos - invisibility for my son and the Navy uses the Pony Express. Snail Mail is alive and well. I am hoping that their Mail Petty Officer has been trained and they can get some letters pretty soon. With any luck, my son will actually communicate with me. One can hope!

Funny story - his sister is 16. She has been working on a letter for him. That is all great but she colored the envelope with markers and filled it with confetti. YIKES! That violates my invisibility rule! She was so sad that she had to use a boring old envelope. So sad to a 16 year old. So happy for her brother!

mumziepooh....You should bring the decorated envelope with you when you come for PIR.  He would probably get a kick out of seeing what he sis was going to send him!  And he will be soooo thankful that his mom saved him!

mamaseal:  :-)

pam-I booked the Ramada as well.  Looks like it will be convenient. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Pam and Marianne.  We are booked there as well.  I was going to change, but I will stay put.  It does sound very convenient.

Proud Navy Mom.  What Ship/DIV is your SR in?  Maybe you could send something, a card or something to one of use who are going, and are in the same DIV..and we could make sure he/she gets it on the special day.  That would probably be very welcome for your new Sailor...and might make you feel good too!

 

To the ladies that have booked hotels, does anyone know which ones have shuttles to the graduations? Or would it be better to rent a car? 

Ramada has a shuttle.  We are renting a car to go out and about, and to get to/from the airport....but we are taking the shuttle to PIR.  From what I have read, that is the better choice. 

 

Maybe if you stay at a hotel that does not have a shuttle, you can just catch one (for a nominal fee) at another hotel.  That would be a good question to ask.

Is the Ramada where they do the meet and greet?

We got a call from my daughter last Thursday because she needed some phone numbers (off her cell phone) for her security clearance. When she reached my husband, he did not even recognize her voice, he said she was so "serious". She did get a few words in: this is the hardest thing she has ever done, harder than she ever imagined. Just waiting for mail now, but yipee 2 weeks down, 45 days to go. PRAYING every day that she can hang in there.

Yes.  I have read many comments on it, mostly good.  Nicely priced, shuttle, breakfast, well located.  I think this will work for us. 

I am thinking, knowing my son, he will want to be out shopping and doing and spending $$$..not taking a nap or long shower!!  We will probably be hitting the Mall.

Thanks jimscupcake.  I think my daughter will want to be doing the same, enjoy getting out and about and seeing things.  :)  I know I'm excited to be going, a nice vacation....can't wait!

The Residence Inn also has a shuttle service to and from PIR.  From what I've read you don't want to drive to PIR unless you have to.  There's a long wait to get your vehicle onto the base, whereas if you take a shuttle you bypass the car line.

Jajajo:  Most of the hotels have the PIR shuttles (taxis).  I know for sure that Residence, Springhill Suites, and Courtyard do.  Ramada has a shuttle too.  This is a good-size PIR group...I would recommend the shuttle over cars to avoid the car lines.  Shuttles get right in. 

ProudNavyMom:  They are allowed to have a small Bible.  But the Navy will give him one also if he wants one--he may have that one.  As long as it is small, if you want to send yours, I don't think there would be an issue. The favorite verse in there is a neat idea..

Also, since you can't make it to PIR, please ask if someone in your division can take pictures of your new sailor for you.  The ladies in these groups are awesome in doing that at each PIR.  So maybe ask in your division discussion group above, ok?  And for SURE order the PIR DVD($29).  If your SR doesn't (he can order with his photos).  Here is the person in charge of the photos/DVD in case you want to ask about that:

Jerrold_Klinkosh@nexweb.org

 

We took the shuttle from Residence a yr ago.  The 6:30 one.  No issues at all.  Return was easy as well.  Sailor rides back for free. 

Thanks everyone!

ProudNavyMom:  I would just ask Jerrold if you can order/pay for the PIR DVD. I'm not sure how that works...I have heard that the SRs have to pay for the photos, etc or else parents can pay for them after PIR.  I think he can answer any of your questions.  They are usually very helpful up there.  Post what you find out from him so that others will know.  Thanks!

...my son paid for his when he was in bc....so that is why I'm not sure of other options.

ProudNavyMom:  I have never heard of a website with samples of photos?  I still think emailing Jerrold is your best bet. 

ProudNavyMom:  Jessica has posted info above in the discussion groups about photos as well.  Just hit "view all" to see what she has posted too.

Thanks for the link...my son is in DIV 128.

Booked our flights for graduation; got to find a nice hotel to stay at close to the base and rent a car....

Lots of great info ladies.

What is this mall you are all talking about?  And is O'hare the airport they use for them to fly out of for A school?  We were thinking on booking our flight into Milwaukee but may switch to O'hare so we don't have to then make the trip back north to Milwaukee to fly home.

jimscupcake - ship 11 Div 123

otty:  Unfortunately for your travel plans, your SR may not know until very close to PIR which airport they are flying from. Not sure what kind of "deals" you will get waiting that late on your travel plans.  If you find that flying into Milwaukee is alot cheaper than Ohare, you may just want to schedule your flight out late in the day or evening, which would allow you time with your sailor and still able to make your flight. 

...one more thing....we recommend that all stay until at least Sunday afternoon just in case SR is NOT GradNGo.  We have seen sad stories on here where family was told that SR was probably GradNGo, which turned out not to be the case (rare, but it happens).  They had to say goodbye to their sailor when he/she still had liberty.  So, otty, that would probably solve your issue if you didn't fly out until Sunday if your SR happens to be GradNGo.

My sailor didn't know until the day before PIR what airport she would be flying out of. From what I have learned on here South West is the only one that doesn't charge for a change in your flight and it looks like they have the best deals as well. I have also heard they don't have all the hidden fees that many other airlines have. We also stayed at the Navy Lodge. You don't need military ID to stay there, they just put the room in your recruits name. If you do have military ID you may want to check out The Navy Gateway Inn. It is only about $57.00 a night with no tax but you do have to have Military ID to check in.

Ya!  I read in another post that some SRs (Div 126) were allowed to write letters last weekend.  This was confirmed through a phone call.  I hope our Div (125) was allowed to also.  Hopefully we have letters by this weekend!

Hello, my name is Cyndi.  My brother is in Ship 09, Division 125.  We got the two phone calls so far (the first was the official call).  We have only received the first official letter as of yet.  Unfortunately his recruiter gave us the wrong division number so he wasn't receiving any letters from us :( this breaks my heart, he probably thought we all forgot about him!  My other brother just graduated boot camp this past Friday, I just got back Monday :) I can't wait to go back in April to do it again!

Hi Cyndi, I don't see a group above but maybe someone in Ship 9 Div 126 would want to combine Div 125 and 126 like we did with 807 and 808.  Welcome.  You can tell the rest of us what to expect at PIR on 4/8!

Hi, Cyndi! My daughter is also in Ship 09 Div 125. They probably haven't received any of our mail yet since it takes at least a couple of weeks before the recruit who handles the mail is trained. So don't despair! I am so looking forward to receiving my first real letter. Maybe by this weekend!

ntz4laa, oh thank you, that is good to know.  I was feeling like he was the only one not getting mail :)

Cyndi - they really do move heaven and earth to find the recruit that gets the letter!

Thank you :)

He called sunday, he said he was the only one who got to make a call (made his bunk well or something like that :)). Haven't heard anything since then.

They have finally updated the upcoming PIRs! April 8 is now listed!!

 

http://http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/upcoming_grads.asp

Yippee :)

I just noticed on the grad website that you have to download the parking pass 11 days priar to graduation!, I hope I remember to do this! I haven't gotten a phone call from my son since he arrived at BC, I know its only 2 weeks, but I carry my cell with me all the time just in case,

So according to the website this means that div 126 is definately graduating on 4/8, right, so i guess I better start to decide on a flight very soon, YEAH!!

Debi-

I carry my cell phone every where I go just in case my sons calls.  

Hi all...hi Cyndi.  Don't worry.  It sounds like no one has received the first real letter or phone call.  Man, if it depends on how well he make his rack, I may never hear from him!!!

And thanks Diannep for the advise.  Didn't think to stay until Sunday.  I keep thinking that by Saturday he may be flying out.  He goes to CA for A school.  I would hate to go before he does.  And we will be booking on SW too.  

Everyone cross their fingers...maybe the letters are on the way. Keep writing! Send more stamps and S.A.S.E.'s!!

Good morning to everyone -- I am new on here and trying to catch up with tons of good information!!  I was so happy to find this site.  Does anyone know how much time our SR's have off after graduation?  I am not sure if we should plan to head home that same afternoon or not.

Hello Green Bay Mom,

 

From what I understand, no one will know right away if their loved one is a Grad-n-go or not. If not, they will have liberty throughout the weekend, but will have to be back on base by a certain time every night. So, regardless, you should have time with them the day of graduation and possibly the weekend. Most are making plans to head back home on Sunday.

GreenBayMom:   I definitely would not plan to head home the day of PIR.  Because most have at least until 8 or 9 pm with family, even if GradNGo.  Like Jessica said, it is best to plan to stay until Sunday because if your SR is not GradNGo, they should have most of the weekend daytime hours with you.  If your SR is GradNGo, then you may be able to wait at the airport with him/her on Sat if they are flying out for A School.

Don't worry Debi, we and all the moms on this site will remind you to print your parking pass. Everyone will be so excited to print those passes. It is almost like getting a huge present lol. And it makes you realize, Oh crap, I gotta get ready and pack, and where did I put my list...... It is so much excitement that day.